Shiloh's voice remained calm as she said, "Neither the Wellers nor the Stevens have grasped what I truly practice. You are all too fixated on appearances." Christina could not help but interject, "Master Shiloh, even if you need money and believe that your teachings should be grounded in reality, then why not come to Stevens Corporation? We're willing to offer an even higher price." Aspen, growing anxious, quickly added, "Master Shiloh, you and I go way back! Just come to the Stevens instead. If it's money you want, Christie and I are willing to offer 50 million—no, 80 million!" However, Shiloh shook her head. "This isn't about money." Aspen and Christina instantly froze. They had refrained from mentioning money earlier, yet Shiloh had chosen to follow Andrew, who had offered payment. But now, when they were willing to pay even more, she suddenly claimed it was not about the money? Their minds felt like they were about to split apart. Why was a revered figure like Shiloh fa
Shiloh's bright eyes flickered with surprise. "You noticed? No wonder Cedric speaks so highly of you, Mr. Lloyd. Your insight is truly remarkable. You're right—I do have a condition. That's why, despite being over 80, I don't look my age." Andrew nodded but did not press further. That was her personal business, and prying any more would have been rude. Meanwhile, Aspen and Christina were fuming. Aspen stepped forward, blocking their path. "Master Shiloh, I just don't understand. Why would you choose to leave with Andrew over a mere 20 million?" Christina gritted her teeth. "Master Shiloh, we already told you—we're willing to offer you a better price. Why won't you accept our offer?" Shiloh's expression remained calm. "It's simple. Mr. Lloyd understands what I actually need, unlike you all, who keep making empty promises without any real grasp of my practice. But most importantly, Cedric told me that Mr. Lloyd is a remarkable physician. So I thought, perhaps he might be able t
Shiloh corrected him immediately. "Just call me Shiloh. I don't like being addressed in a way that makes me sound old. Also, while I once trained at Everglade Mountain, it was a temporary practice. "I never fully took vows—I'm merely a lay disciple, so you don't need to call me 'Master' or anything like that. And one more thing—I see myself as young. So don't call me by addresses that make me sound ancient. I won't remind you again!" Andrew chuckled and nodded. "Got it, Shiloh." He had never expected this woman to have quite a fiery temper. Then again, no woman liked being called old, so Andrew understood. Michael, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement. He could not believe it—Andrew had actually secured an endorsement from the most respected wellness expert in Jayrodale. For Rhodes Corporation's pharmaceutical division, this was nothing short of a miracle. Eager to please, he grinned and stepped forward. "Master Shiloh, this way, please!" Andrew si
Andrew led Shiloh toward the car, with Michael trailing behind. As they walked, Shiloh turned her head for one last look at the worn-down monastery. Her voice was soft as she mumbled, "Perhaps I won't be coming back here again." Andrew chuckled. "If you ever decide to return, I can have the entire place renovated for you. I'll get a team to rebuild it, plant some trees and flowers, and turn it into a beautiful retreat—maybe even a landmark in Jayrodale." Shiloh shook her head. "No need. I have no attachment to this place." Michael, unable to hold back his curiosity, blurted, "Mas—Uh… Shiloh, can you take off your veil?" He had almost called her "Master" again. That would have earned him another slap for sure. Shiloh remained indifferent. "No one is allowed to see my face. Especially men. If any man sees my real face, I'll kill him." Michael frowned. "Seriously? Just one look, and you'd kill someone? What are you, the queen of some ancient empire?" Shiloh cast him a col
Nonetheless, for the Wellers, their rise to power was the only thing that mattered. Harvey might have been a disgraceful excuse for a leader, but he was still the head of the family. One of the elder enforcers spoke in a cold voice. "Andrew, you know too much. That leaves us with no choice—we have to take you out." Andrew smirked. "Of course you do. That way, no one will ever know just how filthy the Wellers' secrets really are, right?" The two Wellers elders roared in unison, "Arrogant fool! Die!" Andrew casually lifted his foot and kicked Michael straight into them, sending him flying toward the two elders. One of the enforcers scoffed, effortlessly swinging a palm and smacking Michael aside like a ragdoll. His body went flying, landing in a heap—his fate unknown. Andrew's face turned cold. "Shiloh, get in the car. I'll handle the Wellers, and then we'll head back to Jayrodale." However, Shiloh stood her ground, completely unfazed. "No need for that. They came here to tak
The two Wellers enforcers exchanged uncertain glances, hesitation flickering in their eyes. "Even if she isn't a full-fledged martial king, she's definitely close—an elite martial artist at an unfathomable level. But something about this doesn't add up. Why would someone that powerful be hiding away in a rundown monastery in the Southern Highlands? "Not to mention, she was practically living in poverty. Someone of her caliber could easily dominate all of Jayrodale, if not the entire southern martial world. She should be one of the top three powerhouses, at the very least." Harvey sucked in a sharp breath. The next second, his jealousy exploded. He yelled, "Are you telling me that a martial king-level master just fell into Andrew's lap for free? Absolutely not! I don't care if I have to throw everything the Wellers have into it—I need to bring Shiloh into our ranks!" One of the enforcers shook his head and sighed. "Mr. Weller, if you don't want to die young, you'd best drop t
