After stepping out of the cavern, Everlyn turned back to face Hutton, Bob, Boma, and Julian, her expression calm but serious. "I’ll bring you food and supplies every few days, but I can’t stay here. As the mayor, my absence would raise suspicion."
Hutton nodded. "That’s fine. This place is more than enough for us to lay low for now."
Bob crossed his arms. "Just be careful. If anyone gets suspicious of your movements, it could put you in danger too."
Everlyn gave a faint smile. "I appreciate the concern, but I can handle myself." She turned on her heel and stepped toward the exit. "Stay out of sight, and don’t leave the cave unless absolutely necessary."
With that, she exited the cave.
The moment she stepped past the threshold, the fog surrounding the cave entrance surged to life once more, thickening like an impenetrable wall. Within seconds, the entire entrance disappeared into the mist, making it indistinguishable from the surrounding terrain. It was as if the cave had never existed.
Satisfied, Everlyn turned and swiftly made her way back toward the town.
———
The normally quiet entrance to Blinding Town was now filled with an air of unease. The gatekeepers stationed there had been going about their usual duties when a group of shadowy figures suddenly appeared before them.
Each figure was draped in a dark cloak, their faces hidden beneath heavy hoods. They moved with an unnatural stillness, their presence radiating a quiet menace.
One of them, standing at the forefront, took a step forward and spoke in a voice that was both calm and chilling. "We seek an audience with your mayor. Grant us passage."
The gatekeeper, a stout man with years of experience handling outsiders, didn’t even hesitate. "The mayor isn’t seeing visitors today. You’ll have to leave."
Silence stretched between them for a moment. Then, without warning, the lead figure slowly raised his hand and placed it on the gatekeeper’s head.
A strange, eerie energy crackled between them.
The gatekeeper barely had time to react before his body suddenly convulsed, his skin tightening unnaturally. In mere seconds, all the flesh on his body shriveled away, leaving behind nothing but a brittle, dry skeleton. His lifeless bones collapsed to the ground with a hollow clatter.
A cold breeze passed through the town entrance.
The other guards, who had been standing nearby, recoiled in pure terror, their faces going pale.
One of them reached for his weapon, but before he could react, the hooded figure turned his head slightly in his direction. Though his face was still hidden, an overwhelming pressure crashed down upon the guard, locking his body in place. His fingers twitched near the hilt of his weapon, but he couldn’t move.
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The figure spoke again, his tone unchanging. "We are not here to repeat ourselves. Fetch the mayor. Now."
The remaining guards, trembling, exchanged frantic glances. They knew that refusing again would mean sharing their fallen comrade’s fate.
One of them, barely able to steady his shaking hands, turned and sprinted toward the town, his only thought being to inform Everlyn.
The mayor’s office in Cornerstone City was quiet, save for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Seated behind his massive oak desk, Mayor Powell had his hands folded in front of him, his expression calm yet heavy with concern.
Across from him, Vivian sat in a chair, her arms crossed tightly, her fingers digging into her sleeves. Her usual confidence was overshadowed by the worry evident on her face.
She had been waiting for news—any news—about Hutton. But so far for days now, nothing had come.
The door to the office suddenly swung open, and in stepped Nathaniel, one of her elder brothers. He had neatly combed brown hair, a sharp suit, and the tired look of a man who had spent hours chasing leads that led nowhere.
He sighed before speaking. "We searched everywhere. Every contact, every informant I sent out came back with the same answer—nothing. It’s like Hutton just vanished."
The room fell into silence.
Vivian clenched her fists. A slow-burning frustration filled her chest before it finally erupted into rage.
"Damn it!" she slammed her fist against the desk, startling both Nathaniel and their father. "I knew something was wrong! If you idiots can’t find him, then I will!"
Her father’s eyes narrowed. "Vivian. Stop this impulsiveness. You can’t just storm out looking for him blindly."
But Vivian was already standing up, her expression fierce. "I don’t care. Hutton has done too much for me—for all of us. And I refuse to sit here while something might have happened to him!"
