Silk Market of Red Silk City…
The bustling Silk Market of Red Silk City was filled with merchants. Everyone were displaying their special type of silk threads, exotic fabrics shimmering under the golden sunlight.
People moved through the streets, bargaining, laughing, and living their immortal lives as if nothing in the world could disturb their peace. But amidst the crowd, a young man with sharp eyes moved with a sense of purpose. He had been searching for someone—hunting him in the thick crowd.
Prince Sumo stopped at the edge of a crowded intersection. His gaze locked onto a figure mingled in the crowd before a silk stall.
“Kaban King!” his voice rang like a war drum, cutting through the noise of the marketplace.
At first Kent ignored the calls. But all people turned towards Kent, following the gaze of Prince Sumo.
With angry roars, the Prince Sumo approached Kent in dew steps. All the people were staring in surprise. The name Kaban King brought many memories to all the people. Some already started imagining stuff from 25 years back.
Kent Clark, who had already sensed trouble brewing, turned around slowly. He had anticipated this confrontation. He had been warned by Elder Mahavir that remnants of Kaban’s past would seek him out, and now that warning had materialized before him.
“Today, you must pay for your sins, Kaban. I, Prince Sumo, will extract Justice for what you did to my mother. I will hang your head to my family gate.”
“Who are you? Why are staring at me? You must be mistaken, Prince Sumo.” Kent’s voice was calm, measured. He knew that any sudden movement would only escalate the situation.
Prince Sumo stepped forward, his hand already reaching for his blade. “Do not play games with me, villain! You think your mask of ignorance can deceive the people of Red Silk City?” His voice was thick with righteous fury.
“Not only me… everyone here can recognise you. You are Kaban King, the rapist and sinner, and today, justice will be served!”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. The name Kaban King still carried weight in the immortal city. More people began gathering around, whispering among themselves. Some pointed fingers at Kent, while others took cautious steps backward, sensing an impending fight.
Kent sighed. He knew denial would do no good. He had to be prepared.
“Prince Sumo, if I were truly Kaban, would I be walking these streets so freely? Would I not be in hiding, fearing my so-called crimes?” Kent argued, his eyes carefully scanning the surroundings for an escape route.
Sumo snarled. “Enough of your deceit! Even if you changed your face, I can feel your aura, your presence—it reeks of the filth you left behind!” His voice was deafening, drawing even more people into the spectacle.
Kent clenched his fists. He had to end this before things got worse. “I have no interest in fighting you, Prince Sumo. If you insist on this, then you will regret it.”
Prince Sumo laughed coldly. “Regret? A sinner like you dares to threaten me? In the name of justice, I will kill you today!”
With those words, Sumo unsheathed his blade and charged forward, his sword radiating golden energy.
But Kent had been waiting for this. He already readied the forbidden art of Ash Fire.
Just as Sumo’s blade was about to strike, Kent’s fingers dug into Sumo’s body. The forbidden art, gifted by Elder Mahavir, activated. Black flames erupted from Kent’s finger nails, spreading inside Sumo’s body like a living entity. Sumo gasped, his body suddenly writhing in unbearable pain.
“W-What… is this?!” Sumo screamed as the flames devoured his flesh, spreading across his body with terrifying speed.
Cracks appeared on Prince Sumo’s body.
The crowd gasped in horror as Sumo’s body turned into skeletal dust before their eyes. His bones crumbled, leaving only ashes where he once stood. The marketplace, which had been filled with noise and excitement, fell into eerie silence.
People were petrified.
Then, as if waking from a trance, they screamed and ran in all directions. Merchants abandoned their stalls, civilians trampled over one another to escape, and in a matter of seconds, the once-lively market was left deserted, save for Kent and his companions.
Kent took a deep breath, feeling his body weaken. The forbidden spell had drained a great amount of his life force. He staggered, but Amelia quickly rushed to his side, supporting him.
“We need to get out of here!” Amelia hissed, her eyes darting around. Enemies might arrive soon, and we couldn’t afford to be caught.
Fatty nodded vigorously. “Yeah, let’s disappear before someone calls the entire family on us!”
The group fled from the scene, slipping into the narrow alleyways of Red Silk City. They moved swiftly, making sure not to attract any unwanted attention. After some time, they found a secluded area—a dense bush behind an abandoned temple—where they finally stopped to catch their breath.
Amelia looked at Kent with concern. “Dear, why don’t you go back to Kaban’s home? Inside the manor, you shouldn’t have to fear people like Prince Sumo.”
Fatty nodded. “Yeah, if Kaban did so many atrocities, his must be powerful enough to protect him. If that is the case, Kaban King’s family wouldn’t be afraid of Prince Sumo’s family.”
Kent exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Kaban’s father, Daku King, is at the Late Earth Immortal stage and powerful enough to support usl. But if I return to Kaban’s home, I would be accepting his identity completely. I am not ready for that.”
Sparky, still catching his breath, frowned. “Master, what is Earth immortal? I’m confused about cultivation stages. Can you explain?”
Kent chuckled despite his exhaustion. “Alright. In this realm, there are only four cultivation levels—Earth Immortal, Heaven Immortal, Mortal Deity, and Immortal Deity. Each realm is further divided into Early, Late, and Advanced stages. Moving from one stage to another can take thousands or even millions of years.”
Fatty groaned. “That’s insane! Back in the lower worlds, we could power up within a few decades!”
Kent shook his head. “Don’t compare this world to the lower realms. Here, even breaking through Earth Immortal is an insurmountable challenge. In the Red Silk Immortal Kingdom, reaching Heaven Immortal is enough to make you a ruler.”
Amelia sighed. “Then we have a long road ahead…”
After regaining their strength, Kent led the group to another safer inn, ensuring they took extra precautions this time.