Chapter 34: Malakor

A cloaked figure stood on the only path leading to the gorge. He appeared without a sound.

"I came to settle a score with the janitor," Malakor sneered. "I didn’t expect a bonus. Liana is here too."

Malakor’s voice trembled with excitement when he looked at her.

Whoosh.

A signal flare shot into the sky.

The man might as well have "villain" written on his forehead. Theo wasted no time. He signaled for backup immediately.

Malakor remained unperturbed.

"Use your head. Do you think I came without preparations? I jammed the tracking birds."

"Liana. I hate for you to die with him. If you just—"

Theo pulled a blue glass vial from his jacket. He held it up.

"Malakor!"

Malakor’s voice cracked. The color drained from his face.

He recognized Elder Vespera’s paralyzing acid. A single drop could melt the nervous system of a peak-stage cultivator.

"You are dead!" Malakor roared.

Before Malakor could lunge, a blade of crimson qi flashed.

Cold, decisive, and precise. Its intent pierced to the bone.

Liana threw her strike.

Malakor felt confident he could withstand it. Yet Liana’s strength exceeded his expectations. Taking the blow head-on would injure him.

The air froze for an instant.

Malakor chose to halt. He sidestepped the attack.

At that moment, Liana didn’t spare Malakor a glance. Her eyes locked onto Theo.

"Jump."

Theo seemed to realize what she intended to do.

Liana felt she understood this boy even less. Why wasn’t he afraid?

Was it his trust in her?

"Alright."

Liana never hesitated.

Since Theo agreed, she gripped his hand. She stepped into the void.

The wind turned biting. Everything blurred.

"You!"

Malakor lunged forward. His cloak tore.

He stared down from the cliff. He watched the boy and girl vanish into the mist.

Nothing remained in his eyes but disbelief...

"Jumping into the gorge."

"They didn’t hesitate."

Malakor’s mind went blank. His pupils shrank to pinpricks.

He had seen people beg before death. He had never seen anyone charge toward demise without hesitation.

No one knew how deep Thunder Gorge truly was. It harbored an aura strong enough to suppress qi, blood, and physical form. It severed the connection between the inner body and the outside world.

Even a peak elder wouldn’t descend unprepared.

Two Body Cleansing cultivators? Certain death.

"Madmen!"

Malakor punched the dirt. Regret surged in his chest.

He had dodged Liana’s sword out of fear of injury. An injury might expose his true intentions to the sect.

But this was worse. He lost his prey and the bait alike. He failed to secure cultivation materials. He committed the crime of attacking a Sovereign prodigy.

"The elders will arrive soon."

Malakor suppressed his emotions.

He stripped off his cloak. He tossed it into the gorge. He smoothed his inner sect robes.

He prepared his story.

Before he could speak.

Boom.

A purple meteor crashed near the edge of the cliff. Dust flew. The impact created the illusion that the entire summit trembled.

Vespera stood in the crater. Her sleeves fluttered.

"Where is my assistant?"

Her voice lacked its usual eccentric humor. It sounded hollow.

Malakor’s throat dried under her gaze. His excuses died on his lips.

"I just arrived as well."

"Vespera, let’s discuss this."

The Sect Master and Elder Silas landed on the summit.

"We must clarify what happened," Silas said. He gave Malakor a look.

Malakor found his voice. "Thunder Gorge is under my supervision. I heard the flare. I rushed here immediately."

"But when I arrived, the cliff was empty."

Silence fell.

Expressions darkened.

There was one path to the gorge. If Theo and Liana weren’t seen on the path, and they weren’t here, only one possibility remained.

Gazes drifted toward the gorge. Hearts sank.

"This glass is from my lab."

Vespera stepped forward. Her face was grim. She held up the shattered remains of a blue vial.

"Those two could hold their own against an inner sect elite long enough for us to arrive."

"Whoever attacked them... was at the peak stage," the Sect Master said.

No one expected the cultist behind Garrick to target Liana.

Thud.

Malakor coughed blood. He was sent flying backward.

Before he hit a tree, an invisible force caught him. He stumbled and regained his footing.

Silas steadied his disciple. He frowned.

"Vespera, none of us wanted this."

"Casualties happen during trials. Overseeing a vast area makes it impossible to be everywhere. Must we blame the overseers for every mishap?" Silas argued.

Vespera’s eyes flashed. She didn’t strike again. She stated her warning.

"Pray I never discover your involvement."

Malakor paled.

"Vespera!" Silas shouted. "Do not make baseless accusations."

Vespera ignored him.

"Enough. Infighting won’t help," the Sect Master interjected. "Silas, did your birds see anything?"

"The birds cannot approach the gorge. The intent scrambles their cores."

"I will search the area," Silas offered. "If I find anything suspicious, I will notify everyone."

The Sect Master exhaled. "Hunting the cultist is secondary. Our priority is confirming if they are alive."

"If they are, how do we rescue them?"