Immortal Paladin

086 Price of Knowledge

The golden cross-shaped rupture in the air dissipated, its presence fading as if it had never been there. And then…

Something in my shadow stirred.

It was a sword surging after my throat.

I didn’t move.

A Soul Recognition cultivator had struck with practiced precision, aiming to sever my head cleanly from my shoulders.

But I didn’t budge.

The sword connected with my throat.

A soft clink rang out, like a dull chime of metal striking something far denser than steel.

There was no pain. No wound. No blood.

The Soul Recognition cultivator’s eyes widened in shock. His hands trembled against the hilt, pressing forward as if sheer force could make up for the impossible.

It didn’t.

His sword didn’t even leave a scratch in my skin.

I glanced at the blade with mild amusement and turned my gaze toward the man who had ambushed me.

“Did you just do something?” I teased. “Sorry about that. I might be too tough for you…”

His pupils shrank.

I could see the moment his mind refused to comprehend reality.

He had likely spent centuries honing his technique, perfecting the art of killing with a single stroke—yet here I was, standing before him, utterly unscathed.

Before he could react, I grabbed the sword by its blade and squeezed.

Crack.

The steel snapped like dried wood.

A furious shout erupted.

"Hei Ma! How dare you?!"

Hei Yuan shot up from his seat, his robes billowing as his Qi surged. His voice thundered across the wooden harbor, laced with both fury and authority.

I raised an eyebrow.

So, this "Hei Ma" guy acted on his own?

That was…unexpected.

And here I thought the Elder had more control over his subordinates than I thought.

I wasn’t about to just let this Hei Ma walk away, though.

My hand shot forward, and I caught him by the throat.

Then—

A heavy sledgehammer swung from my left, slamming right into my face.

Boom!

The force rippled through the air, kicking up a gust of wind.

My head barely tilted from the impact.

I turned my gaze toward the new attacker—a middle-aged woman with a fierce scowl.

“Let go of my husband,” she demanded.

Her Qi surged around her, battle intent spilling into the air.

Husband, huh?

I sighed.

I grabbed her throat too.

The moment my fingers tightened, she went stiff, realizing her mistake a second too late.

I lifted them both slightly off the ground, staring at them with disinterest.

“This is usually the part where I ask for your last words,” I remarked, my grip firm but not crushing. “…So, any last words?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Hei Mao shift nervously.

Then, hesitantly, he muttered, “Big Brother… stop being mean.”

I blinked.

A chuckle escaped my lips.

“You’re right.”

And just like that—I let them go.

Hei Ma stumbled back, rubbing his bruised neck, his expression dark with humiliation.

His wife wasn’t much better. She grabbed his arm and yanked him away, keeping a wary distance as they stood beside Hei Yuan.

I cracked my neck, sighing.

“Hopefully, your people would think twice before doing something reckless.”

This place was getting livelier and livelier.

"Shadow Clan! Stay your killing intent!"

The weight of Hei Yuan’s words carried through the air, and the shadows around us stirred in response.

Dark figures shifted within the fog, barely visible through the dim light. Some crouched in the trees, while others emerged from the surface of the water. Their stealth arts were so refined that even now, they barely made a sound.

Weapons gleamed in the dim light—daggers, short swords, needles laced with poison.

A dozen strikes were prepared. None were launched.

Hei Yuan’s command had frozen them mid-action. They hesitated, waiting for a follow-up order.

The elder’s glare was sharp, his fists clenched at his sides. His emotions were a storm barely contained—anger at the insubordination, anxiety over my presence, and something else… fear.

His voice dropped, but his tone carried a deadly edge.

"Do you take us for fools, Ma? Mu?!”

He exhaled deeply, then turned his sharp eyes back to me.

"They do not see what I see," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Their eyes are not yet developed enough to perceive your might."

Hei Yuan’s gaze swept over his kin before settling back on me.

"But I see your might, Da Wei. And it is commendable."

He paused for a beat, letting his words sink in. Then, with a measured tone, he added, "Thus, I am showing you respect. Reciprocate this respect, and we may yet avoid becoming enemies."

The underlying warning was clear.

