"I have no idea what you're talking about, Westwood," Pierce said, his face a perfect mask of confusion. "What agreent? I invited Liam Knight here as my honored guest, not as bait for your petty vendettas."
I stayed on one knee, still recovering from the Martial Saint's grip, watching this performance unfold. Pierce's acting was almost convincing—if I hadn't been dealing with liars and schers for years now.
Tyler's face contorted with rage. "Don't play dumb with , Cromwell. We discussed this weeks ago! You would lure Knight to the Exchange eting, and I would finally eliminate this pest."
Pierce shook his head, looking genuinely offended. "I made no such agreent. Perhaps you misunderstood my intentions. Mr. Knight possesses items of significant value that I'm interested in acquiring through legitimate exchange."
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Everyone watched, barely breathing, as Tyler stepped closer to Pierce.
"You're protecting him now?" Tyler's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "After everything he's done?"
Pierce shrugged casually. "I protect my guests. It's a matter of principle."
I slowly rose to my feet, keeping my expression neutral despite the throbbing pain in my throat. This sudden shift in allegiance wasn't fooling . Pierce Cromwell wanted sothing—sothing he believed only I could provide.
Tyler stared at Pierce for a long mont before his lips curled into a bitter smile. "I see how it is. He's gotten to you sohow. Made you promises. Offered you sothing you couldn't resist."
Pierce didn't respond, which was answer enough.
"You'll regret this, Cromwell," Tyler said, backing away. "When he betrays you—and he will—rember this mont."
With a sharp gesture to his Martial Saints, Tyler turned and stalked toward the exit. He paused beside my table, leaning down to whisper directly to .
"Clever move, Knight. Sohow you've convinced Pierce Cromwell to dance to your tune." His eyes were cold with hatred. "But don't think for a second this changes anything. You'll leave this Exchange eting with nothing—I'll make sure of it."
I t his gaze steadily. "Are you finished? Your breath slls like failure."
Tyler's face flushed with fury, but he controlled himself with visible effort. Instead of responding, he turned his attention to the young woman with the ginseng who had been watching the confrontation with wide, terrified eyes.
"You," he said, pointing at her. "Were you planning to trade with this man?"
She shook her head frantically. "N-no, sir! I was just passing by."
"Good," Tyler smiled coldly. "Because anyone who trades with Liam Knight will find themselves unwelco at future Exchange etings. Spread the word."
With that final threat, he departed, his Martial Saints following in his wake. The crowd that had gathered to watch began to disperse, murmuring among themselves.
Pierce approached my table, dismissing his own Martial Saints with a subtle nod.
"Well," I said dryly, "that was quite the performance."
"You're welco," Pierce replied, his voice low. "Though I believe the words you're looking for are 'thank you.'"
I smiled thinly. "Thank you for stepping in after setting up in the first place? I don't think so."
Pierce's eyes narrowed. "Let's not forget our arrangent, Knight. I expect you to honor your end of the bargain."
"Of course," I said, my tone deliberately light. "I always keep my word."
Pierce studied for a mont longer before nodding slightly. "We'll speak later. Right now, I suggest you salvage what you can from this Exchange eting." His gaze flickered around the hall. "Though I fear Tyler's influence may have made that difficult."
After Pierce left, I exhaled slowly, rubbing my bruised throat. The situation had gone from bad to worse. Not only was Tyler actively sabotaging my trading opportunities, but Pierce Cromwell was clearly playing his own ga—one I'd willingly entangled myself in.
"That was intense," Daphne's voice ca from behind . She'd recovered from the Martial Saint's attack and approached my table with a slight limp.
"Are you alright?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
"I'll survive," she said, wincing as she touched her side. "Though I might have a few broken ribs. The question is, are you alright? What was that about an arrangent with Pierce Cromwell?"
I glanced around to ensure no one was within earshot before speaking. "I promised him information about Isabelle's bloodline."
Daphne's eyes widened. "You what?"
"I promised him a hint about the true nature of Isabelle's bloodline," I clarified, my voice barely audible. "Information he's desperate to have."
"And you actually plan to tell him?" Daphne asked, disbelief coloring her tone.
I smiled coldly. "No. I never intended to."
