Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 154: Insignificant

Liam couldn’t help but halt his steps, freezing while instinctively throwing a wary, cold look at Maxwell.

The brief questioning had reassured Liam about what his murder might disclose, but cultivators had magical methods at their disposal. If they looked hard enough into it, even the most unlikely clue might bring them to Krosstoen village and its secrets.

Liam now knew that the Sects were safer in that regard. They had no real alliance to the Dragon Kingdom, but he couldn’t completely disregard the danger when so much he cared about was at stake. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The situation presented the crossroads Liam didn’t want to face. It rekindled the question of how far he was willing to compromise his values to ensure that his biggest secret remained hidden.

Maxwell was no Joel, Lucy, Mitchell, or Melissa. He wasn’t one of Liam’s dear ones yet, limiting the moral conundrum. Yet, he featured an even bigger problem.

No matter what was about to unfold, Liam was powerless against Maxwell.

Of course, Liam was exaggerating. Even if someone connected the murder to the Bloodline Screening, the eventual conclusions wouldn’t come close to the Ancestral Snake’s bloodline.

At most, people would think that Liam had a grudge with one of the Dragon King’s hired goons, which wasn’t necessarily an act of treason. The butcher’s poor knowledge and living quarters more than showed how little the King cared about him.

Carl was also dead, and what the Recruiter Guild had learned remained unclear. Chances were that no one had records about a Liam from Krosstoen village holding a grudge against the Dragon Kingdom.

Yet, Liam couldn’t help but consider the worst possible option, especially when Cyrus and Adrian could be involved.

Luckily for Liam, Maxwell easily read his expression and reassured him before things could degenerate.

"I haven’t eavesdropped nor will I probe anything," Maxwell declared. "Brother Liam, you can rest assured. I was only checking whether something needed cleaning."

That could make sense. After all, in Maxwell’s view, Liam had merely killed a mortal. With Liam’s new, incredible status, that trivial murder wasn’t even worth investigating or complaining about.

However, Liam’s wariness couldn’t disappear on the spot, but Maxwell was ready to insist on his reassurance.

"We all have or had grudges," Maxwell announced, "Shackles that bind us to our past, mortal lives. Brother, you aren’t the first and won’t be the last to act upon them after seizing power."

Maxwell diverted his gaze, seemingly in thought, showing uncharacteristic distraction. Maybe, even someone as powerful and incredible as him had heavy memories of a life before the cultivation world.

"You are still new to the cultivation journey," Maxwell said, his gaze lost on the dark horizon, "But you’ll see. Much becomes insignificant over the years, even years themselves."

Liam knew what Maxwell was talking about. Time as a concept had changed in his mind after becoming a cultivator, almost losing value entirely.

It had been the same with the butcher and mortals in general. Compared to Liam, that world was small, inconsequential even, and things would only worsen as he grew stronger.

"Am I not in trouble?" Liam asked, genuine innocence managing to shine past the complicated moment.

"Brother, how can killing a mortal put a cultivator in trouble?" Maxwell questioned. "You didn’t create problems for the Sect. That’s all that matters."

Liam lowered his gaze. Maxwell was right, but Liam didn’t like how things had gone anyway. He was more inclined to see the situation as lucky rather than to praise the little self-control his previous actions had featured.

And, as Liam had decided, relying on luck was unforgivable. Even if the issue stemmed from a being grander than him in ways he couldn’t begin to conceive, he still blamed his powerlessness to oppose it.

"Let us head back to the carriage," Maxwell ordered, his voice almost carrying warm care. "Our fellow Brothers and Sisters are awaiting our return."

Liam nodded, advancing as Maxwell turned to leave. Maxwell even set the departure’s pace, strolling over the grassland instead of running.

"Brother, are you sure you want to leave him there?" Maxwell eventually asked, not needing to explain himself any further for Liam to understand.

"Yes," Liam confirmed, limiting his answer at that. That was how he had found his family after all. It was only fair to leave the butcher’s corpse like that, too.

Maxwell didn’t speak anymore at that point, merely leading Liam to the distant carriage, but his mind was far from silent.

Truth be told, Maxwell had conferred with the Sect Leader, and the two had been of the same mind. Even if Liam possessed a terrible secret, his talent and prowess far outshone the problems he could create.

After all, foundations experts who could kill rooting experts were unheard of. Liam was an asset that the Pale Moon Sect was ready to bend itself backward to retain. His miraculous talent had shown its worth, so no one would risk pushing him away.

As for the murder itself, the Sect Leader had delayed the topic until the trio returned to the Sect. Privacy had to be paramount there, and talking about someone as valuable as Liam had to be done in person.

It took a while, but the two eventually reached the carriage, finding Joel standing in front of it with his arms crossed. He wasn’t privy to Maxwell’s conversation with the Sect Leader, but his duties as a friend didn’t need that to address Liam.

"Junior Brother, you can’t stop worrying us," Joel half-scolded, half-teased.

"Senior Brother, I’m sorry," Liam genuinely apologized, even lowering his head in shame. "I didn’t want to cause problems."

Joel had only meant that as a small, joking revenge against Liam’s reckless behavior despite his mission to protect him. Yet, that blinding, authentic apology filled Joel with guilt.

Even Maxwell had to look away, afraid that whatever Liam was radiating would affect his heartstrings.

"Junior Brother, I don’t know if I fear more being your enemy or your friend," Joel commented.

"What?" Liam gasped, his face snapping up, only for Joel to reach for his shoulder, patting it while bringing him inside the carriage, the inscribed curtains eventually hiding his long laugh.