Thorns

The Ice Man's condition, already precarious from his cultivation deviation when Du Chen first encountered him, seemed to have worsened considerably. Every inch of his skin was coated in hoarfrost, and even his breath exhaled a bone-chilling cold.

The Ice Man's voice, as frigid as his form, chuckled, "Then what are we waiting for? Ghost Bat, tell me, what method would be more amusing to dispose of those two brats? Your Spiritual Assassination Art, or my viruses?"

Ghost Bat hung upside down from the Ice Man's shoulder, shaking his head helplessly. "But Master, I've also uncovered something else – while there aren't many guards near Francis's chambers, there are at least ten Spiritual Power masters inside. And, there are Medical Priests specifically equipped to counter your viral Secret Technique!"

A sharp glint flashed in the Ice Man's eyes. "Are you saying... Zigurd has already taken precautions against our abilities? He's truly dead set on opposing me, his brother, isn't he?"

Ghost Bat nodded sheepishly.

The Ice Man's fury intensified. He suddenly raised an arm and "BOOM!" shattered a half-man-tall block of ice beside him. "Zigurd! Have you truly forgotten who the hell you are?! To obstruct me from silencing them?! Hmph, do you still hold any regard for our deceased foster mother?!"

Ghost Bat was flung into the air, offering a sheepish grin but daring not to reply.

However, Ghost Bat understood his master's rage. The rule dictating the silencing of individuals like Francis in similar circumstances was established by the founder of Thornwood Valley—the Ice Man's foster mother! She was also the foster mother to Zigurd, and to Lady Sena, the current Valley Master of Thornwood Valley; she was their shared foster mother!

Zigurd, Sena (the Valley Master of Thornwood Valley), and the Ice Man were originally orphans, adopted by the old Valley Master from a young age. Though not their birth mother, the Ice Man revered his foster mother's rules as the very Heaven's Will, never daring to transgress them in the slightest! Now, Zigurd, fully aware of this rule, was brazenly obstructing him from silencing Francis. This... indeed showed a blatant disregard for the deceased old Valley Master!

The Ice Man paced back and forth, the frost on his body crackling with his anger, his complexion darkening by the moment!

Ghost Bat, fearing his master would act impulsively at a time when their identities needed to remain concealed, patiently whispered, "Master, Ghost Bat has served you for sixty years; we are as one. There are some words I wonder if I might utter..."

The Ice Man waved his hand dismissively. "Stop your damn rambling, speak!"

"Master, is your insistence on silencing Francis truly for the sake of our old foster mother's dying wish and rules?" Ghost Bat dared not look at the Ice Man's face, lowering his head. "Back then, the old Valley Master adopted three orphans: Zigurd, Valley Master Sena, and you, Thomas. Especially you, Master Thomas. The old Valley Master knew you were a remnant of the Violet-Bloods, yet she disregarded your race and treated you like her own son..."

Thornwood Valley, Fiendkind... Clearly, this Ice Man, Thomas, was the very 'second-in-command' of Thornwood Valley that Adams had mentioned!

Thomas frowned. "Why bring up these dusty old matters? Of course, I remember my foster mother's kindness! Am I not precisely upholding her rules by intending to kill Francis!?"

Ghost Bat offered a wry smile. "But what I mean to say, Master, is that after the old Valley Master passed away, you and Zigurd vied for Valley Master Sena's affection and clashed for decades. Isn't that enough? What age are we in now? Please, let go of your grievances with Zigurd!"

Pausing, Ghost Bat pleaded, "Master, others may not know, but how could I not? While there is indeed an intention to uphold the old Valley Master's dying wish in your desire to kill Francis, isn't it more... about spiting Zigurd?"

Thomas suddenly whirled to glare at Ghost Bat, raising his hand, but his lips trembled, and he lowered it again. "Sigh, perhaps you're right!"

Scenes from the past seemed to flicker before his eyes: his foster mother's passing, he and Zigurd dueling before the gates of Thornwood Valley for Sena, agreeing that the loser would be banished... He had won, and Zigurd had departed for Battle God Isle to become a mere lecturer. Yet, Sena never married him in the end!

Decades later, the old wounds from his duel with Zigurd resurfaced, crippling his battle qi entirely. He had no choice but to cultivate Thornwood Valley's Forbidden Secret Technique, trading his body's warmth for power, manifesting as perpetual frost! And Zigurd... that scoundrel from Thornwood Valley had soared through the ranks on Battle God Isle, becoming the 'Father of All Battle Gods,' revered by countless, destined for historical renown, and enshrined within the Papal Curia's Enshrinement Temple!

Compared thus, who could swallow such indignation? Who could maintain inner peace!?

Though Valley Master Sena had mediated between them over the years, broadly, Zigurd and Thomas maintained an uneasy truce. Thomas hadn't betrayed Zigurd's true identity, nor had Zigurd sought vengeance during Thomas's cultivation deviation. They still addressed each other as 'brother' when they met. Yet, in minor matters, their hidden conflicts raged ceaselessly, battling until the very heavens and earth seemed to lose their light!

Thomas abruptly shook his head, casting these old memories from his mind. He sneered, "So what if I *am* spiting Zigurd? If he doesn't want me to touch Francis, then I'll damn well do it, just to see what he can do to me!"

Ghost Bat's face clouded with worry. Why wouldn't his master listen to reason?

