“Grandpapa, didn’t you sleep well last night?” In the living room of the McCall family villa, Allison looked at her grandfather in shock. Jonathan’s disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes, and haggard expression made him look nothing short of terrifying. “It’s nothing. I was inspired to train all night, so I’m just a bit tired today,” he said curtly. As he glanced past her to Dustin, who was standing behind her. His face grew even darker. “Grandpapa, you’ve just recovered! How could you push yourself like this?” Allison said sternly in concern. Caught off guard, Jonathan could only offer a sheepish nod. Last night, in a misguided attempt to drug Dustin with some aphrodisiac and force his granddaughter into a closer relationship, he had somehow fallen victim to his own scheme. If not for his strong constitution, the consequences could have been far worse. Looking back, he was almost certain Dustin had seen through his ploy and turned the tables. “Allison,” Jonathan
“Miss Allison, is this your friend? You’re aware that everyone attending this gathering is admitted strictly by invitation...” said the doorman with thinly veiled displeasure. Allison was known for her distant and untouchable persona. Even the most prominent heirs in Grayvale struggled to approach her. Seeing someone like Dustin standing so close to her was enough to spark envy and resentment. “He’s…” Allison glanced at Dustin and blushed as she hesitated. She was unsure how to explain their relationship. Her hesitation only fueled the doorman’s irritation. His expression darkened further. No way... Could someone as beautiful as her... with someone like him… There was no way… As the thought festered, his jealousy intensified. He was even more reluctant to let Dustin in. “This is Fustin Dox,” Allison said after regaining her composure. “He’s currently staying with the McCall family as a guest.” The doorman’s eyes widened. He barely registered the rest of her exp
When the last of the metal powder fell from Dustin’s hands, he chuckled. “Am I qualified to enter now?” he asked calmly. “Uh… yeah…” The doorman was still in a daze, and he barely managed a couple of incoherent responses. Allison was clearly pleased with his stunned expression. She turned to Dustin with a satisfied smile and beckoned him to follow her inside. The radiant smile left the doorman momentarily dumbfounded. She was so beautiful… The famously aloof Allison could smile like that? When the pair disappeared into the venue, the doorman snapped out of his trance. Then, as though in disbelief, he dropped to the ground and began gathering the scattered metal powder. He was indeed doubtful about the authenticity of the metal sphere. But the texture was unmistakable. It really was that type of metal… “Impossible! No one can crush Onyx Iron into powder… No one!” he murmured in a trembling voice and was lost in disbelief. Meanwhile, Allison led Dustin in
Henry could no longer keep his composure. How dare a country bumpkin lay a hand on the goddess of Grayvale? To them, Rivenesco was nothing but a backwater village. What kind of talent could possibly come from Rivenesco? Nearly every young heir in the room wore the same expression of disdain mixed with indignation. How had this bumpkin managed to win her favor? The jealousy was palpable. “Well, if Miss McCall has acknowledged you herself, then you must be quite extraordinary. Welcome to Grayvale’s gathering,” Henry said and kept up a pretense of politeness. But as he turned his head, he shot a subtle glance at the two men behind him. “You’re from Rivenesco? What kind of talent could possibly come from that place? Hey, kid, have you even reached the fifth grade yet?” one of them asked and sneered. “Just because Mr. Henry is being polite doesn’t mean the rest of us are. If you’re not qualified, you don’t belong here. Not even Allison’s backing will change that.”
The man whose head had been wedged into the pillar was finally pulled free. He gasped for air as if he had nearly suffocated. Henry’s face darkened. “Mr. Dox, even if he struck you first, don’t you think your response was too harsh?” he said in displeasure. “Apologies,” Dustin said calmly, though his tone betrayed no real regret. “I didn’t expect the so-called prodigies of Grayvale to be this fragile. I only used ten percent of my strength.” Dustin had not exaggerated. In fact, the man had been defeated with far less than the claimed ten percent strength. The room erupted in murmurs at his casual remark, which sounded more like an insult to everyone in the venue. This gathering was full of the young prodigies from Grayvale’s most prestigious martial families, and Dustin’s remark came across as outrageously arrogant and utterly intolerable. “How dare a nobody from the countryside insult the young elites of Grayvale!” The crowd’s anger was unrestrained. Just then
Dustin and Julian quickly positioned themselves in front of the platform. Each clutched ten iron marbles in their hands. Julian wore a sly grin. This game was his specialty. He had mastered it to perfection. Not only did he plan to thoroughly humiliate Dustin, but he also aimed to strip him of his money and dignity in front of everyone. The amused expressions on Henry and the others’ faces were a testament to their unwavering faith in Julian’s skills. “Let the game begin!” someone shouted and signaled the start of the game. The participants had to throw all ten marbles within the allotted time. Scores would then be tallied, and final points would determine the winner and payout. Dustin did not bother with the larger holes on the platform. His gaze was fixed solely on the smallest one. The hole was barely wide enough to fit an iron marble. It was incredibly difficult to hit. But it was the highest-scoring target. It would score ten points if one succeeded. Dusti
Whoosh! The two marbles collided. Bam! One shattered on the spot, while the other remained intact and flew into the smallest hole. “Fustin earns ten points. Julian scores zero.” The crowd was stunned. Their faces darkened. It had happened once again… It was exactly like the last round. Julian looked perplexed, and so did Henry and his group. Their faces were all grim. “Are you sure you really switched them?” Henry asked in a low voice, and his brows furrowed. “I swear I switched them!” The man being questioned looked frantic. Henry glared at Dustin as his gaze grew intense. This kid... was hiding something. “Again!” Julian was visibly frustrated and unwilling to accept defeat. Whoosh! Bam! “Fustin earns ten points. Julian scores zero.” The result was the same again and again, and Julian’s face darkened further. He had never lost like this in this game before, even when facing someone stronger than him... This was utter humiliation.
