The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 80 Vengeance Beneath the Moonlight

Marcus glanced to his left.

Ethan was sound asleep, completely oblivious to the chaos that had unfolded earlier. Even if someone carried him away, he likely wouldn't notice.

"Did I... perhaps cause any trouble for you, Senior Brother?" asked Vera, her voice hesitant.

"No, I just noticed you were struggling and decided to keep watch," replied Marcus calmly.

Only then did Vera let out a sigh of relief. Marcus silently observed her. She wasn't a bad child. He had never seen her display cruelty or malice.

And yet, the words she had muttered in her nightmare were horrifying.

'Something must have happened,' he thought.

Without another word, Marcus stood, donned his outer robe, and stepped outside the tent.

"It's cold out here. Make sure to dress warmly before coming out," he called back.

"Yes, Senior Brother..." Vera responded softly.

The outer robes they wore had been provided by Aiden. They were lightweight, durable, water-resistant, warm, and well-ventilated—clearly expensive garments.

Vera quickly wrapped herself in her robe and followed him. She was aware that she murmured in her sleep, especially when plagued by nightmares.

She remembered the first time it happened, during her journey to Suncrest Sect with Aiden, who had since become her master. Even he had overheard her back then.

'How much did I say?'

The uncertainty made her uneasy. She had no way of knowing how much Marcus had heard or what he might have pieced together. Though he wasn't someone she doubted, the fear still lingered.

With a heavy sigh, she stepped outside the tent.

Marcus was gazing up at the moon—a full, resplendent moon that illuminated the dark night.

Not far away, Valen had chopped down a massive log and was using it as a makeshift bed. He had also gathered branches into a pile and started a fire, creating a rather practical campsite.

'Fresh wood doesn't burn easily. Was he able to light it because he's a master of the Blazing Dragon Sword Technique?'

Marcus glanced at the fire briefly before turning his attention back to Vera.

She seemed better than before, but her usual calm and composed demeanor was still absent. Her reddened eyes and trembling shoulders betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Come sit here," he said, patting the stump left by the log Valen had chopped down.

The wide surface was large enough for two people.

Vera nodded and sat beside him without hesitation.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently.

"...It's just a nightmare," she replied, her voice quivering slightly.

Marcus didn't believe her.

No, this wasn't the reaction to an ordinary nightmare.

This was a grudge—a deep-seated, bone-chilling hatred born of a desire for vengeance.

'What kind of child did Master bring to us...?'

Despite his doubts, he knew one thing: Vera's nature wasn't inherently evil. Even in the short time they'd spent together, she had proven herself to be mature beyond her years.

An old soul in a young body. A junior sister who had endured more hardship than anyone her age should.

And yet, the words she had muttered in her sleep were chilling.

"To burn them alive, just like they did... What kind of vengeance is this... Could it be?"

She had mentioned her parents—her father and mother.

Was this about avenging them?

To burn someone alive in the same manner? Could it really be...?

"Would you tell me about that nightmare?" Marcus asked carefully.

"...Senior Brother," she murmured.

"If it's too difficult, or if you don't trust me yet, you don't have to say anything. There's likely nothing I can do to help anyway."

Vera lowered her head, silent.

He was right.

Despite its age, it showed no rust, and its edge remained sharp. The cool sensation against her fingertips proved its integrity.

"What do you think, Vera?"

"It's a masterpiece. Truly worthy of being a clan's sacred artifact."

How many masters of the Fiery Blade clan Spear Techniques must have wielded this Spear?

Passed down through generations, its blade carried the same principles and energy as its wielders.

Over time, such weapons began to develop faint traces of ability.

A weapon that started as a simple, finely crafted tool could, after generations of use, become optimized for the martial arts of the family it belonged to, requiring less internal energy to produce greater effects.

When this phenomenon occurred with a single user, it was called a Beloved Weapon.

But when it happened over multiple generations, the accumulated abilities grew stronger and more distinct.

Such a weapon, enriched by history and layered with power, became known as a Sacred Artifact of the family or sect.

The Demon-Cleaving Spear was no exception.

One only needed to touch it to understand—it was a weapon crafted exclusively for the Fiery Blade clan Spear Techniques.

Much like the Falling Blossom Sword was meant solely for the successors of Soul Harmony Realm Arts.

Silently, Vera drew her own sword and held it under the moonlight.

It, too, carried something etched into it. She could feel it clearly.

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But what ability lay within it?

That was a mystery.

A sword with the ability to recognize its master, one that could not be drawn by anyone other than the successor of the Soul Harmony Realm Arts—such abilities were real.

But it was odd.

For a weapon to have restrictions that severe, it would need to be far more dangerous, perhaps even a cursed or living demon sword.

"It's said to be a kind of heirloom," Marcus commented.

"Yes, Senior Brother. It's an inherited item."

"It's a fine sword. Even if it's a bit narrow and long."

"That's true," she replied simply.

That was how it might seem to Marcus, but Vera saw it differently.

She had mastered the Cherry Blossom Descent Manual.

The art required freedom and fluidity, like petals drifting on the wind. A narrow blade made it easier to adjust one's grip.

The technique also demanded poignancy, like the sorrow of a falling Cherry blossom. A longer blade made it easier to evoke such imagery.

But she didn't bother explaining or correcting him.

The Cherry Blossom Descent Manual wasn't ready to be shown to the world yet.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sensation.

A strong, approaching presence.

There was no attempt to conceal their inner energy—it was raw and intense.

"...Senior Brother."

"I feel it too."

Marcus quickly wrapped the Demon-Cleaving Spear back in its cloth and secured it to his waist.

Nearby, Valen had already leaped to his feet, drawing his blade.

Even Ethan, who had been sound asleep, rolled out of the tent and grabbed his sword.

The moment a shadow emerged from the bushes, Vera's Falling Blossom Sword struck faster than anyone else.

But before it could land, Valen roared.

"STOP!!!"