Chapter 6: Escaping the Noble's Wrath
Adam pressed his back against the rough wall of the slave quarters, his sharp ears catching the angry shouts of guards outside. Lu Mei's wrath was swift and absolute—her icy reputation wasn't just for show. The faint itching powder prank had spiraled into something far greater than Adam had anticipated.
Adam's smirk didn't falter as the system message appeared. "You always know how to keep things interesting," he whispered, adrenaline surging through his veins.
He glanced around the cramped quarters. The other slaves huddled in fear, their faces pale as the sound of heavy boots and shouting guards grew louder. Adam moved quickly, scanning for anything he could use.
His eyes landed on a bucket of dirty water in the corner and a few old, worn-out robes hanging near the doorway.
A plan began to form.
The guards burst into the slave quarters moments later, their polished armor clinking as they stormed in. The lead guard, a burly man with a permanent scowl, barked, "Where is the culprit? Speak now, and you might be spared punishment!"
The slaves trembled but said nothing, their fear outweighing their desire to point fingers.
Suddenly, a figure stumbled forward, covered head to toe in a tattered robe and clutching a bucket. The guards instinctively tensed, their hands moving to their weapons.
"What's this?" the lead guard sneered, stepping closer.
Adam's muffled voice came from beneath the hood. "Just cleaning, sir. Nothing to see here."
The guard's eyes narrowed. "Cleaning? In the middle of all this? Show me your face."
Adam tilted his head as if confused. Then, with a sudden, exaggerated motion, he tossed the bucket's contents directly at the guards.
The filthy water splashed over them, eliciting curses and shouts of outrage.
"You little—!" the lead guard roared, but Adam didn't stick around to hear the rest.
Throwing the robe at their faces as a distraction, he darted through the doorway and into the open courtyard, his heart pounding as he sprinted toward the estate's outer walls.
The system's praise was brief, but Adam didn't have time to revel in it. The guards were already in pursuit, their angry shouts echoing behind him.
The estate was vast, but Adam knew the layout well enough to navigate its maze-like pathways. He stuck to the shadows, his improved agility allowing him to leap over low walls and duck into hidden alcoves.
As he rounded a corner, he spotted a group of servants carrying a large cart loaded with fresh laundry.
"Perfect," Adam muttered.
He dove into the pile of linens, pulling a sheet over himself just as the guards stormed past.
Reward: [Stealth Cloak (Basic)]
The cloak materialized in his inventory, its description appearing immediately.
[Stealth Cloak (Basic)]
Enhances the wearer's ability to blend into shadows and avoid detection. Limited effectiveness against cultivators above the Fifth Stage of Qi Gathering.
Adam waited until the guards' footsteps faded before slipping out of the cart and donning the cloak. It was a simple black garment, but the moment he pulled the hood over his head, he felt an odd sensation, as though the shadows themselves were embracing him.
"This will come in handy," he said, a satisfied grin on his face.
But his moment of relief was short-lived. He knew he couldn't return to the slave quarters now—not with Lu Mei's fury hanging over him like a storm cloud.
He needed to disappear, at least for a while. And he already had an idea of where to go.
Later that night, Adam approached the estate's outer wall, his Stealth Cloak draped around him. The guards patrolling the area seemed oblivious to his presence, their torches casting flickering light over the stone barrier.
Adam crouched low, his eyes scanning for the weakest point in the wall's defenses. He spotted it near the eastern gate—a section where the guards' patrol patterns left a brief window of opportunity.
He waited patiently, his heart steady despite the stakes. The moment the guards moved away, he sprinted forward, his movements swift and silent.
The wall wasn't particularly high, but climbing it would have been impossible for the old Adam. Now, with his improved cultivation and agility, he scaled it with ease, his hands finding purchase on the rough stone.
As he reached the top, he paused, glancing back at the estate. The sprawling compound looked almost peaceful under the moonlight, belying the chaos he had left behind.
"Goodbye, Lu family," he whispered, a hint of mockery in his tone. "You won't miss me, but I'll be back someday. Stronger. Smarter. Deadlier."
With that, he dropped down to the other side, landing lightly on the ground.
Ahead of him, the forest stretched out, its dark expanse both foreboding and full of potential. Adam tightened the cloak around him, vanishing into the shadows.
The Lu family's nightmare was far from over.
End of Chapter 6