Even though they all came from prestigious families, losing fifty million in one go, and with it, their dignity, would not go unnoticed by their elders. In previous games, the skill gap had been minimal, and the score difference was usually around ten points. But this time was different. Julian’s face darkened. The Ward family did not own big businesses, so while he could pay that amount, it would not be easy. “Julian, you’re not going to back out and refuse to pay, are you?” Allison asked. Julian grew increasingly uncomfortable. “I wouldn’t stoop so low as to avoid paying for such a small sum!” he retorted coldly. “It’s just a few million. I’ll have it delivered to your villa in two days,” he said dismissively and turned to leave. “I remember you all always settle these games on the spot. No delays, right?” Allison pressed and did not let him off the hook. Julian’s face shifted between frustration and embarrassment. He turned to the other young heirs.
Would Dustin and Simone be able to handle this? Simone panicked a little. For a moment, she was unable to handle the questioning of the media and the crowd. “I don’t have a medical license, but I don’t plan on seeing patients at Peace Hospital,” Dustin announced loudly. “As for the treatment of Mr. Vance, I only treated him because the family begged me to.” “Yeah, right! I’m sure that’s what happened! Since you’re not seeing patients and there are very few physicians at this hospital, you might as well close it down!” Clarence said with a laugh. “The hospital will not close its doors. We do not lack physicians.” “You don’t lack physicians? Do you think we’re all blind? Or did you come up with a bunch of quacks without medical licenses from somewhere?” A ripple of laughter rose from the crowd. Clarence was elated. He felt that he had thoroughly beaten Dustin and Simone. Dustin scoffed and looked at the street behind the crowd. There was the blare of car horns as
“The miracle doctor who cured Germaine Vance is here!” When Dustin and Simone showed up, the crowd immediately surged toward them. “There are so many people!” Simone was a little shocked. In the past three days, Simone had secretly been feeding Dustin’s reputation as a miracle doctor and pushing it all across Hattan. Even so, she had never expected it would garner such a huge response. “There are many patients, too. This is a good thing.” Everything was progressing nicely. “Will Dustin be able to handle so many patients?” David asked. Simone frowned. Dustin was not a robot. There was no way he could spend all day and all night just seeing patients. “Besides, we can’t take any patients other than the ones here for neurological issues because we don’t have any other physicians. In a few days, the hospital will be empty again.” With that, Simone’s mood was ruined again. The members of the main Langley family had arrived as well. The crowd at the entrance to P
“That hospital is an empty shell now. Let’s see how they make a comeback like this. I’m afraid just trying to limit the losses will be harder than fighting God!” As the main branch of the Langley family mocked Dustin, news about Germaine Vance spread. When they heard about what happened, they all shut up. They were stunned to the core. “Dustin saved the Vance family’s patriarch?” They all jumped up as though they had been struck by lightning. “How is that possible? Even Clarence didn’t know what his condition was. How could he have cured Germaine just like that?” The unacceptable thing was that Dustin had managed to get the Vance family to owe him a debt. This was the Vance family of Somerton, which used to be even more powerful than the four prominent families of the present! Even they had to suck up to the Vance family. However, they did not even have that chance! In an instant, the whole family fell quiet. After a long while, they composed themselves. “The Va
“My friend, you saved my father. I shall keep my promise and apologize to you on my knees!” Rowan walked up to Dustin and prepared to get down on his knees. “Forget it,” Dustin said. Rowan was a hot-blooded man. Rowan being willing to set aside his pride and apologize to Dustin, considering the position the Vance family held in society, was quite a feat. Dustin respected such a person. “Thank you!” Rowan looked grateful. He was a very important man in Somerton. If he really got down on his knees, his pride would not be able to take it. “The Vance family owes you a great debt! We will take my father home to rest. Later, we will come back and reward you greatly!” “There’s no need for that. Just pay the medical fees.” Dustin did not take the whole thing very seriously. Soon, the Vance family left. However, Rowan committed Dustin to memory. Dustin had miraculous medical skills. Plus, he had a very powerful martial artist at his beck and call. There was no w
