Frank puffed his chest confidently. "It's simple—I will cure Jaden, while you tell me where the chief of the Martial Alliance is. How about that?""Pfft."Lubor was laughing as soon as Frank finished, watching him in glee. "Mr. Lawrence, do you think we are as stupid as you are? Who would believe your bullshit? I've said many times—the Soulbleeder is a novelty Hundred Bane Sect created, and only our elders can stop it. Watch out, or you'd bite your tongue if you keep making shit up."Frank remained calm despite Lubor's scorn, shaking his head as he said, "I can see that you are caught in a dilemma, Mr. Favoni. So how about this? Take me to your son, and you tell me where the chief of the Martial Alliance is if I succeed. If I don't, I will take responsibility… though I'd be infected too and die for my lies anyway. How about that?"Chet paused at Frank's confident offer.It was only natural that he did not want to hand over the chief of the Martial Alliance to Hundred Bane Sect. Af
Frank followed the Favonis to a smaller building to the back, and he could see Abel being surrounded by everyone even before he entered.He stood on the edge of the group, refraining from greeting Abel since the two Favoni sentries before were watching him.They only allowed Frank to wait instead of meddling.After all, they were told that Jaden Favoni, the star of the family's younger generation, was now half-dead because of Frank.Even if Frank had cleared his name and proved he was not some despicable poisoner, the Favonis still extended the blame to him.And whatever the higher-ups said was naturally taken way more seriously by the minions, which was why these sentries were hostile toward Frank.There were even Favoni martial artists who came, sizing up Frank to see if he really was that good. If anything, a fight would have started if those two sentries did not stop them.As such, in contrast to the respect and humility afforded to Abel, Frank was kept on a tight leash, not
"Master Edon! He's causing trouble on our turf!""Yeah! He's out of line!""We don't have to tell anyone. Let's teach him a lesson to remember!""Silence!"Edon could certainly tell what happened but did not apologize to Frank.Instead, he snapped coolly at the Favoni martial artists, "Every guest deserves a proper respect, or people would laugh at us. Now, leave!""But, sir…""What?!" Edon glared at the Favoni martial artist furiously. "Are you disobeying my orders?!"Seeing that Edon was not giving ground, the Favoni martial artists could only leave, though not without shooting dirty looks at Frank while they did.Then, Edon turned toward Frank. "Mr. Lawrence, please understand this—no matter how you see us, it's still not up to you to lecture our apprentices."And with that, he turned to leave.Frank could certainly see that Edon did not think highly of him too.And now that Abel was here, Frank's offer to cure Jaden Favoni was inconsequential. After all, the Favonis cer
The two Favoni sentries were laughing so hard at Frank's boasting that their stomachs hurt."Come on, kid. Are you right in the head?""Shush, just give it up. Let him live in his own world. Abel Loggins kneeling to him? Pfft…"After all, Abel Loggins, kneeling to some unknown kid who was merely unusually pompous?However, Frank was dead serious, smiling as he continued, "If I'm wrong, I will kowtow to you, and you can do anything to me as you see fit."Then, glancing between them, he added, "But if I'm right… You will both go down on all fours and crawl from here to the front doors of this residence while barking like dogs do. How about that?"Both Favoni sentries spaced out for a moment, seeing that Frank was serious.They could actually feel butterflies in their stomach when they saw Frank's vague smile—he was clearly luring them into a trap.However, the bet was ridiculous in itself too.After all, Abel Loggins, the most famous healer in Morhen, kneeling to Frank and askin
Considering Abel's importance, the Favonis would just be getting themselves into trouble if they upset him.What if Abel simply up and left? Who would they go to at that point—Frank Lawrence?Nonetheless, Abel zoned out for a moment. "Zamri, you say?"He was naturally aware that Frank had been staying in Zamri recently but was afraid to confirm it as he could see the Favonis' attitude.He nodded, putting aside the questions he had as he remained curious—there were plenty of people in Zamri but not that many who could strut in the Favonis' own turf."Hehe. This way please, Mr. Loggins." Chet Favoni led Abel through into a traditionally decorated cottage.As soon as the doors opened, the oncoming scent of medicinal herbs was so strong that Abel's nostrils twitched."Hmm? Drakedrool, cranepore…" As Abel quickly identified over ten natural wonders accurately, Chet and Edon's smiles visibly broadened.One could really easily tell if a person was an expert—the man certainly inspir
It was a gruesome sight that left Abel's heart skipping a beat.He could tell just from Jaden's face that he would die soon, what with the necrosis setting in and the blackness all over his brow.What on earth was he poisoned with? He was clearly a dead man walking and just might breathe his last breath at the very next instant!"Mr. Loggins, what do you think?" Chet asked urgently.Jaden was his son and the hope of his family, and his heart could break seeing Jaden like that."Patience, Mr. Favoni," Abel said, but sweat was seeping over his brow.While he thought there was hope before, it had certainly vaporized as his heart sank to rock bottom now.Just from Jaden's face, even his mentor might not be able to help here, let alone himself."Urgh…"Abel sighed as everyone looked on. "The poison has already reached his organs, probably perforating his stomach. He's now breathing his last breath, and all I can do is try to keep him alive. As for his cultivation…"His diagnosis l
