The silence that followed Liam Ardent's intervention was brittle, shattered a moment later by a voice sharp with vitriol and a pain that went deeper than physical wounds.
"Liam Ardent! So, you're not dead after all!"
All eyes turned to Lucas Rowan. The man stood hunched slightly, his Wudang robes doing little to conceal a newfound fragility. His face, once that of a proud Wudang hero, was now pale and etched with a bitterness that seemed to leach the vitality from him. His voice, high-pitched and thin, was laden with a hatred that felt unnatural coming from such a weakened vessel.
Liam turned his head, his expression one of detached amusement. "Lucas. That's a strange way to greet the man who pulled you back from the brink. Is this the gratitude Wudang teaches?"
"You call this salvation?" Lucas shrieked, the sound scraping against the ears of everyone present. "This… affliction? You poisoned me! You ruined me!"
The faint smile vanished from Liam's lips, replaced by an icy, predatory stillness. "I made no promises about the side effects. The choice was a compromised life or a clean death. You and your family chose life. Blame them if you dislike the terms." His gaze, cold and assessing, swept over the assembled Wudang disciples before returning to Lucas, his voice dropping into a register that promised imminent violence. "Utter one more word of complaint, and I will revoke their choice. Permanently."
The threat was absolute. The raw fear that flashed across Lucas Rowan's face was palpable. He took an involuntary step back into the ranks of his fellow disciples, his mouth snapping shut. The lesson in terror was effectively administered.
Ethan Longbridge stepped forward, the broken hilt of his sword still clutched in a white-knuckled grip. The grief for his murdered son warred visibly with the caution of a leader responsible for his disciples' lives. "Whether you acted in good faith or not with Lucas's treatment is a matter for another day," he said, his voice strained. "Do you stand with these Cultists now?"
Liam laughed, a sound of clear, unforced confidence that cut through the tension. "I stand where I choose. Labels like 'orthodox' and 'unorthodox' are meaningless banners for small minds. I see men here acting with more honor in defeat than I see in your vengeful pursuit." He gestured with a casual hand toward Clayton Earthward and the bleeding Stormbane brothers. "These men are prepared to die for each other. That earns my respect. My suggestion, Elder Longbridge, is that you let them leave."
The unspoken power in his stance was clear to everyone. He could have ended the confrontation with brutal efficiency. The fact that he hadn't was a choice, not a limitation.
Ethan's face remained a mask of cold stone. "They murdered my son. This hatred is deeper than the heavens. I will not let them go. Stand aside, Ardent."
Liam sighed, a theatrical sound of profound disappointment. "Your son was a person. These men are also people. They've already lost comrades. Must more blood water this ground for your pride?" As he spoke, he moved. It wasn't an aggressive motion, but a purposeful one. He wove through the stunned fighters like a ghost, his hands flickering out with impossible speed. Each touch was precise, applying pressure to stems of blood flow from the wounded Earth Banner and Stormbane retainers. It was a breathtaking display of medical skill, a silent sermon on his power—he could save lives as easily as he could end them.
Clayton Earthward let out a gruff, astonished laugh. "So you're the famed 'Divine Physician'! The stories don't do you justice! To see the Heaven-Reliant Sword in the hands of a man with real skill… I've respected few in my life, but today, you have my respect, Liam Ardent!"
A chorus of grateful shouts erupted from the Earth Banner disciples and the Stormbane brothers. Their relief and admiration were a tangible force.
Ethan Longbridge's expression grew colder, if that was possible. "You expect me to just stand down? After what they did? Who do you think you are? The sovereign of the martial world? That sword does not make you a god."
Liam shook his head, a faint, humorless smile returning to his lips. "I have no interest in being a sovereign. I am a free agent. But today, I am the arbiter. You've seen a fraction of my power. If my intent was slaughter, how many of your disciples would still be standing? Do not mistake my restraint for weakness."
The conflict was clear in Ethan's eyes—the burning, paternal need for vengeance versus the cold, logical duty of a sect leader.
"Fine," he bit out, the word sounding like a confession of defeat. "A test, then. You wish to play the hero? Face me. Ten strokes. If you can withstand ten strokes of my sword without using the Heaven-Reliant Blade, I will grant them passage. If you fail, or if you draw that sword, you step aside and their fate is mine."
It was a transparent gambit. He was betting his entire vendetta on the hope that his skill could overcome Liam's raw power if the legendary weapon was out of play.
"Elder Longbridge, no!" Sterling Stormbane yelled, clutching his bloody stump. "This is our fight! Do not risk yourself for us!"
Liam merely waved a dismissive hand. "Ten strokes? A hundred would change nothing." With a thought, he willed the Heaven-Reliant Sword back into his personal storage. The blade vanished into thin air, causing a wave of startled gasps to ripple through the crowd. He stood empty-handed, his white robes fluttering gently in the breeze, a picture of unconcerned arrogance. "Let's not waste any more time."
System Update [Ethan Longbridge's Hostility +10 → Current: 100 (Mortal Enemy)]
[Lucas Rowan's Hostility +20 → Current: 100 (Mortal Enemy)]
[Clayton Earthward's Favorability +15]
[Benedict Stormbane's Favorability +10]
[Griffin Stormbane's Favorability +10]
[Sterling Stormbane's Favorability +15 → Current: 95 (Unwavering Devotion)]
[Prestige +1 (For commanding the battlefield and earning profound loyalty)]
The stage was set. The fate of the Ming Cult members now hinged on a duel of ten strokes.
Glossary – Chapter 48
The Arbiter: A role implicitly claimed by Liam Ardent, signifying his assertion of authority to mediate a conflict and impose his judgment based on his own personal code, disregarding traditional orthodox/unorthodox divisions.
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 .
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T/N :
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