Syre grinned as she lowered her foot and weapon after stopping the attacks—her cognac eyes landed on Yuanchen and her grin faded a bit. This scrawny kid had that much pressure? She shook her head; maybe she was imagining things regarding what she felt.
"The Crimson Death! Why are you here?" Redgrave asked as he lowered his weapon.
The smirk Syre wore returned, and she patted her massive assets. "I was just taking a stroll and boom, I see you fighting. It's unbecoming of a cultivator and adventurer of your caliber to be picking on younglings."
Redgrave knew from the tone and the gaze Syre was giving him that it was not a jest but a threat, and he relented. He placed his claymore on his back and walked away.
Yuanchen heaved a sigh of relief and got a good look at the woman.
She had long brown hair curled at the ends; a set of curved ear piercings and a round face. She wore a white blouse that parted around her stomach, revealing her tanned skin, leather pants, and combat boots. Above the attire, she wore a leather arm guard strapped to a chest armor that had small pockets on it, and to complete the look, she wore a black coat that reached her ankle.
Syre felt the eyes on her and her grin grew wider. "Like what you see, kiddo?"
Yuanchen blushed and looked to the side to see Lia and Damon rushing to him.
Lia stopped next to Yuanchen and inspected him from head to toe. "Are you okay? Is your wound open? Say something!"
Yuanchen placed his hand on Lia's shoulder, causing the frantic woman to stop freaking out. "I'm okay. Thanks to this lady here, I made it without a scratch." He pointed at Syre.
Damon reached for Yuanchen's leg and pulled on his pants, prompting the latter to look down—he pointed at Syre with a shaking finger. "She is dangerous."
Yuanchen shot Damon a look that told him that he also knew she was dangerous—the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up just by being in her vicinity. Yuanchen placed a hand on Damon's shoulder, calming the boy down while focusing on Syre.
"Thank you for your help, but we must be on our way now."
Syre's grin faltered again briefly. "Leaving so soon? That's unfortunate, but how about you meet me at the guild? There is something I want to discuss with you. Until then, take care of yourself."
Syre disappeared from sight, leaving the group to heave a sigh of relief.
---
Once the commotion had died down, the vendors returned to their stalls and went about their day.
A good distance away, hidden by a veil of shadows, was a man with short brown hair and a scruffy brown beard. The man had kept an eye on the center when Redgrave's hot temper got the best of him. His eyes lowered—and he leaned down to retrieve the sphere that Redgrave had slapped away.
"What's this?" He lowered the glasses on his head and stared at the sphere.
Digital writing layered itself on the lenses.
< Analysis begin >
A blue wave scanned the sphere all around and disappeared.
< Name:?? >
< Rarity:?? >
< Model: A replication of a trash beast core with the same function of a trash beast assimilation >
The man's eyes widened when the detailed appraisal window of the sphere came. He raised his eyes to look at the center and found the center of the plaza empty—he cussed to himself and locked up shop; and off he went to look for the mysterious man.
---
Damon's stomach grumbled from the aroma flooding the air as they walked past the food district, ignoring the gazes they got.
His stomach's complaint made the two adults laugh a bit and the young boy pout.
"Why not go into that building and grab some food?" Lia chirped as she pointed at the building across the street.
Yuanchen looked up at Damon. "Let's go. Then we can get new clothes."
Lia chuckled sheepishly—her nose was itching because of the metallic scent, and under her hoodie she was sweating, having not bathed in a solid day or two.
She watched as the two males danced their way across the street and shook her head before following behind suitely.
"Wait!"
A voice called out to them, and the group stopped. They turned and saw a man in a white tank top running toward them. Yuanchen raised an eyebrow questioningly, and Lia shrugged, having no idea what that was all about.
The man came to a halt and grabbed his knees, trying to regain some air—he looked up at Yuanchen with a sparkling set of brown eyes. "Did you forge this?" He retrieved the sphere and showed them.
Yuanchen's eyes widened a bit for a moment, having not expected to see his creation anytime soon due to how far Redgrave threw it. "Yes, why?"
The man's smile widened tenfold as he took hold of Yuanchen's hand. "Please, please do sell it to me. It has been a long time since I've seen such a forged tool."
Yuanchen slightly chuckled, having been caught off guard by the gesture. "You could've just taken it when you found it. Why come to ask me?"
The man let go of his hand and took a step back from the group, the smile he had on his face slightly fading but not entirely. "Well, yes, you are right—I could've taken it and not bothered to say anything at all. However, it wouldn't sit right with me. I, Silas, have pride as a merchant and seller to uphold integrity. That's why."
---
The Heaven Archive Sect was quiet—the once vibrant corridors empty and devoid of life. The disciples? Nowhere to be found.
The courthouse had its doors open wide, and from the corridors leading into the courthouse, blood pooled at the entrance. Inside the courthouse was Qingye. His lithe form was covered in blood, and around him were corpses of the elders that had sided with the previous sect master.
Juin applauded from the head of the round table; he was pleased with the development of Qingye. The man lived up to his status as Tiang's second strongest child, second to Lian'er.
"Well done," Juin mused as he got up from the chair and stepped on the blood. He stopped near Qingye and placed his hand on the latter's face, caressing the tresses covered in blood.
"He will be pleased, my Flame Emperor."