novelraw Chapter 204 203: The Grandmaster: Part 4
Chapter 204 203: The Grandmaster: Part 4
His eyes narrowed under darkness as he slipped back toward the door, Li Wei felt no relief. the The steady awareness that the final choice he had been avoiding could no longer be postponed.'Not intervening would be easier,' he admitted to himself. 'But easier paths tend to circle back.'
He stepped into the garden once more, vanishing among the shadows as the palace continued its quiet vigil, unaware that one of its oldest schemes was unraveling.
Li Wei was on the verge of something bigger than he could have ever imagined, it appeared that a shady organization were expending a great deal of resources to secure the throne. The young master wondered how this had happened, considering all the precautions taken by the royal family.
He was short on time and had to devise a method of reaching the emperor without drawing any suspicion, which would not be an easy feat. Nevertheless, Li Wei refused to standby and watch a nation tear itself apart due to an internal skirmish.
'The only passageway leading to the emperor's quarters is heavily guarded….' The young master had to rationalize a route that would lead to his objective, 'Perhaps the system has a solution…' Li Wei did not wish to rely on a foreign tool to assist him with everything.
'If I grow to reliant on this relic, there will come a day were am rendered obsolete…' Due to his experiences from the past life, Li Wei knew the risks that technology like this possessed. Using his subconscious will, the young master summoned the system interface before himself.
———————————————————————————————————————
***System interface alert***
**[ Ding! ]**
A crisp crescendo struck the flawless tablet revealing a set of alluring golden text lavishly plastered before him
Hidden Objective Completed: Prove Your Discretion As An Infiltrator
--> HOST HAS ACCUMULATED REWARDS FOR FLAWLESSLY UNCOVERING AN EVIL PLOT
--> SYSTEM STORE HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH BRAND NEW ITEMS.**
--> CURRENT SYSTEM COINS: 4,450.**
Li Wei's eyebrows rose. "It appears that my activities were being actively monitored by this interface…" The young master did not receive any notification regarding quest completions recently, which likely meant that the system withheld informing him.
The digital menu expanded as new entries slid into focus with an otherworldly glow:
---
**NEW EPIC ITEMS:**
**-> [Veil Of Darkness] (Cost: 4,200 Coins)**
*"The lush piece of fabric that renders any wielder invisible to most corporal creatures . WARNING: Host's mind may be shrouded in a foggy mist that may affect thinking. Do not wear for elongated periods of time."*
Li Wei sneered. "This could actually be useful. A shame that the system insists on pricing these relics at such a phenomenal markup." He didn't have much interest debating with a piece of software that had another agenda entirely.
The System's voice replied with "A wise man said 'To purchase a sword, means to buy more days on earth.' Host is advised to seal the artifact upon completion of any task.
---
-> [Berserker Flame Cuffs] (Cost: 2,000 Coins)
"Forged from the oblivion of a distant inferno space. Each attack carries 40% chance to inflict 'Blaze Heart'—An effect that viciously burns a victim's meridians. WARNING: Overuse may cause host's meridians to experience a severe series of muscle pains and contusions.
Li Wei's fingers twitched. "Tch. A armament with sinister potential and merciless might." He had been pondering about a suitable tool that could enhance his fist techniques to another level, due to the fact that the current weapons at his disposal were far too profound to wield rashly.
The interface chimed subtly "As elders of the antiquity foresaw, "If one wishes to survive the drought. A source of water is vital."
---
**NEW LEGENDARY ITEM**
-> [Sky-Severing Spear] (Cost: 2,400 Coins - LIMITED STOCK: 1/1)
"A relic belonging to the illustrious Sky-Severing series. A powerful extension of mind soul, capable of fracturing any spatial rifts within a kilometer of the wielder. Minor Drawback: Attracts 'Black Raiders" that have been crossing subspaces for eons in search of the spear."
Li Wei's smirk faded. "…That is not simply a drawback. It is simply inviting calamity upon a plane. Merely possessing such an item openly would bring untold peril upon him, it was not a matter that could be debated on. He was absolutely certain that his current self would be turned to dust by such foes.
The System's tone turned eerily serene , "A strong kingdom is built by a stronger army. If one fears strength, what is the point of living?"
A brief moment of silence followed. Then Li Wei laughed, sharp and bright. "That may be so…. But that choice is not mine to make, I'll probably have sacrifice an arm and limb to survive the disaster." Although his interactions with the system were brief and direct, Li Wei understood that the primary objective of this apparition was profits.
