The Dragon Man's Decree - Translated by GILY

Author: Unknown
Type: Action and Adventure
Posted : 07 October 2023
Status: Ongoing

Synopsis
John White is furious that someone has tried to make an advance on his girlfriend. In the end, he ends up behind bars after his attempt to protect her. Three years later, he is a free man but finds out that that girlfriend of his has married the man who hit on her back then. John will not let things slide. Thankfully, he has learned Focus Technique during his time in prison. At that, he embarks on the journey of cultivation and is accompanied by a gorgeous Miranda. Who would have thought this would enrage his ex-girlfriend?

 

[Gily]

Chapter 1 Released From Prison

“I’m finally out,” John White exclaimed as he forcefully took a deep breath of fresh air.

Behind him was Fuyang Prison, where he had been locked up for the past three years. Today was the day he was released.

“Hmm, I wonder how my parents are doing.”

With a torn canvas bag on his back, Jared hurried home right away. Over the last three years, his parents never visited him. Hence, he was worried about them.

On the way home, John kept looking at the bronze-colored ring he was wearing.

There was a lifelike dragon carved on it. On top of the dragon’s head was a special symbol.

The ring was given to him by Drake, a friend from prison.

Drake was a strange man. He would constantly ramble on about how he was the leader of the Dragon Sect and knew everything, including astrology, geography, medicine, and many more. Not only that, he even claimed that he could bring back someone from the dead.

Everyone treated Drake as a madman and ignored him accordingly. Only John would chat with him and share his food occasionally.

Drake would tell John all sorts of strange stories about the Dragon Sect and Dragon Island. These were names that John had never heard before.

Moreover, Drake would get John White to accompany him in his meditation and martial arts training. Given how bored John White was in prison, he gladly went along with it.

At the end of three years, John had learned a plethora of martial art techniques and medical skills from Drake.

On the fateful day of John’s release, Drake gave the ring to John and told him to go to Nameless Island within the Eastern Sea on the fifteenth of July that year. There, he was supposed to flash his ring and someone would pick him up. When that happened, John would be bestowed with a wonderful opportunity.

Considering how much he had learned from Drake, John naturally took his words seriously and promised to do as he was told. Nevertheless, there were still a few more months to go before July.

Before he knew it, John had arrived at the entrance to his home. When he saw the dilapidated house in front of him, he felt a sense of bitterness, as he had no knowledge of how his parents held up during the three years. Due to my rash actions, my parents must have suffered a lot.

Thinking back to what had happened three years ago, John was filled with anger.

Back then, he and his girlfriend, Natalia Grace, were at the stage where they were talking about marriage. They were classmates at university and had been in a relationship for two years.

One day, when he was walking Natalia back home, both of them ran into Antonio Gallemit, who was drunk.

Antonnio was a rich kid in Fuyang, well-known for all his misdeeds.

When he saw how pretty Natalia was, he harbored lecherous intentions against her and began touching her physically.

As a famous rich kid, Antonio didn’t even bother to look at John.

Consequently, John was incensed when he saw his girlfriend being taken advantage of.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 2: Baldy Man

“Did the Grace really do that?” John furrowed his eyebrows, as he could not believe Natalia would do something like that. Back when he was arrested, she even screamed in tears, saying that she would wait to marry him after he was released from prison. Why did it turn out this way? As a result, John decided to see Natalia to ask her about it. Suddenly, someone banged on their door heavily. The impact was so forceful that the door almost collapsed from it.

The moment Anna heard the knock, her face turned pale in terror. “Mom, who is it?” John asked curiously upon noticing his mother’s reaction. “Don’t get involved. Go to your room quickly and don’t come out, no matter what!” After pushing him into his room, Anna anxiously went to open the door. Just as she did, a bald man entered with a group of fierce-looking men whose bodies were covered with tattoos.

“Have you prepared the money?” the bald man queried, glancing Anna.

“Baldy, I have. It’s here.” Anna nodded repeatedly as she felt for a pouch in the corner.

At that moment, many of the neighbors had crowded around. However, they kept their distance at the sight of Baldy.

“These guys come asking for money every month. What a ruthless bunch!”

“Exactly. Where is the rule of law?”

“Shush, not so loud. They have been sent by the Gallemit family to collect money on schedule.” The neighbors hid by the side and criticized the men’s actions. Unfortunately, no one dared to interfere.

Meanwhile, Baldy snatched the pouch from Anna’s hands and opened it to check.

“What the fuck is this?” Knitting his eyebrows, Baldy turned the pouch inside out, causing some torn notes and spare change to drop out. There were a hundred, a fifty, and a couple of ones. In fact, there was a load of coins inside.

“Does this even add up to ten thousand?” Baldy thundered Anna.

“Baldy, it’s all there, and we counted it. If you don’t believe me, you can count it yourself.”

Anna nodded with an obsequious smile. “Bullshit!” Baldy kicked Anna in the abdomen and sent her crashing onto the ground.

“How dare you ask me to count? I have no time for this. Change all of them to hundreds!”

“Mom!” Dashing out of his room John quickly helped Anna up. Then, he swept an icy gaze across Baldy and his men, sending a chill down their spines. “John, you shouldn’t be out here. Go back into your room, and don’t get involved!” Anna desperately tried to push him back.

“Mom, since I’m home, let me deal with this. You should just sit tight.”

After settling down Anna on a chair, John turned to glare at Baldy. Having scrutinized John, Baldy sneered, “Aren’t you the guy who hit Mr. Gallemit with a brick and was imprisoned three years for it? I’m surprised that you’re out! Your timing is impeccable. Today is the day your girlfriend and Mr. Gallemit are going to get married. As her ex-boyfriend, aren’t you going to attend it?” “Loser!” Baldy and his men burst out laughing. “What did you say?”

Furrowing his brows, John was filled with disbelief. “I said the girl you went to prison for is marrying Mr. Gallemit today. The wedding is being held at Glamor Hotel, and it is certainly luxurious. Aren’t you going to have a look?” Baldy smirked at John. As the frown on Joh’s face intensified, he balled his hands into fists. Behind him, Anna was trembling all over as her expression drastically changed. She could not believe Natalia married the enemy after Jared went to prison for her sake.

“Kneel and apologize to my mother. Do it, and I’ll spare your lives.” John’s gaze turned frosty as a murderous aura emanated from his body.

Feeling the tension in the air, Baldy and his men stopped laughing. After a while, comprehension dawned, and Baldy fumed, “What did you say? You want me to kneel and apologize?”

Just as he spoke, Baldy threw a punch in John’s direction. Given how scrawny John looked, he figured a single punch would take John out. To everyone’s surprise, John launched a kick in response to Baldy’s attack. Grabbing his crotch, Baldy collapsed to the ground. He was drenched in sweat as he cried out in agonizing pain.

“John, you can’t afford to get into a fight again!” Anna bellowed when she heard Baldy’s repeated groans.

John was imprisoned because of assault. What if he gets arrested again for fighting?

“All of you, beat him to death!” Baldy roared with a vicious stare. With that, Baldy’s men charged at John. After giving his mother a glance, John suddenly flicked both his hands, unleashing multiple flashes of light. The next moment, his attackers felt their legs go weak before dropping to their knees. Shocked by the turn of events, Baldy stared at John in disbelief as fear began to creep into him.

Even the neighbors who were watching widened their eyes in amazement.

“Apologize to my mother!” John repeated in an icy tone. After a brief hesitation, Baldy had no choice but to kneel when his eyes met John’s piercing gaze.

“We’re sorry,” Baldy and his men expressed their remorse.

“Get lost!” John snapped with a wave of his hand. Even though he could kill the thugs with a flick of his finger, he didn’t want to murder anyone in front of his mother and neighbors. While Baldy was helped out of the house by his men, he shot an insidious glare at John before hobbling out. Evidently, he was feeling indignant about what had transpired. Nevertheless, John didn’t fear Baldy’s vengeance at all.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 3: Miranda Sam

“Mom, are you all right?” John asked with concern after Baldy and the rest left. “Those men are gone.”

“Why did you have to come out and offend him!” she scolded. “Pick up the money from the floor quickly. It’s what we have painstakingly saved all this while.” Stooping to the ground, John put the notes and loose change back into the pouch.

“Mom, I’ll be the breadwinner going forward, while you and Dad can rest. As for your eyes, I’ll think of a way to get them treated.”

When he was done picking the money up, he returned the pouch to Anna. “I’m glad to hear you say that,” Anna replied, before bursting into tears again. “Now that you’re back, my mind is finally put at ease. If it wasn’t because I was worried about you, I would have been dead long ago.” John’s eyes could not help but water when he saw the look on his mother’s face.

Bang!

Unable to hold back his emotions, he slammed his fist on the table. Crack! The table shattered into pieces instantly. The Grace, the Gallemit… I will definitely make all of you pay.

A burning rage began to grow from within him. Sensing John’s fury, Anna quickly added, “John, please don’t cause any more trouble. Now that you’re back, you should get a proper job. Everything will work out after that.”

“Mom, don’t worry. I know what to do. Anyway, I’m heading out.” After comforting his mother, John planned to confront Natalia and demand to know what had truly happened. While leaving his home, John was enveloped with anger. Just when he was crossing the road, a red Porsche sped toward him and crashed into him, sending him flying.

Bam!

John landed heavily on the ground. He would likely have been killed if not for his training with Drake.

“Who’s the crazy driver!” John, who was already angry, was further infuriated after being run down the moment he left his house.

In the midst of John’s curses, a female voice cried out, “Why don’t you fucking look where you’re walking?” The next moment, a beautiful woman alighted from the Porsche.

She was wearing a white full-length dress and killer heels. Nevertheless, she was staring angrily at John. Furrowing his eyebrows, John decided to lie back down instead of getting up.

“Which of us do you think is blind? Obviously, you were the one who knocked into me. In spite of the pretty face, why do you have such a foul mouth?” John retorted.

“How dare you scold me!” While glaring at John, the woman suddenly raised her leg to stomp on him. Considering she was wearing stilettos, her heels were the equivalent of sharp daggers. If she were to plunge one into him, it would definitely cause a stab wound.

“Miranda, stop.” Just when the woman was about to strike John, a middle-aged man got out of the back seat of the car. He was surrounded by an air of authority and was obviously someone important. However, his face was pale, and his breathing was rapid. After shouting briefly, he held onto the car for support as he desperately tried to catch his breath.

“Dad, why did you come down?” When the woman saw her father, she rushed over to support him.

“Let’s hurry to the hospital and not waste any more time,” the middle-aged man remarked, to which the woman nodded. Upon returning to John, she took out a stack of money and threw it in front of him.

“Here’s ten thousand. Take the money and leave. We have an urgent matter to attend to.” Instead of taking the money, John stood up and took a glance at the middle-aged man. He then remarked, “There’s no need to go to the hospital. It’s already too late.” When he finished speaking, he turned to leave. It was obvious to him that the middle-aged man’s condition was severe that he would not make it in time.

“Stop!” The woman blocked John’s way and glowered at him. “What do you mean by that? Speak clearly, or I’ll not let you go!” At this moment, the middle-aged man also approached John with a frown.

“Your father’s condition is dire due to the injury in his left lung. In less than five minutes, he will suffer from breathing difficulty and suffocate to death. Can you make it to the hospital in five minutes?” John calmly asked the woman.

“You’re bluffing! My dad only has the flu—”

“Miranda,” the middle-aged man snapped at his daughter before taking another two steps toward John. With an astonished look, he questioned, “Young man, how do you know my left lung has been injured before?”

“You wouldn’t understand, even if I told you. Anyway, I’m busy right now and have no time to waste with the both of you.” With that, John turned around and prepared to leave.

“Young man—” the middle-aged man called out again before breaking into an intense cough. After he managed to calm down, he grabbed John’s arm at once.

“Young man, since you can diagnose my sickness, I’m sure you can treat it. I hope you are willing to save my life, and I’m happy to pay any price for it. Here, this is my card!” The middle-aged man handed John a card. Nonetheless, John didn’t want to accept it nor get involved.

However, the moment he caught a glimpse of the name on the card, he took it at once. “You’re the CEO of Walton Group, Sam Walton?”

“Yes, I am,” Sam confirmed with a nod. All of a sudden, John extended his hand and stabbed his finger at Sam’s major acupoints. His actions were so swift that neither Sam nor Miranda had any time to react.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 4: Natalia Grace

“What are you doing?” Miranda jumped between John and her father, but John was already done. As for Sam, he suddenly felt his breathing improve while color gradually returned to his face.

“I have temporarily kept your injury in check. Considering how old your injury is, you will need a long duration of treatment in order to fully recover,” John explained.

“Thank you for saving me. I really can’t thank you enough.” Sam grabbed John’s hand and expressed his gratitude continuously.

Meanwhile, Miranda was astounded to see the glow return to her father’s cheeks and the improvement in his condition.

“I saved you because I’m aware of your philanthropic work. Considering you have built more than ten schools, I’m obliged to do something for you.” John saved Sam because he knew of Sam’s good heart. If it had been a stranger, he naturally would not have bothered, especially after Miranda had been rude to him and almost killed him.

After all, John was not a saint who went around healing everyone. Sam was visibly embarrassed by John’s words.

“What I’ve done is not even worth mentioning. Young man, since you’ve saved me, just tell me whatever it is that you want. Now that it’s almost noon, why don’t I treat you to lunch at Glamor Hotel?”

“It’s fine. I still have something to take care of.” Shaking his head, John declined the invitation, as he wanted to confront Natalia to clear the air. John’s rejection caught Sam by surprise. As Fuyang’s richest man, there were many who wanted to buy him lunch. Nevertheless, only those who walked the corridors of power had the honor of dining with him. Hence, he didn’t expect John to decline his invitation.

“Young man, no matter what, I insist on giving you a treat to show my gratitude.” Sam refused to let go of John’s arm. It was not lost upon John that Sam’s intention behind treating him was to find out about his follow-up treatment. In spite of that, he was moved by Sam’s sincerity. As a result, he nodded in agreement.

“All right then, I’ll deal with my problem first and see you at the hotel when I’m done?” Sam released his grip in response.

“Fine, that settles it. Just call me when you arrive, young man!” After acknowledging Sam, John hurried to the Grace residence.

“Where’s Natalia? I want to see her!” John cried out to a middle-aged woman in front of an old mansion. She was Natalia’s mother, Melinda Davis. In the past, John would never have dared to speak to her in such a tone. However, after hearing what his mother had said, John was so infuriated that it was a surprise he didn’t strike her at the get-go.

Dressed in a gown, Melinda put on a haughty expression with her arms folded in front of her chest. Staring at John with disdain, Melinda spat, “Get lost! My daughter is getting married today. Hence, an ex-convict like you isn’t welcomed here.”

“Getting married?” John knitted his eyebrows when he realized Baldy was telling the truth. “Where’s Natalia? Who is she marrying? Tell her to come out here and explain it to me.” With a scowl on his face, John dashed into the mansion.

“Hey, are you mad? How can you barge into my house just like that!” Melinda desperately pulled John back. Unfortunately, it was a futile effort considering how strong John was. Instead, she was being dragged across the yard. When she saw John barging in, a woman dressed in a wedding gown came out with a sullen look on her face. The moment he saw her, John stopped.

“Natalia, what’s going on? Explain yourself!” John demanded, his eyes burning with rage. “John, you should leave and don’t come and see me again. I have decided to marry Antonio,” Natalia asserted with an indifferent expression. Narrowing his gaze, John clenched his fists.

Even though he had already known about it, it still felt excruciating to hear Natalia say it out loud. I went to prison because of Antonio, and now, my own girlfriend is getting married to him? She is making a mockery of me! Suddenly, John laughed wryly when he realized how pathetic he was. “Is this what you really want?” Looking at Natalia, John felt his fury begin to recede as his fingers gradually relaxed.

“Yes!” Natalia nodded.

“I want to be rich, which is something you will never be able to provide. Furthermore, as an ex-convict, you might not even be able to take care of yourself, let alone me. For old times’ sake, here’s a few hundred. Take it, so you don’t have to sleep on the streets!” As Natalia said that, she grabbed a bunch of hundreds and threw them at John’s face. At that moment, Natalia was dead to him. He knew the person in front of him was no longer his girlfriend.

“You will regret this!” John roared and left without taking Natalia’s money.

