At this moment, thumping footsteps could be heard from outside the yard. Sam, who had been absent the entire day, entered the yard carrying a tote bag. Surprised by the large gathering, he paused momentarily and exchanged a glance with Aria.Aria raised a brow. "You're back? Grandma has been talking about you the whole day. Go have some food first."Sam grunted in response and made his way inside. Upon the sight of the massive tote bag Sam was carrying, Bryan wanted to help him. "It's heavy, isn't it? I'll help you carry… it!"The word "it" was punctuated heavily. He was using so much strength the veins on his neck popped, yet he failed to lift the bag."This sure isn't that light, huh," he said awkwardly. As if in disbelief, he tried to lift the bag again, using both arms this time, making a face as he exerted even more of his strength.Sam watched him in silence, staying on the spot. Bryan gave up. His arms went limp on his sides as he puffed heavily. "Seriously, what did yo
Sam signed at Aria as he pushed her a piece of paper. Aria's gaze darkened. "You're saying that she stole the Whisperwind Herb to treat young Mr. York?" Sam nodded emphatically.Aria propped her chin on her hand and smiled. "Let's see how she's gonna use the herb in front of me."Sam agreed simply. "Yeah!"Aria tapped her finger on one of the name lists, and a smile slowly bloomed on her face. "It's time for things to change in Southbury."The Gunther family had been the most powerful force in Southbury's academic circle for years. If someone was skilled but didn't have the money, they wouldn't have the chance to work as an intern in a hospital.Those who did have the money also needed to be in the know about the existing conventions. Only after joining the Gunther family as a subordinate could they finally be sure that they had a chance. Not only was the Gunther family lying to their patients so that they could make more money from them, but they were also suppressing peopl
"How can you talk about The Bequeather in that way, Aria?" Georgina expressed her disapproval. "He's laying low and not revealing his true capabilities."She then cradled her phone in her arms and kept on exclaiming in admiration while gazing at the screen. Georgina was practically behaving like a fangirl.Aria massaged her temple, feeling helpless. In the many years she'd been a doctor, this was probably the hardest blow to her reputation. "This already looks fake at first glance, Grandma.""Fake?" Georgina pushed her glasses up in a bid to look at the screen more clearly.Aria supported her with a hand on her arm. "Don't worry. I'm not going to cause any trouble.""I'm not worried about that." Georgina sighed. "My bad reputation will affect yours, so don't mention Heartbound Hall if you attend. I'll have the grandson of my good friend show you around too, and the two of you can take care of each other. Also, it's best if you avoid being around the Gunther family…"Avoid being a
Salome craned her neck. "But you know as well as I that the medical industry is most profitable. With how many people there are in the family, we can't let our sources of income be severed.""I'm not asking that of you," Galen said slowly, "Just lay low for a while and wait for things to subside."Salome understood immediately. "Is someone from Janovin coming down here again, Father?"Galen didn't respond to that. He merely closed his eyes.Salome said, "Don't worry, Father. I'll make sure that nothing will be unearthed."Nothing had happened to the Gunther family for more than a decade since then, and they would surely emerge unscathed this time as well!…One night, inside a skyscraper in Janovin, the screens of countless office computers glitched at the same time. In a clinic in Southbury, Aria bit on a piece of fruit candy as she tapped her fingers on the table.Right after that, an identical email appeared in the mailboxes of those office accounts. The invader came and w
Unlike the previous time, the banquet was not held in the city but in a villa in Westwood. Aria didn't ride her Tomahawk bike there this time. She packed her medical kit and invitation card before hailing a taxi. Did she hallucinate it, or did this invitation card look different?Aria was deep in contemplation after getting in the taxi. When the driver heard where she was going, he was surprised. "Not everyone gets to visit Caesar Villa in Westwood. I heard that all the people going today are renowned figures, so what about you, young lady?""I'm just going to make myself more known out there." Aria smiled lightly.The driver chuckled. "That's what I thought. You're just a young lady. It's not like you're going there to treat someone, right?"Aria smiled and said nothing. Caesar Hotel and Caesar Villa were of different levels. Caesar Hotel, which was in the city center of Southbury, was open to everyone. On the other hand, Caesar Villa in Westwood was a villa with a rose yard, comp
People were still gradually entering the outer hall of the villa. Aria was among them, but her attire was obviously unlike what other people were wearing. Clad in a white shirt, jeans, and a maroon baseball cap, she looked like a student who hadn't graduated yet. The bodyguards at the gate stopped her from entering, asking politely, "And you are?"Before Aria could say anything, someone sneered from beside them. "A quack who 'specializes' in traditional medicine; and she has the audacity to show up here."It was Jimmy. He was supporting Salome as they walked over, followed by Karen and Lily. Lily was obviously avoiding Aria because she didn't want anyone to know about the relationship between them. Karen, on the other hand, was glaring at Aria so venomously, that her gaze was boring holes through her face. Aria really was everywhere! Aria raised a brow and said slowly, looking interested, "Oh, I know all of you.""You're nothing but a stranger to me," Jimmy said, "Look at wher
