Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System-Chapter 127: Young Duke Daren

Young Master Clearstar Wei stumbled through the grand entrance of the Clearstar Estate. His face was still swollen, the left side purple and black where Kael's palm had connected.

Blood had dried around his mouth and nose. His expensive robes were torn and filthy from being thrown to the ground.

The servants stopped in their tracks when they saw their young master. Their eyes went wide with shock and disbelief. Some of them gasped audibly. Most of them quickly looked away, not wanting to be caught staring at their young master's humiliating appearance. They could be beheaded for that.

Wei ignored them all. His vision was blurred with tears of rage and shame. He moved through the estate's corridors like a wounded little animal seeking shelter from its guardian.

He reached the eastern courtyard where his elder brother often trained. The sound of sword strikes echoed through the space. Metal cutting through air with precise rhythm.

"Brother!" Wei's voice cracked as he called out. "Elder Brother, you have to help me!"

The sword strikes stopped immediately.

Young Duke Clearstar Daren stood in the center of the training ground. He was eighteen years old, tall with broad shoulders.

His face was handsome in a sharp, dangerous way. His cultivation aura radiated immense strength for his age, peak of Level 7 Primal Adept, on the verge of breaking through to Level 8 Primal Adept.

He lowered his sword slowly. His eyes fixed on his younger brother's battered appearance. His expression remained neutral, but something dark flickered behind his gaze.

"What happened to your face?" Daren's voice was cold, controlled.

Wei rushed forward, tears streaming freely now. All pretense of dignity abandoned. "Brother, someone attacked me! In the street! In front of hundreds of people! He..he slapped me and—"

"Slow down." Daren's tone cut through Wei's babbling like a blade. "Start from the beginning. Clearly."

Wei swallowed hard. He wiped at his face with a torn sleeve, smearing blood and tears together. "I was walking towards the Azure Sky Pavilion. This rogue cultivator bumped into me intentionally. I respectfully demanded he apologize, but he refused! He was disrespectful, arrogant—"

"Did you touch him first?" Daren interrupted.

Wei hesitated. His mouth opened, then closed. "I... I may have... but that's not the point! He's just a—"

"Did. You. Touch. Him. First." Each word was emphasized separately.

"Yes, but—"

Daren's hand moved faster than Wei could track. The slap connected with Wei's right cheek, the side that hadn't been hit yet. The impact spun Wei around. He crashed to the ground hard, fresh blood filling his mouth.

"Brother!" Wei looked up in complete shock, his hand pressed against his burning cheek.

"You're a waste to the Clearstar Estate. A pure disgrace. A big disappointment." Daren's voice was ice-cold. Pure contempt dripped from every word. "A complete and utter waste. You started the conflict. You provoked someone who was clearly stronger than you. And then you got humiliated in public because you're too stupid to recognize real danger when it's standing in front of you."

Wei's head dropped. Shame burned hotter than the pain in his face. "I'm sorry, brother. I didn't know he was so strong. He's only a Level 1 Primal Adept. How was I supposed to—"

"Level 1?" Daren's eyes narrowed. "And he defeated all four guards?"

"Yes." Wei's voice was barely a whisper now.

Daren was quiet for a long moment. His mind worked through the implications. A Level 1 Primal Adept who could fight equally against four Level 5 Primal Adept guards.

That wasn't normal. That suggested either a powerful background with access to exceptional training, or natural talent that was almost unheard of.

Either way, such a person was dangerous to antagonize without knowing more.

"What does he look like?" Daren asked.

Wei described Kael. The dark blue robes. The silver eyes. The completely calm demeanor even while fighting. The way he moved with absolute confidence.

Daren committed every detail to memory. "His name?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask before..." Wei trailed off, realizing how that sounded.

Daren exhaled slowly. He sheathed his sword with a precise motion. "You will do nothing. Do you understand me? Nothing."

Wei's head snapped up. "But brother, we can't just—"

"We will do nothing publicly." Daren's interruption was sharp. "The entire capital witnessed your humiliation. If we retaliate immediately, it looks like our family can't handle a single rogue cultivator without using our full power. That damages our reputation more than your bruised face already has."

"So we just let him get away with this?" Wei's voice rose with indignation.

"Are you this dumb? I didn't say that." Daren's lips curved into something cold. Not quite a smile. "We'll be smart about it. Leaving no traces behind."

He moved closer to his younger brother. Looked down at him still kneeling on the ground. "Send some guards to observe him for now. Find out where he's staying. What he's doing in the capital. How long he plans to remain. But you will not approach him. You will not confront him. You will simply watch and report to me. Can you manage that without causing more problems?"

Wei nodded quickly. "Yes, brother." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Good. And when he leaves the capital..." Daren paused, his expression darkening further. "When he leaves the safety of the city walls, we'll hire mercenaries to get rid of him. People who can't be traced back to our family. They'll deal with him on the road where there are no witnesses. No connection to us."

Wei's eyes brightened despite the pain. "You'll have him killed?"

"I'll have the problem solved." Daren corrected. "His death won't trace back to the Clearstar Estate. As far as anyone will know, he was just another rogue cultivator who met a bad end on a dangerous road. It happens all the time."

"Thank you, brother." Wei struggled to his feet. "I won't disappoint you again."

"You already have." Daren turned away, dismissing him. "Now get cleaned up. You look pathetic. And send someone to gather information on this silver-eyed cultivator. Discreetly."

Wei bowed low despite the pain in his battered body. He backed away respectfully before turning and hurrying toward his quarters.