WebNovels

Chapter 21 - A Blade and a Promise

The cries of the Emei disciples echoed faintly through Butterfly Valley. Saxa Quinn and Viola Grace knelt over the body of their fallen master, Mother Clarisse Hale, their tears staining the earth. Their grief, however, did little to stir Liam Ardent's heart.

His gaze was steady, sharp as a drawn blade.

For a fleeting moment, he considered it—the temptation to strike down the two disciples where they knelt. The System had revealed the truth: slaying one foe could yield treasures, skills, and experience. The hunger for power, for advancement, pulsed within him like a second heartbeat.

But then he exhaled, his expression softening just slightly.

To kill enemies in battle was one thing; to slaughter two broken disciples in their grief was another. Such an act would chip away at the heart he had sworn to keep intact. Liam was not yet willing to abandon his humanity for the path of endless bloodshed.

"Bury your master," Lady Moira Drake's voice broke the silence. She lowered her gaze with respect, her voice heavy with grief despite all that had transpired. "Whatever else, she raised you. Lay her to rest properly."

"Do not feign kindness!" Saxa Quinn's voice cracked with rage. She shot to her feet, her face twisted with grief and venom. "If not for you—if not for your betrayal—Master would still be alive!"

Before Moira could respond, Liam's figure blurred. His palm lashed out like a thunderclap, striking Saxa across the face. She spun through the air and landed heavily, her cheek swelling grotesquely.

His voice was cold, calm, and merciless:

"Speak again, and I will silence you forever."

The weight of his words froze both Saxa and Viola in place. Their anger curdled into fear. Neither dared meet Liam's eyes.

"Go," he said at last, his tone dismissive. "Take her body and leave this valley. You are alive only because I allow it."

The two disciples scrambled away, dragging their master's body between them. Their figures soon vanished down the mist-laden path, leaving behind only silence.

For a time, none spoke. The valley itself seemed to mourn the passing of one of Jianghu's titans.

Then, Lady Isolde Serpentis stepped forward, her serpent-headed staff lightly tapping the ground. Her voice, though disguised in the cracked timbre of age, carried a note of admiration.

"Liam Ardent," she said softly, "you slew the Abbess of Emei, claimed her sacred sword, and stood unyielding even when Heaven itself seemed against you. Tell me—what youth of Jianghu can compare to that?"

Her clear eyes lingered on the Heavenly Reliquary Sword that now rested in Liam's hand. The aura of the blade pulsed faintly, as though recognizing its new master.

System Update

[Achievement Unlocked: Slayer of Abbess]

[Reward: Golden Manual – Snowpiercing Palm ×1]

[Reward: Supreme Experience Pills ×3]

[Reward: Silver ×10,000]

System Update

[New System Feature: Weapon System Activated]

[Possessed Item: Heavenly Reliquary Sword (King-Class Divine Weapon)]

[Achievement: King of Weapons – Reward: Experience Bottle ×1]

A thrill surged through Liam. His victory had yielded treasures beyond expectation. More than that—the System declared that even a legendary move like Heavenly Descent Beyond the Veil could now be comprehended on his own. He had caught a glimpse of invincibility, and the path before him glittered with promise.

Lady Moira Drake stepped close, her hands trembling as she clasped Isla protectively to her chest. Her eyes, red with tears, turned to Liam. "You saved us," she whispered. "Were it not for you… we would be in chains."

Isla's wide eyes sparkled as she clung to Liam's sleeve. "Brother Liam, you were amazing!"

Liam offered her a faint smile, his hand briefly ruffling her hair.

But even as gratitude swelled around him, his gaze returned to Lady Isolde Serpentis. He caught the way her usually composed expression wavered as she studied him. Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak, then closed again.

Liam stepped forward, extending the Heavenly Reliquary Sword toward her. "Would you like to see it?" he asked lightly.

Her lashes lowered, a flicker of surprise glinting in her gaze. Slowly, almost reverently, she accepted the weapon. Her delicate fingers curled around the hilt, and she drew it partway from its scabbard.

A sheen of azure light spilled across her face, illuminating her features. Even in her aged disguise, her beauty shone through, ageless and enthralling.

Her lips curved faintly as she slid the blade back into its scabbard. "It is indeed worthy of its legend. But…" She returned it to him with sudden swiftness, her tone cool. "…such a treasure does not belong in my hand. It belongs with the one bold enough to wrest it from fate."

Liam caught the blade. For a fleeting instant, his heart stirred—he had seen the faintest tremor of her lashes, the subtle warmth that betrayed her calm.

System Update

[Lady Isolde Serpentis's Favorability +2 → Current: 100 (Vow of Lifelong Devotion)]

His breath caught. The number alone sent a ripple of triumph through him. He had long coveted not just her power, but her beauty—the fusion of saint and temptress that even Jianghu itself could not cage. Now, she was bound to him, not by chains, but by her own vow.

She turned away quickly, concealing her emotions. "My illness has been healed. With Edric Thornwell slain and my burden lifted, Spirit Snake Island awaits me. I must return."

Panic flared within Liam. To let her leave now would be folly. He took a step closer, his voice laced with urgency.

"You may be healed, but your constitution still bears scars. If you depart now, those wounds may fester again. Stay. Let me guide your recovery. Only then will your strength never falter."

Her eyes flicked back to him, unreadable. She knew his intentions—he could see the faint curve of her lips, the spark of mischief in her gaze. But she did not refuse.

"Very well," she said at last, her tone quiet but resolute. "Then I will remain a while longer."

As her words faded into the misty air, Liam's heart surged with triumph. The path of cultivation stretched endlessly ahead, but tonight—amidst blood, blade, and vow—he had secured both power and promise.

Glossary – Chapter 21

Saxa Quinn – Emei Sect disciple (HSDS: Ding Minjun). Fierce, jealous, and brash. Cultivation: Second-Rate Expert Late Stage.

Viola Grace – Emei Sect disciple (HSDS: Bei Jinyi). Loyal follower of Mother Clarisse Hale. Cultivation: Second-Rate Expert Mid Stage.

Heavenly Reliquary Sword – Formerly wielded by Mother Clarisse Hale. A King-Class Divine Weapon, unmatched in sharpness and prestige. Known in legend as the sword that governs destiny.

Snowpiercing Palm – A golden-grade martial art manual gained from the System. A palm technique specializing in penetrating layered defenses, dealing cold-damage that seeps into the meridians.

System Experience Bottle – Consumable item that grants 100,000 experience instantly when used.

Favorability System – Tracks bonds between Liam and major figures. Lady Isolde Serpentis's affection has reached 100, binding her fate to his.

This story is inspired from various Wuxia novels ,so if you find any similarities please dont mind . and if you think this is boring wait till the Dual cultivation starts ,Thank you .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

T/N :

Access 25 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: patreon.com/GodFic

More Chapters