"This 'Liberator'—do you know exactly when he'll arrive?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
The elder hesitated, his eyes drifting away for a mont before answering, "He's already a few weeks late, but he should arrive soon enough."
His voice was steady, but I sensed the underlying worry. This so-called Liberator clearly held significant power over them, but the fact that he was late could an many things—none of them particularly good.
The elder turned toward his tribesn, his frail hand rising in a gesture of command. "Prepare them a place to stay. Our guests co from far away. Let us ensure they are properly hosted."
The tribe leader, still visibly shaken from earlier, nodded and stepped forward. "Please, follow ," he said, his tone more respectful than before. "I'll take you to my own place."
"Let's follow them," I said through Divine Sense to my companions. "And rember—play it cool. Like mortals."
As we followed the leader through the underground town, I couldn't help but admire the ingenuity behind the way these people had adapted to their harsh environnt. The town carved into the cavern walls was both practical and impressive. Lanterns hung from posts, illuminating the paths and walkways that connected the various hos and huts. So houses were simple, built from wood and stone, while others were carved directly into the rock, creating small, enclosed spaces where families could live in relative safety.
The leader guided us up a long stone staircase that hugged the edge of the cavern wall, offering us a panoramic view of the settlent below. From this vantage point, I could see most of the lights that dotted the town, each flickering like a distant star. People moved about, tending to their daily chores—sharpening weapons, weaving cloth, or preparing als. There was a quiet determination in their movents, a resignation that life here, underground, was the only way to survive the horrors that road the surface.
We soon arrived at the leader's ho, a large dwelling carved deep into the wall of the cavern. It was simple but sturdy, with several rooms inside. The space was modest, with roughly hewn walls and floors of smooth stone, but it was more than adequate to host us. We were shown into a small common room with three adjoining chambers, where we settled onto wooden stools. A low, knee-high table was brought out, and shortly after, the leader's wife entered with plates of dried at and cups of wine.
Mortal food.
"Thank you for your generosity," I said, inclining my head toward the woman. She didn't et my gaze, keeping her eyes lowered as she backed away quickly, her hands trembling slightly as she placed the last dish on the table.
I watched her retreat with narrowed eyes, my senses heightened. Sothing wasn't right.
"The drink is poisoned," I said quietly as I took a sip, swirling the liquid in the cup. "But it won't affect any of you."
ng Hao, sitting beside , frowned. "Then why are we drinking it?" he asked through Divine Sense, his tone exasperated.
"It's a mortal poison," I explained, taking another sip and tasting the subtle bitterness beneath the wine's surface. "In large quantities, it would cause the victim to bleed from all seven orifices and shut down their nervous system entirely. But this batch is light—it's ant to relax the muscles and induce drowsiness. Nothing that could harm a cultivator."
ng Hao raised an eyebrow. "Seems like an odd way to welco guests."
Before we could dwell on it further, the tribe leader re-entered the room, his expression nervous but polite. "I hope you can excuse our earlier behavior," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "We didn't an to trap people as great as you."
I smiled faintly, leaning back in my chair as I feigned the effects of the drug. My eyes fluttered shut for a mont before I forced them open again, my voice slurring ever so slightly. "No worries," I said, pretending to struggle with the weight of my own eyelids. "But tell … what exactly did you put in our drink?"
The leader hesitated, his face paling as he watched . "I… I apologize," he stamred. "We had to ensure our safety. The Holy Man—he warned us that if strangers as powerful as you ca, we couldn't take any risks. The drink will make you sleep… It's the only way we could be sure."
My eyes drooped shut again, and I nodded slowly. Around , my companions followed suit, pretending to succumb to the effects of the poison. It was convincing—enough to fool any mortal watching us closely.
The leader quickly excused himself, backing out of the room. As soon as he was gone, I sent a ssage through Divine Sense. "Sorry for making you all play along with this foolish ga of mine."
Liang Yu's soft laugh echoed in my mind. "No worries," she replied, amusent evident in her tone. "It's been a while since I last played the role of a helpless mortal. This is actually fun."
I could feel a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth, but I suppressed it, waiting for what would co next.
After a short ti, the leader returned, accompanied by another man—a stranger whose presence instantly set off alarms in my mind. His voice was oily, slick with arrogance.
"Oh, they're not from here," the stranger said, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. "Their clothes alone are proof of that. Good work, Jhon Go. You'll be rewarded by the master. Now, get a few n to carry them to the sacrificial grounds. These ones should sate the hunger of the Fallen God for a few years, at least."
Sacrificial grounds? I stayed still, keeping up the act as best I could, though my mind raced with possibilities.
As the leader turned to leave, the stranger's voice stopped him. "Oh, and leave the won here. It'd be a waste to sacrifice them so soon…"
I heard the disgusting sound of him licking his lips, and that was it.
"Okay, I'm done playing," I said, standing up from my seat. I could feel my patience snap like a thread, the cold fury settling in my chest. "I really wanted to have so fun playing mortal, but your greed knows no bounds."
The stranger's eyes widened in shock, his face going pale as I stepped forward. "Y-You didn't put them to sleep, you fool!" he shouted, rounding on the leader.
"But I did!" the leader stamred, dropping to his knees. "I swear, I gave them the drug you gave !"
The stranger snarled and stepped forward, grabbing
Creeping Demise
—my own sword—and pointing it at . "No matter. It would have been easier if you were asleep, but I'll handle you all the sa. I'm a Nascent Soul cultivator, and I'll—"
He never finished his sentence.
Creeping Demise
ca to life in his hands, its blade splitting into nine serpent-like heads, each coiling around his arms and legs with terrifying speed. The rest of the sword snaked along his body, the serpentine heads hissing nacingly as they tightened their grip on him.
"You said you'd do what?" I asked calmly, stepping closer. "And a Nascent Soul cultivator? That's the extent of your power?"
His terror was clear now, his eyes wide with disbelief. He struggled against the weapon, but it was futile—
Creeping Demise
was a weapon far beyond his comprehension, capable of killing beings far stronger than him.
I took another step forward, my voice cold. "Tell ," I said, my eyes locking onto his. "Who is this master of yours?"
The stranger's lips pressed tightly together, defiance flickering in his eyes. He tried to struggle again, but the serpents only tightened their grip, their sharp fangs hovering dangerously close to his skin.
He bit down on sothing inside his mouth—a suicide pill, no doubt—but I was faster. In an instant, I shoved my hand into his mouth, crushing his teeth in the process. He gagged, choking as I pulled the remains of the pill from his throat.
"You don't get to die yet," I said coldly, releasing a drop of poison into his system to paralyze him further. His terror deepened, his body frozen in place as the poison took hold.
"Now speak," I demanded, leaning in close. "Who sent you?"
This world has many secrets, and it's about ti we start exposing so of them.
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