“Pfft, I would only regret it if I married a broke bastard like you!” Natalia hissed from behind him.



Chapter 5 Gallemit family’s eldest son is getting married

When John arrived at the entrance, the groom’s convoy had blocked the exit. A young man dressed in a suit and leather shoes alighted from a beautifully decorated car, holding a bouquet of flowers. That man was Antonio. The moment he saw John, he was momentarily stunned. When he regained his senses, he guffawed out loud.

“I forgot that today is the day you’re released from prison. What a wonderful coincidence. Would you like to attend my wedding with Natalia?”

Antonio gave John a mocking look that was tainted with mischief. All John did was shot Antonio an icy glare. After that, he stepped aside to leave, as he didn’t want to waste time speaking to someone like that.

“Don’t go!” Unexpectedly, Antonio blocked John’s way. “Is it because you can’t afford to buy a gift?

Don’t worry, you don’t have to get us anything. Instead, you can have the leftovers from the banquet. We will be having our wedding reception at Glamor Hotel. If you don’t come, I’m afraid you will never have the opportunity to eat there.” Giving John a contemptuous smile, Antonio even patted John on his cheek. However, the latter slapped it away forcefully.

“Idiot, what’s so great about marrying used goods? You’re just having my leftovers,” John sneered. In truth, John had never touched Natalia before.

Not even her hand. He simply said it to spite Antonio as well as exact revenge on Natalia. The very next instant, Antonio looked in Natalia’s direction. She had told him she never held John’s hand before, but now he was not so sure. Natalia grew nervous when she noticed the look on Antonio’s face. Turning to John, she thundered, “John, what lies are you spewing? How dare you accuse me of being a leftover? I would never let someone like you hold my hand!”

Even Melinda began to panic. “John, stop your sour grapes behavior,” she berated. “My daughter would never have let the likes of someone like you touch her!” Then, she turned toward Antonio and explained, “Antonio, don’t listen to him. He is obviously saying it to spite you.” Given how hard it was for her to find a rich son-in-law, she was not going to let John’s words foil her plan.

“Mrs. Grace, don’t worry. I won’t believe him.”

Obviously, Antonio was not a fool to be easily taken in. “It’s up to you whether you want to believe it or not.” Ignoring Antonio, John walked around him and headed out.

“Wait!” Antonio cried out. “You better keep your mouth shut. If I find you spreading rumors about my wife, I will make sure you regret it!” Antonio was worried that John would sully the Gallemit family’s reputation.

“Haha, my mouth is my own, and I can say whatever I want. What are you going to do about it?” Staring at Antonio coldly, John added, “In fact, you’re the one who should watch out. Or else, you won’t even know what hits you the day you lose your life.”

When his eyes locked with John’s piercing gaze, Antonio had a sudden realization and felt a shiver down his spine. Realizing he was humiliated the very next instant, he widened his eyes and threatened, “You are welcome to try if you’re not afraid of death. When the time comes, you will be begging me on your knees instead!” Antonio was filled with rage.

If not for the fact that he was getting married, he would have taught John a lesson. “We won’t know till it happens. Let’s wait and see.” John shot Antonio a scornful look.

“Antonio, it’s time. Let’s just ignore that broke bastard.” Melinda glanced at John in a condescending manner. Holding the flowers in his hand, Antonio and his entourage walked toward the house. Watching Antonio’s leaving silhouette, John shot a ray of light into Antonio’s body with a flick of his finger.

Antonio was visibly jolted for a fleeting moment. However, he didn’t think too much of it as he carried on with his steps. “Let’s see if you will kneel before me and beg.” With a smirk on his face, John turned and left for Glamor Hotel.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Glamor Hotel, Sam was waiting for John personally, causing everyone present to speculate about what was going on. “Isn’t that Mr. Walton? It’s a surprise to see him waiting for someone at the entrance.

I wonder what makes him so important that Mr. Walton has to wait for him.”

“I heard the Gallemit family’s eldest son is getting married, and the wedding is being held here. Could he be waiting for them?” “Maybe. After all, the Gallemit family is a prominent family too. Hence, he ought to show them some respect.” As the crowd gradually streamed into Glamor Hotel, Sam paced back and forth anxiously at the entrance, checking his watch every now and then.

“Dad, I think that guy was bullshitting us. All this talk about your injured left lung and threat to your life is nothing but crap. All you have is lung inflammation from your flu, so stop waiting for him, and let me take you to the hospital,” Miranda persuaded Sam. Sam had arrived half an hour ago but didn’t see John. As for Miranda, she felt John was just spouting nonsense, as Sam had never mentioned about injuring his left lung before.

Moreover, this was the first time the situation had occurred. “Miranda, there are some things that you aren’t aware of. The doctors at the hospital have no way of seeing the injury on my left lung. This hidden ailment of mine has been with me for more than twenty years. The only reason I didn’t tell anyone was that I didn’t want you to worry.” Sam sighed grimly. Stupefied by the revelation, Miranda held her father’s hand nervously.

“Dad, w-what’s going on? Please don’t scare me… Please… I already gave Dr. Watson a call, and he will be arriving shortly.” Miranda was consumed by panic. Ever since she could remember, she had never seen her mother. All this while, Sam had raised her alone, and they were everything to each other.

Hence, if anything happened to Sam, she didn’t know how she could continue living by herself. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when we have the time.” As his words fell, Sam checked his watch again before looking out far ahead.

Chapter 6 Dr James Watson

The moment he saw John emerge, Sam was filled with delight. He then ran up to John. “You’re finally here, young man. This way, please.” Holding onto John’s hand, Sam heaved a sigh of relief.

“Mr. Walton, since I have made you a promise, I would definitely turn up.” John was cognizant that Sam was worried that he would stand him up.

Feeling embarrassed, Sam could only smile awkwardly. “After you, young man.”

Given how servile Sam was behaving, everyone in the hotel wondered who John was. When Miranda saw how proudly John was walking in contrast to her obeisant father, she fumed, “What’s wrong with you? My father had waited for you at the door for half an hour, and didn’t you notice that his condition seems to be deteriorating? Do you even know how to heal someone?” Miranda had resented John from the very beginning. However, she gave him the benefit of the doubt after being impressed by how he stopped Sam’s condition from getting worse.

A short while later, when she noticed Sam’s cheeks losing color again, she felt John was a scammer, looking to cheat them out of their money.

“Miranda, stop making a fuss and apologize at once,” Sam barked with a stern look on his face.

“There’s no way I’m going to do that. Look, he’s barely a fully grown man. How can he be a miracle doctor? I think he’s nothing but a con artist.” Glaring at John, she felt he was the reason Sam didn’t want to see the doctor. When Miranda refused to obey him, Sam was so furious that he began to have trouble breathing.

Cough! Cough! Just when he was about to speak, Sam ended up coughing intensely instead.

“Dad!” Miranda dashed forward to support Sam. Nevertheless, she was given a fright when she saw the black blood Sam had coughed out. At the sight of the scene, John furrowed his brows at once. Evidently, Sam’s injury was worse than he thought. In fact, he was surprised how Sam managed to survive for so long.

“Quick, carry your dad to a room,” John ordered Miranda, who was already in a panic.

Unfortunately, she didn’t move at all because she didn’t trust John. Frowning at Miranda’s inaction, John snapped, “Do you want to watch him die?” After she was shouted at, Miranda quickly helped Sam to a private room in the hotel. Inside, John searched for Sam’s pulse right away. However, his expression turned grim the moment he did. While John was treating Sam, a bespectacled man in a white doctor’s coat barged into the room.

“Dr. Watson, quick! Take a look at my dad. He has just vomited blood!” The moment she saw him, Miranda felt as if she had managed to grasp a sliver of hope.

“What? Let me see.” James, the doctor, quickly opened his medical bag.

“Move away.” Miranda pushed John aside and held Sam up.

“Dr. Watson, my dad’s life in your hands now. Please save him!” she pleaded. At that moment, Sam was close to losing consciousness as his breathing was increasingly labored.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Walton. I will do my best.” Just as James spoke, he began to take Sam’s pulse.

The longer he did so, the more intense James’s frown became. Miranda was unsettled when she noticed his expression and didn’t dare make a sound. “Ms. Walton, Mr. Walton’s damaged lung is the cause of his hidden ailment. This is a chronic disease that needs to be treated slowly. However, someone has forcefully kicked his immunity system into overdrive. Although it might seem effective in the short run, it would only cause his condition to further deteriorate. I’m afraid Mr. Walton is in a precarious situation now. Before I came, who did you bring Mr. Walton to see?”

James explained in a grave tone. When she heard the doctor’s words, Miranda flew into a fit of rage and looked in John’s direction. It was he who had treated her father just now. As it was just as the doctor had described. Her father did make a turn for the better, but John’s method ended up hurting Sam more.

“You con man! If anything happens to my father, I’ll never forgive you!” Miranda roared at John with a scowl on her face. If not for the fact that she was supporting Sam and could not leave, she would have lunged at John to beat him up.

“How can you accuse me of being a con man? Have I cheated anything out of you? If not for me, your father would have been a corpse by now. I can’t believe how ridiculous you can be!” John snorted. He hated how Miranda kept insisting he was a scammer and how nasty she was despite being a woman.

“You…” Despite feeling incensed, Miranda knew that the priority was saving her father, and it was not the time to argue with John.

“Dr. Watson, I beg of you, please think of a way. Please…” Miranda felt so distraught that she was on the brink of tears. Opening his medical bag, James took out a black pill and put it into Sam’s mouth. Then, he proceeded to open a bag of silver needles and inserted them into Sam’s acupoints.

“Doing this won’t save him. You will only harm him,” John commented when he saw James’s acupuncture technique, making the latter knit his eyebrows.

“What are you trying to say? Are you doubting me? Don’t tell me you know acupuncture.” Acupuncture was part of traditional medicine. Unlike modern medicine, where one could master it between three to five years, one needed at least eight to ten years before one could master acupuncture.

In fact, some might not even do so despite decades of learning. Given that John only looked about twenty years old, James figured that there was no way he would be a master at it, even if he had started learning in his mother’s womb.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 7 Saving Sam

“What garbage are you spewing? You’re not needed here. Get out!” Miranda barked, as she was worried that John would disrupt the treatment.

“Fine. You’re the one that asked me to leave. I’ll be waiting in the corridor. In less than five minutes, you’ll be out there begging me to come back in.” The moment he finished, John opened the door and went out. After he left, no one bothered about him. Meanwhile, James carefully continued with Sam’s acupuncture treatment.

Soon, he was entirely drenched in sweat. After the last needle was inserted, Sam gradually regain his consciousness and opened his eyes.

“Dad! My dad is awake, Dr. Watson. He’s awake. This is wonderful!” Miranda cried out jubilantly as tears filled her eyes. Just a moment ago, she was worried that he would never ever do so. When James saw Sam was awake, he, too, heaved a sigh of relief. After all, he barely had any confidence going in. Unfortunately, the moment Miranda and James sighed in relief, Sam began to tremble violently.

He looked to be in excruciating pain as his face started turning purple. “Dad! Dad!” Miranda yelled as she turned to James in panic. “Dr. Watson, why is this happening?”

At that moment, even James was feeling so distressed that he was just stumped. “I… I don’t know why this is happening either. How did it turn out this way?”

“Who are you asking? You’re the doctor here!” Miranda roared at the doctor in desperation.

At the same time, Sam’s shiver began to grow faint before he finally stopped moving. Even his breath could not be felt at all. Watching the change in Sam, James felt his panic intensify. If anything happened to Sam, he would have to suffer the consequences.

“Dad, don’t scare me… Don’t scare me…” Miranda began to cry. “Ms. Walton, let’s take Mr. Walton to the hospital. I have run out of ideas!” James suggested anxiously.

He wanted to send Sam there so that he could shirk his responsibility. If Sam died in the hospital, it would then not be his fault.

“Do you take me for a fool? Given my dad’s condition, there’s no way he can make it to the hospital! You better save him! If not, don’t think you will survive this unscathed!” Miranda exploded, having lost her rational mind. The Walton were the wealthiest family in Fuyang. To destroy a lowly doctor would take no more than a flick of their fingers. James was stricken with terror by her threat. Nonetheless, he was devoid of any ideas.

Suddenly, he thought of John and quickly suggested, “Ms. Walton, the guy that just went out. Perhaps he might have a solution. I think he probably knows a thing or two.” James’s words reminded Miranda of John. Still, it was not lost upon her that James had looked down upon him earlier, but was praising him now. Evidently, James was planning to let John take the blame. Once John stepped in to treat Sam, even if he was dead, James would be able to absolve himself of any responsibility.

After a momentary hesitation, Miranda let go of Sam, who slumped in his chair as she dashed out of the room. At that very moment, John was sitting along the corridor, expecting Miranda to come and see him. When the woman saw John was still there, she rushed up to him. Just when she wanted to speak, she suddenly realized that she had no idea how to address him.

“P-Please save my father, I beg of you,” Miranda pleaded with an awkward expression. When John gradually raised his head at her, Miranda averted her gaze, as she didn’t dare make eye contact.

Not too long ago, she was berating him, but now, she ended up begging him instead. “Do you believe I can save your father and that I’m not a con man?” John asked. Miranda kept silent, as she didn’t know how to answer. She didn’t fully trust him yet, but she had no other choice. Looking at her reaction, John simply chuckled. He decided not to make things difficult for her as he got up and returned to the room.

When Miranda followed John back in, she saw James pacing back and forth with his head covered in sweat. The moment James saw John, he felt as if he had seen his savior. Regardless of whether John could revive Sam, he could push the blame to John once the latter took over. Lowering himself, James begged, “I’m sorry about just now, young man. Please save Mr. Walton!” Considering that he could potentially lose everything, James felt that being polite would not hurt at all. After shooting Sam a glance, John sighed.

“Looks like I’ll have to give it my all.” Turning toward James, John questioned, “Do you still have any silver needles?”

“Yes, in the medical bag.” James quickly handed over a bag of silver needles to John.

“It’s not enough!” John shook his head.

“Not enough?” James was stunned. “The bag contains thirty needles. How can it not be enough?” In acupuncture, anyone who could insert more than ten needles was considered impressive.

Even the president of the Association of Traditional Medicine, Edwin Thomas, who was also known as a miracle doctor, could only insert around twenty needles. As a result, thirty needles were more than enough.

“It just isn’t. I need more!” John replied.

“How many more?” James carefully asked.

“Eighty-one!” James was stupefied by the reply. Suddenly, his eyes were filled with horror. However, instead of saying anything, he handed over all his silver needles.

After receiving them, John laid Sam’s body flat on the ground. Moving ambidextrously, he swiftly inserted the needles into Sam’s body. At this moment, cold sweat began to break out on John’s forehead. He looked as if he was exerting a lot of energy to the extent his clothes were all drenched.

When the final needle was inserted into Sam, John let out a long sigh. As if he was entirely drained, he dropped his butt onto the ground to sit. During the entire time, Miranda watched on nervously. She didn’t know much about acupuncture, and she felt the urge to ask.

However, she was worried about disrupting John. As for James, he was already gawking in astonishment from the get-go. His mouth opened so wide that one could fit an egg into it. A short while later, James’s shock had turned into elation. With a loud thud, he dropped his knees to the ground in front of John. His sudden movement gave both John and Miranda a fright.

Chapter 8 Miracle Doctor

“Miracle Doctor, please take me as your apprentice!” Right after he spoke, James bowed to John. Gaping in response, John realized he no longer had any energy left. As for Miranda, she gave James a bewildered look.

“Dr. Watson, what are you doing? My dad hasn’t even woken up yet.” Miranda didn’t understand why James was addressing John as a miracle doctor when her father was still unconscious.

“Ms. Walton, you’re probably not aware that this gentleman had just applied the Soul Resurrection Needle, which is capable of reviving a dead man.

Therefore, Mr. Walton will be just fine!” James explained.

“He’s that good?” Miranda gaped at John in disbelief. If what James says is true, John really deserves his title as Miracle Doctor.

“I can’t believe you actually know the Soul Resurrection Needle!” James exclaimed in awe. The Soul Resurrection Needle was an ancient acupuncture technique that had been lost through the generations. However, John didn’t understand what James was talking about, as he had only learned it from Drake.

