[[[THE RASH CRUDEN]]]

It took a while for them to get to their destination. Each stop they made, Crow would take the time to teach Cruden as promised to the warden.

Cruden was learning more each day. He had developed a few tricks and rudimentary ways of battling. Even though he and crow's relationship was very toxic. He thanked him from the bottom of his heart.

He finally had an idea of how strong he was.

They had reached their destination. It was a small town called Greensparrow. The town was named after the indigenous bird the Greensparrow that can be constantly seen in the area.

They did plan to stay for long so they left their caravan well hidden in the woods.

The town was that big but based on the intel from the warden Crow knew where he was going.

Cruden didn't say a word. While Crow didn't say a word. He knew they had arrived.

Cruden thought the building would have been well hidden or less inconspicuous but there it was.it was a huge mansion. The man in the house must be very rich. He thought this man was very bold or very stupid. He kidnapped someone and didn't go into hiding.

The warden's report has general information about the area and target but every mission crow would gather his own intel. It's not that he didn't trust the warden's skill. He knew you could never be too careful.

But who would have thought before he could get anything done, Cruden disappeared into his shadow rushing towards the mansion.

Crow never thought someone could be this stupid. He knew Cruden was gonna get himself killed. He started to brainstorm. Normally he wouldn't think of it but Cruden had taken the role. He would use the fool while he would silently stay in the shadows.

Crow smiled, he wasn't worried too much. He had many ways of concealment. As long as it is not a core formation expert or higher. He would be safe to escape. In addition, in the few days of him sparring with Cruden, he knew he possessed many concealment techniques as well. Especially that frightening ability where he can completely disappear from all senses.

His body shifted and he followed behind. His worries were for nothing but Cruden's next action made him realize she spoke too soon.

As soon as Cruden entered the building he exited his shadow and started attacking the men inside.

She stared incredulously but she didn't exit the shadows. She remained on guard and vigilant.

Cruden wanted to show off his capabilities by secretly infiltrating the mansion and retrieving the girl but who would have thought as soon as he went in. The energy from the men inside would be so cruel. It was not the strongest she has felt but he knew so much evil energy in the same place these men were up to no good.

He was gonna make quick work of them but more men kept piling in. But he was not worried. He could sense his darkness growing.

He stomped his foot and his shadow rose like a wave and swept through all of the cultivators in his sight. All the cultivators in the room fell. Their bodies were bloody laced with small holes.

Cruden has used his shadow to form small needles and the results were evident.

Crow had helped him refine the attack but seeing it utilized in person on flesh. Even he had dreaded. He stared at his back and contemplated. He acted so righteously but he's so vicious when he acts.

Is this the rise of a demon god, he thought to himself.

Crow didn't forget the situation. His major concern was why he was so flashy and loud. That attack takes a lot of energy

Cruden looked on indifferently. He searched the entire mansion in that manner but could not locate the girl. His level rising with each defeat.

He was not sure what was going on.

Crow stepped out of the shadow beside him. "I have found the secret entrance that leads downward".As soon as he said that he phased back into the shadow and led the way.

They both arrived in an empty room. Cruden entered this room before but did not put any importance on it. He saw nothing out of the ordinary but how could a simple trapdoor like this hide under crow's eyes.

Crow would have long entered but he had to be careful of traps. Crow pointed at Cruden's foot and that's when he realized. It must be a trap door. He still could not see the outline of the door but he knew she must be right.

But he focused and he could sense hints of malicious energy coming from a spot on the floor.

He looked in crow's direction and nodded

He saw crow distancing himself and decided to do the same. He stepped into his shadow with only his head showing and then utilized his darkness to open the door.

The door opened without any difficulty. They both stayed in their position for a while but nothing happened. Cruden was the first to go inspect and what greeted him were stairs leading downwards.

There were bound to be traps everywhere, Cruden thought.

He looked to Crow and said let's go. He stretches out his shadow toward crow's .

Crow knew what he wanted and decided to comply. He had done this before when they were sparing. He exited the cover of the shadows and stepped on Cruden's darkness.

Crow's body slowly sank. There was no air inside the shadow. He knew he could only stay in there as long as he could hold his breath as a cultivator, which was a trivial matter. He could hold his breath for 30 minutes effortlessly but it was still very uncomfortable.

This technique had limits. Cruden knew he could not keep this up for long plus it was very straining on his mana.

Crow wanted him to rush in like before but he guessed he's not as stupid as he acts.

He was not as stupid as Crow was led to believe. Earlier he acted out of impulse but he knew not to go rushing into a dark hole by himself.

They disappeared and the shadow moved.

Through the use of Cruden's shadow. Everything went without a hitch. No traps were set off.

Inside the shadow, Cruden and Crow could see an upwards view of the passage. It did not take long for them to reach the other end.

The other end of the passage was like a warehouse. The room had many large boxes and storage containers. Cruden wanted to know what was inside them but he saw Crow did not move to look so he stifled his curiosity.

Crow's focus was on something else. It did not take long for Cruden to notice as well. There was not much light but they could see a door on the other end and at the other end, they could see a man sitting on one of the large boxes guarding the door.

Crow carefully scoped out the area for someplace safe to leave Cruden's shadow. He saw it was safe behind a large box and left Cruden's shadow disappearing into another shadow.

Cruden did not leave his shadow. He crept up beside the figure and attacked it with his shadow. Blood appeared where the figure was pieced and it slouched down on the ground.

But to Cruden's surprise the man he had just killed could still move. It caught Cruden completely off guard.