Many thoughts flashed in Max's mind. After a moment, he exhaled deeply and slowly said, "Elder, the City Lord is a Grade Two Martial Artist while I'm just an ordinary person. How am I supposed to kill him?"
Old Man Smith's lips curled up slightly when he heard this response.
"Since you can survive an encounter with a Specter, I'm sure there is something special about you. As long as you work for it, you can definitely become stronger." He said, "Once you are strong enough, you kill him and tell him you are killing him because I asked you to."
As he spoke, Old Man Smith's expression became dark and a ferocious, murderous glint that sent chills down Max's spine flashed in his eyes.
He then took a breath, his expression mellowed down, and looking into his eyes, he said, "If you give me your word that you'll do it, I'll give you the method to slay the Specters. Otherwise, you stand up, leave my house and never return."
Max was about to nod his head because it didn't matter to him whether the City Lord was a good person or bad. As long as he could get the method to kill the ghost or specter as the old man called it, he would do it. After all, he valued his life more than some stranger.
But suddenly he paused and closed his eyes.
Slowly, the names of people, who were cruelly cast out of the city because they couldn't pay the taxes—mainly because the City Lord Mansion hadn't left much livelihood for ordinary people in the Whitecliff City having taken over all the industries—only to be devoured by the wild beasts or captured by the bandits to be sold as slaves, flashed in his mind.
This told him the City Lord was no good man.
Then a memory that the original Max had forgotten but he saw when he digested a few days surfaced in his mind.
When Max was 13-years-old, his father, Magnus, a renowned hunter of the Whitecliff city, had rushed out of the house with his saber in his hand and a murderous look on his face.
In his sleep that night, he could vaguely hear his Grandpa cry and curse the City Lord. When he woke up the next day, he had found him sitting beside his father and mother's corpses, wrapped in black cloth.
His grandfather had told him they died in an accident outside the city but now thinking about it, if it was really his grandpa's cries curses he had heard that night, their deaths weren't accidental but were related to the City Lord. Maybe he had even killed them himself.
Having taken over the original Max's body and having merged with his memories, he was almost no different from him. So, realizing the City Lord could have been his parents' murderer, the desire for revenge was immediately ignited in his heart.
Hesitating no longer, he opened his eyes, met the Old Man Smith's awaiting gaze and nodded, "I give you my word, I will kill him."
"Good." Old Man Smith nodded in satisfaction and then suddenly burst out in a coughing fit.
Max raised his brows when he noticed he was coughing blood.
"Elder, should I bring—"
"No, it's alright." Old Man Smith waved his hand, stopping him. After his coughing calmed down, he casually wiped his lips with his sleeves, stood up and left the room, "Wait here for me."
Max waited and soon the Old Man reappeared. This time, he was carrying a package.
Max's heart rate increased seeing the package. He could tell whatever it was that could help him kill the specter was in this package.
The Old Man walked over, sat down and began to unwrap the package, slowly peeling off the dusty rags.
Max watched him calmly, showing no excitement he was feeling on his face.
A minute later, a one-foot-long dagger, seemingly made from dark obsidian, and a thin, yellowed booklet appeared before his eyes.
Old Man Smith stared at them in a daze, his hands unconsciously tracing the body of the dagger and caressing booklet.
After a while, he handed the dagger to Max and said, his voice full of emotions, "This dagger is the result of almost everything I learned and earned in my entire life. I forged it for my son and gave it the name 'Darkness Destroyer'. I had hoped my son would use it to destroy the darkness covering our world and bring some light.
However, before I could give it to him, he… was murdered by Damian's brother on his order. They didn't even spare my kid grandson and newborn granddaughter."
Old Man Smith's voice was light and a happy reminiscent expression was on his face when he began speaking but by the end, his voice was trembling and his murky eyes had reddened, heartwrenching pain and rage burning within them.
He closed his eyes and heaved deep breaths to calm himself down. Then he handed Max the booklet.
"This has been passed down within my family. I hope this will help you become stronger."
Saying this, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, "You can go now. Also, make sure you keep these two hidden until you are strong enough otherwise you'll invite a disaster."
Max didn't inspect the dagger and booklet upon seeing the old man wanted him gone. Hiding them within his clothes, he stood up and gave him a respectful bow, "Thank you very much, Elder. I'll never forget this favor of yours and will definitely slay Damian."
"Very… good." Old Man Smith murmured and the corner of his lips slightly curled up into a faint smile.
After losing his everything, only his hatred had kept him alive until now. Now that he had found his successor to take his revenge for him, he finally left this world to reunite with his family.
The crazy old man… was dead.
Max stared at him for a long time, complicated feelings swirling in his heart.