NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28: The Favour
Hearing Spark's approval, Hai didn't waste any more time and got out of the way, allowing Guo and the lady to step in.
"Finally, I thought you forgot to brief me on the problem I have to solve…" Spark voiced, still sitting.
Shaking his head, Guo clarified, "I'm not here for that. The young lady wishes to meet with you… As for the other topic, I don't know if you'd be able to handle it in your current state."
"Ah? Is that so?" Spark directed his gaze to the veiled lady standing beside Guo. Squinting, he asked, "Young miss, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Seeing Spark's nonchalant and almost disrespectful attitude, a smile bloomed underneath her veil. Then she glanced at Guo, hinting that he should give them privacy.
Guo, who was about to reprimand Spark for his disrespectful behavior, quickly swallowed his words. Frowning, he went out, shutting the door behind him. From the lack of footsteps, it was clear he was still standing right behind the door.
One couldn't blame Spark. Compared to yesterday—when he had just woken up confused and still shaken from his near-death experience, coupled with the fact that his energy reserves were practically dry—it was understandable that he had acted respectfully and treaded cautiously then.
But now things were different, especially after the previous night. His reserves had made noticeable progress. Though he had only congealed a tiny fraction of his inner star, it was enough for now.
Adding to the fact that he was at least a little more knowledgeable than before, he had even taken time to confirm some information from criminals, making him aware that he might even be the strongest in this small nation.
"Good day, mister. I am Cai'er, the daughter of Merchant Wei," Cai'er introduced with a slight bow.
"Hm… So what is it that you need?" Spark replied dismissively.
Seeing such a lackluster reply, Cai'er felt discontent. No one spoke to her this way—not even immortals. Her eyes flickered with a hint of mischievousness as she slowly raised her hands, reaching for the back of her neck, and loosened her veil.
Revealing her stunning beauty in its full glory, Cai'er was dressed in a purple robe that flowed freely on her body, but this didn't dampen her attractiveness one bit.
She was the kind of beauty that provoked feelings of possessiveness—one that would make a man do anything to claim her for himself. At the same time, she possessed a face so cute and innocent it made one want to protect her for the rest of his life.
Displaying an alluring smile, she walked forward, but stopped when she sensed something was wrong.
'What's with the sudden chill in the air…' Her figure trembled slightly as she noticed Spark's unperturbed, bandaged figure still sitting, glancing at her.
'Hm? That's strange…' she panicked internally. His gaze didn't hold the slightest bit of lust or infatuation she was used to seeing. No—in fact, his gaze seemed to have become colder.
"I would advise young miss Cai'er to speak. I don't have all day…" Spark warned impatiently.
Cai'er was taken aback. This was a first for her—a man saw her face and still treated her coldly. Even women would be stunned by her beauty.
'So this is what Dad meant when he said martial artists have cut off all desires of the secular world and are dedicated to getting stronger,' she wondered inwardly. After all, she couldn't imagine why else a man would be so unresponsive, and she silently wondered 'whats with this overwhelming Yang energy?'.
Unknown to Cai'er, Spark was a man who had dated Starlight—a beauty that could be described as divine. She was a goddess in human flesh.
Such was the type of beauty he woke up beside for three years. Compared to her, Cai'er seemed quite lackluster.
Concealing her shock and seeing her little tricks weren't getting her anywhere, she simply stated her business. "Okay sir, since you're so straightforward, I'll just get to the point… Do you want to be healed?"
This question caught Spark's attention. Of course he wanted to be healed.
No matter how much he channeled his output into regeneration, it was futile. Apart from a slight itch, the gnashes and lacerations remained unresponsive.
This was even what led him to the conjecture of how his inner Nine Stars vanished. He theorized that in his unconscious state, his body autonomously tried to heal itself—
—by pumping energy into regeneration continuously, in vain, for three whole days.
This led to his energy draining completely for a futile cause. "Young lady, if there is indeed a way for me to be healed, please, young miss Cai'er, I'm all ears… Whatever your price is, as long as I have it, I will deliver."
"Hahaha… I see you like straightforward talk, sir. I need a favor from you—it's nothing much," Cai'er stated while chuckling delicately.
"As long as it's within my power, I will deliver," Spark repeated with a smile.
She quickly nodded and spoke resolutely, "I wish for you to escort me to Nightmare Paradise."
Spark's smile vanished. 'What the hell! I thought you would ask for something light. What Nightmare Paradise? Never!'
He frowned. Guo had briefed him quite a bit about that cursed gate, and as though that wasn't enough, when he questioned a criminal about it, the reply he got sent chills down his spine…
…
"Hahahaha! You want to venture to those cursed gates? Hahahahah! Young man, if you want to court death, then go. That place administers its test based on Karma. Tell me, boy—how do you think you'll be judged?" the half-dead thug laughed scornfully.
…
Such a place—Spark didn't dare think of what form of trial he would be put through. His hands weren't clean. Though he usually did good, he didn't know what criteria the gates used to judge.
Who knew if it judged based on the number of kills?
The more he thought about it, the more his apprehension grew, as he gazed at Cai'er warily.
Seeing Spark's change in demeanor, she quickly explained, "It's not that I'm suicidal, sir. It's just that I'm burdened with a terminal condition that can only be resolved through cultivation. So it's a must—I must awaken a Will. If not, I die either way…
We don't have to rush. There's still time. Just promise me you'll take me there before next year ends, and I'll be satisfied."
On hearing this, Spark calmed down. Thankfully, she didn't want him to head there soon—she just needed an assurance.
'From now till the end of next year, huh? I should have awakened my Will naturally by then,' he pondered confidently.
Indeed, he sought to awaken this so-called Will. He needed to embark on a cultivation path. He couldn't stomach the others surpassing him, and he wanted to get back home.
"If it's like that, then it's feasible," Spark assured as he stood and walked toward her, offering a handshake.
…
Elsewhere, at Viscount Ji's lavish halls…
"What! You say my Cai'er went to meet with him?" Fatty Ji barked furiously.
The servant who had just delivered the message trembled in fear and affirmed, "I saw her escorted by Guo. Though they were discreet, they couldn't escape my notice. They definitely went to see the martial artist."
Bam!
The fatty slammed the piece of turkey lap on the table, splashing grease all over his figure—but he didn't seem to care, as his beady eyes bulged red in anger.
"That bastard! I don't care who he is—he can never take what is mine…" Thinking of something, the fatty's eyes glinted as a conspiracy brewed in his head.
"I heard Prince Li is looking to purchase a martial slave…"
The servant quickly responded, "Yes, master, but we don't have any of those in stock. And catching martial artists is very hard and dangerous, so I turned him down."
"Go back and tell him we'll be getting one soon. He should ready his wallet…" Seeing the worry in the servant's eyes, Fatty Ji assured,
"Don't worry. You said it yourself—that guy was terribly injured by an immortal… I'd bet he can hardly put up a fight…"