Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 136: Shockwave

Liam blinked at Mitchell’s unstable bow. In his mind, they were beyond polite introductions after the murder attempt, especially in such solemn fashion. That serious vibe actually led to some speechlessness.

Liam had been relatively famous ever since his time in Krosstoen’s mountain, so he had grown accustomed to attention. His talent had even created a similar environment in the Sect until his actions turned it into infamy.

Yet, Mitchell’s bow carried something different. It wasn’t a mere customary greeting. It wasn’t even the fake politeness of people who wanted to befriend Liam due to his incredible potential.

That bow was about status, something that Liam had failed to experience due to unlucky timing. His fellow inner disciples were rooting experts, his superiors, while the outer disciples feared and hated him, making Mitchell his first.

And Liam also understood that the solemnity wasn’t because of him. Mitchell’s status matched his. The only inferiority the green foundation expert could feel came from Liam’s Master. His introduction had even mentioned him.

’This face thing might not be so bad after all,’ Liam considered, albeit not out of personal benefits. It simply felt good to see his Master receive such respect, especially compared to the previous insults.

"Rise?" Liam half-ordered, imitating Maxwell, unsure whether that was the correct thing to say in that situation.

For once, Liam got the words right, and Mitchell straightened himself, only to show more solemn resolve. He seemed to take the "service" part seriously, which ended up creating problems for Liam.

Liam was still on the fence about Mitchell. Even if he were an ally, the Sects’ involvement made Liam hesitant to consider him a teammate as he had done with Melissa.

However, the respect Mitchell had shown the Alchemy Elder pushed Liam into the teammates’ realm, meaning he cared whether he lived or died.

’I know the risks,’ Liam thought, ’And it’s my life, but Mitchell ...’

The recklessness of Liam’s plan wasn’t something Mitchell had agreed on. Liam didn’t want to put a teammate in danger due to his personal goals, either, forcing him to be more open than he had initially planned.

"I suggest you go back to your team," Liam advised. "There’s somewhere I want to go, but it’s likely more dangerous than Senior Cecilia."

"All the more reason for me to join you," Mitchell declared. "We’ll be stronger together."

That reply only made Liam more unwilling to put Mitchell in danger. Besides, it wasn’t that he didn’t trust Mitchell’s strength. It was how noisy he was that worried Liam the most.

"Jump from branch to branch instead of slamming into the trunks," Liam eventually decided. "Be as silent as possible. We can’t alert the magical beasts or any nearby cultivator."

Liam took the lead, jumping on another tree, wanting to teach by example. Needless to say, Mitchell’s imitation paled in comparison. He ended up snapping another branch, having to cling to the trunk to avoid falling into the water, but it was better than before.

"How did you recover so quickly anyway?" Liam questioned, performing another jump. No one had ever survived his Cloud Pill, so he wanted some feedback.

"That smoke was incredible!" Mitchel praised, almost shouting while imitating Liam again, actually managing to land on a branch without snapping it. "I would have needed to rest far longer if it weren’t for Senior Cecilia’s elixirs."

’I see,’ Liam thought, not forgetting to reprimand the foundation expert. "Lower your voice."

Mitchell gasped and covered his mouth, but Liam had already leaped again, forcing him to follow. Luckily, cultivators’ superior physical abilities allowed Mitchell to learn how to stay silent soon enough.

Of course, Liam was keeping the advance slow. Any modicum of speed would have ruined Mitchell’s acceptable performance, but Liam didn’t mind that new pace. It was still the afternoon of the fifth day, so time wasn’t an issue yet.

If anything, that slower pace allowed Liam to consider the new addition properly.

The possibility of learning more about the Ancestral Beasts had been the crucial factor behind Liam’s decision to continue delving deeper into the swamp despite the danger Mitchell might face.

Naturally, Liam had subconsciously decided to protect Mitchell, but his presence did create another problem. Liam didn’t exactly want Mitchell to discover things related to the Ancestral Beasts.

