A tense atmosphere prevailed in the Yellow City. The people might not have been aware of it, but the officials and nobles in the Core Realm could see the tension materializing. They could smell it. Wuma was dead. Yahut was dead. Sufkro was dead. With only one dominant power left in the city, there should not have been any tension. But on the contrary, the scent of deadly danger hung in the air.
While the Core Experts could smell the danger, the Sages knew the reason.
Sufkro was dead. His father was a Lord of Origin Heart. A lord's power might not seem like much, but beyond the Sages, there were Lords. These were people who possessed a heart that pulsed with Origin energy and had begun to use the Tao to fight. Ancient beings who could live for 750 years. It was hard to imagine the impact of monsters that could live for so long, and now the child of one of these people had died.
Still, they were lucky that Meng Duo was not a savage. He was an alchemist. Even if he thought the killer was Baro, and even if the killer was one of the other Sages, Meng Duo would not act rashly. All he did during this period was calm his grandchild and deal with the matters Sufkro had left behind. But that did not mean no one would avenge Sufkro. Sufkro had a father, just as he had a mother.
An Origin Heart Lord at the 10th stage. One step away from Ascension. A notable presence even among the experts in the capital. Pima was coming to the city. No one who heard of Sufkro's death could reach the Yellow City before her, but it was obvious that her attitude would not be as gentle as Meng Duo's. Pima was known in the capital for her impulsive behavior.
"The city is very tense these days. Is it necessary for you to go out, my lord?"
At that moment, the middle-aged woman dressing the blind boy spoke with a worried expression. Mais's black hair had grown quite long and now reached his shoulders. He was growing. His height was increasing. He would soon turn 11. Being a cultivator, he could feel how much his body changed every month. The physical weakness that came with his age was gradually disappearing. Not that Mais had much of a problem with that, given how he was fed in the palace. Mais was quite strong physically.
Now his figure was much more dignified, and as a Sage, his aura was completely different. Even the general public thought he was at least in the Core Realm. No one who entered that inheritance could remain in the Origin Energy Realm.
"Even though you're no longer recognized as a cultivator, you can still sense danger. You must have had quite impressive instincts during your peak period, Anika."
Anika said nothing in response. Mais hadn't even answered her question.
Mais pulled the sash around his robe tighter. He wasn't sure how he looked. He turned his head slightly toward Anika. Anika knew this was a way of asking a question. A sad expression appeared on her face.
"You look well, sir."
Mais nodded and then habitually touched the ring on his right hand with his left. It was still there.
"I have a payment to make. I received my compensation. It would be best not to delay the payment any longer."
Anika didn't ask about the payment. She had some guesses, albeit incorrect ones. After some hesitation, she decided to ask.
"That day, when the three Sages visited you, they took an energy crystal from you. So what did you get in return?"
This question stopped Mais for a moment. How could it not? He frowned. Not only had Anika learned that the three Sages had visited him, but she had also learned that he had used the energy crystal for trade purposes. What really surprised him was that she knew what an energy crystal was. If Mais had known Anika was so knowledgeable, he would never have allowed her to learn these things.
"It's one thing to dare to ask this question, but it's another curse that you listened to us that day!"
Mais was furious and radiated a threatening aura, but this aura did not frighten Anika. This child was strong and experienced, but Anika could see from this aura that the child had no desire to kill.
He did not answer the question. Instead, he took his cane in his hand and walked out of the room as if he were not blind at all. But even though he was reluctant to kill this servant with his own hands, he couldn't overlook her attitude.
"Don't let my gentle behavior towards Valeria mislead you. You are not Valeria."
And so Mais left his house. Although he was angry, as he walked down the road, that anger slowly faded. More accurately, it sank back into his heart. People helped him find his way and even supported him. Mais was going to Moura's Tavern.
"I don't think this is a suitable place for children. Are you sure you'll be okay?" said the young lady accompanying him. Mais calmly shook his head.
"I'm meeting someone here. They will ensure my safety. Thank you for your concern."
The woman shook her head and left. Most of those who had accompanied Mais this far were women. Mais had always heard about women's kindness and compassion in the past. Now he had seen it too. He had grown up in a palace dominated by men, but since leaving that palace, he had felt women's compassion in many ways. In the village and now, more than the respect of his servants, their compassion. And in many more memories.
Sometimes he wondered. Did cultivation kill these feelings? How could women who could treat a foreign child with such compassion—when they stood in the sky like goddesses, when they were powerful enough to rule an entire planet—so easily abandon their own children?
These thoughts took up a special place in his heart and suffocated him as he entered the tavern. All these feelings reflected anger rather than sadness because of his responsibilities. Mais frowned again. Amidst the voices and noise, he could no longer even confirm his direction. At that moment, he felt a soft arm slip around his.
"This way, young lord. The City Lord awaits you."
Accompanied by a courier, he proceeded to one of the tavern's private rooms. He climbed the stairs and entered one of the tavern's most beautiful rooms. It wasn't actually a very large room. At least, not to be considered one of the most beautiful rooms. There was a king-size bed for certain activities, and there was also a desk and other general room furnishings. There was a table between two beautifully crafted wooden chairs facing each other by the window. The city's main street was easily visible from the window. If you lifted your head and looked a little further, you could even see the city's south gate.
On one side of this table sat a middle-aged man with black hair. His hair was tied on top of his head, and with his mustache and goatee, he resembled an Asian scholar from the Middle Ages. He looked calm while exuding a rather noble aura. Despite being a cultivator, he looked much older than he actually was rather than young.
"Young Mais, how nice to see you here."
"City Lord Baro."
Mais did not bow his head even slightly. However, there was a certain amount of respect in his words.
After that, the courier who had brought him here left. Mais calmly sat down opposite Baro. Baro calmly lifted his coffee and continued to look out the window. Mais waited quietly for a short while before broaching the subject.
"There seems to be something different about you, Lord Baro. You seem to have made progress in your cultivation. I should congratulate you already. You are now a Lord of Origin Heart. A lord who stands out among geniuses. At this rate, you might even have a chance to participate in the Star Path Tournament."
Insult within praise. Even though Mais praised him, he was also insulting him by implying he was still inadequate. Considering his young age, we could say that Mais's words were quite disrespectful and should have angered Baro.
On the contrary, Lord Baro didn't seem angry at all. Instead, he nodded approvingly and took a sip of his coffee. He looked much more relaxed than Mais.
"Thank you for your kind wishes. Yes, I have reached the Origin Heart Realm. It's clear that your senses are quite sharp."
It was clear that sharp senses belonged to the Sage Realm. Mais was now more relaxed. Even though Baro had reached the Origin Heart Realm, it wasn't impossible to escape his threat at Mais's level.
"Are you feeling tense? After all that has happened, aren't you afraid your crimes will be exposed?"
The implication in his words was quite clear. Despite this, Baro didn't even blink.
"Why should I be afraid? No one can prove anything. And if you try to do anything, you'll go down with me. So, how about you pay up so that all this doesn't happen for nothing?"
At this point, Baro was smiling. It was time to pay, but perhaps he had other things on his mind. Because when he talked about this payment, one could think he was implying other things.