Ch. 861..870
Chapter 861
Maxine sighed and shook her head exasperatedly. Then, she walked over to James and crouched down.
“Go away..”
James raised his arm and tried to swat her away. All he did was aggravate his injuries further and ended up coughing out more blood
The door slowly creaked open and Tobias walked into the room dressed in a suit.
“Grandpa.” Maxine raised a hand in greeting.
Tobias made a small nod of acknowledgment. He took a seat on a nearby chair and regarded James curled up in pain on the floor.
James righted himself with no small amount of difficulty and sat limply on the ground. This alone depleted so much of his stamina A coppery taste lingered in his mouth and his chapped lips were tinged red with blood.
When he saw Tobias. James’ face turned black. “Was it you who burned my home to the ground ten years ago?”
“Yes,” Tobias made no attempts to deny it.
“Kill you...His nonchalant response only enraged James further. James’ body stiffened as he tried to lunge for Tobias but could not find the strength to do so.
Tobias raised his hand, gesturing for James to stop. “Calm down, boy. Use those ears properly for once and listen to me.”
James’ eyes were bloodshot, and he had a murderous look on his face.
His entire family died in Tobias’ hands. No one would have faced such a painful and miserable end if it was not for the man who stood inches away from him.
“History is written by the victors. Had I been the one defeated ten years ago, I would be the one labeled as the traitor of the family instead. Perhaps my home would be the one burned to the ground all those years ago.”
Tobias mumbled softly.
“Thomas was a genius in martial arts who possessed tremendous potential. However, he chose to walk down the wrong path and was led astray. Not only did he steal the family’s treasure scroll, but he also turned against us.”
“Lies!” James’ nostrils flared as he spat in disgust.
He held no trust for Tobias’ words.
He knew what his own grandfather was like.
The grandfather he remembered was a friendly and kind-hearted man. Not only that, but he was also a philanthropist who donated a great sum of his wealth to rural areas to aid the less fortunate
His grandfather was definitely a good man.
“It's not up to us to debate what is right or what is wrong. There’s no use dwelling on past events. I saved you because Caden blood runs through your veins. Did you know how much the Cadens are risking just by saving you? A single misstep will cause all hell to break loose in Sol.” Tobias left after saying his piece. James could not be reasoned with in his current state.
All James could do was glare at Tobias’ retreating figure.
Maxine looked James in the eye and muttered, “Whatever grievance you have against us can wait until your body has recovered.”
She walked over to James and helped him up.
This time, James did not refuse her assistance.
After that, Maxine brought over the medicine and fed James a spoonful.
James straightened himself and asked. “What did he mean by that? Why did he say that all hell will break loose in Sol?”
Setting down the spoon, Maxine replied with a frown, “Someone posed as me and saved you from the Johnstons last night. This has drawn everyone's efforts into investigating the
God- King Palace. That's the reason the Johnstons captured you. If the Cadens came to your rescue, would pretty much be a public admission of our affiliation to the God-King Palace.”
She licked her lips before continuing.
“Grandpa received a call from the Johnstons. They told him that they'd kill you if we didn’t show up at the Johnstons by nightfall. Initially, grandpa hadn't wanted to help you.
“However, he chose to save your life after someone left you at the front door of our residence.
“This act alone will cause the outside world to speculate that we're indeed somehow related to the God-King Palace. The Emperor's death was the fuse that ignited the unrest in the Capital. Perhaps this is all part of someone's plot.”
As Maxine had been by Tobias’ side for a while, she had a faint inkling of the things that were taking place at this very moment.
The Cadens had been on the sidelines all this while.
Chapter 862
Now, because of James, they had gotten themselves involved in the turmoil.
“Because of you, the Cadens have now been dragged into the fray. It's not unlikely that you might have been manipulated from the very beginning. Disposing of the Emperor under the Cadens’ name is certainly a surefire way to get the Johnstons and Cadens involved and cause a rift between the two families.”
James simply sat there with his mouth agape.He knew that the Capital had been governed by complex dynamics that hung in an intricate balance, but he had not expected things to be this convoluted.
The God-King Palace had really made a royal mess of things.
“What exactly is the God-King Palace?”
Maxine shrugged. “Who knows? We wouldn't be sitting here doing nothing if we knew who was actually behind this. Tomorrow morning, we'll likely be receiving a number of guests who are planning to see where my grandfather stands.”
“Actually...”
Maxine’s mouth snapped shut for a moment before opening once again. “Prior to this. Grandpa had never concerned himself with the affairs of the outside world. We only got involved because he couldn't bear leaving you to your fate. At the end of the day, you're still part of the family.”
The more he heard, the more confused he felt.
