"You must have a death wish, old man!" Rodney sneered, watching Gordon stretch nonchalantly. Gordon glanced up at him with a twisted grin. "Young man, trying to provoke me before the fight even starts? Clever move, but it won't change the outcome—you'll still die." Rodney's face tensed, but he smirked coldly. "You want my life? We'll see if you have what it takes." With a low growl, Rodney charged forward, closing the distance in two powerful strides. He executed a low sweeping kick aimed at Gordon's legs, trying to break his balance. Andrew stood between Lauren and Francesca, shaking his head slightly. "Rodney sure lives up to his reputation as the heir of Madblade Martial Academy. His strategy is leagues better than what guys like Harvey would come up with. However, against absolute strength, strategy won't matter." Gordon's hunched figure, with a large lump on his back, made him seem slow and physically limited. Rodney's choice to target his legs first seemed smart—if he c
The students of Madblade Martial Academy erupted in anger, ready to charge forward to save Rodney. However, Ivan moved first, leaping in and catching Rodney before he hit the ground. "Mr. Sanford, are you alright?" Ivan asked urgently. Rodney gasped for air, his eyes bulging and his body trembling in fear. Finally managing to catch his breath, he stammered, "Mr. Lincoln… be careful. That old bastard is way too strong!" Aspen chuckled coldly. "Rodney, I warned you—you'd die an ugly death today. Even with Mr. Lincoln saving you, it's only delaying the inevitable. When I say you'll die, you will die." Rodney gritted his teeth, fury blazing in his eyes. "Aspen, you vicious bitch! Even if you've brought in a peak-level senior grandmaster, the Madblade Martial Academy would rather bleed than bow to you!" Aspen's smirk deepened, her voice icy. "Oh, is that so? Let's see if you still have that spine when I castrate you and make you beg for death." Ivan ignored the heated exchange a
After all, Ivan was not at the level that Tiana considered worth paying attention to. 'Once Gordon takes down that brute, the next target will be Andrew,' she thought coldly. 'When Gordon beats him bloody, Marvin and Lauren will be begging me to intervene.' Tiana's expression shifted slightly before she huffed softly under her breath. 'I can't let Andrew get killed outright. But I'll wait until Gordon cripples him first—then I'll step in.' A chilling smile tugged at her lips as she plotted. 'That way, Marvin will owe me a favor, and Andrew's future will be ruined. Once he's a broken man, Lauren will never think twice about him again.' She glanced over at Marvin, who seemed entirely unconcerned, even sipping his tea as if this were just a casual show. 'You've been the undisputed top dog in Jayrodale for too long, Marvin. That overconfidence will be your downfall.' Amused at the thought, Tiana eagerly awaited the moment when Gordon would crush Andrew. A loud boom echoed ac
The students of Madblade Martial Academy were furious, their eyes bloodshot as they watched Rodney being tortured as they shouted at Aspen. "Aspen, you bitch! Let go of Mr. Sanford right now!" "If anything happens to him, Madblade Martial Academy will never stop until your Bridgefields' Stevens family is destroyed!" Aspen sneered in disdain and slapped Rodney again, sending more blood splattering from his mouth. "Mr. Sanford!" Gordon stood calmly with his hands behind his back as if he did not even notice the outrage around him. "Take your time. Play with him however you like—until you've had your fun, and he's dead." He added, "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, no one in Jayrodale will dare stop you. Anyone who tries will die on the spot!" Though terrified of Gordon, some of the Madblade students were so enraged by Rodney's condition that they prepared to rush forward, ready to sacrifice everything to save him. Before they could act, Ivan clutched his chest and shouted
Rodney lay at Aspen's feet, his body soaked in blood, her triumphant stance making it clear who had the upper hand. Anyone who caught her gaze instinctively looked away, too afraid to meet her eyes. Gordon's overwhelming presence filled the air with dread, silencing even those who despised Aspen's arrogance. Though her words were infuriating, no one dared risk their lives for Rodney. Everyone valued their own survival too much to challenge Gordon. Mark finally spoke in a grave tone. "Aspen, that's enough. You've beaten him half to death. Whatever grudge you had with Madblade Martial Academy, I think it's time to put it to rest." Mark had never been fond of the academy, but as the city's mayor, he could not just stand by and watch Rodney be tortured to death by someone from out of town. Aspen chuckled softly. "Of course, Mr. Thatcher, I wouldn't dare disrespect your authority." "But tell me this—Rodney humiliated me and nearly ruined my reputation as a woman. Do you think a