A show of strength earned their acknowledgment, but not yet their trust. In their eyes, I was still an outsider, still a potential threat. Yet Hei Yuan was wise enough to recognize that conflict would not serve them here—not yet.

I reclined slightly, meeting his gaze with a lazy smile. "Oh? Elder Yuan, are you suggesting we could be friends? I like the sound of that."

His lips pressed into a thin line. "That remains to be seen."

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a blade. Hei Ma rubbed his throat, his expression dark with humiliation. His wife, a middle-aged woman with a scowl etched deep into her features, stood beside him, glaring daggers at me.

"Why should we cower?" Hei Ma spat, his voice filled with indignation. "Clearly, this intruder has to be taught a lesson!"

Wow. From "guest" to "intruder" in the span of a few breaths. I almost wanted to applaud.

His wife, emboldened by his words, took a step forward. "I agree with my husband. Moreover, it’s obvious you came here to provoke us." Her piercing gaze flickered toward Hei Mao. "Bringing a child who claims to be a Hei, yet we know nothing about?"

I could feel Hei Mao tense beside me. His fingers twitched ever so slightly, though whether it was from anger or something else, I wasn’t sure.

Hei Yuan, who had been silent for a moment, exhaled heavily. He turned his sharp gaze toward Hei Mu. "Enough. Be patient, Hei Mu. This is not the time to be reckless."

Hei Mu barely spared him a glance before scoffing, her lips curling with disdain. "Patient? What’s there to be patient for?" She jabbed a finger in my direction. "This man is a liar through and through!"

I smiled. "A liar? That’s a bold claim." I rested my hands behind my back. "What exactly do you think I’m lying about?"

Her expression twisted in barely contained fury. "Everything."

Hei Mao slammed the table’s surface, his small fists clenched. His expression was a mix of frustration and determination as he glared up at Hei Mu.

"Big Brother Da Wei is not a liar!" he declared, his voice carrying a rare fervor. "He might be up to mischief sometimes, and yeah, he likes pranking people… but he’s a good person!"

Oh? Look at this kid defending me.

"He might be lazy and won’t help set up camp," Hei Mao continued, "but he is not a liar!"

…Alright, now hold on. Was that last part really necessary? What’s so bad about harmless pranks? And not helping set up camp?

Hei Mu exhaled sharply, shaking her head as if the mere act of arguing with a child was beneath her. "Such a pity," she said, her voice laced with mock sorrow. "For a boy to be so deeply brainwashed…"

And then—she vanished.

I narrowed my eyes, sensing the shift in the shadows. She reappeared under the table, her form partially melding into the darkness beneath it. Her hand wielding a short spear. A clever move—if I were an idiot.

"Bad move."

Because all she did was rile me up.

With a thought, I used Castling on Hei Mao who was still sitting by the table, and swapped his position with mine. At the same time, I shoved the table in front of me into my Item Box.

Hei Mu was still mid-shadow when that happened.

The result? She was left stuck, half-submerged in the wood like a bad painting.

I crouched down to her level, watching her eyes widen in realization. "Clench your teeth," I advised.

And then, I slapped her across the face.

BOOM!

The harbor erupted from sheer force, and Hei Mu was launched through the air like a comet. She soared past the dock, limbs flailing, before landing harshly into the lake with a mighty splash.

The water churned violently where she crashed, ripples expanding outward. Silence followed.

I straightened, dusting off my sleeve. "Well," I remarked, "at least she cooled off."

Some wooden splinters had gotten stuck under my nail though.

Ouch…

That hurt more than having a sledgehammer land on my face. Psychologically speaking, of course.

I sighed and, wincing, plucked out the tiny shards. My eyes flickered to the hole in the wood beneath me, evidence of the force that had sent Hei Mu flying.

And then—

SPLASH!

Water erupted as a figure shot out from the lake under the hole. It was a young woman with a spiked gauntlet, her face twisted with rage. "HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY MOTHER?!"

I barely had time to register the ambush before her fist came hurtling toward my face.

"Oh, for—"

Reflex kicked in. I slapped her with the back of my hand.

Her momentum completely reversed, and she soared through the air, flying off in the opposite direction of where her mother had been flung.

