(24) Life force physique

Many saw Mangrel running bathed in blood. Making things quite complicated, to be solved easily. Public law keepers might be dispatched from this incident, at any moment.

'I can't let them find me. They are without a doubt a cultivator, my stronger soul would be found out immediately. Things won't end easily for me once that happens, they can easily sense any lie, with spells.' Mangrel knew this fact, but he was very tight on time. 

No one saw the dagger as he hid it, in his clothes before reaching the main street. 

Inhale-exhale, Inhale-exhale. 

Mangrel forcefully regulated his breath, there was no time for resting. 

Sooner or later, people would come to capture him, from the local criminal group, who captured Meren and the others. 

Throb!

Mangrel felt a wave of pain travel through his head, as he got up from the ground. His back covered in dust was revealed, as he did so. 

Supporting himself from the wall, Mangrel walked deeper into the alleyway. 

Veneir...She was in Cahoot with the criminal gang from the very beginning.

She could have fooled others, but Mangrel could see through her acting in the last part. 

The prior sharp words that Veneir uttered were just too forceful, in Mangrel's eyes. And the reaction of the leader of the criminal gang was too superficial too. There was no anger found in him, facing Veneir's words. 

'She showed no abnormality at all normally. I only started doubting her, when heading towards her house. That too was because my instinct played a part in it.' 

Subtly, but surely Mangrel could see disappointment, passing through Veneir's eyes, as she frowned. 

'Veneir, I underestimated her competence. She acted till the end, so she could still come to find us if someone escaped. Her cautious attitude is worth commenting on if nothing else. Her experience in this job is very high.' 

'Veneir has been doing the same deed for a long time for sure. There was no guilt in her eyes. I did not notice this fact till the end too. That explains how she could live in such a remote place, safely up till now.' 

'But, it did seem like she wanted to be friends with Devis and the others. I see, her personality must be twisted...' Mangrel was fully able to deduce Veneir's personality at this moment. 

Veneir never thought that she was doing a bad thing, from the very beginning. It was unknown whether she had given birth to such a personality or someone planted it on her. She thinks the kids, who were sold as slaves would live a better life. Than the one they currently live in.

Veneir was sure that her friends would resist at first. But in the future, they would be grateful to her. 

'And that is not the only reason, the leader of that gang must have offered to treat Veneir's brother too. Leading her to take me and the others to her house.' 

Leaving aside whether it was true or not. Veneir's attitude of not taking into consideration others' feelings, was very prominent in this. 

By now, Veneir must have already told the leader of the criminal gang where Mangrel lived.

In total, Mangrel killed two people in this group. There was no way they would let go of this grudge easily. 

Mangrel felt subtle anticipation rising within him, thinking about a certain point of his deduction. 

No normal medicine can cure Belvan, from his current state. He was not affected by some random disease, what he was suffering was called life force physique awakening. 

A physique only awakened by one in a million. It gave them talent, which made them a hundred times more proficient in life force arts or spells, compared to other cultivators.

Mangrel verified this fact when he reached near Belvan. He could feel his life force being pulled toward the Belvan. It was a phenomenon hard to notice without concentration, he noticed it immediately, because of his alert mind. 

To help someone suffering from this, they have to be fed at least a rank one potion or pill. Or anything potent as the two specified items. 

How high is the cost of a potion? Could some small criminal gang pay for it? 

Impossible. 

But that was not all that Mangrel deduced, he smelled a deep conspiracy brewing, in the curtain of darkness. He had only been able to gain a single glance, letting him have an outline of what was behind it. 

'The dark array had such a use, I see. Someone is trying to break through, using an unorthodox method here.' Mangrel connected the lines, making his already exhausted mind feel heavier. 

Mangrel felt greed rising within him, but he controlled himself. He saw an opportunity before him. 

He did not think of hoarding the effects of the array, he knew that it was impossible from the beginning.

What caught his eyes was the criminal group, they were a lot easier to deal with, than the cultivator of the beggar organization. They were a band of mortals after all, none of them were cultivators. 

'Scheming against them is a lot easier than cultivator. I can gain some origin stones by stealing from them without a doubt.' Mangrel shifted his attention to them. 

This criminal gang was most likely under the beggar organization, but the chances of them caring about some small fries were low. 

'Veneir must have been captured as a slave too, by now. That criminal gang is planning on giving Belvan, to the beggar organization In exchange for whatever they desire.' 

Mangrel did not care how this small gang knew about such information, he could see no other reason to explain their action. 

'It could just be that the leader of that gang has a habit of giving others hope, before crashing it for his amusement.' Mangrel had seen many kinds of people throughout his life. Such a hobby was not rare at all.

'For now, I can't stay here for long. I will have to leave this place. The beggar organization would interfere, with the secrecy of the array at the stake of being found. They will send someone to look for me soon.' 

With shaky legs, Mangrel continued pushing himself to walk, while supporting himself on the wall. 

'The chance might be low, But Mars might know a different route to get out of here. Going through the common route is not safe anymore.' 

Mangrel still remembers seeing beggars sitting at the beginning of the alleyway. Someone had even called him at that moment, but he ignored the unfamiliar voice, being in a hurry. 

While walking, considering his dangerous situation, Mangrel's eyes suddenly shone brightly. 

Flicking the sweat off his face using his palm, Mangrel grimly thought: 'To achieve that, I will need to first destroy that criminal gang.'