Under the dim glow of flickering lamps, the bustling tavern on the outskirts of Sakura Town was filled with whispers of rumors and the clinking of mugs. The scent of spiced wine and roasted at lingered in the air, blending with the mixed atmosphere.
Seated in the darkest corner of the bar, an ominous figure shrouded in a heavy cloak exuded an unsettling aura unnoticed by anyone.
Abraham Fear, the Ancient Nightmare Demon Ancestor, a being of unfathomable power who had long since ascended beyond the grasp of ordinary demons and cultivators alike, paid that small tavern a visit.
Everyone imdiately shut their mouths because of the big demon’s arrival. A captivating beauty ca right after, and everyone held their breath to witness the devilish beauty. Nobody dared to make a fool of themselves because the big demon who ca with her terrified them.
Abraham took his seat on a random table. Across the room, his gaze fixated on a peculiar individual seated in the darkest corner next to the bar as that man was seemingly engrossed in the wine and book.
Though dressed in a common cloak, the seasoned ancestor instantly discerned the subtle fluctuations of a profound and restrained power lurking beneath the suspicious man’s disguise. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as such an entity could not hide from his discerning eyes.
With centuries of experience carved into his soul, he could perceive things beyond mortal comprehension, and that suspicious soone couldn’t escape his perception regardless of any thod used to disguise one’s identity.
As his curiosity piqued, Abraham rose from his seat and strode toward the disguised demonic cultivator, knowing the other party’s presence was completely new but no weaker than his cultivation.
His footsteps, though silent, carried a weight that pressed upon the souls of those nearby. As he approached the cloaked man, everyone made a way as if scared of him. By the ti he sat by the counter, the suspicious man’s eyes darted up. A fleeting flicker of tension betrayed his calm facade.
’What in the world?!’ Dusk Dread scread in his mind, too shocked to find a 10th Rank big demon sitting next to him unnoticed.
He was too engrossed by the cheap wine and the guidebook with half his spiritual sense focused on listening to the surrounding conversation, and that made him unaware of the soone so close to him, or maybe, this powerful demon deliberately approached him while hiding one’s presence.
Any thought of his identity being exposed was thin, but whatever piqued this Demon Deity’s attention towards him would definitely not bode well and would only ruin his plans.
With that thought in mind, he chose a safe retreat as if he were unaware of the big demon next to him.
"Why do you run, stranger?" Abraham’s voice rumbled, deep and authoritative, as he stood before the suspicious man. "Surely you recognize there is no point in hiding before . I can see through your facade."
The disguised Dusk Dread narrowed his eyes beneath his hood. He subtly shifted, preparing to slip away unnoticed.
However, Abraham’s oppressive presence locked the suspicious man in place. "Hold on. Return to your seat. Don’t force my hand."
"You mistake for soone else." Dusk Dread replied. His tone beca a bit nervous as he had to pretend to the wronged people, but he was still filled with wariness.
"Nonsense." Abraham scoffed. "I don’t recognize you. You should be new here. As a being of my caliber, we do not simply wander into places without purpose. What is it that you’re after?"
Sensing that escape was no longer an option unless he forced his way out which obviously would ruin everything, the Dusk Dread’s deanor changed. He blad his foul luck on piquing a random 10th Rank demon, but he then thought that he could take advantage of the current situation considering this high-rank demon ca to himself.
"Perhaps I was rely enjoying a drink. Is that such a cri?" Dusk Dread’s lips curled into a half-smile, lifting his mug to his lips, but his body remained tense, poised for conflict.
"Are you playing dumb?" Abraham chuckled darkly, knowing the other party was still pretending.
Before the conversation could escalate further, a misunderstanding arose. A group of nearby lesser demons, misunderstanding the intense atmosphere between the two, took the tension as a sign of conflict.
"How dare you be arrogant in front of Lord Nightmare Demon?!"
They launched themselves at the disguised cultivator, seeking to curry favor with the powerful ancient demon standing before him.
Dusk Dread frowned and reacted instantly. He unleashed a burst of dark energy that repelled them effortlessly. In doing so, his disguise montarily wavered, revealing a fragnt of his true power.
"Interesting." Abraham mused as his lips curled in amusent. "You’re not just any infiltrator... you’re soone far more dangerous than expected."
