Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 200: Demonic path

"Those rogues!" Elliot snorted. "Seniors, allow me to apologize on behalf of all lone cultivators. Their behavior brings shame to us all!"

The carriage had resumed moving, the looting session barely adding a few spirit stones to Liam’s findings. With the Qi he had depleted in the battle, that victory had amounted to a complete financial loss.

The amount of poisonous powder Liam had to smoke to refill his Qi reserves was probably far more valuable than that additional couple of crystals.

"To think that their greed turned them to the demonic path," Elliot dramatically scoffed. "Shameful! Truly shameful!"

Naturally, Elliot was putting up an act. Lone cultivators’ lives were fickle, but his Seniors had been the real demons there, especially since they had left their opponents’ corpses naked in the grassland.

That had led to some hesitation upon Liam and Melissa’s return, which Elliot was now trying to compensate for with those loud statements.

As for Liam, he disagreed with Elliot. He knew the difference between greed and desperation. He had seen it on Krosstoen’s mountain, and there was an even greater point that put him in a pensive mood.

’I’ll have to behave like that once I leave the Sect,’ Liam thought, ’Won’t I?’

While screwed, Liam had a moral compass. He had his idea of fairness, of the way he wanted to live. Yet, his talent’s requirements might force him to decide between abiding by it and accepting depressing compromises.

Liam’s cultivation simply demanded an insane amount of resources, a number so high he likely couldn’t obtain on his own, which might make stealing from those who didn’t deserve it necessary.

Of course, that potential crossroads was still distant, and Liam was partially certain that he wouldn’t compromise himself, mostly because he wouldn’t need to.

Liam’s current plan was to take from stronger enemies. He had no shortage of those now, and that trend might continue throughout his cultivation journey.

Actually, with the Dragon King probably being Liam’s nemesis, that trend was pretty much a certainty.

Still, there was another issue that kept Liam silent, something that had nothing to do with his mind. His hands were full of blood and gore, but he apparently wasn’t allowed to clean them, not by himself.

For whatever reason, after returning to the carriage, Melissa had taken it upon herself to wipe Liam’s hands with a rag from her pouch, even being quite meticulous and forceful about it.

"Erm, Senior Sister?" Liam couldn’t help but call once Melissa seized his right arm, forcing him to half-turn so that she could deal with his other hand.

Melissa didn’t reply, not with words. She merely pointed her emotionless look at Liam before refocusing on his hand.

In the past, that emotionless face would have left Liam clueless. Still, the more time he spent with Melissa, the better he could look beyond that mask, and his hunches told him that she was angry about something now.

"Senior-?" Liam called again, only for Melissa to be done with his hand and let him go, crossing her legs to start meditating.

Still, as Melissa closed her eyes, she made sure to utter one last order. "Just Melissa."

Liam tilted his head in confusion, even searching for help from Elliot, only for him to look away, not wanting anything to do with the terrifying couple’s bickering.

By the second day of travel, at night, the carriage reached the forest around The Three Peaks, which Liam, Melissa, and Elliot crossed in no time.

Despite the late hour, the trio’s arrival didn’t go unnoticed. A burly, sleeveless, and stern figure materialized as soon as Liam and the others tried to step on the rising paths, applying some of his superior pressure.

"We greet the Disciplinary Elder," Liam and Melissa said simultaneously, performing polite bows.

Elliot promptly bowed, but most of the Elder’s pressure was on him, keeping his mouth shut while that superior cultivator inspected his very soul.

"Disciples, what is this?" The Disciplinary Elder eventually asked, crossing his arms.

"Fellow Daoist Elliot is a lone cultivator who helped us in a mission," Liam explained, his head still lowered. "He requested an opportunity to join the Pale Moon Sect."

The Disciplinary Elder immediately disregarded the matter. He would still give Elliot an opportunity out of respect for Liam and Melissa’s status, but the issue was hardly at the top of his priorities.

Instead, the bursting, clinking pouches on the two disciples’ backs were.

"Are these spirit stones retrieved from Birgan Falls?" The Disciplinary Elder questioned.

"Yes, Disciplinary Elder!" Melissa cried.

The Elder sighed internally. The news had reached the Sect, and complaints had even arisen. All the other Sects now wanted to issue missions in that location without the Pale Moon Sect’s presence, creating an annoying political situation.

That even came right after what had unfolded on the Mutated Battlefield. The Pale Moon Sect was securing victory after victory, but the political tensions had only worsened.

