Lily shook her head, biting her lip. "It's not her fault. There was a massive upheaval in my family, and she couldn't come to terms with it."Her words seemed innocuous, but she'd actually pinned the blame on Aria. Christian frowned. "Just say it, Lily. We're here, so there's nothing to fear. She can't do anything to you!""She didn't do anything to me!" Lily's head was bowed. "She just had a slight misunderstanding concerning us. The Gunther and Kent families have a close relationship. My father gave the Gunther family the Whisperwind Herb as a sign of gratitude after Dr. Gunther took me in as her student, and then…"Christian sneered. "And here she is, making something out of nothing!""Christian, calm down." Salome put on a show of being the bigger person here. "It's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared, or anyone not in the know would think that the Whisperwind Herb was acquired from unlawful sources."A smile bloomed slowly on Aria's face as she watched the borin
Aria remained silent, her eyes focused on the grandfather clock in the hall as she idly chewed on her candy.Salome took her silence as a sign of cowardice. She covered Lily's hand with hers and sat down confidently.Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Lily's heart raced. Perhaps it was the anticipation of meeting Landon soon. She glanced down, her eyes resting on the wooden box. As anticipated, only the Whisperwind Herb could act as a conduit to the York family.Titus picked up the box under everyone's jealous gazes. The masses were about to congratulate Salome when Titus said, "My family isn't known to be righteous. Regardless, we cannot, in good conscience, take away what belongs to someone else. "Landon's fate lies in the hands of higher powers. The Whisperwind Herb is very rare, certainly, but we cannot take this."What?Everyone turned to Titus, including Aria, who lifted a brow in surprise. Titus set the box down and lifted his right arm. Suddenly, four words appeared on
Amidst the ongoing attempts to gain favor with the Gunther family, a sharp noise shattered the air—a door to the inner hall had been forcefully kicked open.Under a cloak of normalcy, a team of plainclothes officers materialized in a whirlwind of movement. Salome and Constantine found themselves slammed to the floor before they could even react. The officers, precise and ruthless, executed the takedown with practiced ease.Constantine was still screaming, "Who are you? How dare you do this to us?"The team leader showed his credentials. "We're the Highest Operations Unit!"The HOU?Everyone was shocked.Why would the HOU show up here, of all places?Titus raised an eyebrow but remained silent, observing the unfolding events with a wise and discerning gaze.Aria made no motion, hidden away in a shadowed nook beyond the reach of the cameras. With her candy and backpack, she resembled a guileless young girl amid the tumult.Constantine attempted to rise. "I couldn't care less abo
Salome waved dismissively. "Yes, you have no other choice. If you don't believe me, feel free to seek out other doctors! Next!"The old man panicked. "I'm sorry, Dr. Gunther. You're a professional in this, and my illness…"The video faded to black. Next, another video was played. On the screen, Salome was sneering. "The poor villagers are always such a hassle."A medical intern said, "Is this really appropriate, Dr. Gunther? He just has a small cyst, and it's benign too! We can first—"Salome cut him off sharply, "Am I in charge here, John, or are you?"Within a day, John Cox was dismissed from the hospital, never to return. In the same month, Salome publicly denounced John for causing a medical incident under her supervision, advising other hospitals not to hire him and his school not to grant him certification.John found himself shut out from any prospects of employment. In a video, he removed his surgical mask, revealing a scar above his eye. "I thought this would be bur
The Gunthers' protectors went to great lengths to hide their involvement, and those whose participation was clear had been pre-emptively brought under the HOU's control.Therefore, the HOU waited three days before choosing to launch a raid on the York family's villa. They needed to avoid alerting local authorities while keeping their operation covert. The seminar held by the York family presented the perfect opportunity to strike.Their arrival was so swift and unexpected that no one had a clue how they obtained proof of the Gunther family's wrongdoing.No one, including the HOU itself, knew who uploaded the video that was now circulating widely online.Inside the villa, Yannick Davies, the leader of the HOU, approached Titus. "Our sudden intrusion is regrettable. We apologize for the inconvenience."Titus chuckled. "You apprehended criminals who hurt the society. It's a great service. No apologies necessary."Yannick shook his head. "Such disregard for human life in a small town
Aria weaved through the throng exiting the hall, her baseball cap pulled low to obscure her face. She acted as if everything that had happened had nothing to do with her. Shiloh, bewildered, caught up beside her. "Who's behind all this, do you think?"Aria said casually, "No idea."Shiloh scratched his chin. "You've got a point. There's no way you'd know something Malcolm hasn't heard a whisper about, right, Malcolm?"Malcolm, who was lost in thought, mumbled a distracted, "Hmm, yeah."Aria glanced at him, her voice nonchalant. "They got what they deserved. As long as you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about."Shiloh nodded confidently. "I'm not scared. I'm hopeless at medicine, and all Grandpa does is drink. He wouldn't touch something like this with a ten-foot pole."Malcolm finally looked up. "I'm not afraid, too. I believe in my grandfather."A faint smile touched Aria's lips. "Grandma always told me Dr. Lowe Senior is the only one who treated her l
Yannick began, "The hacker is cunning, constantly shifting locations and masking their IP address. It has been three grueling days, and the Technical Department only managed to narrow the location down to Southbury."Yannick furrowed his brow. "As for the other person, we can't find them no matter what we tried."It was rare that someone could render the HOU completely helpless. The last time this had happened was three years ago.Landon retracted his gaze. He drawled, "Perhaps you can approach it from another direction and start by investigating the Gunther family's enemies.""The Gunther family's enemies?" Yannick understood what he meant immediately. "Are you suggesting this is because of a personal feud, Mr. York?"Landon looked down. "No organization has publicly claimed responsibility for this debacle. Besides, the person behind this chose to take up the role as a whistleblower; they don't seem like a righteous hero who's doing this for no reason.""That's true." After some
Titus observed Landon's face. "You seem like you're in a good mood."Landon paused in the middle of his actions. "Huh?"Titus picked up his teacup. "Someone hacked into your house, and you're still smiling despite that. What else could be the reason for that aside from a good mood? Brat."Landon knew that Titus was still cross at him for not seeking proper treatment for his illness. He poured another cup of tea. "Solo must've told you about the state of my body recently and also… someone I've met."Titus looked up in defiance. He refused to acknowledge Landon's statement. "Solo's your bodyguard. Why would he tell me details about such things?""You're right, Grandpa," Landon said with mirth in his voice. Titus couldn't be bothered to engage in this verbal back-and-forth with Landon. The Yorks tended to prefer going straight to the point, except for Landon, who always had something brewing in secret."Fine, just tell me. Which one out of the doctors who came today is the Dr. Gen
"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