Frank was driving Lubor's luxury sedan, and the surprise of finding out that Silverbell remembered what had happened at Sage Lake Sect left him utterly embarrassed.Silverbell remained silent as she rode shotgun, smiling faintly and nonchalantly as she twirled her hair around her finger."I know you love Helen and Vicky—I can see that much," she said softly. "That's why I have no intention of getting involved from the start. I've also tried to keep myself preoccupied with Martial Alliance business so that I don't have time for silly thoughts, but every time I see you…"She trailed off, lowering her head as she murmured, "My mind would always become a mess, even after I painstakingly composed myself."But don't worry, Frank. I'll do my best to stay away, so you don't have to worry, but you must be more careful from now on."The powers that be in Draconia exist in a convoluted mess, and a single mistake leads to hell. Even if you're strong enough, there's just too many of them…"Fr
"Huh…" Frank scratched his head awkwardly. "But we are engaged. We can't annul that, right?""Hehe," Silverbell giggled. "Can a childish engagement be taken seriously? You're being sly now, Frank.""Of course it can. I'm a man of my word!"-Soon, Frank was driving back to Favoni House, where he gave Lubor—who was being hung at the gates—a surprise of the lifetime.It was the severed head of one of Hundred Bane Sect's elders.And when the bleeding head was flung on the ground, Lubor actually forgot his pain as he stared at the head for a moment and shrieked, "You're a dead man, Frank Lawrence! Murdering an elder of Hundred Bane Sect?! No one can save you now! I've already triggered the blood centipede as well—that bitch is going to die right now!""Hmph."Frank was not worried at all, as Lubor was only raving and rambling because he knew he was a dead man walking.Lubor's threat was completely futile too, since Frank had already extracted the blood centipede from Silverbell's
Frank did not stay too long at Favoni House.He waited until Silverbell recovered enough and left her with all the Ichor Pills she had, reminding her to be careful before leaving.Still, before he left, he got to enjoy watching the two Favoni sentries from before squatting at the gates and barking like dogs.Even Jaden was on hand to send him off, having woken up but needing a cane for the time being."I've been told the truth of everything now. Both your magnanimity and strength is above mine…"Disappointment showed on his face, and his cheeks were pale and his eyes bloodshot—Frank could not tell if it was from the psychological blow or his drained vigor after staying unconscious for over a month."You're the first person I earnestly respect, and not even the Demon of Volsung Sect gets that honor. When I recover, I will definitely visit and ask for your guidance."Jaden proved right then that he could lose with dignity.After all, he did not think that the rival he belittled a
Mona was as cheeky as she always was, giggling, "Hehehe… Sorry about that, Master Lawrence. But I'm calling you now, aren't I?"Frank snorted, but he did like the lively brat. "Hmph. Quit trying to distract me, and tell me already… I take it that you couldn't solve your little problem, could you?""Oh, that's amazing, Master Lawrence!"Mona giggled but soon added mischievously, "Well, you know my stupid grandpa was captured, right?"Frank was left blue with shock at Mona calling her own grandfather stupid, but Mona continued excitedly anyway. "Well, I looked around and finally found out where he was held, and after elaborate plans and preparations, I made it into the enemy's base!""And? Did you get your grandfather out?" Frank quickly asked."Nope." Mona cleared her throat awkwardly, even adding as if it was natural, "And they caught me too.""What…"Frank was laughing despite himself, though that was when someone snatched Mona's phone away."Yo, are you this brat's mentor?"
Seeing the oncoming black Mercedes, a thug in a singlet quickly turned and ran inside the temple to report, "Boss, he's here!""Shit, so that's why he's not haggling—he's filthy rich!"There were over a dozen thugs, but they were the least important thugs there ever were. Even the boss was only in his twenties, and his hair was dyed in a variety of colors.As Frank alighted and was heading towards them, he raised his metal bat and pointed at Frank pompously. "Stop right there! Not one step closer!""Okay, okay…"Frank threw up his hands and surrendered while subtly looking around for the elderly man with a steel mask covering half his face. "Where's the money?"The thug boss frowned as he studied Frank just then."There's no briefcase in the car, boss!"A thug had rushed over to rummage through the black Mercedes and did not find any briefcase containing money."Shit, you're fucking with us?!"The thug boss was at once furious, raising his baseball bat and ready to enforce
"I made a mistake?! Impossible!" The elderly man with a steel mask covering half his face exclaimed in shock.At the same time, a hint of impatience showed on Frank's face. "Sir, didn't I already give up on the spiritron vein a month ago? Was that the reason why you kidnapped my people to lure me here again?""Your people?"The elder snorted and snapped quietly, "They are members of Haply Hall. Whenever did they become your people?""That's bullshit, Great Gramps!"Mona yelled despite being tied up, "I told you before—I'm leaving Haply Hall! I'm no longer a part of your cabal!""Hmph!" The elder snorted. "Did you think that Haply Hall is a place you can come and go as you please?""Yes! Bleh!" Mona retorted, even sticking her tongue out at him.The air around the elder stirred restlessly, and Frank could actually see him blinking. "Oh, Grand Elder, you shouldn't stoop to the brat's level."Aion smiled awkwardly before turning toward Frank. "Uh… Long time no see, kid.""What
Obviously, no matter what insolence and insults Mona dished out, the steel-masked elder was not changing his mind.That left Frank in a dilemma, as the steel-masked elder was powerful.And judging from what Mona said, he had some divination technique that made him even more terrifying.Frank really did not want to get involved with the likes of that elder—what could he do, really? Even if Frank might be evenly matched against him in martial arts, that man would just move against the people around him even before he expected it.But was he supposed to just obey the man's orders, and…Frank turned toward Mona just then, blinking.The brat might be ranting endlessly after the steel-masked elder, but she was also flashing a sinister smile.Turning toward Frank, she asked tentatively to probe Frank, "Well, you heard the man… Master Lawrence, why don't we just…"She almost sounded eager!"Stop!"Frank held up a hand. "Don't worry. I'll come up with something in a year to change you
Frank could not help sighing as he watched Mona—did she really have the potential to succeed at geomantics?"Oh, it's killing me. Those two geezers are so despicable! I swear I will dig them out of their graves after they die and dump their corpses down the drain…"Even Frank and a hangry Mona left the rundown temple, they saw that the two geezers had left in the car Frank brought.While Mona was stamping her feet and cursing out loud, Frank sighed exasperatedly and had to walk with her to Zamri.The journey took them half a day, and by the time they reached a dealership, the journey left them filthy from head to toe.-Meanwhile, in said dealership, a middle-aged man was seated in a sandblasted glass room, pointing at a sales girl's face as he bellowed, "Your sales figures are in the red again, Lydia Kinley! Quit playing chaste maiden, or you can leave! I don't want you here ever again!"Lydia in turn complained miserably, "I don't get it, Mr. Swain! Why do I have to prostitute
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