The kids took the food and quickly began devouring the delicious meals. The sound of their chewing echoed through the alley as the woman watched, smiling at their enjoyment, feeling quite satisfied.
From the aura she gave off, the woman belonged to the Immortal Lotus race; a subtle soul energy surrounded her. She wore a simple dress with a neat ponytail. She wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful, but she gave off an honest and warm presence, especially when she smiled.
"Is it good?" she asked softly.
"Yeah..." the kids barely managed to respond, still busy chewing.
She was a skilled cultivator, so she noticed when someone was watching her. Turning around, she saw two strangers standing at the entrance to the alley.
Kakarotto stood there with a slight smile, while Buman stood behind him, motionless like a statue. The woman immediately remembered the recent news and took a good look at him. He looked like the infamous untouchable pervert.
A chill ran down her spine, and she quickly said, "I’ll come back tomorrow to see you all."
She started to walk away, while the kids remained absorbed in their meals and said their goodbyes. She didn’t dare stay and walked in the opposite direction.
Bruno laughed and began slowly following her. Even though she didn’t turn around, she knew he was trailing her. She sped up, fearing he might follow her all the way home, and decided to take a long detour.
Luckily, she was familiar with the area and used the maze-like streets to lose him. It seemed to work. She glanced back and sighed in relief. Finally, she exited another alley and saw her house up ahead, then hurried inside.
In front of the house, there was a carved sign: "Supreme Inscriptions."
Alm and Bruno approached, intrigued, when they saw the sign. Inscriptions were a rustic and simple method of creating formations or arrays. Without available Qi, cultivators from that place had developed these inscriptions.
They entered; the place was a small shop selling these inscriptions. Despite its size, there were many sets on display, aimed at cultivators with extra money who already had enough weapons and pills.
Judging by its simple state and lack of people, it was clear that few sought these things.
"Miss, I need something to protect me."
Suddenly, Kakarotto’s voice sounded behind the woman, making her jump. She stumbled back, terrified because of his perverted reputation.
"My Lord, let me assist you," an old man from the Immortal Lotus race approached, trying to save her instantly.
"No need, I want her to help me," Kakarotto said, looking at the girl while holding his chin. This only increased her panic, and her expression turned bitter.
"My Lord, we are a small place. We barely survive by selling these mediocre inscriptions that can’t possibly satisfy you. On the corner of the next street, there’s a shop specializing in rare weapons; you should take a look," the old man said anxiously, though anger began to surface in his eyes.
The young man ignored the old man and took another step toward the girl. She, in response, backed away several steps.
But contrary to expectations, he stepped to the side and examined a set of inscriptions in the display. "At the very least, the crafting techniques came from masters," Kakarotto murmured softly.
"Young Master, you’re just joking. We’re just a broken shop; our techniques are nothing exceptional," the old man replied quickly.
"Hmm..." Alm and Bruno slowly analyzed the items with their souls, secretly. Soon, their curiosity grew. After a few seconds, they turned to Buman. "Who are these people? Don’t hide anything."
Buman took a deep breath. From the moment he entered the place, Alm and Bruno had noticed his distant gaze.
"They... they’re from a branch that used to be part of one of the eight major clans, the Shadowveil Clan. But they were expelled and nearly wiped out. Now they’re just slaves to the clan they once belonged to," he replied, causing the woman and old man’s expressions to sink.
Kakarotto asked curiously, "What did they do?"
"The former branch leader was an exceptional woman who practically created inscriptions throughout the empire. Her name spread even to the other two empires. Before, everyone considered inscriptions to be trash. But thanks to her, they became something even the King values."
Alm and Bruno listened, and a frightening thought began forming in their minds. They looked at Buman seriously as he continued.
"She rose during the first reign of the King. His Highness was still young and desired her. So, he courted her... but that woman was a bit fiery..." He spoke, and Alm and Bruno grew more convinced.
"In short, she dared to defy the King. In the end, she was killed, and her entire branch was punished," suddenly Alm and Bruno’s eyes widened.
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"But they couldn’t be completely destroyed because the woman had created inscriptions and taught them to all her relatives. She developed an inscription capable of transmitting knowledge only to her kin, sealing their bodies so nothing could be leaked." He finished with regret.
Kakarotto asked, "Are these her descendants?"
"No; she never married and refused any interaction, beating up anyone who even tried to touch her..." Buman answered, snorting.