He tried to recall all the events that had led up to this from the time he was framed by the Emperor, the public trial, up to the time where Gloom came looking for him.
Perhaps it was then that someone planned to manipulate him into removing the Emperor.
It was the Emperor’s death that kicked everything into motion.
However, the appearance of the God-King Palace only worsened an already chaotic situation.
James had a hard time trying to figure out who was his real enemy.
“Can the King be trusted?”
He posed his question doubtfully.
Maxine shrugged once more. “There's no such thing as trust. Everyone merely sees things from their own perspectives. As such, every action from the opposing side can only be viewed as a threat.”
After feeding James the medicine, Maxine picked up the bowl and stood up. “Get some rest. I'll be leaving now.”
Then, she exited the room.
In the courtyard outside...
Tobias sat at the gazebo smoking a cigar. He stared pensively at his surroundings.
“Mmm.youAfter puffing out a cloud of smoke, Tobias turned to Maxine and asked, “Maxine, what do think the God-King Palace is? I’m almost certain the King manipulated James into killing the Emperor In the process, the God — King Palace somehow managed to get the Cadens involved. What are they up to?”
Maxine sat down and shook her head. “It wouldn't be appropriate of me to make any assumptions”
“You've always been such a bright and astute child. You tend to notice things others would overlook. Tell me honestly, what do you make of the current situation? What can the Cades do to protect ourselves from this approaching storm?”
Closing her eyes in deep contemplation, Maxine began to speak carefully, “We'll start with Mr Gabriel. He's managed to recruit many descendants of the Gu Sect to his cause. He was also the one who propped up the Emperor. I suspect that this is only just the beginning of his elaborate schemes. His real objective should be to get the Johnstons involved.
“As for Mr. Lee. He has devoted his whole life to the betterment of the nation. Thirty years. ago, he sacrificed the previous Black Dragon and put up a new King. He believes that the
Ancient Four, as well as the various forces of Sol. will always be a looming threat to the nation. Despite being fully aware of Mr. Gabriel's machinations, he simply turned a blind eye to them. and waited for an opportune moment to present itself.
“Mr. Gabriel seems determined to push forward with the failed plan from a century ago. As the Ancient Four’s existence directly threatens his plan’s success, he’s going to great lengths to get rid of them. I believe Mr. Lee is of the same opinion. That's why he simply went along with Mr. Gabriel's plans.
“As for the God-King Palace... I'm still unclear on its origins and purpose.”
Maxine’s face darkened at the mention of the God-King Palace. Carefully choosing her words once more, she continued, “The God-King Palace first appeared and helped James out when he was about to kill Theodore. Then, they impersonated the Cadens and went to the Jonnstons to rescue James. After that, they dumped James at our front door. If I'm right, their objective is simple-turn the Cadens and the Johnstons against one another.”
Tobias nodded satisfactorily as he took another long drag of his cigar. “An impeccable analysis, my dear. Have you heard anything from the other two of the Ancient Four?”
Maxine shook her head. “They have yet to express their opinions on the matter. However, since the situation has gotten to this point, it's only a matter of time before they join in.’
Tobias asked, “What would be a wise course of action then?”
“We should simply wait and see.” Maxine offered a suggestion of her own.
Tobias stood up and said. “It's getting late. You should go get some sleep.”
Chapter 863
James found himself unable to sleep.
He had been repeatedly going through the events that had taken place.
He no longer had a handle on the situation. He had no idea what the King or the other forces that were backing the Emperor were plotting.
The God-King Palace only served to complicate things even further. What were they aiming for?
The night passed silently.
The next day..
The Caden residence bustled with its numerous visitors.
Mr. Lee and the King were the first to arrive.
They were here with a single objective in mind-to ascertain last night's events and what the Cadens’ position was on the matter.
Opting to not waste any time with useless mental chess, Tobias simply told the truth of what had happened-James was left at the front door of the Cadens.
Mr. Lee wrinkled his nose at Tobias’ explanation.
He could not tell if Tobias was trying to deceive him or was actually speaking the truth.
Shortly after they departed, Mr. Gabriel arrived.
Next were the Johnstons and the other two families of the Ancient Four. All of them were here to ask about last night’s events.
Despite a large number of guests, Tobias’ answer to them remained unchanged. He plainly stated that the Cadens had nothing to do with the entire thing.
By noon, the guests finally stopped coming.
James only managed to fall asleep as the sun’s rays breached the horizon.
The first thing he sensed when he stirred was the appetizing aroma of hot food.
Turning his head in the direction the scent came from, he saw Maxine seated next to him.
She said, “I made you some porridge. Eat up and get your strength back.”
Despite only getting a few hours of rest, James had already felt much better. Getting up was still extremely difficult for him but he somehow managed and leaned weakly against a pillow. Maxine brought a spoonful of porridge to his lips.
