Water poured from a high crack in the stone wall, forming a narrow waterfall that descended into a wide pool below. The surface was calm near the edges, but ripples spread constantly from where the falling water struck its center.A faint opening high above allowed the last traces of evening light to enter, giving the water a soft glow.“Nice...”Iris grinned.She quickly removed the outer layers of her robes, folded them on a raised stone platform, and stepped carefully into the pool with only her undergarments remaining.The water was cold enough to make her shiver.She continued forward until it reached her waist, then pushed away from the edge and allowed herself to fall flat against the surface.A satisfied breath escaped her.She moved her hands gently through the water, keeping herself afloat as she stared at the ceiling above.For the first time since arriving on the island, she felt completely relaxed.The current beneath the waterfall slowly carried her away from the stone p

“Why are we still speaking to him?” Noelle asked, covering her nose with two fingers. “His presence has already corrupted the air in this cave. No wonder my breathing has felt uncomfortable since we entered.”Brielle stomped furiously. “If anything happens to my sister’s breathing technique because of you, don’t blame me when I slice you into pieces and feed you to the creatures in the sea.”She looked ready to act, and the others were hardly any calmer.Iris quickly raised both hands. “Everyone, please calm down. It’s already getting dark, and we might not find another place as secure as this cave before nightfall.”“Are you suggesting that we spend the night with a man nearby?”Another woman in the group stomped madly. “Iris, we only permitted you to travel with our sisterhood for the duration of this expedition. Don’t assume we’ll bend our principles because you’ve grown comfortable around us.”Brielle raised her sword and pointed it threateningly at Elijah. “Get out of this cave r

Of the two techniques, this was the one that had truly been hidden from the martial arts world because of the deaths it had caused in ancient times.The Calamity Transference Art allowed a practitioner to shift the fatal burden of a severe injury from one part of the body to another.At first glance, it appeared extraordinary.A practitioner struck through the chest could move the injury into an arm. Someone stabbed through the stomach could transfer the damage into a leg. A fatal blow aimed at a vital organ could be redirected toward a part of the body that was not immediately necessary for survival.Anyone reading about such a technique for the first time would believe they had discovered an unimaginable treasure.The reality was far different.The technique did not patiently wait for the practitioner to decide where the injury should go.From the instant a fatal wound was inflicted, the practitioner had no more than a single second to choose another part of the body and complete th

“Hmph! He really is a pirate.” Evelyn was the first to break the prolonged silence, her eyes settling on Elijah’s ruined left leg. “He just hasn’t gotten the wooden replacement yet.”The mockery in her voice was impossible to miss.How could she possibly let such a perfect opportunity pass after this man had insulted her appearance and forced her to check her own reflection in the water?“Iris, step away from him now,” Brielle instructed, tightening her grip around her sword. “We’ll take care of this pirate ourselves.”The other women immediately became alert again. The swords they had instinctively lowered when Elijah collapsed rose once more, their sharp tips turning in his direction.Evelyn joined them, pointing her own blade down at him. “You heard her. Step aside and allow your elders to handle this. He must have been pretending to be dead so you would drag him out of the water and touch him.”Her expression turned colder. “I’ll end this shameless man with a single strike.”Elija

Iris had noticed the change in Elijah’s expression the moment she mentioned East Sorevia.“Are you not from here?” she asked.Elijah quickly gathered his thoughts and allowed the surprise on his face to disappear. “I’m only trying to get my head together.”It was not exactly an answer, but Iris did not question him further.An awkward silence settled between them, accompanied only by the steady sound of the waterfall striking the pool. Iris remained crouched beside his leg, while Elijah stared toward the dark passage through which the other women had disappeared.East Sorevia.He did not yet know whether that was good fortune or another problem. East Sorevia was the birthplace of martial arts cultivation within the nation, but it was also a region filled with the oldest sects, the most-powerful families of the nation, and practitioners whose understanding of the martial world stretched back for generations.Even in