Mayor Powell exhaled deeply. "I understand your worry, but this isn’t just about you. If you act recklessly, you could put yourself in danger as well."
Vivian turned her gaze to him, her eyes burning with conviction.
And then, she said something that made even her father hesitate.
"If Hutton were in my position right now, do you think he would hesitate to come find me?"
A heavy silence filled the room.
The mayor opened his mouth to speak but found no words. Because deep down, he knew she was right.
Hutton would have come for her or for any of them without hesitation.
Seeing that her father had no retort, Vivian scoffed before turning on her heel. "I’ll find him myself."
With that, she stormed out of the office, leaving her father and brother behind in stunned silence.
As Vivian stormed out of the mayor’s office, her heels clicked against the marble floor, her mind set on one thing—finding Hutton. She barely made it past the long hallway when a familiar yet chilling presence stopped her in her tracks.
Standing in front of her was Ling Fei, dressed in a sleek black combat suit, her piercing gaze sharp as a blade. But what caught Vivian’s attention even more were the figures standing behind Ling Fei—a group of individuals clad in dark, form-fitting attire, their very presence exuding a dangerous aura.
Vivian immediately tensed. These weren’t ordinary bodyguards.
Ling Fei took a step forward, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "I take it you’re going to look for Hutton?"
Vivian narrowed her eyes. "That’s none of your concern."
But Ling Fei wasn’t deterred. She tilted her head slightly. "It is if I already have a clue where he might be."
Vivian’s breath hitched slightly, but she didn’t let her emotions show. "What do you know?"
Ling Fei crossed her arms. "Enough to tell you that running around blindly won’t help you find him. But if you come with me, we might just be able to track him down before things get even worse."
Vivian hesitated, glancing at the deadly-looking individuals behind Ling Fei. Their quiet yet imposing stance made it clear that they weren’t just for show. These were elite cultivators, and if Ling Fei had brought them, it meant she was taking this situation very seriously.
Finally, Vivian exhaled and met Ling Fei’s gaze with determination. "Fine. But if you’re lying to me—"
Ling Fei raised a brow. "Then you can deal with me however you like. But for now, let’s move. Time isn’t on our side."
With that, Ling Fei turned, gesturing for Vivian to follow.
After a brief moment, Vivian finally stepped forward, joining her.
Whatever lead Ling Fei had—she was going to find Hutton, no matter what.
Meanwhile, inside the Hidden Eye Agency, tension filled the air as operatives frantically worked on their terminals, their fingers flying across keyboards, their eyes scanning multiple screens. Kenneth sat behind his desk, his brows furrowed as frustration gnawed at him. No matter how many resources they allocated, no trace of Hutton could be found.
"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples.
Just then, the door to his office swung open, and an informant stepped inside, looking unnerved.
"Sir, there’s an unknown figure requesting to meet with you. They refused to give their name."
Kenneth’s eyes narrowed. "An unknown figure?" That was never a good sign. But before he could respond—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion shook the entire building. The glass panes rattled violently, and dust fell from the ceiling as the ground trembled beneath them.
Kenneth’s instincts kicked in immediately. He rushed toward the window, pulling back the blinds to get a look at what had just happened.
And what he saw made his blood run cold.
Standing at the entrance of the Hidden Eye Agency… was the Harbinger.
Dressed in his signature dark cloak, the ominous figure stood unmoving, his eerie presence dominating the scene. The agency’s security personnel were either scattered across the ground—some groaning in pain, others unmoving—or too terrified to make a move. The explosion had left a gaping hole at the building’s front entrance, flames still licking at the remains of what was once a reinforced wall.
But what got Kenneth to breed cold sweats is that ferocious and deedly aura that the Harbinger exuded which made him confirm that he wasn’t anyone friendly.
And so, Kenneth’s grip on the windowsill tightened as he thought. ’For such a being to cause trouble here....
That would mean that Hutton was truly in deep trouble.’