I moved quickly, tightening the straps of my gear. Tonight was the night.
Without wasting time, I called out, "Celine."
She appeared almost instantly, her steps light as always. "Yes, my lord? Is something wrong?"
"I'm going out tonight. You'll be coming with me."
Celine blinked, taken aback. "Tonight, my lord? Are you sure?"
I nodded. "Yes, tonight."
Her brows furrowed in concern. "It's dangerous outside after dark. Especially for someone like you, my lord."
"We're not going far," I said calmly. "Just behind the manor. I need you with me, Celine. You're the only one I trust."
Her eyes widened slightly at my words, a small flush coloring her cheeks. "I… Understood, my lord."
I thanked her and turned away, finishing the last of my preparations. Celine wasn't just a servant, she was the most loyal person in this entire household. And I needed that loyalty tonight.
Once everything was ready, we slipped out into the dim corridor. The halls were quiet, shadows stretching along the walls like creeping vines. As we turned a corner, one of the night guards spotted us and stepped forward.
"My lord?" he said cautiously. "Is something the matter? You're… heading out quite late."
"I'm just going to the kitchen," I replied casually. "I got hungry. Thought I'd grab something myself."
The guard hesitated, then nodded. "Very well, my lord. Should I call someone—?"
"No need," I interrupted. "Celine's with me."
He stepped aside, and we walked on.
As we turned down another passage, Celine whispered beside me, "Did you bring me along just to fool the guards, my lord?"
"That's one reason," I said with a slight smirk. "But not the only one."
She didn't press further. Just nodded, silent but alert.
We reached the back gate and stepped out into the night. The cool air brushed against my skin, sharp and alive. Crickets sang somewhere in the dark, and above us, the moon was a pale eye watching our every move.
We walked until the tall manor behind us faded into the night, and the grave markers of the ancestral cemetery rose before us. Silent. Ancient. Heavy with secrets.
And there it was. The stone formation. A puzzle disguised as a memorial. I knelt down, brushing dust from the etched symbols. My memory kicked in, the sequence, the alignment, the meaning behind each mark. Leofred had solved it once. I remembered enough to repeat his steps.
Piece by piece, I rotated the symbols and aligned the carvings until they slid together like gears in a clock.
Celine gasped as the stone trembled, shifting, a low groan echoing as a panel of the earth pulled back, revealing a stairwell that descended into shadow.
"Incredible," she whispered. "You're amazing, my lord…"
I smirked and turned to her. "Of course I am. Come on. Let's go."
Together, we stepped into the darkness.
With a glowing stone in my hand, we walked through the narrow, ancient corridor. The light flickered against damp stone walls, casting long shadows that danced like ghosts. All around us, old tombs lay still, their inscriptions faded by time, names of ancestors, heroes, and forgotten souls of the Blackthorn line.
I finally reached it. The chamber.
"This is it," I said quietly.
Celine looked around with awe. "It's beautiful…"
Before us stood a circular altar, its edges lined with detailed carvings and runes. At its center was a ceremonial dagger, embedded in stone, adorned with rubies and blackened silver vines.
I approached the altar, grasped the dagger, and pulled it free. It was cold. Heavier than it looked.
Without hesitation, I cut my palm, blood seeping out and splashing onto the stone floor. It dripped into the grooves of the altar, feeding it.
"Lord Adam—!" Celine cried out, rushing forward.
"It's fine," I said, wincing slightly. "Just a scratch."
The blood began to glow faintly, and the circle trembled.
"I need your help," I told her, turning back. "Come closer."
Without a word, without hesitation, Celine stepped forward. I handed her the dagger, and she didn't even blink as she mirrored my action, cutting her palm and letting her blood join mine.
As the red liquids mixed and flowed into the altar, a low hum echoed through the chamber.
I muttered under my breath, "Whoever designed this place was insane. Blood of two virgins? Seriously?"
I chuckled bitterly, thinking of the novel's lore. My father and mother couldn't open this place, but if I had a sibling, maybe it could've worked. Still, it required no shared blood. That detail had always seemed absurd.
"If I ever find the guy who made this tomb," I muttered, "I'll spit on his grave."
The runes flared suddenly, and the altar split open, revealing a hidden pathway. A breath of cold air surged out from the shadows below.
Celine stepped beside me, wiping her hand. "It worked."
"Of course it did. Let's go."
We descended together. At the end of the passage was the final test a narrow tunnel barely large enough for one person. At its end, submerged beneath a pool of water, was a single, sealed chest, the manual.
"This is it…" I whispered.
To get it, I needed to dive through the tight passage while Celine pulled a nearby lever that drained the water just enough to stop the surge blocking the way.
"Celine," I said, "wait for my signal, then pull that lever and hold it."
She nodded, ready.
I inhaled, dived, and pushed through the narrow space. Water surged around me, cold and blinding. As I reached the chest, the current slowed, Celine had done it.
I grasped the box, its surface slick and ancient, then signaled to release.
The water swirled, lifting me upward. I held on tightly as I was carried back through the tunnel.
Finally, I surfaced, gasping for air, clutching the soaked chest against my chest.
We did it.
I looked at Celine, grinning. "Gotcha"
"It's time to head back," I said, clutching the chest carefully.
"We'll open it in my room."
Celine nodded silently, her usual calm returning as we retraced our steps through the dark corridors and back into the manor.
Once inside, I locked the door behind us and set the chest on my desk.
I opened it slowly, heart pounding.
Inside lay the cultivation manual, exactly as described. The pages were yellowed and brittle, but the knowledge inside was priceless. Alongside it were several strange-looking seeds, at first glance, they seemed useless, but I knew better.
"These will come in handy," I murmured excitedly.
I flipped through the book, feeling the thrill of discovery wash over me.
Celine cleared her throat softly. "May I leave now, my lord?"
I grinned. "Wait a moment, Celine. Stay with me for a bit. Don't you want to spend some time together?"
Her face, usually so composed and unreadable, flushed slightly.
"It's not like that, my lord," she said, almost stumbling over her words.
I waved her off gently. "Sit down. I have something for you."
I searched through my cabinet and found a ring. It was beautiful, with a large gem that shimmered with an inner light, definitely not something ordinary.
"This is for you," I said, offering it to her. "For helping me."
She hesitated. "My lord, I only did my duty. I cannot accept such a gift."
I smiled firmly. "Take it. I insist. It's rude not to accept gifts."
After a brief pause, Celine accepted the ring, slipping it onto her finger with a shy smile.
Immediately, she looked at her hands in surprise. "I feel… different. Stronger. I can sense the Qi around us more clearly. What is this, my lord?"
"That," I said proudly, "is the Energizing Band. It doubles your energy flow and sharpens your senses. I picked it because it suits you."
"Thank you," she whispered.
"No problem."
I opened the manual on my desk. "I'm going to start reading this now. Keep an eye on me, will you?"
Celine nodded. "Of course, my lord."