Finley's eyelid twitched violently. "What do you mean by that? I'm warning you—don't go spreading rumors!" Andrew chuckled. "Oh, it seems Mr. Moore values his reputation quite a bit. But here's the thing—this is my Moonlit Apothecary. You've eaten and drunk here without paying, and that's just unacceptable." He leaned in a little and added with a smirk, "All it takes is one loud announcement from me, and soon, everyone in Jayrodale will know you're nothing more than a broke freeloader. Think about your uncle's reputation!" Finley's expression darkened further as Andrew casually said, "So, Mr. Moore, why not save face and swipe that card? Or perhaps consider applying for a loan?" At the mention of Hidden Dragons' reputation, the faces of the other gang members grew serious. They could tolerate embarrassment, but their leader's reputation? That was sacred. "Mr. Moore, just pay something. It's not worth the fallout." "Yeah, if word gets out that Hidden Dragons can't even cover
Andrew sighed dramatically. "I can't believe it. You have a Hidden Dragons boss as your uncle, yet you can't even manage 50 million. Fine, I'll lower it to 30 million." "30 million? Forget it! If you're going to keep pushing, then do it. I'd rather risk my life!" Finley snapped. Andrew chuckled. "Alright, alright, you look like you're about to pass out. Let's settle on five million. Honestly, you're the poorest and stingiest of all the guests today, Mr. Moore." In the end, after some intense back-and-forth, Finley begrudgingly transferred five million to Andrew. He stared at his phone screen, watching his balance drop, and felt his heart bleed. Five million gone over a single simple banquet—it was a humiliation he could not swallow. The moment the transfer came through, Francesca promptly confiscated it. "This isn't some secret fund, Andrew. It's part of the collection, so I'll keep it for proper accounting," Francesca said with a playful grin. "You're not getting it back!
Aspen strode confidently to the center of the banquet, her expression cold and unforgiving. She swept a glance over the gathered crowd and sneered. "Looks like today's a good day. Jayrodale's most prominent figures are all here. Perfect timing—I'll make sure everyone knows that the Stevens family from Bridgefields always collects their debts." However, Christina and her family looked increasingly nervous. Christina whispered urgently, "Aspen, you might want to reconsider. Even Jayrodale's wealthiest man is here today. You're playing with fire!" Irene glanced around nervously. "How on earth did that loser Andrew manage to gather such a crowd? These people aren't ones to mess with!" Leroy clutched Irene's arm, his legs shaking. "Mom, I feel like fainting. Oh my God, look! Even Natasha and Dylan are here—those two are killers, legends in the underground world of Jayrodale!" Their initial confidence quickly evaporated. They had arrived intending to support Aspen and demand rev
"Mr. Moore, that hunchbacked old man looks like he's reached the level of a senior grandmaster," one of the Hidden Dragons experts whispered. "No, not just senior grandmaster—he's probably at the peak, capable of taking lives with a mere flick of his finger!" "Hah, Moonlit Apothecary is in big trouble now. I've been saying that Andrew can't go around making enemies without someone eventually coming to settle the score." The Hidden Dragons experts exchanged smug glances, their eyes gleaming with schadenfreude. Finley sneered, his jaw tightening. "Just wait. Today, not only will Moonlit Apothecary be wrecked, but that loser Andrew will probably be lucky to survive this." Finley sensed the overwhelming danger emanating from Gordon. Although he could not pinpoint who the man was, his instincts screamed that Gordon was not someone to provoke. If Finley had been in Andrew's shoes, he would have run without a second thought. Natasha's voice sliced through the tension. "Aspen, tak
Finley scoffed, shocked that Andrew was actually trying to fleece five million out of Aspen. He could not help but think Andrew's greed was going to be the death of him. Irene stood with her hands on her hips, smirking. "Andrew, you've got quite a show going today, but let me tell you something—our family may not have brought a large crowd, but we're not someone you can push around!" Leroy puffed up his chest and added, "Yeah! Aspen's got top family fighters with her. You're in for a world of pain soon!" "Shut up, both of you!" Christina snapped, her brow furrowed in frustration. "Why should we?" Irene huffed. "With Aspen backing us, I've got every right to show off a little!" She crossed her arms and scowled. "Besides, look at this fancy medical center Andrew's opened. It's practically a luxury resort. I can't stand the thought of him living it up like this!" Leroy nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Andrew dumped you, and now he's thriving—first buying that fancy Mercedes, and now
"Dr. Lloyd, Aspen and Christina seem prepared for something serious. We need to be cautious," Lauren warned, her voice tinged with concern. Francesca nodded in agreement, her brows furrowed. "Aspen's always been proud and arrogant. She wouldn't dare show up here and threaten to ruin Moonlit Apothecary unless she had absolute confidence in her backing." Andrew smiled faintly. "Her confidence comes from that hunchbacked old man standing behind her. His skills are decent. In Jayrodale, there might not be many who could stand against him." Lauren's eyes widened in surprise. "That old man? He looks so frail he can barely walk. I didn't think he'd be a master fighter!" Francesca's worry deepened. "That just makes it worse, Andrew. Aspen's failures here have already filled her with resentment. I'm worried that after dealing with Madblade Martial Academy, she'll turn her attention to you." Andrew snorted, a hint of disdain tugging at his lips. "Sure, he might be formidable to others
