## Liam's Perspective
The doors of the Ascendant Saints Order's Great Hall exploded inward as I strode through. Splinters rained down, scattering across the polished marble floor. Inside, a dozen senior disciples huddled together like frightened sheep.
"Where is he?" My voice echoed through the cavernous hall.
No one spoke. Their eyes darted around, refusing to et my gaze.
I grabbed the nearest disciple by his collar, lifting him until his feet dangled above the ground. "I won't ask again."
"He... he fled!" The man choked out, face turning purple. "Master Hale left before dawn!"
I tossed him aside like a rag doll. The man skidded across the floor, crashing into a display of ancient weapons.
"Where did he go?"
An elderly man stepped forward, his hands trembling. "Northern Retreat. That's all he told us."
I scanned their faces, searching for deception. Finding none, I walked toward the ornate chair where Josiah once sat in judgnt. With one swift kick, I reduced it to kindling.
"Listen carefully," I said, my voice deathly quiet. "Your master attacked my people. He tried to kill soone under my protection."
The disciples remained frozen, barely breathing.
"I'm going to find him. When I do, there won't be enough left to bury." I turned my gaze to each of them in turn. "If any of you warn him or try to help him escape, I'll consider you accomplices."
"We wouldn't dare, Master Knight," the elderly man whispered.
"Good." I pointed to a disciple wearing communication officer robes. "You. Contact The Warrior's Scroll. Tell them Liam Knight has a ssage for their readers."
The young man stumbled forward. "What ssage, sir?"
"Tell them Josiah Hale, supposed Martial Marquis of the Ascendant Saints Order, fled rather than face . Tell them he abandoned his disciples to save himself." I paused, letting my next words carry weight. "And tell them I've ascended to the Martial Marquis realm. Josiah can run, but he can't hide."
Murmurs rippled through the hall. The communication officer paled.
"That will destroy his reputation completely," he whispered.
"Precisely." I walked back toward the shattered doors. "Your master chose his path. Now he'll walk it alone."
---
Within hours, The Warrior's Scroll was ablaze with the news. Urban centers across three provinces buzzed with excitent. Everywhere, people huddled around ssage boards and town criers.
"BREAKING: Liam Knight Challenges Ascendant Saints Order—Josiah Hale Flees!"
"Exclusive Report: Knight Ascends to Martial Marquis During Heavenly Tribulation—Survives Record Eighteen Lightning Strikes!"
"Disgraced Master Abandons Disciples—Order's Future Uncertain!"
I sat in Mariana's private study at the Celestial Apothecary Guild, reviewing scrolls about the Veridia City Martial Guild. Their structure, their leadership, their defenses—I needed to know everything.
"You've caused quite the stir," Mariana said, entering with a tray of dicinal tea. "Josiah's reputation is in tatters."
"Good." I didn't look up from my reading. "How's Caspian?"
"Recovering. The corruption is neutralized." She sat across from . "The real question is what you'll do when you find Josiah."
I finally t her gaze. "You know the answer to that."
Mariana sipped her tea thoughtfully. "Killing a Marquis—even a disgraced one—will have consequences. The Veridia City Martial Guild won't ignore it."
"I'm counting on it." I closed the scroll I'd been reading. "They need to know what's coming for them."
"You're deliberately provoking them?" Mariana's eyebrows rose. "Bold strategy."
"They have Isabelle. I need them focused on , not on what they're doing to her."
A sharp knock at the door interrupted us. One of Mariana's assistants entered, looking flustered.
"Pavilion Master, there's a delegation from Cinderfall City requesting Master Knight's imdiate presence."
"Tell them I'm busy," I replied without looking up.
"Sir, they insist. They say it's about Josiah Hale."
My head snapped up. "Who are they?"
"They serve Lord Darian Hill, Chief Magistrate of Cinderfall's Eastern District."
I exchanged glances with Mariana. Darian Hill was a powerful figure in Cinderfall City—not a martial artist, but a man with extensive connections and influence.
"Interesting timing," Mariana murmured.
I stood, adjusting my robes. "I'll speak with them."
---
The delegation waited in the Guild's reception hall—four n in the uniform of Cinderfall City officials. Their leader, a sharp-faced man with calculating eyes, bowed formally.
"Master Knight, I am Wei Chen, senior aide to Lord Darian Hill. My lord requests your presence at his country estate imdiately."
"What's this about?" I asked bluntly.
Wei Chen glanced around, then lowered his voice. "My lord has located Josiah Hale. He wishes to facilitate a... resolution."
My pulse quickened. "Josiah went to Darian Hill for protection?"
"Not exactly, sir. But Lord Hill has significant investnts in the Ascendant Saints Order. He wishes to prevent further... disruption."
I smiled coldly. "So he's protecting his investnt."
"My lord prefers to call it diation." Wei Chen's expression remained neutral. "Will you co?" Alwаys rеаd аt thе sоurсе—
"Lead the way."
---
The countryside estate was modest by noble standards—a sprawling farmhouse surrounded by mulberry groves. Guards were posted discreetly around the periter, but I could sense their presence.
Wei Chen led through a side entrance, down a narrow hallway, and into a spacious dining room. Sitting at the far end of a long table was Darian Hill—a trim, graying man with the shrewd eyes of soone who'd spent decades in politics.
And across from him, looking haggard and terrified, sat Josiah Hale.
"Master Knight," Darian rose smoothly. "Thank you for coming. Please, join us."
I remained standing in the doorway, my eyes fixed on Josiah. Fear radiated from him in waves.
"Lord Hill," I acknowledged without looking away from my prey, "this is unexpected."
"I believe in practical solutions," Darian replied. "The conflict between you two threatens to destabilize relationships between our cities. I thought perhaps we could reach an arrangent."
"There's nothing to arrange." My voice was flat. "He attacked my people. He tried to kill soone under my protection."
"I understand your anger," Darian continued smoothly, "but surely there's so compensation, so agreent that could—"
"Please," Josiah finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was following orders. The Ashworths demanded—"
"Coward to the end," I cut him off. "Blaming others for your actions."
"I have wealth," Josiah pleaded, desperation cracking his voice. "Properties, spirit stones, ancient scrolls—na your price!"
I took three slow steps into the room. Golden energy pulsed visibly beneath my skin. "You think you can buy your way out of this?"
"Master Knight," Darian interjected, "everyone deserves a chance to make ands."
"And when was that chance offered to my friend as he lay bleeding?" I asked quietly, dangerous energy gathering around my clenched fists. "When was that chance offered to when eighteen bolts of tribulation lightning struck my body?"
Josiah slumped in his chair, all pretense of dignity gone. Tears stread down his face. "Please, I'll do anything."
"I don't want anything," I replied, my voice hardening. "I just want your life. Now you want to talk? Too late!"
Darian Hill's expression shifted as he finally understood the true nature of the eting he'd arranged. This wasn't a negotiation.
It was a judgnt.
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