Warren's expression shifted. His deep love for antiques had honed his eye for detail far beyond the average person's.Sasha was confused when she noticed that the porcelain teapot seemed a bit different from what she remembered. But deep down, she knew it was the same teapot. She couldn't help but scoff inwardly.Did Felix really believe that a few cosmetic alterations could somehow make it more valuable? She thought he was such a fool and dismissed him as nothing more than a country bumpkin."Yeah, Dad! This is pretty pricey. I actually saw Felix drop a whopping 5,000 dollars on it at the antiques market. He's so considerate, isn't he?"The sarcasm in her voice was impossible to miss, and Milo laughed right on cue."5,000 dollars? Felix, that's an insult to Uncle Warren! Every guest here brings gifts worth tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars! How could you—""Shut up!" Warren cut him off sharply. In a deep voice, he said, "It's the thought that counts. Do gifts always ha
"Dad, I'm leaving now. You know you and Ruth share the same birthday, right?"Feeling she'd stayed long enough at the birthday party, Sasha stood up and kissed Warren on the cheek. She had promised Ruth she would be there for the second round of celebrations."Okay. Take Felix with you," Warren replied.Felix felt a wave of helplessness. Warren was clearly eager to see him and Sasha together, but he probably had no idea how different Sasha could be when she was away from home.Seeing no point in arguing with Warren, Sasha smiled and said, "Alright, Felix. Let's go."Warren seemed to have something else in mind and added, "I'll call you later. Make sure Felix picks up."A flash of irritation flickered in Sasha's eyes. Warren had her exactly where he wanted her. She had intended to part ways with Felix as soon as they left, but now, it was clear she'd have to bring him along.Felix had been hoping for the same thing—to go his own way—but now, it was obvious that those plans were r
Warren shot back at Nattie, "You don't know a damn thing! This is a genuine antique. A masterpiece! Do you even know who Thomas is? Would he lie to me? If I bring this to him now, we'll get 25 million dollars on the spot!"Nattie's eyes lit up with excitement. "Then, what are we waiting for? Warren, I know you're passionate about these antiques, but 25 million dollars could change everything for our family."Even if Warren were a billionaire, his wealth was tied to the scale of his company. The reality shifted once his bank loans and other debts were factored in.That was how things worked in the business world. When a company failed, the owner's financial ruin could come immediately. It was a stark contrast to the losses faced by ordinary people who rely on personal savings.Milo's face was a mix of emotions. After all, they were discussing 25 million dollars. Who wouldn't be tempted by that?"No way! This was a gift from Felix, and I have to return it. It's worth far too much. I
Everyone's faces were drained of color. Fear etched into their features at the mere mention of Lord Kane.Kane's fearsome reputation as the lord of the underground was well known in Avesburgh, and crossing him was a sure path to a nightmarish end."W-We didn't do anything to anger Lord Kane." Ruth, Sasha, and the other women were trembling, barely holding back their tears.Kane's reputation was so fearsome that just hearing his name sent everyone into a panic. The terror in the room made it clear what would happen when he actually arrived."Yeah! Who would be foolish enough to cross Lord Kane?""I swear I didn't!"Everyone scrambled to defend themselves.Suddenly, Sasha's eyes locked onto Felix, and she stormed over to him. "It's you, isn't it? You're always lurking around and swindling people. You must be the one who crossed Lord Kane."Felix frowned. He had never even heard of this person. "No. It wasn't me."The others in the room were all close friends who knew each other
Nobody who offended Kane would ever appear again. It was rumored that they were either buried alive or jumped into the river, but in any case, they would certainly die. There was no other possible result.Felix stood up slowly and walked over. "I'm very sure that I don't know you." Kane said, "Of course. You aren't worthy of knowing me, but I'm sure you haven't forgotten Ted, have you?"Felix laughed at the mention of the name. "Oh, so you're Ted's backup. You should have said so earlier instead of wasting time. Let's start, then."Felix crossed his arms. He didn't look afraid at all, nor did he look as if he was ready to fight. He looked more like someone who was there to see what would happen. As Kane raised his hand, he suddenly saw that Felix was wearing a very unique-looking ring on his left hand. His expression changed at once. "You… You…" Felix was confused by Kane's actions. "Why?"Kane swallowed and hastily took out a gold card. There was a very life-like dragon engr
Felix looked displeased. Why did everything end up being connected to Xena? It was ridiculous. "Alright. You may leave."Kane hesitated for a moment and asked, "My lord, how should I deal with Ted? Should I just kill him? Or…"Felix frowned and thought hard for a moment before saying, "Whatever. Just get rid of him. Don't tell him who I am, either." Usually, with Felix's temper, Ted's persistent pestering would have resulted in severe consequences. Ted would probably have ended up spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. However, Felix had thought about it and decided that since Ted was a relative of Xena, he would let it go. Although Xena was very haughty, if Curtis woke up and they decided not to call off the engagement, Felix would have to do as Gerald asked and become a family with her. "My lord, I… Can I have your contact number? I may not be able to do anything big, but in a small place like Avesburgh, I can still run errands for you!" Kane was extremely nervous. He
