Within the princess’s palace, most of the servants were attending to the nobility outside in the garden area, leaving the corridors mostly empty. My footsteps echoed as I moved forward, making my way toward the princess’s chamber.
’It was around the next turn, I guess,’ I thought, recalling the story’s depiction. According to the plot, Kyle—me, in this case—was supposed to die before reaching the bride’s chamber, right after taking the first turn toward that particular lane.
However, since I had already changed the identity of the one meant to assassinate me—Olea—there was no longer a fixed location for the attack.
As I continued walking, the only thing I could hope for was that the assassin would reveal himself before attacking.
Of course, I could already see him.
The assassin hovered mid-air, his status window clearly displayed like a ghost just twenty meters ahead of me.
[ Wang, Wraithborn Bloodline, Dusksoul Physique, 80 years of cultivation, Specter Qi, Eclipsing Mourner Staff artifact, Early 6th layer Master. ]
’What’s with these cultivation years?’ I noticed a peculiar trait in all the statistics I had seen so far—the years of cultivation were inconsistent, differing from person to person even if they were at the same layer of power.
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[ Host, the years of cultivation here indicate the overall amount of Qi one possesses. However, the layers in this world are judged primarily by bloodline and physique. This is why I did not prefer using it as the basic measurement initially. ]
’I see,’ I acknowledged. I would need to study Qi and cultivation more deeply once I got through this situation. Keeping my steps steady, I avoided doing anything that might make my approaching opponent suspicious.
’So, he is Kyle Arcutus.’
I don’t know why, but given the situation, I was able to at least guess what in particular was going on in that man’s mind. Though I was unaware of his identity in particular, that name was not associated with a wise sect leader or someone who held any major mentions in the story.
So, I was at least assured that telling him would not create a butterfly effect.
From his perspective, he probably thought I had no cultivation despite being the son of the current head of the Arcutus family.
Though this worked in my favor too, given that he would not doubt even if I were to look toward the status—after all, he couldn’t see even a speck of energy within me.
"You seem to be heading somewhere, young man," he finally spoke, stepping out from his concealment. There was a ripple in the air, as if the surface of a lake were forming a wave, revealing an old man.
Slowly, he descended to the floor, his hands clasped behind his back, eyes narrowed as he studied me.
I flinched, my body jerking slightly in what looked like genuine surprise, as I needed to act as such.
’!’
’Is this much shock enough?’ I questioned internally while keeping my expression tense. My widened eyes and uncertain stance conveyed just the right amount of unease, making my reaction look natural.
I took half a step back, just enough to seem cautious but not outright terrified while keeping my eyes fixed on the old man’s eyes. Given that he was still not under my domain, I needed to make him come within it while also not appearing desperate to approach him.
:: Who is this old man? ::
"Who are you?" I inquired, given I didn’t know about him and that name was so random. I had already heard it mentioned several times in the story with many characters having that Wang name, as if the author was trying to save time by giving names to characters randomly.
"Hoho, amusing that you are fearing me, even though I am here with a genuine proposal," the old man, like those typical views from manwha, pressed his beard, chuckling in an arrogant tone. It was not something I had never heard before, as it was the most cliché laugh one could give in the cultivation novel verse.
But hearing him give an offer left me confused, considering it should be like how I wanted to tell my last wish or something, not him making offers.
But whatever.
"What proposal?" While using his words, I took a step forward, clearly appearing curious to not make him doubt my action.
As expected, he did not pay attention to it. Instead, he seemed amused, as if already considering me like some ant, shaking his head as he further stated, "Take my hand, young man."
"Sorry, but I am already married."
[ Hm? Have you married him if not married? ]
’Shut up, idiot,’ making a bad joke, I took another two steps forward while ruffling my hair as if completely nonchalant. I just needed to cover a few more meters, as my domain was now a 13-meter radius, giving me a slight advantage.
".....What a pathetic joke, but whatever, I should have considered your IQ." I felt my mouth twitch as I saw the old man shaking his head while uttering the words of wisdom, complimenting my IQ. I kept my steps steady and slow, accepting whatever he had to say.
Just once he got inside my domain, I would make sure to turn him into experience at any moment.
"To be exact, young man, the Second Queen has taken an interest in you."
’?!’
I halted as I heard him mention that woman’s reference, causing me to stop as I recalled her arrival a few moments ago at the wedding and now this assassin, who should have been sent by Olea, was mentioning that woman’s name.
There was something more than just the assassination attempt here, leading me to remain steady and hear his voice.
"Surprised? You should be. After all, the Second Queen does favor those with some talent, and here you are...without a speck of it."
[ Host, fuck this old man. ]
’I will make sure to do it.’ Even I was feeling my nerves bulging on my forehead, hearing one mocking remark after another from that wrinkled butt.
:: It’s improper to have thoughts about the same gender. ::
’And it’s also improper to sit on someone’s head when you can fly!’ Hearing the words of wisdom from the old man was somewhat digestible, but coming from someone who had vomited on my head once and was still seated while clenching my hair strands after gaining the ability to fly, I had no words to say.
"Hm, so, listen carefully, young man."
’!?’
Suddenly, the old man stated before a hand rested on my shoulder, causing me to blink. I could see the old man now standing behind me with a speed that was nearly impossible for me to notice. I knew how, at any moment, if he wanted, he could kill me.
I wanted to know more about what exactly happened here and how someone with the specter key, which was mainly in the hands of members of the Ghost Sect, was present in someone aligned with the Second Queen. But I could not risk my life on just a single thing.
"Second Queen would—Urghh!?—THUD."
I just heard him complete half a sentence before his hand slid from my shoulder and then I heard the sound of a body collapsing on the hard floor, resonating in the corridor as the old man, most likely with his eyes rolled white and mouth emitting a few drops of saliva, lost his life just like that.
’....’
DING!
[ Stats Collected ]
And became an EXP for my family.