"So, you inherited her knowledge?" Kakarotto asked, looking at the two of them.
But… there was no response. A dark aura surrounded him, making the whole place freeze. The two of them turned pale.
’Calm down, idiot. It could just be a coincidence, and we don’t really know what happened to Ruri,’ Bruno mentally scolded Alm, trying to calm him.
Buman grew alarmed, but the pressure lasted only a second before disappearing. He took a deep breath and answered for them:
"Those who truly know how to craft the powerful inscriptions are in the main clan, being used. These ones here barely inherited any of the knowledge, but they’re trying to survive."
*BANG!*
Suddenly, the wooden door exploded.
Footsteps echoed from outside. A group entered, wearing uniforms with a violet sword insignia on their chests. Their hostile intentions were clear, judging by their aggressive demeanor.
The leader was a young man full of energy. His fierce eyes indicated he wasn’t someone to be underestimated. The group immediately looked at the woman.
"It’s been a while," the young man laughed, addressing her.
She pursed her lips and glared at him coldly.
He smiled, saying, "The date’s here. I’m sure you’ve prepared. It’s time to pay up."
"Sir Gamou, please, just a few more days. Just a few days, and we’ll pay. We simply have nothing right now, but we’ll deliver as soon as possible," the old man tried to calm the situation.
"A few more days?" the young man, called Gamou, shook his head. "I don’t have that kind of time. If I don’t collect payment, how am I supposed to answer the veterans?"
"What do you want then?!" the girl shouted angrily.
"All I’m doing is handling official clan business. If you can’t pay, then pack up and leave. The clan will take back this property, and you can’t stay here anymore."
"We’ve never been late! Give us a few days, don’t be so unreasonable!" the girl insisted.
The young man shook his head: "I’m not being unreasonable or cold. I’m just following the rules. You should be glad I’m the one here for this unpleasant task; anyone else wouldn’t be so understanding right now."
"I just need two days." The girl’s voice grew weaker, almost pleading, as she had no other choice.
"No." He paused and then said, "But there is another way."
"What is it?" the girl asked, hopeful.
Suddenly, his gaze became lecherous as he stared at the girl. Her expression turned to despair, and she gripped the hilt of a dagger at her waist, furious.
He shrugged and ordered, "If they don’t want to move on their own… Men, help the young miss pack up now."
"You dare?!" the girl shouted.
"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you pay your debt... hehehe," Gamou laughed uncontrollably, excited.
"This fly keeps buzzing and ruining my mood."
Kakarotto, who had been watching the display, suddenly turned around and commented indifferently. The men hadn’t noticed his presence until then.
Gamou finally saw him and sized him up, seeing only an ordinary young man. His cultivation was in the first realm, and his clothes didn’t suggest he was anyone important—he was a complete nobody.
The young man came from a clan based in the city, but he was isolated from the common folk. He had no idea of the infamy of the Perverted Young Master.
"Brat, get lost. Our clan’s doing business here. Interfering in this is punishable by death!" he shouted harshly.
"And what if I don’t?" Kakarotto smiled.
"Don’t? Then I’ll break your legs and make you crawl out." Gamou’s eyes glinted fiercely.
Kakarotto pretended to be scared, making a frightened face: "So cruel! Don’t you care about the laws?!"
"The laws? The strong make the laws," Gamou smirked maliciously. "Don’t you know who you’re dealing with? People from our clan can do whatever they want!"
Kakarotto immediately changed his demeanor and started laughing uncontrollably: "So funny! Someone actually dares to say that in front of me? Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter."
It took a moment for him to stop laughing and ask, "Buman, tell me now, in the entire empire, who is the law?"
"You are, my Lord," Buman replied, not referring to him as His Highness this time.
"Did you hear that? I’m the law, so start running now before I change my mind." Kakarotto mocked, waving his hand as if swatting away a fly.
Gamou’s expression changed. A nobody dared to talk to him like this? He smiled wickedly: "Brat... hahaha, you’ve got guts." Then he ordered, "Men, break his legs. Show him the laws of our clan!"
"Brat, you asked for this." The men sneered, rolling up their sleeves as they approached.
Alm and Bruno laughed internally. Then Kakarotto waved his hand, and at that moment, the whole world seemed to shake violently.
*Boom!*
They couldn’t touch him and were thrown to the ground. One by one, they all crashed violently onto the floor. The sound of their bones breaking echoed ominously, leaving them unable to get up.
