Chapter 142: Conversation with the Shadows
As the conversation was getting nowhere, Shadur suddenly asked, “Oliver, you have dark essence, right?”
Leon rembered Oli’s vanishing act from earlier, which reminded him of eting Oliver for the first ti. Back then, Oliver had sohow avoided the thugs surrounding Leon with ease, just as Oliver had done in battle.
Oli nodded. “Yeah, I’m a dual cultivator. Earth and dark are my specialties. That doesn’t an I’ll explain everything I’m capable of here and now. There’s no reason for that.”
“But that does an you’re much stronger than we expected,” stated Shadur. “You have incredible, raw power and frightening stealth... That’s a rare combination to have. I can’t think of anyone with dark and earth essence.”
“Either way, that’s what I have and I prefer that you don’t declare it to the world. But, as you saw, I’m willing to get serious when necessary,” reasoned Oli. “Johan, you don’t need to be satisfied with my explanation.”
“What do–”
“I was hired to protect and guard you all, which I’ve done and will continue to do. If anything, Aren’t you glad to be alive after being outnumbered so badly? Many tis, bodyguards will abandon their employers when facing overwhelming odds. Would You rather I did that?”
.....
“N-no...”
“Then be glad I didn’t join them for a profit. I have more than enough reasons for this venture to succeed, so don’t doubt my allegiance. Now, you should all get so sleep. Does anyone happen to have another tent?”
“I’ve got one, but it’s not big enough for the four of us,” Shadur replied with a sigh.
Oli plopped onto the ground, crossing his legs. “Don’t worry about . I’ll be keeping watch all night. You three focus on resting and recuperating. Tomorrow we need to harvest so lilies.”
“I can’t trust you to–”
“Would you rather I sleep and you take the night watch?” Oli asked, glancing calmly at Johan. “No? In that case, shut up and sleep. Do you think your father would act so bratty?”
Embarrassed and talking out of reflex, Johan stated, “D-don’t talk about my dad like that?!”
“Why not? Are you saying that he would act like a brat?”
“...”
“Good. Since we both agree that you’re nothing like your father, how about you get so rest with the others and reflect on how you can do better in the future. Sleep tight...” Oli waved before turning his back to the other three, assuming a ditative position.
Johan said nothing more. Despite his pride, there was no way he would disgrace his father and role model. He and the others silently set up the new tent and stored the torn and tattered tent to Leon’s void ring.
Soon, all three were slumbering in the tent. Their exhausted bodies wouldn’t allow them to stay up for long.
Still pretending to ditate, Oli was on edge. He hoped that Vloz would see the error of his ways and not repeat what had just happened. Lucky for Oli, he had guessed correctly.
‘Oli.’
‘Where are you now, Vloz?’ Oli responded, keeping his eyes closed.
‘Hiding in the shadow of the tent,’ answered Vloz. ‘Tell what’s going on before I drag you back to Ania.’
Sighing, Oli took a mont to collect his thoughts. ‘You won’t cause another attack, will you?’
‘Not if you give a proper explanation.’
‘How about we both explain things? I still have no clue what happened after I was taken,’ Oli ntioned.
‘That’s fine, but you’ll go first.’
‘Of course, I will...’ With a slight grin, Oli explained, ‘I got chased and captured by a man nad Krasc. He knew I was Dioro’s son and wanted to either give away to his lord or keep as a subordinate.’
‘He knew? Then he must have connections with the dragon...’ mumbled Vloz.
‘I was knocked unconscious but woke up in a cave near here. I never t the man who brought here but he showed Krasc’s head and forced to cultivate until I ascended. He also forced to take a human form, telling to not worry about the Iron Territory and to focus on learning from humans while I have the chance.”
‘Then... Would you consider this person an ally?’ Vloz asked with the mory of the shady figure fresh in his mind.
‘I don’t know...’ Oli replied, unsure of what to believe. ‘He gave priceless training resources and helped ascend with all of my essence types. He also protected from being captured and then let go the mont I ascended. But he’s also the man who almost got killed in my fight against Karos, so... I don’t fully know how I feel about the man.’
‘Is he still following you?’
‘Not that I know of, but I know he’s always been watching . He even knew about all of my secret training inside my old cultivation chamber. He also ntioned knowing my dad...’
‘Really? He knew your dad yet almost got you killed? That’s a little hard to believe, even for soone who recently saved you from a king cultivator...’
‘Right... if he’s able to kill a high-king yet doesn’t want to turn in, I don’t know why he would be interested in weak, little ...’ Oli’s mind went ballistic trying to theorize a cause for the would-be savior that had dragged him away from the Iron Territory.
‘Oli, I’ve t that man twice now, albeit briefly,’ Vloz added. ‘He was far stronger than I could fathom and he seems to have ulterior motives for ddling in your life, though I’m still unsure as to what motive a man of his caliber would have. If the man is a prefecture lord, perhaps he’s trying to keep the lord that chased your father in a bind? That may make sense, but why would a prefecture lord want to dley in your life without claiming you as their own?’
‘Vloz...’ Oli mumbled ntally, piecing together the most relevant theory he could muster. ‘Would it be better if I was dead?’
Reviews
All reviews (0)