The Unshackled King (by David Wu) novel Chapter 85

The spike of agony jolted Robert back to consciousness. His body convulsed, his eyes snapping open—clear now, alert, burning with hatred.

"Trying to trick me? Make me talk?" A horrible laugh scraped out of his throat. "Not possible. You've meddled with the Veilscale Society. The branch master will avenge me. I'll be waiting for you down below..."

Stefan's jaw tightened. He'd almost had it. The shock of hearing about a tenth meridian had shattered Robert's mental defenses, and Stefan had seized the moment—releasing his spiritual pressure, trying to force a confession.

Something had gone wrong at the last second.

"The Veilscale Society?"

A killing aura radiated from Stefan as his hand shot forward, grabbing Robert by the throat. Too late.

The moment Robert's mind cleared, he'd already bitten down. A hidden poison capsule, tucked between his teeth. The blood seeping from his mouth was already black.

"I'll... be waiting..." Robert's face twisted into something hideous—triumph and hatred mingled. "On the road to hell... waiting for you..."

His body went limp.

Stefan stared down at him, expression dark. "The Veilscale Society."

One of the nine factions that had splintered from the Shadow Dragon Hall.

"I've been wondering where to find them." His voice was quiet. "And now one walks right into me."

He looked at the body. The old man had chosen death over capture. That spoke to something—a rigid, brutal structure within the society. Rules that made swallowing poison preferable to facing what came after betrayal.

But how did he snap out of it?

Stefan knelt, examining the body more closely.

Then he found it.

As Stefan examined Robert's body more closely, his expression shifted. Then darkened. "A life-bound parasite." His voice was low. "The old bastard had one planted inside him. That's how he snapped out of it—the parasite sensed the threat and pulled him back." He sat back on his heels, understanding dawning. "And now that it's dead..." He looked at the dissolving remains. "Whoever controls it knows. They felt it die."

This explained everything. The poison capsule. The willingness to die rather than talk.

Because if he'd talked—if he'd betrayed whatever secrets the Veilscale Society guarded—the parasite's master could have made him wish for death a thousand times over before finally granting it. The suffering would have been unimaginable. Unending. Compared to that? A quick poison was mercy.

I need to awaken the True Dragon Meridian. Fast.

Suddenly, a sharp grunt escaped the middle-aged man's throat. His eyes flew open, lightning-quick sharpness flashing through them before fading just as fast.

His face shifted—surprise, then disbelief. "Robert... dead?" he muttered to himself, frowning. "Who in River City could kill him? Did one of the Four Great Grandmasters make a move?"

Then his expression hardened into something far colder. "Doesn't matter who. Anyone who kills someone from the Veilscale Society pays in blood."

Killing intent flickered in his eyes as he reached for his phone and made a call.

"Branch Master." The voice on the other end was respectful, waiting.

The man ordered, "Robert is dead. Killed by persons unknown. As of now, you're taking over his responsibilities. That Profound Cold Earth Vein under the Stewart Mansion—do not let it slip through our fingers."

A beat of silence on the other end.

"Robert... dead?" Shock colored the voice now. "Branch Master, I have something to report as well. The heart parasite I planted in Nicolas' daughter—I've lost all connection to it. Someone removed it. Destroyed it."

The man's eyes went cold as winter steel. "Find out who. I don't care how long it takes. Our operations in River City cannot afford more mistakes. And that Gathering Formation under the Stewart Mansion—when it's ready, move immediately. Retrieve the pearl the moment the time is right."