Andrew spoke calmly, "Ivan has solid expertise in hard martial techniques. With his aggressive internal boxing style, he might hold his ground against that hunchback for a while. But if the fight drags on, that old man will use his superior stamina to gain the upper hand—he's adept at controlling internal energy flow." On the VIP platform, Tiana said flatly, "That Madblade Martial Academy guy is going to suffer today." Marvin chuckled. "Not many know this, but Cedric and I are well aware of your talents, Mrs. Rhodes. You've always been a martial arts genius. Who do you think that girl from Bridgefields is relying on?" Cedric nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Back then, you were one of Jayrodale's most celebrated women. Even Kane from the Weller family admired you. We'd appreciate your insights." Tiana smiled arrogantly. "Those days are long gone now that I'm a wife and mother. But since you asked, I'll share what I know." She turned her gaze toward Gordon and explained, "That man
"Heh, Mr. Yates, your money might be able to move mountains, but Aspen's threat is right here and now!" Tiana said with a cold smirk, clearly annoyed. "Once they deal with the Madblade Martial Academy fighters, Aspen will turn his sights on Andrew." She continued, "Even if you throw a fortune around right now, by the time your reinforcements show up, your prized pawn will already be on his knees, begging for mercy!" Cedric frowned. "If Gordon gets too out of hand, aren't you going to step in?" Tiana gave a playful but sharp smile. "Why would I? The Bridgefields' Stevens family has done me no harm. Why should I get involved in their business?" Cedric's voice became more serious. "You're still from Jayrodale, Mrs. Rhodes. Are you really going to stand by and watch Gordon run wild in your own city? And what about Dr. Lloyd? He and Lauren are close. Surely, for their sake, you'd lend a hand?" Tiana gave an icy snort. "Mr. Yates is right here. He's the boss around here, and he has
"No, that's not my kink." Chantelle's voice was sharp as she glared at him with clenched teeth. "I just figured that if you were stupid enough to try something on me, I'd finally have a reason to end you myself." Andrew raised a brow, still amused. "Can I ask… have you ever actually dated anyone before?" Her tone went cold. "Once. It didn't last." "Only once?" Andrew said, surprised. "Sounds like the guy couldn't keep up." Chantelle gave a humorless laugh. "He couldn't. Before we got together, I made the rules clear—no touching without permission. But that jerk was even worse than you. "The moment we were official, he tried to grab my chest and whispered disgusting things. So I broke both his arms, shattered his legs, and dumped him into the water." Andrew winced. "So… you killed the guy?" She scoffed. "I wanted to. Unfortunately, he got lucky. Some fishing boat pulled him out of the water before he drowned." Andrew shook his head. "Still can't figure out how Mr. McCormi
"Not many people have legs that can rival yours," Andrew admitted, gaze trailing down. "But as it happens, I know one. Lauren Rhodes—the Rhodes family's eldest daughter. Her legs are… something else." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "I've heard of her. But you're talking like you've seen them for yourself." Andrew smirked. "Oh, I haven't just seen them. I've felt them." Their back-and-forth continued as Chantelle's layers disappeared one by one until she stood in only her undergarments. She took a deep breath, wanting desperately to disappear. After all, it was the final layer, and her private parts would be exposed. Andrew's voice cut in, calm as ever. "If I may suggest… start with the top." Chantelle glared. "Why?" He replied evenly, "Because if I'm not impressed, I might not ask for anything more." Surprisingly, that made some kind of warped sense. If this shameless man found her average, maybe—just maybe—she would not have to bare it all. Chantelle took a breath, bit
Just the word 'strip' was enough to make Chantelle's face instantly flush a deep red. She never imagined that one day, she would be forced to strip in front of a man, especially one she had always looked down on and dismissed without a second thought. She noticed Andrew adjusting a phone on a stand nearby, and a sudden wave of dread washed over her. "What are you doing? Don't tell me you're planning to record this," she said, her voice sharp with suspicion. Andrew nodded with satisfaction, checking the perfect angle on his phone. "Of course. A beautiful moment like this deserves to be captured. This way, I can replay it whenever I feel nostalgic." Chantelle's eyes flared with anger and embarrassment. "You're lucky I'm even letting you look. Recording it? Forget it." Andrew shrugged casually. "I knew you'd say that. That's why the setup's just for show. Now… your performance, if you would." He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, expression smug. Chantelle's fingers tr
