Elder Xue’s expression shifted slightly, her fury tempered by a forced calm as she tried to mask her unease. She took a deep breath, lowering her blade but not her aura. “This isn’t about fear, Kael. This is about principle. The Cloud Heavens Sect will not stand idly by while its name is dragged through the mud by a liar seeking to sow chaos. If we allow such accusations to spread unchecked, how can we call ourselves a sect worthy of respect? How can we hold our heads high with such disgrace hanging over us?”
Kael’s lips curved into a faint smirk, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Ah, principles. Honor. Respect. All admirable things, Xue.” He paused, his smirk growing sharper. “But those principles only hold water as long as the accusations are, in fact, lies.”
Xue’s eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening. “And they are lies,” she snapped, her voice low and sharp. “This boy’s accusations are baseless. His words are poison, designed to manipulate the weak-minded and spread discord.”
Kael nodded slowly, feigning agreement, though the mocking edge never left his tone. “Of course, as long as they are lies, you’re absolutely right. But you see, Xue, there’s one thing that doesn’t add up.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping into a near-whisper, the weight of his words pressing down on her. “If you’re so confident these are lies, why the pigeon?”
The color drained from Xue’s face for the briefest of moments, but she recovered quickly, her expression hardening. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice cold and firm.
Kael chuckled softly, shaking his head as if he were amused by her denial. “Come now, Xue. I saw it myself—the moment Lucavion’s words began to spread, you sent that pigeon off in quite the hurry. And don’t think for a second I didn’t recognize it. That was no ordinary messenger. That was a Sect Keeper’s pigeon, wasn’t it? Straight to your Matriarch.”
Xue’s aura flared again, but Kael’s smirk only widened as he studied Elder Xue’s trembling frame. Though she tried to maintain her composure, he could see the cracks in her carefully constructed facade. Her aura wavered as if she were teetering on the edge of lashing out again. He didn’t press further, knowing his words had already struck the chord he wanted.
“Careful, Xue,” he said, his tone almost playful. “You wouldn’t want to give the crowd out there more reason to talk, would you?”
Xue glared at him, her fury barely contained. But she knew she was cornered. The risk of further escalation in front of someone like Kael, who thrived on exploiting such moments, was too high. She couldn’t afford another mistake, not when so much was already spiraling out of her control.
Without another word, Xue spun on her heel, her robes snapping sharply as she stormed out of the room. Her retreat was swift, leaving an almost eerie silence in her wake. The tension hung heavy in the air, but Kael remained calm, his eyes shifting to the figure standing a few paces away.
Lucavion stood still, his injured arm hanging limply at his side, blood trickling down his fingers. Despite the obvious pain, his posture remained confident, his smirk faint but unwavering. He tilted his head slightly, meeting Kael’s gaze with a glimmer of amusement.
Kael crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the doorframe as he regarded the young man. “You’re insane,” he said bluntly, his voice carrying a mix of bemusement and exasperation. “Deliberately provoking someone like Xue, with no backup plan? Do you have a death wish, or do you just not value your life?”
Lucavion chuckled softly, his smirk widening. “Oh, I value my life quite a bit, Elder Kael.”
Kael arched an eyebrow, his tone sharpening. “Then why? Do you think you can stand against someone like Xue in your current state? She would’ve cut you down without hesitation if I hadn’t intervened.”
Lucavion’s eyes gleamed with quiet confidence, his voice steady as he replied, “I knew you would come, Elder Kael.”
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Kael blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “You knew I’d come?”
“Of course,” Lucavion said, his smirk turning into a grin. “After all, I’ve done so much to help you, haven’t I? Spreading secrets about your greatest enemy, planting seeds of doubt in the crowd… there’s no way someone like you would just let me die. Not before you’ve had the chance to use me to your advantage.”
Kael’s expression tightened, his gaze narrowing. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that,” he muttered, his voice low. “But don’t mistake my intervention for altruism. You’re useful, that’s all. Don’t let it go to your head.”
Lucavion tilted his head, his smirk unchanging. “I never assumed otherwise. But admit it, Elder Kael—you’re curious about me. Just as curious as Xue is furious.”
Kael sighed, shaking his head. “Curiosity, sure. But I’m also wondering if your recklessness will end up being more trouble than it’s worth.”
Lucavion chuckled again, his voice light despite the blood staining his clothes. “Well, that’s a gamble you’ll have to take, isn’t it? After all, Elder Kael… isn’t it more exciting when the stakes are high?”
Kael didn’t reply immediately, his sharp gaze lingering on Lucavion. This boy was a puzzle—one that promised both great reward and immense risk. And for now, Kael couldn’t help but wonder which would come first.