They sat there like that for half an hour. Finally, Nattie said, "Alright, now, Warren. Felix was a nice young man. It's a pity that he was too inexperienced and ended up offending someone like Lord Kane. Anyway, we'll just have to wait until tomorrow to see what the situation is."Warren didn't say a word. His heart was aching terribly. How could he face his old friend, Matthew? What would Matthew be thinking as he looked down on them from above? At that moment, there was a familiar beeping sound. All three of them looked at the door, as it was the sound of someone entering the password for the digital door lock. However, they were the only ones who knew the password. Who would be pressing it at this hour? The door opened, and Felix walked in.Sasha's eyes widened. "Y-You! How can it be?" She felt as if she was going insane. No one who provoked Kane had ever appeared again. Why would Felix be an exception? Only Warren rushed over in excitement to hug Felix. "You little scamp
Kane's eyes narrowed, and he looked quietly at Perry, who stood his ground in defiance. "Really? Then, you can tell Lady Summers to come looking for me." He pointed at Perry and said harshly, "Get out!"At that point, Perry had no choice but to leave with Ted. As soon as they got into their car, Ted began furiously pummeling the back of the seat in front of him. "I can't accept this! Dad, why is Felix so lucky? How can he be a distant relative of Lord Kane? Are we really just going to give up?" He looked at his crippled arm, feeling his rage burn.There was an icy light in Perry's eyes, and he gritted his teeth as he said, "Calm down. I'll find a chance to test the waters with Xena! If we act recklessly and Xena doesn't help us out, everything our family has worked hard for will be ruined!" The Goldwind Chamber of Commerce that Perry had established had only developed to its current scale because many prominent figures had helped him on account of Xena. They hadn't done it fo
After Yale's disappearance, Nala had abandoned her original plans. With the recent appearance of the founder's attendant, Dragon Alliance had regained its former glory, and no one dared to challenge their authority.At the entrance of the Walsh residence, Dominic arrived just as a sleek black executive sedan pulled up. Nala recognized the two figures who stepped out first—both the vice leaders of Dragon Alliance, whom she had met before.The fact that the vice leaders were opening the car door could only mean one thing—the Dragon Lord was here. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Dominic had already instructed security to clear away unnecessary guests."Welcome to Michael's wedding. Dragon Lord, Your presence brings great honor to the Walsh family," Dominic said earnestly. This unexpected visit would undoubtedly elevate the Walsh family's status even higher than their planned alliance with Nala.Vivian nodded in acknowledgment before heading inside, with Dominic carefully
The Walsh residence in Aleshire, sprawling across 35 acres, was a testament to their wealth. The renovations alone had cost around two billion dollars, and the total property value was estimated at 20 billion dollars—a clear display of their immense fortune.For a family like theirs, there was no need to book high-end hotels or luxury resorts for weddings. Their estate was more than sufficient to host the grandest of celebrations. Today marked the wedding of Michael, the youngest Walsh son, to Yvonne, Nala's personal secretary. It was a perfect match given their social standings, and the steady stream of luxury cars arriving at the estate indicated the scale of the event. Soon, a Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up, and Nala stepped out, still wearing her signature veil. She was accompanied by Alfie, who had donned a custom-tailored suit. The Walsh family's major members personally greeted her, which just showed how extraordinary her status was. Once they reached a private
Michael raised his glass and said, "George is right. Here's to you both. I hope you enjoy your time in Aleshire, and don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." He knew exactly why these two were here—they were attending his wedding tomorrow. However, given they were at The Nightowl, an upscale nightclub, he figured it was best not to bring it up.Ryan and George raised their glasses in response, but Felix remained motionless. His indifference seriously irritated Michael."I don't believe we've met. Who might you be?" Michael's youthful pride got the better of him. He could have just finished his drink and left, but he felt the need to assert himself. He could not let this slide, and he wondered who Felix thought he was to disrespect him like this. "I'm Felix Zeller. I'm no one important, but here's a word of advice—if you're planning to get married, show some respect for each other, alright?"Michael could not believe Felix was actually lecturing him. His irritat