Swallowing painstakingly, James opened his mouth to ask, “What's going on?”
Maxine replied as she continued to feed him, “What else could it be? Many powerful figures were here to question grandpa about the events last night. However, grandpa simply sent them away after a brief conversation. Now, we just have to wait and see which side moves first.”
“Huh?”
James paused with a perplexed look on his face. Then, he asked, “What first move?”
Maxine looked to the ceiling in mild irritation. “I thought that the Dragon King would be able to understand this much at least.
Everyone's trying to make a move against you. You're the one who executed the Emperor and kickstarted this whole thing.
Everyone is currently eyeing like a hawk. The only way they can get out of this stalemate is by taking action against you.”
Hearing this, James gripped the rails of the bed.
Before he killed the Emperor, he had already surmised as much.
That was why he ordered the Elite Eight to establish the Dragon Palace in secret.
He just did not expect that day to arrive so soon.
Maxine continued, “Though grandpa saved you this time. the same cannot be expected the next time someone targets you. If he continues to stick his neck out for you, the Cadens will be completely dragged into this mess.”
“What about the God-King Palace?” James tensed up.
Taking a moment to consider her answer, Maxine replied, “I still know nothing about them. However, from what I can clearly observe. the God — King Palace is definitely here to make a mess of things. Since they've managed to accomplish just that. I predict they won't do anything to you for a while. From what I can infer, the Johnstons should be the ones who will make the first move.”
James tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
Maxine drew another deep breath and explained, “Since grandpa saved you after the God-King Palace left you at our doorsteps, the Johnstons will suspect that the Cadens were the ones behind all this. They will assume that our objective, after obtaining the box unearthed from the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid and unraveling the secret of the Moonlit
Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge, would be to secure the remaining three treasure scrolls and find a way to make a breakthrough into the ninth rank.
“With this in mind, they won't sit on their hands and wait for things to blow over. By killing you, it would serve as a warning to the Cadens. They want to show that they're ready to retaliate with force if the situation demands it.”
James rubbed his temples and scrunched up his face.
Everything felt like it was continuing to escalate without affording him a second to gather his thoughts.
At that moment, Tobias entered the room.
Maxine put the bowl aside and bowed slightly. “Grandpa.”
“Mm.”
Chapter 864
Tobias gave James a once over before letting out a pleased huff. “Not bad. your complexion’s improved.”
James’ eyes bored into the elderly man before him
Technically, Tobias was James grand-uncle
However, he was the farthest thing from family to James whose anger at the events from ten years still burned furiously in his chest
Ignoring the hateful gaze directed at him. Tobias addressed James, “I'm sure you've already heard from Maxinne that they ll seek to destabilize the situation by killing you.
Unfortunately, the Cadens can no longer afford to protect you.
Never taking his eyes off Tobias, James said coldly, “I don't need the Cadens’ protection.”
“Oho ?”
Tobias exclaimed in amusement. His lips twitched into something resembling a smile “Youre courageous, I'll give you that. However. in your current condition, you don't have a snow ball’s chance in hell against them Even if you had no injuries and were in peak condition, you'll still get crushed with extreme ease if you faced them. You're merely a first-rank practitioner at the end of the day.
*_.. But, seeing as you're a Caden. it would be inappropriate for me as the patriarch of the family to simply stick my head in the sand and leave you to your fate.”
James looked at Tobias. unsure of what he was about to say
Tobias snapped his fingers. “Take him to the basement.”
“Understood.”
Maxine nodded
Tobias whirled around and walked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Maxine helped James onto a wheelchair and wheeled him out.
James fidgeted in his seat. “Why the basement?”
Maxine turned to him with a knowing glint in her eyes. “You're in luck, James. Although, whether or not you receive the knowledge is up to you.”
James pursed his lips together. Nothing is making any sense.
“What do you mean?”
Maxine looked ahead as she continued explaining to James, “You should have seen the items contained in the box unearthed from the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid. Perhaps you have also heard that these items are the key to unraveling the secret of the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge. Many have gazed their upon the painting itself, but only you, grandpa, and our great- grandfather are know about the contents of the box.”
“The legends are true. The items inside the box can truly unravel the secret of the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge. What the painting is concealling is the methods of reaching the ninth rank. More specifically, it details the secrets of an unparalleled cultivation method.”
Realization dawned on James’ face when he heard this.
“Am I going to have a chance to decipher the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge?”
The corners of Maxine’s mouth turned up. “You should be honored. Only a handful of our family members have the right to do so.My grandfather is hoping that you'll be able to uncover the secrets hidden within Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge. That's your only hope in being able to face down the Johnstons.”
