Felix froze in surprise. He never expected to run into Janet so soon after arriving in Westville. That's the very same woman who would soon be the center of the upcoming Battle of the Bride. Her lively presence reminded him of their first meeting in the capital, which felt like only yesterday. "Someone get him out of here! He's an eyesore!" Janet instructedColin's followers had been furious at first. But upon recognizing Janet, they fled without a word while carrying Colin away."Fighting isn't allowed in the city," Felix stated. Hearing Felix's words, Janet's smile grew sweeter. "That was self-defense! He struck first, and everyone saw it. So, it's fine." Good grief. Colin was nearly knocked out cold, and she called that self-defense? Janet giggled. "When did you get here? It must have taken you a while to find Westville, right?" With that casual conversation, she had confirmed Felix's identity. "Let's find somewhere more private to talk." They then entered a restau
After chatting a while longer and getting Felix's number, Janet left. A few minutes later, Barry appeared. He entered cautiously. "Wow, this is one of Westville's high-end restaurants! A meal here costs at least 500 emeralds. You really know how to pick a place." Felix laughed and said, "Come on! You're an Intermediate-grade alchemist now. Can't you afford this much?" Barry gave a bitter smile. "Felix, I may have succeeded, but my pill-forming rate is low. So, I'm barely hanging on at Harmony Clinic. Do you think all Intermediate grades are doing well?"Those of us with average talent spend most of our time making basic pills just to meet requirements, or we'd be kicked out." Felix understood this well. As an Intermediate-grade alchemist, if he could not deliver the required monthly quota of intermediate pills, he had to make up for it with basic ones. If he failed a few times, he would be expelled from Harmony Clinic.This created a vicious cycle. With low pill-forming rates
Barry rushed to the Xavier residence at top speed, only to be stopped at the gate. "Please let me in. I'm Barry Lufter. My father's inside!" No matter how humbly he begged, the guards wouldn't budge. Annoyed, they threatened him, "You little punk! We're already being nice by warning you. Here, then. We'll step aside. Try breaking in and see what happens."When the two guards moved away, Barry backed down instead. One step across that gate would mean instant death."Well, well! If it isn't Barry Lufter! I heard you became an Intermediate-grade alchemist at Harmony Clinic. Have you come to show off at our house?"A young man emerged, and Barry quickly greeted him with respect, "Mr. Jace." The newcomer was Jace Xavier. He was from the main family line and was also Nerissa's cousin."Please, Mr. Jace, let me in. There must be some misunderstanding about my father trespassing."Jace looked down at Barry with contempt. "If there's a misunderstanding, are you suggesting we Xaviers
Jace was losing his patience and was just about to strike. He pointed a finger at Felix, his voice ice-cold as he shouted, "In all these years, I've never met someone who could brag like you. Let me tell you now—your dad's never getting out, not now, not ever!"Jace barely finished his sentence before the back of his head took a solid slap."You idiot, what nonsense are you spouting?"As Jace heard that familiar voice, his rage instantly evaporated. He spun around, a nervous, sheepish smile spreading across his face. "Janet, what are you doing out here?"Sure enough, the one who slapped him was his own sister. She might not have been the strongest among the Xavier family's younger generation, but her temper was legendary. The only one who could keep her in check was her older sister, Nerissa. Everyone else? They did not stand a chance."Mr. Lufter, take it easy," Janet called out, ignoring the rest of the Xavier family as she gently helped an elderly man walk forward."Dad!" Ba
Felix hastily left a parting comment as he made his escape. "I'm not ready to meet Nerissa yet. I'm outta here!"Janet covered her mouth, laughing so hard that she did not bother to stop him. She found Felix absolutely adorable.The Porsche came to a halt, and the driver's door opened. Then, a woman stepped out, wearing flowy lavender-and-white wide-leg pants paired with a sheer gray top. Her hair was neatly styled up, her skin radiant and flawlessly fair, and her features seemed almost too perfect, like they had been sculpted by an artist. However, what stood out most were her eyes—cold and sharp yet brimming with life—so captivating that anyone who looked into them might find themselves lost.If Felix had been there, he would have been stunned by her beauty. While she might not surpass Zara, she could certainly rival his senior apprentices when it came to looks."Janet, what are you laughing about? Who was that guy just now?" asked the woman, who happened to be none other tha
Kendrick chuckled darkly and replied, "You're being pretty considerate, leaving Felix with something intact. But hey, do whatever you want with his head. We're planning to rip the rest of him to pieces anyway."Since the Dragonspines were inside Felix's body and not connected to his head, there was nothing to be worried about."Good. Tell Dean that the plan starts tomorrow," the voice commanded."Yes, sir!"As Kendrick left, he could not help but feel puzzled. Felix had only just arrived in Martial City, yet he already had so many powerful enemies. It was almost as if fate itself had decided that such an arrogant man was doomed to die....Later that night, Barry showed up, and he and Felix shared a meal at Harmony Clinic's dining hall. Barry was overflowing with gratitude."Felix, I can't thank you enough. If it weren't for you, my dad would be dead by now, and I probably wouldn't have survived, either."Felix smiled casually. "No need to thank me. I only did what I could. If
