NOVEL WEB Chapter 20: The Scholar Of Forbidden Knowledge
Tactical Maneuver: The Hunter's Trap
I sidestepped just as the assassin lunged at me, again. A split second later—i took a a sharp snap at him.
☰ Trap Activated: Old Iron Jaw Snare
✔ The assassin is momentarily restrained.
✔ Critical Strike Opportunity Unlocked.
I didn't hesitate. My sword found its mark on his shoulder, pierce his shoulder. The assassin let out a silent snarl, twisting himself free from me, even as his blood stained the ground.
He vanished into the darkness. Wounded, but alive.
I exhaled. This was just the beginning.
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Return to the Hidden Base: A City of Secrets
The rebellion's hidden fortress lay deep within the ruins of an abandoned temple, situated between the jagged cliffs of the old capital.
☰ New Location Unlocked: The Shadow Refuge
✔ A network of exiled warriors, rogue scholars, and spies operating against Kai-Hoon.
✔ Black markets for rare weapons, poisons, and intelligence.
✔ Training grounds to refine stealth, assassination, and tactical combat.
Jian Mu helped me into the war tent, where our most trusted allies had gathered. The candlelight flickered over their tense expressions.
Yun Hwa, our chief strategist, folded her arms. "I take it the mission didn't go as planned?"
I pulled the fake artifact from my satchel, tossing it onto the table. The symbols along its surface still glowed faintly, the curse pulsing with residual energy.
Yun Hwa's eyes widened. "This isn't a relic—it's a curse-bound conduit."
I leaned forward. "Explain."
She exhaled. "The Black Lotus Society was said to have crafted false relics to entrap rival warlords centuries ago. Anyone who touches them is marked—forever hunted until they either perish or surrender to the society's will."
A chill ran down my spine.
☰ New Threat Unveiled: The Black Lotus Society's True Agenda
✔ They aren't just relic hunters—they control forgotten knowledge, curses, and assassins from the shadows.
✔ Kai-Hoon's empire might be a front for something much older and far more dangerous.
✔ The real counter-artifact may still exist, but it's hidden beyond our current reach.
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Strategic Choices Before the Next Phase
☰ How should Bae Kae proceed?
✔ Seek out an exiled Lotus Scholar for forbidden knowledge on the real relic.
✔ Infiltrate the Imperial Archives to steal lost historical records.
✔ Force a captured cultist to talk—by any means necessary.
☰ Gameplay Expansion:
✔ Expanded Interrogation Mechanics – Players can now extract information through persuasion, deception, or force.
✔ New Infiltration Missions – Stealth-based operations to uncover lost historical records.
✔ Hidden Lore Unlocked – The empire's true past is beginning to reveal itself.
Before we can find the real relic, we need the truth.
Somewhere in the empire, a man exists who once served the Black Lotus Society before vanishing into thin air. He knows their secrets. And if we don't find him before Kai-Hoon does… we may never uncover the truth.
☰ Next Mission: The Scholar of Forbidden Knowledge
✔ Unravel the empire's forgotten past.
✔ Find the scholar before the cult does.
✔ Survive the trials of the Lotus Curse.
Opening Cutscene: The Curse Deepens
The night was restless. Every time I closed my eyes, unknown whispers echo through the darkness.
"Your fate is sealed, Shadow Prince."
I jolted awake, gasping for air. My vision blurred—hallucinations or something worse? The curse was spreading, its dark tendrils creeping along my veins. I saw
Jian Mu sat by the fire, sharpening his blade.
"You need help before that thing consumes you," he muttered without looking up.
I clenched my fists. I didn't have time to deal with this. The rebellion was at a critical moment, and now there was another problem—a rival faction hunting the real counter-artifact.
☰ New Storylines Introduced:
✔ Bae Kae's battle against the Lotus Curse—will he master it or fall victim to its power?
✔ A rival faction emerges—mercenaries, warlords, or an ancient order seeking the relic for themselves.
✔ The race for the scholar—Bae Kae must find him before his enemies do.
Mission Update: Find the Scholar Before It's Too Late
✔ Locate the exiled Lotus Scholar to learn the truth about the real counter-artifact.
✔ Survive the growing effects of the curse—hallucinations, enemy tracking, and unstable energy.
✔ Confront the rival faction hunting for the relic.
☰ Gameplay Updates:
✔ New Debuff: The Lotus Curse (Corruption Meter introduced).