She continued to wheel James towards the mansion’s basement.
The Cadens’ mansion could only be described as labyrinthian.
The courtyard had a long, corridor that seemed to have no end in sight.
There was also an artificial hill in the courtyard which held a hidden security feature.
Maxine pressed a button, and a passageway appeared. They entered the hidden passageway and arrived at an underground basement.
It was a rather modest basement that was surrounded by bronze walls on all sides
A painting hung in the center of the basement. The antiquated painting displayed a mountain, a flower, and an ordinary-looking wooden house
Tobias was already waiting there
Standing before the painting. he looked at it reverently.
“We're here. Grandpa”
Maxine announced their presence as she pushed James’ wheelchair.
“You're free to leave.” Tobias inclined his head toward his granddaughter.
James’ eyes were also immediately drawn towards the painting
It was the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside's Edge which he had seen in his grandfather's room when he was a young boy.
Tobias raised his eyebrow. “You should have seen this before. Do you recognise it?”
“Yes.”
James nodded. “I first saw it when I was a boy. My grandfather would often stare at this painting alone in his room.”
“This is the family’s treasure Scroll. the moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge. Its origins can be traced back to thousands of years ago.” Thomas began to elaborate
Chapter 865
James had heard of the painting's origins before.
However, he scarcely knew anything about it
He sat motionlessly in the wheelchair and looked at the painting in awe
Tobias, whose gaze was also fixed on the painting, continued. “This painting was passed down by the Prince of Orchid himself. He was a prince who failed to seize power for himself in the midst of a power struggle In order to make a comeback. he went to great lengths searching for treasures all over the world Sadly, he went to his grave unable to seize the imperial throne for himself. On his deathbed. he gave each of his four major officials a painting and told them that the paintings held a great secret within.”
James asked in response to the revelation, “What kind of secret?”
Bobby Caden once told him that the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge possessed the secret to immortality. However, James found it hard to believe his words
Tobias shook his head morosely “The Prince of Orchid never revealed what it was. and the ancestor of the Cadens had no idea either. It was only when the four major officials were sorting through the Prince of Orchid's belongings that they realized something strange. The four paintings that the Prince of Orchid left behind should possess his self-taught martial arts teachings. It’s possible to reach the ninth rank if one perfected the Prince of Orchid’s martial arts.”
“The ninth rank...~
Tobias let out a disappointed sigh
“Since times of old, countless martial artists have devoted their lives in pursuit of reaching the ninth rank. However, there have been no records of anyone actually achieving that vaunted goal.”
A line formed on James’ brows and he frowned. “Is it really that unattainable?”
“Legend has it that reaching the ninth rank is tantamount to attaining immortality.”
“Seriously?” James’ jaw went slack with disbelief.
Tobias merely smiled cryptically. “It’s just a legend. To our knowledge, no one has ever been able to reach the ninth rank.
Perhaps the Prince of Orchid is the only person who managed to accomplish such a feat. Regardless, he still died of old age.
This likely means that the legend was simply based in myth. What's real is that once you reach the ninth rank, you'll possess unrivaled strength throughout the world. This is an extremely alluring prospect to all martial artists.”
Tobias took a deep breath.
Then, he continued, “After the four major officials divided the Prince of Orchid's wealth among themselves, they became the
Ancient Four of today. For thousands of years, the Ancient Four have lived peaceful lives. However the tresspassing of the ancient tomb and the distribution of the items within, have caused alarm among the Ancient Four.”
James looked at Tobias curiously. “The Ancient Four were the ones who found the ancient tomb. Isn't it also entirely possible that one of them was behind the break-in?”
Tobias gave him a half-shrug. “Initially, the Ancient Four knew nothing about this as they never concerned themselves with the affairs of the outside world. It was only recently that someone informed the Cadens that you possessed an item that was unearthed from the ancient tomb. That was when I sent Bobby to retrieve it.”
Was it truly not one of the Ancient Four?
James murmured quietly, “If it wasn't any of the Ancient Four, who else could it be?”
Apart from the Ancient Four, who else would have knowledge of the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid?
Tobias gazed towards the ceiling. “That I do not know.”
James was lost in contemplation.
The Emperor sent his men to go after the items when the ancient tomb had been broken into. All he had to show for this was a sealed box that had no key. With the box in hand, Floyd made his way to Cansington and hid it in Sovereign Antique Shop.
Not only that, Sovereign Antique Shop seemed to have anticipated James’ arrival.
How did the Emperor know that someone had broken into the ancient tomb?
Who was the one who hired the mercenaries to break into the tomb?
Who was the man behind the Emperor?
“By the way. who was the one supporting the Emperor from the shadows?°
Tobias replied, “It should be Mr. Gabriel.”