“You should know where all the nerve centers are in the body, right?” Dustin asked. “I… I do…” “Good,” said Dustin and told her to step forward. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is he really going to let an intern physician treat Germaine? This is Germaine Vance of the Vance family!” Everyone was taken aback. They could not believe their eyes. “This is preposterous!” The other physicians felt skeptical. If Dustin wanted to pick someone to help, he should have picked a more experienced physician! Rowan’s expression was chilly, and he clenched his fists tightly. He was at the limit of his patience when it came to Dustin. Dustin ignored all these comments directed at what he was doing. He talked to the nervous intern physician for a bit and told her to clean Germaine’s mouth and nose. Then, he had her massage Germaine’s head at a few key nerve centers. The amount of pressure applied and the time needed in each area was different. After all that was done, Dustin h
Dustin moved to stand before Germaine and regarded him with his head lowered for a while. Then, he walked to the desk nearby and sat on a chair. “So? What’s the condition?” Rowan asked. “You won’t understand even if I told you. It’s a very rare condition. There’s something wrong with the old man’s cranial nerves,” Dustin said flatly. Dustin could tell that Germaine was skilled at fighting. Such people tended to put a lot of stress on their nerves all the time. In that way, they were very different from ordinary people. In rare cases, a light hit would result in a pinched nerve and might even cause paralysis. Germaine’s nerves were pinched so badly that his cranial nerves had been affected. Thus, he was paralyzed in several places, and it was affecting his whole body. As such, he had lost consciousness and fallen into a coma. Moreover, he was spitting out blood constantly. If he stayed in that condition for another fifteen minutes, Germaine’s life would be in dan
“What did you say?!” Rowan’s eyes widened as he was enraged. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please spare me.” Clarence quickly fell to his knees and bowed. The might of the Vance family and Rowan’s fierce reputation terrified him. ‘We’re done for…’ Simone thought. That was what the entire staff of the hospital thought. “You’re a quack!” Rowan yelled. “What kind of trash hospital is this that you can’t even deal with such a small problem? I’ll destroy this hospital!” Rowan’s tantrum made everyone go quiet. “What’s all this noise? Shut up!” said a sudden voice. Everyone froze as they looked toward the source of the voice. It was Dustin! He had actually dared to shout at Rowan! The hospital staff were surprised. Dustin really had a death wish. “Dustin, have you gone mad?” Simone was flabbergasted. She quickly tried to pull Dustin aside. Rowan was not someone they could afford to offend! “What did you say, punk?” Rowan’s eyes narrowed as anger exuded from him in
At the outpatient section of the neurology department, there was a group of suited men in sunglasses surrounding an unconscious old man. By the old man’s bedside, his family members looked anxious and worried. Rowan Vance was pacing the ward. His eyebrows were knitted tightly. That day, the Vance family was on a day out. When they passed through Hattan, Germaine Vance had suddenly collapsed and started coughing up blood. It scared the entire group. Panicked, they rushed him to the nearest hospital. But the neurologist at the hospital had already done some checks but was unable to find out what the problem was. He then said that he would get an expert to examine the patient. “If you can’t save him, we’ll use all the power of the Vance family to destroy this hospital!” Rowan said viciously. The nurses in the neurology department were so terrified that they all went pale. After a while, as the members of the Vance family stood around impatiently, Dustin and the others ar
Clarence and the others felt insulted. “Punk, don’t regret your choice later! Even if you beg us, we won’t come back!” “That’s not likely to happen,” said Dustin and chuckled. Clarence and the others were even more livid. They all packed up their things in a huff and got ready to go. Simone was anxious. She wanted to make them stay, but everyone ignored her.“Dr. Boudin! Dr. Boudin!” As Clarence and the others were packing up, another physician suddenly rushed into the room in a panic. “A new patient was just transferred from Goodwill Hospital. He’s in a coma, but he’s coughing up blood. The files say it’s a brain condition, but tests aren’t showing where the problem is. Please hurry and take a look! “The patient’s family seems important. If we can’t save the patient, they’ll ruin the hospital!” “Oh?” Clarence raised an eyebrow. He was just thinking about how he could make things worse for Dustin when an opportunity presented itself immediately. “Please hurry and