The cunning devil

The smell of blood wafted around the place, with lifeless, dismembered bodies scattered across the ground…

Yan Yue was in shock, staring at the scene with hatred and resentment toward the perpetrator.

"They were rising talents. Whoever did this has no heart," Yan Yue spoke loudly for the group to hear.

"Everyone, let's turn back."

He closed his eyes and began searching for any living being within a 1,000-meter radius.

"There's no trace of the culprit…" he said in frustration.

"The team will come to collect the bodies and search for any details the perpetrator might have left on them. If the team finds nothing, we'll hold the funeral two days later," he said in a stern voice.

.

.

12 minutes earlier…

Farkan and Syl Fu were in another part of the forest.

"I want to hear your opinion, Syl Fu," Farkan said.

"What is it, sir?"

"Advancing from one rank to another through the forbidden method."

Farkan spoke with a small smile on his face.

"But… it could be dangerous, sir. Even the resources aren't available," Syl Fu said with concern.

Farkan pulled out two blood samples, those of Lu Bei and Chi Wa, after mutilating and dismembering their bodies.

"Through blood," Farkan said.

"But purifying the blood takes about three months, sir."

"There's one thing, Syl Fu. I don't want to hear 'sir' again," Farkan said, looking into Syl Fu's eyes.

"Alright, but what should I call you?"

"Farkan is enough. Now, back to the point—there's an ancient, forbidden method used by those of the demonic path to reduce the months to days."

"But there might be a risk to the person's life."

"If one doesn't take risks, they won't succeed…" Farkan said with high confidence in himself.

Syl Fu saw him as someone who had faced life-and-death experiences, viewing him as wise and ingenious.

"When will you carry out this process, Farkan?"

"Farkan, there's something I haven't told you yet. The alliance commander has postponed the war indefinitely."

"Didn't he say why?"

"He said the alliance army is still small, and he doesn't want to risk losing their lives in vain."

"Oooh, exciting news."

"Syl Fu, I might change my mind."

"I'll return to the kingdom after breaking through to the fifth rank."

"Really! But you told me you'd return after the war started."

"Yes, before, but now I'll go back. A lot is about to happen," he said while patting Syl Fu's shoulder.

"There are elder competitions, kingdom tournaments, and a huge upcoming auction," he thought internally.

"Syl Fu, do you know a place where I can stay temporarily?" Farkan asked.

"There are plenty of hotels in the city's towns."

"You idiot…" Farkan hit him on the head.

"I'm the fourth elder, which means I'm famous across all the cities," Farkan said, looking at Syl Fu mockingly.

"Ahh, I forgot. Sorry for not listening to you properly," Syl Fu said with a smile.

"There's a place where a farmer lives near the Demonic Alliance headquarters."

"This farmer always respects the commander, sells him the finest vegetables, and has a good relationship with us."

"I'll ask him to give you a room since his house is big and he lives alone."

"Alright, let's go," Farkan said.

Syl Fu performed a secret move of the Demonic Alliance, opening a black portal that transported them both to the alliance headquarters.

Yan Yue's group was running, with him at the front, until he saw two figures in the distance entering a portal.

"Wait!!!" he shouted loudly.

Farkan and Syl Fu heard him. Farkan quickly put on his mask and turned to face him.

"Did you like my artwork? Heh heh heh."

Yan Yue heard him and erupted in fury. His entire body turned white with wolf fur, fangs, and wolf-like eyes.

"The path of transformation…" Farkan thought internally.

He howled like a wolf and leapt toward Farkan and Syl Fu.

Farkan paid him no mind, turning around and entering the portal with Syl Fu as it closed behind them.

"He's the culprit. Was I too slow? I didn't catch him, and he looked at me with disdain, as if I were trash," Yan Yue felt internally crushed because of the two youths and Farkan's gaze.

.

.

The sky was black with twinkling stars and cold winds.

Farkan and Syl Fu emerged together from the portal, and it closed after they exited.

"This is his house," Syl Fu said, pointing toward it.

Both Syl Fu and Farkan walked toward the house.

Syl Fu knocked on the door…

"Isn't he asleep at this hour?" Farkan asked.

"Haha, don't worry, he stays up late a lot."

Footsteps sounded behind the door until it opened.

The farmer, Baku, appeared.

"The fourth deputy! It's been a while since I last saw you," Baku said, hugging Syl Fu.

"Me too, haha," Syl Fu laughed, showing signs of awkwardness.

Baku shifted his gaze to Farkan.

"Who's this kind person?"

"I'm Farkan, an old friend of Syl Fu. I've known him for 13 years."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Farkan," Baku said, bowing slightly before returning to normal.

"I have a favor to ask of you, Baku," Syl Fu said.

"What is it?"

"Let Farkan stay with you for a few days."

"Sure, no problem, but how long will he stay?" Baku asked.

"Three days," Farkan said with a small smile on his face.

"Alright," Baku agreed.

"One more thing, Baku," Syl Fu said.

"Don't tell anyone about him. If you do, consider it a betrayal of our friendship. Don't even tell the commander," Syl Fu said cautiously.

"Alright, alright. You can go rest now," Baku waved at Syl Fu.

"You can come in, sir."

Farkan entered, and Baku showed him the room before bidding him goodbye. Farkan went inside and locked the door behind him.

"Tonight, I'll rest and plan what I'll do tomorrow for the forbidden method."

.

.

.

The palace was luxurious, with an artistic style and refreshing air.

The king and his deputy:

"Your Majesty, the report about the deaths of Lu Bei and Chi Wa has been written."

"What about the fourth elder?" the king asked.

"Your Majesty, we don't know if the fourth elder is alive or dead."

"Are you saying we should forget about him???" he said loudly.

"No, Your Majesty, that's not what I meant. We don't know whether the fourth elder is alive or dead, and this will have future consequences."

"Yan Yue, tell me about the two talents."

"Your Majesty, Lu Bei and Chi Wa were teenagers who gained their talents at a young age compared to ordinary children…"

"Also, Your Majesty, there were six talented members in the kingdom, and after their numbers dropped, there are now four."

In this kingdom, when a child, teenager, or person under 25 years old possesses strength and a heaven-given talent,

they are placed in the rank of a talent. When they exceed 25 years of age, they take on the position of an elder in the kingdom…

"Your Majesty, the perpetrator was cunning and demonic. He might have known about our ability to see details after death through the eyes."

"He gouged out Lu Bei's eyes and didn't appear in front of Chi Wa's eyes, perhaps because he attacked from behind and took her down," Yan Yue said.

Silence fell.

"Yan Yue, from now on, protection for the talents, elders, and the entire kingdom's territory will be tightened, understood?"

"Yes, Your Majesty…"

.

.

.

.

.

The End