The greasy-haired middle-aged man growled through his teeth, "Kill her!""Yes, sir!"The thugs all leapt toward Kat at the middle-aged man's orders, while Kat's neighbors remained still and silent.They watched as Kat stood alone, unsure if they should flee or stay."Hyah!!!" Kat, however, did not stand idly and wait for her doom.She leapt to action right then, charging straight toward the greasy-haired middle-aged man.In her way was a grinning thug, who swung his metal bat straight at her head.If it struck true, it would at least be a concussion—even Kat's neighbors were closing their eyes, unable to look."That brat's so… Urgh!""She has passion, but that's too reckless!"Even as everyone sighed in resignation and were dead sure Kat would get hit, Kat suddenly stopped in her tracks at an impossible speed.The metal bat missed her right then and struck the thug on the cheek.The thug yelped even as two rows of his teeth on that side of his face shot out, while he spun
Eventually, as over a dozen youths from Kat's neighborhood joined the fray, she took down over twenty thugs.Still, some of them carried machetes and knives, and Kat ended up getting cut in the forearm when one of them caught her off guard.At her limit, she was panting heavily as she looked around, but the thugs were all down."Well done, kiddo!""I didn't think old Nash's kid was this good!""Your hands's bleeding… Quick, get it bandaged!"Kat felt warmth unfurling in her heart from all the praise showered her way and puffed her chest as she turned toward the greasy-haired middle-aged man."Is that it? Hehehe…"Somehow, the greasy-haired middle-aged man was not upset or blaming the thugs' incompetence, but was instead laughing… even clapping."So that's why you're so full of yourself, kid! You're actually a martial artist—half-baked, but I guess it counts!"Kat glowered in turn and snapped, "If you get it, then leave!""Leave?" The greasy-haired middle-aged man paused fo
"Did you think I'm the easier target here, brat? How naive."As he finished, Sil's fingers slowly clenched around Kat's neck, and he laughed viciously as he did. "Go on, let me see how you will struggle before you die. It's a shame to just kill you right here, but it's really your fault for getting ahead of yourself!""No!""Please, we will leave! Just let the kid go!""She just got a little upset… She'd never mess with the Lionhearts!"The residents panicked even as they watched Kat start to drain of strength, and some who were close with Nash were even tearing up."Hey, where the hell are you, Nash?!" One even called Kat's father. "Your daughter's going to die! Why would I lie to you?! Oh, she's just trying to stand up for us, but… Just get over here! Wait, you're in Zamri?!"Amid the hollering, the light in Kat's eyes were dimming and she was almost turning still.Sil just had to squeeze a little to snap her neck, but he did not do it.After all, he loved seeing a person, a
"Master… Lawrence?" Kat coughed violently as she regained consciousness."Yeah," Frank replied as he tousled her hair, his gaze at once scolding, exasperated, and pained."Hahaha… I knew it! You're the only one I know who could leap off a helicopter…"Frank scowled as Kat could joke even in this situation."You brat!" he snapped, though not without worry. "You'd be dead if I were a moment too late!"Kat shrugged. "I really can't worry about that right now… They're ready to demolish the cottage, and I can't just do nothing. It was my parents' home…"Frank sighed exasperatedly, seeing the stubborn determination in Kat's eyes."I'll teach you other techniques later," he said shortly as he put her down.Kat coughed. "Have you finally grown a conscience, Master Lawrence?""No, I just don't want to clean up your mess every time!" Frank tapped her on the head, sending several bursts of pure vigor into her acupoints and rapidly invigorating her oxygen-deprived lungs.Within seconds,
"Hehe… The cottage is going to be their love nest! It's not up to the Lionhearts to demolish it!"Frank frowned as Kat's neighbors' gossiping went way worse, and he turned to find Kat giggling as she wrapped her hands around his arm, seemingly enjoying the misunderstanding.Screech—!A red sports car came bounding down the road, and a youth in red glasses leapt off as soon as it came to a screeching halt.He bowed at Sil. "Mr. Lionheart, they have come to an agreement, but you still need to oversee the meeting…"That was all Frank heard as his ears pricked up and listened.Sil held up a hand just then and stopped the youth from continuing, and he nodded in understanding.With another glance at Frank, he warily got in the red sports car and sped off, leaving the youth in charge.Frank did not stop Sil from leaving, since he could hear that Sil ordered the youth to retreat with their thugs.Moreover, he also heard something else in their exchange. "'Letting on too much'…?"Fr
"Master Lawrence, your lady friends are really each more beautiful than the next!"Kat was exclaiming in disbelief. "Your luck with women is extraordinary!"Frank rubbed his nose and sighed exasperatedly. "Another word from you and I'm selling you off to slavery.""Bleh." Kat poked out her tongue, shaking in fear.On the other hand, Juno was beaming from Kat's praise and came over to pat her head. "You're adorable too, Kat. So, how have you been? Have things been pleasant with Kelly Handel on set?""Pleasant?! That woman is—"Kat was ready to rant her guts out like a broken dam, only to suddenly realize what she was doing and gape at Juno. "Wait, you know me? And that I…""That's enough. We're not here to chit chat."Frank stopped her, and turned towards Juno with a serious look. "I have a question. Sil Lionheart, vice-chief of Volsung Sect's Caudal Hall had brought a gang with him to demolish a suburban village. Are you aware of that?""I am." Juno nodded calmly."What do th
