Chapter 274: Back In Blackstone City

After taking his bath, Liam walked to the dining table and joined his friends for breakfast. The smell of eggs and toast filled the room, mixing with warm morning sunlight that slipped through the curtains.As they ate, Kristopher leaned forward and asked, "Are you free to game today?"

Liam shook his head calmly and replied, "No. Something came up. I won’t be free the whole day."

Everyone paused and their forks hovered mid-air as they exchanged quick glances. Curiosity flickered in every pair of eyes, but none of them asked anything. They had promised themselves not to pry into Liam’s private matters, especially when he didn’t offer the details.

Stacy smiled gently and said, "Just don’t stress yourself, okay? Try to rest sometimes."

Liam nodded. "I know. Thank you."

Even though they didn’t ask, he appreciated how they respected the boundary he never voiced out loud.

The group continued eating their meal, while chatting about causal stuffs. Liam finished his meal before the others and he immediately stood up.

"Thank you for the food," he said to the head maid.

She bowed lightly "Always a pleasure, sir."

" I will be in my room. Don’t disturb me for the rest of the day," Liam added.

She nodded again with a polite smile.

Liam walked toward his room, hands in his pockets. When the door closed behind him, the calm expression on his face faded and a mischievous smile replaced it.

"Time to have fun," he said softly and he vanished.

***

A second later, Liam stood in the middle of Blackstone City.

The change in scenery was instant. The sunlight heat him directly, unfiltered by the glasses of a window and the fresh air filled with vitality flowed into his nostrils, then to his lungs.

He smiled to himself happily as he took a deep breath. He landed on a crowded street of Blackstone city.

But there was a problem. He has appeared on the crowded street right out of nowhere and that caused people to react, as silence spread almost through the nosiy and crowded street like a ripple in water.

People froze and their eyes widened in shock. A few stumbled backward in pure shock. The crowded street quickly opened up into a circle of empty space around him.

A ring of distance formed without him asking and no one dared to step closer.

Were they spooked by my sudden appearance or are they scared because the famed demon that destroyed the Xuan and Fang family experts appeared out of nowhere? Liam chuckled inwardly. He felt that the answer to his question was probably both.

As he and expected, whispers exploded around him as people started talking amongst themselves.

"Is that... him?"

"He’s alive?"

"I thought he fled!"

"No way he just shows up here like this!"

"Does he want to die?"

"It’s been two months! And he comes back like nothing happened?"

"He must be insane!"

It had been more than two weeks in Earth time since Liam’s fight with the Xuan and Fang family experts, but in the cultivation world, two full months had passed.

Two months without a single sighting of him.

Yes, the day after the battle, he had made an appearance in the inn he was staying at. And his appearance was just long enough to remind the city that he was still alive. But after that... nothing. Not a glimpse. Not a whisper or even a rumor.

And in a world where strength decided fate, silence was dangerous.

People began to wonder; had something happened to him? Had he been ambushed?

Had the Xuan or Fang families finally caught him? Or had he simply fled the region out of fear?

The uncertainty grew stronger because both families had been relentlessly searching for him. Everyone in Blackstone City knew that the two clans wanted his head more than anything.

So when Liam suddenly appeared on the busy street of Blackstone City in broad daylight, looking very casual about everything the shock was immediate.

It felt unreal as the person the entire city believed dead or hidden away had returned as if he had just stepped out for a stroll.

To many, it looked like he was provoking the heavens. Some of them feels that he’s insane for doing so, while some feels he was being arrogant beyond reason and some felt that he was questioning the dignity of the two clans.

Because his appearance wasn’t quiet or subtle. It was more of a message.

A bold, loud, unspoken message that says, "I’m here. If you want me... come get me."

The crowd felt he was far too brazen. Even if he had defeated the experts previously sent after him, he was still alone. Still young. Still someone the clans had sworn to kill. Anyone sane would have hidden, stayed low, or left Blackstone entirely.

Liam naturally clearly heard their whispers and he ignored every voice. He wasn’t here to hide and he wasn’t here to sneak around or mask his presence.

He was actually here to make noise.

There was a reason he teleported to a busy street in the city instead of somewhere quiet. He wanted to announce himself. He wanted his presence to spread like wildfire across Blackstone. He wanted the families hunting him to know that he was back.

And this time, he wasn’t hiding behind the White Lotus Inn.

Liam looked around calmly, admiring how fast fear worked on people. Two months had passed in this world since his fight with the Fang and Xuan experts.

Two whole months of silence from him and they all were already having thoughts that something had happened to him. Not that they could be blamed or anything but he wanted everyone to understand that they are terribly wrong.

Liam started walking at a leisure pace, with his hands in his pockets. He wanted every pair of eyes to see him and he wanted every whisper to grow into panic for the Xuan and Fang families.

He was sure that they must have combed everywhere to look for him and now, he was giving them a free chance.

He had no intention of staying at the White Lotus Inn anymore. That place was too comfortable and too symbolic. The Xuan and Fang families wouldn’t dare to attack him there.

But if he stayed in a small inn instead? A cheap room? With thin walls and with no array protection?

They would definitely make their move and that was want he wanted.

At least, he thought, it was only fair to give them an opportunity to vent, right?

Liam chuckled quietly.

But he also had another purpose for coming here. He still hadn’t checked the details of the Primordial Forge Authority reward he gained from the system. And if it’s what it is, he also wants to see if he can fuse it immediately and start making use of it.

But before he handled rewards, he wanted to cause some chaos.

As he walked, his steps were steady and smooth. His presence alone made people step aside.

***

Meanwhile, in the City Lord’s manor—

It hadn’t even been ten minutes since Liam appeared in Blackstone City. Yet the news had already reached the manor like lightning.

Inside the main hall, servants knelt, trembling and guards stood at attention. The air was heavy.

Xuan Yu’s father, the City Lord, stood from his seat so fast that the wood cracked under his grip.

"What did you say?" he demanded, his eyes burning with rage.

The servant bowed his head low. "My lord... Liam has appeared in Blackstone City."

The City Lord’s jaw clenched.

For two months, he had waited. For two months, he had been drowning in humiliation. His sons were dead. His pride was shattered. His clan was the talk of the town and his reputation was in ruins.

All because of one boy. Liam.

His eyes narrowed into slits. "Where?"

"On the main market street," the servant replied. "He walked openly. He’s not hiding."

Not hiding? Not even trying? Is he trying to mock the Xuan family? Is he telling us to come after him?

The City Lord’s anger boiled even hotter. He gritted his teeth. His voice was cold enough to freeze air.

"Send a message to the Devouring Petal Pavilion."

The hall fell silent, as even the guards stiffened. Who doesn’t know the Infamous Devouring Petal Pavillion?

They were assassins, poison masters, and hunters of cultivators. If someone wanted death delivered on a plate, those were the people to hire.

The City Lord’s new right-hand man stepped forward and bowed. "What should I say?"

The City Lord stared ahead with murder in his eyes.

"Tell them I want Liam’s head delivered to me before the next morning."

The right-hand man nodded without hesitation. "Understood, my lord."

He left immediately without delay.

The moment he was gone, the City Lord slammed his fist against the table.

"He dared to return," he hissed. "He dared to step into my city again."

His breathing was rough. His nails dug into the wood of the table. Anger twisted inside him like a serpent.

"He will pay. I will make him pay for killing my son," the City Lord growled.