"Haha! Walter's back too? Terrific!" Frank turned and spotted a pair of familiar faces entering the banquet hall just then.Naturally, it was Vicky's parents, Walter Turnbull and Susan Redford.It seemed that they had to attend this banquet even though they lived in Riverton.Glen Turnbull was on hand to receive them, though his eyes soon widened in surprise and he looked around, searching. "Where's Les and Neil? Aren't they not coming back?" he asked."They're…" Walter was left making an awkward face, unsure what to say.Susan nudged him on the back, clearly wanting him to speak up."Ahem."Walter cleared his throat, and took out two reports, handing them to Glen as he explained exasperatedly, "Les was conspiring with our enemies and stole the recipe for the Beauty Pill which Vicky spent a fortune to acquire… He was killed during a fight thereafter.""What?!"The bombshell left Glen freezing, his lips trembling.Les was his second son… and he got killed in Riverton?!
Glen straightened himself, suddenly cold and authoritative again as he stared fixedly at Walter. "A child of our family must not die under such mysterious circumstances.""Exactly," Zac growled, repressing his rage. "I can't let my son's death go unanswered. And I want to know why!""Naturally, I've come prepared," Walter said, pulling out a stack of documents compiling evidence of Les Turnbull and Neil Turnbull's crimes, including photo evidence."Hey. Look," Susan noticed Frank sitting in a corner without a care just then and nudged Walter to look.Walter and Frank's eyes just so happened to meet just as Walter turned.With that, Frank got up and walked slowly through the crowd to reach them. "Mr. Turnbull, Mrs. Turnbull. We meet again." He smiled in greeting.However, both of them appeared awkward since Frank's name was in the documents they had just handed to Glen and Zac.There was no hiding it now.Walter cleared his throat and asked with an edge an elder would use, "Wh
The banquet hall erupted in an uproar at Glen's outburst."What?! Someone killed Les Turnbull?""No way, he's dead? And that brat killed him?!""That's the son of the family head we're talking about… Who the hell let him in here?"Frank could feel everyone's eyes on him.He glanced coldly at Walter in turn and said calmly, "Yes, I killed him.""How dare you!" Glen bellowed, clearly unable to retrain his own wrath.That man had killed his beloved son and would strut on his own turf freely like it was nothing?!How would he hold his head high if word got out?Nonetheless, Frank was laughing out loud and shaking his head. "Then did you read the part on why I killed him? You're a real failure of a father."Everyone swore they could hear Glen's teeth gnashing.Frank ignored him, however, and turned toward Walter, sighing in disappointment. "Shouldn't you be standing up to explain the facts? I remember how you bravely volunteered that you'd speak with your own brother personally…
Unlike Les, Neil was highly regarded in the family.It was unacceptable to see Frank, the murderer, to stand among them without a care!That was when the flamboyantly dressed Marit flashed a fearless smile. "Could he be the South Sea Crow?" "What?!" "The South Sea Crow?!"The name left every Turnbull on edge, and it was only natural since it was a nightmare that had hounded them constantly for three years.And everything would certainly make sense if Frank was that villain… and she was allegedly peak Ascendant rank too!"So that's it…" Zac growled viciously at Frank, his eyes flashing. "That's why Father was suddenly stricken with some bug. And you're in Morhen by sheer coincidence, on hand to prove that you're the only one who can treat him. The way I see it, you probably bewitched Vicky with some foul enchantment so that she is obsessed with you. But you're not getting away now that you've been exposed! Retainers!"The glass dome overhead shattered at Zac's bellowed, and
"When did you…" one of the Ascendant ranks growled through his teeth.It was only yesterday that he came under the Turnbull's payroll, and he never ate from their table.So how did he catch the bug like the others?"Darling…" Vicky was clutching her belly too, clearly taken ill as well."Come here, take this antidote and direct the vigor I infuse into you to clear your bowels," Frank said, passing Vicky a black pill.Vicky took the pill without hesitation and sat in meditation as she accepted an iota of vigor from Frank, directing it throughout her own body. She was a martial artist who had lost her cultivation due to poisoning. However, with Frank's vigor as a catalyst, her body felt like a broken dam, and her vigor kept gushing away from her meridian nexus, swiftly purging the bug."Vicky… Don't trust him…" Glen actually tried to stop Vicky from taking the pill, only to be left staring as Vicky was soon on her feet.And judging from the look on her face, she was cured and
Who knew? Frank might even clap and launch some fireworks and celebrate the moment the South Sea Crow massacred the Turnbulls.After all, they had never treated him fairly ever since he came to Morhen, and he was not one who maintained grace in the face of grief. They had constantly harassed him while posturing themselves with the superiority as one of the Four Families of Morhen, even breaking promises.As such, how was Frank supposed to play nice with the likes of them?However, while he got tough in the face of injustice, it was really 'what you see is what you get' with him.In other words, Frank could be a softie at times."Urgh, whatever…" His shoulders slumped feebly after Vicky tugged on him and pleaded for a long while.Having suffered this much grief, what was a bit more, and for Vicky's sake at that?Whipping out the two remaining antidote pills, he handed them to Walter and said, "These won't be enough, and I don't have time to cook more… Get a bucket of water and di
After that, it was Zac and the rest of the Turnbulls' executives.Walter's family of three worked hard, and soon the entire bucket of mop water was finished.Stenched aside, it worked like a charm—even if they did not instantly recover like Vicky and the others, they were soon regaining consciousness, especially with the help of Vicky's vigor. Most of them were getting to their feet, including Glen himself, although he blacked out again, his eyes rolling up his head in sheer agitation when he was told that Frank had saved his family with a bucket of mop water.Even Titus was not spared the ignominy, his expression contorted with pure rage as he resisted his discomfort to drink half a bowl of mop water.-While Walter and the others were busy rescuing their extended family, Frank found the South Sea Crow standing atop the roof of the banquet hall, her hair dancing in the air.And her alter ego was none other than the enchanting Marit Tisdon, Zac's wife."I'm curious. Whatever d
"Hmm…?"Marit did a double take, and her charming expression soon faded as she turned solemn. "I guess I couldn't hide it from you." She sighed but soon giggled charmingly like she did before. "But I'm telling the truth that I've fallen for you long ago. So how about it? Why don't we just massacre the wretched Turnbulls, and then we can go wherever you want?""Well, you know me." Frank smiled faintly, shaking his head. "All I hope is for you to give up on your vendetta against them and stay away.""No chance." Marit's expression cooled. "They killed my sister, and I have an agreement… Wait."She suddenly paused and flashed an exaggerated grin. "Right… I wonder if this is going to be helpful.""What is it?" Frank frowned, suddenly solemn as well.Marit was grinning so broadly that her eyes were narrowing. "Well, while I am hunting the Turnbulls because of my personal vendetta, I'm also bound by an agreement to do so. Would you like to know who it is?"Frank realized with a star
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