Lauren frowned. "Looks like Aspen isn't satisfied with just humiliating Rodney. Now it seems like she wants to trample all over the pride of Jayrodale's martial arts community just to flaunt her arrogance." Francesca said with disdain, "I used to feel a bit sorry for her when Rodney took advantage of her. But now, it's clear—she's nothing but a troublemaker. Sooner or later, her pretty face will be ruined!" Gordon stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the crowd with contempt. "I've heard Gabo Creek's martial arts scene is full of heroes. In Bridgefields, I've already made my mark, and frankly, they weren't much. But at least there were a few iron-willed fighters. Coming to Jayrodale, I thought I'd encounter some worthy opponents. Turns out, this place is even worse than Bridgefields." His blatant mockery angered the crowd. The underground figures of Jayrodale, closely connected to the martial arts community and accustomed to settling disputes with their
Tiana scoffed but refrained from responding. If Andrew dared to step forward now, he would undoubtedly be beaten to death by Gordon. Aspen raised her voice. "Jayrodale's martial artists are nothing but cowards! In that case, Rodney, I'll castrate you and let you enjoy the feeling of seeing your family line extinguished!" Lifting her foot, she aimed a vicious kick toward Rodney's groin. Though barely conscious, Rodney managed to mutter, "If you've got the guts, just kill me. If you don't, I swear I'll take you down eventually." Ivan's expression turned grim. He knew that if he didn't intervene now, Rodney would be finished. But against Gordon, Ivan was no match. Any attempt to act would be futile. As for the students of Madblade Martial Academy, they stood even less of a chance. Any one of them would be swatted away like a fly by Gordon. "That's enough, Aspen," a calm voice rang out. "You've put on a show and achieved your goal. Let Rodney go now." Andrew finally spoke u
"What is this Dr. Lloyd thinking? Does he have a death wish?" "Standing up for Rodney like this—he must be tired of living!" "Aspen was already planning to wreck his medical center's reputation, and instead of hiding, he steps out to face her. That's some serious stubbornness!" The clueless onlookers began criticizing Andrew's decision to step forward. Even some from the underground community, unfamiliar with Andrew, assumed his actions were nothing short of suicidal. Dylan said, "Mr. Lloyd, let me handle this." Natasha added coldly, "No need for you to step in. Dylan and I can take care of this so-called master." Andrew sneered. "What so-called master? He's just a hunchbacked old fool. There's no need to make a big deal out of this." "You all stay out of it. I'll handle this myself!" Dylan and Natasha were momentarily stunned. Hunchbacked fool? Was he serious? While they knew Andrew was strong, Gordon was someone who hadn't even spared a sec
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
Mosby said, "I already drained most of the old man's strength with Ms. Garcia! And now you're just waiting on the sidelines to swoop in when it's safe. Don't you think that's rather shameless?" Andrew said flatly, "Judging others by your own petty standards—that's exactly the kind of person you are, Dr. Lake. If you're so upset about it, how about I release Mr. Keller Senior and let you try your luck? Let's see how easy that 'swooping in' really is." Mosby's expression instantly changed. He fell silent, visibly shaken by the idea. He still remembered almost getting killed by George just moments ago, and there was no way he wanted to flirt with death again. Andrew sneered, "Coward." Mosby snapped, "You insolent brat! How dare you insult me?!" Andrew could not be bothered to respond. He had no personal vendetta against the man, but after being provoked repeatedly, he was not going to sit there and take it either. "Logan, get Mr. Keller Senior into the room. I'm ready to begin
