Arjan looked blankly at the collapsed cave. Slowly, she approached and placed her hand on a large rock.
"It is dangerous. Step back," I warned.
"Ah, yes."
It was common sense not to approach the site of a recent collapse—it wouldn't be surprising if another one occurred at any moment.
"What the hell happened?" Arjan's voice trailed off.
She seemed genuinely puzzled by the sudden collapse. The constant screams from the cave must not have registered with her, likely because she'd only just regained her senses.
"Don't be surprised. The signs of collapse were there from the start—" I stumbled mid-sentence and fell.
Arjan rushed to me. "Young Master Luan!"
I tried to nod to show that I was fine, but even that felt impossible.
So, this is what people mean when they say they don't have the strength to lift even a finger.
I gasped for breath and said, "Arjan, your charisma was truly something back there."
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"Get down, was it? I found myself ducking without realizing it," I replied.
"Ah, t-that..." Arjan's face heated up a bit. "I apologize. I acted disrespectfully."
"Forget it. In a situation like that, insisting on formalities would've been more shameful. More importantly, are you feeling better?"
"Don't worry about me. Young Master Luan, you should focus on yourself first—"
"Arjan, you must be in good shape to carry me," I interrupted her.
Arjan nodded. "I have enough energy to serve you, Young Master Luan."
"Then I'll ask a favor. I've really reached my limit. If I collapse now, I'll probably be out cold for days," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Please, tell me what to do."
"Go down the mountain range and take me back to the main house. If you hurry, we will make it just in time."
Arjan hesitated, her mouth tightening.
"Are you thinking about Carzakh?" I asked, sensing her unease.
"That..." Her voice wavered.
"I understand. I feel the same way," I reassured her with a laugh, trying to ease the tension.
Arjan looked at me as if trying to read my thoughts.
"Even so, we have to go. This isn't about morals or efficiency," I said, recalling Carzakh's final shout. "It was Senior who made the decision. At that moment, he understood the situation and chose what was best."
I was surprised by the Swordmaster, a Great Master. I didn't think I had undervalued him, but perhaps I'd been unknowingly overlooking his capabilities.
I had subconsciously compared him to my master and seniors on Spirit Mountain, but now I realized how narrow-minded that was.
It was like the proverbial frog in the well. Strength wasn't just physical power. The Carzakh I had just witnessed was proof enough to acknowledge him as a truly strong person.
"Waiting here or turning back would insult Senior. Therefore, we need to descend the mountain as he instructed. Do you understand?" I asked, my voice steady.
Arjan nodded. "I understand."
"Yes. Then let's go."
How many days did we have left?
We had spent three days in the cave. How long had we wandered the mountains? This was a serious matter.
Maybe I was too relaxed because a wave of drowsiness hit me. I wanted to pull the map from my pocket, but my vision blurred, and even my thoughts became hard to hold onto.
"There's a map... in my pocket..." I mumbled. "I took it from those assassins... Use it to find your way... and the gold... it was already there, so don't worry about it—"
I lost consciousness before I could finish speaking.
"Young Master Luan!" Arjan shouted.
Maybe by the time I opened my eyes again, I'd already be home.
***
The blessing ceremony was the empire's greatest event, reserved exclusively for those with the Great Families' bloodlines.
However, today, it was more than just an occasion for receiving extraordinary talents from the gods. It had become an essential gathering for the empire's most powerful figures.
While its original purpose was to showcase the young heirs destined to lead the empire and to conduct the proceedings without disturbance, the event had taken on a dual role. It also served as an exchange meeting where powerful nobles assessed one another's positions and cultivated alliances.
Ultimately, it was a place where influential figures who supported the empire came together, making political maneuvering inevitable.
A popular saying went, "To understand the exact hierarchy of imperial nobility, look at the seating arrangement at the blessing ceremony."
The event was deeply rooted in the empire's history and traditions, so no ordinary family could oversee its preparation and execution. Only three noble families, including the imperial family, had been entrusted with this honor.
One of these families was the Badnikers, among the most powerful in the empire today. The territory they ruled, whose name meant "Earth" in the ancient fairy language, was home to some of the most fertile land and scenic landscapes in the empire, drawing numerous tourists each year.
