When the car arrived at the manor, both Xena and Jordan got out, and the Kinsley family immediately greeted them, "Welcome to the banquet, Lady Summers."Xena nodded in response. "There's no need to be so formal. I heard that Mr. Kinsley Senior has fully recovered from his illness. After all, he did a lot of good deeds for Avesburgh back in the day. It's only right that I come to visit him."As she spoke, she extended her right hand. "This is Jordan Hall, the apprentice of Wesley Cane, who ranks fifth among the top ten master healers."The crowd was somewhat astonished. Anyone who rode with the goddess of war had to be extraordinary."Welcome, Mr. Hall," the crowd greeted.When the group entered the front courtyard, all the guests who had already received the news were visibly excited but didn't dare to approach. They could only watch from afar."My goodness! It's the goddess of war, Xena. I can't believe I'm seeing her in real life. She's so gorgeous." Sasha's face flushed with
Gilbert's sudden call brought Xena to an abrupt halt. She turned to look back, and instinctively, the others followed her lead. A sense of dread tightened in Wendy's chest. The shout from Gilbert felt like a harbinger of trouble. What could unfold now?Felix, however, remained unfazed. With no secrets to hide, he welcomed the opportunity for Gilbert to come to terms with the situation. "Let's go inside and discuss this further," he said.As Felix led Gilbert back into the dwelling, Xena's eyes flickered with disdain. "Master healer? If a small doctor from the countryside could be labeled as such, then this title had lost all its value," she thought as she continued on her path, convinced that Gilbert was another victim of Felix's schemes. "People are truly amusing these days. Master healer—what a joke!" Jordan scoffed, echoing the sentiment that the title had become a mere shadow of its former self. Xena would have apprehended Felix long ago if it weren't for the engageme
Businessmen were still businessmen, after all—they had a lot to consider."Yes, Dr. Zeller," Gilbert answered.As the two left the banquet, only Xena, Jordan, and three members of the Kinsley family remained in the reception room."I don't like to beat around the bush. You should understand the benefits of my visit today! You can also amplify these benefits, which can work in reverse," Xena said harshly.Upon hearing Xena's words, Wendy and the others changed their expressions. They wondered if this was a threat.However, it was undeniably a fact—if Xena wanted to take action against the Kinsleys, she could do so in the blink of an eye."Xena, the Kinsleys have become the wealthiest in Avesburgh. While I can't say they're cunning, they certainly hold their own," Jordan played the role of the peacemaker. Jordan had known Xena for quite some time. He understood how to navigate the situation."You should also understand. After all, Mr. Kinsley Senior was once bedridden and in dan
As Wendy was about to speak, Bernard regained his composure and shouted, "How dare you!" In the next moment, Bernard suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed into Vincent's arms. Wendy was so frightened that she burst into tears and hurried outside. Even Xena's expression changed. Bernard's loyalty was more intense than she had anticipated, to the point of spitting blood over this matter."Joe," she whispered. Jordan nodded in acknowledgment and rushed over to check Bernard's pulse. His assistance helped calm Vincent and Wendy down a bit. "It's nothing serious. It's just a case of stress. A few days of rest will do him good, but during this time, make sure he doesn't face any more pressure." Given the sudden events, if Xena continued to press on the issue, she would no longer deserve the title of goddess of war. She left with Jordan. "Grandpa! I'm so sorry!" Wendy cried like a child. She just didn't want the Kinsleys to be defeated. But it wasn't her inten
Felix's lips curled into a slight smile. It was exactly as he had anticipated. He picked up the bowl he had prepared earlier and placed it by Zane's mouth. Then, he gently patted Zane's back three times with his right hand.On the last pat, Zane surprisingly opened his mouth and expelled something into the bowl. To the astonishment of Gilbert and Jane, Zane laid back down and fell asleep again."All done.""All done?" The couple stared wide-eyed, unable to comprehend the unbelievable turn of events.It wasn't until Felix approached them with the bowl and pointed to its contents that they understood. "This bug is the reason for your son's condition." Felix showed them the bowl.They looked down to see a white, worm-like creature in the bowl, resembling a dead earthworm, completely still. "This creature is extremely rare. It's called a Snowbug. I won't go into the details, but when it encounters a human, it will actively burrow into their body without leaving any wounds. "
"Milady." Belle grabbed Xena's arm, knowing just how terrifying Nocturno was as a wanted criminal. Unlike criminals who acted in the dark, he often appeared in public, yet he remained elusive due to his extraordinary strength. Even now, no one knew what his limits were."I've already called headquarters. Should we wait for their support before proceeding?" Xena patted Belle's arm, fully aware that she meant well. "It might be too late by then. Regardless of Nocturno's intentions to see me, this is undoubtedly the best opportunity to take him down. If we wait for headquarters, Nocturno isn't a fool—he'll have already escaped," Xena said."Don't worry. I'm not that easy to deal with, either," she added.Though she said this, Xena felt uncertain. Every Super S-rank wanted criminal was formidable in their own right.…Meanwhile, Felix had returned to his villa. He didn't intend to turn on the lights. Given the armed guards outside, suddenly illuminating the place would be hi
Xena glanced at Felix with a complex expression. "Please wait in the yard. My people need to search your villa. Don't worry. We won't mess up the place," she said."Okay." Felix nodded.When Belle emerged from the villa with her team, Xena left with just a glance. However, before departing, she said, "Sorry for the trouble." Felix was surprised. It was a miracle that this woman could maintain such a good attitude in front of him.… The child had already been sent to the hospital, and her parents were notified. Xena and Belle then drove toward the Phoenix Legion headquarters. Most of their personnel had been dispatched throughout Avesburgh to search for Nocturno, although they knew the chances of finding him were slim. But one question lingered. Why had Nocturno suddenly abandoned the child and not killed Felix, who was also sleeping in the villa? This was completely out of character for Nocturno. He was known to be brutal, which was why he was classified as a Super S-ran
Felix had already changed into his pajamas and finished washing up. He was now preparing for bed. However, just then, the doorbell rang. He was puzzled. Who could be visiting at this late hour?His expression was strange as he saw Xena on the video monitor."Do you have something else to discuss?" he said.Seeing that Felix was outside but hadn't opened the gate, Xena felt a surge of irritation. However, remembering her inner suspicions, she held back her frustration. "Although it's a bit late and my visit is somewhat inappropriate, is this how you welcome your guests?" she snapped.Felix opened the gate and turned to walk away. "Come in," he said.Xena was even more annoyed by his attitude. After all, she was the first goddess of war in Dragonia—beautiful and talented, the dream woman of countless men. Yet, every time she encountered Felix, it felt as though he had a way of filtering out her extraordinary beauty as if he simply couldn't see it."Get to the point. I'm
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