Immortal Paladin

Whatever sound technique the visitor had used, Hei Yuan could ascertain that it was nothing inherently special—except for the raw, overwhelming power behind it. The sheer force had momentarily pushed back the ever-present fog, an impressive feat for such a rudimentary technique.

The boat artifact settled at the wooden harbor, its spells subtly distorting the figures within. Even with Hei Yuan’s cultivation at the level of Essence Gathering, the Sixth Realm, he found it difficult to pierce through the defensive enchantments with his Qi Sense. The vessel itself bore complex spell formations, weaving an obscuring veil that clouded even his trained perception.

Of course, dispelling such formations would be a simple task for him, but to do so uninvited would be an act of provocation—one that the Shadow Clan could ill afford at this moment.

Hei Yuan was old, but not senile. Their patriarch had only recently entered deep seclusion, advancing through a crucial stage of cultivation. During this time, the clan had to tread carefully, lest external forces seek to exploit their moment of vulnerability.

As Hei Yuan observed, he felt a gaze settle on him. It was not one of hostility but of quiet evaluation. Calmly, he returned it with equal confidence.

Stepping forward with steady grace, he cupped his fists in greeting. His voice carried the dignity befitting a senior of the Shadow Clan, balanced between politeness and unyielding pride.

”This one is Hei Yuan of the Shadow Clan. May I ask whom I have the honor of welcoming?”

A figure stepped forward from the boat, his presence towering above the rest—not in height, but in sheer weight of existence. Even before the man spoke, Hei Yuan’s eyes instinctively flickered downward.

The Shadow Clan carried an innate gift—the ability to perceive the shadows of others.

A person’s shadow often reflected their strength. The greater their power, the larger their shadow. Even among powerful cultivators, the variance was clear—those with deep, refined foundations had shadows that loomed larger than their bodies, while the weak had barely a flicker beneath them.

Yet this Da Wei’s shadow was… unreasonable.

It was massive, stretching and coiling like a titan walking among insects. Hei Yuan, a man who had lived for over centuries, could count on one hand the number of individuals whose shadows had unsettled him.

He schooled his expression, forcing a composed smile as the figure introduced himself.

”I am Da Wei.”

A name Hei Yuan did not recognize.

He inhaled slowly, the old habits of a cautious man kicking in. If someone of such power had gone unnoticed by their intelligence network, then there were only two possibilities—either Da Wei had risen to prominence too quickly, or he had hidden himself too well.

Neither possibility was comforting.

Still, Hei Yuan had long learned to be measured in his approach. Lowering his gaze respectfully—though not too much—he spoke with steady politeness.

”Forgive my ignorance, esteemed guest. This old one has not heard of your name before. Might I inquire further about your esteemed self?”

His words were carefully chosen, his posture neutral. It was not submission, but recognition. If this Da Wei was truly as formidable as his shadow suggested, then the Shadow Clan could not afford to treat him lightly.

With a flicker of movement, Da Wei stepped onto the wooden harbor.

It was too fast—approaching instantaneous speeds.

Even with his centuries of experience and his cultivation at the Essence Gathering Realm, Hei Yuan found himself unable to fully perceive the moment Da Wei moved. There was no telltale disturbance in the air, no shift in Qi flow, and no flicker of spiritual energy that typically accompanied movement at such speeds. It was simply as if he had always been there.

Hei Yuan suppressed a frown. A gap in perception at his level was rare.

With a careful glance, he studied the man before him.

Da Wei’s physique was lean but well-defined, a clear mark of a martial practitioner. His posture was effortless—neither overly rigid like a soldier nor undisciplined like an amateur. Every movement seemed purposeful yet relaxed, a contradiction that unsettled Hei Yuan the longer he observed.

But his presence…

It was perplexing.

He carried an aura that could be likened to that of a Taoist cultivator, filled with an almost imperceptible tranquility. At the same time, there were traces of something akin to Buddhist asceticism—a quiet, immovable steadiness. Yet for all that, it revealed nothing.

It should have been telling, but instead, it was the opposite—concerning.

The lack of fluctuation in Da Wei’s Qi was unnatural. No ebb, no flow, no resonance with the world around him. It was as if he were a mere mortal.

A mortal that moved faster than Hei Yuan could track.

A mortal whose shadow stretched like a titan’s.

A mortal with a life force so strong it felt like it could smother a room full of Spirit Mystery cultivators.

