Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 103: Evolution

Liam hated every second of what followed, feeling guilty beyond reason, even if things turned out to be far better than he had dreaded.

Melissa had joined the Sect at the same time as Lucy, but had quickly become an inner disciple, enjoying privileges for almost one year longer than Randall.

Due to Melissa’s water core being common and easy to feed, those privileges had been enough to pay for her cultivation, allowing her to divert most of her contribution points to the Disciplinary Elder’s private combat lessons.

Yet, Melissa’s foundation was complete, and the combat lessons had become mandatory, leaving her inner disciple’s privileges unused. She could purchase a batch of the four precious ingredients Liam needed without paying a single point, making her decision easier to swallow.

"The Hall will send these to your cave," Lucy announced once the transaction was completed. "Seniors, is this all?"

Melissa pointed her emotionless face at Liam, but he responded before that incomprehensible creature could unleash another of her tricks.

"Yes!" Liam exclaimed, almost shouting. "We are done! We’ll leave immediately!"

Lucy couldn’t help but chuckle at that reaction. She had missed that innocent boy and how relaxed he made her feel. He still acted nothing like a cultivator in those moments, which Lucy could only be grateful for.

However, Lucy wasn’t alone in that feeling. Liam didn’t notice it, and many would probably fail to do so, but Lucy saw a reflection of her emotions in Melissa’s detached face, reminding her of the bitterness of the situation.

Liam could still act like a clueless boy, but that part of him would disappear as he delved deeper into the cultivation world. Lucy even knew that the process had already started. She recalled his cold face during their mission, and he had gone even farther now.

"Liam," Lucy called, dropping any pretense, unable to restrain herself, "Did you really kill Senior Brother Randall and the three Crimson Warrior Sect’s disciples?"

"Yes," Liam casually replied, his face showing none of the darkness and seriousness such a serious topic deserved. "Didn’t the Elders give an announcement?"

Truth be told, Liam was curious about how far the news had spread. He believed everyone knew, but Lucy’s question didn’t match the murmurs from earlier.

And there, Lucy saw another bitter truth. She had seen Liam’s cold face, but killing a fellow human was different, or it should be, but his nonchalance pointed in the opposite direction.

It turned out Liam had always been ready for the cultivation world’s ruthlessness, at least those sides of it. He was an innocent murderer, as if that made any sense.

And Lucy had to admit that she didn’t know how much she liked that. She didn’t fear Liam, but he wasn’t the boy too bright for that dark world that she had initially believed.

In a way, Lucy felt that she had probably fallen for the idea of a trustworthy, innocent ally, which Liam wasn’t. His darkness stretched far, deep enough to make Lucy second-guess her crush, which already showed her unworthiness.

After all, Liam now had a woman who shared his superior status clinging intimately to his arm despite knowing what his hands could do. Lucy felt completely defeated, but a smile broadened on her face anyway.

Liam had become unreachable for Lucy earlier than she could have predicted. Their lives would only grow further apart now, but she felt no regret. Liam was meant for greatness, so Lucy focused on the blessing that it had been her short time with him.

"Liam, it was nice seeing you again," Lucy exclaimed, not addressing Liam’s question.

"It’s the same for me," Liam revealed. "But-?"

Liam couldn’t repeat his previous question since Melissa read the situation and decided to pull him away.

After that financial help, Liam couldn’t even try to oppose Melissa, so the two soon returned to the mountain path, slowly walking back to the Inner Hall while the sky above began to darken.

"We are even now," Liam eventually announced, still guilt-ridden. "You can’t use that excuse ever again."

Melissa didn’t reply. Actually, a chuckle almost broke her usual detached facade. Liam was so expressive that reading his mind didn’t require any words, and she couldn’t help but find it cute.

Also, Melissa felt genuinely happy to have done something for Liam. She had been basically useless in the mission, but she had finally paid him back.

