The Cunning Treasure Hunter

"Well, if it isn't the esteemed daughter of Bloomspire Sect," Darian Flamestrike said with a sly grin, his gaze fixed on Vera.

Aiden's frown deepened. "How do you know this girl?"

"I was there," Darian replied smoothly. "Part of the Thirteenth Division, when her father was executed for treason."

"Hah," Aiden scoffed, his expression darkening.

The bitter irony was not lost on him. The man who destroyed Bloomspire Sect under charges of treason was none other than Valen Flamestrike of the Fiery Blade Sect. The enemy of both master and disciple was the same.

"…Do you remember me?" Vera's voice was cold, her narrowed eyes locking onto Darian.

"How could I forget? Those black eyes of yours," he replied, his tone mockingly familiar.

Vera's lips curved into a bitter smile as she clenched the scabbard in her hand. Her mind was cold and calculating. She could feel it in her bones—now was not the time to strike.

"Regardless," Darian continued, "step aside. These people must all die."

"Simply because they're related to members of the Heaven-Reversing Society?" Aiden asked, his tone biting.

"Precisely."

Aiden let out a dry laugh. "When did things become so merciless? I seem to recall collective punishment wasn't enforced in the past."

"It wasn't," Darian admitted. "But that changed this year."

"And why is that?" Aiden pressed.

"Because sparing them only led to their kin and friends seeking revenge," Darian replied, his sharp gaze turning toward Vera.

The unspoken meaning in his eyes was clear: Don't even dream of revenge.

"We didn't retroactively apply the new rules to past cases, of course. That was the Overlord of Unity's mercy."

Vera turned her gaze away, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. But she did not speak. She could endure this—for now.

"But who knows?" Darian added mockingly. "If more pests crawl out of the woodwork, retroactive punishment might become the norm. Best behave yourself, Vera."

"…That's enough," Aiden said sharply.

"What's wrong?" Darian asked with a smirk. "You don't want to end up like your father, do you? Rolling on the ground after losing your head? A beautiful young lady like you should be careful."

Blood trickled from Vera's bitten lip, but she remained silent. Darian seemed amused, but his taunts were abruptly cut short by Aiden's voice.

"What do you think you're doing? Mocking a child who has lost her family?"

"She's the child of a traitor's household," Darian said coldly. "Hard to pity her too much."

"Hmph," Aiden grunted. "Very well, I'll stop here. Now, step aside. I have work to do."

Darian unsheathed his blade—a large, fiery weapon etched with intricate flame patterns. Though not as formidable as the legendary Flame Dragon Blade his father wielded, it was still a weapon to be reckoned with.

Behind Aiden and Vera, the surviving villagers trembled—fear etched into their faces. The village elder clung to a charred staff, his body shaking.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Aiden said, rubbing his temple. "As a Harmony, I can't just stand by and watch innocent people die. That's not what Suncrest Sect taught me."

"So you intend to interfere with the Heavenly Unity Corps' execution of traitors?"

"No. I intend to stop a reckless thug from slaughtering indiscriminately."

"Hah. How absurd," Darian sneered. His grip on his blade tightened, and flames began to dance along its edge. The steel glowed red with heat.

"So, you mean to fight me?"

"Do you think you can win against me?" Aiden asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I don't," Darian admitted. "As someone barely in the mid-Peak Stage, how could I hope to defeat a martial artist who has reached the early Transcendent Realm? But I don't see much choice here."

Aiden's eyebrow twitched. Darian's cunning was undeniable.

"So, what are you going to do? Let me walk away unscathed? Answer me, Aiden."

"…Hah. So you knew all along," Aiden muttered.

"If I leave, my report will state that you obstructed the execution of traitors. Do you think you can let me go alive?"

With a resigned sigh, Aiden drew his Cherry Blossom Sword. The blade gleamed with a faint chill, its polished surface exuding the subtle fragrance of Cherry blossoms, overpowering even the acrid stench of burning wood.

"Vera. Draw your blade," Aiden commanded.

"…Yes, my lord," she replied, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Aiden weighed his options carefully. Using his full power would expose his identity. The Nine Thousand Cherry Blossom Sword, a signature technique of Suncrest Sect, was too recognizable.

'That bastard Darian Flamestrike is counting on that,' Aiden thought bitterly.

There were only two options: using the Nine Thousand Cherry Blossom Sword to kill Darian and risk being marked forever, or holding back and losing to Darian's Flame Dragon Blade Technique. It was a lose-lose scenario.

Unless Vera intervened.

'No one has ever seen the Cherry Blossom Falling Song in action before,' Aiden thought. The technique required three unique conditions: the Celestial Blade Star, the Eternal Blossom Sutra, and the Cherry Blossom Falling Song. A technique completely unknown to the martial world.

"Where's the dignity of a master of the Transcendent Realm, Aiden? Teaming up with a little girl?" Darian mocked.

"And why not?" Aiden smirked. "She's my disciple."

Darian's expression darkened, but his sharp instincts couldn't fully gauge Vera's potential.

"Vera," Aiden called.

"Yes, my lord," she answered.

"Use as little energy as possible," he instructed. He didn't want her coughing up blood again. She nodded silently, understanding his reasoning.

Aiden gestured at Darian with a flick of his fingers. "As your senior, I'll give you the first move."

"Not much of a senior, teaming up against me, but I'll accept," Darian sneered.

In an instant, Darian closed the distance between them, his fiery blade slashing downward. Aiden's eyes narrowed as he parried the attack with his sword.

Clang!

Sparks flew as the blades collided. Vera didn't hesitate. She let go of her scabbard and thrust her blade forward—a simple stab. It wasn't a formal technique, but it was precise.

Darian saw it coming. The tip of her sword cut through the air, unwavering, just like her cold, black eyes.

"Haah!" Darian twisted his body, deflecting the thrust with his fiery blade. His saber swung back, aiming for her head.

"Tsk—!" Aiden stepped in, blocking the strike and forcing Darian to retreat.

Realization dawned on Darian. Aiden had no intention of landing the killing blow himself—he was relying on Vera to finish the fight.

'She hasn't learned Suncrest Sect's techniques?' Darian thought. Yet the scent of Cherry blossoms emanating from Vera's blade told a different story.

Clang!

Vera's blade descended in a sharp vertical arc. Her strikes were precise, each slash targeting the narrow gaps in Darian's defense. Though her attacks lacked power, they left him gasping for air.

'If this drags on, I'll be overwhelmed,' Darian realized grimly.

He slammed his blade into the ground. Boom! A surge of fiery energy erupted, forcing Aiden and Vera to retreat.

"Back!" Aiden shouted, pulling Vera out of harm's way.

"...Thank you, my lord," Vera said, her voice steady.

"Stay sharp. It's only beginning," Aiden replied.

Darian steadied his breathing and raised his blade. Flames coiled around it, forming the shape of a dragon.

"Prepare yourself, Vera," Aiden said.

Vera nodded, raising her sword. She knew her role: deliver a single, decisive strike.

The fiery dragon roared, surging toward them. Aiden's blade cleaved through the flames, creating an opening.

Amidst the parted fire, a single black blossom bloomed.

It was the first stance of the Cherry Blossom Falling Song: Falling Blossom's Radiance.