The estate was a masterpiece of luxury, a vast land adorned with intricate gardens, golden pillars, and a towering mansion that could rival a palace. Yet, despite its grandeur, the most striking sight was not the estate itself, but the simple-looking young man standing before a still pond, his hands clasped behind his back.
There was nothing extraordinary about him at first glance—his posture was relaxed, his expression indifferent, and his clothes plain. More notably, not a single trace of aura emanated from his body. He was an enigma, a ghost among titans.
The gentle rustling of a nearby tree harmonized with the soft whispers of the wind, creating an atmosphere of utter tranquility. The young man, however, did not seem to notice. He merely stared into his own reflection on the pond, his gaze void of emotion.
Then—a presence.
A middle-aged man suddenly appeared behind him, bending to one knee in deep reverence. Unlike the young man, this man exuded power—an overwhelming force surpassing even the mightiest Nascent Soul cultivators. And yet, despite his immense strength, he did not so much as lift his head before the young man.
"My Lord," the butler spoke with unwavering respect.
The young man remained still, his gaze never leaving the pond.
"Has it been discovered?" he asked, his voice calm yet laced with an unfathomable weight.
The butler lowered his head further. "Not yet, my Lord. But we are close to—"
BOOM!
His words never finished.
In an instant, his head exploded into a fine mist.
His body swayed for a brief second before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. Blood pooled onto the perfect stone pavement, tainting the estate’s pristine beauty.
Yet, the young man did not flinch.
He did not even spare the corpse a glance.
Instead, he simply spoke, his voice devoid of anger, yet chillingly final:
"I do not like to be patient."
The wind howled once more, but this time, it carried an ominous air, as if nature itself feared the man before the pond.
While tensions simmered within the grand estate of the Washington family, far from the capital, four figures quietly arrived in a small, seemingly unremarkable town.
Hutton, Bob, Boma, and Julian had been on the move for hours, ensuring no trace of their escape remained. As their vehicle rolled into town, Hutton found himself reading the name of the place displayed on an old, slightly rusted signpost:
"The Blinding Town."
Hutton exchanged glances with Bob and Boma, who also seemed perplexed.
"Blinding Town?" Bob repeated, raising a brow. "What kind of name is that?"
Boma, who had been stretching his arms after the long journey, scoffed. "Sounds like some cheap horror story setting."
Julian chuckled as he led them further into town. "It does sound strange, but there’s a reason behind the name."
The town itself was quiet, almost eerily so. It was neither bustling nor abandoned, but something about it felt… different. The streets were lined with modest buildings, some of which looked quite old, yet still well-maintained. The townspeople they passed seemed wary of strangers but did not outright react to them.
As they continued walking, Julian finally explained.
"This town got its name because of a phenomenon that occurs here." His voice lowered slightly. "There are nights when a strange fog covers the entire town, and anyone who walks into it… loses their sense of sight completely. Some say it’s an illusion, others say it’s a curse. But no one has been able to explain it, and those who wander too deep never return."
Hutton furrowed his brows. "And this is where we’re supposed to be laying low?"
Julian smirked. "Exactly. The very thing that makes people avoid this place is what makes it the perfect hiding spot."
Bob clicked his tongue. "Great, so we’re hiding in a haunted town."
Julian ignored his remark as he led them towards a motel at the edge of town. The building looked old but sturdy, its neon sign flickering weakly in the dimming evening light.
"We’ll be staying here for now," Julian said as he gestured toward the entrance.
Hutton, still unconvinced, crossed his arms. "And what exactly are we doing in this town, Julian?"
Julian turned to face them with a knowing smile. "We’re going to meet the town head later. He’s the one who can help us stay hidden… for now."
The others exchanged looks, a sense of unease settling over them.
Something about this town felt… off.
As soon as they entered the motel, Hutton, Bob, Boma, and Julian immediately made their way to the front desk, where a plain-looking young lady sat behind the counter. She was lazily flipping through an old magazine, seemingly uninterested in her surroundings.
Hutton, wasting no time, approached her. "We’d like to book four rooms."
"That will be 20 bucks for a night..."
The receptionist barely looked up at first as she replied, but the moment her eyes landed on Bob, something changed. Her posture straightened, her gaze sharpened, and before anyone could react, her entire demeanor shifted.
