Chapter 41

  The second day’s treatment went as smoothly as the first. During the treatment, Drakkel talked with Taliyah Raven about his days being raised by his master. By the seventh day, Drakkel’s curiosity had set in. Since they were going to leave soon anyway, he thought it would be fine to inquire about Taliyah Raven’s past.

  As he waited for the treatment to take its course, he asked, “If you’re part of the Hidden Desires Swords Clan, what are you doing here?”

  Taliyah Raven began to take off her clothes, first starting with her outer garment.

  Rillian Adore was unaffected, but Drakkel couldn’t stop a blush from forming on his face.

  “Stop!” he shouted. “What are you doing, Grand Master?”

  Taliyah Raven laughed. “I just want to show you something.”

  Because of where she was from, Drakkel was wary about her motives. But when she only loosened her robes just enough to show her upper chest, he breathed a sigh of relief.

  His attention was immediately brought to a scar drawn in a half circle on her chest. It seemed to extend below their field of vision, but for obvious reasons, she didn’t show so much.

  “You’re a sword outcast?” He asked, astonished.

  Taliyah Raven tightened her robes and nodded. “Yes. I never truly supported the Hidden Desires Swords Clan, but I also had nowhere to go. I was taken in when I was younger because of my beautiful face and exotic looks. Before that, I was an orphan who had no knowledge of who her mother and father were. I had quickly proven my proficiency in learning the swords skills of the Clan. The clan leader thought it would be best to make me the head of a department and have me utilize my charms and skill to lead the swords clan into a new future.

  However, I had gathered whatever medical books I could and utilized my strength in stealth to seek knowledge from medical practitioners. I also attended medical talks to attain knowledge in the field.

  It wasn’t long until I had proven that within the clan, I was good for not only intimate matters and fighting, but for medicine as well. Because I had shown myself to be useful in other things, I asked the clan leader at the time to not force me to pair cultivate with others and I said that if she did, I would kill myself.”

  She laughed. “She didn’t want to lose her most promising disciple, so she agreed. I took on only the missions I wanted to and healed clan members in my free time. I even taught a few some of my skills. Once I advanced to a level in which I thought no one in my clan could defeat me, I quickly left the place, cutting off all ties.

  My clan leader later found me and tried to order me not to become a sword outcast, but right in front of her, I made the marking myself. Even if the clan wanted to continue chasing me, first no one could beat me and second, they would have almost no ground to stand on in forcing me back.”

  Drakkel was in awe of her story. Not only was the woman an immortal beauty, she was skilled in both medicine and weaponry. How many others could flaunt so many talents?

  Taliyah sighed. “Since then, I had heard of this place. Because it was outside of the view of others, I decided it was the best place to settle down. So I've stayed here for years, cultivating in seclusion and improving my medical skills.”

  Drakkel remembered that he himself was in his twenties. His master was in his upper fifties already. How could his master’s master be such a young lady? It seemed his master wasn’t lying about Taliyah Raven figuring out the secret to anti-aging.

  He actually wanted to ask her about it as well, but he decided not to. After all, if she hadn’t told it to anyone else including his master, why would she tell him?

  He instead inquired about something else.

  “How did you come to be my master’s master, Grand Master Taliyah?” He asked. “You two are from different Swords Clans with conflicting ideologies.”

  Taliyah Raven’s eyes widened and then her face spread into a thoughtful smile. “Many years ago, your master was given a difficult task. He was sent out by his master to go on a grand journey within the Sword Fighting world. He told him not to return until he had gained insight into the goings on of the Sword Fighting world and had learned at least one new skill. In his time out, I had bumped into your master while he was heavily injured fighting off demons. At the time, my Swords Clan stayed away from demonic matters unless paid by someone to get rid of them.

  Your master was an adorable boy. He had good looks and a strong sense of justice. I healed him up and secretly kept him within a place the clan leader had given me for proving myself an asset to the clan. Upon waking up and finding out he had been saved by a Hidden Desires Swords Clan member, he was naturally appalled. But after a few months of healing him, I noticed that not only had I slowly gained his trust, he had even taken an interest in my medicinal methods. He began to carefully observe what herbs I would use and ask questions about their general look, uses and efficacies. I would later test him on what he had learned and he would mostly answer correctly.

  When he was fully healed, he was loath to leave me. He still wanted to learn more. So for half a year, I would use my free time to visit my abode and teach him new things. When I wasn’t around, he would travel the world, quelling demon attacks and assisting with requests from locals. At some point, he had learned much of what I could teach him. However, it wasn't long after that it was discovered by my clan what I was doing. They had no issue with me keeping a boy around for pair cultivation, but when they found out my true motive was to teach the boy medicine, they threatened to go after him.

  At the Hidden Desires Clan, skills believed to be belonging to the clan were not to be passed down to those outside of it. In addition to that, only intimate relations lacking in emotion were allowed with others. Anything more would be seen as a betrayal of the clan, for such relations had led to people betraying the clan in the past. Because I had broken two of the rules of the clan by teaching your master, they ordered me to send him away. They said that if I didn’t, they would hunt him down and kill him and I would be severely punished as well. So, I had no choice…”

  She paused. “I had transcribed a few notes into a book and gave it to him. Then I sent him on his way. I told him that he couldn’t reveal to anyone what our relationship was.”

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  Drakkel nodded. It was understandable. Although Taliyah Raven had not officially taken his master in as her disciple, she had treated him as one. Her feelings for her disciple were pure and true. To protect his reputation, he couldn’t reveal their relationship.

