177 Chapter 177 – The Price of Power: A Legend Forged in
Eldoria
The stillness in the courtyard was suffocating.
William paced relentlessly, Alistair Northwood so. Stone floor of the Celestial Apothecary Guild’s private garden.
wearing a path into the
Alistair Northwood sat rigidly at the table, his fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against the weathered wood.
“It’s been hours,” Uncle William muttered, glancing toward the entrance for the hundredth time. “He should have returned by now.”
Alistair’s face was drawn with concern. “Tristan Thornton is no ordinary opponent. The man has shattered boulders with his bare hands. He’s broken champions in tournaments without breaking a sweat.”
I watched them from the shadows of the entrance, curious about their conversation. Neither had noticed my arrival yet.
“And if something happens to Liam…” Uncle William’s voice cracked. “The boy trusted me. He came to me when he had nowhere else to go.”
Alistair sighed heavily. “William, we must be realistic. The Thorntons have ruled Eldoria’s martial world for generations. Their connections run deeper than-”
view, a small pouch of herbs clutched in
my
hand.
“Than what?” I stepped into
Both men jerked their heads toward me, their expressions morphing from worry to
shock.
“Liam!” Uncle William rushed forward, his hands hovering over my shoulders as if checking for injuries. “You’re…intact.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Were you expecting pieces?”
Alistair stood slowly, his keen eyes studying me with a mix of disbelief and newfou respect. “What happened with Tristan Thornton?”
“Tristan?” I frowned, setting the herb pouch on the table. “I didn’t see Tristan today. I encountered Conrad again. He tried to stop me from collecting these herbs.”
Uncle William’s face paled. “And?”
177 Chapter 177 – The Price of Power: A Legend Forged in Eldoría
“And I got the herbs,” I replied simply, gesturing to the pouch.
“But Conrad-”
“Conrad won’t be bothering anyone for a while,” I said, my voice hardening. “I had to damage his meridians severely. He’s probably being carried back to the Thornton compound as we speak.”
Alistair sank back into his chair, running a hand over his face. “Heaven help us all. First Miles, then Conrad… Do you understand what you’ve done?”
I poured myself a cup of tea, taking a moment to savor its warmth. “I did what was necessary. These herbs are critical for Elder Harding’s recovery.”
“Liam,” Uncle William’s voice was urgent as he gripped my arm. “You need to leave Eldoria. Now. Today. The Thorntons won’t rest until they’ve destroyed you for this. They have connections everywhere–in the city guard, in the merchant guilds, even within the ruling council.”
I met his gaze steadily. “I’m not running.”
“This isn’t about courage!” Uncle William’s voice rose in desperation. “This is about
survival! The Thorntons will send assassins. They’ll target anyone close to you. They’ll
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“Let them come,” I interrupted, my voice calm but firm. “I’m not the same person I was when I arrived in this city, William. The rules have changed.”
Alistair studied me intently. “What makes you so confident?”
I set my cup down carefully. “Because I’ve discovered something fundamental. Martial arts–no matter how refined, no matter how ancient–are nothing compared to true cultivation. The Thorntons rely on techniques passed down through generations. I’m forging a new path entirely.”
Uncle William shook his head in disbelief. “One man cannot stand against an ent family dynasty.”
“He can if he possesses power they don’t understand,” I replied. “Besides, if I run, they’ll come after you and everyone else who’s helped me. Is that what you want?”
The silence that followed confirmed I’d struck a nerve.
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177 Chapter 177 – The Price of Power: A Legend Forged in Eldoria
Alistair Northwood rose from his seat and walked to the window, gazing out at the city below. After a long moment, he turned back to me.
“I’ve lived in Eldoria for forty years,” he said quietly. “I’ve seen talents rise and fall. I’ve seen promising young men crushed beneath the weight of established powers.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “But I’ve never seen anyone progress as rapidly as you have, Liam Knight. Whatever path you’re walking… it defies everything I thought I
knew.”
He walked toward me, extended his hand. “If you’re staying to fight, then the Northwood family stands with you.”
I gripped his forearm firmly. “I appreciate that, Alistair.”
Uncle William looked between us, his expression tortured. “This is madness. Complete madness.”
Yet even as he protested, I could see resignation settling in his eyes. He knew I wouldn’t be swayed.
Across the city, in the Thornton family’s ornate medical chamber, chaos reigned. Servants scurried with hot water and bandages as Conrad Thornton lay motionless on an intricately carved bed. His skin had taken on a waxy pallor, and his breathing was shallow.
“Will he live?” Vincent Thornton, the family patriarch, demanded of the sweating physician.
The doctor’s hands trembled as he examined Conrad’s meridians. “His… his body is intact, but his energy pathways are severely damaged. I’ve never seen an attack like this.”
“What does that mean?” Vincent’s voice was dangerously quiet.
“It means…” The doctor swallowed hard. “It means he may never wake up. And if he does, he’ll likely never cultivate again. The damage is… catastrophic.”
Miles Thornton, standing in the corner with his injured knee, felt cold sweat break out across his forehead. “Father, I warned Conrad not to underestimate Knight. After what he did to me-”
3/5
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177 Chapter 177 – The Price of Power: A Legend Forged in Eldoria
“Silence!” Vincent roared, slamming his fist into a nearby table, splitting it down the
middle. “One son crippled, another reduced to… to this!” He gestured at Conrad’s still form. “All because of some nobody who appeared from nowhere!”
“He’s not a nobody anymore,” came a voice from the doorway.
All heads turned to see Tristan Thornton, his expression grim as he entered the chamber.
“What do you mean?” Vincent demanded.
“News is spreading through the city like wildfire,” Tristan replied. “The man who defeated two Thorntons in combat. They’re calling him the ‘Knight of Vengeance‘ in the streets. Merchants are whispering his name. Even the beggars know of him now.” Vincent’s face darkened with rage. “Then we crush this legend before it grows any larger. I’ll call in every favor, hire every assassin-”
“Father,” Tristan interrupted, his voice unusually cautious. “I observed Knight from a distance after hearing what happened to Conrad. His power… it’s unlike anything I’ve encountered. We need to approach this strategically.”
Vincent stared at his eldest son in disbelief. “Are you suggesting the Thornton family should fear this upstart?”
Tristan met his father’s gaze directly. “I’m suggesting we should understand our enemy before we move against him.”
Hidden in the shadows of a teahouse across from the Celestial Apothecary Guild, Caspian Kane lowered his spyglass, his face a mask of shock.
“Conrad Thornton reduced to a vegetable by Liam Knight?” he whispered to himself. “How could this kid’s progress be so fast? And… Liam seemed totally fine!”
He quickly scribbled a note and handed it to a waiting messenger. “Take this to M. Ashworth immediately. Tell him our simple problem has become much more complicated.”
The messenger nodded and disappeared into the crowded street, leaving Caspian to stare at the guild building with newfound unease. Whatever was happening with Liam Knight defied explanation–and that made him more dangerous than anyone in Eldoria