Then his eyes flicked to Lucavion’s arm, noting the unnatural angle of his shoulder and the dark red streaks trailing down his hand. The young man’s posture betrayed little of the pain he must have been feeling, but Kael’s trained eye didn’t miss the slight tremor in his fingers or the occasional twitch of his muscles.
“You should treat that arm first,” Kael said, his tone flat but firm. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small glass vial filled with a shimmering golden liquid. Without waiting for Lucavion’s response, he tossed it toward him.
Lucavion caught the vial deftly with his uninjured hand, examining it with a faint smirk. “A high-grade healing potion? Generous, Elder Kael.”
Kael crossed his arms, his expression unimpressed. “Call it practicality. You can’t keep pulling off stunts like that if you’re falling apart. Take it.”
Lucavion chuckled, shaking his head as he set the vial aside. “It’s just a bone fracture and a shoulder dislocation,” he said nonchalantly. “Nothing too severe. Should be healed by tomorrow.”
Kael’s eyebrows rose, his gaze hardening. “Just a bone fracture and a shoulder dislocation?” he repeated, his tone tinged with disbelief. “Boy… if that’s your definition of ’nothing too severe,’ I’d hate to see what you consider serious.”
Lucavion shrugged—at least as much as his injured shoulder allowed—and grinned. “I’ve had worse. Besides, this isn’t the first time someone’s tried to kill me, Elder Kael.”
Kael let out a long sigh, running a hand down his face. “You’re either the bravest fool I’ve ever met, or the most reckless. Likely both.”
Lucavion’s grin widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Reckless, maybe. But it worked, didn’t it?”
Kael’s gaze darkened as he leaned closer, his voice lowering. “Barely. And it shouldn’t have come to this. Xue bribed the guards—guards under the Marquis’ employ. I wasn’t expecting her to stoop that low, not here, of all places.”
Lucavion’s expression shifted slightly, the humor fading from his eyes. “The Marquis will be furious when he finds out.”
Kael nodded sharply. “He should be. Xue’s actions aren’t just a personal affront—they undermine the entire tournament’s integrity. And the Marquis doesn’t take kindly to being made a fool.”
Lucavion hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head as he regarded the potion in his hand. “Still… it’s just a bone fracture and a shoulder dislocation,” he repeated, almost teasingly, as he set the vial down again.
Kael stared at him for a long moment, his thoughts a mixture of exasperation and grudging admiration. This boy… if this is ’nothing serious’ to him, then what kind of hell has he been through? He thought it but didn’t voice it, choosing instead to shake his head and turn away.
“Fine. Be stubborn,” Kael said, his voice tinged with annoyance. “But don’t come crying to me if your arm falls off.”
Lucavion laughed softly, his grin returning. “Noted, Elder Kael. But I think I’ll manage.”
Kael lingered for a moment, his gaze steady as he studied Lucavion’s calm, composed demeanor. Despite the blood staining his clothes and the tension that still hung heavy in the room, the young man seemed almost unaffected, as though he were already planning his next move.
Finally, Kael straightened and turned toward the door. “You should keep your guard up,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “The disciples of the Cloud Heavens Sect—or even Elder Xue herself—might come for you again. You’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest, and they won’t let it go easily.”
Lucavion smirked faintly, rolling his good shoulder with an air of nonchalance. “I’ll manage,” he said lightly, his tone laced with quiet confidence. “Besides, they can’t afford to act rashly. Not now.”
Kael glanced back at him, his expression curious. “And why’s that, boy? What makes you so sure?”
Lucavion’s smirk widened, his dark eyes gleaming with a knowing light. “Because you’ll report this to the Marquis, won’t you? He won’t let them act out of line—not after they’ve already tried to bribe his guards and jeopardize the tournament’s integrity. The Cloud Heavens Sect knows this. If they try something now, they’ll risk far more than they can handle.”
Kael’s lips twitched into a faint smirk of his own. “You’re sharp. I’ll give you that.”
Lucavion inclined his head slightly, his smirk unwavering. “Just pragmatic, Elder Kael. The Cloud Heavens Sect is dangerous, but they’re not foolish. They won’t risk open conflict with the Marquis over me. Not now, at least.”
Kael nodded slowly, his respect for the young man growing despite himself. “Pragmatic, indeed,” he said, his tone laced with grudging approval. “But don’t let that make you careless. They’re still dangerous, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that desperation makes people unpredictable.”
Lucavion’s smirk didn’t falter. “Noted, Elder Kael. But I think I’ll be fine.”
Kael regarded him for a final moment, then sighed, shaking his head. “You’re either a genius or a fool. Time will tell which.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out of the room, his robes swishing softly behind him.