"Master, aren't all your grievances with Zigurd ultimately about Valley Master Sena? But now, Valley Master Sena's health has... sigh, she doesn't have many days left! This time, the Valley Master sent you personally to Battle God Isle to find Zigurd, hoping you would bring him back so the three of you—siblings—could gather before her passing! Yet you, you haven't even mentioned Valley Master Sena's condition to Zigurd, instead choosing to contend with him. If Valley Master Sena were to know this... sigh, for her peace of mind, please stop sparring with Zigurd!"

At the mention of Sena, the current Valley Master of Thornwood Valley, Thomas's brows furrowed deeply. The malevolent glint in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by a somber expression.

"Sigh, how could I not know you're right! It's just... the thought that my Second Sister, even on her deathbed, refused my proposal, instead begging me to bring Zigurd back to see her one last time... it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Once I saw Zigurd, the words just wouldn't come out!"

Ghost Bat sighed alongside his master, unsure what to say, and could only tell himself: 'Human emotions truly are complex!'

"Master, those are all the words I can offer. If you still intend to kill those two brats, Ghost Bat..." He gritted his teeth. "Ghost Bat will accompany you!"

Thomas paced with his head bowed, hands clasped behind his back within the ice cavern, weighing his options. Sena had only days left; should he truly continue to spite Zigurd at such a time, making Sena's 'departure' uneasy? After much deliberation, he sighed deeply. "Very well, for Sena's sake..."

BOOM! The ice cavern's grand door suddenly swung open!

Thomas's brows knitted. He pulled Ghost Bat, concealing them within the ice, instantly merging with the ice fragments. 'Damn it,' he cursed silently. 'It's the dead of night! Who would come to the ice cavern for ice now?! I specifically chose this sealed ice cavern for frozen food to mask my chilling aura; for two whole days, no one entered. Why, just as I was about to leave today, do people suddenly appear!?'

Accursed luck!

Thomas subtly shrugged in the shadows, but upon recognizing the newcomer, his expression abruptly shifted!

A small boy, barely knee-high, swaggered coolly into the ice cavern. His short black hair spiked upwards, and he wore a miniature dark warrior's uniform. His delicate, sculpted face was filled with arrogance. The way he walked with hands clasped behind his back, glancing sideways at people... was so adorably detestable, one wanted to go up and pinch his cheeks!

It was none other than our esteemed Master, Alex!

Cassian, eyes still heavy with sleep, shuffled behind Alex, muttering, "Beibei is too mischievous, making you get him frozen treats in the middle of the night, even specifying the deepest Nine Dragons Profound Ice... Sigh, Alex, you too. Do you really do everything your older sister tells you to?"

Alex coolly pursed his lips. "The Master, with deep and sagacious eyes, can see through the hidden dangers behind frozen treats!"

At these words, Thomas, hidden within the ice, was startled. "Has this little brat discovered me!?"

Cassian's jest immediately dispelled Thomas's doubts. "I know, if you dared not come, Beibei would create a massive crisis for you, haha!"

Damn it, it was just a children's prank after all. Thomas chuckled self-deprecatingly, but after a lingering glance at Alex, his recently quelled competitive spirit flared up again!

I had intended to let you off, but since you, little brat, have delivered yourself to my doorstep, don't blame me for being impolite...

Alex had already begun selecting ice blocks for his older sister's frozen treats. The little one scanned the ice cavern, walked up to an ice brick, dabbed some ice water with a small finger, licked it, shook his head, then moved on to the next block.

Seeing this scene, Thomas, hidden in the ice, let out a cold laugh. "Ghost Bat," he transmitted via Battle Soul. "Don't say another word. I'm going to poison this brat directly. What does Zigurd have to do with it now!?"

Ghost Bat sighed helplessly. He knew his master's temper all too well—once that obstinate streak was provoked, nothing anyone said would be of any use!

Thomas aimed at a massive ice block Alex was approaching. With a subtle flick of his fingertip, silent and invisible, his most proficient Shadow Stealth Virus was planted upon the ice block!

"Pandora Toxin?!" Ghost Bat exclaimed through Battle Soul, aghast. "Master, he's just a child! How could you use Pandora Toxin? This toxin was developed by you specifically to counter Titled Battle Gods!"

"Hmph, it's said that Du Chen's Divine Cult possesses Secret Techniques specifically tailored to counter The Undead and dark viruses. This brat isn't old; who's to say whether he carries any Secret Techniques left by Francis?" Thomas sneered. "I dislike surprises when I kill!"

Staring as the little one, as before, dabbed the highly toxic ice water, Thomas's smile deepened. He waited for the child to bring the ice water to his tongue... Thomas pursed his lips indifferently. Killing a mere child, no matter how cleanly, was hardly something to be proud of!

Silently, Thomas waited for the imagined scenario to unfold—the little one suddenly turning deathly pale, clutching his chest, softly collapsing, then losing all breath, his true cause of death undetectable by anyone...

Yet, Alex tasted a mouthful of the 'toxic' water, and his eyes suddenly lit up. He then dipped his small finger several more times, bringing it to his mouth, smacking his lips. "Mm! This ice has enough flavor, Uncle Cassian, this is the one!"

A bizarre chill shot up Thomas's spine to the back of his head, leaving him... utterly horrified!

This was Pandora Toxin, potent enough to kill a Titled Battle God!

At that moment, Alex subtly, almost imperceptibly, glanced at the ice block where Thomas was hidden!