Logan shouted, his voice cracking, "Dr. Lake, get out of the way!" Mosby forced himself to stay conscious, pried his eyes open, and immediately saw death rushing at him. He screamed, "Mr. Keller Senior, please—spare me!" However, George had already charged in, eyes blood-red, and a brutal hand chop was aimed straight for Mosby's skull. If that blow landed, the so-called legend of Blumedale would die right here, with his head cracked open. Chantelle gritted her teeth and moved in without hesitation. Her long leg, clad in sleek, tailored slacks, swept out in a horizontal arc. George stumbled back two steps, let out a low, guttural growl, and immediately lunged at her instead. Logan shouted from the side, trying to talk his father down, yet it was useless. George had fully descended into a killing trance. "Dr. Lake, get clear!" Chantelle barked as she spun forward. Her pale, graceful hand landed squarely on George's shoulder, and with a sharp twist, she executed a perfect shoul
Logan instinctively stepped forward, panicked, ready to intervene. However, Andrew stopped him. "No rush. Mr. Keller Senior needs to burn off some of that energy first. That way, it'll be easier for me to treat him afterward." Logan's voice trembled. "Dr. Lloyd, my father is not going to get hurt, right?" Andrew smirked. "Relax. Mr. Keller Senior will be fine. If anyone's in danger, it's probably Dr. Lake." Mosby and George had already gone head-to-head in combat. However, George looked completely possessed, growling like a wild beast, clearly stripped of rationality. His physical strength was nothing short of monstrous. Every vase, table, and piece of furniture in the room that stood in his way was shattered to dust under his fists. He held nothing back. Chantelle's eyes widened. "That strength… Has Mr. Keller Senior reached martial king level?" Logan sighed, conflicted. "That was originally a tightly guarded secret of the Keller family. No outsiders were supposed to know.
Andrew waved a hand dismissively. "I don't have time to explain everything to you, and even if I did, you wouldn't understand it anyway. You just need to know this—if you want to save your father, then do exactly what I tell you to." Logan looked uncertain and shot a quick glance at Chantelle as if to ask, "Who is this guy you brought along, and what's with the ego?" Chantelle's face darkened. "Mr. Keller, this man is Andrew Lloyd—he came at Mr. McCormick's recommendation. But honestly, you don't have to take him seriously. Just carry on with your own plans—ignore him." However, Logan shook his head and turned toward Andrew. "Dr. Lloyd, go ahead. Tell me what you need. As long as it'll help my father, I'll make it happen." His respectful tone stunned Chantelle. She wondered if Logan was out of his mind for believing Andrew just like that. Andrew smiled. "My request is actually pretty simple. If I'm going to treat your father, I expect to be compensated. So, I want access to al
Chantelle could not lash out, so she gritted her teeth and quickly followed behind. Inwardly, she made a mental note to report this arrogant clown to Derek later. To her, Andrew was reckless, so full of hot air, and completely unworthy of trust—nothing but a showboating jester. … Inside the main hall of the Keller residence, the place was packed with people coming and going. A group of specialists and renowned doctors stood gathered, their brows furrowed as they exchanged anxious whispers. One commented, "Mr. Keller Senior's condition is strange—truly bizarre!" "Exactly. His entire face is paralyzed. Even his tongue won't move. He can't swallow even a spoonful of medicine!" Another chimed in, "And the worst part? No one can get within three feet of him. The second anyone tries, they get attacked—some left with cracked skulls, others… well, some didn't make it." "Jeez! That serious? Who would dare try to treat him now? No matter how much the Keller family is offering, it's no
Chantelle was behind the wheel while Andrew rode along in the passenger seat as they headed out to treat Derek's old friend, George Keller. The atmosphere inside the car was tense, with Chantelle's resting expression as frosty and detached as ever, her face practically carved from ice. Andrew was not the kind of guy to throw warmth at a wall of cold, so he simply stayed quiet, staring out the window at the passing streets. After holding back for a while, Chantelle finally could not resist and let out a mocking laugh. "Mr. Lloyd, what a clever move—create your own mess, then try to get Mr. McCormick to step in and clean it up for you. Don't you think you're playing with fire?" Andrew smiled. "Playing with fire? Nah, I don't see it that way. At this point, I'm pretty much one of Mr. McCormick's trusted men. So if the little guy's getting targeted, doesn't it make perfect sense for the boss to step in and fix it?" Chantelle was momentarily stunned before letting out a scoff. "An