The Cunning Treasure Hunter-Chapter 138: The Broken Oath

Aiden dismissed all of her disciples.

But there was one—Marcus—who remained.

This was not per Aiden’s directive.

"Marcus," Aiden spoke softly, "You should head to the Blooming Peak Pavilion as well…"

"Please, tell me, Master. What exactly has happened? What did you hear?"

Marcus looked directly into Aiden’s eyes.

At seventeen, in this land of Martial World, a boy of this age is already capable of taking responsibility for his choices.

It meant he understood the weight of the sword in his hand, the consequences of his actions.

No crime could absolve him; no responsibility or duty could be shirked.

That is why his decisions deserve respect.

Aiden silently washed his face and brushed his hair back.

Despite being young, Aiden was a high-ranking disciple, trusted above all others among the three main disciples.

Could she even still be called an "child"?

In three years, she would turn twenty, an age where she would officially be recognized as a senior member of the sect.

"…Do you truly wish to hear it?"

"Yes. And I believe I must know."

Aiden sat on the veranda, slumping as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

His words had no flaws.

If she were to hide it from Marcus, what would the role of the highest disciple even mean?

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"Is this a secret?"

"It certainly is."

It was a tale of Suncrest Great Master Thorne, the legendary swordsman said to be second only to the Sword Master in the Martial World.

Of course, such a tale could only be considered a secret.

Most importantly, it was information about innate vital energy and the forbidden techniques surrounding it.

The fewer who knew this secret, the better.

…Ideally, no one would know. But with Great Master Thorne’s actions involving Immortal Pharmacist, that had become impossible.

"The matter is serious," Aiden continued, "but I must ask for your word."

"What do you mean?"

"I need your vow. You must never speak of what I tell you, to anyone."

"…I swear."

Aiden shook his head slowly, her eyes locking with Marcus’s.

This was not the gaze Marcus had seen before.

It was cold, sharp—like someone pushed to the edge, with nowhere to retreat.

All the usual ease and composure were gone.

"No. You cannot swear so easily."

"What do you mean by that?"

"…If this story ever leaks into the Martial World, we will no longer have the strength to defeat the remnants of the Harmony martial schools or the Demonic Cult."

Marcus furrowed his brow, but he could feel the truth of Aiden’s prediction.

The righteous sects, due to their reputation and prestige, cannot afford to expend people like resources—at least, not openly.

But Demonic Cult and Harmony martial schools?

They had always been different.

From the Heavenly Sound Blood Absorption Technique onwards, they had always acted in such a manner.

The truth was, they sacrificed countless lives to recover their innate vital energy.

Immortal Pharmacist was human too.

There was no guarantee that he could withstand the brutal interrogations and tortures for long.

And, to break his own resolve and perform such a forbidden technique on Vera was unforgivable.

"…I will tell no one. Vera is also my junior sister, Master."

"That’s right… She’s your youngest junior sister."

Aiden gestured for Marcus to come closer.

It was a silent command, to approach.

Step, step, step.

The footsteps of Magnus echoed slowly as he made his way out of the cave.

Inside the cave, the grotesque corpses of strange beasts, much like the one Aetheris had once stepped on, lay scattered.

One could tell just how deeply the beasts had been tainted by demonic forces.

Their flesh and skin had melted away, leaving only their bones behind.

Although the walls no longer moved or emitted the corrupting evil energy that once plagued the air,

the sight of the white bone graveyards scattered here and there was still enough to create a chilling atmosphere.

And at the very end,

in the entrance where light shone brightly, a figure stood—Gideon, the head of Suncrest Sect.

The Young Master narrowed his eyes slightly.

There were two choices.

He could disguise himself as Magnus, or he could kill Gideon and take his body.

The Young Master briefly gauged his own power.

Magnus’s body was a fine vessel.

It was at the peak of a transcendent state, nearing the absolute pinnacle.

The depth and breadth of his Ethereal and the refinement of his physical form matched that level.

But could he defeat Gideon with this body?

The answer was no.

Normally, with this level of physique, he should be able to exert power beyond even Kingdom of Harmony in the martial world…

But he had not yet fully adapted to Magnus’s body.

It had only been a short time since he took it.

There was still an adjustment period.

