Perfect Relic

In a small town within the territory of Silver City, close to Malirin Forest, a bar was bustling with talk of the battle at the end of the latest hunt. This was an event that would certainly make the history books, but to those at this time it was just a nightmare. The battle between humans and evolved beasts was said to have started the moment they first made contact so there were many occasions when beasts had defeated humans and vice-versa. However, now that it was proven that the beasts had the advantage, there were more people attempting to leave the vicinity of the five cities to evacuate to safer regions.

"Yeah, my cousin says he's leaving next week." one man in the bar said to another.

"Hmph, what a weakling. Doesn't he know that he shouldn't be running away from some mere beasts?"

"Well, he was born without any talent for cultivation so I cut him some slack."

"Tch, I guess. But he should still stay and show his support."

The conversation between these two wasn't anything special in the bar, but the bartender showed interest and joined in.

"Wait a second, didn't both of you have 'urgent business' and miss the hunt?"

"Shh!!!"

"You can't be saying stuff like that, boss!"

Into this bar of men who acted like they weren't afraid of evolved beasts but secretly checked how much it would cost to move away, a single girl barged in.

"Please! I need someone to save my brother!"

She appeared to be in her early teens, a girl that was more cute than beautiful. Her tearful eyes as she barged in, with her arms wrapped around a bag that seemed to hold a block that was about four feet long, grabbed the attention of the middle-aged men of the bar. Some of them even saw their daughter in her so they quickly went to ask her what was the problem.

"Please! My brother, he's been kidnapped by the Darino Gang!"

The moment they heard the 'D' of Darino from her mouth, the men who rushed to her side quickly dispersed.

"Wait! Please!"

The girl begged them for help but no one turned in her direction. The Darino Gang only had power in this town, but their local infamy made them the most feared existence in the town. They wouldn't go around randomly harassing shops, but whenever someone from the Darino Gang came out, all goods basically went on sale.

The girl also knew that the Darino Gang were very scary, but she had to try. Her brother was all she had, and she couldn't lose him too.

"Please! Please! Anyone! I'll give you this!"

With tears running down her face, the girl opened the bag and showed the short pillar that was inside. Even though they refused to mess with the Darino Gang, when she opened the bag several men took a look to see what she had. However, one look at the shiny black slab was all they needed.

'Trash.'

The shiny lustre of the pillar made it look pretty, but these men knew how to spot treasures and they couldn't sense any nature energy from the object. Maybe it would be useful for a blacksmith, but to them it was just a rock. However, one young man thought differently.

'Could it be?'

Seeing the lack of interest from the men, the girl was drenched in despair, but then, someone appeared before her. It was a young man with a charming appearance that stole her breath away, and yet his presence didn't seem to match. He gently extended his hand towards her and smiled.

"May I?"

She was still in a daze at first, but then she franticly nodded and handed the item to him. No one noticed the young man before he walked in front of her, but now that he was in the open all eyes were on him. Some only clicked their tongues at his good looks, while others licked their lips while imagining what was under his clothes. The slab in his hand no longer mattered, only he did.

He didn't like some of the gazes he was receiving, but Shui couldn't bother doing anything to them. Now that his soul was even stronger, his charisma was enough to charm Mortal Realm cultivators regardless of gender or species. He kept his aura diluted, but he wasn't at the level where he could stay hidden even after someone noticed him. He didn't like having to endure these gazes but this time, he quickly forgot about this nauseating mood.

'It really is it! To think I would find it here of all places.'

Shui had left Malirin Forest as soon as the fight between the beast lords and the Masters began and was on his way to Silver City. He could have made it there without stopping in this town, but he took a detour since he wasn't in a rush. This turned out to be one of the best decisions he could ever make.

'I didn't think I would be able to find it in this world, but here it is. Still, there's no way the atmosphere here would be good enough, was it brought out from a ruin or something?'

Shui felt like taking his time examining the shiny object, but he still remembered the situation. He reluctantly parted from the slab and looked at the anxious girl.

"I'll do it."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

The girl cried in appreciation while wrapping her arms around Shui who gently patted her head. However, the men had issues with this touching scene.

"Does this pretty boy really think he can mess with the Darino Gang?"

"Probably just trying to be a prince on a white horse."

"What an idiot."

"That pretty face will be ruined."

The girl still felt grateful to Shui for helping her, but as she listened to the comments of the men, doubt started to intrude. She wanted nothing more than to see her brother again, but she didn't want this handsome stranger to suffer for her sake.

The girl asked with upturned eyes, "Um, mister? Will you really be okay?"

In response, with his hand still on her head, Shui smiled warmly.

"Of course. Trust me."

Shui didn't need to boast, his confident tone gave her hope that she would see her big brother again.

Meanwhile, there was a man being beaten on the floor for answers. He was only a simple blacksmith, and the splendid muscles he had despite his young age proved that he definitely had great strength. However, his little strength was nothing before the two scrawny men who bruised him.

"Hurry up and talk! Where's your sister?" asked one of the men.

The young blacksmith kept a bloody grin on his face as he replied, "I, already told you. I don't know."

"Tch."

The man who asked the question kicked his face in irritation before turning around.

"Just wait until we find her. I'll make sure we make good use of her before selling her off to some brothel."

The young blacksmith glared at him, but the man that was still by his side stomped his head to the floor. The young blacksmith could only hope that his little sister got away in time.

'This is all my fault.'

He gritted his teeth as he remembered what brought him to this point. It was a common story. His father took a loan from the Darino Gang and failed to pay it back before his sudden death, so the debt passed on to his children. The young blacksmith couldn't keep up with the heavy interest rates, so they came to punish him. The young blacksmith suspected that there was more to the story than just that, but it wouldn't matter in his powerless position.

'Please, at least let her be free from this.'