"don't think you can escape alive from here," said the gang leader.
Adam was exhausted from the previous fight, so he left everything in Selene's hands. Not that he would have been much help in this situation anyway.
The gang members prepared their spiritual techniques. They didn't underestimate them, as they had already killed several cultivators.
Selene didn't wait for them to attack. With a flick of her finger, she formed a crescent moon of qi that advanced at an undetectable speed toward the gang members.
Thumm!
All their bodies were sliced in two. Their faces showed shock—they had no idea how, but they had been killed in a single move.
The leader was the only one who remained intact because Selene had willed it so.
"T-this... " The leader was speechless. He couldn't help but wonder if the emperor had secretly sent reinforcements to eliminate him.
Selene advanced toward him with slow steps, while he backed away until he hit a wall, cutting off his escape.
"Please, don't kill me! I can pay you double... I can give you everything I have! Surely, it's more than anything the city lord could offer you."
"Who sent you here?" she asked coldly.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about..."
"If you want a painless death, you'd better not lie to me." Selene let her killing intent seep into the air, suffocating him.
How many people has she killed? Is she a demon?
"O-okay... It was the Ithynar Empire."
"Why would the Ithynar Empire be interested in stirring up trouble in a border city of the Amberfall Empire?"
"Rumors that the emperor has disappeared have spread across the continent, along with whispers of the emergence of an ancient cultivator's tomb. I was ordered to verify if they were true. I wouldn't be surprised if the other empires were doing the same."
Adam fell into deep thought. It seemed their journey would be more troublesome than expected.
"Do you know anything about the tomb?" Selene asked.
"Nothing. It's as if it doesn't exist. No one has seen it—only heard of it. The only one in this city who might know something is the lord."
Once he finished speaking, Selene decapitated him without hesitation. He was no longer useful, and she couldn't leave witnesses to her abilities.
"This is strange," Selene said.
"Tombs usually appear without warning. Many people should have seen it before it was sealed off to the public."
"What if it appeared in an inaccessible place for mortals or near the royal palace?" Adam suggested.
"Then why would word spread? They would have kept it for themselves."
The situation was suspicious, but they decided to return to the city lord for answers.
----------------
When they arrived, the city lord was stunned. They had left barely an hour ago—had they changed their minds at the last moment?
"We've completed our task."
"W-wait, I'll send someone to check."
The city lord hurriedly summoned one of his personal guards and sent him to the area where the gang had been.
A few minutes later, the guard returned, ecstatic.
"They're all dead, my lord!"
"Hahahaha!" The city lord couldn't hold back his laughter of relief. The problem that had plagued him for days had finally been solved.
"Thank you both. If there's anything you need, let me know." He turned to them, brimming with gratitude.
"I just want you to answer my questions."
"Of course. I'll tell you anything I know."
"Where is the tomb?" she asked bluntly.
"I'm afraid that, of all your questions, that's the one I can't answer," he admitted with frustration.
"How is that possible? Aren't you the lord of this city? You should have privileged information." Adam interrupted, suspicious.
The city lord met Adam's gaze and replied:
"I know it's strange, but the imperial palace has remained silent about it. The rumors have been spread by the great families—perhaps they know something."
Adam and Selene frowned. This was getting more suspicious. Why would the great families act without apparent approval from the royal family?
"Fine. I have no more questions, but I do have a request," Selene said.
"I'm sorry I wasn't of much help. I'll do anything in my power to make up for it."
"I want you to keep our visit today a secret. I don't think I need to tell you what will happen if I find out you betrayed us."
The city lord broke into a cold sweat.
"O-of course... I'll take today's events to my grave."
Adam and Selene left without saying much more. They needed to find a place to stay for the night before setting off to gather more information.
The problem was that most inns had shut down due to the gang's activities.
After hours of searching, they finally found one that was still open.
The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with a kind expression, greeted them.
Adam approached her.
"We'd like to rent two single rooms for one night."
"I'm sorry, but since we're the only inn open in Greenforest City, we're overwhelmed with customers. I'm afraid we only have one room left—for two people."
Adam didn't mind, but he looked to Selene for approval.
"It's fine, it will do," she said, handing over a gold coin.
"T-this..." The innkeeper was shocked.
A single gold coin was enough to rent a room for an entire year.
Once inside, Selene noticed that the room had only one bed—large enough for two.
Adam kicked off his shoes and jumped onto the bed, bouncing slightly.
"The bed is really comfortable, Master. You should try lying down."
"I don't need such things," Selene refused stubbornly, as usual.
"You used to say the same about taking baths, and for the past few years, you haven't skipped a single one. Just because you don't need it doesn't mean you can't do it. Life isn't just about cultivating—you should enjoy the little pleasures."
Selene thought about it for a moment and eventually relented. Maybe her body did need some rest. Now that she had dealt with the gang and didn't have to worry about wild beasts, perhaps she could allow herself to relax.
"Fine... but don't try anything weird."
"I'd never do anything to make you uncomfortable, Master."
Selene lay down, keeping a few inches between herself and Adam. He fell asleep almost instantly, while she held out a little longer. But in the end, the accumulated exhaustion and the
comfort of the bed lulled her into a deep sleep, as she felt Adam's presence beside her.