Upon hearing the word "forged", the bodyguards looked at each other and said politely, "Please show us your invitation card, miss."Aria had astutely realized why she had come to get ahold of her invitation card. She had nothing to fear, though. If worse came to worse, she'd just expose her identity as Dr. Whiz. Aria handed the gold-plated invitation card over. As expected, the bodyguards were alarmed.This… This was…Upon seeing the bodyguards' expressions, everyone voiced their speculations, "Is something really wrong with the invitation card?"Jimmy was righteously furious as well. "Not only did Georgina Harris kill a patient, but her student is also a scammer. She's the embarrassment of the medical industry!"Salome was laughing as well. She sounded smug as she said, "If you really want to enter that badly, you can always ask for help from senior doctors such as me. You shouldn't resort to playing these tricks—how inappropriate.""Yeah, how embarrassing!""So is this how
Aria didn't let the bodyguards help. "You don't need to go to the trouble. This bag holds my medical equipment, so I'll just carry it myself. You can do whatever you need to do."She had to meet the grandson of her grandma's old friend, too, and it would be inconvenient if she went around with such a high profile.The bodyguards knew what they should do. "Please come with us, then."Salome couldn't watch this unfold any longer. She bit out, "Are you sure that the invitation card is real?""She's right! Maybe you made a mistake!" Karen yelled louder than anyone else.Karen knew best about Aria's situation. She would never receive a real invitation!Lily bit on her lower lip and pulled on her mother's sleeve. "Mom, this is the York family's villa."Only then did Karen regain her rationality, and she didn't get into an argument with the bodyguards. Her daughter was right. They were at the York family's villa, and she mustn't cause a scene. Jimmy thought otherwise. He'd always l
"I'll ask Boss if she needs a bellboy!"Harry hadn't changed a bit. With his flashy gold chains and oversized watch, he was always quick to jump at any opportunity to make money. If Aria invited him to meet other businessmen, he'd be on board without hesitation.Everyone who did business with Aria shared a common trait—they would get addicted. Every entrepreneur dreamed of growth. The longer they toil in the market, the stronger their desire to expand. It was a universal truth among business leaders.For these dreamers, an investor like Aria was a godsend. She thrived on improvement, making her an ideal partner.Harry, as enthusiastic as ever, bombarded Aria with messages. Aria had planned to visit Ludwiten before, but things kept happening, delaying her trip. Her frequent nightmares and the unresolved tension between her mother and uncles weighed on her mind. Now, with Barron leaving some important items for her in Ludwiten, she had no choice but to go. Sneaking there was neve
"Honestly, you shouldn't let Boss go to Ludwiten. If she insists on going, at least send me along! It's not as if you're unaware of how messy their business circle can be. This isn't Janovin we're talking about!"Harry's voice rang loud and clear as he slammed his palm on the CEO's desk, a bold move no one else at Grand Construction Corp would dare attempt. The employees outside exchanged curious glances, whispering among themselves. What could have dragged Harry back from his vacation in such a state?Harry was worried. "We have plenty of employees. How could you let a lady like her go over there by herself? What if she gets harassed? At least here, our influence can protect her. People would think twice once they know who she is. Stop sipping that coffee and answer me already!"Tavian Montague, the vice-CEO, sighed and powered off his computer. He removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Harry, calm down. Do you really think Aria got this far on luck? Don't let her lo
The eight figures sat together, ostensibly discussing Aria's arrival. In truth, their agenda was far less noble—they were determined to keep the items they had long appropriated, refusing to return what rightfully belonged to others. After holding onto these possessions for so long, they had convinced themselves they were entitled to them.Their plan was to maintain a façade of respect toward the Carver family to avoid public scrutiny. However, they were equally resolute in protecting their own interests. They intended to demonstrate the influence of Ludwiten's business elite on Aria. It would be much better if she could be persuaded to invest billions in their ventures.It was a strategy they'd employed before, notably with Owen, and found it amusing.Yet Percy, despite his youth, was not so easily deceived. His calm demeanor and precise legal arguments left little room for manipulation. The Carver family's resilience, after all, stemmed largely from their grandchildren.Sti