A moment of stunned silence followed. Even I had to process what just happened.

…That was one hell of a jumpscare.

I hadn’t sensed her coming because of the lake’s properties and the shadows that obscured her presence.

Hei Mao tugged at my sleeve, his expression caught between concern and exasperation. "Big Brother Da Wei… Was that really necessary?"

He gestured toward the young woman now sinking into the water. "She’s probably way weaker than that Hei Mu woman."

I waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. I cast Bless and Cure the moment she got the hand, so she should be fine."

As I spoke, the girl surfaced, coughing and flailing. See? Totally fine.

Hei Yuan finally stepped forward, his tone serious. "This is no laughing matter."

I stood from my chair, dusting off my sleeve. "Oh? But tell me, Elder Yuan—who started it?" Yep, I’m resorting to the childish tactic of who started it first.

His jaw tightened, but I didn’t give him a chance to argue. "We only wanted to talk," I said plainly. "You were the ones who escalated."

Hei Yuan's gaze darkened. "That’s not the way I saw it." His voice took on a sharper edge. "Not after the spell you cast—"

I arched a brow. "Oh? And you expect me to believe you had nothing prepared?"

His expression didn’t change, but I could feel the shift in the air.

I crossed my arms. "You can’t fool my senses, Elder. You had a formation set up. I don’t even know what it was supposed to do. But I know when you were about to use it."

He opened his mouth, but I cut him off.

"You can argue it wasn’t fatal all you want, but how was I supposed to know that?" My voice turned slightly sharper. "Besides, my spell didn’t kill anyone, did it?"

Hei Yuan’s lips pressed into a thin line.

I smirked. "Yeah. That’s what I thought."

A loud thud echoed as Ren Xun landed beside me, his robes swishing. He clicked his tongue, annoyed.

"Boss, your spell just wrecked the boat’s formations," he complained, shooting me a glare. “I suggest you stop provoking them or we’d be sitting ducks. By we, I meant Gu Jie, Lu Gao, Ren Jingyi, and me…”

This guy tends to switch from Senior to Boss when addressing me. When he was using the latter, it was usually because he was either sincerely annoyed or was in a pleasant mood. It was definitely not the latter.

I finally turned my attention to the boat artifact that had brought us here.

The once-active obscuring spell formations—the ones Ren Xun had so hastily prepared right before we arrived—were now completely gone. The boat looked ordinary now, exposed for all to see.

…Oops.

Before I could say anything, Gu Jie’s voice rang out from the boat.

"Master, permission to leave the boat?"

I waved a hand lazily. "Come on, then."

Gu Jie leaped off, landing gracefully on the dock. Right behind her, Dave followed, his heavy Puppet Armor thudding against the wooden planks. Even without speaking, his clunky metal frame and the sheer pressure he exuded were enough to make the watching Shadow Clan cultivators tense.

Dave placed a fist over his chest and bowed slightly. "My Lord."

I nodded in acknowledgment.

Then, Gu Jie turned toward Hei Yuan and spoke. "Master, may I address Elder Yuan on your behalf?"

I gestured lazily for her to go ahead and sat back down in my chair.

Gu Jie then turned to Hei Mao, her voice gentle but firm. "Hei Mao, can you find it in your heart to try one more time?"

The boy gripped his scarf tightly, his brows furrowed. “I just want to talk. That’s all.”

“Elder Yuan,” Gu Jie continued. "This journey is important to us. We want to help little Mao. The Elder might not believe it, but even if Master does not always act like it, he truly means no ill will."

“Hmmm… I don’t know about that, Gu Jie,” I hummed and added, "The thing is, Elder Yuan looks like he has no desire to share the history between the Black Clan and the Shadow Clan. Moreover, it looks like he has no authority whatsoever. He can’t even control his own people. What do you say, Elder? I don’t want to leave, knowing we are on bad terms. I guess, we have to go on our way without learning much… I wonder, maybe the imperial capital would be a much easier place… compared… to this place… Surely, the Emperor would be a better host."

I was playing coy.

Comparing a subjugated Clan to the Emperor was borderline bullying at this point.

I exhaled dramatically, gazing at the Elder who had remained impassive the entire time. 