However, there was one area in the territory that was off-limits to everyone, even long-time residents. This was the Butterfly Forest. The Badniker family's ancestral home sat at the heart of this forest, a place unreachable by conventional means.
To avoid getting lost in the Butterfly Forest, one needed either the Badniker bloodline or the family head's acknowledgment.
Lucia sighed. Although she was one of the Iron-Blooded Lord's wives and Luan's mother, it didn't matter. The Badniker family's blood didn't run in her veins—she was born into another noble family. Perhaps that was why she always felt uneasy in the main house.
She sighed again. It had been nearly a month since her return, yet it felt much longer.
It feels like it has been a year.
Rushing home for her only son had been worth it, but living here was far from easy.
Lucia coughed, spitting out dust.
Her assigned room was a dingy, almost warehouse-like space. She knew the servants had better accommodations. Her frail health made matters worse—her throat itched constantly, and persistent headaches plagued her.
The room's small window was inadequate for ventilating such a large space. With no servants assigned to clean it, and the room too vast for her to manage alone, she focused only on tidying the bed. Even that barely helped.
Lucia just shook her head and muttered calmly, "How childish."
She understood the reason for her treatment. The Iron-Blooded Lord's other wives, save for one, acted like petty children, scheming to keep her in check. They never dared behave this way when the Iron-Blooded Lord was home, but in his absence, their immaturity showed.
Still, childish or not, Lucia had to admit that their bullying was persistent and relentless.
At first, it started with minor things.
Even when rooms were clearly empty, they would say, "I'm sorry, but with the upcoming blessing ceremony, there are no spare guest rooms."
At mealtime, they made excuses about food shortages. "We ran out of ingredients today. There's some wheat bread left—would you like some? However, it is a bit hard."
Not only did she have to clean her room, but she also had to do her laundry. "I'm sorry, Madam Lucia. There are no spare hands, so no one can do the housework for you."
The next day, when she mentioned that her clothes were torn, they laughed and handed her a maid's uniform. "Your clothes are torn? But these are the only clothes left."
Lucia considered all this bullying trivial. In the first place, Lucia wasn't a wealthy noble.
Her homeland, Coland, lay in the far north—a territory once known as the Kingdom of Ice. Though technically part of the empire, the farther one moved from the capital, the weaker the empire's influence became. In truth, these borderlands were more like separate nations.
It was only natural. The environment, culture, and even the people's appearances differed. They were united under the empire's banner solely because of a common enemy—the Dark Church—but that was all.
Most people from the empire didn't view Coland's people as fellow citizens and often discriminated against them. It was better than being treated as a completely different race, but it meant that Coland was closer to a small kingdom than a mere border territory.
Lucia's status was akin to that of a princess in that small land, though she had ten older siblings ahead of her.
In the end, Coland had nothing notable about it—except that it was cold.
The Iron-Blooded Lord's interest in the daughter of such a family stemmed from the fact that Coland had once produced the strongest swordsman in the empire. That was a tale from hundreds of years ago.
Lucia laughed.
Coland's palace was smaller than the Badniker mansion.
Sleeping in a warehouse? It wasn't bad. At least it was warm without needing to light a fire.
No food? Even wheat bread could be delicious. If she grew tired of it, she could rent a kitchen and cook her own meals.
She was used to cleaning her room and washing her clothes. If she were healthier, she would've made this room shine. Whether it was clothes or shoes, she could sew them up when they wore out.
Yes, the insults and humiliations meant nothing to Lucia. They were difficult, and her pride was hurt, but she could endure anything for her only son, Luan. That was why Lucia stayed at the main house despite all the insults she endured.
It would be great if I could have Luan participate in the second blessing ceremony of the year, but it seems unlikely this time.
The blessing ceremony was held twice every five years—once in the first half of the year and once in the second.
This was the year that Luan was kicked out of the family after receiving no blessings, so realistically, participation would be difficult this time.
Each family could send up to five people to the ceremony.
Since the Iron-Blooded Lord had many children, the competition for the blessing ceremony was fierce. Each participant could receive the blessing up to two times, depending on their talent.
Luan, who had been granted this rare opportunity but failed to receive a single blessing, would not be shown any mercy.
Therefore, Lucia revised her original plan. Instead of attending the full two-week blessing ceremony, she would attend the exchange meeting held during that time.
