SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

RED SILK CITY…

At this moment, in the imperial capital of the Red Silk Immortal Country, the grand city of Red Silk City, a seemingly powerful manor stood tall, its walls reflecting the golden glow of the celestial moon.

Within the manor's luxurious yet solemn chambers, a man lay asleep beside his wife, his brows furrowed, his hands trembling as though gripped by an unseen force.

"No… how? Where?" the man murmured in his sleep, his voice thick with unease.

Beside him, a woman stirred. Her long, silky hair cascaded over the pillows as she sat up, rubbing her eyes groggily.

"Husband, what are you murmuring about in your sleep?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

The man's eyes fluttered open, and he turned to his wife, his expression grave.

"My lady Mu… I suddenly have a feeling—our Kaban is coming back."

Lady Mu froze, her heart lurching at the name. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she stared at him with incredulity.

"Husband, can we not joke about this? Our son, Kaban King was expelled through a curse by a genius from Naraka Country! It's been more than twenty-five years, yet his name is still the number one sinner of the entire Red Silk Immortal Kingdom. And you… you still joke about this?" Her voice trembled, a mix of grief and fury. "I've been afraid to step out onto the streets for decades because of our son name!"

The man shook his head. "My lady, I am not joking. It is a feeling, a deep, undeniable instinct."

Lady Mu clenched her fists. "Even if such a thing were possible, if Kaban were to be reborn, it wouldn't be as our son. The heavens do not favor sinners. Even if he were reincarnated, he would reborn in a lower realm, suffering for his past sins?"

The man's expression darkened. "Sins? What sins? My son merely enjoyed a few flowers. Is it really that bad? A man conquering women is in his nature! What mistake did my son make in that?" He snorted, his pride and arrogance refusing to waver.

Lady Mu turned pale. "No wonder he became the way he was… he had a father like you." Her voice was filled with sorrow. "Husband, if you had not shielded him, if you had not turned a blind eye to his misdeeds, would he have met such a tragic end? Kaban became a sinner step by step, and you enabled him."

Her husband scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "Enough. What's the use of speaking about the past? Kaban has been expelled for more than twenty-five years."

Lady Mu looked away, her gaze distant. "More than twenty-five years? For us immortals, that is but a fleeting moment."

"Whatever you say, but if our son really returns, I will make sure he is provided with all good defensive treasures where he can slap all genius's left and right!"

Red Silk City entrance…

After an arduous escape, Kent Clark and his group finally arrived at the gates of Red Silk City. The towering walls, adorned with intricate carvings, loomed over them like silent sentinels.

Fatty wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to Kent. "Brother Kent, why did that lake woman attack you?"

The women in the group also stared at Kent in confusion.

Kent exhaled deeply. "She didn't attack me… she attacked Kaban King, from whom I exchanged fate. I don't know how these people keep recognizing me as Kaban. It's as if there's a binding force between me and Kaban after the fate exchange." His voice carried a sense of urgency. "Even masks don't work here. I am still weaker in cultivation than the people here, which makes it impossible to mask my presence properly."

Fatty scratched his head. "But why did that woman want to kill Kaban?"

Kent's jaw tightened, his expression darkening. "Because Kaban raped her in his previous life."

A gasp spread through the group, and the women immediately broke into furious whispers, cursing Kaban.

"Despicable!"

"No wonder he was killed on the streets!"

"Such filth should never have been born!"

Yet, to Kent's surprise, as the curses filled the air, an uncomfortable feeling rose within him. He felt… insulted. As if they were talking about him.

Shaking his head, Kent quickly brushed off the thought. "Leave it. We must first find shelter and lay low for the time being. Once we acclimatize to this world, we will step into the path of immortality. After that, people won't be able to sense that we are outsiders."

The group nodded and moved forward into the bustling city.

Kent Clark stood at the entrance of Red Silk City, gazing at the capital with mixed emotions. The memories of Kaban King surfaced in his mind automatically, making him feel as if he had returned home after twenty-five long years.

He clenched his fists. "Red Silk City… you haven't changed a bit." His voice carried a tinge of bitterness.

As he wandered through the streets, he found himself battling an internal war. Should he fully embrace Kaban's identity, severing all ties with his past? Or should he remain Kent Clark, a foreign soul in an unfamiliar realm?

A soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. "What's troubling you?"

Kent turned to see Amelia looking at him with concern.

He sighed. "Memories of Kaban… I feel like I'm more of Kaban here."

Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Did Kaban have any lovers or enemies?"

Kent chuckled humorlessly. "Lovers? None, only a one-sided crush. Enemies? Countless. I don't know how to move forward. Should I embrace Kaban, or continue as Kent Clark?"

Amelia smiled softly. "Let nature take its course."

As they walked deeper into the city, Kent led them toward an inn he remembered from Kaban's memories. However, as soon as he stepped inside, the new innkeeper's gaze locked onto Kent with suspicion.

The young man's sharp eyes scrutinized Kent before his lips parted in a whisper. "You…"

Kent's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, he knew this was trouble. Without hesitation, he turned on his heels and walked out, his pace quickening.

Fatty called after him. "Brother Kent, what happened?"

Kent didn't stop, weaving through the crowd. "We need to get out of here. That fellow recognized me."

Fatty paled. "Recognized you? As who?"

Kent clenched his jaw. "As Kaban King."

The group exchanged worried glances before hurrying after him, slipping away into the crowds of the Red Silk City.