Chapter 638: Bait

Liam couldn’t have revealed his position more flashily. He had literally left a trail that led directly to him, and the consequence couldn’t have been more predictable.

Fear in the form of goosebumps spread inside Liam as heavy, piercing attention fell on him, drowning him in multiple intents that seemed to have material shape.

Liam had been found. Stronger beings were eyeing him with all the anger his surprise attack had deservedly earned, but even that was by design. After all, the hunt had started as soon as he had confirmed the absence of leafing experts.

Causing a mess had always been the plan. It was simply wise to disrupt that military campaign instead of just waiting for it to reach the Dark Heaven Tribe’s doorsteps.

For someone who had always fought against impossible odds, Liam knew that every little bit could help, no matter how insignificant it might look. The opposite would be unforgivable complacency.

Still, a disturbance could take on many shapes. It could be a mere annoyance meant to cause slight distress, or it could involve something far, far bolder.

The rain of shards had created the window Liam needed to cast the Sky-Splitting Bolt undisturbed. Defending against his first attack had also given him targets to prioritize with the weapon art, and the plan had worked.

Liam had drawn blood. He didn’t know the extent of the damage, but it couldn’t be minor considering the black trail’s size. Yet, he didn’t plan to stop there.

As the first instance of movement happened, increasing the pressure Liam’s skin perceived, he jumped onto the fan while storing the longbow over his shoulder.

Actually, given the weapon’s size, it was more accurate to say Liam stored it over his back.

Naturally, Liam activated the fan’s ability right away, shooting toward the Dark Heaven Tribe. However, he didn’t unleash its full speed. He even rose slightly higher in the sky, wanting to become more noticeable, but only a bit.

Bait was a very effective tool in a hunt, even a crucial one, and Liam didn’t hesitate to turn himself into one. That was also the only instance in which pretending felt natural to him.

The army might have let Liam be if he had stopped at the poisonous rain, deciding instead to focus on the bigger picture. It was also stupid to abandon a position of superiority to chase after an annoying fly.

Nevertheless, the Sky-Splitting Bolt had increased Liam’s danger level. He couldn’t be allowed to roam freely when he had such a powerful attack at his disposal. He had also inflicted damage that had to be avenged.

Ethereal waves blew from behind Liam as he kept flying. They were faster than he was, soon washing over him, but also harmless, not displacing a single grain of sand.

’Perception methods,’ Liam instantly understood. He had felt watched since earlier, but he now felt exposed, completely in the open, the sensation coming from the animal side of his brain.

The issue with hunting cultivators was that they were smarter and more resourceful than mere animals.

Only branching experts could attempt to keep up with Liam, and they didn’t make stupid mistakes easily. They were too experienced to let anger blind them. Using perception methods first was meant to check for traps, suggesting their cool-headedness.

Yet, while not ideal, that was still fine. Liam had never bet on his prey’s stupidity anyway. After all, he was indeed playing the bait, but he was also the trap.

From the outside, Liam had to look like a lonely low-stage branching expert, an easy mark who had somehow gotten his hands on a deadly weapon art, but who would be weaker in close combat.

Liam actually had something else helping him there. At least, he believed he did.

’Come on,’ Liam cursed internally. ’Daniel would have never told them that I killed Andrew on my own. He probably doesn’t believe it himself.’

It was unclear what Daniel knew, but Liam had learned how cultivators thought. Reputation was important for such experts, so Liam believed the foreign forces had received no real warning about him.

Liam’s prediction turned out to be correct.

"You must be the outsider," An amused voice rang out behind Liam. "Were you confident because of that weapon’s speed?"

Liam only needed a glance over his shoulder to learn everything about the one who had caught up with him. He was a man in his thirties, tanned, with long, flowing brown hair. His robe was pale grey, and an easygoing smile shone on his delicate face.

Of course, those superficial features meant little to Liam. He only cared that his pursuer was a mid-stage branching expert and that he was running on literal air, his arms leisurely wrapped behind his back.

’He is fast,’ Liam calculated, looking ahead, pretending to ignore the newcomer. ’Catch up already.’

Liam didn’t need to beg. The newcomer was already flying, or running, faster than him. He even accelerated at Liam’s disregard, suddenly crossing him, ready to block his path.

"Daniel said you snatched that beauty from the Dar-!" The newcomer began to say, chuckling, only for his figure and mind to sway.

The newcomer instantly knew that something had hit him, but he didn’t know what. His control over his body and Qi fell apart. His vision spun, but he caught a strange detail nonetheless. He didn’t know when it happened, but Liam had an open flask in his hand.

The danger couldn’t be more evident. Branching experts could do much in fractions of a second, so the newcomer summoned all his remaining control to get away.

However, Liam had already acted. Actually, his attack had already landed.

The newcomer felt a pinch that drew his spinning vision to his left leg. A needle had landed there, and sharp pain flared. His body was set aflame from the inside, rendering him unable to do anything for a moment.

When the newcomer recovered, he found three more needles stabbed into him, one on his lower waist, one at the center of his chest, and one in his forehead.

Only screams followed.