KING OF THE NORTH

Chapter Eight: The Forbidden Technique

The entire auction house went silent.

Everyone stared at Navine in shock. Their faces were pale, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.

"Did he just say Master Duncan is a junior officer?"

"He's calling him a nobody?"

"Is he insane?"

Master Duncan's expression darkened. His jaw clenched tight, and his eyes turned cold as ice.

Then he attacked.

Master Duncan's eyes suddenly flared golden, glowing bright as energy surged through his body. His fist erupted with red flames that twisted around his knuckles.

He moved fast, closing the distance in a blur, and threw a punch aimed straight at Navine's throat.

The flaming fist tore through the air, leaving scorching heat behind. The temperature jumped. People nearby stumbled back from the sudden heat.

Navine raised his arm and blocked it.

The impact exploded like a thunderclap. A shockwave blasted outward, shattering wine glasses and cracking the marble floor.

Master Duncan's eyes widened. His punch, which should have crushed a normal man's windpipe, had been stopped cold.

He threw another punch, then another but Navine blocked them all.

Up on the platform, Victoria Caldwell's eyes contracted in shock for a moment.  

Then her expression shifted. Her shock melted into a cold sneer.

"So what if you blocked one attack?" she said sharply. "Even if you can barely withstand Master Duncan, you can't deal with his soldiers. Today, you'll meet your end here. Both of you."

She pulled the walkie-talkie from her designer purse and brought it to her lips. Her voice was crisp and commanding.

"Soldiers outside. Aim at the targets. Both the man and the girl in the cage. Light them up."

There was a crackle of static. Then a voice responded.

"Understood. Targeting now."

In an instant, countless red laser dots appeared.

Hundreds of them covered every part of Navine's body like a swarm of angry fireflies. 

More dots appeared on the cage behind him, illuminating Lyanna's small, terrified form. 

The girl pressed herself against the back of the cage, her eyes wide with horror as the red dots danced across her body.

"Brother!" she cried out, her voice breaking. "Don't worry about me! Just run! Please, just run!"

Victoria threw her head back and laughed so loud that the sound of it echoed through the silent hall.

"Look at this!" she said, her voice dripping with cruel amusement. "How touching! The little girl begging her brother to run and save himself!"

She walked to the edge of the platform, her expensive heels clicking on the marble, and looked down at Lyanna with contempt.

"But guess what, little girl? Your beloved brother can't run. And neither can you. You're both going to die here. Right now. Together."

She spread her arms wide, as if presenting a show.

"So why don't you both just wait for death like good little victims?"

Lyanna's face crumpled. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched the bars of the cage, her small hands trembling.

Victoria turned away from her, dismissing the child as if she were nothing. She turned to the crowd of auction attendees. 

"Ladies and gentlemen!" she announced. "I apologize for the unusual interruption to tonight's auction. But I assure you, this situation will be resolved shortly."

She gestured toward Navine with a flourish.

"This intruder will be executed on the spot. You'll all witness what happens to those who dare to challenge the Hale family."

The crowd, which had been cowering in fear just moments ago, suddenly found their courage again. With Master Duncan present, with soldiers surrounding the building, with Victoria Caldwell firmly in control, they felt safe enough to mock Navine. 

"Finally! Someone's putting this arrogant bastard in his place!"

"The Hale family is truly powerful!"

"I knew the Caldwell family would handle this!"

"Look at him, still standing there like he has a chance!"

"That little brat in the cage deserves what's coming to her!"

"They're both going to be Swiss cheese in a few seconds!"

"Master Duncan is going to tear him apart!"

Someone shouted toward the cage with cruel laughter. "Hey, little girl! Say goodbye to your brother! This is the last time you'll see him breathing!"

Another voice joined in. "The Hale family is untouchable! You should've known better than to mess with them!"

"Victoria Caldwell is a genius! She trapped them both perfectly!"

Victoria laughed again as she listened to the crowd's praise. She basked in it, her chest swelling with pride and satisfaction.

She turned back toward Master Duncan, who stood watching Navine with cold eyes.

"Master Duncan," she said sweetly. "Give the attack order."

"It's over for you." Master Duncan wiped the look of surprise from his face, revealing a chilling smirk. "You doomed yourself the instant you crossed the Hale family."

Navine looked directly at Duncan, his face covered in shadow. 

"You're a military officer, a soldier who serves this nation," Navine said coldly,  "And now you're really going to use the nation's army to interfere in personal vendettas? You're going to help people who auction off innocent girls?"

Master Duncan's expression didn't change. He sneered coldly.

"Naive young man, I serve those who help me gain power," his eyes suddenly sharpened. "Nothing else matters."

“Everyone!”He raised his hand, his voice exciting and booming as he flashed a cruel smile. But just then, he froze.

His eyes locked onto Navine's hands.

Navine's hands had come together in a complex pattern and his fingers came together in ways that looked almost impossible. 

An oppressive golden glow exploded from him, making the air around distorted.

Master Duncan's eyes went wide. The command "Fire!" died in his throat. His hand began to tremble.

This forbidden art, which transcends the limits of the cultivation framework, has only ever been seen used by a single person.

King of The North.

"That's impossible," he voice trembled drastically, "Who... who are you?"