Meanwhile, Arion unnecessarily hallucinated being confronted by the crown prince himself.
He sighed, realising that wasn't real.
"I must have been so exhausted. Or is it that I have been cursed? A while ago, I screamed from my sleep and now, I hallucinated -"
Suddenly, he heard faint noises coming from the direction where Liora was.
He glanced around but he found nothing. That made him start to suspect his hallucination was turning into reality.
Therefore, within seconds, a solution popped into his mind.
He couldn't help but be amazed, thinking, "My sophisticated brain is still present and sharp."
However, the most crucial information was that palace soldiers were on their way.
Without hesitation, Arion teleported to Liora in an instant. He grabbed her hand and swiftly teleported them away.
As the soldiers arrived at the scene, all they found were the eight unconscious bodies.
Meanwhile, in Lysander's chambers, he grew increasingly concerned about Arion's absence.
He contemplated various possibilities—was Arion trapped in the Blood Tower, struggling to locate it, or perhaps in some danger?
Standing by Lysander's side, Elion decided to express his gratitude and offer an apology. He acknowledged Lysander as not only his teacher but also his savior, and he admitted to being an ingrate.
Elion bowed his head and discreetly held something in his hand. Lysander patted his arm and rose from his chair, heading for the exit.
As Lysander left, Elion revealed his true intentions, having cut a strand of Lysander's hair when he was in deep thoughts. "Very soon, I will have the sect leader's post and Chen Liora as my wife."
A reddish-blue circle appeared at the front of the mountain, and Arion and Liora emerged from it.
Arion's grip on Liora's hand was so tight that it caused her discomfort, prompting her to request he ease up.
Liora questioned Arion about his choice of the mountain as their teleportation destination.
Arion, seemingly distracted, explained that it was closer to the palace where they escaped from.
When Liora suggested visiting Stephen Mhi, Arion disagreed, stating he had more important matters to attend to and hinting at a potential parting.
"From today onward, we may meet as strangers or we may never meet again," Arion said.
Liora pressed for answers, but Arion remained evasive, emphasizing their need to live life on their own terms.
"Where are you going to go?" Liora asked as he began to leave her sight. "You must be doing this because of my dad's attitude, but trust me, I will-"
Arion cut in, "I am doing this because I want it. Not because of your dad."
"Where are you going then? At least, tell me, so I can find you if you probably get into danger," Liora pleaded, her voice quivering with concern and hurt.
Arion replied, still walking on, "I only want to retrieve my belonging from a thief....."
In the next second, he vanished into the air.
Liora was left heartbroken as Arion left. She couldn't stop herself from worrying too much.
In the Songwan sect, an air of gloom settled as the sect leader fell ill overnight.
Doctors were summoned to treat him, but the cause remained elusive. Caelum appeared in his fiery state, deeply concerned about his father's condition.
He rushed to his father's side, demanding an explanation from the doctor.
The sect leader, weakened, expressed his concern about the potential consequences of his illness and revealed his intention to groom Caelum as his successor.
Caelum, emotional and doubtful of his abilities, received his father's assurance and encouragement.
Arion landed before the imposing gates of the devil-controlled palace, their twisted spires reaching toward the sky like claws. The air crackled with dark energy, sending shivers down his spine as he prepared to confront the forces of evil within.
His tense demeanor and clenched fist hinted at the impending showdown with the dark witch.
As the gate opened, two guards confronted him, questioning his presence and jesting about the potential consequences of him losing his life if he didn't leave as soon as possible.
Arion, irritated, used his powers to suffocate the guards, silencing their laughter.
He watched as they gasped for breath and fell unconscious.
A sinister smile crossed his face as he contemplated his pursuit of revenge and the satisfaction it might bring, giving little thought to the potential for destruction.
"You should have read the air, that I am not here for a joke."
He walked over their bodies. Seeing it wrong to murder the innocent, he transferred some amount of magic into them.
"You guys will recover in three hours," Arion said with a hint of regret, his voice laced with sympathy for the guards he had subdued.
He sighed, thinking that, "I will only take back the dragon-forged sword without killing anyone. However, the two devils are exceptional."