The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 57 The Weight of Vengeance

A massive, sturdy black ironwood carriage rolled down the road.

Four sinewy horses pulled the carriage, their powerful muscles rippling with every step.

This was the personal carriage of the Akrest Clan, carrying both the Clan Leader Ebon Akrest and the Young Lord Theron.

The journey back was as silent as the journey there, the atmosphere heavy with Theron's defeat.

But Theron knew one thing about his father:

He wouldn't simply let this go.

His father wouldn't take it out on him. No, the repercussions would likely fall on Vera.

And yet, Theron didn't feel worried.

Why was that?

Perhaps because it was laughable.

Yes, laughable.

A mere mortal trying to corner a monster?

Laughable.

An adult scheming against a child seemed absurd.

And for a human to plot against a true monster—it was ridiculous.

No matter the perspective, Ebon had nothing to gain from opposing Vera.

Yet, there he was, grinding his teeth.

Theron merely let his father be.

There was no point in saying anything. Ebon wasn't the kind of man to listen.

As the silence stretched on, the carriage abruptly came to a halt.

"...What's this?"

A rare occurrence indeed.

Stopping the Akrest Clan's carriage?

Few in the martial world would dare.

And fewer still could halt the black ironwood carriage reserved for the Clan Leader and Young Lord themselves.

Only figures of immense strength and stature would warrant such deference.

Ebon stepped out of the carriage quietly.

He found himself face to face with Valen, the Flamestrike Master.

A man once famed as the Flamestrike General, now a Division Leader of the Heavenly Unity Corps's special operations group, Heaven's Net Division.

It was said his Blazing Dragon Sword Technique could incinerate everything within thirty paces of a single strike.

"It's been a while, Ebon."

"It has. How have you been holding up?"

"Not well. I won't find peace until I've burned the bastard alive."

"...I suppose. You always said your wife's sharp mind was what drew you to her."

Valen's expression twisted, but he quickly steadied himself with a deep breath.

He had no intention of losing his temper at an old friend like Ebon.

"So, where are you headed?"

"To Mount Suncrest."

"Mount Suncrest? What business do you have there?"

For someone like Valen, a Division Leader of the Heaven's Net, to head to Mount Suncrest—it was unexpected.

He wasn't deployed for mundane missions. His involvement typically signaled a catastrophic event, one where entire sects were wiped from the martial world.

"My niece is there. She's traveling with nothing but a single bodyguard."

"Your sister married into the Everstone Clan, if I recall?"

"Indeed."

Her bodyguard was none other than Caleb, the Sword That Splits Skulls.

No matter how much she wielded a sword and carried herself as a martial artist, she was still a child.

For her, the harshness of the martial world was an undeniable danger.

Moreover, she had been a disciple for only a month.

"...We'll attach conditions to the journey," Thorne said.

"You know I can't send Aiden with her. He's her master," Gideon replied, shaking his head.

"I know. Then send three of Aiden's other disciples with her."

"Two."

"Gideon, are you serious about this?"

"Take it or leave it, Senior Brother."

The Blooming Peak Pavilion, just before bedtime.

The disciples lingered in the corridors, chatting after finishing their training.

"Hey, Noah, think your father's shop could get me a sword like that?" asked Ethan, practically drooling as he stared at the blade hanging from Marcus's waist.

It was the Black Iron Sword gifted to him by Vera.

Now, it had become a symbol of Marcus's position as the First Senior Brother among the third-generation disciples.

And he was making the most of it.

Every morning, he trained under his master, and every afternoon, he led group training in the sparring grounds of the Blooming Peak Pavilion.

What changed everything was the sword.

The once unruly disciples now followed him with wide eyes and admiration. Even the youngest students, who were usually noisy and chaotic, had fallen in line.

"You really want it that badly, huh, Ethan?"

"First Senior Brother, I'm practically dying of envy here. I'm barely holding myself back!"

A grin spread across Marcus's face. Teasing Ethan had become a source of great amusement for him.

"Did you know something, Ethan?"

"What?"

"You're making it so obvious. That's why it's so much fun to mess with you."

"You're the worst!" Ethan shouted, hopping up and down in frustration.

Noah tried his best to calm him down, while Jace quietly tended to Dylan.

Once bright and lively, with a sharp tongue to match, Dylan had grown unusually quiet since leaving Silver Wall Peak to train under Aiden.

"So, Vera, how did that Jade Elixir taste?" Marcus asked with a teasing grin.

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"...Taste?" she echoed, blinking.

Everyone was dressed in comfortable sleepwear, their usual training garb replaced for the night.

"Yes, the taste. Was it something divine?"

"It was sweet, with a faint scent of cherry blossoms," she replied calmly.

"Nothing like, oh, I don't know, the flavor of heaven and earth, shaking your soul to the core?"

"No, Senior Brother Ethan, it wasn't."

It was then that a familiar voice rang out from outside the Blooming Peak Pavilion.

"What are you all doing, not asleep yet?"

It was Aiden.

His tone wasn't stern; he simply raised his voice slightly, as if to let them know he was there.

He wasn't scolding them—yet. It was more of a heads-up, a chance for them to hide anything they didn't want found before he entered.

After all, the hall was filled with teenagers, and it was wise not to be too intrusive in such a lively environment.

"Master Aiden?"

Vera tilted her head as he walked in.

With a wave of his hand, he beckoned his disciples to gather around.

The first thing he did was let out a long, weary sigh.