I'm sure the Great Masters will attend as well.
The Iron-Blooded Lord had personally invited ten influential figures from the Badniker family and other powerful figures in the empire. Some would be fortunate enough to catch the attention of a Great Master and become their disciple. Many attending the exchange meeting likely had this goal in mind.
Lucia adjusted her clothing before the mirror, thinking, The exchange meeting starts today.
She never considered herself unattractive, but something about her appearance felt off, as if her grooming were careless. There was an ambiguous air to it, hinting at poverty. She didn't seem like the wife of a noble family.
She straightened her back, knowing that without confidence, only shabbiness would remain.
As Lucia opened the door and stepped out, she saw servants bustling in the hallway. She passed them and headed to the main hall on the first floor, where the exchange meeting would take place.
Inside, she found a group of elegantly dressed nobles.
Tables were arranged at regular intervals, the air filled with the fragrant scent of wine, and soft music played in the background.
Despite the large crowd, the hall's atmosphere was calm, hinting at the sophistication and high status of the people present.
Lucia was a bit intimidated, but she squared her shoulders and took a step forward.
Just then, someone blocked Lucia's path. "One moment, please."
Judging from his attire, he was a butler of the main house.
"Do you have something to say?" Lucia asked.
"We are checking identities before allowing entry. Which family do you come from?" the butler inquired.
Lucia suddenly felt dazed.
Identity verification?
"You don't recognize me?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"My apologies, but..." The butler paused as he examined Lucia's face more closely. His expression remained indifferent as he bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry. It turns out to be you, Madam Lucia."
Then, faint laughter spread through the hall. Lucia saw familiar faces—the second and third wives of the Iron-Blooded Lord. They were laughing while covering their mouths with their fans.
"It is the long-awaited exchange meeting. I'm glad nothing is disrupting it," one of them remarked, her voice dripping with mockery.
" Oh , this is why she should've shown her face more often," the other added, her tone equally cutting.
"Who knows? I think it is more a matter of dignity," the first continued, her words laced with disdain.
"Indeed. That dress looks like it was stitched together in a hurry. Even if I asked my maid to wear it, she wouldn't do it," the second chimed in.
Their comments were far from subtle, and it seemed even the music had stopped.
Lucia's face flushed, but she pretended not to hear and stood tall. It was a brief humiliation, but she couldn't back down—for Luan's sake.
"If the identity check is complete, may I proceed?" Lucia asked, her voice calm but firm.
The butler, however, showed no intention of backing down. "I'm sorry, but did you come alone?"
"What do you mean?"
"More families than expected have arrived for this blessing ceremony. As a result, the Council of Elders has imposed new conditions for attending the exchange meeting to avoid confusion and any untoward incidents," the butler explained.
The butler smirked unpleasantly and added, "You won't be allowed to attend this exchange meeting without an attendant to assist you."
"What?" Lucia blurted out, her voice rising in disbelief.
"My apologies, Madam Lucia. I must ask you to leave now."
Lucia stood frozen, still processing the words.
Meanwhile, peals of laughter echoed again. This time, however, it wasn't just the wives of the Iron-Blooded Lord who were laughing.
Someone snickered.
"I asked who she was, and it turned out to be that person from Coland," another one chimed in.
"Ah, that explains it. I felt uneasy about her appearance for some reason."
"Look at that hair. It is creepy."
" Hah . I'm glad she is leaving."
Lucia's face turned pale. She never expected someone from the Badniker family to insult her like this, especially to her face. For a moment, her mind went blank.
At that moment, the butler extended his hand, and Lucia's expression stiffened.
Was he trying to force her out of there?
Isn't this going too far?
Bam.
Suddenly, someone grabbed the butler's hand. A large hand, encased in black gloves, easily stopped the butler's firm grip.
The butler frowned, sensing the unexpected force. His expression quickly stiffened, and he could only stammer, " U-uh... "
"If you are looking for the attendant, here I am," the newcomer said in a low, strong voice. "I will take care of Madam Lucia."
The room fell silent as if cold water had been poured over it. All eyes were on the middle-aged man standing before them, a figure that surprised even Lucia.
It was none other than the Iron-Blooded Collector, Kayan!
His lips curled into a smile beneath his mustache. "Is that okay?"