There was a smartphone inside the box. Although phones were not unusual in Martial City, this one stood out. It was a high-end model from a major city, easily distinguishable by its oversized screen. What made Felix's expression darken was not the phone itself but the ominous feeling creeping over him.After hesitating for a while, he carefully picked it up, his hands trembling slightly. He did not unlock it right away but instead flipped it over. The moment he saw the back, his jaw clenched tight.The phone was encased in a transparent plastic cover, and underneath it was a perfectly sized photo of Melissa—his sworn sister. He did not need to power it on to know it was hers. Felix had spent enough time with her to recognize her phone instantly, especially since she never changed that photo, no matter what phone she used. With that, he finally unlocked the phone, which still had over 40% battery. He entered the familiar password and gained access without issue. A few minutes la
"Come on out. Why keep hiding like a coward?" Felix called out, his voice steady but cold. His senses told him someone was lurking behind a massive boulder. Yet, instead of relief, he felt nothing but unease. Sure, the presence did not seem particularly strong. However, there was no way that someone would go through all this trouble if they were weak.As soon as he finished speaking, a figure emerged. Felix's eyes narrowed in surprise as he realized it was Kendrick."Judging by your face, you didn't expect to see me, did you, Felix?" Kendrick grinned broadly, looking far more smug than their last encounter, as though Felix had walked right into his trap."Cut the crap! Get whoever's hiding to come out. There's no way someone as worthless as you could pull off a plan this elaborate. Am I wrong?"Though a flash of anger crossed Kendrick's eyes, he quickly masked it with another grin. He replied, "Sharp as always. It wasn't easy luring you out of the city. "But you're right—neit
The reason Edmond dared to question Felix at all was that he was holding onto that one sliver of arrogance—he assumed Felix had only cured Christopher by pure luck, just because it happened to fall under his area of expertise.Otherwise, would he have even dared speak up? Not a chance.Once the silk threads were tied and tension filled the air, Felix spoke calmly after only a short pause. "Her Grace has a mild seasonal chill. It's nothing serious. I'll prescribe her some herbal blends—she'll recover within five days. Or, if she prefers a quicker route, acupuncture will do the trick."The Green King blinked, clearly stunned by the response. "You mean you can heal her without medication?""That's right. No medicine necessary." At the same time, a soft, melodic voice floated from behind the curtain. Sydney Haye said, "My love, that sounds perfect. You know I hate taking medicine. Please, Dr. Zeller, come in and begin the treatment."...15 minutes later, Felix stepped back out in
Joaquin was on the edge of madness. He wanted nothing more than to kill Felix right there, but he didn't dare risk the entire Goldstein family just to satisfy that rage. Disobeying a royal summons meant immediate execution—there was no bluffing around it.After taking a deep breath, Joaquin forced himself to put on a smile. "Dr. Zeller, then tell me—what exactly do you need in order to head to the Green King Manor?"Felix had seen this kind of groveling far too many times before. "Gras is right outside your estate. Go talk to him. The sooner you two reach an agreement, the sooner I'll leave for the manor.""What? Gras is here?" Only now did Joaquin realize just how thoroughly he had been played. Everything had been a setup from the beginning, and he had walked straight into the trap.Time ticked by, and eventually, Gras strolled into the courtyard. He said, "Dr. Zeller, the talk went well. How's the view treating you so far?" From the smile on Gras's face, it was clear he hadn't
Not far away, Wagner silently prayed with all his might. "Come on, Felix, don't back down now. Keep acting like a hothead—because only then will you die."As for any retaliation from the Longstone family, he wasn't the least bit concerned. Things had already gone too far, and Joaquin clearly wasn't about to back down. He would definitely find a reason to escalate the fight, and if that weren't the case, Wagner wouldn't have dared tag along tonight.Maybe his prayer actually worked, because Felix shook his head. "Sorry, I came here just to cooperate with your investigation. Anything beyond that… I won't do."Just as Wagner thought Felix had sealed his fate, someone suddenly rushed in, holding something in his hand. "Mr. Goldstein! We've got trouble—Green King Manor just sent a royal summons!""What?" Joaquin's expression twisted as he snatched the letter. A summons from one of the nine Minor Kings was no small matter—when it was issued, compliance was mandatory. Ignoring it meant