“Mr. Gabriel?”
“Yes, he’s a powerful martial artist who possesses tremendous influence.”
“Do you think he sent someone to break into the tomb?"
Tobias took a moment to think before replying, “Most likely not. He doesn’t know anything about the Ancient Four. There’s no way he would know the exact location of the tomb. Let alone deal with the security measures that guarded it.”
None of this made the picture any clearer for James.
Who else could it be then?
It was obvious that the one who stole the items was trying to hand them over to James.
Was this person was related to him in some way?
Chapter 866
Perhaps someone else was backing the Emperor apart from lr. Gabriel
In order to get a clearer understanding of the situation. James would have to return to Cansington and ask the owner of Sovereign Boutique Shop
Although his previous attempt yielded no useful information, James had a feeling that the owner chose not to disclose anything to him
Putting his thoughts aside, he turned to Tobias and asked, “So. why did you bring me here? I'm sure it wasn't just to regale me with the story of the Ancient Four’s origins along with the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge.”
Tobias merely shook his head and pointed at the painting on the wall “The secret to the ultimate martial arts techniques are concealed within this painting. The key to solving the puzzle is through the 18-meridian diagram Though I have been researching it for quite some time now. despite my best efforts, I'm still unable to break the painting's cipher. I believe you are familiar with the 18-meridian diagram?”
“Yes”
James nodded. “Indeed. I was the first to open the box.”
Tobias glanced at him approvingly before continuing, “Yuo're in an extremely dicey situaytion. Everyone is gunning to kill you so that they can upset the already tenuous balance of power, and exploit the fallout to their advantage. If you want to survive, you'll need to get significantly stronger. You have no other options available to you. I'll graciously give you three days to see what you can glean from Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge.”
Tobias had brought James here to see if he had what it took to unravel the mysteries of the painting.
Although James was a denizen of the outside world, he still managed to cultivate True Energy and reach the first rank without any guidance. The potential he possessed was extremely promising.
James uncovering the secrets of the painting would not only be beneficial to Tobias himself, but it could also help the Cadens avert the looming catastrophe.
Even if he fails to break the painting's cipher, the Cadens stood to lose nothing. In the worst case scenario, the situation would only deteriorate slightly further. However, with how powerful the Cadens were, other forces would have to think twice before antagonizing them.
James gave him a weak and bitter smile. “You overestimate my abilities. If even a learned elder like yourself is unable to reveal the secrets of the painting, what chance do I have?"
“You'll have to try regardless. For the next three days, Maxine will deliver your food to you during your mealtimes. Feel free to make yourself comfortable while investigating the painting. You're allowed to take it down from the wall for a closer examination, but leaving the room with the painting is strictly forbidden.”
Tobias made his exit after casually passing his instructions to James.
Silence enveloped the basement.
The lights illuminated the room.
James was interested in the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge. He was curious to see the kinds of secrets it held and whether it actually possessed secret martial art techniques.
While James was trying to scrutinize the painting, he heard the sound of footsteps nearing him.
He turned his head in the direction of the noise.
A young lady in a white dress was walking over holding a small box in her hands. It was Maxine.
“James. grandpa asked me to give you this box.”
“Thanks.”
James nodded lightly and took the box from her hands
Maxine glanced at the painting on the wall and gave James some words of encouragement. “I believe you're capable of doing this. I sincerely hope you can unravel the secrets the painting holds. If you do. grandpa will find a way to get his hands on the other three paintings so that all their secrets can be put together and the Prince of Orchid’s millenia long mystery can finally be solved.”
“I make no promises. but I shall try my best” James was not confident that he would be able to decipher the painting properly.
“l’ll be leaving then.”
After giving James the box. Maxine left James alone with only his thoughts.
Silence once again filled the basement
“The Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge... A treasure scroll thousands of years old... The 18- meridian diagram... How are all of these related?”
James wondered as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Chapter 867
James was pumped up about solving the mystery of the painting.
He opened the box while he sat on his wheelchair and gingerly lifted out the ancient scroll. As he unfurled the scroll, he could see carvings of human figures on it.
The human figures had many different forms and sizes. Some were standing while others were crouching.
Each of them was marked with a white dot and a red line.
James knew that the white dots represented the location of the acupoints, while the red lines represented the meridians.
This was a meridian acupoint diagram.
Though James knew the human body inside-out and was very familiar with the anatomy as a result, the places where the meridians and the acupoints intersected with one another on the carvings were peculiar. They were utterly incomprehensible when viewed through the lens of contemporary medical science
Back then, James would not have a clue about what the diagram meant. Things were different now. Now, he had the knowledge that came from Volume Two of the Medical Book. He leamed about the Internal Cultivation Method and how to control True Energy. This knowledge allowed him to understand what the meridian acupoint diagram on the scroll was trying to say. The carvings illustrated the flow and movement of True Energy within one’s body.