“Miracle Doctor, I’m Dr. James Watson, deputy president of the Fuyang Association of Traditional Medicine. I have read about this technique in some ancient books and didn’t expect to have the honor of witnessing it in action today. Please, accept me as your student.” With that, James prostrated in front of John. Just when John was confounded by James’s reaction, coughs rang out in the room. Sam was finally awake.

“Dad!” Miranda reacted quickly by trying to help him up.

However, John held her back. “Ms. Walton, he’s not supposed to move yet.

You’ll have to wait for me to remove the needles.” Holding Miranda’s slender hands, he could feel how warm and gentle it felt. The sudden sensation felt like a jolt to him. As for Miranda, she, too, felt the warmth from his hands. Blushing, she remarked, “This is all thanks to you.” John frantically released Miranda’s hand before collecting himself. With a wave of his hand, the eighty-one needles were pulled toward his palm as if there was a magnetic force at work.

“It’s done,” John informed Miranda while returning the needles to James.

At that moment, Miranda no longer had any doubts left about John. Thanking him, she helped Sam up with teary eyes. “Dad, how do you feel?” Miranda inquired. “I’m fine. I feel good, to be honest.” Sam let out a slight smile. Upon noticing James kneeling on the ground, he asked curiously, “What’s going on?” After Miranda related how John had saved him with the Soul Resurrection Needle, Sam was astounded.

When John diagnosed his ailment just by looking at him, Sam was already impressed. Nevertheless, he didn’t expect the young man to be so skillful that the deputy president of the Association of Traditional Medicine would drop to his knees and beg to be accepted as a student.

“Young man, you have saved me twice already. From today onward, you are a benefactor of the Walton family. I will readily fulfill any request you have as long as it’s within my powers,” Sam declared resolutely. “You’re being too kind, Mr. Walton, as I barely did anything.

Furthermore, this is a blessing you deserve for all the charity you have done.” After giving a cordial reply, John changed his tact.

“Although I used the Soul Resurrection Needle to save your life temporarily, you will still die within three months if your ailment isn’t treated.” Having heard John’s words, Sam dropped to his knees. “Please, sir, I’m willing to give you everything I have as long as you save my life.”

Fearing death, Sam no longer addressed John as a “young man.” Instead, he greeted him as “sir,” as he was really worried that John would refuse to help him. In order to survive, he was willing to give John all of his assets. As the richest man in Fuyang, Sam was unimaginably wealthy. Consequently, anyone would be envious of John for being in such a position.

“Mr. Walton, there’s no need for that. I’m obliged to save you after running into you. Nonetheless, there are some rare herbs that I need, and I hope you can prepare them for me.” John could not afford to buy Sam any herbs.

The herbs he requested were so expensive that they were out of the masses’ reach. “Sir, whatever you need, just say the word!” Sam nodded at once. Then, he turned to Miranda and instructed, “Miranda, prepare a pen and paper to write them down.”

Meanwhile, John felt awkward when Sam kept addressing him as “sir.” Hence, he suggested, “Mr. Walton, my name is John White. You can just call me by my name.”

“I can’t do that. Mr. White, you’re my savior, and the Walton family will never forget it for as long as we live.” Given how stubborn Sam was, John didn’t insist. Instead, he wrote down a long list of herbs and handed them to Miranda.

“Mr. Walton, most of the herbs on the list are for your treatment. Nonetheless, some are for my mother, as she has lost her sight. As a result, I need some of these herbs to cure her,” John explained to Sam honestly. Considering Anna had gone blind from crying, it would not be difficult for John to treat her.

It was just that he was incapable of getting hold of the herbs in his current state. Hence, he felt the Walton family was in a better position to obtain them. In spite of that, there were two items that John was worried the Walton could have trouble finding. One of them was a calligraphy brush which was embodied with spirituality after being used by a famous scholar for a long time. It could also be made from the fur of any spiritual animal.

Other than that, he also needed a cinnabar rosary. Although they were common items nowadays, the one he needed was made from woods of ancient trees. Combined with the spiritually endowed calligraphy brush, he would be able to cure Anna’s blindness by simply anointing it on her eye.

Even though he had put the two items on the list, he was not optimistic that the Walton family would find them. After all, one could only encounter the items with luck. Moreover, only those in the know would be able to tell upon seeing it.

Chapter 9 : Take me in

“Mr. White, just let me know what you need. As long as I can fulfill it, I will not refuse,” Sam quickly declared. At that moment, Miranda queried, “Mr. White, what do you need the calligraphy brush and cinnabar rosary for?” After all, both items didn’t look like they were required for medical treatment, and they were also widely available.

“Miranda, Mr. White has his reasons for writing them down. You shouldn’t question him!” Sam admonished her with a glare. “It’s all right.” John smiled. “They are used for treatments, too. However, they aren’t just any ordinary brush and rosary. They have to be imbued with spirituality for them to work.”

“Imbued with spirituality?” Miranda and Sam were dumbfounded, as they had no idea what John meant.

When he saw how confused they were, John explained, “Everything in this world will live and die, and all of them contain spirituality. Even items deemed inanimate by men can have spirituality as well. However, it can only form under very strict conditions.

“Let’s take this chair I’m sitting on as an example. If I sit on it and meditate for decades, it would gradually be imbued with spirituality too.” Worried that both of them would not understand, he illustrated the concept in layman’s terms.

“Oh, I get it!” Miranda suddenly exclaimed. “Mr. White, are you saying that it’s the same as what is shown on TV? At one of the trees where the immortals reside, it will gain spirituality after some time and even turn into a human form!”

“Miranda, stop your nonsense!” Sam was speechless at the way Miranda described it. From his perspective, immortals didn’t exist, especially not in the modern world.

“Ms. Walton, you hit the nail on its head,” John replied with a grin. Previously, John didn’t believe in such things too. However, after spending the last three years with Drake, he finally realized that there was still a lot out there that he didn’t understand. In fact, the secrets Drake had passed on to him were the Focus Technique. As long as he continued to train in them, he might actually become an immortal.

Sam smiled awkwardly, as he didn’t expect Miranda to get it right. If anyone else talked to him about spirituality and immortals, he would have scoffed at them. However, since it was John who brought it up, Sam’s skepticism wavered immediately. While John and Sam continued their discussion, they didn’t even give James, who was still kneeling on the ground, a look. Even though James was not particularly evil, he was unable to take on any real responsibility. Hence, John didn’t intend to accept him as his student. Moreover, he would not simply take in anyone without Drake’s permission.

After talking for more than ten minutes, John finally knew how Sam injured himself. When he was young, Sam was hit by a palm strike by a business competitor. As there was no external wound, and the results of his checkups were clear, he didn’t pay much attention to it. As time went by, Sam began to feel that he was growing weaker to the extent of having difficulty breathing. As a result, he kept himself going all this while by consuming a lot of health supplements.

Not wanting to cause any concern to his family, Sam hid the news from them. That was also why Miranda was unaware of her father’s hidden ailment. After hearing the story, John realized at once that the attacker was a martial artist who had managed to cultivate internal energy. From the looks of it, he had wanted to kill Sam. Fortunately, Sam’s immense wealth had allowed him to afford potent health supplements to keep himself alive all this while.

If Sam had not encountered John, he would have lost his life. “Mr. White, please accept me as your student!” James yelled again from the floor. By then, both his legs were so numb that he grimaced in pain. John gave James a look.

“You should get up. I won’t accept anyone as my student, but feel free to ask me any questions, and I will guide you accordingly.” John was finally moved by James’s sincerity after watching him prostrate for such a long time.

Therefore, he agreed to provide guidance even though he refused to take in students. James was naturally delighted with John’s response and thanked him profusely, “Thank you, Mr. White! Thank you!” As James gradually stood up, his legs hurt so much that he struggled to do so. Noticing James’s condition, John gently tapped on James’s leg, causing the painful numbness to disappear. Naturally, the doctor was astonished.

“Mr. Walton, my parents are still at home, so I have to return to them. Once you have collected the herbs, you can give me a call,” John informed as he gradually got to his feet. Given that his mother was home alone, John was worried about her. “Mr. White, do you mind telling me where you stay?” Sam asked.

“I’m staying at Happy Avenue. Why?” John questioned curiously.

“Oh, nothing really. I just have a house that’s currently vacant, which I want to present to you as a gift. That place has a wonderful environment to recuperate in, and I hope it will be of use to you.” When he was done speaking, Sam took out a key from his pocket.

“Thank you, Mr. Walton!” Initially, John wanted to decline, as he was not motivated by monetary gains when he first treated Sam.

However, when he thought about the dilapidated house his parents were staying in, he decided to accept it. Moreover, he needed time to make enough money to afford a new one. However, John was stunned to find out that the mansion was located at Dragon Bay when he received the key.

Chapter 10 : New House

Dragon Bay was the best neighborhood in the whole of Fuyang, constructed on the only mountain in the city. For that reason, not only was the scenery there astounding, but the air was also exceedingly fresh. Those who could live there were either wealthy or influential people from the upper echelons of society. Ordinary people couldn’t even afford to pay the property management fee there, much less Iive in the neighborhood.

“Mr. Walton, this… this mansion is too expensive. I can’t accept this!” John hastily returned the key to Sam.

“Of course, you can, Mr. White! Or is my life not worth a mansion?” Sam remarked smilingly. Since he had said as much, John had no choice but to accept it. Then, Sam proceeded to take out a bank card with ten million in it and handed it to him. Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to turn it down, John could only pocket it. Just when he was about to take his leave, a clamor sounded from downstairs, the noise deafening.

John’s brows furrowed slightly. When Sam saw the frown marring his countenance, he immediately summoned the hotel manager. “What’s going on here? Why is it so noisy?” Sam demanded.

“Mr. Walton, the heir of the Gallemit family is getting married today, and the wedding banquet is being held in the banquet hall on the second floor. That’s where the noise is coming from,” the manager hurriedly explained.

Only after hearing that did Sam decide not to pursue the matter. After all, the hotel was open for business, and a racket was inevitable when someone was getting married.

“I’ll be leaving then, Mr. Walton.” John waved to Sam before exiting the private room. Just as John arrived downstairs, he coincidentally bumped into Antonio strutting into the hotel with Natalia in his arms. Antonio was stunned for a moment when he spotted John, but he guffawed in the next instant.

“I didn’t expect you to really come and attend my wedding, John! Are you here for the free food and liquor?” Casting him a frosty glance, John said nothing and moved sideways to leave.

“Hey, don’t go!” Antonio blocked his path and drawled with mockery written all over his face, “Look at your ex-girlfriend. Isn’t she beautiful now? Do you not have anything to say to her?” In truth, he was deliberately embarrassing the man.

“Let’s not bother about him, Antonio. We’re running late,” Natalia murmured coquettishly to Antonio without even sparing John a glance.

“Don’t entertain this piece of trash anymore, Antonio. It’s bad to be late for your own wedding, so you two go into the banquet hall first. I’ll kick this worthless bum out!” Melinda urged, echoing Natalia’s sentiments.

Subsequently, she turned to John and lambasted, “Can you just stop hounding us? You’re so desperate that you even came to the hotel after us! Do you think my daughter will ever take a fancy to your peasant self? Go and take a look at yourself in the mirror! Hurry up and buzz off instead of kicking up a fuss here!” Her censure was caustic and vile, drawing blood with every single word. The relatives around them whispered among themselves, snickering as they stared at John. Right that moment, John was no more than a fool who was made fun of by everyone.

“One day, you will all fall to your knees before me and beg me!” Suppressing the fury blazing within him, John shoved Antonio, who was blocking his path, away before striding out. Antonio’s brows knitted together.

“Stop him! Regardless of whether you want to attend the wedding today, you’ve got to do so! I want you to see your girlfriend marrying me with your own eyes, you piece of trash!” As soon as he said that, Baldy and a few others instantly blocked John’s path.

They were still harboring a grudge after being beaten up at his house, so they wanted to take revenge on him. At the sight of them blocking his path menacingly, John slowly turned back to look at Antonio.

“Are you sure you want me to attend your wedding?”

“Yes! I want you to see with your own eyes and know that you’re not worthy of going against me!” Antonio wore a sneer on his face.

“All right, then. But a word of warning from me—if I attend your wedding, you won’t be getting married today!”

After saying that, John whirled around and walked into the banquet hall on the second floor. There were more than a hundred tables set up inside. “Haha, I’ll just see how you’re going to accomplish that!” Antonio laughed uproariously, not believing his threat in the least. Nonetheless, to prevent the man from kicking up trouble and dampening everyone’s merriment, he said to Baldy, “Baldy, bring a few men with you and keep a close eye on John. Restrain him at once if he dares to do anything!”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Antonio. Just leave this matter to me!” Baldy nodded, his gaze turning chilly. This is the perfect opportunity for me to take my revenge on him! In the banquet hall, John took his seat in a corner. Those who could attend the heir of the Gallemit family’s wedding were either wealthy or influential, all prestigious people in the whole of Fuyang. In other words, an ordinary person like him wasn’t even worthy of the honor.

Thus, his appearance had many of the guests in the banquet hall throwing him strange looks. After all, it seemed out of place for an ordinary-looking young man to show up at such an opulent wedding out of the blue. But soon, his identity spread like wildfire among the guests. With that, the gazes directed his way increased in number, most of them mocking and derisive, though a handful was sympathetic.

Nevertheless, John wasn’t at all bothered. He sat in the corner alone and nibbled at the snacks on the table with his face devoid of expression. Meanwhile, Baldy stood behind him with a dozen men, all watching him like a hawk. The second he made a suspicious move, they would restraint him without a hint of hesitation.

“Hey, if it isn’t John White! When did you get out of prison?” A voice tinged with sarcasm rang out.

John lifted his head and swung his gaze over, only to see a woman with heavy makeup on her face and dressed seductively sashaying toward him. A young man followed beside her. The woman’s voice promptly snagged the attention of the guests around them.

They initially thought that John was merely the bride’s ex-boyfriend and was there to see his girlfriend for the final time, but they never expected him to have a record. Following that, they grew all the more intrigued.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 11 Ryan and Sarah’s ridicule

As John stared at the woman whose face was caked with makeup, a glimmer of repugnance showed on his face. The woman was Sarah Righton, and she was his former classmate. She had even pursued him back when they were still studying. At that time, his father had a proper job that was considered secure, so there was no shortage of girls trying to woo him. However, he didn’t like her and got together with Natalia instead.

He felt that the latter was far better compared to the materialistic Sarah, both in terms of looks and personality. But from the look of things now, both of them are just the same kind of people! I made the wrong call!

“Why aren’t you saying anything when I’m your former classmate? Have you gone mute? You were pretty impressive back during our university days, even holding the post of president of the student council. What do you think the dean and lecturers would say if they were to learn that a student who was excellent in character and grades became an ex-convict after graduating?”

The young man beside Sarah chimed in. The young man was Ryan Ericksen, and he used to be John’s roommate. They used to be very close, but he also had a crush on Natalia. When he saw John dating Natalia, he held a grudge against the man. He tried to break them apart multiple times, but alas, to no avail. They severed ties after that, neither contacting the other after graduating from university. Well, the fact that they’re both here at the same time probably means that Natalia invited them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have the right to attend the wedding.

John merely swept a glance over them before dipping his head and sipping at his water quietly. He wasn’t in the mood to bother with them. When Sarah and Ryan saw him lowering his head, they grew increasingly smug, mistakenly assuming that he was afraid of them.

“John, I’m sure you haven’t found a job when you’ve only just gotten out of prison. Do you want me to recommend you for the job of cleaning toilets? While it’s somewhat dirty and tiring, you can at least make a living. Your father has lost his job now, so it’s of no use to pin your hopes on him.” A triumphant smile bloomed on Ryan’s face, and he was over the moon that he could step all over John then. Back during our university days, I wouldn’t have lost to him if it weren’t for his father having a secure job!

“Don’t talk nonsense, Ryan. How could the president of the student council clean toilets? At the very least, get him a clean job. How about cleaning the streets instead?”

Sarah countered, giggling with a hand over her mouth. “Haha…” Ryan and Sarah’s ridicule of John had Baldy and the guests doubling over in laughter. At that precise moment, John slowly raised his head.

“If the two of you don’t want to die, hurry up and leave this place!” His expression was indifferent, and his tone was mild without a hint of anger, but Ryan and Sarah both shuddered upon hearing that.