"Grandpa, why are you causing trouble for this random nobody? Sacred Sakura will open in a few days. We need to secure at least one room now or you will be sleeping on the street!" Skyla felt that it really annoyed her. She thought her master grandpa wanted to buy cheap drinks here, but he was just picking on soone to bully.
"?!" Dusk Dread looked aside in displeasure.
It had been so long since soone dared to call him a random nobody. By the ti he noticed it, the one speaking was a rare devilish beauty. She was more or less t his standards, worthy as his pawn. Since she ca with this big demon, he should use them for his benefit.
"Where are you looking, jerk?" Skyla instinctively covered her chest because the stranger suddenly stared at her cleavage.
"Have any crooked ideas about her, and it’s your end, lad. She is taken by my successor, the Nightmare Demon Young Master." Abraham was displeased by the suspicious man’s stare.
Dusk Dread sighed in response, adjusting his cloak as he prepared to leave. "You’ve drawn enough attention to , elder. If you’ll excuse ."
But Abraham was not one to let go of mysteries so easily. In a flash, he moved to block the suspicious man’s exit as if he had to get the answer at all costs. "Not so fast. You still haven’t answered my question. What brings soone like you into this region?"
Dusk Dread’s gaze darkened as a flicker of sothing dangerous glinting in his eyes, but he still held himself back. "Let’s just say... I have my own reasons. Perhaps one day, you’ll find out."
Without another word, Dusk Dread vanished into the shadows, leaving the tavern patrons whispering in hushed tones.
Abraham stood in shock for a mont as a grin slowly ford on his face. "A worthy opponent..."
"Who exactly is that strange person?" Skyla scratched her head. She couldn’t find anything noteworthy from that stranger, but since her master grandpa set his eyes on that person, then that person was obviously sothing special.
"He is soone of my rank. I wonder why he plays dumb and mysterious. Unless he is a heinous criminal or an outcast from the enemy’s side, soone of his caliber has no reason to lay low like a random mob." Abraham sighed.
"Hmm, that’s none of our business. He ca for Sacred Sakura." Skyla shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
"Tch, but it’s always good to expose the disguised high-rank powerhouse. We can secure more Sakura Points if he turns out to be an intruder." Abraham felt it was a sha because he intended to expose that suspicious man.
"Ugh, you and your point farming obsession. Our accumulated points were all used up because of you last week." Skyla facepald, feeling helpless because her master grandpa would do almost anything just to collect rit Points. "Wait, I thought those were rit Points."
"No, they changed the na a few days ago. rit points are only for the disciples, and the affiliated parties have a credit system under the na of sakura points." Abraham returned to the bar and ordered a bottle of the best wine in the market.
He paid the expensive price like it was nothing noteworthy. After that, he left the tavern like nothing ever happened there.
Unfortunately, what awaited them afterward was exactly what Skyla had reminded him of. They found no lodgings with empty rooms. All of them were fully booked, be it the cheap inn or the five-star hotel. He even went as far as to rent an entire house, but no property could accommodate him because all of them were already occupied. After all, he was not the only wealthy man with such an idea.
"Damn! They should have built more hotels and inns in this town!" Abraham grabbed the nearby shrimp demon and threw that clueless passerby into the sky.
"Hey, don’t randomly throw other people into the sky when you feel annoyed. So, what now? Should we set up a tent in the woods while waiting for Sacred Sakura to open? Should we return ho?" Skyla grabbed her head. She had reminded it, and it happened.
"I have money, but nobody wants it. Should we coerce the others to surrender their cards to us? They should be satisfied to receive my favor and compensation from , the great ancient nightmare demon, right?" Abraham murmured as he looked around, looking for prey while fiddling with his money pocket.
"If you have too much funds, why not invest in this Sakura Town? We’re the nobility, so we should have at least a mansion here. Even that leecher, I an vampire progenitor already has a house here..." Skyla sighed as she couldn’t help but lant.
"That vampire guy... Ah! That’s right! We should build a grand mansion here. In the anti, we can use him to host us! You have a brilliant idea, my disciple!" Abraham widened his eyes as it was truly brilliant. He picked up his disciple and spun around once in joy.
"Put down. You make feel embarrassed..." Skyla covered her face because it felt embarrassing to be treated like a child in the middle of a crowd.
"Without further ado, let’s pay that old friend a visit. We can leech him off during this kind of mont." Abraham laughed as he put his disciple down
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