James wanted to test out his newfound information.
He tried summoning his True Energy. However, there was not an iota of it to be found in his body. As a result of this failed attempt, excruciating pain coursed through his body. Unable to withstand it, James fell off his wheelchair as he groaned in agony.
James lay on the floor alone in the vast, spacious basement of the Cadens. There was no one to help him up. Summoning what strength he had to spare, he got up from the floor and slumped against his wheelchair.
All the color had practically drained from his face, and his forehead was drenched in sweat. The sheer effort and exertion also caused his clothes to be wet with how own perspiration.
He let out a harsh and raspy gasp as he swore under his breath, “F*ck the Johnstons, they'll pay for this one day. They'll pay for destroying my meridians and dispersing the True Energy I cultivated. If the Cadens hadn't saved me, I'd have died like a dog.”
Instead of continuing his research while his body was racked with pain, James shut his eyes and meditated.
Outside...
Tobias sat on a stone armchair in the courtyard.
Maxine walked over to him and greeted him.
“Mhm."
Tobias acknowledged her. Maxine sat down in front of him and asked, “Do you really think James can unravel the secret behind the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge and learn the secret martial arts?”
Tobias shook his head vaguely.
“I don't know. I just wanted to give him a chance to try things out. He’s a fast learner, after all. Besides, no one knows what exactly is hidden in the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge. We can only find out after gathering all four paintings.”
Maxine nodded slightly. Suddenly, as if reminded of something, she asked, “By the way, grandpa, who was the one that hired the mercenaries to break into the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid? How did they know the exact location of the ancient tomb and about the security measures that lay within?”
Tobias’ expression darkened.
This was something he had yet to figure out.
Records of the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid were few and far between even inside the ancient texts held by the Ancient Four.
So how was it possible for an outsider know about this?
Maxine pressed her lips together speculatively. “Could it be someone from the Ancient Four?” Tobias glanced at her and drummed his fingers on the armrest. “Who are you suspecting?"
Maxine hurriedly raised her palms. “I-It'd be impertinent of me to assume.” Tobias waved her concerns aside.
“There's only family present here. You may speak honestly” Maxine hesitated for a second before acquiescing. After some brief contemplation, she opened her mouth
“You once told me that Thomas was extremely talented in martial arts; to the level where he could be considered a genius. Such was his talent that at a young age, he was already able to cultivate True Energy. Although his martial art skills were crippled, he was still undeniably a genius. Is it possible that he was able to regain his martial art skills after leaving the Cadens? If that’s the case, he likely survived the fire ten years ago.”
Tobias listened to this with his brows furrowed.
Though he had his suspicions, there was no evidence to support this.
“Are you saying that Thomas might have been the one behind all this?”
Maxine nodded slowly.
“This is still baseless conjecture. I cannot confirm or deny it without definitive proof.”
“Alright, you may take your leave. Remember to send James his meal on time.” Tobias waved his hand.
“Understood.”
Maxine stood up and left.
Chapter 868
“Before I forget...”
Just as she was leaving. Tobias called out to Maxine, “Wait.”
“Is something the matter, grandpa?”
Tobias turned to her. “You are also someone who is highly proficient in martial arts. Feel free to head to the basement if you have nothing better to do.Itll be a great learning opportunity for you as well.”
Maxine kneeled on the ground reverently and said, “I'm not worthy.”
Tobias beckoned her to stand. “I’m giving you express permission to do as you see fit.” “But grandpa... I'm not a real Caden. I don't have Caden blood coursing through my veins The ancestral teachings were specific about “ Iaxine fiddled with the name of her dress
Tobias raised his hand to interrupt her. “What's the point of following rigid and obsolete ancestral teachings? Even if you aren't a Caden by heritage. you were practically raised as a
Caden since childhood. I consider you my own granddaughter. All these years, you've stayed by my side devising plans and strategies for me. Besides, I'm merely allowing you to try your hand at the enigma. Whether or not you learn anything will depend on your own ability.”
“Understood.”
Maxine slowly stood up
Tobias dismissed her. “You're free to go.”
Maxine quickly left for the basement.
After she had left, Tobias stared into the distance and pondered about what Maxine had said earlier.
Maxine’s speculation was not entirely unfounded.
If Thomas was truly still alive, everything would make perfect sense.
“Let's hope that it really isn’t him.”
Tobias muttered darkly
Then, he stood up and left.
In the underground basement...
After taking some time to rest, James was able to think clearly again.
He scrutinized the diagram once more, but could not glean anything of use from it. Finally, his gaze moved to the Moonlight Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge on the wall.