  She clenched her fists. “The hidden desires clan may have been lenient with me due to my skills, but It is still my regret that I was made a member of it. Nevertheless, matters such as these are too late to change, I can only accept it…”

  She lowered her head. “Speaking of regrets makes be think of another incident…”

  Drakkel gazed at her curiously.

  “Your master was not the only young boy I met; there was another. He was taken in by the Hidden Desires Swords Clan like I was. But unlike me, he was terrible at learning the skills. If it weren't for his ability to utilize sword energy efficiently, the clan most likely wouldn't have taken him in. I had heard his mother had an affair with a person who held immense power and was cast out by his household.

  Living poorly and barely making ends meet, she sold her son to my clan. When he was there, I had seen him briefly. But I soon left and didn't get to find out how he developed- not at least, until later.

  Years had passed and in this very place I had met him once again. He told me he had become an outcast of the clan after several failed jobs.

  He asked me to remove the mark of him being a sword outcast. But this mark is formed by one harming themselves with their own weapon infused with sword energy. I could only hide it for a few months at most, not make it disappear completely. When I informed him of this, he was angry. He spewed harsh words and didn't treat me kindly. However, he said he would take what he could get so I granted his wish.

  I saw him come into the clan when he was younger. It reminded me of when I was brought in. He was angry and dejected, indignant about his fate. I was able to escape, so why couldn't I give this young man the same chance? Once I covered his mark, the young man left. Afterwards, I never heard from him again. To this day, I still don't know what has happened to him.”

  She sighed. “Remembering his determination and the desperation that pervaded his demeanor, I’m not sure if I made the right choice. He had a strong sense of ambition, but was also quick to anger and hate. I would hope he quietly settled down somewhere and managed to take up an ordinary profession, but I'm afraid that may not have been the case.”

  Drakkel nodded.

  He could understand why Taliyah Raven had such regrets, but it seemed that she had done more good than harm because now his master helped out the denizens of Immortal Peak and had taken up his own medicine disciple that did the same.

  “Grand Master Taliyah.” He stated. “My master had never told me about you, but I can tell he appreciated your efforts. When he explained who you were before sending me here, his tone was one of admiration and respect. He and my senior brother have both done a lot of good with what you have taught. I believe your merits outweigh your faults.”

  Taliyah Raven smiled. “Coming from my grand disciple, the sentiment is—”

  She stopped mid-talk. Her eyes narrowed and her pupils darted towards the door.

  “Someone’s here,” She said.

  Rillian Adore did the same, his face growing serious. It was only after the other two sensed it that Drakkel did as well.

  An ominous presence.

  Taliyah removed the needles from Drakkel.

  “Your treatment is over. The poison should be cleared.”

  Drakkel's sword energy felt calm and unbothered. The aches within his body had disappeared. However, he knew he was still at Sword Hero. To return to his previous level, he would have to cultivate once again.

  “Since they only just arrived, I'm afraid these intruders are after you two.” Taliyah Raven said. “Rillian Adore, protect my grand disciple. His skills will not be usable during this juncture.”

  Rillian Adore nodded.

  Drakkel didn't like what she was saying.

  “What do you plan to do?”

  Taliyah Raven smiled at him. “Defeat the trespassers of course.”

  “You may not be able to do it alone. Let us help you.” Drakkel hurriedly responded.

  Taliyah shook her head, “What sort of master would I be if I allowed my grand disciple and another unrelated youngster to fight in my stead?”

  Drakkel wanted to protest, but he kept his mouth shut. As he respected his master, he had to respect his Grand Master.

  Taliyah Raven continued, “When we exit, you two focus on leaving. Once you escape, I'll hold them off for as long as I can. After a while, they should stop attacking me and by then, you two should be a good distance away.”

  Rillian Adore and Drakkel nodded.

  “Now, let's go and meet the guests,” Taliyah Raven said.

  Rillian Adore and Drakkel went to grab their items from their room. Seeing his bamboo hat laying on the wall, Drakkel decided to leave it as it would only get in the way.

  The three then exited the temple-like structure and were met with the faces of familiar yet terrifying figures.

  Not only was the masked figure standing there, but so was the demon they had met when Firo Fieren was kidnapped. Along with them were ten other demons.

  Rillian Adore turned to Taliyah Raven, saying what Drakkel was thinking, “You can't handle this many alone, Miss Taliyah.”

  “You doubt my skills, Rillian Adore?” Taliyah Raven responded. “How could I live in such a dangerous place alone for so many years? How could I escape from my clan without anyone daring to go after me? Trust me, I will be fine. Just focus on defending my grand disciple.”

  Taliyah stepped forward and addressed the demons. “While I'm here, you evil ones won't be getting what you want.”

  The demon who was in charge of kidnapping Firo Fieren smiled. “My brothers and I will do as we please. A lone lady like yourself won't be able to stop us.”

  Taliyah smiled.

  One second she was next to Drakkel and Rillian Adore and the next, she was dashing forward, sending forth a rain of silver needles infused with sword energy towards the group of demons.

  Most managed to dodge but three got caught in the assault. They fell down and didn't get back up.

  The demon that had spoken before said, “Perhaps we underestimated you… But, we won't make that mistake again.”

  “Me and Fashadsr will handle the woman.” He yelled to the remaining demons. “The rest of you go after the others.”

  After he spoke, he and the masked figure went after Taliyah Raven. She pulled out two ordinary daggers from under her robes and began to parry their moves.

  Despite her inconvenient figure, she was extremely agile and skilled, trading blow after blow with the two men that attacked her.

  However, Drakkel could tell that it took all of her energy to do so. Worse yet, she was using ordinary daggers and not meteoric stone weapons. She couldn't afford to glance their way.