At the same time, Kat ran out onto the street and hailed a cab.Before she got in, she did not forget to turn toward Frank and stick her tongue out at him before leaving.Frank was left frowning, while Juno hid a smile behind her palm. "She's more interesting than I thought.""Urgh…" Frank sighed lengthily, speechless.Thanks to his exchange with Juno, he had come to realize that Sil and his group did not go to Kat's village to demolish it, but to gather information instead.Naturally, they wanted the spiritron vein, having somehow learned that it was around that location.What they did not expect, however, was that the spiritron vein was no object this time, but a person.In other words, Kat was the one they were looking for.Everything made sense now, especially why Kat's blood was so effective as a catalyst for pill refinement, allowing him to cook even Jade Marrow Pills.She was a walking spiritron vein, and she was not even aware of that!Frank did not want her to get fa
"Who is it?"Frank frowned, instinctively distancing himself from Juno, only for her to press herself on him relentlessly."Now, now. This man is quite amazing… I'm worried you can't do it, husband." Juno smiled, her eyes narrowing.She looked just like one of the vixens in folklore, born charming and able to send any man into a frenzy.However, Frank remained perfectly calm as he repeated, "Who is it?"Juno paused for a moment as Frank was not falling for her tricks, surprised that Frank was so determined.Hence, she leaned in, her red lips parting as she smiled and breathed into his ear, "Silverbell, chief of the Martial Alliance.""What?!"Frank's face fell right then, and he leveled a cold—even murderous—glare at Juno, ready to attack even as he rasped, "Do you want to die?""Oh, come on. I was just yanking your chains." Juno giggled to play it off, knowing right then that she had pushed one of Frank's buttons from the way he threatened her."Then who is it?" Frank growle
Frank snorted. "Alright, I'm hanging up. I'm getting started over here soon.""Yeah. Good luck," Jouri replied.Hanging up, Frank looked up at the waterfall overhead, and then at Skyler, who was standing beside him. "So? Is it time yet?""Almost… Now!" Skyler's eyes were glowing even as she stared at her watch."Alright."Frank looked up just as the skies abruptly darkened. "Ah, there it is—the eclipse."The sun seemed to disappear, and the world was suddenly shrouded in darknesses.And beside him, a stone door imbued with the power of the spiritron vein also rumbled as it parted."Got it!" Frank rushed inside without another word as soon as he saw it."Hmph. I'm surprised that you could reach this place." A cold, wrathful voice resounded inside even before Frank got a hold of his surroundings.Looking up, Frank found a youth in a black cossack and sporting grey-white hair, standing upon a cliff as he looked down on him.Frank chuckled. "Hehe. Like I said, I've come to kill
Frank narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?'Crane shrugged. "I don't mind giving it to you straight—members of Torrent are actually… Ahem. A part of Torrent himself."Frank paused. "What's that supposed to mean?""You don't get it, do you?" Crane grinned. "Then let me put it to you this way—every member is a clone of Torrent.""A clone?" Frank gasped in realization."Yes," Crane nodded. "That's why I believe that challenging Crane is just suicide. You have no idea how powerful he is—only death awaits you down that path."Frank smirked. "Oh, but I don't think so."Crane rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever—now listen closely. You will find Torrent in the Mystic Trail, but you would only find that place when the sun and moon coincide, and the entrance is beneath the waterfall south of Horton."As he finished, he snorted coldly. "I have no idea if you can actually do it, but I'm hoping you do kill him… Heh. I'm getting tired of being stuck under his control for so long."Then, waving off
Frank abruptly turned, immediately noticing one of the Cranes crouching, ready to spring forward and blindside him."Got you!" He laughed."Hah! You fell for it!"Just as Frank swung a punch to pulverize that Crane, he suddenly burst into pus that splashed at Frank's face."Damn it!" Frank took a step back, surprised that the clone's presence was identical to the real Crane, and a trap on top of that!"Die!"The Cranes around him each whipped out a dagger, all of them stabbing at Frank at the same time."Get off!" Frank bellowed, unleashing a shockwave that sent all the Cranes flying across all directions."Frank! Above you!" Skyler suddenly shrieked."Yes! I'm right here!" A strange laughter sounded above Frank just as he wiped the pus off his face.Crane was suddenly directly above him, launching an aerial kick straight at Frank's head, and Frank had no time to dodge!"Die!" Crane's smile curled into a twisted angle as he saw that too.He was very confident with this kick
