The Weight of Blood and Authority

Chapter 24 : The Weight of Blood and Authority

Rudravaan turned his head slightly.

“What are you talking about?” he asked calmly.

Zade let out a short breath.

Even with his wrists bound, he rolled onto his side, pushed himself up from the floor, and rose to his feet in one smooth motion. The ropes pulled tight around his arms, but his balance never wavered.

He faced Rudravaan.

His expression was no longer hostile—only focused.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Zade said quietly. “Just an old warning that finally makes sense.”

He exhaled and met Rudravaan’s gaze.

“Hey,” he said, “I don’t know who you really are. But my leader told me to treat you well if I ever met you.”

He glanced at the ropes binding his wrists.

“So how about you untie me?” Zade added. “I promise I won’t do anything reckless, all right?”

Rudravaan studied him for a moment.

“How can you be so sure,” he asked calmly, “that I am the one you are looking for?”

Zade smiled faintly.

“Our sect leader is not someone who bows to nobles,” he replied. “He only respects strength.”

Then his eyes sharpened.

“And it was the Emperor himself who warned him.”

Zade looked back at Rudravaan.

“So I knew it had to be someone powerful. And when I saw you…”
He paused.
“…I was certain.”

Rudravaan said nothing.

Instead, he turned his head toward Henry.

“Untie him.”

Henry hurried forward and loosened the ropes.

Zade rolled his shoulders, stretching his back. He shook his arms and flexed his hands, feeling the tension fade.

He let out a low breath.

“Hey,” Zade said with a small laugh, “you really don’t hold back in a fight. Even now… my body’s still trembling.”

His gaze returned to Rudravaan, filled with quiet respect.

Rudravaan’s eyes shifted.

“I have heard of your sect,” he said calmly.

Then his gaze moved to Valerius.

“And it seems,” he continued evenly, “there are more bastards like him.”

Zade scratched the back of his head and sighed.

“Yeah. I despise bastards like him too. But we can’t touch them.”

He glanced at Valerius, then back at Rudravaan.

“They fund the sect. Their families keep us alive.”

His jaw tightened.

“And our leader… he really is trying. But how much can one man handle alone?”

Zade hesitated, then added,

“There was a time he beat a corrupt noble half to death.”

His eyes darkened.

“The next day, he was imprisoned—for crimes he never committed.”

Silence settled over the room.

The weight of those words lingered.

Rudravaan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“They hold that much power?” he asked.

Zade clenched his fist.

“…Yeah.”

Rudravaan looked back at him.

“Who are they,” he asked, “to command such authority?”

Zade hesitated.

“I only heard rumors,” he said. “But their families are said to belong to one of the Four Great Kingdoms.”

Rudravaan’s lips curved faintly.

“Oh,” he murmured, “it seems I’ve struck a jackpot without even trying.”

Zade blinked.

“What?”

Rudravaan shook his head.

“Nothing.”

He turned toward Valerius.

“May I ask him a few questions?”

Zade nodded slowly.

“…All right. But please, keep it within limits.”

“Of course,” Rudravaan replied.

He gestured toward the stairs.

“Zade. Henry. Wait in the room.”

Henry hesitated, then obeyed. Zade followed, casting one last glance at Valerius.

When the door closed behind them—

Rudravaan turned back.

And faced Valerius alone.

Valerius barked in rage as Rudravaan approached.

“You think this will end here?” he snarled. “My family is noble. When this reaches them, you will not leave this city in one piece.”

Rudravaan stopped in front of him.

Slowly, he crouched.

The air changed.

His expression darkened, and a cold pressure rolled outward, crushing against Valerius like invisible weight.

Valerius swallowed.

Rudravaan drew a small knife from his sleeve.

Cold steel glinted in the lantern light.

Valerius’s face went pale. Sweat poured down his temples—yet he forced a mocking smile.

A bluff, he told himself.
This man wouldn’t dare.

Rudravaan noticed.

In a single, precise motion—

The blade flashed.

A sharp cry tore from Valerius as blood spilled from his ear.

Rudravaan’s voice remained calm.

“Do I look like a joke… that you can smile at me?”

Valerius thrashed against the ropes, desperate.

But the bindings did not loosen.

Panic filled his eyes.

Upstairs, Zade stiffened.

A crushing cold swept through his body—sharp, murderous, overwhelming.

His breath caught.

He had never felt anything like it.

Not even within the Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect.
Not even from the elders.

Zade sat up, gripping the edge of the bed.

“That intent…” he whispered.

He tried to stand—

Henry grabbed his sleeve.

“If you go down there,” Henry said urgently, “you will die.”

Zade froze.

Henry met his eyes, steady despite the fear.

“Rudravaan promised you,” he said. “So believe in him.”

Zade slowly exhaled.

His shoulders relaxed.

“…You’re right,” he said quietly.

He lay back down.

And waited.