✔ New Faction Conflict – Enemy forces are also looking for the relic.
✔ Expanded Investigation Mechanics – Clues must be gathered from secret informants and ancient records.
The Rival Faction: The Crimson Ash
I wasn't the only one searching for the scholar.
A group known as the Crimson Ash had surfaced—a faction of rogue warlords, exiled nobles, and treasure hunters who thrived in the chaos of war. Their leader? A former imperial commander named Ren Tao, a ruthless strategist who once fought alongside Kai-Hoon before vanishing into air
☰ New Faction Unlocked: The Crimson Ash
✔ Mercenary warlords who seek the counter-artifact to forge their own empire.
✔ Rely on both deception and brute force to achieve their goals.
✔ Their leader, Ren Tao, was once a loyal general before he betrayed the empire.
☰ Faction Traits:
✔ Masters of Ambush Warfare – Expect deadly surprise attacks.
✔ Relic Hunters – They have their own sources of ancient knowledge.
✔ Unpredictable – They may ally with or betray Bae Kae depending on choices made.
The Chase Begins: Finding the Scholar First
Our informants led us to a desolate monastery hidden in the fog-covered mountains of the eastern border.
☰ New Location Unlocked: The Forsaken Monastery
✔ Once a sacred temple, now abandoned after the rise of the Black Lotus Society.
✔ Rumored to be the last hiding place of the exiled scholar.
✔ Traps, ancient wards, and hostile spirits haunt its ruins.
☰ Choice: How to Approach the Monastery?
✔ Stealth Approach – Sneak in through the hidden tunnels beneath the monastery.
✔ Direct Assault – Storm the entrance and fight through enemy defenses.
✔ Deception – Infiltrate disguised as a traveling merchant seeking wisdom.
I chose the stealth approach. The fewer enemies alerted, the better.
Inside the Monastery: The Scholar's Trial
The monastery smelled of old parchment and decay. Moonlight barely pierced through the cracked stone walls. Every step echoed, as if something unseen was watching.
The scholar was here. But so were the Crimson Ash.
I spotted Ren Tao's forces patrolling the ruins, searching just as we were. If they found the scholar first, all hope of uncovering the true counter-artifact would be lost.
☰ New Encounter: Rival Treasure Hunters
✔ Ren Tao's elite scouts are already inside, setting traps.
✔ A supernatural entity lurks in the shadows, drawn by the curse.
✔ The scholar won't reveal himself unless the right conditions are met.
☰ Gameplay Options:
✔ Eliminate the rival scouts before they alert their leader.
✔ Use deception to trick them into searching the wrong areas.
✔ Force a confrontation to test Ren Tao's strength.
I signaled my team. "No mistakes. We take them out before they even know we're here."
The Ambush: Shadows in the Mist
We struck fast. Blades flashed in the moonlight, and bodies dropped silently. Jian Mu moved like a phantom, his dagger slicing through throats before anyone could scream.
☰ Stealth Kill Bonus Achieved
✔ Enemy reinforcements delayed.
✔ Additional loot and weapons acquired.
But we weren't alone.
The air grew heavy. A deep, guttural growl rumbled from the darkness.
☰ New Enemy Encounter: The Lotus Revenant
✔ A cursed guardian bound to the monastery, corrupted by centuries of dark energy.
✔ Weakness: Only affected by specific relic-infused weapons.
✔ Strength: Cannot be harmed by normal attacks.
The scholar was testing us.
I tightened my grip on my sword, the cursed markings along my arms burning as the Revenant emerged from the shadows. I had to fight—and survive—before I could get the answers I needed.
Boss Battle: The Lotus Revenant
☰ Battle Mechanics:
✔ Corruption Gauge – The longer the fight lasts, the more the curse affects Bae Kae.
✔ Puzzle-Based Combat – Use ancient seals in the monastery to weaken the revenant.
✔ Stealth Option – Avoid direct combat and disrupt the Revenant's ritual instead.
I moved fast, dodging the creature's monstrous strikes. Each impact sent shockwaves through the stone floor. The walls trembled. If this fight dragged on, the entire monastery would collapse.
☰ Choice:
✔ Destroy the relic binding the Revenant to this world.
✔ Use the curse to absorb its power—at a cost.
✔ Seal the creature away and escape before it breaks free.
I hesitated for only a moment before making my decision.