Sarah, especially, felt a chill engulfing her. It was as though her entire person was encased in ice, and she didn’t even dare look him in the eye. All of a sudden, the scornful words she had prepared beforehand got stuck in her throat. A long time passed before Ryan abruptly exploded as though he had suffered a great insult. His face contorted into a mask of rage, and he barked at John, “Why are you acting all high and mighty when you’re an ex-convict?

You don’t even dare do a single thing though your girlfriend is marrying someone else, so why are you talking big here?”

“Exactly! Are you venting your wrath at us because you know that the Gallemit family is wealthy, so you don’t dare offend them? We’re no easy prey either!” Sarah berated as she snapped back to her senses as well, jabbing a finger at John.

“You’d better not provoke me.” Having said that, John lowered his head once more.

“Damn it! So what if I want to provoke you! What would you dare do to me? This is Mr. Antonio’s wedding…” As Ryan tore into John, he stepped forward and grabbed the latter’s collar, hauling him from the chair. In all honesty, they were only targeting John to curry favor with Antonio, convinced that their careers would be smooth sailing after they got themselves in the latter’s good graces. Hoisting John higher, Ryan was just about to make a move against him when John smacked him right across the face.

Slap!

A slap so resounding that it startled everyone in the entire banquet hall pierced the air. Ryan flew back and slammed against a table hard.

Crash!

The table splintered into a million pieces while the plates and glasses all fell to the ground, smashing to smithereens. All the guests swung their gazes over, none of them paying Antonio and Natalia on the stage any mind. Even Antonio and Natalia themselves couldn’t help looking in the direction of the commotion.

“Damn it! You’re really courting death!” When Baldy saw that John had gotten physical, excitement suffused him.

“Get him and kill him!” he bellowed. At last, he could avenge his grudge with justifiable reason. Aware that John had some fighting skills, he didn’t act personally but ordered the dozen of lackeys behind him to do it instead.

“Kid, it’s a death wish that you dare make a scene at Mr. Antonio’s wedding!” A dozen goons with batons in their hands charged at John. When the guests saw that, they all unwittingly shook their heads, knowing that John had no hope of surviving.

Chapter 12 Trouble In Wedding Hall

“Beat him up! Kill him!” Ryan shouted with much viciousness. He was struggling to his feet with a hand over his cheek after he went flying with a slap from John. On the stage, the corners of Antonio’s mouth turned up in a sadistic smile. Everyone is just watching John make a fool of himself! No one sympathizes with him, so they definitely won’t save him! In the face of the attack by the dozen men, John sneered and took a step forward. Boom!

With that single step of his, the entire banquet hall seemingly shook as though there was an earthquake. In a split second, the goons let out agonized wails before they all went flying back, smashing the tables and chairs around them. The entire place became a disaster area. At once, the guests were all stumped. As Baldy gaped at his lackeys on the ground, a chill ran down his spine. At that moment, a well-dressed middle-aged man at the wing of the stage frowned deeply.

That person was none other than the patriarch of the Gallemit family, Kelvin Gallemit, who was also Antonio’s father. Naturally, he was there since it was his son getting married. As such, he saw John throwing the dozen goons back. He was a martial artist himself, so he could tell that the man’s capabilities weren’t to be underestimated. On the stage, Antonio’s brows creased when he saw the turn of events.

“Damn it! What a useless bunch!” he roared as he rushed down the stage.

“Darling…” Natalia, too, dashed after him. “Don’t act rashly, Antonio!” Kelvin, who had been sitting at the side of the stage without making a move, likewise went over, afraid that his son wouldn’t be John’s match.

“What’s going on? What exactly is happening here?” A dozen hotel security guards rushed in with rubber batons. In the five or six years Glamor Hotel had been operating, no one had dared to make trouble there.

After all, it was the property of the wealthiest family in Fuyang, the Walton family. Furthermore, it was the heir to the Gallemit family’s wedding then. The Gallemit family’s influence was a mere fraction beneath that of the Walton family, so whoever dared to kick up a fuss was equivalent to having a death wish. In the private room on the third floor, Sam frowned when he heard crashing sounds from downstairs.

The hotel manager hastened over, his forehead dotted with cold sweat. “What’s happening downstairs?” Sam questioned in chagrin.

“Someone is making trouble at the Gallemit family’s wedding banquet. He beat several people up and even broke things,” the manager hurriedly explained. The moment Sam heard that, his face flushed bright red with fury.

“Someone dares to make trouble here? What are the lot of you doing? How useless! Hurry up and send some security over lest the reputation of the hotel becomes tarnished!”

“I’ve already done that,” the manager replied.

“Why aren’t you there to handle the matter, then? Are you waiting for them to get up in arms?” Sam snapped, scaring the other man so badly that he took to his heels.

“Dad, you’re not all that well, so please stop fuming. I’ll go downstairs and take a look.” After reassuring him, Miranda left the private room as well. She was presently handling many matters of the Walton family. After all, she was Sam’s only daughter, and the man wasn’t in the pink of health right then, so all the burden fell onto her shoulders.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen security guards surrounded John in the banquet hall on the second floor. The manager trotted over, bowing and scraping in front of Kelvin.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Gallemit. I didn’t expect someone to be so audacious as to dare cause trouble at the wedding of your son. I’ll kick him out right away!” After saying that, he said to the dozen or so security guards, “Why are you all still standing around? Haul the person making a scene here out!”

“Wait!” Kelvin uttered when the security guards were about to act. “How could you just let him go when he wreaked havoc at my son’s wedding and unsettled my guests? How would the Gallemit family be able to hold its head up in public? Even if he doesn’t pay with his life today, he must leave his hands and legs behind!”

“Uh…” His demand placed the hotel manager in a dilemma. What if he holds a grudge against the hotel and returns to make trouble here again in the future? Discerning his thoughts, Kelvin sneered disdainfully, “The Gallemit family will personally resolve this matter. You can all get out of here now!”

“Sure, sure! We’re leaving right away!” The manager quickly nodded exuberantly upon hearing that he didn’t need to do anything.

“I don’t want his limbs, Dad! I want his life! I want him to die since he dared to disrupt my wedding!” When Antonio finished speaking, he shot daggers at John.

“I’m going to kill you today, John! I want you to know the consequences of angering me!”

“As I said earlier, you wouldn’t be getting married if I attended your wedding, but you just wouldn’t believe me. Do you believe me now?” John drawled with a chuckle, his gaze fixated on the man. There wasn’t a hint of fear in it.

“Not even when hell freezes over!” Antonio swung his fist at John ruthlessly.

Thump! Snap!

The crisp sound of bones shattering then split the air. On the heels of that, Antonio’s arm bent downward at a peculiar angle, making it very clear that it was broken.

“Ahh!”

The agonizing pain had him howling at the top of his lungs. Everyone was staggered when they saw that. Oh my God, he actually dared to make a move against Antonio? He must be sick of living!

Chapter 13 John Is the one causing trouble

“Antonio!” Kelvin swiftly stepped forward to support Antonio. After checking the latter’s arm over, he concluded that his arm was broken and would only recover in a few months.

“How dare you hurt my son, you bastard? I’m going to kill you!” Due to the wedding, he had merely planned to teach John a lesson initially. But right then, only one thought remained in his mind—to kill the man. Otherwise, he would be thoroughly humiliated before the many merchants in Fuyang present there.

Whipping out his phone, he summoned all the bodyguards at home, all martial artists whom he had spent a king’s ransom to hire. Hence, they were far more skilled than Baldy and his lackeys, who were just ruffians hanging around Antonio to ingratiate themselves to him. Despite seeing Kelvin make a call to gather his men, John wasn’t in the least bit panicked. Instead, he sat back down and picked his glass of water up, sipping languidly.

That further inflamed Kelvin as John clearly hadn’t any respect for the Gallemit family. “Kill him, Dad! I want him dead!” Antonio, whose arm was broken, roared with his face contorted.

“Don’t worry, Antonio. I’ll definitely toss him into the river today for the fishes to feast on!” Kelvin swore as he gazed at his son in anguish. Knowing that John was quite skilled, he didn’t act immediately but waited for his bodyguards to arrive. Just then, the door of the banquet hall was pushed open, and Miranda walked in briskly to see who exactly was kicking up a fuss there.

“What happened, Mr. Gallemit?” Miranda asked Kelvin as soon as she stepped in. “This kid dared to cause a scene during my son’s wedding and even injure him. As such, there’ll be a bloodbath at your hotel today,” Kelvin answered, pointing at John, who was drinking water at the table. When Miranda swung her gaze over, she was wholly stupefied. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought that the troublemaker would be John and that he hadn’t yet left.

“Mr. White? How could it be you?” Miranda inquired with puzzlement etched on her face.

“Are you surprised, Ms. Walton?” John flashed her a smile.

“You’re acquainted with him, Miranda?” Kelvin’s brows furrowed.

“Mr. Gallemit, there’s probably some mix-up. Mr. White is here to treat my father. All this must be a misunderstanding!” Miranda clarified.

“Treat your father?” Kelvin’s frown deepened further. “Who are you? And what nonsense are you spouting? This fellow doesn’t have any medical skills at all! He was just released from prison today!

Let me tell you that he knows nothing of that sort! I’ve known him for many years, and I’ve never seen him treating anyone. Don’t be fooled by him!” Natalia shrieked at Miranda. Miranda’s expression went chilly in a flash. But seeing the wedding gown on Natalia, she knew that the woman was the new bride of the Gallemit family, so she stifled her anger and asserted, “I can decide for myself whether it’s true.

The fact that you’ve never seen it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have any medical skills!”

“What a load of crap! How could I possibly not know his capabilities? We were classmates for four years during university, and we dated for many years then. Even when I was sick, I had to go to the hospital. It was raining heavily once, and he was the one who carried me there on his back! If he had medical skills, would I have had to go to the hospital?”

Natalia wore a contemptuous expression on her face. In her eyes, John wasn’t worth a dime. Upon hearing that, Miranda glanced at John. She seemingly understood why he was making trouble at the wedding.

“Don’t interfere in this matter, Miranda. I’ll get an expert from abroad to treat your father. But today, this kid must die!” Kelvin declared, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. He was older than Miranda, so he naturally didn’t have to be courteous to her. “No, you can’t hurt Mr. White!” In a trice, Miranda moved to stand in front of John.

I’m still counting on him to save Dad, so I can’t just watch as they make a move against him! Kelvin’s expression turned glacial. “Are you forcing my hand, Miranda?” A murderous intent glinted in his eyes. No sooner had his words fallen than dozens of bodyguards from the Gallemit family barged in, all radiating an oppressive aura. When Kelvin saw that they had arrived, the look in his eyes grew all the colder as he stared at John.

“Mr. Gallemit, no matter what, I can’t allow you to hurt Mr. White!”

Right after Miranda finished speaking, more than a dozen hotel security guards rushed in and shielded her. The atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly became tense, and many guests retreated to a safe distance in fear that they would be caught in the crossfire when the fight broke out.

“Girl, I can kill you anytime if it weren’t for your father’s sake! Step aside right this moment! Do you think you can stop me with these measly security guards?”

Livid, Kelvin no longer showed Miranda any courtesy. Following his words, the dozens of bodyguards from the Gallemit family unleashed their menacing auras. Just that alone petrified the dozen security guards so much that they went as white as a sheet. Miranda also went a shade paler, but she remained standing before John with resolve in her eyes.

“Gallemit, don’t you think you’re going too far to scare a child when you’re already up in years?” At that exact moment, the door of the banquet hall swung open once more, and Sam walked in with a trace of displeasure on his face.

Chapter 14 Ivan Gilbert King Of Underworld

When Kelvin saw that Sam had made an appearance, he sneered, “You came at just the right time, Walton! Take your daughter away! I’m definitely killing this kid today!” Ignoring him, Sam looked at John and uttered, “I’m sorry about your experience here, Mr. White.” His humble demeanor had surprise inundating everyone there.

“No matter. The Gallemit family is insignificant, so they can’t do anything to me,” John answered him with a faint smile.

However, his remark infuriated Kelvin once again. “Kid, the Gallemit family can’t possibly maintain our foothold in Fuyang if I don’t kill you today!” After saying that, he turned to his dozens of bodyguards. “Whoever kills him will have a reward of one million!” The instant they heard about the monetary reward, a greedy look flashed in their eyes, and they all rubbed their palms in anticipation.

“I’ll just see who dares to make a single move! Don’t forget that it’s my territory here, and this is my hotel!” Sam bellowed. As his words rang out, several dozens more security guards arrived. The butler of the Walton family also rushed over with sweat dripping off his forehead.

“I’ve already conveyed your orders, Mr. Walton! The security guards at the Walton residence and all other properties are rushing over right now. The bodyguards from the Walton residence will be here very soon!” the butler reported to Sam. When Sam nodded in acknowledgment, he retreated to the side.

Meanwhile, Kelvin promptly frowned when he heard butler’s report. “Are you planning to battle it out with me just because of this kid, Sam?”

“Kelvin, if you insist on killing Mr. White, I don’t mind battling it out with the Gallemit family. Do you think I’ll be afraid of you?” Sam proclaimed fearlessly. The Walton and Gallemit families were equal in strength, so both parties were sure to suffer heavy losses if they were to engage in a fight.

All the guests retreated far away even as they inwardly surmised, If the Walton and Gallemit families were to duke it out, it’d definitely benefit the other families! Kelvin’s face flushed bright red, and the murderous intent in his eyes intensified.

“You’re forcing my hand, so don’t blame me for showing you no courtesy, Sam! You forgot one thing—Mr. Gilbert owes the Gallemit family a favor!” As soon as his words fell, Sam’s expression changed, and a sliver of panic crept into his eyes. Even the guests around them shuddered when they heard that name, and a chill ran down their spines.

The so-called Mr. Gilbert was known as Ivan Gilbert and was the head of the Templar Regiment. In fact, he was the true underground king of the whole of Fuyang. There was a well-known saying in Fuyang that illustrated the capability of the Templar Regiment—even if you offend the Grim Reaper, never transgress against the Templar Regiment! As the head of the Templar Regiment, Ivan was a figure who could send ripples all across Fuyang with a single stomp of his foot. Noticing Sam’s terrified expression, Kelvin cracked up.

“I’ll pretend that nothing happened if you leave with your men now, Sam! Don’t force me to give Mr. Gilbert a call!” The corner of Sam’s eye twitched, and he wavered because Ivan’s name was just too resounding. The Walton family couldn’t afford to offend him.

“I’ll handle my own problems, Mr. Walton. You should leave with your men,” John urged as he could see the man’s hesitance. Gritting his teeth, Sam stated, “You’re the one who saved my life, Mr. White. Aren’t you insulting me by saying such a thing? If a fight breaks out later, I’ll have Miranda make a run for it with you. Neither Ivan nor Kelvin will dare kill me.”

“Dad…” Miranda clutched at his sleeve tightly. “Miranda, go to the secret chamber in the Walton residence after fleeing with Mr. White. Wait until everything has calmed down before coming out,” Sam instructed her.

“So, what’s your decision, Sam? Do you want me to trouble Mr. Gilbert?” Kelvin demanded upon seeing that Sam still hadn’t made his stance clear.

“I’m going to defend Mr. White to the very end, Kelvin!”

Sam answered with steely determination written all over his face. “Fine! I laud you for your guts!” Clenching his jaw, Kelvin phoned Ivan right away. In truth, he didn’t want to cash in that favor because it was reserved for a time when the Gallemit family was in desperate straits. Back then, his father once allowed Ivan to stay overnight when it was raining. Thus, the young man then said that he owed the Gallemit family a favor, and they could seek him out to call it in anytime.

The Gallemit family initially hoped to use it when they encountered a great crisis, but Kelvin was unwilling to accept defeat by not killing John that day. That aside, the Gallemit family would also become the brunt of the joke. For that reason, he decided to cash in the favor and ask Ivan to come over. Shortly after the call was made, a flurry of thunderous footsteps was heard. Many people cast their gazes out the window, only to be dumbfounded at once.

Men in black suits and holding machetes surrounded Glamor Hotel. There were hundreds of them, and they all exuded a murderous aura. Stark despair weighed Sam down when he saw that sight. Crap! It looks like Mr. White can’t escape death today! Click! The door of the banquet hall was pushed open. Twenty over burly men in suits who stood at 1.9 meters rushed in with chilly expressions on their faces. They stood in two rows with their heads held up high and chests puffed out, forming straight lines.