What? Calista, who was about to tell the three hostesses to sit down, froze mid-smile. Felix's words carried an unmistakable challenge.Ryan and George exchanged knowing looks. Of all the people to clash with in Aleshire, it had to be the Walsh family. They knew Felix's true purpose here. "Do you... still want Sadie?" Chewing watermelon, Felix crossed his legs. "Yes, only Sadie. Pass a message to Mr. Walsh. If he's smart, send her over."As Calista hesitated, George's cold voice cut in, "Are you deaf or lame?" "Right away!"The manager knew her customers well. Some big shots could be managed, but others were untouchable. George and Ryan belonged to the latter category. "Do you need backup, Mr. Zeller?" George asked after Calista left, making the other girls hold their breath. In Aleshire, few dared cross the Walsh family. The girls could not believe they met people who dared to do so today."We're civilized, aren't we? But can you guess which Walsh it is?" Ryan answer
Was Yvonne really trying to send a reminder to Felix? It was unnecessary. He had not forgotten his promise to her at Ernest's birthday party. Though Felix would not dare claim Yvonne as his, they had been intimate, and her feelings were obvious. If he could not marry her, he could at least let her choose her own happiness instead of being controlled by Nala. They reached Aleshire at sunset. George led Felix to a nightclub. "Yartford is the political center of the country, so certain things have to be done discreetly there. But Aleshire's different. Tonight, you'll see real entertainment." Felix was not particularly interested, but he had time to kill. "The Nightowl is Aleshire's finest club. No one dares claim second place." Inside, hostesses with curvy legs lined the entrance. "Mr. Zimmerman! It's been too long!" A youthful-looking older woman approached. Her light makeup showed how confident she was about her appearance rather than courage. "Ah, Calista! Still stunning
After settling Michelle in, Felix headed to the living room. He hesitated for a bit before calling Karina. Max's authority over Meadowspring villagers was beyond his current powerless state. But with Michelle's safety at stake, he had no choice. Soon, the call was connected. "Felix, what's wrong?" Felix felt guilty about failing his promise. "Karina, about Michelle..." After hearing the story, Karina said, "Pearly? I don't know her, but I'll look into it. Don't worry. I'll make sure she never troubles Michelle again." She added, "Don't blame yourself. I know your situation is complicated." It was complicated indeed.…Two peaceful weeks passed. Felix continued his daily ritual of cultivating Dragonspine at Yardley Dining, undisturbed by the Elders' Council or others. True to Karina's word, the threat vanished. If not, Max would not have waited this long given his menacing attitude earlier. His only frustration was Xena. Even Alistair confirmed she had been swamped since
From that observation, Felix could tell how incredibly powerful the Saphira family had to be as one of the ancient martial arts families. Once in the car, Felix paused before saying, "Was the chief pointing at me?" Ryland was too distracted, and Michelle was still unconscious, so Theodore nodded. "Yes. He meant you." Theodore was still stunned. The village chief was practically a Martial Emperor, and he actually owed Felix his life. What other secrets did Felix hold? Felix fell silent as he recalled the scene just now. Under the torchlight, he remembered the chief had tanned skin, average height, and a small goatee. "It's him!" Felix suddenly remembered who he was. When Felix had just started studying medicine with Gerald years ago, he had found the chief unconscious while gathering herbs. The man was close to dying, and Felix's limited skills could only slow the decline. It was impossible to save him. In the end, Gerald had stepped in. He cursed Felix's do-gooder nature
Ryland's face paled as his eyes widened. "She... She's alive?" Max grinned. "Watch your mouth, kid. How could my boss possibly have died? You disappointed her, and those who disappoint must pay." Pointing at Felix, he continued, "The original plan was to drug him and Michelle and film their affair to crush you emotionally before dealing with you physically. But he seemed to be a traditional medicine practitioner, so he noticed the drugs. We had no choice but to attack first." Ryland looked devastated. "No, I waited! She never appeared. I couldn't possibly wait forever. It's not my fault!" "Let's go," Felix cut in, knowing this wasn't the time. "Going somewhere?" Max threw a knife into the ground before Ryland. "Kill your girlfriend Michelle, and all is forgiven!"Ryland stood frozen, clearly shaken by the mention of that woman Pearly. "What if he refuses?" Felix asked. Max traced a circle in the air. "Then, you all die. This is Meadowspring's burial ground. Without the c
Outside the bar, members of the Earthen Hall were waiting. Vivian had returned to the headquarters of Dragon Alliance hours ago to handle urgent matters, so these guards had been reassigned from Yardley Dining.As they drove, Theodore suddenly spoke up, "Now I remember why Meadowspring sounded familiar." "What do you mean?" Felix asked. The address the brute left was called Meadowspring, an oddly named place. "It's a branch village of the Saphira family. We need to be extremely careful." His voice alone showed how wary he was of the Saphiras."Are they that dangerous?" Theodore gave Felix a strange look, wondering how someone important enough to mobilize Dragon Alliance could be so ignorant. "Eight ancient martial arts families have survived in modern Dragonia, with one in each province's capital. We have one in Canraville, which is the Saphira family." Seeing Felix's blank look, Theodore continued, "These eight families have maintained their power for thousands of years. H