Liam was dressed in a complete black training outfit as he walked out of the building quickly. In front of him was a big chariot pulled by two strong horses. A closer look revealed that these weren't ordinary horses. Small, sharp horns protruded from their foreheads, marking them as magical beasts.
Behind the chariot rode five guards, each armed and mounted on similar horned magical beasts. Their presence was commanding. Liam could feel the weight of their auras—dense, oppressive, and teeming with raw energy.
'These are real cultivators,' he thought, impressed.
"Stop standing there like a statue and get in! We have four hours to get there, and I won't waste a single minute!" Qiao Mei's voice suddenly rang out from beside the chariot. Her sharp tone hit Liam's ears like a hammer, making his chest tremble slightly.
Liam quickly collected himself. "Oh, sorry, Instructor Mei," he said with an apologetic bow before striding confidently toward the chariot.
As he walked, he noticed the side glances from the guards. Their gazes felt cold, but he ignored them, walking with as much confidence as he could muster.
The guards, however, looked at him with hidden disdain. To them, Liam was a weakling, someone who didn't deserve Qiao Mei's attention. She was their idol, a stunningly beautiful and powerful woman. They admired her deeply and would do anything for her, even if it meant just a moment in her presence.
'How could a weakling like him gain her favor?' one of them thought, their expressions hardening.
Liam, however, paid them no mind. He climbed into the chariot and settled in. Qiao Mei entered from the other side and gave the riders a sharp nod.
The chariot began to roll, leaving the grand building behind. A royal castle within the Qiao territory loomed tall and magnificent. From one of its high windows, Qiao Lian watched the chariot fade into the distance, a sly smile spreading across her face.
'Good, this is the last step,' a sinister thought crossed her heart. 'Once his body's potential is awakened, there's a chance—forty percent—that he'll regain all his memories. Then, I'll finally uncover the truth about him and find out what's unique about him.'
The chariot moved steadily down the road. Qiao Mei had given the riders the location even though she didn't want to. What she truly wanted was for only her and Liam to go to the place alone, but Qiao Lian didn't allow it and provided guards to keep them safe.
Qiao Mei knew the truth, though. The guards weren't there to protect them. They were there to watch her and Liam. Her cousin, Qiao Lian, had always been a cunning person.
Inside the chariot, the atmosphere was quiet. Liam and Qiao Mei didn't speak or look at each other.
'She acts so calm and harmless,' Liam thought, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. 'Nice act.'
If Liam hadn't sensed her presence in his room the night before, he might have been fooled by her gentle demeanor into thinking she was truly harmless.
"Do I have horns on my head?" Qiao Mei's sudden question broke the silence, startling Liam.
"Huh?" He blinked, confused by the unexpected question. "No… no, there's nothing wrong with your head," he stammered, his eyes darting to her head as if to confirm.
"If you want to look at me, just do it openly. Don't act like I'm some kind of monster," she said, her words making Liam's cheeks burn.
He lowered his head, a small, embarrassed smile on his face.
"Pervert," she cussed at his reaction.
"My bad," Liam replied, trying to play it off. "It's hard to look at someone as stunning as my—"
Before he could finish, Qiao Mei cut him off. "I caught your eyes staring all over my body, you bloody pervert, as if you were ready to devour me whole."
Liam knew he had been caught red-handed. It didn't help that Qiao Mei looked exceptionally striking in her form-fitting robe. The fabric clung to her curves, emphasizing her slender waist and full chest, threatening to spill out of the tight gown. Even her lips, soft and inviting, seemed impossible to ignore.
"Pervert! Keep staring, and I'll make sure you regret it," she warned, her voice icy.
The chilling tone of Qiao Mei caused him to instantly withdraw his gaze, afraid she would follow through with her words.
Liam struggled to keep his eyes closed. Qiao Mei's figure was so tempting.
Qiao Mei, noticing his discomfort, chuckled softly to herself.
---
After four hours of uninterrupted travel, the chariot finally came to a halt. A sharp knock on Liam's head jolted him awake.
"Ouch!" he yelped, rubbing the sore spot. "Was that really necessary?"
"Get out, or you'll get another," Qiao Mei threatened from outside.
Liam walked out of the chariot. The breakthrough he had been seeking all this time was finally here, and he couldn't wait to get it done quickly.
Before him stood a beautiful waterfall, its water crashing down from high cliffs into a clear, calm river below. The sunlight made the water shine, and a light mist floated in the air. Green hills surrounded the scene, creating a peaceful and breathtaking view that felt almost unreal.
"This place…" Liam murmured, awestruck. "It's incredible."
From where he stood, he could see the pure water. "This is no ordinary river," he said, sensing the strangeness of the water even without getting close to it.
A strange pull tugged at his chest, urging him to immediately run and dive into the water.
'What is this feeling?' he wondered, resisting the temptation. His soul seemed to resonate with the energy emanating from the river, but he clenched his fists, holding himself back.
"This is the Celestial Cleansing River," Qiao Mei explained, walking ahead. The guards followed closely behind, their expressions unreadable. "The water here has unique properties. It purifies the soul and awakens hidden potential."
"This is where the final procedure will take place," Qiao Mei said, stopping at a spot where the river's energy was strongest and purest.
"Remove your clothes."