"Yes, you won't compromise,” I crossed my legs. “I understand that."

I leaned forward slightly, resting my chin on my hand. "But we’re the same, Elder Yuan. We won’t compromise either."

Hei Mao took a deep breath before speaking up. "I feel the same. I can’t compromise. I sincerely wish to know about my parents… and why my family had to die like that. I want to learn about the black-masked people and their connection with your Clan."

A moment of heavy silence settled over the harbor.

Gu Jie stood to my right. Hei Mao to my left. And Dave stood behind me.

Hei Yuan let out a long sigh and finally sat down opposite me.

To his left, the still-drenched Hei Mu stood, her face twisted with barely restrained anger.

To his right, Hei Ma stood, his arms crossed and his face looked like he ate something bitter.

Now, let’s see if we could actually get somewhere.

Ren Xun grumbled as he hopped back onto the boat, his sleeves rolled up as he inspected the ruined formations. He ran his fingers over the now-inert inscriptions, muttering curses under his breath.

"Tch. Do you know how much effort I put into this?" he complained, already working to salvage what he could. “Lu Gao, come on and help me, will you?”

Lu Gao looked scandalized, “What do you even want me to do?”

I ignored them and turned my attention back to Hei Yuan.

"Let's talk terms, Elder," I said, leaning back in my seat. “How about access to your library? Historical texts… and such… Better yet, just answer Hei Mao’s questions honestly…”

“I stand by my words, I reserve the right not to answer your questions,” Hei Yuan’s expression remained guarded. "However, we are willing to open our library for you. Admittedly, the access to our precious library comes at a price—spirit stones."

Ah. So that’s how it is.

I expected resistance. I expected denial. Instead, they were charging me?

I rubbed my chin, considering it. "How much?"

Gu Jie, standing to my right, whispered, "Master, be wary. They might demand an unreasonable price."

I gestured for her to let me handle it. "Name your price, Elder."

Hei Yuan’s eyes flickered, gauging my reaction. Then he finally spoke, his tone even but laced with expectation.

“One million spirit stones.”

Gu Jie visibly tensed, her usually composed expression breaking for a split second.

"That’s exorbitant," she hissed under her breath.

One million spirit stones? It seemed that the Black Clan was in dire need of resources. But for them to demand such an amount outright…

They must have assumed I was either too desperate or too ignorant to refuse.

I, however, barely blinked. Instead, I rubbed my chin, considering it.

"Fine."

Hei Yuan’s brows twitched in surprise, but he quickly composed himself.

With a flick of my wrist, I pulled out a pouch of spirit stones and tossed it onto the table. The moment it landed, the air vibrated slightly from the sheer concentration of spiritual energy contained within.

Of course, I have enough.

On top of my gains from the auction, coming from various items sold, Ren Jin also gave me pocket money. Still, one million spirit stones were a lot.

The Shadow Clan elder exchanged glances with Hei Ma and Hei Mu, their expressions betraying just how badly they needed these resources.

I clasped my hands together and smiled. "One more thing. I want access to every single record in your library. Everything."

Hei Yuan’s lips thinned. "That was not part of the agreement."

"It is now," I countered smoothly.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face. "Very well."

He was lying. 

I could feel it in my Divine Sense. He probably planned to hide specific texts or records.

"Elder Yuan, you wouldn’t be thinking of deceiving me, would you?"

The air around us grew tense.

Hei Yuan’s expression darkened for a moment before he sighed.

"I will allow you to read everything. The shadow-related techniques are not to be revealed to outsiders. Even if you threaten me with death, you won’t get your hand on it."

So that was their bottom line.

I reclined in my seat and let out a breath. "That’s fine,” The freedom to read through their entire library was just a bonus. “I have no interest in your techniques anyway."

What I did care about was history—the truth behind Hei Mao’s origins, the Black Clan, and their connection to the Shadow Clan.

With that, the deal was sealed.

I handed over another pouch of spirit stones worth the rest of the million, leaving me with only a few thousand—just enough to sustain Gu Jie and Ren Jingyi’s cultivation at their current levels.

A small price to pay for knowledge.

And yes, it was a small price for me…