From the moment Shiloh first mentioned she was over 80, Andrew had suspected she suffered from a rare condition—one commonly known as the "ageless syndrome". As the name suggested, those affected by it never aged beyond a certain point. Looking at Shiloh, even with her veil on, Andrew could tell she had likely stopped aging in her early 20s—still in the prime of youth. To the outside world, ageless syndrome sounded like a blessing—eternal youth. Yet, in reality, for many who suffered from it, it was a nightmare. Some stopped growing as infants, toddlers, or even newborns, forever trapped in a child's body. On the other hand, Shiloh was one of the lucky few—she had at least matured into adulthood before her aging had frozen. Nonetheless, the ageless syndrome was not as wonderful as it seemed. Certain conditions—cold, extreme heat, or even specific lunar phases—could trigger unbearable pain, or worse, episodes of mental instability. In Shiloh's case, she was not just dealing wi
They chatted idly on the way back. Before long, they arrived in downtown Jayrodale, and Andrew drove straight to the Rhodes Corporation building, pulling up in front. A security guard jogged over with a big smile. "Mr. Lloyd, you're back!" As Andrew and Shiloh stepped out of the car, he handed over the keys to the guard and said, "Park it for me." The company's security guards practically worshiped Andrew now. Their respect for him was just as strong compared to Tiana's. "Of course, Mr. Lloyd, don't worry! I'll take good care of your car!" Just then, a weak knocking sound came from the trunk, along with what sounded like muffled cursing. However, with the noise of traffic all around, it was hard to make out. The security guard frowned and asked, "Uh… Mr. Lloyd, I think something's moving in the trunk." Andrew waved it off. "We picked up a wild boar on the way back. The kind that roams the mountains—mean as hell." The security guard's eyes widened. "A wild boar? Oh man,
Tiana said coldly, "And these last two are from Rhodes Corporation. Aspen, do you have any idea how much damage you've caused? Because of you, Rhodes Pharmaceutical has taken hit after hit. We're barely hanging on! "Now get lost. Go back to Bridgefields, and don't ever set foot in Jayrodale again. Otherwise, if I'm ever in a bad mood, I'll make sure to slap you every time I see you!" Exuding pure dominance, Tiana let out a disdainful scoff before turning on her heel and walking away with her entourage. Aspen collapsed to the ground like a pile of broken rubble. Her whole body trembled as tears streamed down her face. The pain was unbearable—not just physically, but mentally. "W-why… why did it come to this?" she choked out. "Why, of all people, is it me? First, Andrew torments me, and now Tiana! Why?" She lay there, shoulders shaking violently as sobs racked her body. Tiana had completely destroyed her face, but that was not the worst part—the worst part was that her spirit w
Christina gritted her teeth, refusing to say a word. She hated the idea that anyone could think she was beneath Andrew. Deep down, there was a dark, bitter part of her that would never accept that he was doing better than her. After all, admitting it would mean that leaving him had been a monumental mistake—one of the dumbest decisions she had ever made. Christina was too proud to ever acknowledge that. Even if she said it out loud, she would never truly believe it in her heart. Tiana scoffed. "Forget it. I only said all that because I found you incredibly irritating. But I'm actually here for Aspen." As she spoke, her icy gaze shifted to Aspen. Aspen, already trembling, started shaking even harder. She stammered, "M-Mrs. Rhodes, what can I do for you?" Tiana took two slow steps forward, her smile sharp and merciless. "I never expected the Stevens family to produce someone like you, nor did I think Zephyr would raise such a thieving daughter!" Aspen swallowed her anger an
Christina said flatly, "Let's grab a bite first. We can deal with everything else after. Andrew is even taking the people I set my sights on now. Fine. If he wants to force my hand, then I have no choice but to go against him." Aspen hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Christie, have you considered that maybe Andrew really isn't on the same level as us anymore?" Failing time and time again, getting crushed by Andrew repeatedly—it had shattered Aspen's once-proud and confident heart. Whenever she faced him, she found herself losing the drive to compete. Instead, she just wanted to keep her distance. Aspen did not want to admit it, but deep down, she knew she was scared of him now. Christina's voice was icy. "No. I don't think he's that impressive. I'll admit, he's changed. He's become more powerful and holds much more influence now. But I'll never bow to him. I'll prove to him that if he can thrive, I can do even better." Aspen parted her lips, about to say something when
