Liam's Perspective
"Lord of the dicine God Pavilion," Sara stamred, her face ashen.
The Pavilion Master's lips curved into a cold smile. She moved with supernatural grace, closing the distance between them in an instant.
"And yet you dare to threaten my elder?" Her voice was soft but carried deadly intent.
Sara took a step back. "My Lord, this man is—"
The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the courtyard. Sara staggered sideways, a red handprint blooming on her cheek.
"Did I ask for your opinion?" The Pavilion Master's eyes flashed dangerously. "Leave. Now. Before I decide your insolence warrants a more... permanent lesson."
Sara clutched her face, hatred burning in her eyes. She glanced at , then at the Pavilion Master, clearly calculating her odds. Wisdom prevailed.
"We're leaving," she told her companions. They retreated quickly, disappearing down the mountain path without looking back.
The Pavilion Master turned to Conrad. "You have potential, young man." She nodded approvingly at the golden light still shimring around him. "But I need to speak with Liam alone." Broughttoyoubythefolksat*.
Conrad hesitated, looking to for guidance.
"It's okay," I assured him. "Go check the periter. Make sure our unwelco guests are truly gone."
Once Conrad left, the Pavilion Master's deanor changed. Her eyes narrowed as she assessed . "Show your condition."
I led her to a private room in the villa. Once inside, I removed my robe, revealing the black and purple bruises covering my torso.
"Your dantian," she commanded.
I sat cross-legged on the floor and opened my spiritual sense to her. Her consciousness probed mine, examining the state of my energy core.
After a minute, she withdrew. "As I suspected. Your dantian isn't damaged at all."
I smiled faintly. "You always could see through deception, Master Valerius."
"Explain yourself." She settled into a chair, her expression unreadable.
I pulled my robe back on. "I need my enemies to underestimate . I have three reasons."
She waited silently for to continue.
"First, I need to devour others' inner strength to gain power quickly. Dashiell Blackthorne won't wait forever to marry Isabelle."
"The forbidden technique." She frowned. "Dangerous."
"Second," I continued, "my instincts tell soone is moving against . Soone powerful, beyond the families."
Her eyebrows raised slightly at this.
"And third, I know the Ashworths and Blackthornes. Once they recover, they'll send at least one Military Marquis Realm expert to eliminate ."
I leaned closer, lowering my voice to a whisper as I detailed my plan. Her eyes widened slightly as she listened.
"Do you understand what you're proposing?" she asked when I finished. "You're placing your life in danger to seek survival."
"I understand perfectly."
She stood, pacing the small room. "I should forbid this. It's reckless."
"But you won't," I said confidently.
She stopped, fixing with an intense gaze. "No. I won't." After a long pause, she added, "I'll play my part. The dicine God Pavilion will officially distance itself from your... indiscretions."
"Thank you, Master."
"Don't thank yet." Her voice turned grim. "If your gamble fails, I won't be able to save you."
With that final warning, she departed. I watched from the window as she left Eldoria, her form vanishing into the distance.
Sofia Carrera found on the balcony an hour later. "Was that really the Pavilion Master I sensed earlier?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
"It was."
"What did she say about your condition?"
I turned away, feigning discomfort. "Nothing I didn't already know."
Sofia stepped closer. "Liam, you can trust . How bad is it?"
"Bad enough," I muttered, letting her draw her own conclusions.
That night, notifications lit up across the city as the Warrior's Scroll released breaking news:
*DICINE GOD PAVILION REVOKES ELDER STATUS OF LIAM KNIGHT*
*The prestigious Celestial Apothecary Guild has officially stripped Liam Knight of his elder position, citing "grievous violations of sect principles." Sources confirm the decision cos directly from the Pavilion Master herself...*
The announcent sent shockwaves through the martial arts world. The Warrior's Scroll forums exploded with speculation and mockery. By morning, my na had been removed from the Pyro's Martial Artists Potential List.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
Sofia burst into my quarters the next day, clutching her communication crystal. "Have you seen this?" she demanded, her voice tight with anger.
I glanced at the screen and nodded. "I have."
"And you're just sitting here? The Pavilion has abandoned you!"
Eamon Greene followed her in, his expression grim. "This is bad, Liam. Without the Pavilion's support..."
"I don't need them," I said flatly.
Sofia's eyes flashed. "You don't need them? They were your protection! Now everyone knows you're vulnerable."
"Perhaps that's for the best," I replied, keeping my voice even.
"For the best?" Sofia's voice rose. "How can you say that? They've betrayed you!"
I didn't answer. I couldn't tell them the truth – not yet. Their genuine outrage would make my deception all the more convincing.
Sofia reached into her pocket and pulled out her dicine God Pavilion Pharmacist token. The jade disc glead in the morning light.
"I won't be part of an organization that abandons its own," she declared.
"Sofia, don't—"
Before I could stop her, she hurled the token to the ground. It shattered into pieces, the sound echoing like a final vow.
"I stand with you, Liam," she said fiercely. "No matter what cos next."
I stared at the broken token on the floor. Sofia had just severed her connection to one of the most powerful organizations in the martial world – for .
The weight of my deception suddenly felt heavier than any burden I'd carried before.
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