“Welcome, Mr. Gilbert!” the twenty men in suits greeted in unison, their voices so resounding that the chandelier on the ceiling shook.

“Whoa! What a grand spectacle!” “As expected of Mr. Gilbert!”

“Let’s all keep our mouths shut lest we lose our lives…” The crowd whispered among themselves, but they all zipped their mouths in no time. Everyone trained their gazes in the direction of the door. Soon after, a middle-aged man of about fifty years dressed in a fitted suit and leather shoes strode in. The leather shoes were so shiny that they could reflect a person’s countenance.

That person was none other than the underground king of Fuyang and the head of the Templar Regiment, Ivan Gilbert. “Mr. Gilbert,” Kelvin greeted deferentially, hastily moving forward.

“I’m exceedingly busy. Who do you want to kill?” Ivan asked point-blank. Pointing at John, Kelvin replied, “Him!” Ivan swept his gaze over John, only to see that the man was dressed ordinarily and was a tad thin. There’s nothing special about him.I wonder why Kelvin wants to kill him. He then started toward John. Sam and Miranda stood before John, and they both trembled as they stared at the approaching man.

“Buzz off!” Ivan ordered with a frown when he saw them blocking his path. With those two words alone and the oppressive aura he exuded, Sam and Miranda felt so suffocated that they could hardly breathe.

Upon seeing that, John placed his hands on their shoulders. “Step aside, Mr. and Ms. Walton. I’ll handle my matters by myself.” He pushed them aside before taking a step forward, coming face to face with Ivan.

Chapter 15 Cut Off Your Arm

“Don’t kill him so quickly, Mr. Gilbert. You’ve got to torture him slowly!” Antonio cried out when he saw that Ivan had arrived.

“Are you teaching me what to do?” Ivan’s brows knitted together, and he cut his gaze at the young man. With that mere glance, Antonio was so terrified that he almost peed his pants. He hastily backed away while exclaiming, “No, no! Of course not…”

“How dare you speak to Mr. Gilbert in such a manner, you bastard?” Kelvin stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. Then, he flashed Ivan an apologetic smile and murmured, “My son didn’t know any better, so please don’t take offense at him, Mr. Gilbert!”

“Let me tell you something, Kelvin Gallemit. Indeed, I owe the Gallemit family a favor. However, I’m not a servant of your family! I hope you understand that!” Ivan warned in an icy voice.

“Yes, of course, I understand that! You’re an esteemed guest of the Gallemit family, Mr. Gilbert! How could you possibly be a servant?” Kelvin was frightened to the point that he broke out in a cold sweat. He shot his son a glare. Antonio had been hurting from his broken arm in the first place, so he presently hung his head low without daring to utter a single word after the slap. Satisfied with Kelvin’s attitude, Ivan shifted his gaze back to John.

“Mr. Gilbert, it was only a moment of rashness on Mr. White’s part. The bride was his girlfriend, but Antonio stole her, so he was a tad resentful,” Sam explained with a cheery smile as he hurriedly moved forward.

“Oh, I see!” Ivan nodded, finally understanding why the seemingly ordinary man dared to kick up a fuss at the Gallemit family’s wedding. Ah, so it turns out that his girlfriend was stolen from him! But in the next moment, something occurred to him. He abruptly froze and asked Sam, “What did you just call him?”

He’s the richest man in Fuyang, so why would he address a young man in his early twenties as “Mr.?” There must be a reason behind it! “Mr. White!” Sam wore a baffled expression, but he soon realized what the man meant. Thus, he explained, “Mr. White saved my life, so I’m going to protect him today no matter what!” It was only then that Ivan fully understood the entire matter. In actual fact, this was just a trivial matter, but it became a huge deal when the Walton family and Gallemit family started butting heads.And that’s why the Gallemit family called me here!

“Look at what a massive commotion you two created out of this trifling matter! You’re both influential figures in Fuyang, so you should have a care for your image! Since this kid made a scene during the wedding and injured the heir of the Gallemit family, he can’t be allowed off the hook easily. However, his offense doesn’t warrant the death penalty. Just cut off one of his arms and have him apologize publicly for his mistake.”

Even as he chastised both Sam and Kelvin, neither of them dared utter a single word of protest. In attaining his position as the underground king of Fuyang, Ivan didn’t just rely on his fists but also his brains. He could easily make John disappear from the face of this world for this trivial matter, but that would offend the Walton family in the process. While he wasn’t afraid of them, it wasn’t worth doing so after weighing the pros and cons.

Meanwhile, the Gallemit family merely wanted to keep their pride intact, so it would appease them to have the man sever his arm and apologize publicly. Antonio would also be able to vent his anger. With that, the Gallemit family gets to retain their dignity, and I don’t offend the Walton family either. It’s a win-win situation for me!

“What do you two think about my suggestion?” he questioned when he noticed that both Sam and Kelvin were keeping mum.

He didn’t bother asking the person in question, John, because the man was just a chess piece in his eyes. As such, John had to do whatever was demanded of him.

“Whatever you say, Mr. Gilbert.” Neither Sam nor Kelvin dared to have any objections.

“Isn’t this simple? Why must you make a huge fanfare out of things? It’s as though it’s a matter of grave importance!” Ivan chuckled before turning his gaze on John.

“Kid, I’ll let you off if you now cut off your arm and apologize after having caused trouble during the wedding and injuring someone’s son! Otherwise, I’m afraid that you won’t be able to leave this place alive!”

John glanced at Antonio, who was looking all smug, waiting for him to sever his arm and go over to apologize to him. “They don’t deserve it,” he murmured placidly.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 16 The wedding is canceled

In an instant, everyone was stunned. After all, no one in Fuyang dared to go against Ivan’s orders. But that day, the seemingly ordinary John wasn’t showing him any respect at all. Ivan’s expression turned chilly, and his eyes radiated murder. Off to the side, Antonio was close to bursting with laughter as he inwardly crowed, Kill him! Finish him off!

“Mr. White, h-hurry up and apologize to Mr. Gilbert!” Miranda hastily tugged at John’s sleeve, feeling so apprehensive that she was drenched in a cold sweat. “How dare you go against Mr. Gilbert, kid?

You must have a death wish!” one of Ivan’s lackeys roared as he swung his fist at John.

“Mr. Gilbert, I apologize on behalf of Mr. White!” Sam descended into a panic when he saw that Ivan’s lackey was about to make a move. However, he didn’t dare order his men to act since his dozens of security guards were no match for Ivan’s several hundred lackeys, even if he were to risk his life. The ending would be the same, but the Walton family would only be dragged into the mess.

Ivan said nothing, neither entertaining his apology nor ordering his lackey to stop. That lackey of his was tall and burly and was almost a head taller than John. Not only that, he was bulging with muscles. Therefore, John would probably be crippled even if he didn’t die from that single blow. Both Antonio and Natalia regarded John with a sneer. Ryan and Sarah likewise anticipated seeing his pitiful state in a moment, waiting to see him make a fool of himself. That went doubly for the former since he was still hurting badly from the slap that sent him flying earlier.

Therefore, he wanted to see John crippled. But just as the lackey’s fist drew close to John’s face, John reached out and caught the gigantic fist. No matter how much force the man exerted, he found that he simply couldn’t move his hand. At that sight, everyone was bowled over. Even Ivan couldn’t help taking a closer look at John. Alas, he felt as though he was on the verge of a heart attack when he truly scrutinized the man.

He had obviously noticed the bronze-colored ring on John’s finger as well as the carved dragon on it. The Dragon Ring! That’s the Dragon Ring! The person who wears the Dragon Ring is the overlord of the Dragon Sect! He fell into a trance for a moment. In the next second, he bellowed, “Get the hell away! Who asked you to make a move?” After roaring at his lackey, he sent the man flying with a kick.

“Please forgive my ignorance, Mr. White!”

Ivan hastily apologized to John. He had never expected the overlord of the Dragon Sect to grace the insignificant Fuyang with his presence when the Dragon Sect was the most mysterious organization in the entire world. With a mere flick of its finger, the whole world would tremble. In fact, Ivan’s Templar Regiment was under the command of the Dragon Sect. The Dragon Sect had a total of thirteen regiments in the whole of Han, and the Templar Regiment was only one of them.

However, when they weren’t summoned, the regiments operated independently without revealing their identities. For that reason, Ivan could only address John as Mr. White right then. Seeing his sudden change of attitude toward John, everyone was bewildered. They had no idea what he was trying to do. Even John himself was quite taken aback.

“Do I not need to apologize anymore?” he questioned tentatively with his gaze fixated on Ivan.

“No, of course not! How would I dare ask that you apologize, Mr. White? Please just say the word if you have any requests!” Stricken with terror, Ivan quickly shook his head. No matter what, I wouldn’t dare ask the overlord of the Dragon Sect to apologize! “I said they won’t be getting married if I attend the wedding,” John commented placidly.

Nodding, Ivan turned and announced loudly, “The wedding today is canceled! Everyone can get lost now!”

“Mr. Gilbert…” Kelvin gaped at him, nonplussed. If the wedding is called off, the Gallemit family will become the laughingstock of Fuyang!


Chapter 17 Can I Be Your Girlfriend?

“Clear the place!” Ivan ignored Kelvin altogether. Following his command, his several hundred lackeys swarmed into the banquet hall. The guests were so terrified that they all sprinted out. Ryan and Sarah, who initially wanted to see John’s tragic end, were also kicked out without getting to see anything at all. Meanwhile, Kelvin wore a downright grim expression right that moment. Antonio, on the other hand, glared at John with his face contorted into a mask of rage as though he wanted to kill him. Argh! How is the Gallemit family going to hold its head up anymore after having been utterly humiliated today?

“John, even if Natalia can’t get married today, don’t dream that you’ll be able to get back with her, you peasant! Someone like you will never find a wife!” Melinda screeched at John. She was close to bursting a blood vessel that he ruined the wedding after they had finally hooked up with the wealthy Gallemit family.

“Do you think you can stop me from marrying Antonio by doing this, John? Stop dreaming! I’ve got nothing to do with you anymore, so stop harassing me!” Natalia shot daggers at John, her gaze devoid of all emotions save loathing.

Hearing that, John sneered, “Was I the one who harassed you? As far as I remember, the two of you insisted that I attend your wedding. I already told you that you wouldn’t be getting married if I attended!”

“How dare you?” Natalia was so enraged that she gritted her teeth and glowered at him. “Don’t bother about him anymore, Natalia.

He’s deliberately angering you and trying to get you to talk to him more. Look at his dopey countenance! Adding to the fact that he’s an ex-convict, he’ll be a bachelor for the rest of his life!” Melinda cursed John even as she pulled Natalia over to her.

Right then, Miranda stepped forward and asked John solemnly, “If you don’t mind, Mr. White, can I be your girlfriend?” At that unexpected turn of events, John was instantly rooted to the spot.

He never expected her to say such a thing in public when she was the heiress of the Walton family and would be the head of the Walton family in the future. Natalia and Melinda’s faces flushed bright red with fury when they heard Miranda’s question. That was unmistakably a slap in the face to them, especially when the latter had just declared that John would never be able to find a girlfriend when he was a nobody. Natalia’s hands balled into fists, and her face flamed hotly.

I just told him not to harass me anymore the second before, but in the blink of an eye, the heiress of the Walton family confessed to him! Compared to her, I’m not even worthy of note! “Please allow me to consider it for two days, Ms. Walton. I’m not quite ready yet.” John flashed Miranda a grateful smile. He knew that she was only saying that to help him out and prove Natalia and her mother wrong. Nonetheless, he was still exceedingly thankful that she would help him at the cost of her reputation.

“I’ll try my best and give my all to have you accept me, Mr. White.” Miranda gave him a faint smile in return. Subsequently, the Gallemit family and Natalia’s family left. When they were leaving, the look in Kelvin’s eyes was so vicious that it was as though he wanted to kill John right then and there. From the look of things, he was not going to give up his quest for revenge just yet. Even Sam and Miranda were asked to leave.

Right then, only John and the members of the Templar Regiment remained in the relatively huge banquet hall. “So, what is it that you want? Just spit it out!” John astutely surmised that Ivan definitely had some motive or other to have suddenly helped him clear the place out.

However, never had he expected Ivan to fall to his knees before him with a thud no sooner had he finished speaking. On the heels of that, all the several hundred members of the Templar Regiment did the same. Seeing that, John was discombobulated even as he wondered whether the man had lost his mind.

Chapter 18 Overlord Of The Dragon Sect

“Your servant, Ivan Gilbert, the head of the Templar Regiment, is at your service, My Lord!” “At your service, My Lord!” the few hundred members of the Templar Regiment echoed in unison. That gave John a great shock, for he wasn’t aware that he had such a status.

“Uh… H-Have you gotten the wrong person? I’m not your overlord!” He shook his head profusely.

“The person wearing the Dragon Ring is the overlord of the Dragon Sect. There’s no mistake about it!” Ivan asserted. At that remark, a fragment of memory flashed across John’s mind. Back when I was in prison, Drake kept insisting that he was the overlord of the Dragon Sect. Later, he gave me a ring. It looks like it’s precisely because of the ring that Ivan claims that I’m the overlord of the Dragon Sect!

“You mean it’s because of this ring I’m wearing?” John inquired after slipping the ring off.

“Yes. That’s the Dragon Ring of the Dragon Sect. According to the rules of the Dragon Sect, whoever wears it is the overlord of the Dragon Sect!” Ivan explained, lifting his head and staring at the ring in the man’s hand. Feeling a tad discomforted to see them all kneeling, John waved a hand.

“Please get to your feet first.” “

Thank you, My Lord!” Ivan and the members of the Templar Regiment all stood up.

“I’ll be honest with you. I’m really not your overlord, for someone gifted me this ring. You’re truly gotten the wrong person!” John clarified.

“We only acknowledge the Dragon Ring, not the person himself. Since you’re in possession of the Dragon Ring, you’re our overlord!” Ivan replied respectfully. Hearing that, John was speechless. It seems that Drake deliberately passed his position to me!

“Are you all members of the Dragon Sect?” he queried.

“Yes. The Dragon Sect has a total of thirteen regiments, and the Templar Regiment is just one of them. However, I’m not familiar with the members of the other regiments, and we seldom communicate. The only exception is when we’re summoned by our overlord. Otherwise, we can’t simply reveal our identities,” Ivan explained. Words eluded John after he heard that. A single Templar Regiment can shake up the entire city of Fuyang with a single stomp of its foot, so the Dragon Sect must be terrifyingly powerful if there are thirteen such regiments!

“Other than the thirteen regiments in Han, My Lord, we also have branches all over the world. However, I don’t know anything specific since my rank is too low.” As Ivan’s words fell, John’s shock intensified. Whoa! They have branches all over the world? That’s astounding! I really don’t quite understand how a sloppy guy like Drake could actually be such a mighty figure! At that very moment, he was anticipating the arrival of the 15th of July.

Perhaps I’ll know more about the Dragon Sect at that time! After his momentary shock, he waved a hand and ordered, “You may all be dismissed. I’ll look for you if I need anything.”

“Understood!” Ivan bowed slightly. He then left with his men, but John remained motionless. His emotions were chaotic for a long time as he was overwhelmed by the sudden identity bestowed upon him. Meanwhile, Sam and Miranda hadn’t left Glamor Hotel but went to the manager’s office on the top floor. It was the Walton family’s property, so they could go anywhere they wanted.

“Were you serious when you said that to Mr. White just now, Miranda?” Sam questioned with his eyes glued on Miranda.

“What are you referring to?” In response, Miranda played dumb.

“Drop that act! I know my daughter best. Do you think I’m unaware of your thoughts?” Sam retorted with a smirk.

“Dad, I was just helping him out earlier. How could I possibly have fallen for him when we’ve just gotten acquainted?”

Miranda rolled her eyes at him, but a blush stained her cheeks. “He’s quite good. He has above-average looks, and his medical skills are impressive. But I’m just not sure how he fares in other aspects…” Sam had a good impression of John, but medical skills alone weren’t enough to be the son-in-law of the Walton family.

After all, Miranda was his only daughter, so he would be handing the businesses of the Walton family to her. As such, he had to find someone who could help her manage the company.