Every needle Abel inserted was focused and precise.As he inserted the last one through Jaden's chest, the blackness around his cheeks miraculously diminished, and his breathing stabilized considerably as well."Huh?" Surprised showed on Lubor's face as he watched from the distance.At the same time, Abel took out a yellow pill the size of a grape and inserted it into Jaden's mouth. "This is an antidote pill—it won't be as effective as the ones my mentor cooked, since it's just a duplicate that Loggins Apothecary developed by imitating a sample."And soon after Abel helped Jaden take that pill, it quickly vaporized into a yellow puff of smoke as everyone looked on and flowed down Jaden's throat.Despite being unconscious, Jaden coughed twice, and his cheeks flushed."It works! You're amazing, Mr. Loggins! You were just being humble before!"Seeing that his son was recovering, Chet was beside himself with excitement. In fact, he was ready to prostrate himself before Abel in gra
However, even as Jaden turned quiet, his skin complexion was a terrible black and his breathing much weaker. In fact, he was only exhaling without breathing in."Mr. Loggins, what's happening here?!"Chet was utterly confused—how did his son's condition deteriorate so soon after showing signs of recovery?!"Let me see!" Abel pulled out the needle he just inserted into Jaden's throat, his face falling as he weighed the needle between his palms."What's wrong, Mr. Loggins?!" Chet asked, hurrying to his side.Some distance away, Edon was zoning out, as he remembered Frank warning him not to let Abel touch the needles he inserted into Jaden directly.That skin contact was enough to transmit the poison."Mr. Loggins!" Edon could not help shouting just then."Huh?!"Both Abel and Chet turned to find Edon standing there, holding out his hand toward them.However, even as Edon was going to relay Frank's warning, he suddenly changed his mind—would Abel really be unaware of the nat
Frank's words left the white-clad geezer sweating down his back.Even he had to admit that the brat projected a menacing presence that intimidated even him! "Are you really going to do this?!" he snarled through his teeth nonetheless.He certainly would not have caused trouble if he had known that he would run into someone as powerful as Frank in this place.And now, forget revenge—they had nowhere to run.But as if bothered that the white-clad geezer was not dead already, his entourage kept adding fuel to the fire."What's the problem, sir?""It's obvious that he wouldn't win against you. Why are you getting cold feet?'At this sage, the white-clad geezer had nothing to hide and bellowed, "All you know is revenge! Do you even know your level compared to his?!"Forget you lot—no martial artist would ever win against that man! "Let me put it to you this way—there aren't more than a hundred individuals who could defeat me in this country. Not only is he among that hundred, bu
However, Frank was already prepared.He silently sent a tremor of the same frequency down under, nullifying the white-clad geezer's tremor with ease.Hence, before anyone realized what had happened, the white-clad geezer already realized that he would not win against Frank! Unlike her niece, the white-clad geezer had been traveling all his life. He understood that while earthbending was amazing, it was hardly invincible.A technique was just a technique, and nothing more. It came with its deficiencies, depending on the way it was wielded, and prodigies were completely on a different level compared to them—in fact, the white-clad geezer was recently beaten by another youth.Even if it rarely happened in a small town like Shagan, it happened all the time among martial artists and the like. Youth surpassed all—was there any martial artist worth their salt who did not understand that the kids would eventually surpass them?"Let's go!"Without hesitation, the white-clad geezer was
As it turned out, the white-clad geezer did not return for revenge.People change as they age, along with their mindset, and develop a longing for their hometown.In fact, the white-clad geezer had returned to make peace with his family, and died in their company.Naturally, he was furious to hear that someone was using his name to bluff their way out and abduct his niece, the hag.And so he came with the rest of them, looking for Frank.After all, if Frank was not sent by the white-clad geezer, the only other person would be…-Back at the present, the white-clad geezer growled icily, "Where is my niece?"Frank smirked. "She paid the price for her crimes. What, do you want revenge?""A life for a life," the white-clad geezer growled. "That's the one rule that has never changed since olden times!"His entourage roared in approval. "Don't get so full of yourself, brat! He is different from the rest of us, and he can kill you anytime!""Really?" Frank simply snorted nonchalant