If Hei Yuan didn’t know any better, he would have truly mistaken him for an ordinary man.

An uncannily handsome mortal at that.

Da Wei’s features were… unbelievable. He had a jade-like complexion, a balance of softness and masculine angles, framed by short, dark hair that swayed gently with the lake’s breeze. He wore elegant jade robes, subtly embroidered with cloud-like patterns.

And yet, despite his striking appearance, there was something odd about it. He wasn’t the kind of handsome that drew immediate attention.

If one wasn’t consciously looking at him, he would simply blend into the background, slipping past perception. A forgettable kind of perfection.

A contradiction.

One more to add to the growing list.

Hei Yuan was deep in thought when Da Wei suddenly spoke.

”Ah… my apologies.”

The man’s voice was smooth, carrying an easygoing charm as he glanced at the wooden planks beneath his feet. ”I didn’t mean to step onto your harbor without permission. That was rude of me.”

He smiled—a polite, almost playful expression as if he had only just remembered basic decorum.

Then, with the same casual air, he continued.

”I hail from the Riverfall Continent. I’m currently making my way to the Imperial Capital for an audience with the Emperor.”

His words were light, delivered effortlessly, as if he were merely mentioning the weather.

But to Hei Yuan, they carried the weight of implications.

The first thought that crossed Hei Yuan’s mind was whether Da Wei was an imperial auditor.

Had one been sent to investigate them?

But no—that was impossible.

An imperial auditor had already visited the Shadow Clan a few months ago, and no word of a second inspection had reached them. The Emperor’s enforcers weren’t so inefficient as to send two separate agents in such a short span of time.

Then what was he doing here?

Hei Yuan kept his expression neutral, though his mind worked fast.

“May I ask for what purpose you’ve come to our territory?” he inquired, his tone polite but firm.

Da Wei, still wearing that unreadable smile, replied with an easy shrug.

“I fancy myself an adventurer,” he said casually. “I’ve always been curious about the Shadow Clan, especially after hearing of your detailed history from a close friend.”

At the mention of history, Hei Yuan’s composure hardened.

His Qi tensed, his mind instantly shifting to hostility.

History? That was not something outsiders should concern themselves with.

But then—he hesitated.

He had been reminded, once again, of the gulf between their strength. No matter how he tried, he could not see through Da Wei’s realm. That was proof enough.

Hei Yuan inhaled slowly, steadying himself. Then, keeping his tone polite but unyielding, he spoke:

“The Shadow Clan does not possess any glamorous history worth recounting, nor do we have any desire to welcome guests.”

He cupped his fist, a gesture of respect, even as his words pushed Da Wei away.

“I must apologize, but I must ask you to leave.”

He watched Da Wei carefully.

Would he accept the refusal? Would he take offense?

It was a risky move. Hei Yuan had no idea what Da Wei’s temperament was like—but that only made it more important to test the waters.

After all, what was the logic behind greeting visitors so openly, only to turn them away?

It had everything to do with the Shadow Clan’s spell formations.

If it came to it, he could simply eject these so-called visitors into the foggy maze, unleashing the killing array at the heart of the island.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.

But then—Da Wei’s expression changed.

The casual air around him vanished, replaced by a serious, almost solemn look.

“Is there a way I can have an audience with the Shadow Clan’s patriarch?” he asked, his tone carrying a weight that wasn’t there before.

At those words, Hei Yuan subtly activated Qi Speech.

The few Shadow Clan members hiding nearby received his silent message.

‘Be ready. If it comes to a fight, we strike first.’

Hei Yuan’s own stance did not change, but his presence became heavier.

“The Shadow Clan’s patriarch is a busy man,” he replied carefully. “He cannot spare a moment for just anyone.”

He deliberately kept his words vague, measuring Da Wei’s response.

Would he insist?

Would he force the issue?

Or… was he here for something else entirely?

Da Wei sighed, his shoulders loosening as he shook his head.

”Well, if that’s the case, then there’s no helping it.”

His casual attitude returned effortlessly, as though he had merely shrugged off the conversation.

Hei Yuan only now realized the bead of sweat that had formed on his forehead.

Sweat?

For someone of his realm, that was impossible. His body should have long transcended such weaknesses. And yet, there it was.

He suppressed a frown. What kind of person was this Da Wei?

