Legacy of Hatred

Chapter 331: Target

The secret that even Horace Rauret had preferred not to hear directly had reached someone else’s ears, and Liam was at a loss on how to tackle the event.

In theory, that preference had nothing to do with the secret’s nature itself, sort of. Horace’s worry was mostly with the investigations that could be due to Liam’s inclination to cause big messes.

Now, Liam was under a different name. He was distant enough that many wouldn’t even consider a possible connection with the Pale Moon Sect. Only his poison core might hint at that, which was something just Grace knew for certain.

There were other points, too. Liam had been a foundation expert, while William was a rooting expert. The former had been a mere apprentice, while the latter was a Master who could complete rank 2 concoctions easily, even in a row and without committing mistakes.

There was a connection there, but time was on Liam’s side. The shift had been too sudden, with just a few months between the two, which usually wasn’t enough to justify such a growth.

However, the opposite was also true. The more famous Master William became, the more people would look into him, and there could be enough clues. Liam didn’t know how many simply because he had no idea of the situation in the Pale Moon Sect’s neighborhood after the Divine Cult’s attack.

Liam’s talent, what most had known him for, also wasn’t something Master William had, but the issue remained. Rather than creating that variable, Liam would have preferred no one to know.

And the revelation couldn’t have reached worse ears.

"I knew there was something about you!" Lancelot laughed, suddenly hugging Liam. "We must be kindred spirits, fated to become Brothers!"

Liam ignored the hug and the fact that he had heard that kindred spirit part for the third time since the team’s creation. His mind was a mess. He literally had to leave his Sect, his Master, and his lover to avoid similar situations. freewebnσvel.cøm

And Lancelot didn’t make things any easier for Liam.

"So, Brother," Lancelot called, still clinging to Liam, his shining face growing heated with excitement, even painting some of his golden strands red. "What’s the plan? Are we going to topple the Dragon King?"

If minds were volcanoes, Liam’s would have erupted. The mess the single revelation had stirred reached the critical point and exploded, leaving only a permanent, silent fog that didn’t let thoughts through.

Liam honestly could only default to imitation, summoning the wooden cane he had kept from the Roaring Thunder Sect to slam it on Lancelot’s head, pushing him away.

"Fool!" Liam shouted. "I’m a rooting expert! Who’s toppling who?!"

Liam pointed the cane at the spirit afterward, that glowing white smile intensifying his annoyance, which his tone reflected. "Why did you tell him?!"

"Sworn Brothers shouldn’t keep secrets from each other," The spirit calmly replied, a trace of amusement joining his smile. "And for a Young Phoenix and a Young Snake to be such close allies ... That’s one instance of Men surpassing the Ancestral Beasts."

’Crazy dead ghost,’ Liam cursed internally.

Of course, Liam understood what the spirit meant. He had similar thoughts about Grace and her bloodline. Due to a strange twist of fate, Liam’s closest allies had ended up being a Phoenix and a Qilin, which had sided against the Ancestral Snake during that legendary battle.

Still, that understanding couldn’t distract Liam from the main issue. Even he hadn’t expected his own reaction. He had defaulted to his Master’s behavior because he was utterly lost, and it was all Lancelot’s fault.

Liam had considered that crossroad many times in the past, luckily always avoiding it, finding compromises, or having his Master remaining at his side despite it.

Nevertheless, Lancelot had shown his support before Liam could even start to consider what to do with him, automatically joining his journey in what could get people executed just by mentioning it out loud.

’I’m surrounded by crazy people,’ Liam cursed again, hiding his face behind his palm. ’Wasn’t I supposed to be the dumb one?’

But Liam couldn’t hide from the reality of the situation, especially when he felt a heated gaze on him, and its source resumed speaking.

"But you are going to try, aren’t you?" Lancelot asked, still burning with excitement, but serious now. "The Dragon King is your goal, isn’t he?"

Liam glanced at Lancelot from between his fingers before lowering his hand and straightening up. He didn’t know why, but he replaced the cane with the pipe, instinctively starting to smoke.

There was no mistaking it. Liam felt it in whatever animal instinct his superhuman senses created. Lancelot was being honest, and not only due to his twisted way of chasing fun.

Liam probably was the Dragon King’s fated nemesis, so Lancelot would take part in that clash, siding with his sworn Brother.

"Is this just fun for you?" Liam couldn’t help but ask, the black smoke blowing out of his mouth perfectly depicting his dark tone. "Just another way of making life more interesting?"

"The Master William I know isn’t a pawn of some otherworldly creature," Lancelot claimed, his smile vanishing, seemingly having taken offense at those questions. "If the Dragon King is your target, it means he hurt you, so I’ll help my Brother get revenge."

Lancelot couldn’t possibly imagine how on the mark his guess was. Perhaps whatever his lineage had given him did tell him that.

"Just like that?" Liam asked. His subconscious had already taken that oath as true, but his conscious side needed more. frёeωebɳovel.com

"You fought Julian instead of joining him," Lancelot pointed out. "You fought in the Cathedral alone to salvage the inheritance. If I find a way to the branching stage from this, it will be thanks to you. That power is rightfully yours."

"Even if it means going against the Kingdom?" Liam questioned.

"Even if it means burning the Kingdom," Lancelot declared.

And Liam knew Lancelot was speaking the truth. Everything in his perception said so, but it was his first time having such a thing. Even his Master had focused on educating him rather than directly aiding him in his goal, leading him to hesitate.

But the spirit ended up breaking that stalemate.

"There’s another reason why," The spirit announced, as if knowing that it was his turn to speak. "Both of you will be the Church’s target, because the Church aims to create the Man’s ancestral bloodline."