As the geezer spoke, he opened the rosewood box and put an ashtray in it. "I actually don't have any abilities—everything I make is produced from this box. With its help, I can imbue any object with an enchantment beyond human comprehension. See for yourself!"He closed the box and held it by its sides as the box glowed in a rainbow gradient.Frank felt a sense of familiarity as he watched, as the energy signature resembled the spiritron vein, but one different from the meteor.So what the heck was going on?While Frank was left surprised, the geezer stopped and opened the box, handing Frank the ashtray.As Frank held the ashtray, he saw that it really was altered—it could carry more now!The geezer then passed him a yellowed old book. "This is how you can use it!"Frank frowned. "Why are you giving it to me? I can't take it, or people would just say that I stole it from you when they find out."The geezer smiled in wry amusement. "It's yours either way, kid! And after you've d
To be honest, the hag really had not considered that question and was just playing along to her own whims, never once considering why she was such a philanderer.Frank then pressed his advantage. "Your so-called love is but a manifestation of your lust. It seems noble, but it has no warmth or color, and the world has no way of determining if it exists."If I want it, I can do what you do too. Heck, I'm sure that's the same for everyone else—they're just kind people who know that they shouldn't hog the limited resources of mental asylums.""Insolence!"The hag lunged at Frank as she realized that he was mocking her, but Frank was already prepared and pinned her to the floor with his telekinesis."Alright, you can quit hollering now. The more you do, the more you're just proving that you've lost!"Crouching in front of the hag, Frank growled coolly. "Did you think I'd only rely on brute strength to force your compliance? You're kidding—I don't even need to do that with someone like
It was just as the geezer had said—the hag had been pampered for so long that she could not tell right from wrong.In fact, in her mind, everything she did was never wrong and was even reasonable!That was what frustrated the geezer the most, and he simply stopped arguing and started whipping her with his belt.Pain really clears the mind, and the hag was no exception. In fact, she thought for a split second that she might have made a mistake.However, it only lasted for that split second—a little whipping was never really going to correct a lifetime of distorted beliefs!"I don't get it!" she cried. "Why do you treat my love with such disdain?! You don't have to love me, but you have to respect me!" The geezer laughed coolly and continued to whip her as he snapped, "That's true! But now, what I say goes—that's all there is to it!"That was when Frank suddenly reached out and caught the belt.It stunned the geezer, who quickly checked Frank's hand, and sighed after seeing that
It had been so long since he had seen his enemy, that the geezer almost fell out of his lounger.If he were to be honest, he really did not hold out much hope since it had been years, and no one lasted more than twenty strikes against the hag.However, while he was convinced that his revenge was futile in this life, Frank suddenly appeared.While he looked like he had nothing but his looks going for him, he brought the hag like she was some harmless hatchling."H-How did you do it?" the geezer exclaimed, presuming that Frank must have pulled some cunning trick.However, the geezer was once again reminded of the hag's conceit as she snorted. "How, you asked? With just a wave of his hand, and I lost!"Turning to Frank, she snapped, "There, he had his justice. Can you tell my uncle to show his face now?"Frank rolled his eyes. "I don't know your uncle. I only brought you here because of him!""No… That's impossible!" The truth was starting to dawn on the hag, but she still refus
"H-How did you do that?!"While the cabal was left flabbergasted, the hag was much calmer for some reason.After all, her father had told her about an uncle of hers, who had left the family because they kept abusing their earthbending ability.It was rumored that the uncle eventually cultivated a superior ability, fusing things that would otherwise not be just like what Frank just did.As such, she told her cabal as much, but Frank shook his head. "I learned your technique by directly observing you when you used it. And by doing so, I found a fatal flaw, which I adjusted for."He certainly did not have anything to do with the hag's uncle—he was just that quick a learner and that gifted to wield earthbending in an instant.Naturally, the hag was not about to believe that.No matter how gifted a person could be, there was no way anyone could learn earthbending instantly and even perfect it. In the end, someone must have taught him!As such, she was starting to get impatient with
Before the cabal could react, molehills appeared beneath their feet and sent them flying.Most passed out when they hit the ground, while the rest were barely holding on."W-Who the hell are you?!" The cabal had grown conceited since they did not have many rivals in a remote corner such as this one, and they therefore presumed that no one could challenge them.And now, they could not win with numbers against Frank, let alone one against one.Could anyone bear the shame?"What a bunch of mooks. I told you kids to stay on your training, but none of you listened. And now you're acting surprised?"A hunched hag appeared on a nearby alley, looking very much affable.Surprised, the cabal exclaimed, "What are you doing here, ma'am?""Do you think I'd miss the tremors?" the hag snapped coolly before wheeling on Frank. "Impressive physique! I certainly didn't expect you to hurt those boys."The cabal quickly warned her, "This isn't the time, ma'am. He knows earthbending, and he could