Tobias once said that Aria was the most gifted person in the Decatorian way. Yet, for all her supposed talent, she couldn't use the Emperor Coins just by casually throwing them on her first attempt. She had to study them before she could wield them effectively.Thankfully, Leon chose the entertainment industry. If he had chosen to be inducted in the Decatorian way, the disciples of Mount Dracotigris would have been disheartened. "Leon, have you ever considered going into another industry?" Aria asked. Leon shook his head, a rebellious smirk on his face. "Aria, look at me. This face was born to be a celebrity. It'd be a crime to waste it."Aria sighed, accustomed to his narcissism. It was hard to argue—Leon's rebellious charm and striking looks had won over both women and men. Yet, his popularity brought challenges of its own."I still have Emperor Coins with me," Aria said, pulling out a beaded bracelet adorned with the coins and securing it around Leon's wrist. "Take it. For yo
Warren's eyes reddened as he gazed at Fergus, the grandson he had once hoped to raise personally. In that moment, he felt his life had been worthwhile. As one grew older, they came to understand a fundamental truth—if their descendants could grasp their thoughts, rather than dismissing the ways of the past as irrelevant, it was something to celebrate. Warren could now pass on everything to his grandchildren, finally feeling worthy within the Carver family.…Meanwhile, Leon furrowed his brows in the second-floor bedroom. "What are they talking about?""It's probably about Ludwiten. They have some business to settle. Why?" Aria had intentionally given Fergus and Warren some time to talk. As for her, she stayed with Leon in his room, playing games and snacking.When she heard his question, she smiled. "Are you interested as well, Leon?""I'm not cut out for business." Leon couldn't sit still and kept pacing back and forth. His silver hair, falling perfectly, made him look like a
That night, Warren stood before the memorial hall and spoke to his ancestors."Aria will be returning to Ludwiten tonight. Things will be different this time. There will be many obstacles ahead of her, but we must return eventually. Aria will finish what I couldn't. Please protect her."The Carver family was forced to shift their business from Ludwiten to Janovin at the time. And back then, they believed they could return at any moment. Yet, over 70 years had passed since then.Both Warren and Stephen were sentimental individuals, always hoping to return to Ludwiten. However, circumstances had shifted over the years. Moreover, the business landscape in Ludwiten had grown increasingly complex, with rising foreign investments. Their commitments in Janovin, especially after Owen married Fiona, kept them from returning.Warren had expected Owen to stay in Ludwiten, as he had promised the Grisham family. But Owen broke that promise.Warren's greatest wish had always been to return to
Although the crow was unsure of its owner's thoughts, it was indeed afraid of the dagger made out of Oracle bones.In fact, it wasn't made of ordinary animal bones. It was from the Oracle, one of the Four Perils. Most importantly, it carried spiritual energy from heaven and earth.Back then, the crow didn't expect the insignificant sect, which was consistently at the bottom of each tournament, to have the purest spiritual energy. Plus, all of their members were not to be underestimated. The crow would have never believed it if it hadn't come to live in the mountains with Landon. After all, Landon was bewitched to become the woman's boy toy. He stayed behind only because he liked the sect's spiritual energy. At that, the crow shifted its body and didn't continue to disturb Landon. Since Landon mentioned he needed the knife sheath, the crow would go and get it. Apart from the curved dagger in the wooden box, there was also a somewhat inconspicuous emerald and a turtle shell-lik
The box included a protective membrane. Carrying bones around would raise questions in modern days. Even Aria worried about inspections. Sometimes, Tobias acted just like those arcane seekers from Mount Dracotigris. When her fingertips touched it, heat surged through her bloodline. The blade felt like it belonged in her hands; even its tassel was exquisitely crafted. But she remembered something when she entered the manifestation and got the Soul-Summoning Plaque. She had been an arcane seeker in her past life, hadn't she? Could an arcane seeker use a blade? She had mostly seen them wielding swords, just like those TV shows with flying swordsmen. Perhaps she had to use a blade because she came from a smaller guild. As Aria traced the bone blade, her initial attraction grew into fascination. Tobias wouldn't leave her just any blade. Since she'd encountered it in the manifestation, it must be connected to her. "Do you like it?" Suddenly, Landon's voice came close. It was low,
Breaking the Eight Trigrams Manifestation required precision instead of force. The path led from the East Gate of Life through the Southwest Gate of Rest, finally striking through the North Gate of Opening. But this was not just about breaking a manifestation. The lock had eight marks—Life, Rest, Harm, Block, Vision, Death, Awakening, and Opening. These were the eight gates within the manifestation. As Aria studied the corresponding numbers, she was suddenly struck with inspiration. Following the sequence, she pressed them. The lock then opened with a click. She raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar combination. "0715, my birthday." Aria casually opened the box. "Typical of Mr. Revelare to choose that date." She knew she was born on Twilight Hallows, a day when parents would urge children home early. Owen had always believed Aria's birth signs were not the best, and he thought this was likely because of this day. People considered it the Day of Spirits. On this day, a