Chapter 19 Robert

“Dad, stop overthinking!” Miranda turned away. In fact, Miranda’s admiration toward John had grown. Especially after she saw how he had protected her when they encountered Ivan, she felt a sense of security with him around. Suddenly, the hotel manager entered the office and reported, “Mr. Walton, Ivan had left with his men. So did Mr. White.”

“I see. All right!” Sam nodded. Then he turned to Miranda and instructed, “Miranda, hurry up and gather up the medications needed by Mr. White. After that, arrange for someone to watch over Mr. White stealthily. I believe that the Gallemit family will not let this slide easily.”

“Got it!” Miranda nodded and proceeded to carry out the instructions. After John left Glamor Hotel, he went back home. By then, it was already noontime. Mother should be expecting me by now. Indeed, John saw that the dining table was already full of dishes when he arrived home. His parents were waiting for him to have a meal together.

“Is that you, John?”

Anna asked when she heard the door open. “Mom, it’s me!” John hurried toward her and held her hand.

“Oh son, where have you been? Your dad had already prepared food. We’ve been waiting for you!” Although Anna sounded as though she was grumbling, her face was filled with joy.

“Mom, I had to go out to get some things settled,” John explained. At that moment, Robert walked out of the kitchen. Unlike three years ago, Robert seemed to have grown old fairly quickly.

His hair was all white, and his face was full of wrinkles. “You’re back!” Robert simply said. His eyes were filled with excitement when he saw John. However, he tried his best to conceal his feelings.

“Yeah.” John nodded, with his eyes slightly reddened. Being the breadwinner of our family, you used to be a civil servant who everyone looked up to. Back then, you were an energetic and dashing man in a tux. Unfortunately, the past three years must’ve been rough on you.

“Let’s eat before the food turns cold!” Robert said before he served John a plate of pasta. John had a strict upbringing because Robert was an authoritative figure at home. Hence, it had never been a norm for Robert to serve food in the household. Besides, meals were always prepared for Robert instead of the other way around. Indeed, their way of life had changed dramatically. During lunch, neither Robert nor John spoke a word.

Due to his upbringing, John had always been wary of his father. Anna, on the other hand, was rather chatty. With so many things in her mind since John was locked away, Anna gave him a long lecture. “John, now that you’re back, you should start looking for a job and a girlfriend. Although our family is not doing well financially, I believe that things will get better once you and your dad hustle for it. Your dad can make some money from sweeping the streets.

Then, I’ll get your Aunt Gloria to find you a girlfriend. Once you’re settled down and have your own family, everything will be fine. In the meantime, don’t go looking for Natalia anymore since she has already married into the Gallemit family. We can’t afford to cross them. Please don’t repeat your mistake.

I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it if you go back to jail.” In response, John just kept nodding his way through. After lunch, John cleared the dining table and went to wash up. Meanwhile, Robert was putting on his sanitation work uniform as it was time for him to go to work.

“Dad, now that I’m back, please don’t go back to cleaning up the streets anymore. I’ll take care of us.” John then took out a set of keys and said, “I have a friend who is willing to lend us a nice house.

How about we pack up our things and move in there?” John wanted to move his parents to Dragon Bay because the house they were staying in was too run-down. However, he didn’t dare to come clean on how he had gotten the place. Instead, he just told them that he was borrowing it from a friend.

Chapter 20 House at Dragon Bay

As for the ten million, John still hadn’t told his parents about it because he had no idea how to explain where it came from. I can’t possibly tell them that after three years of imprisonment, not only did their son pick up some divine martial art, but he also became the overlord of the Dragon Sect. They’re going to think that I’ve gone crazy!

“Your friend’s house? Where is it?” Anna was curious. “It’s at Dragon Bay!”

John said as calmly as he possibly could. “What?” Anna and Robert both exclaimed in shock. Dragon Bay was the most luxurious area in Fuyang. It was occupied only by the rich and famous. So expensive that even if Robert had not lost his job, he could’ve never been able to afford to stay there in his lifetime.

“What friend of yours, exactly? Not only could he afford a house there, but he’s also lending it to you?” Robert asked sternly.

“Umm… You wouldn’t know even if I told you!” John answered unconvincingly.

“Hmph!” Robert scoffed and continued, “Do you think you can fool us? Firstly, how could you have made such a friend? Secondly, there’s no way someone would lend others a house at Dragon Bay. Have you not learned anything else in prison other than bluffing? How about you just find a proper job and stop daydreaming?” Feeling unconvinced, Robert continued to put on his work clothes, and he was about the leave for work.

“Dad, how could you say I’m bluffing if you haven’t even seen the house yet? Why can’t you just give me some credit? Regardless of what you think, I’m determined to move us there today!” John yelled in annoyance. Throughout his life, Robert had never once given John the recognition he deserved. Even when John was once made a president of the student council in the university due to his exemplary academic results, Robert refused to acknowledge his achievement. It was just how Robert was, as a father.

“All right, all right!” Anna tried to calm John down.

“Robert, your son has just gotten back home. Why can’t you be nicer toward him?” After giving Robert an earful, Anna turned toward John.

“John, I believe you. Why don’t you bring me to Dragon Bay for a spin? I’ve never been there!”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll get us a taxi right away. In the meantime, please pack up our things!” John then walked out. When he was walking past Robert, he whispered, “Dad, I’m telling the truth. Follow me, and you’ll see for yourself.”

After some hesitation, Robert complied and packed up his things as well. Three of them had finally arrived at Dragon Bay in a taxi. There were two intimidating-looking security guards standing at the entrance. In fact, even being a security guard at Dragon Bay was considered an incredible feat. There was no way one could get the job without some connections with respected individuals. When the security guards saw the taxi approaching, one of them rushed up toward it.

While blocking the entrance, he asked with a puzzled tone, “What are you doing here?” Throughout his three years being a security guard at Dragon Bay, he had never seen someone entering in a taxi. That was because all of the residents in the area were filthy rich. They all had their own cars and even personal drivers.

“I’m a resident here!” John said calmly after getting out of the car. “Resident?” The security guard sized John up before casting a glance at his parents. Feeling unconvinced, the guard sneered, “I’ve seen so many people just like you! If you were hoping to take a tour around Dragon Bay, I suggest you turn around and leave.” The guard had made it clear that he didn’t believe John one bit. After seeing three of them in simple clothes, he was certain that none of them looked like they could afford a house in Dragon Bay.

Due to the prestige of Dragon Bay, there were indeed a lot of commoners who would disguise themselves as residents just to go in and have a peek. Hence, the security guard thought that John was no different.

 

[Muhindi Wa Kuchoma]

I've started reading this novel. Looking forward to reading the coming chapters.

Master Gily if you provide me with the link I will help with the posting (in my free time)

 

[Emperor]

Hello house please send condolence message to gillyman who lost his grandfather,,,,and also suffer some damage to his place,,,,above all this he still finds time to post novel for us readers,, please encourage the man,,,and also comment and invite others to this forum for an upgrade of this forum please lets keep the love going thanks alot....this is to gillyman this is for youthe lord is your strength take heart

 

[Gily]

Hello house please send condolence message to gillyman who lost his grandfather,,,,and also suffer some damage to his place,,,,above all this he still finds time to post novel for us readers,, please encourage the man,,,and also comment and invite others to this forum for an upgrade of this forum please lets keep the love going thanks alot....this is to gillyman this is for youthe lord is your strength take heart

Thank you brother. Our house which included a guest house, store, bar and some rent rooms by the side burned to the ground. The same day my grandfather died.

I wasn't here for few days because I was going through depression. So many have checked on Me. I would like to thank Hakimu , Jungal2000 and mshamba_mkuu Ms eyes for encouraging words. .

 

[Gily]

Chapter 21 Security Check

John frowned in disbelief. “I’m really a resident here. I even have a key to the house!” John exclaimed as he took out a key from his pocket. That was the key that was given to John by Sam. It had the crest of Dragon Bay in gold on it. Because of how exquisite the key looked, the security guard did not doubt its authenticity. After taking a closer look at the key, the security guard sized John up once more.

“Hey, where did you get this key from? It’s a key to the mansion on top of the mountain in Dragon Bay. This mansion is the most expensive of all the properties here. Since it was purchased by Mr. Walton, how did this key end up in your hands?” John was shocked upon hearing that. Wow! The mansion Sam gave to me is the most expensive of them all? What a gift!

“Indeed, Mr. Walton gave it to me,” John answered truthfully.

“Nonsense! Why would he give it to you? You must’ve either stolen it or found it on the ground somewhere, am I right?” the security guard shouted suspiciously. He then waved for a few more of his fellow security guards.

“Keep your eyes on them! I need to make a phone call to clarify this.” After giving out the order, the security guard left hurriedly with the key. After noticing the tense situation, Robert grabbed Anna, and they both also got out of the car.

Furthermore, the taxi driver was also spooked. He took out their luggage and left the scene in a hurry. “John, what’s going on?” Anna asked worriedly since she couldn’t see what was happening.

“Don’t worry, Mom. Everything’s fine. It’s just a normal security check. They’re very strict here at Dragon Bay,” John consoled Anna.

“Of course, they should be strict! This is the most luxurious neighborhood in Fuyang. I can even smell the fragrance of flowers from here!” Anna couldn’t contain her excitement. However, Robert was fed up. We’re being held up by the security. Obviously, something’s wrong here. I shouldn’t have trusted John! Why would someone lend him a house in Dragon Bay? Just then, a black Mercedes-Benz drove up slowly and stopped right next to them.

“Hey, isn’t that you, John? What are you doing here with your whole family along with your luggage? It can’t be that you’re moving in to stay at Dragon Bay, right?” Ryan asked in a sarcastic tone as he was getting out of the car. After that, Natalia and Sarah came out of the car as well. The three of them then looked at the family of three mockingly. They were there to take a tour around Dragon Bay because Natalia wanted to show them the house Antonio had bought for her as a wedding gift. However, since they bumped into John and his family, they decided to stick around and find out what was going on. After giving the trio a cold glare, John ignored them.

“What’s going on here?” Natalia questioned one of the security guards. Having noticed that Natalia came in a Mercedes-Benz and also, she was in designer clothes, he said politely, “Miss, these people said that they’re the residents of Dragon Bay. One of them even took out a key to a mansion. Our captain suspects that they must’ve somehow found the key somewhere or stolen it. Hence, we’re waiting for our captain to come back with a confirmation.”

Upon hearing that, Natalia, Ryan, and Sarah burst into laughter. “Hahaha! John, you’re ridiculously funny! Just because you found a key and you dare to come here calling yourself a resident? What a fool!” Ryan mocked. Sarah, while laughing uncontrollably, added, “Do you know how much it costs to buy a mansion here? Do you really think you can afford it? I think even after sweeping the streets for a hundred years, your dad still can’t afford one!” “Hurry up and get rid of these people! Especially that fellow, he’s an ex-convict. He has just gotten out of jail today. If you let him set foot in there, he’s going to ruin the reputation of Dragon Bay!” Natalia told the security guards while pointing at John.

Chapter 22 I’m so sorry, Mr. White

Upon hearing that, the security guards started panicking, and they all took out their batons. If the other residents were to find out that an ex-convict was present in the vicinity, the security guards would be in big trouble.

“John, why don’t you just get lost? Please bring along your blind mother and your sanitation worker father. Do you really want to wait until the security guards put their hands on them?” Ryan continued mocking. “What did you just say?”

John clenched his fists angrily. “What? Are you going to hit me?” Ryan teased. He then laughed hysterically and walked toward John.

“I suppose you might’ve learned a move or two in jail, but do you know where you’re at? Trust me; I will send you back in there if you dare to lay a finger on me.” He then put on an arrogant face and shoved John. Seemingly frightened, Anna softly gave John’s elbow a nudge and pleaded, “John, let’s just leave.”

Anna was afraid that John might get himself in trouble again. Since John had a criminal record, the authority might not be lenient toward him if a commotion were to break out. She definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it if John were to be sent back to jail. At the same time, Robert was also getting increasingly worried. He stared at John and said, “Get our things now. We should leave. This is so humiliating.”

Robert then started to pick up their luggage as he was determined to leave immediately. He could no longer bear the humiliation.

“Hahaha. Yes, get lost! If I ever see you again, I’ll take my revenge and beat you up!” Ryan pointed at John.

“All right, let’s get back into the car. It’s embarrassing to be seen talking to these people!” Natalia yelled at Ryan. After they had all gotten back into the car, they drove straight into Dragon Bay.

“Mom, wait! I’m telling the truth! My friend really lent this mansion to me!” John reassured Anna. “Wait? What are we waiting for? Do you really want us to be dragged out of here?” Robert was fuming. Just when John was about to retaliate, he saw how old and weak his father had grown. Because of that, he swallowed his pride and kept his mouth shut. At that moment, the security guard that took the key had returned. When he saw John, he said to him apologetically, “Mr. White, I’m so sorry. We’ve made a mistake. We’re a bunch of fools! We’ll send you up this instance!”

After he said that, he turned and ordered the rest of the security guards, “Keep all your batons! Go get the car now, and send Mr. White and his family in!”

“Roger that!” The security guards nodded frantically. Then they brought a car and escorted John and his parents into Dragon Bay. While in the car, Robert’s expression had changed. He had no idea what to say to John because he was skeptical of him the whole time.

“Oh my god, John! How generous of your friend to lend you a mansion!” Anna was extremely excited to be in Dragon Bay and to be able to smell the fragrance of the flowers.

“Don’t worry, Mom. If there’s an opportunity, I’ll definitely bring you to meet this friend of mine!” John knew that Anna was dying to know who his generous friend was.

So, he planned to let Miranda meet his parents in the near future. Natalia and the others had arrived at a mansion halfway up the mountain. Natalia stopped the car, and they got out. “Natalia, I’m so envious of you! This mansion is magnificent! I’d trade ten years of my life just to have a mansion like this!”

Sarah exclaimed when she saw Natalia’s mansion. “This is nothing! The prices for mansions here at Dragon Bay depend on how high it is located at the mountain. Do you see the one at the top of the mountain? That’s the most expensive one. I wonder who bought it!” Natalia pointed at the mansion on the mountain top.

Chapter 23 I’ll get your eyes fixed

Right at that moment, a car was slowly driving past them. One of its windows rolled down, and they saw that it was John. He was smiling mischievously while staring at the three of them.

“John? Isn’t that John in the car?” Ryan was the first person to notice that. By then, Natalia and Sarah had also seen him. Natalia was furious when she saw the expression on John’s face.

“How did that brat enter? Those security guards are useless!”

“Could it be that he’s really a resident here? It was a security guard that was driving them in!” Sarah furrowed her brows in confusion. “And they are driving up the mountain! Could it be their mansion is located at a higher point than yours, Natalia?” Ryan’s eyes were glued onto the car as he saw it travel further up toward the mountain top.

“That’s impossible! John could never afford it. I know how his family is doing financially.”

Natalia refused to believe what was happening before her eyes because she knew John’s financial situation best. “Could it be that the mansion was given to him by the Walton family? I’ve heard it from Mr. Walton that John had saved his life before!” Sarah speculated further.

“That could be it!” Ryan nodded.

“What sheer luck he’s having! If he didn’t just so happen to have saved Mr. Walton’s life, he would’ve died in Glamor Hotel earlier!”

Natalia was utterly dissatisfied. She gritted her teeth as she opened the car door and said, “Let’s follow them and see for ourselves!” She was eager to find out if John had really gotten himself a mansion in Dragon Bay. As Natalia’s Mercedes-Benz followed closely behind, they were heading straight toward the mountain top.

“This… This can’t be possible! Could John really be heading toward the most expensive mansion?” Sarah was getting anxious when she saw that John’s car wasn’t stopping yet.

“It can’t be. That mansion on the mountain top is worth at least a hundred million. John wouldn’t be able to afford it even if his whole family were to slave for their whole lives. Besides, why would the Walton family be as generous as gifting him a mansion worth a hundred million?” Ryan refused to believe it as well. Eventually, they arrived at that mansion they had mentioned earlier.

Natalia’s Mercedes-Benz was stopped by one of the security guards. “Hello, Miss. You’re not allowed to go any further. This is private property.” John knew that Natalia and the others were following behind. So when he saw that they were stopped, a cold smirk appeared on his face. When John and his parents arrived at the mansion, it was surrounded by clouds of thick fog. The scenery was breathtaking. Both John and Robert were astounded by what they saw.

