Inside the Endless forest behind the King Family…
The roar of the waterfall was deafening, crashing down with relentless force onto the rocks below. The mist from the cascading water filled the air, making it difficult to see beyond a few feet.
Behind this natural barrier of waterfall, Kent carefully created a cave. Hidden within a deep cave, a stone altar stood at the center of a dimly lit cave.
Princess Chi Kai, the pride of the Kai Family, sat bound in Tantric threads, her wrists and ankles secured to a massive stone behind her.
Her once pristine golden robes were torn at the edges, soaked from the water mist. Her glowing fair skin was now marred by dirt and dampness. Her fierce, prideful eyes glared at the man before her.
Kent King sat a few feet away, his back bloodied, wounds still fresh from the earlier ambush he had fought through.
His expression was unreadable as he crushed several herbs in his palm, mixing them with aqua mana to create a healing paste. He spread it over his wounds, exhaling deeply from the sting of pain.
Despite his injuries, his eyes remained sharp as he stared at the Jade surface, watching an illusionary image that reflected the outside world—the situation at the King Family estate. This jade slate is one of Kaban’s treasure.
Chi Kai, noticing his distracted gaze, scoffed.
“Coward. You hide here while your family suffers? What kind of man are you?”
Kent chuckled softly, shaking his head.
“The kind that doesn’t kneel before a robbing ruler,” he replied, his voice calm yet filled with pride.
“Let me go, Kent King. You don’t have the power to stand against the entire Kai Family. My father will burn your house to the ground, and you will regret crossing me.”
Kent turned his gaze toward her, amusement dancing in his golden eyes.
“Oh? Do you think I tied you up just for fun? You are the only leverage I need.”
Chi Kai gritted her teeth, realizing what he meant.
“You… you’re using me to threaten my father.”
Kent leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Finally, the princess understands. Took you long enough.”
Her anger surged, and she pulled against the Tantric threads, attempting to break free—but the sacred restraints tightened instead, sending waves of numbing energy through her body.
She gasped, struggling to suppress a whimper of pain.
Kent grinned.
“I wouldn’t struggle too much if I were you. Those Tantric threads don’t just bind—they absorb your mana.”
Chi Kai’s eyes widened slightly.
“You… you’re despicable.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
Kent turned his attention back to the Jade’s reflection, his smirk vanishing as he saw what was happening outside.
The King Family was completely surrounded.
–
At the edge of the Rainforest, dozens of Kai Family elders, their robes shimmering with golden insignias, stood grim-faced as they commanded an army of elite soldiers into the thick foliage.
“Find the princess at all costs!” one of the elders commanded, his voice shaking the trees.
Behind them, thousands of royal soldiers spread through the forest, their mana flaring as they searched every inch of the land.
Meanwhile, back in Red Silk City, Emperor Kai had grown impatient.
Inside the grand courtyard of the King Family estate, Daku King, Kumar King, and the rest of their household stood at the center, completely surrounded by hundreds of heavily armored royal guards.
“Any last words before you are all executed for treason?” a royal commander sneered, his blade glinting in the sunlight.
Kumar King laughed coldly, spitting on the ground.
“Execute us? You’re nothing but a pawn. You think your Emperor has already won?”
The royal commander’s smirk faltered slightly.
“You talk big for a man moments away from death.”
Just as the soldiers raised their swords—
A glowing jade slip suddenly appeared out of thin air, floating toward the commander’s hands.
A messenger grabbed it and quickly opened it, scanning the contents before his face turned pale.
He immediately ran toward the Emperor’s castle, while the execution was put on hold.
–
Inside the Royal Throne Room, Emperor Kai sat stone-faced, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his golden throne as he listened to the message written on the jade slip.
As the words sank in, his face darkened, his teeth grinding in frustration.
The contents of Kent King’s message were simple:
“Your Majesty, if my family suffers, so will yours. One life for one life. Kill any member of my family, and I will personally make sure your daughter meets a cruel death. Do not test me. – Kent King.”
The ministers and generals present in the throne room shifted uncomfortably as they saw the vein bulging on Emperor Kai’s forehead.
“That arrogant bastard dares to threaten me?” Kai growled, his voice barely above a whisper—but filled with pure rage.
A high-ranking general stepped forward, his face red with anger.
“Your Majesty, this is an insult! We must execute the King Family immediately! No matter what!”
But before the Emperor could give an order, another minister hesitated and spoke cautiously.
“Your Majesty… as much as it pains me to say this… Kent King is not bluffing.”
Kai’s sharp gaze landed on the minister.
“Explain.”
The minister wiped his forehead nervously before continuing.
“Kent King has already defied every expectation. He has surpassed many prodigies in a short time, beaten geniuses, insulted royalty… and lived to tell the tale. If he says he will kill Princess Chi Kai, I believe he is fully capable of doing so. Also, the old patriarch Kumar King is almost an equal to you in cultivation. You must think from all aspects.”
Kai’s hands clenched into fists.
“And what do you propose? That I do nothing?! That I let a traitor hold my daughter hostage?”
“No, Your Majesty, but if we kill his family, we guarantee her death. Right now, we should focus on recovering the Princess, not provoking the hostage-taker.”
The Emperor’s jaw tightened as silence filled the hall.
Then—he spoke in a low, dangerous tone.
“Double the search efforts. Find my daughter. The moment she is safe… I want Kent King’s entire bloodline erased from existence.”
–
Back in the cave behind the waterfall, Kent watched the Emperor’s reaction through the water’s reflection.
Seeing the anger and frustration on Kai’s face, Kent chuckled softly.
“Don’t stare at me like that… you might lose your precious womanhood!”
Chi Kai, still bound, glared angrily at him.
“You won’t get away with this.”
Kent knelt beside her, brushing a strand of damp hair from her face, making her shiver.
“I already have.”
He stood up, turning his back to her.
The game was now in his hands.
And the next-move belonged to him.