1113. The Den
Dumm Ting's fist clenched and then relaxed as he gave his situation a thorough thought. His plans had utterly failed. He had even revealed his sins to the world, but couldn't win the heaven-grade artifact in the end.
But it wasn't without gains, since he finally learned how to control the blood energy he had absorbed during the rituals. Although his control was rudimentary and unrefined, it was a starting point. He no longer had to fear losing his mind while training.
Still, it didn't feel great leaving like this, having to hide his face using an artifact robe he had bought in the Pythian Village. But there was no helping it. He was no longer a participant in the tournament, which also meant the protection he received from Minas Amr was also voided.
With his secret known, there were more than enough "righteous" people who would come for his head, jumping at the opportunity to decorate themselves with the achievement of his death. He had to get out of Little Gamma first, then he needed a place to train and consolidate his powers.
Once he reached a new realm, he would return and have his revenge on this obnoxious Tower Master and all the people he cared for. He would start with the people he wanted to protect and work his way up until he would make him watch as he tortured his friends and lovers-
His thoughts of revenge stopped when a figure stepped in his way. This was quick. He had just left the stadium, but there were already people after him. They wore simple, yet expensive robes, identifying them as one of his people. Someone from an influential family, maybe? Although he couldn't see their face, their stance made it clear that they were there for him.
"What do you want?" the massive man grunted. This was a simple alley between buildings. The two were alone here. He, again, checked with his senses, nobody else was there. Did he think he could take him down alone?
"Dumm Ting, I assume?" the figure asked without hurry. If there were any doubts left that they weren't here for him, they were now gone.
"I didn't expect that people would come for my head this quickly. How did you know when I left the stadium?" the martial artist asked calmly. Despite the image he liked to show the outside world, he was far from a brainless madman who only knew violence. He liked the act, but that was all it was: An act.
"I'm not here for your head. The opposite, in fact. We have a plan to smite this abominable Minas Mar and show these barbarians their place. My senior brother decided to offer you a role in this plan. Don't you want a chance to take revenge on them?" the figure said directly.
A chance to take revenge… so soon? Dumm Ting looked the man up and down, thinking about the offer. It would have been a lie to say that he wasn't interested. But to offer him a part here and now?
Dumm Ting shook his head. Of course, he could have listened to him, heard the details of the plan, and decided afterward, however, there was one thing he was completely convinced of: These people just wanted him as a pawn.
And he was not interested in playing the pawn in someone else's game. If they succeeded in their plan. He was about to refuse, but it seemed like his answer had already been written on his face. His words got stuck in his throat and his eyes ripped open wide when a sharp wave of killing intent washed over him.
Despite having mastered the excessive amounts of energy, he instinctively knew that he stood no chance against the shadowy figure.
"There is no room for any more unpredictable variables. You either obey or die here," the other gave him the options to choose from. He had no right to decline and live on... Ultimately, Dumm Ting could only nod in agreement to join their plan, without even knowing what the plan was. Having subdued the martial artist, the figure turned around, prompting Dumm Ting to follow him.
...
"Are we reporting this to the Princess or Miss Albright?" a voice whispered shortly after they left the alley. Unbeknownst to the two cultivators, there was a group of five people, players with stealth classes, wearing the invisibility cloaks they had looted from the Scene.
At one point it almost seemed like either of the two had noticed them, but ultimately the cloaks worked just fine and hid their presence from the two. At the question, the leader shook his head, realizing he was invisible he whispered,
"Why? This is what we expected. What is happening from here on is the important part. We have to observe where the two are going and follow them," one thief said to the other. They were part of a rather fresh division of Minas Mar, tasked with information gathering and espionage.
The two silently followed the two cultivators, aided by the cloaks of invisibility from the Scene and boots of silence made by Neeco Booz himself. Their targets actually left the Pythian Village towards the south.
Once they were out of sight of the settlement, their speed picked up drastically, as they began to jump and almost fly compared to run. It wasn't surprising, as the two thieves had already seen people from the Cloud Continent move like this during the race. Still, they had a hard time keeping up, despite the aid of the master tailor's outfit.
The two pursuers were growing tired when Dumm Ting and the other finally came to a halt on the place of snow and ice, marred with rifts and holes. Glaciers were not uncommon in these mountains, but it seemed like someone had made it intentionally hard to traverse.
"Stay close behind me from here on out. If you get lost in the illusion array, I won't come looking for you," the figure leading the buff cultivator said shortly, before he walked on in measured steps.
"An Illusion array? What were they talking about?" One of the two pursuers from Minas Mar lifted their Clearsight Glasses, an item created by Grant May, the best enchanter currently in Minas Mar.
When he looked ahead with his bare eyes, the ragged glacier they were standing on turned into an even, wide plateau covered in short grass and some snow. The two cultivators had also vanished. Looking through the glasses again, he was able to see the two carefully taking a thin path, evading the various hurdles.
Slightly impressed with the ability to create such a big illusion, and with reinforced confidence in the equipment they got from Minas Mar. He quickly followed the two, after confirming that his partner was doing the same by using the authentication function of the Rings of Minas Mar as a way to exchange simple Morse code.
They followed them over a winding path until they reached an ice cavern, leading deep into the glacier. They had found the hide-out but didn't enter right away.
"You go back and report the location, I will follow them inside and and plant some golems."
There was no discussion or sentimental arguing. He received the affirmation over the ring. Assuming his partner left, he followed the cultivators into the den of the tiger.