Lucifer had no interest in the dullness of the outer city. So he drifted towards the inner city, where he was greeted by a fascinating sight. There were three Grade 3 sects, each with distinct features and owners. The Red Lotus sect was controlled by the Fire clan and specialized in fire arts, while the Blue Lotus sect was run by the Ice clan and excelled in ice arts. These two clans were always at odds with each other, creating an atmosphere of tension.
But the most potent and commanding sect in the inner city was controlled by the White Clan, which was also the clan of City Lords. They governed the entire White Lotus city, claiming half of its resources. The White Clan was unique in that they specialized in both fire and ice arts, making them a formidable force to reckon with.
As Lucifer navigated through the inner city, he couldn't help but notice the power dynamics at play between the three sects.
In order to gather information on the cultivation system and its rules, he decided to infiltrate one of the sects. After considering both the Red Lotus and Blue Lotus Sects, he concluded that the former would be safer to penetrate. He approached the sect's premises without difficulty, as there were no arrays or protective measures obstructing his entry.
Upon entering the sect, he observed that it was divided into various areas, including living quarters for disciples, areas for practicing martial arts, and other facilities. He searched for a library and eventually found one that appeared suitable for his needs.
He spent most of the night poring over various books, beginning with the basic cultivation manuals intended for younger or newly initiated disciples. As he delved deeper, he perused skill manuals, body cultivation methods, and other resources that could assist him in understanding this whole cultivation business.
.....
As morning dawned, William and Henry left Emily at her house with strict instructions not to leave. They headed to the White Lotus sect or army camp, where William used his contribution points to request a search for Thomas in the city and the forest nearby. Henry then used his authority to mobilize some of the more powerful martial artists to help with the search.
They also carried out their own investigation, but night fell without any new leads on Thomas's whereabouts. Both William and Henry felt dejected and returned to their respective homes. William planned to ask his mother for help before going to Emily, while Henry had other tasks to attend to.
.....
The red-haired man spoke with a hint of panic in his voice, "William Kennedy has put out a search for that messenger."
"If they continue with the search using the same people, they'll soon find something," he continued, his anxiety increasing.
The man stood up from his chair, shouting in distress, "We're in trouble! If whatever they find reaches that old fart, he'll kill us first and then ask questions!"
The icy-cold woman sitting opposite him replied, "Stop panicking. Nothing has happened yet, and I'll make sure nothing does. Now, sit quietly and let me think."
.
.
.
"We should kill the girl named Emily," the woman suggested.
The man's voice rose as he responded, "Now who's acting like a fucking dumbass? What would we achieve by killing that child? It would only make William hate us more and speed up the investigation."
The temperature in the room dropped slightly as the woman calmly stated, "This will be a warning to William. If he continues with the search, more people close to him will die. He's an emotional fool, and even if he wants to take revenge, he'll at least do the investigation by himself and stop doing anything publicly."
She continued, "And if he's alone investigating, we don't have to fear him finding anything. As for the city lord, he won't interfere as long as William or Henry are not harmed. He'll let them experience their own failures."
"But doesn't this logic sounds flawed" the man questioned.
His voice wavered as he spoke, "and how can we kill an innocent child just for this? Isn't there any other way?"
The woman laughed and replied, "Why are you changing your tune? Weren't you the one suggesting this during our previous meeting?"
The man mumbled under his breath, "I was just trying to gauge your reaction."
The woman mocked him, saying, "Stop acting like a little bitch and be decisive."
The red-haired man was taken aback by the woman's crude language, but he understood the meaning behind her words. He thought to himself, "This time, I'll surely beat you up bitch."
Already once beaten, this time he kept his calm and decided to be clever. He began gathering his qi, slowly so as to gather the required amount after some time and attack mid conversation when she will be least expecting it. However, before he could do so, he was frozen solid in a block of thick ice. The woman got up and left without sparing him a glance.
As he broke free from the ice block, he heard her voice echo in his ears, "Send one person from your hidden reserve army with at least the Bone Tempering Stage cultivation."
"Shit" He shouted angrily and continued but burn the room till his anger and shame subsided.
.....
Lucifer had arrived at Emily's place in the morning after William and Henry left. He kept watch around the house to ensure her safety. During this time, he was unable to see inside the house due to his disabled skills, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, he would have been constantly reminded of his mistakes and the guilt he felt.
Night had fallen in White Lotus City, and Lucifer was still waiting for William and Henry to return to Emily's place. He planned to go to the sect library and continue his research once they arrived. However, he noticed two men sneaking towards Emily's house.
Now on full alert, Lucifer approached the men to get a closer look and hear their whispers.
"Is this the girl's house?" the man in blue asked.
"Yes, she should be alone inside," replied the man in red.
"Don't get distracted or go easy on her just because she's a small kid. When we enter the house, I'll stand guard at the door, and you'll kill her," said the man in blue.
"And make sure you slice her neck apart completely to avoid leaving any chances," he added.
"You don't have to remind me. You just take care of your duty and guard the door properly," the man in red replied somewhat unhappy.
"What rotten luck! How could I lose three times in a row during the luck game to determine the killer?" grumbled the man in red.
Lucifer's eyes widened and his breathing grew labored as he listened in on the conversation between the two killers. He gritted his teeth, feeling his anger boil within him as they discussed their heinous plans. Without hesitation, he lunged towards them and threw a punch with all the strength he had, but his fist passed through them like a shadow. The frustration in his chest only grew as he realized he was powerless to stop them without his skills.
He materialized in front of the killers, flickering in and out of existence, but they showed no sign of noticing him. He opened his mouth and started shouting at them with all his might but they still ignored him.
His mind raced with panic and frustration. How could this be happening? Why couldn't they see him, or at least sense his presence? He had no idea what to do, no idea how to stop them.
The killers' footsteps grew closer and closer to the door, and Lucifer's mind raced with desperation. He needed to find a way to intervene, to save Emily from their grasp. But every trick he knew failed him, leaving him feeling helpless and frustrated.
As the killers approached the door, Lucifer's despair reached a fever pitch. He couldn't bear the thought of Emily being harmed, and his heart pounded in his chest as he watched them step inside the room.
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Yes Votes: 2 66.7%
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No Votes: 1 33.3%