The height, the physique, the strength, and even the vision were unfamiliar.

Unlike Aetheris, who had completely subjugated Magnus’s spirit and taken control of it,

the Young Master had not yet fully mastered the body.

He could control it, but it would take time.

Still, he couldn’t just turn the body into a monster, either.

This was a body with a proper identity, fully under his command.

Young Master squinted and slowed his pace,

then slowly began to search through Magnus’s memories.

But at that moment,

a blinding light suddenly pierced through the cave entrance,

the glow of the sword aura emitted by Gideon.

"Impressive, you’re quick to catch on."

The Young Master, now inhabiting Magnus’s body, loosened his shoulders and gripped his Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword.

Even the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword in his hand began to burn with sword aura.

But it was different from Gideon’s.

His sword aura was a pitch-black hue, as if it sought to devour all light around it.

"What have you done to my disciple, you monster?"

Gideon asked in a low voice.

But the Young Master, inhabiting Magnus’s body, merely smiled coldly.

"Heh, your disciple?"

"Yes."

In his memories, Gideon had never truly cherished Magnus.

He always favored the most outstanding among his disciples.

Moreover, he had never once bothered to properly assess his disciples.

That was how Magnus had risen to this position.

As the Great Disciple and the next sect leader.

Quietly, Gideon began to eliminate those who seemed more talented than him.

He spread bad rumors, dug up secrets, and exposed their weaknesses.

One by one, those who had surpassed him in talent were either cast out or left the sect, exhausted by the toxic relationships.

Magnus had immense talent, but

even in his era, there were those like Suncrest Sword Dragon Kael and now Ethan who were on another level.

However, Magnus’s talents lay elsewhere.

He had no trouble casting out those who were more gifted. No one found it odd.

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But some did click their tongues, whispering that there were no ’Qilins’ or ’Dragons’ in this generation of Suncrest.

"Interesting. This memory of yours doesn’t show that you were ever loved by him."

"Where do you come off speaking such nonsense? Magnus was the one chosen as the next sect leader."

That was because he was the best among them.

The ones more talented than him had been driven out by Magnus himself.

A twisted grin formed on the corner of the Young Master’s lips,

and he began to laugh, quietly at first.

"Why did you choose this one as your next sect leader and Great Disciple?"

"Because he was the best."

As expected, the memory was accurate.

The leader of Suncrest Sect was a man who would rank people,

and an organization led by such a person was the easiest to destroy.

Because,

as long as someone was useful, he would not hesitate to put even a poisoned mushroom into his sack.

"Don’t you want to defeat the Sword Sovereign and become the leader of the Martial World? Don’t you want to reign over the Martial World?"

"Do you think I would join forces with the Demonic Cult for that?"

"Would you really choose to live under someone in a peaceful world, or would you choose to rule over a divided world?"

"Think carefully, leader of Suncrest. Is that truly what you want?"

The safety of the Martial World?

The peace of the Central Plains?

If he had cared about such things, he wouldn’t have become who he was now.

Gideon furrowed his brow,

but the truth was undeniable—his ultimate desire was impossible to fulfill.

"…This doesn’t make sense."

Marcus shook his head in disbelief.

But Aiden still wore a sorrowful expression.

Her disciple, her closest confidant, had incurred a debt to her great master.

A debt that could never be repaid, one that would haunt him for a lifetime.

That was something that could never be accepted lightly.

"How… how could this be possible? Master…"

"Lower your voice."

"My God…"

Marcus glanced toward the path Vera had taken.

Although Vera was no longer visible on that road,

he could not fathom the weight placed on those small, fragile shoulders.

How could someone ever repay such a debt?

And within three months?

Marcus shook his head, unable to comprehend.

"That… that’s too much for Vera. It may break her."

"But there was no other choice. I couldn’t let her die like that. Vera is… indispensable to us."

"…Us? Which ’us’ are you referring to?"

Marcus sensed something odd in Aiden’s words and asked.

Aiden once again spread her spiritual energy, blocking out the surrounding sounds.

"Do you remember the day you and I first met, Marcus?"

"Yes, I remember. That day, I…"

Marcus clenched his teeth.

"…It was the night when my parents were dragged away after I sold food to a fugitive the Clan had placed a bounty on."