Liam's Perspective
Blood leaked from the corner of my mouth as I staggered down Divine Dragon Street. The villagers gathered like vultures, their eyes gleaming with malice and opportunity.
"There he goes! The so-called legend!"
"Look at him now! Pathetic!"
"He dared challenge the Ashworth Family. This is justice!"
I wiped the blood with the back of my hand and kept walking. These people were nothing but spectators, finding courage only when they sensed weakness. Their words ant nothing.
An elderly man stepped forward, his white beard quivering with righteous indignation. "Young man, renounce your powers and beg for forgiveness! It's the only way to save yourself!"
I stopped and looked at him, really looked at him. His robes were expensive, his fingers adorned with jade rings. Another hypocrite playing at morality.
"And when did you beco my judge?" I asked quietly.
The old man puffed up. "I've lived eighty years with honor—"
"Honor?" I laughed, triggering another coughing fit. Fresh blood spattered the ground. "Where was your honor when the Guild ransacked innocent hos? When they took Isabelle? You said nothing then."
The crowd shifted uncomfortably. So looked away.
"How dare you!" A young man pushed through the crowd. "My grandfather deserves respect!"
Two burly n flanked him, each wearing the insignia of Grandmasters. Bodyguards, then. The rich always hid behind others' strength.
"Teach this fallen dog a lesson!" the young man ordered his protectors.
The bodyguards moved with practiced coordination. One aid a palm strike at my chest while the other circled behind .
Despite my condition, my body responded instinctively. I sidestepped the first attack and drove my elbow into the man's solar plexus. As he doubled over, I swept his legs and sent him crashing into his partner.
Both Grandmasters hit the ground hard. The crowd gasped.
"Impossible!" soone whispered. "He's supposed to be powerless!"
A cool voice answered from the shadows. "His physical prowess remains. It's his internal strength that's compromised."
The speaker erged—a tall, lean man with calculating eyes. He wore the distinctive robes of a martial arts instructor.
"The famous Liam Knight," he continued, circling like a predator. "Once the rising star of Veridia City. Now just a desperate man clinging to forr glory."
Two more figures joined him. A stocky man with a mace strapped to his back and a strikingly beautiful woman with a folding fan. She studied with open curiosity.
"The three great masters of Divine Dragon Street," Eamon whispered behind . "We need to leave. Now."
The woman stepped forward, her movents fluid and graceful. "I'm Sara. I've heard so much about you, Mr. Knight." She pouted playfully. "Such a sha to see you reduced to this state." Publication courtesy of *.
"If you're done with the introductions," I replied, "state your business or move along."
The stocky man growled. "Such arrogance! Even at death's door, you dare speak this way?"
"Zhang, calm yourself," the tall instructor said. "Mr. Knight deserves to know why we've taken an interest." He bowed slightly. "I am Master Lin. We maintain order here."
"By 'order,' you an you're the biggest fish in this small pond," I remarked.
Lin's smile tightened. "We protect the weak from predators."
"How noble," I replied, my tone making it clear I thought it was anything but.
Sara tapped her closed fan against her palm. "You've been causing quite a stir, attacking those poor bodyguards."
"They attacked ," I corrected.
"After you insulted an elder," Zhang countered. "You co to our street, disturb our peace, bully those weaker than yourself—"
I couldn't help but laugh, though it sent pain shooting through my chest. "Weaker? Those were Grandmaster-level bodyguards. And this street's entire purpose is for the strong to dominate the weak. Don't pretend you're motivated by justice."
Lin's eyes narrowed. "You know nothing of our motivations."
"I know opportunism when I see it," I shot back. "You've heard I'm weakened. You want to test that theory yourself."
Zhang unstrapped his mace. "Enough talk. Let's settle this properly."
"Wait," Sara interjected, studying intently. "Is it true what they say? That you killed three Guild Elders single-handedly?"
"Does it matter?" I asked.
"It matters if we're about to make a mistake," she replied softly.
Lin stepped forward. "We are the guardians of this street. If you wish to remain here, you must prove yourself worthy."
I understood their ga now. In their minds, I had two choices: submit to their authority or fight in my weakened state and lose. Either way, they maintained their position as the street's rulers.
I had a third option.
"Fine," I said, taking a step toward them. "But let's make this interesting. All three of you, at once."
The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs.
"You can't be serious," Eamon hissed behind .
Lin raised an eyebrow. "You're either very brave or very foolish."
"Perhaps both," Sara said, her expression unreadable.
Zhang laughed harshly. "Agreed! I'll crush this arrogance out of you!"
He charged forward, mace raised high. The weapon glowed with power as he channeled his qi into it. A formidable attack, even against a healthy opponent.
I didn't move. Not yet.
Lin's hands ford a complex pattern. "Eight Trigrams Binding Technique!"
Invisible force wrapped around my limbs, trying to immobilize . A master-level restraining technique. Against soone with functioning ridians, it would be devastating.
For , it was rely uncomfortable.
Sara snapped her folding fan open. With a delicate flick of her wrist, she sent a cutting gust of wind straight at my throat.
Three attacks, three different angles, all converging on at once.
Ti seed to slow as I faced this mont of truth. My body was broken. My ridians damaged. My dantian a shattered ss.
But sothing else burned within . Sothing they couldn't see or understand.
The fire of absolute resolve.
I launched myself forward, directly into the heart of their combined assault.
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