"Dr. Lake, if you want to add more, go ahead," Richard replied coldly over the phone. "Money talks—and the more you offer, the faster that punk dies." … "Andrew, going up against Mosby brings you nothing but trouble," Chantelle said with a frown as they drove. Andrew's tone turned sharp. "He's the one who keeps provoking me—I didn't ask for this." Chantelle shook her head. "Even so, you should've handled it with more discretion. Mosby's been in Blumedale for years. His connections, his influence—you can't just sweep that aside. "Even if you want to challenge his reputation in the medical field, it doesn't have to happen overnight." Andrew scoffed. "Mosby? A respected authority? Let me be blunt, Ms. Garcia—you won't believe me, but to me, Mosby's just another loudmouthed nobody." Chantelle blinked, then let out a laugh, though it was laced with anger. "You're right. I don't believe you." Sure, Andrew had performed brilliantly today by saving George, and it was indeed an i
"Andrew, do you even realize you're playing with fire right now?" Chantelle, just about to start the car, froze and turned to him with furious eyes. Andrew raised a brow with a smirk. "What's wrong? Is the great Ms. Garcia—the darling of Mr. McCormick—planning to go back on her word now?" Chantelle stiffened, her face darkened, clearly ready to argue back. Before she could, a crowd had already gathered around the vehicle. "Dr. Lloyd, please wait—we have some medical puzzles we'd love your insight on!" Someone said, "Your skills today were extraordinary, Dr. Lloyd. I'd be honored to call myself your student!" "Who would've thought that someone like you would appear in Blumedale? One day, Dr. Lloyd, you'll be leading all of Gabo Creek Province's medical field!" Even Andrew had not expected this wave of praise. These elite doctors had specifically come to celebrate his success, and he was rather amused. "Please, everyone, make way. My medical skills really aren't anything sp
"So I had to take a different approach to get the medicine into his system," Andrew said calmly. As he spoke, he picked up the large bowl of herbal decoction Chantelle had prepared and placed it over the flame. The concoction soon began to boil, releasing a rich herbal aroma as steam filled the room. The medicated vapor slowly rose and enveloped George's entire body. Mosby scoffed. "And here I thought it was some groundbreaking technique—turns out it's just herbal steaming! Even I can do that." Everyone could tell he was just trying to stay relevant. Normally, his usual entourage of bootlickers would have chimed in with praise. But this time, no one said a word. Mosby turned to look behind him, only to see that the doctors who once flocked around him were now focused entirely on Andrew, their expressions full of admiration. They had already dismissed Mosby completely as if he were no longer in the room. "You'll need to do this treatment once every three days," Andrew instruc
Logan was stunned. He rushed forward in shock. "Father, you're awake?" George forced a small smile. "Not only am I awake, but I've never felt this clear-headed before. It even feels like my martial cultivation just had a breakthrough!" The crowd of expert doctors, including Chantelle and Mosby, was frozen in place, completely dumbfounded. No one could utter a single word, as they were too stunned to react. Andrew gestured for Logan to help George onto the couch, smiling as he said, "Mr. Keller Senior, the energy corruption has already been cleared from your system. Now you'll just need some medication to aid your recovery, and your body should return to normal. "However, your vitality and spiritual energy were badly depleted—it'll take a few months to fully recover." George looked at Andrew with genuine admiration. He asked Logan to help him sit up, then turned solemnly and said, "I'm already grateful just to be alive. But to come out of this without losing an ounce of my life
Mosby explained, "But undoubtedly, his mind must be utterly exhausted and his spirit completely drained! Whether or not he wakes up will be the real challenge. If he doesn't regain consciousness, he'll become nothing more than a hollow shell." As he spoke, he cast a deliberately sinister glance at Andrew. If George remained in a vegetative state, then Andrew would not just be blamed—he would probably be executed on the spot by the Keller family. Yet right then, Logan turned to Andrew with genuine sincerity and said, "Andrew, all of us in the Keller family saw what you did for my father. Don't worry—even if he doesn't wake up, you'll still be honored as a benefactor of our family." Mosby could not believe what he was hearing. "Mr. Keller, how can you say that? If Mr. Keller Senior doesn't wake up, Andrew should be held accountable for a grievous crime!" Logan, however, had already seen through Mosby's jealousy and hostility toward Andrew. He responded calmly, "Mr. Lake, this is
Andrew ignored all the shouting around him without batting an eye. Once everything he requested had been brought in, he began the treatment without delay. "Mr. Keller Senior, brace yourself for some pain," he warned calmly. With that, he slowly inserted golden needles into the top of George's head. Chantelle's voice turned serious. "Andrew, the head is the most delicate part of the human body. It's where the nerves are most complex—what you're doing could have serious consequences." Andrew replied evenly, "Mr. Keller Senior's condition stems from a mental collapse, and the mind resides in the thoughts—the thoughts in the brain. So, treatment has to start there." As he explained, his hands moved with precision. Soon, the crown of George's head, right in GV20, was covered in golden needles. Then, he pressed two acupoints on George's chest with careful control. A flicker of relief finally appeared on George's agonized face. Logan asked cautiously, "Andrew, why did you target