Meanwhile, Da Wei casually continued, ”I’d be fine with speaking to anyone, really. As long as they know the history of the Shadow Clan or the Black Clan well enough.”

Hei Yuan stiffened slightly.

The history of the Black Clan and Shadow Clan…

A past that stretched long before the current Abyssal Clan system even existed.

For Da Wei to specifically ask about that…

Hei Yuan’s fingers twitched under his sleeves. Coincidence? Or something more?

A pause stretched between them before Hei Yuan exhaled and once again reaffirmed his stance.

His voice was polite but firm as steel.

”Then I must once again ask you to turn back. The Shadow Clan does not welcome tourists.”

This time, he allowed a trace of spite to slip into his tone—just enough to express his growing dislike for this conversation.

If Da Wei noticed, he didn’t care. Instead, he snapped his fingers, his expression lighting up as if he’d just had a revelation.

”Ah! I have an idea.”

Hei Yuan felt a twitch in his brow.

This eccentric.

He resisted the urge to sigh and instead kept his gaze locked onto Da Wei, choosing to listen rather than immediately turn to violence.

”Let’s make this simple,” Da Wei continued with a grin. ”We’ll leave peacefully and won’t bother you anymore... if you agree to one simple request.”

Hei Yuan narrowed his eyes. ”And what is that request?”

”Just answer a few questions.”

Hei Yuan’s lips pressed into a thin line.

”I make no promises to answer truthfully,” he said coldly. ”And I reserve the right to refuse.”

Da Wei hummed thoughtfully. ”Better than nothing.”

Then, without waiting for further protest, he turned his head and called back toward the boat.

”Hei Mao, come here.”

Hei Yuan’s expression darkened the moment he heard the surname.

Hei.

A name shared by both the Black Clan and the Shadow Clan.

A name burdened with history.

Then, a figure leaped down from the boat—a dark-haired young man in ragged black robes.

Around his neck, a beautiful red scarf embroidered with the symbol of a black cat fluttered slightly from the motion.

And when Hei Yuan studied his face…

There was no doubt about it.

This Hei Mao was undoubtedly one of their own.

And then it struck him as… odd…

Hei Yuan gulped audibly. His throat felt tight. His entire body tensed, his fingers twitching ever so slightly beneath his robes.

For a brief moment—a terrifying moment—he nearly knelt right there and then.

The resemblance was uncanny.

The young man standing before him…

Hei Mao.

His face, his posture, even the sharp intensity in his gaze—it was all eerily similar to the late Shadow Clan Patriarch.

The same patriarch who had vanished long ago, neither confirmed dead nor alive.

Hei Yuan’s heart pounded against his ribs.

No.

It couldn’t be.

The late patriarch wasn’t dead. Just missing.

Then who was this young man?

His mind was in turmoil, confusion battling against instinct.

His vision sharpened, focusing on the calm yet penetrating gaze of Da Wei.

The man was studying him. Inspecting him like an insect under a magnifying glass.

Hei Yuan barely managed to suppress the violent surge of emotions welling within him.

For a single irrational instant, he felt the urge to lash out at Da Wei.

Yet he did not.

He controlled himself. Forced his thoughts into order.

Taking a slow breath, he kept his expression neutral and finally spoke.

”Who is this young man?”

His voice was steady. Almost.

Da Wei’s lips curled into a slight, knowing smile.

”This is Hei Mao,” he introduced smoothly. ”He’s a friend.”

Hei Yuan narrowed his eyes.

A friend?

Before he could press further, Da Wei casually added, ”He’s the one who’ll be asking the questions. I hope you answer truthfully, because it matters a lot to this young man…”

A pause.

Hei Yuan turned his gaze to the boy—no, the young man—standing before him.

Hei Mao’s expression was firm, his eyes resolute, unwavering.

Even without actively probing, Hei Yuan could sense his cultivation.

Spirit Mystery Realm.

Not particularly strong, but not weak either.

…And yet, strength was not the issue here.

Hei Yuan swallowed down his unease and gave a slow nod.

”Ask away.”

Hei Mao did not hesitate.

His voice was calm, yet there was something heavy behind it.

”Do you know about the black-masked people?”

Hei Yuan’s heart sank.

His hands, hidden within his sleeves, curled into tight fists.

So it really was about that…

There was no doubt about it now.

This had everything to do with the shared past of the Black Clan and the Shadow Clan.

With their predecessor.

With the long-buried truth of the Abyss Clan.