And although Anna couldn’t see, she could feel the fresh air in the surrounding. The security guards proceeded to help John bring their luggage into the mansion. Before they left, the captain apologized to John again.

“Mom, you’ll be staying here with Dad from now on. The environment is splendid here. It’s good for you!” John was holding onto Anna as he brought her into the mansion. Robert was stunned when he walked into the mansion. He had never seen such luxury in his life! Realizing his mistake, Robert intended to apologize to John.

But no matter how hard he tried, his pride wouldn’t let him. After a short tour around the mansion, John wanted to show them the surroundings.

“Mom and Dad, let’s go have a look outside. You should get familiarized with the place. Otherwise, you’d get lost in no time!”

“All right! Since I can’t see, describe everything to me so I can feel it!” Anna exclaimed with a bright smile on her face.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll get your eyes fixed!” John then brought his parents for a tour around the mountain top while treating their eyes to the magnificent view.

Chapter 24 perfect location for training

As John was bringing them around, he could feel the spiritual energy the place had. It was essential to John because he needed that for his cultivation.

“What a perfect location this is for training!”

“What did you say?” Anna asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I said this is a perfect place for retirement!” John laughed awkwardly. When they were walking around, they arrived at the entrance gate. That was where Natalia’s car was stopped.

Apparently, Natalia and the others were still there, and they saw John walking by. John smiled coldly at them as they stood on each side of the gate. Behind that smile, contempt was written all over his face. Natalia was clenching her teeth so forcefully it could be heard from miles away! She couldn’t accept the fact that John had become the owner of the most sought-after mansion.

“What a friend you got there, John! He’s so generous that he’s willing to lend you his mansion! Would you ask him out for a meal with us?” Anna had no idea they were standing right in front of Natalia and the others.

“Sure!” John nodded. Oh! So the mansion isn’t his after all! Natalia was somewhat satisfied when she heard Anna’s words.

“I’ve asked my friend. This mansion belongs to the Walton family. It seems like John is just showing off something that isn’t his!” Ryan exclaimed while seemingly reading a text on his phone.

“Just because he saved Sam’s life, he plans to leech off of him for life! What a shameless guy!” Sarah mocked. All thanks to Anna, Natalia and the others no longer feel inferior. “Even if I’ve only borrowed the mansion, it’s still far better than yours! Come on over then, if you could.” Upon hearing their mockeries, John beckoned them by waggling his finger.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, John. I don’t believe that the Walton family is going to stand by you forever!” Natalia blurted before she turned and left. Due to the structure of the road, the side of the gate John was standing on was higher. Hence, it was hard for Natalia not to feel as though John had one over her.

“John, just stay away from Natalia from now on. She’s a vicious lady!” Anna advised after hearing the way she was speaking to John.

“Got it, Mom. Let’s continue our tour!” John held onto Anna as they continued walking. Robert was following them from behind. After a while, they went back to the mansion to get some rest. That was when a red Porsche suddenly appeared at their doorstep. John glanced outside and noticed that Miranda had arrived.

“Ms. Walton, what are you doing here?” John was surprised by her visit. “Please stop calling me Ms. Walton!

Miranda will do. I received a call from the security guards saying that you might’ve stolen the key to the mansion! I came here to clear up the confusion.” After knowing that Miranda had gone all the way there just to help him, John felt grateful.

“It’s okay. Everything’s fine now. But I do have a favor to ask of you!”

“Go ahead!” Miranda nodded. “I told my parents that a friend of mine lent me this mansion. Could you just play along? There are a lot of things I’d rather keep from them at this moment,” John whispered.

“Sure, no problem!” Miranda smiled before heading into the mansion.

But suddenly, she turned back toward John. “So, does this suffice to me asking for their blessings for our relationship?” she teased.

“Umm…” John was stunned.


Chapter 25 As stubborn as a mule

“I’m just kidding!” Miranda chuckled and went into the mansion. Upon hearing that, John smiled wryly and followed behind. In fact, he did feel butterflies in his stomach when Miranda teased him. I’m just a commoner compared to her. She’s the daughter of the wealthiest man in Fuyang! How could I ever live up to that!

“Mom, Dad, let me introduce the friend that lent me this mansion. Her name is Miranda Walton,” John introduced Miranda to his parents after they had gotten inside.

The moment Robert and Anna heard that Miranda was the owner, they both got up from the couch respectfully.

“Hello! Mr. and Mrs. White. It’s nice to meet you. Please forgive me for coming empty-handed. I was in a rush,” Miranda said politely.

“You’re too kind, Ms. Walton. We are so grateful for the mansion you’re willing to lend John. I’m afraid that if it weren’t for you, I would never be able to stay in such a luxurious house!”

Anna exclaimed humbly. “Robert! Go get Ms. Walton something to drink!”

“All right!” Robert nodded. He was flabbergasted when he saw how beautiful Miranda was. Judging by her clothes and aura, she must be the daughter of someone of high social status. Not only that, she must be from a filthy wealthy family. Otherwise, how could she afford this mansion! If only Robert knew that Miranda was the daughter of Sam, the richest man in Fuyang, he would be even more shocked.

“It’s okay, Mr. White. I’ll help myself!” Miranda went ahead and poured herself a cup of tea. After that, she even helped Robert and Anna prepare a cup of chamomile tea each. Since it was her house, she knew exactly where everything was.

“Mr. and Mrs. White, this is chamomile tea. It helps with your digestive systems. It’s good for elderlies!” Miranda said when she served them.

“You’re too polite, Ms. Walton! Although I can’t see you, I can tell that you’re a beautiful and kind lady! Whoever gets to marry you would be the luckiest man on earth!” Anna exclaimed in a way that she was hinting at something. Regardless of her status, she must have feelings for John. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so generous toward him. Anna was trying to pry some information out of Miranda with her hint.

“Mrs. White, you’re over complimenting me! I do have my flaws! That’s why John doesn’t want me. He has even scolded me before!” Miranda was not so gullible as to not see what Anna was implying.

“Oh, is it?” Anna paused and waved for Miranda to approach her.

“Ms. Walton, come here and sit with me. Actually, John is a good guy. It’s just that he can be as stubborn as a mule sometimes. He got that from his father! If he were ever to scold you again, let me know. I’ll teach him a lesson!” Upon hearing that, Miranda burst out into laughter while casting a glance at John.

“As stubborn as a mule?” John was embarrassed when he heard that.

“Mom, stop talking nonsense! She’s a busy person. Don’t keep her around for long!” John was trying to get Miranda to leave before Anna exposed more of his embarrassing stories.

“I’m not busy! I’d love to chat with Mrs. White!” Miranda went toward Anna and sat down beside her. Anna was so happy that she couldn’t stop smiling. She then held Miranda’s hands, and they chatted for more than two hours. Miranda only left when it was getting dark outside.

Chapter 26 Spiritual Energy

“John, she’s such a nice lady. I could sense that she came from a well-off family. Despite that, she never once acted arrogantly. You have to work harder so that you can have a relationship with her!” Anna advised after Miranda had left.

“Mom, stop it! We’re just friends!” John answered helplessly.

“Indeed, John. I think she’s nice, too! Listen to your mom. Work harder to please Miranda. You know I’m always right when it comes to these things!” Robert added. It was incredibly rare for Robert to talk casually with John. So, it meant that he was very sure of how he felt toward Miranda.

“All right, you two. Stay out of it!” John went into his bedroom after that. After he had gotten into his bedroom, John didn’t go to bed. Instead, he sat down on the floor with his legs crossed. He then calmed himself down and shut his eyes before initiating the Focus Technique. Suddenly, waves and waves of spiritual energy rushed toward him. Throughout the past three years, John had never skipped a day of his training.

Although it was an instruction from Drake, John insisted that he would continue refining his spiritual energy even after getting out of jail. Not long after that, all the spiritual energy on the mountain top had gathered around John and formed a whirlpool. Gradually, John breathed in the spiritual energy. Due to John still being in the early stages of the process, the amount of spiritual energy that he could absorb was still considered to be little.

However, slowly but surely, he could improve himself over time. By the time John opened his eyes, it was already sunrise. After letting out a long breath, John realized that he had never felt better in his life. It was because the spiritual energy at the mountaintop was way purer than in prison. Instead of tiredness, he felt rather energetic after the cultivation.

“John, it’s time for breakfast!” John stretched his body and got out of his bedroom upon hearing Anna’s voice. Robert had prepared a sumptuous breakfast for everyone. Not only that, his attitude toward John had changed. He was gentler toward him, and he even smiled at him. Perhaps it was due to Miranda’s visit the day before. After breakfast, Robert brought Anna out of the mansion for a stroll. On the other hand, John planned to head out to visit an antique market.

He was hoping to find a calligraphy brush and cinnabar rosary imbued with spirituality. John was eager to heal his mom and restore her eyesight. Meanwhile, Natalia, Sarah, and Ryan had spent the previous night at Natalia’s mansion. The moment Natalia thought about how John had ruined her wedding the day before, she was bristling with anger. Even worse, John had just moved into a mansion more luxurious than hers.

“Ryan, what time did you say those friends of yours would arrive?” Natalia asked.

“They’ll be here soon! As they’re all martial arts experts, John would be torn into pieces! Besides, these tough and ruthless friends of mine are from the triads.” Ryan knew that Natalia wouldn’t do anything to John.

Hence, he made a few phone calls to his friends. He wanted revenge for what John did to him as well. “That’s good, then. John has to come out of the mansion at some point. The Walton family can’t keep him safe at all times!” Natalia was fuming as she clenched her teeth. “That piece of trash!

Not only did he break Antonio’s arm, but he also ruined my wedding. He deserves to die!” After she was done raging, Natalia looked at Ryan and said, “I have to go to the hospital to see Antonio now. You take care of John. After it’s done, you can expect a handsome reward!”

“No problem. Wait for my good news!” Ryan nodded.

Chapter 27 This was Natalia’s idea

As John walked down the hill, he was stopped by a group of four to five men along the way. “John, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” Ryan smirked at John. Behind him was a group of fierce-looking men wielding clubs in their hands.

“Why are you waiting for me?” John shot Ryan an icy glance.

“If you’re looking for a fight, you lot are no match for me. Yesterday, I took out more than ten men from the Gallemit family singlehandedly. Do you think just a handful of you can defeat me?”

“Hahaha! John, how dare you speak with such arrogance before knowing who I brought with me? You’ll naturally learn their identities once you’re begging for mercy on your knees!” Laughing heartily, Ryan was unfazed by John.

Ryan had seen for himself what happened yesterday. Baldy and his men were nothing more than incompetent street thugs who were each defeated by a single punch from John. Unlike the day before, Ryan’s men were all martial artists who could single-handedly defeat ten men by themselves without breaking a sweat.

“It seems I let you off too lightly the last time. I should have broken your limbs so that you won’t be making a fool of yourself right now,” John sneered while giving Ryan the side-eye.

“Damn you! How dare you still bring up yesterday? I’m going to beat you till you grovel for mercy if it’s the last thing I do!” With that, Ryan turned to his men.

“Men, someone is willing to pay a hundred thousand to whoever that beats him till he begs for his life on his knees!” At the mention of a hundred thousand, the men’s eyes sparkled.

“Don’t worry. If you want us to make him cry, laughing will be the last thing he does.” “If you want him to drop to his knees, we’ll never allow him to stand!”

“Given how weak he looks, one kick from me alone will cause him to cry for his mommy!” The men threw John condescending looks, clearly not seeing him as a threat.

“Is Natalia the one offering the reward?” John asked Ryan. Ryan nodded candidly.

“That’s right. I’m not worried about letting you know. After all, it’s not like you’ll dare to cause her any more trouble. After beating up Antonio, the Gallemit family will definitely not forgive you.

All I’m doing now is serving you the appetizer of what’s about to come.”

“Fine. Looks like I shouldn’t have shown you any mercy.” After spreading his hands with a shrug, John suddenly launched a kick in Ryan’s direction.

Bam!

Ryan was sent flying upon impact. His men, who had looked down upon John a moment ago, froze as they couldn’t believe their eyes. To be able to send someone flying with a kick, one needed to be extremely powerful. Evidently, John wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

Cough! Cough!

Crashing onto the ground, Ryan threw up a pool of blood. After that, he bellowed vengefully, “Kill him! Kill him!” After exchanging glances with each other, his men charged forward, motivated by the reward. Just as expected, all of them were not only trained men but also well coordinated.

Pfft! John sniggered before dashing forward to meet their attack.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

In less than half a minute, the group of men had collapsed onto the ground, groaning and grimacing in pain. Ryan was so shocked that he gulped in fear. He couldn’t imagine what John had gone through in prison to have gained such strength. After all, the men he hired had spent their whole lives training in martial art schools and had made a name for themselves. In spite of that, all of them were easily defeated.

“Do you still want to kill me?” John taunted Ryan as he slowly walked up to him.

“W-What are you trying to do?” Stricken by horror, Ryan backpedaled. “T-This was Natalia’s idea. I—” Before Ryan could finish, John stomped on his arm.

The moment he felt the excruciating pain, Ryan let out an agonized cry. Without a doubt, his arm had been broken.

“Stop using Natalia to threaten me. Both she and Antonio will be getting what’s coming from me.” With that, John turned and left, ignoring Ryan’s miserable cries.

Chapter 28 I don’t accept returns

The Fuyang Antique Street was the largest antique market in Lushan. Many antique collectors would visit it, hoping to score a treasure. Both sides of the street were filled with roadside stalls that displayed all sorts of antiques, including silverware, bronze coins, paintings, etc. One could find everything under the sun there. Nevertheless, one also had to rely on one’s eye to tell the genuine goods apart from the fakes.

Even the most experienced antique specialists could be fooled due to the excellent quality of the imitations. As a result, it was very difficult to discern the authenticity of the items sold. One would have to rely on both skill and luck to be able to spot any treasures. Since it was John’s first time in a place like that, his curiosity was piqued by the smorgasbord of items on display. When they saw the look on John’s face, many of the stall owners smiled in glee.

To them, he was obviously a fool that could easily be cheated. “Kid, what are you looking for? I have everything here, and I guarantee they’re all authentic!” Armed with a welcoming smile, a fat stall owner pulled John toward his stall. Then, he whispered in John’s ear, “Let me tell you, everything I’m selling was excavated from the ground and is at least a thousand years old. If you buy them, you would definitely make a fortune by reselling them!”

John swept his gaze toward the fat man’s stall that was no more than two meters wide. There were more than a dozen loose items strewn across it, and all of them looked really old. In fact, some of the bronze items were even covered with rust. When he caught John looking at his stall, the fat man turned on his charm.

“Kid, why don’t you take a look and see if there’s anything you like? I’m being forced to sell them because someone in the family is sick, and I need money for the medical bills. Or else, I wouldn’t even be doing this.” Ignoring the stall owner, John knelt down and picked up a piece of iron ore that was covered with rust. Then, he began to examine it in detail. Amongst the pile of inanimate objects, only the unassuming lump of iron ore was emitting a faint hint of spiritual energy.

“Kid, you truly have a good eye. This is an insignia carried by a palace guard in ancient times. Unfortunately, it was soaked in water underground, causing it to rust extensively. If you fancy it, I’m willing to part with it for ten thousand.” The fat stall owner gave an enthusiastic description of the item when he noticed how fascinated John was with it.

“That damn fatty is going to make a tidy profit again by selling that lump of worn-out iron ore for ten thousand.”

“Fools like that guy are the easiest to trick. This time, the fatty is definitely going to slaughter him.” The owners from the surrounding stalls began gossiping among themselves as they watched on enviously.

“Nonetheless, this is still good stuff!” John commented with a nod to himself.

Holding the piece of iron ore, he could feel the rush of its spiritual energy getting stronger. In response to John’s comment, the stall owner smiled cunningly to himself. He added earnestly, “That goes without saying. My wares are the best, and I’ve never cheated anyone before. If not for a sick family member, I wouldn’t be selling it for ten thousand as I consider it one of my treasures.” As the stall owner continued his story, his eyes began to redden while tears actually flowed out.