"Oh… my… gosh!" she gasped, clasping her hands together as she practically leaned over the counter. Her eyes sparkled with an intensity that sent an immediate chill down Bob’s spine. "You… are gorgeous."
Bob froze. "Uh… what?"
Hutton, Boma, and Julian could only stare in stunned silence as the receptionist continued, her cheeks flushed.
"Tall, rugged, that chiseled face… where have you been all my life?!" she gushed. "This must be fate. I’ve always dreamed of meeting a man like you!"
Bob’s eyes darted to his companions, silently begging for help. Boma, clearly entertained, smirked. Julian simply crossed his arms, waiting to see how Bob would handle this. Hutton was just outright baffled.
The receptionist leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "So, handsome, how about you stay in my room instead?"
Bob’s face twitched. He wasn’t used to being put on the spot like this. But before things could spiral any further, a faint glow suddenly flickered on his hand.
A simple silver ring materialized on his ring finger.
Bob held up his hand, his voice calm but firm. "I’m married."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
The receptionist’s expression instantly shifted from excitement to utter shock. "W-What?! No way!"
Even more stunned than the receptionist, Hutton turned to Bob, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. "Hold on, what? You’re married?"
Bob sighed, retracting his hand. "Yeah. Have been for a while now."
Hutton blinked. "You—You never told me that!"
Bob shrugged. "You never asked."
Boma and Julian, however, exchanged knowing smiles while the later placed the money for the rooms on the counter. They clearly weren’t surprised by this revelation, which only made Hutton more confused.
The receptionist, though clearly disappointed, reluctantly handed over their room keys. "Fine," she huffed. "But I won’t give up so easily. If that wife of yours ever makes a mistake, you know where to find me." She winked before leaning back into her chair.
Bob muttered a quick "Thanks" before hastily walking away from the counter, Hutton, Boma, and Julian following right behind him.
Once they were out of earshot, Hutton immediately turned to Bob. "Okay, seriously. Why didn’t you ever tell me you were married?"
Bob smirked slightly but didn’t stop walking. "Because, Hutton, it turns out I’m not safe telling you about my marriage."
Hutton frowned. "What’s that even supposed to mean?"
Bob only chuckled, refusing to elaborate.
Julian, however, placed a hand on Boma’s shoulder as they both shared a look. "He’ll understand eventually," Julian murmured.
Boma grinned. "Yeah… eventually."
As Hutton, Bob, Boma, and Julian made their way down the motel hallway, the dim lighting cast long shadows against the worn-out walls. The air was filled with the faint scent of old wood and dust, but none of them paid much attention. Each of them was still processing the strange revelation about Bob’s marital status, though only Hutton seemed truly bothered by it.
Just as they reached their respective rooms, somewhere far above them—hidden within the clouds—a pair of figures hovered silently in the night sky.
Timothy and Hughes stood side by side, their robes barely rustling as they overlooked the town beneath them. The Blinding Town stretched out below, its streets dimly illuminated by streetlights, the occasional car moving lazily through the quiet roads.
Hughes, floating effortlessly beside Timothy, turned his gaze toward him. "We should stay here for a while," Timothy finally suggested, his voice calm and calculating. "At least until we figure out our next course of action."
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Hughes nodded, accepting the suggestion without question. But after a moment of silence, he turned to Timothy, his expression filled with anticipation.
"By the way, Timothy," Hughes began, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "That man earlier… Hutton. Is he actually the Taylor we knew?"
For a split second, Timothy’s expression wavered. A shadow crossed his eyes as countless memories flashed through his mind—the battlefield, the betrayal, the final moments of his former superior.
Deep inside, he already knew the truth.
But was it the right time to reveal it?
Timothy made his decision.
After a brief silence, he exhaled lightly and shook his head. "I don’t think so," he answered in a casual tone. "That Harbinger might have been referring to another Taylor. It’s a common name, after all."
Hughes frowned slightly, clearly hoping for a different answer. But after a moment, he sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you’re right. Would’ve been crazy if it was actually him."
Timothy didn’t respond. Instead, he simply looked down at the town below, his thoughts unreadable.
Even though Hughes accepted his answer, the lingering doubt in Timothy’s own heart remained.