Alm and Bruno tested their control over the new power and realized they could now use it with more ease. These fools were no different from flies.
But Buman was terrified, looking around in confusion. He and the others couldn’t understand or sense where the power had come from. It was as if the laws of the world had attacked the group on their own. Nothing seemed to connect it to Kakarotto.
"Don’t you know who I am by now? I’m a spoiled brat," Kakarotto declared, stepping forward.
Their eyes were wide with shock. Gamou screamed in response: "Who... who the hell are you?!"
"I already told you, idiot, are you deaf? I’m a spoiled brat..." he said with a grin.
"Don’t come near me!"
The young man, terrified, tried to get up and run, but he couldn’t move—his bones were nearly all broken. The scene was ridiculous, with him writhing on the ground. Kakarotto shook his head and stomped on his back.
*Crack!*
The boy spat out a mouthful of blood. Kakarotto flipped him over and crouched down, giving him a sinister smile: "Do you know why you’re still alive?"
"Don’t do anything crazy! The clan won’t let you get away if you hurt me!" the young man was frozen in fear.
Kakarotto laughed, patted the idiot’s face, and said, "Go back and tell the old man that Kakarotto has his eyes on this girl. Keep provoking her, and I’ll be upset enough to wipe out your clan."
Gamou didn’t dare refuse, terrified for his life. Kakarotto smiled and kicked him.
*BANG!*
The laws of the world seemed to reverse, and everyone was pulled by an invisible force. Rolling, then flying, they disappeared over the horizon, coughing up blood.
The girl and the old man were pale and silent. Kakarotto turned to them and sighed.
"I… I’m Minnan… thank you!" The woman quickly introduced herself, clearly a thousand times more scared than before.
"I’m a spoiled brat, not a hero saving damsels in distress," he answered seriously.
Minnan held her breath, unsure of his intentions. Kakarotto’s notorious reputation frightened her deeply.
"Alright, don’t look at me like that. I may be a pervert, but I’ve got refined tastes. I’m not into malnourished girls," he said, staring at her.
Then he turned to Buman and said, "I like this girl. Leave a billion so she can buy some clothes."
Buman immediately threw several bags onto the table before leaving with Kakarotto.
Minnan and the old man were left speechless. Spending a billion like that? Even in one of the eight clans, not even direct successors would be that extravagant. It was enough for decades of luxury.
Kakarotto had already left long before she finally calmed down. Not daring to chase after him, Minnan stayed there, confused, not knowing what to do.
After they left, Buman smiled and asked, "Your Highness, she’s not a bad girl. Why didn’t you take her in?"
"Why should I? I’m not short on women; a good girl, though, is hard to come by."
Buman smiled and replied, "So you liked her that much, Your Highness?"
He had grown used to the young man. Now he felt free to ask and talk openly when they were alone. Even teasing him wasn’t an issue. Kakarotto would just smile, sometimes teasing back.
It was completely different from being around the King. Being near Vulke meant constantly being on edge. His wrath could lead to anyone’s execution. For some reason, Buman now wished this young man were King, feeling it would change everything in the empire.
"There are many kinds of relationships, not necessarily romantic ones. I value good, honest people more. Even if they’re weak, a strong will is enough to get them anywhere," Kakarotto said lightly.
Buman nodded, choosing not to continue the conversation.
*RUMBLE!*
Suddenly, a divine light shot up from the imperial palace, parting the clouds and lighting up the entire city.
A majestic aura engulfed the world, as if it wanted to drown the entire planet. Cultivators were alarmed.
The pillar of light suddenly lost all power, like a fountain gushing water before drying up. The remaining water scattered, or in this case, small threads of light spread with the wind. It looked like a rain of light, creating a surreal scene.
*Buzz*
Then, a spark of fire flickered from the palace. If the palace itself were a candle, this light was as if it were being lit.
Unfortunately, it was a candle in the wind, weak and flickering—on the verge of going out. It pulsed continuously from dark to light in an uncertain rhythm.
"This is bad." Buman was shocked. "His Majesty is deteriorating; we must return now, Your Highness."
At this moment, all eyes were fixed on the flickering light. They knew the King couldn’t hold on much longer. This was his final moment.
When Buman and Kakarotto finally returned, the light suddenly shattered and vanished. The palace fell into darkness; the whole empire lost its light.
"His Majesty has passed!" Buman cried out, tears streaming down his face.