"By the way, Senior Sister," Liam called as different doubts afflicted his mind. "Since you have been an inner disciple for so long, why aren’t you a rooting expert yet?"

Liam’s words could sound insulting, but Melissa knew he meant none of that and decided to give him a proper explanation. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"W-water is w-weak," Melissa revealed. "It takes t-time to nourish my core."

That made sense. Unlike poisons, water was just water. Liam wasn’t sure how it could suit a foundation expert’s needs, let alone make it strong enough for a breakthrough.

"And," Melissa continued, "My a-affinity is good, so g-good that my core might evolve."

’What?’ Liam gasped internally.

Liam naturally understood the high-affinity topic. He didn’t know what it meant for Melissa, but he had seen how annoying suppressing his Qi’s poisonous traits was, so he guessed she also had her fair share of problems.

However, the part of the evolution was new for Liam, but the two arrived at the Inner Hall before he could ask his follow-up question, and Melissa even beat him at that.

"W-what do you have to do now?" Melissa questioned.

Liam glanced at the sky. The grey braziers had yet to light up, but the night was descending, carrying the lessons with it.

"I must see the Alchemy Elder soon," Liam revealed.

Melissa didn’t say anything and resumed walking, leading Liam into the rising path from the empty second plateau, eventually stopping before one of the circular boulders there.

A wave from Melissa’s tablet opened the cave, revealing a tidy environment with shelves and a series of basins. That was where she lived, and Liam didn’t know why he felt shy looking at it.

Still, Liam knew goodbyes were in order, so he lowered his head and let some of his genuine gratitude leak out. "Melissa, thank you for today."

Despite the guilt Liam felt, Melissa had still done him an immense favor, but those complicated thoughts vanished when a slightly wet softness spread on his cheek.

Liam turned in time to watch Melissa’s retreating lips, which curled into an unexpected smile before embarrassment took over her, making her rush into the safety of her cave.

And Liam could only watch as the boulder closed, a single thought managing to rise through his shocked mind. ’Was that a kiss?!’

Liam brought his hand to his cheek, wanting to replay that sensation, only for a familiar tingle to hit his nape. He looked down at the second plateau, finding his grumpy Master glaring at him.

"Master!" Liam called, hurrying toward the Alchemy Elder. "My punishment is over. We can-!"

Liam couldn’t finish his line since a familiar pain spread from his head. That night, his Master decided to greet him with his cane.

"What did I tell you about women?!" The Alchemy Elder snorted, already heading down the descending path toward Liam’s cave. "You should spend this time practicing instead of thinking with that tiny thing between your legs!"

Liam couldn’t connect the second statement to anything. There was nothing tiny between his legs, let alone something that could think, but explaining the situation took priority.

"Master, I went to the Alchemical Hall to pick ingredients," Liam explained. "I had no contribution points or privileges left, so Senior Sister Melissa bought some for me."

The Alchemy Elder halted his steps, glancing at Liam’s confused and partially distracted face. That kindness was quite great, so important that he instinctively distrusted it.

"Beware, foolish disciple," The Alchemy Elder warned, resuming walking. "Good alchemists are rare. Befriending them early in their career is one of the best investments cultivators can make."

Liam understood what the warning implied, but he hadn’t smelled anything off in Melissa’s actions. If anything, they had felt warm.

’Senior Brother is right,’ Liam eventually sighed internally, opening his cave. ’Women are incomprehensible.’

Still, the decision not to question Melissa’s behavior made room for different thoughts, mainly involving the surprising softness of her lips, which earned him another hit with the cane.

"We’ll continue to hold the lessons here," The Alchemy Elder announced, casually approaching the cauldron at the cave’s center.

Liam would usually follow his Master at that point, but the shelves caught his attention, as well as the items they contained. The entrance had closed, so his face became cold, uttering a question he had kept in his mind earlier.

"Master," Liam called. "How hard is it to kill a branching expert?"