Still, that wasn’t the only news that had reached the Sect. The Disciplinary Elder had also learned about the killing of the level two magical beast, and that feat demanded praise instead of rebukes.

"Disciple Liam, it seems you have fully recovered from your attempted breakthrough," The Elder declared. "I expect to see you on the plateau at dawn."

The Disciplinary Elder stepped aside, and Liam and Melissa understood the silent order. They performed a quick bow at Elliot before leaving him behind, quickly climbing through the Sect.

With the Elliot issue done with, Liam was ready to resume his push toward the breakthrough, and reaching the second plateau told him that he wasn’t alone at that.

The Alchemy Elder was standing in front of Liam’s cave, the cane resting on his shoulder. He wanted to appear solemn, but the sight of those clinking pouches almost made him curse.

The Elder had merely wanted his disciple to take a break and have some fun with his girlfriend, but there Liam was, carrying a mountain of spirit stones with another impossible kill under his belt.

"Disciple, you are late," The Elder scolded to hide his annoyance toward himself, opening the cave.

Liam followed his Master inside, emptying his pouch on the floor. The spirit stones formed a small, shimmering pile, the direct sight intensifying the Elder’s annoyance, only for Liam to deepen it even further.

"Master, I only managed to retrieve this," Liam said, his tone apologetic as he cupped his fist. "I’ll retrieve more next time."

The Elder was about to swing his cane when Melissa politely crossed the cave’s boundary, adding half of her share to Liam’s pile.

"Senior Sister, we split-!" Liam began to complain, only for Melissa to snap a silencing glare at him.

"Liam killed the level two magical beast on his own," Melissa revealed, her following bow reeking of pristine decorum. "Alchemy Elder, it was I who stopped Junior Brother from seizing more spirit stones out of worry for political repercussions."

With the big pile of crystals resting on the floor, the Elder could easily imagine what mess his foolish disciple would have caused hadn’t it been for Melissa. It had actually been his idea to employ that safeguard, so he didn’t hesitate to claim that feat as his.

"I expected as much," The Elder snorted, finally hitting Liam with the cane. "Thank your Senior Sister and say your goodbyes. We have work to do."

Liam was still conflicted about that additional share of spirit stones, but Melissa directly stepped out of the cave, waiting on the path. Meanwhile, his Master turned, seemingly for a specific reason.

Liam had no choice but to comply, so he reached Melissa, only for her glare to prevent the mistake he was about to make.

"Melissa," Liam said, skipping unnecessary titles. "Thank you. I will repay you."

Melissa’s glare finally receded, even making room for a slight smile, which grew timid when she glanced past Liam, seeing how the Alchemy Elder was avoiding looking in their direction on purpose.

Liam glanced back, too, only for Melissa to take his hands, reclaiming his gaze in time to see the inviting expression he had learned to recognize. Before he could think about it, he was already leaning down, leaving a quick kiss on her lips.

"N-next time," Melissa whispered, letting go of Liam’s hands, "We’ll c-continue from where w-we left off."

Liam blinked in confusion, but Melissa was already gone, climbing the path to return to her cave.

’What did she mean by that?’ Liam wondered. ’And can I or can’t I kiss her in public?’

Luckily for Liam, something more comprehensible was waiting for him in the cave, taking priority over Melissa and her confusing shenanigans. He went back inside, sealing the boulder, only for his Master to turn abruptly.

"Disciple, brief me," The Elder ordered.

"Master, I’m ready to resume concocting," Liam declared.

"Of course," The Elder exclaimed, "But don’t expect me to show leniency. Killing a level two magical beast might have brought honor to my name, but I demand that your alchemical achievements reach the same heights and beyond."

"Yes, Master!" Liam said, already moving to undress so that he could resume concocting, only for the Elder to stop him by placing his cane on his torso.

"Disciple," The Elder called. "This will be your only chance to refuse. I can teach you how to cram years of training into mere months, but it will cost you dearly."

For all of the Elder’s anger, he prioritized Liam’s health. Yet, the Elder also had to respect his wishes. Actually, pushing Liam to the very brink of madness might be the only way to prepare him for what he might face.

"Please, Master," Liam uttered. "Push me as hard as you can."

"Good!" The Elder cried, donning a fearsome smirk. "You won’t die easily anyway, right? I’ll take pleasure in showing you exactly how deeply you have insulted your Master."