"Elder brothers, why are you both here? Aren't you supposed to be at the academy?" Blood asked, his confusion deepening at the strange sequence of events.
He recalled that his mother had said they would return in three weeks. Why had they come back so suddenly? Surely three weeks had not yet passed since then.
"You aren't aware that you've been 'asleep' for a month now, are you?" Stanley Marble chuckled, the eldest of the siblings.
"What! Already a month? How could it be?" Blood was astounded and nearly shouted, his voice filled with disbelief. He was utterly stunned, at last he understood why his family's faces had carried such grave expressions.
He had been asleep for an entire month. That alone would have driven them into deep worry. No wonder they looked at him as though he had been gone for years.
Blood was suddenly enlightened.
"It couldn't have been so long. It felt like I only spent half a day cultivating. No wonder my neck is so stiff and difficult to move." he muttered while clicking his tongue.
It was a new experience—he had never been able to cultivate for more than an hour before. If not for the seriousness of the situation, he might have tested other means to confirm their claims.
"The whole residence grew worried when you showed no signs of waking by the third day." Salza said gravely, then continued,
"Your condition is exceedingly rare among cultivators. I have confirmed that the city has never witnessed such a case since its founding. It is uncertain whether any countermeasures could even be employed." He ended with a sigh, recounting the events of the past month.
He had been about to leave the city walls in search of a remedy from other territories when Blood's aura suddenly rose. He could only smile.
Maria sat quietly on the couch, a faint smile softening her face as she listened. The tension that had persisted had eased at last. Ivory on the other hand was exhausted from sleepless nights, and was currently resting on Blood's lap, earning envious glances from his brothers.
Blood remained seated as the crowd left gradually, leaving only the family. They soon entered into serious discussion, questioning him if it had anything to do with the blood mist of which he denied without hesitation.
They continued as the day slowly turned into night which went unnoticed, or they simply ignored it.
Ivory stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open. She glanced through the window at the sky, now completely black, and sighed.
"You've been questioning him without rest all this time. Can't you see it is dark now?" Her tiny voice brought the conversation to a stop, not allowing anyone to interject. She rose to her feet and added with a childish pout,
"Ta‑ta‑ta… You didn't even let him shower. Not keeping to conventional morals anymore?"
Her words left everyone stunned. She suddenly took Blood's hand, pulling him toward her room. He would have to stay with her tonight.
Blood gave a wry smile. Only she was bold enough to act like that.
"Hmm." Salza snorted coldly. "Remember to see me tomorrow morning in the study. We will be meeting Healer Ormond. I won't believe you are fine until he affirms it." He sighed heavily. He would not let this case slide as before.
The rest of the family, weary and drained, did not complain. They quietly went about their own affairs.
___
The mayor's courtyard…
"My Lord, the messenger from Bland Town has arrived," Xander reported, his lips pursed with reluctance. He clearly did not wish to deliver such news.
It turned out that with the endless challenges laid upon Sand‑Scale City, the higher authorities of the region could no longer remain idle. The first contender had been named and approved.
Mayor Strum's eyes widened as he pondered. Their opponent was Bland Town, a grade‑3 settlement. Against Sand‑Scale, a grade‑4 city with a larger army, there was little to fear.
What troubled him was the sheer number of challengers waiting in line. If Bland Town was defeated, the circle would continue. And if the cycle continued, the city might not withstand the tide. The thought of battling hundreds of towns and cities was daunting.
Nevertheless, that was the way of the Fief Domain—wars were permitted to unfold anytime. Though such conflicts would weaken both sides, however, it also enhanced human talent and battle awareness. Fighting beasts alone could never achieve the same result.
"Gather the Superior Unit in the Assembly Hall and lead the way for our guest." Mayor Strum commanded. Although the guest had come from an inferior territory, that was the customary way such matters were conducted.
"Yes, My Lord," Xander replied as he rushed out.
Mayor Strum rose from his seat, setting the footstool aside and thought, What could Bland Town want by sending a messenger? Do they intend to renounce their challenge? He chuckled lightly.
This most likely was not the case. There was no way they would surrender so quickly. The matter concerned seizing a flourishing forest brimming with emerging, unidentifiable treasures and materials. There was no chance they would concede so easily.
Before the grand incident, Bland Town dared not enter my city without knocking thrice. Fortune truly favors the bold—or the foolish.
Though Bland Town was strong, they were nothing compared to Sand‑Scale. They had only been chosen because they were among the first to issue a challenge.
Mayor Strum donned his robes leisurely. "The unit should be gathered by now." he muttered.
Although he shouldn't be meeting the messenger personally, this was Sand‑Scale's first time facing such a situation, and it was his duty to respond.
___
The mayor's mansion, Assembly Hall of Sand‑Scale City…
"Took you long enough to gather." sneered the messenger from Bland Town. He was lounging smugly in his appointed seat. He did not seem to care for anyone present. It was as though the entire room rested at his mercy.
The Superior Unit members suddenly narrowed their eyes, thinking whether to teach him manners. They had not expected such insolence from a mere messenger of a backwater town. They feared that even a single slap might cause him to collapse. Their anger had to be restrained.
It was a general rule that messengers of opposing, or neutral forces could not be killed no matter what, or one's entire territory would be annihilated in retaliation. If an ordinary citizen committed the act, the higher authorities might overlook it. But if an authorized force was responsible, the territory would be erased within the hour.
"I am here on behalf of 'our' leader, Master Jagan." the messenger declared with an evil smirk. "He orders that Sand‑Scale City surrender without resistance or send its inhabitants away. Otherwise, once the due date arrives, there will be mercy for no one."
The temperature of the room suddenly dropped as a cold, piercing gaze settled upon the messenger.
"Insolent!" one of the unit members bellowed, her energy flaring. It was as though she would kill the old man at that moment. She soon restrained herself, though her fury was noticeable. She would have thought the messenger a lesson if not for the silent gesture she had received.
The messenger sneered coldly, his arrogance appeared to be unshaken. There was no way anyone among them would dare to kill him—unless they themselves had grown tired of living.
Mayor Strum repeated the messenger's words quietly and was perplexed. "I thought your dimwitted master had finally grown a spine, only for him to fall short—sending a gnat of a messenger to deliver such nonsense."
Without warning, the messenger was lifted from his seat and hurled violently toward the door. He crashed to the floor, skidding across the hall, blood dripping from his nose.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING FOR YOU! BLAND TOWN ISN'T ALONE IN THIS!" the messenger roared, staggering toward the parted double doors. His eyes became red as he fumed.
But before he could cross the door, a crushing pressure descended upon him, forcing him to his knees, his expression turned grave…