The painting's composition was deceptively simple. There was a mountain, a flower, an ordinary-looking wooden house, and a full moon painted on the sky.
There seemed to be no end to the lush, rolling hills that formed the backdrop.
Asmall, wooden house sat quaintly at the foot of the mountain. Enigma aside, the painting was still a breathtaking work of art. Millenia had passed, but the details were still immaculate. The intricate flower patterns on the door were still clearly visible.
All of a sudden, James realized that there was something off about the location of the flower.
It was located on top of the wooden house and right below the full moon.
Its delicate, white petals seemed to have blossomed in the sky itself.
Though it was clearly daytime in the painting, a moon had also been drawn.
All these little oddities defied common sense.
With renewed vigor. James scrutinized each detail on the painting
However, apart from a few bizarre details, he was unable to find any other clues
“There doesn't seem to be anything special about this It's just an ordinary painting How could it possibly be related to the meridian diagram? It doesn’t have any records of a cultivation method's mantra.”
James murmured softly.
He was lost in contemplation
After some time. his thought process was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.
“It's time for your meal, James.”
A sweet voice called his name
Snapping back to reality, James turned his wheelchair around and saw Maxine walking toward him with his meal Putting the plates on the floor, Maxine asked curiously, “How is it going? Any new discoveries?”
James looked down and smiled bitterly. “I had a feeling this wasn't going to be an easy task. Otherwise, they'd have figured this out a long time ago.”
“You have a point.”
Maxine nodded thoughtfully and then picked up some utensils. “You must be hungry Here, have some food. It’s hard to work on an empty stomach.”
Chapter 869
He was so wrapped up in trying to decipher the painting that he'd only just realized he was indeed hungry.
Before he could stand and get a bowl for himself, hurriedly took it away from him.” Your injuries are still healing. Just let me feed you.”
“It's fine. Give it to me. I'll eat with my own hands.” James tried to refuse her offer.
He felt uncomfortable being fed by a woman whom he had only met a few times.
Maxine did not insist and handed the bowl over to James.
Albeit his severe injuries. James was still able to perform simple hand movements.
As James dug into his meal, Maxine turned to look at the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge. She was raised as a Caden for as long as she remembered and received Tobias’ personal instruction in martial arts. Even so. despite cultivating True Energy and becoming a grandmaster of the second rank, she had never seen the household's treasure scroll.
After staring at the painting for quite a while, she too could not find anything peculiar about it. Turning back to James, she asked, “James, have you found anything weird about the painting?"
James shook his head dejectedly.
Looking at the ancient scroll that James had taken out, Maxine told him, “Grandpa said that I'm allowed to have a look at the items inside the box and at the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge.”
“Mhm."
James handed the ancient scroll over to Maxine.
Since she was also a martial artist, she knew this was a meridian diagram the moment she laid her eyes on it.
She tried shifting her True Energy as instructed by the diagram.
“Huurk!"
The moment she summoned her True Energy, she immediately vomited a mouthful of blood. Her body was drenched in her own sweat, her face lost its color and she collapsed on the floor. Almost immediately, she righted herself and sat in a lotus position.
She directed all her True Energy into suppressing the Blood Energy which had gone rampant in her body.
James looked at her and asked in a concerned voice, “What's wrong?”
Maxine took a deep breath before she spoke shakily, “I tried moving my True Energy in the direction instructed by the diagram.
However, the retrograde motion of True Energy shocked the meridians, which caused my Blood Energy to go berserk. I almost lost control over it.”
As James had no True Energy at the moment, he had yet to try it out. However, he knew that something was wrong with the diagram.
After resting for a while, Maxine stood up and scanned the ancient scroll meticulously.
She furrowed her brow and said, “All eighteen diagrams make no sense. Each of them starts with a retrograde motion of True
Energy. This is taboo in martial arts. You’d be considered lucky if you merely ended up gravely injured. Worse comes to worst, you may even be crippled or lose your life attempting this.”
Hearing this, a thought flashed through James’ mind.
“Makes... no sense?”
He peered at the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge on the wall.
Getting Maxine’s attention, he said, “Look, the painting makes no sense either. Why would there be a full moon in the middle of the day? Based on the setting of the painting, there should be a sun instead.”
Maxine glanced at the painting and nodded pensively. “You're right. Both the meridian diagram and the painting make no sense.
Amoon in the middle of the day... This is an inversion of Yin and Yang. Well, it's not exactly an inversion either. How do I put it...? In the Art of Ying-Yang, this would be called the Yin in Yang.”
“You know the Art of Yin-Yang?” James looked at Maxine in astonishment.
Maxine smiled sheepishly, “I like to read when I’m bored.”