---
**MYTHIC ITEM (TEMPORARY LISTING)**
-> [Emperor's Chalice] (Cost: Blood Of A Reigning Monarch)
*"A tool that enables the wielder to see the actions of anyone with their blood ties. To wield the artifact correctly, the monarch must drink their own blood from the chalice.
"…" Even the shady System seemed to pause. "An item that will no doubt be of value…. Is the host willing to store the chalice?"
Li Wei knew the system wanted him to use this on the Oolong emperor, but he did not know the reason behind this extensive assistance. "I will purchase the veil of darkness and the Emperor's Chalice will be kept within my inventory."
"Excellent." The screen flashed briefly before the transaction was concluded rapidly, Li Wei watched thousands of coins in his personal interface vanish before a relic appeared in his arms abruptly.
It was the Veil Of Darkness that resembled a large overcoat, which was strangely transparent and felt cool to the touch. "I need to breach the Emperor's Quarters quickly….. This coat seems to be the only way to do this quietly."
The veil rested in Li Wei's hands like a second skin waiting to be claimed. Even without wearing it, the fabric seemed reluctant to acknowledge the world around it, bending faintly at the edges as though unsure where it ended. He turned it once, letting the hem brush against his wrist. A chill crept along his forearm and faded just as quickly.
'So this is the system's answer,' he thought. 'A quiet knife rather than a loud blade.'
He did not put it on immediately.
Instead, Li Wei folded the cloak over his arm and moved deeper into the gardens, choosing paths that curved rather than ran straight. Gravel shifted beneath his steps in soft complaints. ~gravel~ The palace walls rose higher the closer he drew to the inner quarters, their surfaces polished smooth by generations of care. Carved reliefs of beasts and sages watched over the walkways, their expressions frozen in solemn judgment.
A pair of guards stood near the junction ahead, lanterns hanging from their spears. One leaned closer to the other, murmuring something too low to catch. The lantern swayed slightly as he moved. ~sway~
Li Wei slowed and slipped behind a stone pillar carved with winding script. He waited there, counting breaths, listening to the cadence of the night. The guards remained where they were.
'No more detours,' he decided. 'Every delay favors them.'
He lifted the veil and slipped his arms through, settling it over his shoulders. The fabric drew close without weight, cool against his neck. For a brief instant, his vision dimmed, as though mist had passed before his eyes. Then the world returned, unchanged—except for the sense that he was no longer entirely present within it.
The stone beneath his feet no longer answered his steps.
Li Wei tested a pace forward. No sound followed. ~silence~
His thoughts slowed at the edges, not dulled, but distant. He tightened his focus, anchoring himself to simple observations—the line of the wall, the rhythm of his breathing, the faint warmth of lantern light on his skin.
'Do not linger,' he reminded himself.
He stepped out from cover and crossed the open stretch between pillars. The guards did not react. One yawned, turning his head away as Li Wei passed within arm's reach. The other shifted his grip on the spear. ~clink~
Li Wei did not look at them again.
The path narrowed as it approached the emperor's residential wing. Here, the air smelled faintly of cedar and old incense. Curtains hung within open corridors, stirred by the passing breeze. ~flutter~ Li Wei brushed one aside and slipped through, careful not to let the veil snag.
At the end of the corridor stood a set of doors marked with the imperial crest, understated yet unmistakable. Two attendants sat nearby on low stools, heads bowed, hands folded within their sleeves. One stirred as Li Wei passed, glancing up briefly before looking away again.
The veil held.
Li Wei stopped before the doors and drew a steady breath. His hand hovered just short of the carved wood.
'If this fails,' he thought, 'there will be no second attempt.'
He reached within his robe and withdrew a small, unadorned cup. The Emperor's Chalice felt heavier than it appeared, its surface dull and unreflective, as though it absorbed light rather than returned it.
Li Wei held it for a moment longer, weighing the implication rather than the object itself.
'To see blood ties is to step into a family's ruin,' he thought. 'But ignorance here would be the greater crime.'
He raised his hand and knocked once.
Inside, a voice stirred, aged but steady. "Who is there?"
Li Wei closed his eyes briefly as the veil's fog pressed closer at the edges of his thoughts.
"It is someone who wishes to prevent tomorrow," he said quietly.
The latch shifted from within. ~click~
The door opened a fraction.