Legacy of Hatred

Chapter 389: Meeting

While cultivators weren’t slaves to the basic needs that afflicted mortals, not in such intensity, at least, they did indulge in recreational activities, demanding appropriate services.

Silas led the group to a large building deeper into the settlement. It was a four-story structure with balconies on the top. The area had no cultivators selling wares on the ground, but some disheveled foundation experts roamed its surroundings, their robes dirty and loose, some reeking of wine, others of something more pungent.

The cultivation journey opened the path for great heights, but also for deeper pits of desperation. Liam had seen part of it in the Divine Cult, and a new side was laid bare to him now.

A rooting expert led the five inside, politely escorting them to the top floor. Liam saw scenes similar to Kilrest’s brothel, what looked like a gambling den, and a small, open market where cultivators could drink and trade or sell items.

Instead, the last floor was more luxurious and private. It was actually empty. It had bedrooms and other nice spaces, but its main attraction was a large room bordering two balconies, with several pillows resting around a short table.

The view was quite great. One balcony pointed at the mansions, while the other had shorter buildings ahead, allowing the environment beyond the settlement to stand out, as well as the night sky.

Liam also noticed that he couldn’t hear anything beyond the balconies. Talismans had to be in place to ensure privacy, encouraging a more honest conversation.

Grace and Liam sat at one side of the table. Silas occupied a spot right in front of them, while Duke and Erika went to his sides, almost in the corners. That arrangement described Mairis’ political situation. The meeting would feature all three families, but as separate parties.

Silence and tension reigned once the rooting expert left. No one said anything. Mairis’ trio studied the couple, while Liam kept eye contact with Silas the entire time.

As for Grace, she looked unbothered by the attention, her eyes darting all around the area.

Things changed once the rooting expert returned with a large tray carrying wine, tea, and cups. He arranged everything on the table, bowing before departing again, even leaving a black jade in case the group had additional requests.

The tension waned a bit at that point. Duke stood up with a smile, taking care of pouring drinks. There was a choice, but he asked Grace first, and everyone opted for wine to mimic her decision.

Once Duke went back to his pillow, Grace finally seemed to focus on the meeting, only to lift her cup and lean her back on Liam’s arm.

"This place actually isn’t half-bad," Grace gave Mairis a compliment for once before looking up at Liam. "Pity we aren’t here for pleasure."

Liam hadn’t really lost his expressiveness. The loss-driven maturity had made him more serious and composed, but his revealing faces still appeared in private and friendly environments.

That situation couldn’t be it. Liam believed Grace was shouldering all the weight of that contrived strategy, so he wanted to do his part, even if only by giving away as little as possible. He wasn’t talkative by nature, and the lingering danger kept him serious, but Grace risked making him fail at such a simple task.

"Don’t make me smile," Liam said, meaning it as a warning, wary about the cheerfulness filling his view.

Grace’s dark lips curved into a pleased smile. She placed a hand on Liam’s thigh, making sure everyone noticed the gesture, leaving it there while she focused on the trio.

"You can call me Grace," Grace finally introduced herself. "As for my handsome Dao partner, I think we settled on Liam."

Grace masked lies with truths. Her choice of words made it sound as if those names were fake, which perfectly matched the rest of her strategy.

"You said your purpose was business," Silas announced. "What opportunities are you seeking?"

"All of them," Grace declared, hiding her mouth with her long sleeve as she drank, before bringing her hand back to Liam’s thigh. "We want to buy, sell, trade, auction, and whatever else this place has to offer."

"And ..." Silas exclaimed, indulging in a long sip, "Your goal?"

"If we wanted to take this place," Grace chuckled, "We would have taken it."

Unknowingly to Liam, his expression helped Grace greatly. He was utterly focused on reading the trio, but his face grew feral in those moods, as if vouching for her threat.

The threat was understandable and reassuring. After all, one of the dangers of dealing with a far superior force was to be eaten by it.

Mairis was no righteous place, either. It had no Kingdom that protected it. The families weren’t hopeless or inconsequential in the cultivation world. They wouldn’t have been able to keep Mairis standing otherwise.

However, the alleged force behind the couple could be far beyond the three families’ imagination, meaning they had to make sure it had no interest in taking Mairis.

"Let’s say we need a new channel," Grace vaguely explained. "An inconspicuous one that doesn’t ask questions. We’ll give this place a chance. If it’s satisfactory, we’ll get serious."

That was to say, whatever business Grace and Liam engaged in now, it would merely be an appetizer. The Mairis’ trio would have to see their current offer to get an idea of what the future might have in store, but they had reason to believe it couldn’t be little.

Glances shot toward Grace’s earrings and the matching hairpins. The rumors about the Black-Qi User had also involved things hard to believe. The couple flaunted their wealth so openly, meaning their space-ring hid much more.

"And if it’s unsatisfactory?" Erika questioned.

Grace smiled at the woman, seemingly delaying her reply on purpose. "We’ll go somewhere else and do it again until we find a channel."

That was a good outcome, all things considered, even a merciful one, but Grace obviously didn’t let it stay at that.

"Of course," Grace added, "If it takes too long..."

Grace leaned further back on Liam’s arm, tilting her head on his shoulder to be more comfortable when she looked up at him again.

"My dear," Grace called. "What did they say was the other option?"

Grace would never involve Liam in that strategy unless he knew the answer. There was no "they", so the question had to involve a conversation the two had, and Liam recalled what his stance had been. He still planned to live by it, too.

"Kill and plunder," Liam declared.