"Disgusting…" Skyler murmured through her hand.Despite being skinned and scalped, the women were all still alive and singing to the music that was playing despite their anguish."Talk about a terrible fetish."Frank was scowling too—why were all the members of Torrent such sick deviants? It seemed like his plan to wipe them out was absolutely correct!"So, you killed my clone?"The lanky man on the couch slowly turned to level his bloodshot eyes at Frank.His lips were wet with bed as they curled upward into an eerie smile."Clone?" Frank narrowed his eyes."Hehe. It's a sage art."Crane shrugged as he stood up and wiped the blood off his lips. "It's only natural that you don't understand… Still, you deserve praise. If you can kill my clone, that means you're not just slightly stronger than Ghost."Naturally, the man was none other than the real Crane.Still, as Skyler studied him from a corner, even she could notice the strange twitch of his fingers, and his veins were pro
Even as Crane ran, he was looking over his shoulder, his heart pounding. "No… I won't win in a one-on-one!"No, as long as I get back to my real body… we can do this together!" He frowned, having seen how Frank sliced off the pinkies of those hood rats. It hence quickly dawned on him that Frank was not just slightly stronger than Ghost, as Torrent had put it!"Almost there!" He gasped when he saw the signboard of Pegasus Showtown in the distance. "As long as I get there and rendezvous with my real body, that brat will lose—"That was when he turned and saw that a shadow had caught up with impossible speed."What?!" Crane's eyes almost popped out in bewilderment. "What speed is that?! Are you kidding—"Even as he spotted the shadow, the shadow turned into a youth with an impassive visage.His fist outstretched, he was clearly punching toward Crane's forehead!"Argh…"Even as Crane looked on, the youth's punch slowed down by tenfold, but his fist kept closing in.Then, whe
Seeing Skyler sigh, the tattooed thug presumed that his extortion worked.He strode up, grabbing Frank's shoulder. "No one's gonna help you, boy. Pay up, or you're not leaving.""Exactly! You're not getting away!" the crowd of hood rats hollered. "Last chance."Frank's eyes were cold and fixed on Dani, however. "Are you going to intervene? If you do, you can keep that check. If you don't…""Ugh. Fuck off! I don't care!" Dani spat, her expression smug as she folded her arms before her chest. "Who do you think you are to threaten me?!""Exactly! Pay up, and you can leave!""Yeah! Ten grand, at least!""You probably don't know my boss Wyvern, but when he's here, you won't get away with just ten grand!"Even as the crowd closed in, Frank shook his head. "Well, you had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next.""You're giving us a chance?! Hah! Who—argh!"Even before Dani could finish gloating, Frank was suddenly in front of her, grabbing her viciously by the wrist."Arg
"Five grand?! Did you hear that?! He just threw five grand!""Must be a rich kid coming here for a secret rendezvous, out of prying eyes? Those types are the easiest mark!""Fuck! And Dani got one of us… It hurts me more than losing at the races!"Frank could hear the buzz around him but ignored it as he strode past the men flanking him and headed toward the street that stank of blood."Stop!" A big tattooed man grinned sinisterly as he intercepted Frank.As his buddies encircled Frank as well, Frank snorted—it seemed that they took his reaction for a sign of weakness and thought that he could be cowed.The tattooed man rubbed his chin as he leered at Skyler's voluptuous figure, chuckling. "Look, boy. I'm short on cash, so let me take a loan. I'll pay you back some other day, how about that?"His friend laughed. "Exactly! You just gave Dani five grand, and we won't ask for more… just four, how about that?"Skyler scowled in turn and glanced worriedly at Frank beside her—was he
Frank himself had just stepped out of the nightclub when his eyes narrowed."Blood," he murmured, his nostrils twitching."Blood?"Skyler sniffed the air, puzzled. "I can't smell it.""It's from the opposite street… I smell the blood of over a dozen people.""A dozen?!" Skyler did a double take.He could identify the number of people who were killed?! That was just ridiculous!"Come on, let's take a look."Just as Frank led the way toward the source of the stench, a woman suddenly came up, catching Frank off guard and throwing herself into his arms."Hmmm?" He looked down to see that she had thick makeup, average looks, and a rather pudgy belly."Argh! He touched me!" she pointed at Frank and shrieked even before he realized what was happening."What?!" Skyler was staring at the woman too, mystified."Oh, sister! You just didn't see it!"The woman kept hollering, pointing at Frank's face. "Your boyfriend grabbed my ass! Is that how you teach him manners?!""Teach him ma
Wyvern screamed even as he clutched the stump that was his hand, screaming so shrilly one might mistake his voice as inhuman."Oh, just shut up." The lanky man glowered and launched a kick, reducing Wyvern into puddles of blood and pieces of innards, splattering all around the lobby. "Argh!!!" the devilish lady screamed as she watched the carnage unfolded."Another sound, and you'd end up just like him." The lanky man turned and frowned at her impatiently."Hngh…" The devilish lady promptly clasped a hand over her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she trembled."What the hell?!"Outside, Wyvern's lackeys heard the screams and ran inside, looking for him. "Hey, where's Wyvern?!"However, the lobby was too dimly lit for them to notice the blood and guts scattered around the walls, and they only sensed that terrible stench."Hngh…" The devilish lady was too scared to speak, and tears trickled out of her eyes."Fuck!"One of the lackeys strode up and seized the lanky man