In the past, no one dared provoke a family war so openly as it would've been a blatant slap in the Green King's face. But this time, the Goldsteins had the upper hand. After all, Justus was dead, and the Longstone family was a prime suspect. Hence, even if blood were shed, it could still be justified.Joaquin knew this well. He also understood that Gras would never give up Felix for the sake of the Longstones' reputation, so even forcing the standoff served his purpose.Just as the tension reached its peak and a battle was about to break out, Felix stepped forward on his own. "You're the head of the Goldsteins, right? I'll go with you."Joaquin narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected Felix to boldly step forward."Dr. Zeller, please step back," Gras said.Felix glanced at Gras and said, "Thank you for everything, sir. But the truth will speak for itself. Once the investigation is done, I'm sure they'll let me return."Gras stayed silent, but Joaquin chuckled coldly. "Return? Do you
Ginny was naturally present as well, and she spoke up at that moment. "Mr. Goldstein, no one wanted to see Justus die like that. But why did you bring your people to Longstone residence? Are you suggesting that his sudden death has something to do with us?"Joaquin's expression grew darker as he looked at her. He blamed Ginny for this, thinking that none of this would have happened if she had just agreed earlier. And now, they couldn't even determine the cause of death."No connection? That doctor from your household, Felix Zeller—he's the one responsible for Justus' death."Right then, someone spoke up from the crowd. "That's him! That's Felix Zeller!"Felix, who had been calmly sitting in a chair, finally saw Wagner standing among them. And in that moment, everything made sense."Wagner? You've gotten quite bold, huh?" Gras sneered.Wagner flinched at Gras's words, but remembering that he now had the Goldsteins backing him, he stiffened his spine and stood tall. "Cut the crap
In Cloud City, there were a few noble families. Nonetheless, behind the polite smiles, tensions surged. Infiltrating each other's estates with spies had practically become a tradition. While they rarely uncovered major secrets, the information they did gather always gave them a head start.So when the news broke, Gras didn't doubt it for a second. He jumped to his feet, furious. "This is outrageous! Their son dies, and somehow it's the Longstone family's fault?"Ryker looked just as puzzled, agreeing that the accusation made no sense.But Felix let out a quiet, weary sigh. "Mr. Longstone, I'm afraid this is probably my fault. I'm a doctor, and I've gotten a bit of attention lately. After they failed to determine the cause of Justus' death, and given our meeting earlier today, they likely saw an opportunity to drag your family into the mess." Gras's expression darkened, knowing that Felix wasn't wrong. After all, doctors could also be poisoners, and plenty of martial artists had fa
It was clear someone had said something to Justus. Otherwise, this situation wouldn't have escalated to this point.Felix said calmly, "It was a standard therapeutic massage technique, and I was blindfolded the entire time. Does that explanation satisfy you? Or would you rather find someone else capable of treating Ms. Longstone—I'll gladly step aside if you can."Justus sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. "Cut the crap, Felix. Don't act like I don't know exactly what's going through your head. Ginny's the heiress of the Longstone residence—Gras's precious jewel. Everyone knows that marrying her is like securing the entire household. Don't tell me that thought never crossed your mind.""It didn't," Felix said simply.Unfortunately, that answer was never going to satisfy Justus. He snarled, "Listen up, boy! I'm giving you three days to get the hell out of the Longstone residence. If you don't, you won't even get the chance to regret it. Everyone else might be afraid of Gras—but I
As Wagner watched Justus explode in rage, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. With what he'd just uncovered, there was no need to exaggerate—it was already explosive enough on its own.After all, Justus' future fiancée was touched in that kind of intimate way by a young, healthy doctor. Any man with a spine would lose it."But Justus," Wagner added with a smirk. "Didn't Felix just get publicly praised by the Green King?"Cloud City wasn't that big. Anyone with any influence had been keeping close tabs on Green King Manor—especially with the mystery man who walked out of Desolated Lands involved. So, the news of Felix being rewarded had already spread far and wide.Justus clenched his jaw. "So what? It's just a flash in the pan. If he was truly skilled, the Green King would've kept him. But as long as he hasn't climbed into the Green King's inner circle, I can crush him whenever I want."Wagner's grin widened. That was exactly the attitude he needed. If Justus had shown
The moment the Flame Monarch mentioned the Healer Sage, the Green King's expression shifted noticeably. "So the Sage really was living out there in seclusion... No wonder. Flame Monarch, does this mean you've taken a liking to Felix?"But the Flame Monarch waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need for that."That response made the Green King secretly rejoice. If the Flame Monarch didn't intend to recruit Felix, then he understood why—and that was perfect. It meant the opportunity to take Felix under his own wing was wide open.The night passed quietly. Felix stood beside Christopher's bedside, noticing the man's breathing had grown steady and stable.At this point, the herb had run its course and was no longer effective. But what was left inside Christopher's soul—a strange, lingering force—was exactly what Felix had hoped for.Christopher was alive but completely unconscious. The remaining energy had no regenerative properties, which meant he'd likely never wake again. For Fe