If clues about Liam’s forbidden bloodline were to somehow manifest during the trip, he would have to make a difficult choice. That secret was too big and dangerous for anyone to know, and Mitchell was far from a trustworthy witness.

That actually was a crossroads Liam had yet to face. He had thought about the matter, but he had been lucky enough to avoid it. Anyone who knew about his bloodline was dead, and his dear ones were either unaware, far away, or both.

Luckily, the trip provided enough distractions. By following the incomplete map, Liam stumbled upon more pouches filled with magical beasts’ cores hidden inside trunks.

By the fourth pouch, Liam had over five hundred points on him, as well as a cramped back. The weight wasn’t a problem, but he definitely couldn’t fight in that condition, and that possibility might have arrived.

"I can’t believe those cheaters," Mitchell whispered as soon as he landed on another branch, his voice echoing in the silence of the night. "The Rising Waterfall Sect truly knows no shame."

Liam didn’t reply, and Mitchell soon understood why. The swamp suddenly ended after that tree, revealing an extensive lake of wooden debris with half-destroyed structures standing out in its deeper areas.

"This must be where the old Church used to be," Mitchell commented, remembering to keep his voice down. "Did we reach the Battlefield’s center?"

Liam’s nose had an answer to that question. The stench of blood had never been more intense, and it came from that vast lake of debris. Also, that wasn’t the only clue.

With Liam in the lead, the duo had avoided deadly encounters, dodging any lair they found. However, that had changed now.

Liam couldn’t feel or hear anything at all. It almost seemed as if the lake of debris was deserted, its stench keeping the magical beasts away.

’Is this like what happened with the ruins’ snake?’ Liam wondered. ’But why would the Rising Waterfall Sect place a marker here? Is it another pouch? Did it find something else?’

Those doubts didn’t make Liam forget about the other issue. He had postponed it until the last moment, but the time to address it had arrived.

"Mitchell, can I trust you?" Liam asked, glancing at the cultivator standing on a branch below him.

The strange seriousness in Liam’s question startled Mitchell, but only for a second, ending up fueling the resolve behind his reply. "Of course. Liam, rely on me as much as you want."

’I knew it,’ Liam sighed internally, his mind finally providing an answer at that genuine reply. ’I just can’t risk having to kill him.’

Mitchell looked trustworthy, which was exactly why Liam would keep his secret as far away as possible from him.

"Mitchell, I know we have yet to split these points," Liam called, pointing at his cramped back, only for Mitchell to interrupt him.

"You don’t have to share anything," Mitchell immediately refused. "All those are your points. They rightfully belong to you and the Pale Moon Sect. I can’t claim any ownership or merit over them."

Liam didn’t really know how much he had to care about that, but the genuine reply made it easier for him to ask his intended question.

"Then," Liam said, removing the additional bags from his back and retrieving the one in his pouch. "Hold onto these for me while I check what’s in there."

"No, Liam, I must-!" Mitchell began to say, but it was Liam’s time to interrupt him now.

"I must go alone," Liam firmly declared. "Please, if you truly are my ally, let me do this and don’t ask questions."

The request put Mitchel in a pickle. On the one hand, his mission was to preserve Liam’s life. However, he was also at his service, meaning that he had to follow his orders.

Nevertheless, Liam’s face suddenly snapped to his right, looking at the swamp area. He even frowned, almost prompting Mitchell to question him, until a ringing noise reached his ears.

And, before Mitchell could turn toward the noise’s source, Liam shoved him away, sending him flying through the air, giving him safe, first-row seats to the shockwave that exploded in his previous position.

The entire top of the leafless tree blew up, splinters flying everywhere, forcing Mitchell to cross his arms to protect his face. He eventually fell heavily on the red waters, but was ready to stand up as soon as his feet touched the mud, only for the presence he sensed to freeze him in fear.

Mitchell hesitantly lowered his arms and looked up, finding Cecilia standing next to him. She stared at the lake of wooden debris ahead, but her following words addressed him.

"Junior," Cecilia called, "For your sake, stay down. Only one foundation expert has to die tonight."