"But then why—"
"Because I needed his protection temporarily," I explained. "And anyone who covets Isabelle's bloodline is my enemy, regardless of their montary usefulness."
Understanding dawned on Daphne's face. "You're playing a dangerous ga, Liam."
"I've been playing dangerous gas since the day I t Isabelle," I replied. "This is just one more move on the board."
Daphne was silent for a mont, seemingly wrestling with sothing. Finally, she said, "I want to help you." First sееn оn
"Help ?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why would you do that after what just happened with Tyler? You've already made a powerful enemy today."
"Tyler Westwood has been using for years," she said, bitterness evident in her voice. "I was nothing but a tool to get closer to Isabelle. And now I know why—he wants to exploit her bloodline like she's so kind of resource."
She shook her head, determination hardening her features. "Isabelle was always kind to , even when we were supposed to be rivals. I won't let him get his hands on her."
I studied Daphne carefully, looking for any sign of deception. Finding none, I asked, "What do you propose?"
"Let conduct your exchanges," she suggested. "Tyler has effectively blacklisted you, but he can't stop from trading. I'll act as your proxy."
It was a tempting offer, but trusting anyone was dangerous at this point.
"How do I know I can trust you?" I asked bluntly.
Daphne t my gaze without flinching. "You don't. But right now, I'm the only option you have."
She was right. With Tyler's threat looming over anyone who dared trade with , I had little chance of acquiring what I needed on my own.
After a mont's hesitation, I reached into my spatial ring and withdrew several items I'd brought for trading. Rare herbs, a few spirit stones, and so alchemy tools I no longer needed.
"Everything I have to offer," I said, placing them on the table.
Daphne's eyes widened at the trust I was placing in her. "What do you want in return?"
"Information," I replied. "Anything about Mystic Realms, ancient formations, or unusual phenona in this region."
She nodded, carefully gathering my items. "I'll do my best."
The next day, my stall remained empty. Not a single person approached, not even out of curiosity. Tyler's influence was clearly far-reaching. I sat alone, watching as traders bustled around the hall, deliberately avoiding eye contact with .
"Enjoying the solitude, Knight?" Tyler's mocking voice ca from nearby. He stood leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, wearing a smug expression.
"Imnsely," I replied coolly. "It gives ti to think about how pathetic you must be to go to such lengths."
His smile didn't waver. "Call it pathetic if you want. I call it effective." He gestured to my empty table. "Look around. No one will help you. No one will trade with you. You're alone, Knight. Just as you've always been."
I refused to let him see how his words affected . Instead, I stood up, gathering my few belongings.
"Leaving so soon?" Tyler called after as I headed for the exit.
"I have better things to do than sit around all day," I replied without turning back.
Outside the Exchange Hall, I took a deep breath of fresh air, clearing my head. If I couldn't make progress here, I'd use my ti more productively by exploring the Mystic Realm further.
The landscape around was barren and desolate, a stark contrast to the lush vegetation I'd encountered in other parts of the realm. Sothing about this area felt wrong—corrupted sohow.
As I walked further from the Exchange eting grounds, an odd scent caught my attention. It wasn't strong, but it was pervasive—a cloying sweetness underlaid with sothing rotten.
I tried to pinpoint the source, but it seed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. Following my instincts, I activated my Deducing Heavenly Secrets technique, focusing my spiritual perception outward.
The world around shifted as my consciousness expanded, allowing to perceive the flows of energy that made up the Grand Dao. Streams of light flowed through the land, interconnecting everything—but there, in the distance, sothing was wrong.
A gray, murky area disrupted the natural flow, like an infection in the body of the Mystic Realm. It pulsed with unnatural energy, and the strange scent seed to emanate from it.
Without hesitation, I set off toward the anomaly, my curiosity overriding my caution. Whatever this corruption was, it might hold answers about the Mystic Realm's true nature—and potentially, about Isabelle's whereabouts.
The scent grew stronger as I approached, and a sense of foreboding settled over . Sothing ancient and powerful waited ahead, sothing that didn't want to be discovered.
But I'd never let danger stop before. I pressed on, determined to uncover whatever secrets this corrupted spot held, no matter the risk.
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