Jamie gasped and immediately shouted for his men to stop. He stepped forward, and what he saw made his scalp tingle—curled up inside the trunk was a man so battered and bloodied that his face was completely unrecognizable. The man was barely clinging to consciousness, struggling to breathe. Jamie asked, "Sir, who are you? And why are you in Mr. Lloyd's car?" He kept his weapon pointed at the man, his tone sharp. "Where's the wild boar? Mr. Lloyd said he brought one back—did you let it escape?" Michael was already half-dead, barely holding on to his sanity. During the ride, he had vomited every last drop of fluid in his stomach, nearly passing out from exhaustion. When the trunk finally opened, he had been ecstatic, thinking he was finally free. Yet, before he could even take a breath, he was met with a brutal, merciless beating—one so bad that he nearly pissed himself. His hatred for Andrew burned so deep it could have swallowed him whole. He clutched his head and let out
Lauren assured him, "Don't worry, I'll get it done!" Andrew turned to Shiloh and asked, "As for where you'll stay… I have no idea where to put you. How about I just buy you a place?" Shiloh immediately shook her head. "No way! City housing prices are insane. I checked online, and in Jayrodale, it's over 15 grand per square foot. I'm not buying!" Andrew laughed. "Relax, I'll pay for it. You can just live there for free!" Shiloh shook her head even harder. "That's even worse! I don't like owing people!" Andrew felt a headache coming on. "Didn't you just make 20 million? Use your own money to buy a place." Shiloh's eyes burned with outrage. "Absolutely not! I just earned a fortune, and the first thing you want me to do is dump it into real estate? Mr. Lloyd, you've got capitalism running through your veins. Evil, evil, big bad energy—do you get that?" Andrew just stared at her, speechless. He had no counter for that. Meanwhile, Lauren could not hold it in anymore. She doub
Shiloh nodded. "Fine, I'll give you some leeway. But I act based on my mood. If I'm in a bad mood, even you won't be spared." Andrew raised his hands in surrender and chuckled nervously, saying, "Whatever you say. So please, make sure to stay in a great mood!" Lauren was drowning in work, her stress levels through the roof. However, the moment she saw Andrew walk in, she immediately brightened up and was about to greet him with a kiss. Then, her gaze shifted, and she spotted Shiloh standing behind him. She asked, "Dr. Lloyd, is this the wellness guru, Ms. Shiloh Greene?" Lauren, all warmth and enthusiasm, stepped forward with a bright smile and extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Lauren Rhodes, Dr. Lloyd's girlfriend." Shiloh reached out and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Rhodes." Andrew noticed something odd—Shiloh did not seem nearly as distant with Lauren as she had with everyone else. That made him curious. "Shiloh, you seem to like Lauren, don't you?" Shiloh answe
The elevator bell rang, and the doors slid open. Andrew stepped out with Shiloh, walking toward Lauren's office under the employees' curious gazes and polite greetings. On the way, they ran into Tiana. She eyed Shiloh up and down, her gaze carrying a hint of doubt as she asked, "Mr. Lloyd, is this the Master Shiloh you went to recruit?" Andrew nodded. "That's right, this is Ms. Shiloh Greene." He secretly let out a breath of relief—he had almost called her Master again. The last thing he wanted was to end up like Michael, who got slapped across the face for it. Tiana, exuding her usual cold and commanding presence, stepped closer to Shiloh and said, "Take off your veil. Let me see what you look like. If you're going to represent Rhodes Corporation, you can't be someone who doesn't look the part." Shiloh met her gaze calmly and replied, "Wearing a veil won't stop me from endorsing your products." Tiana's brows furrowed, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "Even so, I'd st
They chatted idly on the way back. Before long, they arrived in downtown Jayrodale, and Andrew drove straight to the Rhodes Corporation building, pulling up in front. A security guard jogged over with a big smile. "Mr. Lloyd, you're back!" As Andrew and Shiloh stepped out of the car, he handed over the keys to the guard and said, "Park it for me." The company's security guards practically worshiped Andrew now. Their respect for him was just as strong compared to Tiana's. "Of course, Mr. Lloyd, don't worry! I'll take good care of your car!" Just then, a weak knocking sound came from the trunk, along with what sounded like muffled cursing. However, with the noise of traffic all around, it was hard to make out. The security guard frowned and asked, "Uh… Mr. Lloyd, I think something's moving in the trunk." Andrew waved it off. "We picked up a wild boar on the way back. The kind that roams the mountains—mean as hell." The security guard's eyes widened. "A wild boar? Oh man,
From the moment Shiloh first mentioned she was over 80, Andrew had suspected she suffered from a rare condition—one commonly known as the "ageless syndrome". As the name suggested, those affected by it never aged beyond a certain point. Looking at Shiloh, even with her veil on, Andrew could tell she had likely stopped aging in her early 20s—still in the prime of youth. To the outside world, ageless syndrome sounded like a blessing—eternal youth. Yet, in reality, for many who suffered from it, it was a nightmare. Some stopped growing as infants, toddlers, or even newborns, forever trapped in a child's body. On the other hand, Shiloh was one of the lucky few—she had at least matured into adulthood before her aging had frozen. Nonetheless, the ageless syndrome was not as wonderful as it seemed. Certain conditions—cold, extreme heat, or even specific lunar phases—could trigger unbearable pain, or worse, episodes of mental instability. In Shiloh's case, she was not just dealing wi