"I-I don’t know!" the man gasped, tears mixing with the blood on his face.

"A black robe man come... he paid us to attack this ship... to cripple a young man in Azure Dragon Sect’s inner disciple robe..."

Damon stood up.

He looked toward the bow, where the ship’s captain and a few pale-faced crew members were peeking out from a hatch.

Damon stared down at the bleeding man, his golden eyes become cold.

The information was useless and specific at the same time. A young man in an inner disciple robe. That was him.

The order was to cripple him, that meant someone wanted him broken and humiliated, removed as a threat without inviting the full wrath of the sect for murder.

’Kai.’ The name surfaced in his mind like a shard of ice.

The young master who’d sent lackeys to Fire Valley. The one whose family was tied to Elder Selene. It fit.

"He’s telling the truth." Damon said, his voice carrying over the wind.

He wasn’t talking to the captive. He was talking to Lark, who stood a few steps away, her sword still gleaming with frost.

Lark wiped a smear of blood from her cheek with the back of her hand.

"Mercenaries. Low talent, high courage. Or low brains. They were meant to be a distraction. Or a test." She sheathed her sword, the scabbard clicking softly.

"A test of what?"

"For your reaction and your capabilities." Lark’s gaze flickered toward the shadows near the ship’s raised cabin, where Mei had vanished.

From the corner of his eye, Damon saw the captain finally emerge, wringing his hands.

"Honored disciples! The ship, she is damaged! The formation on the ship is cracked. We have to fix it."

Damon ignored him. He walked to the edge of the deck, where the wooden railing was scorched from a near-miss bolt. The world sprawled beneath them, a patchwork of green forests and winding rivers under the afternoon sun. They were still on schedule, but vulnerable.

’Cripple me or make me miss the auction. It was a petty and arrogant move. The kind a spoiled young master who’d never faced real consequence would make.’

He turned back to the captive. The man was shivering, his eyes wide with fear.

Damon felt nothing. "Where were you guys get paid?"

"A tavern! In Crimson Moon City! The Silken Serpent!"

He nodded.

Then he kicked the wounded rider in the side, enough to roll him toward the edge of the deck.

The man screamed, scrambling against the wood.

"Tell your employer that you failed." Damon said, his tone conversational.

"And that the target is coming for him."

With that, he planted his foot on the man’s chest and shoved him.

The scream was cut short by the roaring wind as the rider tumbled over the side, plummeting toward the ground.

Lark didn’t flinch. She watched the body disappear, then looked at Damon.

He walked toward the captain, who paled and took a step back.

"How long to fix the formation?"

"H-hours, honored disciple! We have a spare crystal, but the inscription is damaged. We must land!"

Landing meant delay. Delay meant Kai, or whoever it was, won this little skirmish.

Damon’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"No. We don’t."

He closed his eyes, accessing the Lust Store in his mind.

He navigated past techniques and bloodlines, searching for items.

There.

[Sky-Soothing Crystal]

[Description: Used to repair damage to flight formations. ]

[Earth Grade Formation Cristal]

[Price: 8,000]

’System, buy it.’

[You bought a Sky-Soothing Crystal. -8,000 lust points]

A crystal materialized in his palm, a smooth, milky-white stone the size of a goose egg, covered in faintly glowing silver lines.

He tossed it to the captain, who fumbled the catch.

"There you can fix the ship now."

The captain stared at the crystal, sensing the dense spiritual energy within.

"This... this is a high-grade... how did you..."

"Does it work?" Damon interrupted.

"Yes! Yes, of course! This is more than enough!" The captain scurried away, barking orders at his crew.

Lark moved to stand beside Damon.

"To think you carry a spare parts."

"It just coincidence that I have it." Damon said.

He finally looked at her, really looked. His Incubus Celestial Eyes activated without a conscious thought, the world sharpening.

The glamour of the Origin Grade necklace around her throat was a complex, shimmering weave of light, but beneath it, he saw her true face.

Sharp, elegant features, hair the color of moonlight, and eyes that held the pale blue of a winter sky.

She met his gaze, and for a heartbeat, he thought she knew he could see through her disguise. Her posture stiffened, just a fraction.

"You are not what you appear, Lark." Damon said softly.

"Neither are you." she replied, her voice just as quiet.

"A True Spirit Realm disciple does not toss Earth Grade formation crystals around like copper coins."

"We all have our secrets." Damon just smiled.

A low, amused laugh drifted from the shadows near the cabin door.

Mei stepped into the light, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked from Damon to Lark and back again, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Such a interesting trip already. And we haven’t even reached the capital."

She walked over to the railing, peering down at the landscape.

"The attack was clumsy. The one who sent them... Must be amateur." She glanced over her shoulder at Damon.

"My daughters think highly of you. Try not to get my ship destroyed."

"Your ship?" Damon asked.

"Who do you think the Sect Leader borrows the ship from? It’s mine. So consider this a personal request." Mei smiled.

She nodded toward the captain, who was directing a crewman to fix the ship.

"The repair is finish. We make for Solaris Capital at best speed. I suggest you both rest."

She vanished again, melting into the interior corridors of the ship.

The ship shuddered, then steadied.

A low hum rose from the deck as the formation fully activated, and the Sky Cutter surged forward, cutting through the clouds with renewed power.

Damon stood at the rail, the wind whipping through his black hair, his golden eyes fixed on the path ahead.