As James was almost done eating, Maxine took the bowl in his hand and put it on the floor.
Then, she looked over at James and asked, “You've been looking at it for quite a while. Did you manage to find anything peculiar with the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge? What connection do you think it has with the meridian diagram?”
James shook his head gloomily.
He could not find anything that would connect the two aside from the fact that they were both odd.
Meanwhile. Maxine opened the ancient scroll and lay it on the ground. She stared at the eighteen human figures carved on the scroll and looked closely at the flow of movement in the meridian diagram. Once again, her eyes rested on the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge.
Deep creases formed on her face as she let her thoughts play out.
James had etched the 18-meridian diagram into his mind. Sitting in his wheelchair, he continued to scrutinize every minute detail of the painting. However, no matter how hard he looked, nothing came to mind.
Apart from realizing that it did not make any sense, he learned nothing else.
Maxine found nothing else too.
She sat on the straw mat with her eyes cast down and muttered, “There's no connection between the two. Who said that the item unearthed from the ancient tomb of the Prince of
Orchid would unravel the secret of the painting? I feel lied to.”
James stopped dwelling on it after a while. Frustration would get him nowhere. As he glanced at Maxine who sat quietly on the floor, an idea popped into his head.
Chapter 870
“Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?”
Seeing that James was staring intensely at her, Maxine frowned in displeasure.
“I like to ask you for a favor.”
“Huh?” Maxine narrowed her eyes at James, unsure of what he was thinking.
James continued, “Though the Johnstons crippled my martial arts skills, I think I have a way of regaining my True Energy. I just need your help.”
“Me?”
Maxine was taken aback by the sudden request. She shook her head and refused, “I'm afraid you've misjudged me. I'm only a second rank martial artist. Hades Johnston. the one who
crippled you, is at least at the fifth rank. If even my grandpa couldn't help you regain your martial art skills, there’s no way I possibly could.”
“I have a plan. I just need your help executing it.”
James managed to cultivate True Energy by reading the texts in Medical Book Volume Two. It mainly explained the other uses of the Crucifier and how to use it to its truest potential. It stood to reason that James could use the Crucifer to regain his True Energy.
All he needed, was for someone to use the needles on him.
“Fine. What do you need? I'll try my best to do it.”
The Crucifier was wrapped around James’ arm in the form of a steel wire. As James moved his arm slightly, the steel wire immediately fell from his sleeves and neatly coiled up in his hand.
Maxine tilted her head. “What's this?”
“That's none of your concern.”
James did not want to explain too much, “Before I entrust you with this, I want you to promise me that no word of what happens here will leave your lips.”
As the Crucifier was an extraordinary item, he would be in mortal danger if word spread about his possession of it.
“Fine, I promise you. I'll take whatever happens here to my grave.”
Holding the topmost part of the steel wire, James gave it a light squeeze with his fingers. Immediately, the steel wire disintegrated into a handful of silver needles.
Maxine’s mouth fell open in amazement. “Wh-What is this thing?”
James smiled as he held the tip of a silver needle. The other silver needles were immediately drawn towards it as if made of magnets. They fused and formed a steel wire once more.
James began removing his clothes. This almost proved too much for him. It took him a considerable amount of effort to remove his outer garments. However, he could nothing about his underwear.
“Wh-What are you trying to do?”
When she saw James undressing, a blush crept up on Maxine’s cheeks. She tried to play it off by smiling flirtatiously at him.
“Wow, at least buy me dinner first.”
James rolled his eyes. “You're overthinking things. I’m not interested in you. Besides, you’re technically my cousin. Incest isn’t my thing. All I need is for you to help me out with some acupuncture. It'll be faster if you help me with the rest of my clothes.”
“O-Oh."
Maxine walked over to James and helped him while trying not to stare awkwardly at him.
“Even the pants.”
“What? Even the pants?”
“Don't worry, I've got boxers on.”
Soon, James was only dressed in his boxers..
He handed the Crucifier over to Maxine and carefully instructed her, “Next, you will insert the needle into wherever I tell you to.”
“Got it.”
Maxine nodded. She looked curiously at the handful of needles.
“Take a needle and imbue it with True Energy.”
Maxine did as instructed.
She took a needle and channeled some True Energy into it.
At that moment. the ordinary-looking needle began glittering and emitted a red glow. Maxine could feel powerful energy being exuded by the needle in her hand. The energy was equal in strength to her True Energy.
She could not help but gasp in amazement.
“Insert it in my scalp,” James said cooly.
Maxine took a deep breath to calm herself. She approached James and inserted the glowing needle into James’ scalp.
The moment the needle pricked his skin, James could feel the energy moving from his scalp coward his entire body. His body could not help but tremble at the sensation.