Watching the stall owner’s unconvincing act, John couldn’t help but scoff internally. “I’ll take it for ten thousand. I’ll transfer it to you right away.” Without a moment’s hesitation, John took out his phone to pay. Elated at the news, the stall owner provided John with his account details.

“Kid, you’re a real easy-going person. Nonetheless, I have to make it clear that I don’t accept returns, so you had better not come back later to do so.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not returning it.

If my judgment is wrong, I’ll bear the consequences myself.” Chuckling, John transferred ten thousand to the stall owner. The moment he heard the notification of incoming funds, the stall owner couldn’t hold back his joy.

Chapter 29 An Imperial Jade

At that moment, many in the crowd had seen John spend ten thousand to purchase a rusty lump of iron ore. Some were having a heated debate over it, while others laughed mockingly at him. Given how young John was, they assumed he would be easily duped in his attempt to find treasures in Antique Street. Nevertheless, John ignored their comments and the fat stall owner’s laughter. Instead, he gently squeezed the piece of iron ore, causing the rust to gradually break apart.

Crack! The iron ore split open in his hand. After that, the crack began to grow bigger. “Wow, the kid has a really strong grip!”

“Did he just spend ten thousand so that he can exercise his grip?”

“Since he doesn’t look rich from his outfit, does he have any violent tendencies? Or else, why break it right after buying it?” The crowd couldn’t believe what was happening. Even the fat stall owner stared intently at John, curious as to what he was up to.

Soon, the iron ore broke in half, and a dazzling ray of light shot out of it. A translucent piece of green jade the size of one’s thumb was revealed to be hiding inside. Holding the piece of jade, John threw away its shell. Evidently, the spiritual energy he had felt earlier was coming from the jewel.

“T-that’s an imperial jade!”

“Damn it, he’s gonna be rich!”

“Did the kid already know there was something inside?” Everyone, including the stall owner, was so stupefied that their eyes almost popped out.

Holding the piece of jade, John examined it for a moment before putting it into his pocket. He planned to make it into a pendant for his mother. By wearing it, she would be able to ward off evil spirits and nourish her body at the same time. Just when John was about to leave, the fat stall owner stopped him.

“Kid, I have something to discuss with you. Why don’t you sell the rock to me?” the stall owner asked smilingly.

“I’m not selling.” John shook his head and prepared to circle around the stall owner to leave. When the stall owner realized John was leaving with no intention of selling, his expression drastically changed.

“Kid, have you made a mistake? That piece of jade belongs to me. How can you take it and leave?”

“Yours?” John was stunned. “I just bought this, so how can it be yours? In fact, everyone just saw me purchase it!”

“I sold you a lump of iron ore, not this piece of jade. You can take the iron ore with you, but the jade has to stay!” The moment the stall owner finished speaking, a group of menacing-looking men suddenly appeared from behind him.

“That kid is just too inexperienced. Knowing that there’s something inside, he should have opened it at home instead of doing it here, which was just asking for trouble.” “He’s in deep shit now and is going to lose the treasure he’s just gotten his hands on. The piece of imperial jade is worth a million, at least!”

“I think it’s definitely worth more than that.” Despite sympathizing with John, none in the crowd stood up for him. When he saw the group of brawny men, John responded with a smirk.

“You guys are nothing but con men who commit daylight robbery!”

“Shut your trap. Hand over the jade, and I’ll let you go. Or else, you’re not leaving here in one piece!” The stall owner was finally showing his true colors.

“I’ve long heard about how much fraud and deception there is in Antique Street. Looks like the rumors are really true. Today, I would like to find out what you’ll do to me if I refuse to hand over the jade!” John sneered without an ounce of fear on his face. John’s words offended everyone on Antique Street.

Not only did they swear at him, but they also egged the fat stall owner on to teach John a lesson. “Kid, you’re just courting death!” Just as he spoke, the stall owner threw a punch at John. From the hiss of the wind accompanying the punch, John could see that his attacker was a trained man.

There was no way a layman could unleash such a fast and powerful strike. Thinking about it, he realized it made sense for them to know how to fight. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare run a fraudulent business in such an area.

Chapter 30 Give Ivan Gilbert a Call

Snorting, John threw a slap with his hand. Despite not being the first to attack, he managed to land his strike on the stall owner first. Upon impact, the stall owner spun in a few circles before coming to a stop. The slap caused his already pudgy face to swell even further, making him look even more like a pig.

“Get him, and kill him!” the stall owner bellowed. With that, the group of burly men roared as they charged at John.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

In the blink of an eye, the men were kicked back by John. Upon crashing onto the ground, none of them were able to get back up. Stunned by what they saw, the hollering traders fell silent. In fact, they attempted to slip away after realizing that John wasn’t someone they could afford to mess with. Having regained his senses, the stall owner scowled.

“Kid, how dare you cause trouble here in Antique Street? Do you know who owns this turf? The Templar Regiment! Mr. Gilbert runs this place, and you’ve gotten yourself in some real trouble by kicking up a fuss here!” The stall owner knew that once he brought up the Templar Regiment, everyone would quiver in fear and flee. After all, it was common for trouble to break out in Antique Street.

Hence, throwing that name around had always come in useful. “The Templar Regiment?” John sneered.

“What are you going to do if I told you I’m not afraid of them?”

“Who isn’t afraid of us, the Templar Regiment?” Just as John spoke, a piercing voice rang out. In the next moment, the crowd quickly stepped aside to open a path.

A man with a scar on his left cheek approached them. Behind him were more than ten menacing-looking men. Regardless of the stall owner or the crowd, everyone was filled with terror at the sight of the men. The stall owner quickly crawled up to him.

“Scarface, this kid is causing trouble here and even snatched the jade I wanted to present to Mr. Gilbert. It’s a piece of imperial jade, which is his favorite!” The stall owner demonstrated his cunning with great flair.

“An imperial jade?” Scarface’s eyes lit up.

“Kid, show me the jade!”

“Are you one of Ivan’s men?” John asked.

“Bastard, how dare you address Mr. Gilbert by name?” Emboldened by Scarface’s presence, the stall owner pointed at John and snapped, “This is Mr. Gilbert’ most important lieutenant, Scarface. He’s in charge of Antique Street’s security.” Ignoring the stall owner, John looked at Scarface and flashed his ring at him.

“Do you recognize this ring?” Upon taking a closer look, Scarface scoffed, “That’s just a worn-out bronze ring. What’s there to recognize? Now, hand over the jade, and I’m willing to forgive your transgressions toward Mr. Gilbert!” John took out the jade. When it glistened underneath the light, Scarface’s face lit up in delight.

“Quick, give it to me!” Scarface waved at John. Fiddling with the jade, John plainly remarked, “Since you don’t recognize my ring, you should get Ivan to come here. As long as he’s here and wants the jade, I’m willing to give it to him.”

“What did you say?” Scarface fumed.

“Mr. Gilbert isn’t someone you can order around at will. Who do you think you are? You arrogant idiot, you’re forcing me to teach you a lesson!”

“If you refuse to get him, I can give him a call.” With that said, John took out his phone.

“You have his number?” Scarface furrowed his brows.

Given how important Ivan was, not everyone had his number. Now that John was in possession of it, it was a sign that he wasn’t just an ordinary person.

“139322…” John read Ivan’s number aloud and looked in Scarface’s direction.

“Do you want to call him, or should I?”

 

[Gily]

Gauravsk888
I will be posting 20 chapters everyday. It's a great story. .

 

[Gauravsk888]

Gauravsk888
I will be posting 20 chapters everyday. It's a great story. .

 

[Gily]

Chapter 31 Give Ivan a Call

Scarface was stunned for a brief moment. Slowly retrieving his phone, he gave Ivan a call. Since he didn’t know who John was, he didn’t dare let him make the call. Soon, the call went through. As Ivan’s sleepy voice rang out, it was obvious that he hadn’t gotten out of bed yet.

“Mr. Gilbert, someone is causing trouble in Antique Street. He says that he knows you and wants me to give you a call,” Scarface carefully reported.

“Who is he? What’s his name?” Ivan asked.

“I don’t know his name, but he’s wearing a bronze ring with a dragon on top and even asked me if I recognized it,” Scarface added.

“Fuck!” Ivan swore as he jumped out of bed at once.

“Scarface, listen to me closely. You had better treat him like a king. If you somehow offend him, he will annihilate your entire family. It would do you good to remember that.” The moment he finished, Ivan ended the call.

He then got dressed and rushed toward Antique Street. Listening to the call-end tone, Scarface was stupefied. Despite having served Ivan for over ten years, he had never seen him panic like this before. Putting away his phone, Scarface looked at John and trembled violently. Oblivious to the change in Scarface, the fat stall owner stared at John with contempt and complained, “Scarface, this man is spouting nonsense. How can Mr. Gilbert know a fool like him? He’s lying to you, and you should quickly get that piece of jade back!”

Slap! The moment he finished speaking, he was slapped forcefully on the face by Scarface. “You bastard! He isn’t the one lying. Don’t think that I’m not aware of the racket you’re running here. It seems to me that you no longer want to stay here anymore!” The stall owner was stunned after being slapped.

After all, he had no idea what was going on. Nonetheless, some of those in the crowd were sharp enough to realize that John must have very powerful patrons.

“Sir, I’m sorry about just now. Please rest a while, as Mr. Gilbert will be here very soon,” Scarface apologized in an ingratiating tone. He didn’t recognize John and wasn’t aware that he was the leader of the Dragon Sect. In actual fact, most of the members of the Templar Regiment weren’t even aware that they were part of the Dragon Sect.

After all, it was a secret only known to a very select few. Having heard that Ivan was on his way, John decided to wait for him. He knew that blindly searching for the spiritual brush and cinnabar rosary would get him nowhere. Since Ivan was in charge of Antique Street, he would definitely be familiar with the wares sold there. Thus, John decided to ask him about it.

“What are you waiting for? Get a chair for our distinguished guest to sit!” Scarface kicked the stall owner’s leg forcefully.

“Okay!” The stall owner was baffled as he took out a chair from the room for John. More than ten minutes later, a car screeched loudly to a stop. The moment the door swung open, Ivan ran over quickly. When the crowd saw Ivan, they lowered their heads one by one, not daring to look up. When Ivan arrived in front of John, he remarked while panting heavily, “My Lo— Mr. White, please let me know ahead of time the next time you come here. I know the place very well and can accompany you on your visit.”

“I was just browsing,” John plainly answered. Ivan then looked at Scarface and asked, “Scarface, what happened?” Not really sure himself, Scarface related everything he knew. Ivan wasn’t a fool and quickly grasped the situation.

“Damn it, how dare he go around scamming others in my name!” Ivan cursed.

“Destroy his stall, and throw him out after breaking his limbs. Going forward, he’s forbidden from setting foot in Antique Street!” Overwhelmed by shock, the store owner collapsed onto the ground.

“Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Gilbert, please have mercy…” Despite begging continuously, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Soon, a pained cry rang out. After that, he was carried away from the scene.

Everyone, especially the other store owners who had berated John, was so frightened that their faces lost all color. Some even peed their pants.



Chapter 32 Search Boils Down To Luck

“Scarface, get rid of the crowd. There’s nothing to see here,” Ivan instructed.

“Shoo! Go away, all of you. What’s there to see here? Whoever forcibly buys or sells something the next time, this will be the consequence!” Scarface roared at the crowd, causing everyone to scatter.

“Mr. White, are you looking for anything in particular? There’s nothing really interesting here at the stalls. The truly good stuff is inside!” Ivan explained.

“I would like to buy a spiritual brush and cinnabar rosary. Do you have them here?” John asked. Ivan was baffled as he didn’t know what the spiritual brush John was talking about was. Also, cinnabar rosaries could be found everywhere. Despite that, he didn’t dare clarify. Instead, he respectfully replied, “Mr. White, I’ll take you to a couple of antique shops where you can check if they have what you need. To be honest, I don’t really know much about this stuff either.”

“Sure, lead the way!” John nodded. With Ivan personally guiding John, the antique shop owners brought out their best wares. Unfortunately, none of them was what John was looking for. By then, Ivan was at the end of his wits.

“Mr. White, this is all that Antique Street has to offer. Since you haven’t found what you need, do you want me to send my men to check other places?”

“It’s fine. This search boils down to luck. Even if they see it, they probably wouldn’t recognize it.” John waved his hand as he was aware that it was futile.

“That’s true.” Ivan nodded in agreement.

“In that case, it’s time I take my leave.” Since he had failed to find what he was looking for, there was no reason for him to stay any longer. Just when he was about to go, something occurred to Ivan, who called out at once, “Mr. White, wait!”

“Is there something else?” John asked.

“Mr. White, I suddenly remembered a place that might carry what you’re looking for.” With that, Ivan ordered his men to prepare the car and invited John to get in. On the way there, Ivan began to explain. The man he was taking Ivan to see was called Frank Boston. He was a high-ranking state government official who had retired. For his retirement, he built a villa on a beautiful plot of land in Fuyang to spend the rest of his life in.

However, Frank enjoyed collecting antiques. Hence, his villa was filled with them, with some even shipped in from overseas. In fact, Antique Street paled in comparison to his home. Meanwhile, John was surprised to hear that someone as influential as Frank was living out his retirement in the small city of Fuyang. If he was still an ordinary person and hadn’t learned his skills from Drake, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to encounter such a distinguished figure.

Soon, their car stopped in front of a classical-looking villa. A servant ran over and spoke to Ivan softly before returning inside. Shortly after, an old man with a white beard walked out with the help of his walking stick. The moment he saw Ivan, he burst into hearty laughter.

“Mr. Gilbert, it’s a wonderful surprise to see you here!” Ivan quickly stepped forward to meet him and replied cordially, “Mr. Boston, you flatter me. You can just call me by my name Ivan, as I most definitely don’t deserve the respect you’re gracing.” As a former high-ranking member of the state government, Frank was still someone powerful despite being retired.

Thus, Ivan didn’t dare offend him. After exchanging pleasantries, Frank looked at John and scrutinized him. He then asked, “Mr. Gilbert, this man looks unfamiliar. He…”

“Oh, this is Mr. White. I hope I’m not imposing by bringing him here to see you,” Ivan explained at once. Frank’s gaze flashed with surprise at the deference Ivan showed John despite his young age. Nevertheless, it lasted only for a fleeting moment as he recovered his composure quickly.



Chapter 33 The Dragon Throne

“Please, come in!” Frank simply nodded at John to greet him. From his perspective, the only reason Ivan was treating John with such respect was that his family was rich and powerful, and certainly not due to John’s own capabilities. The moment John stepped into the villa with Ivan, he could feel an intense rush of spiritual energy. In the garden, he saw a clump of trees with extremely thick trunks. They were so big that they blocked out most of the sunlight.

As they continued walking in, he saw an exquisitely designed landscape complete with a pavilion built with classical architecture. “Mr. Boston, your trees must be really old, aren’t they?” John couldn’t help but ask as he could feel the surge of spiritual energy coming from them.

“Mr. White, these trees are hundreds of years old. They are the reason why Mr. Boston built his villa here,” Ivan explained. John nodded, finally understanding why Frank chose to retire in Fuyang despite it being an unassuming city. Places that were filled with spiritual energy were indeed excellent for living out one’s old age. Nourished by spiritual energy, one was able to beat back the effects of aging. After walking along a corridor, the group arrived in the main hall.

It was filled with antique furniture, each of them at least a hundred years old. There was even a Dragon Throne right in the center of the hall with nine giant dragons carved onto it. With a golden throw draped upon it, the throne looked as if it was constantly in use. Staring at the Dragon Throne, John furrowed his brows at it. “Please, have a seat.” Frank waved his hand casually before settling down on the throne.

Once Ivan and John were seated, Frank ordered his servants to serve coffee. “Mr. Gilbert, whatever it is you need my help with, please go ahead and speak your mind.” Frank obviously knew Ivan wanted something.

After Ivan looked in John’s direction, John explained, “Since we’re aware that you love collecting antiques, I would like to ask if you have any spiritual brushes here? The kind used by famous scholars of old? Also, I’m looking for cinnabar rosaries that are imbued with fresh animal blood.”

“Spiritual brush?” Frank knitted his brows in thought. “Mr. Boston, we’re definitely not asking it for free. As long as you have it, I’m willing to pay whatever price you name.” Ivan quickly dispelled any doubts Frank had.

“There’s no need for that.” Frank smiled plainly. “If I do have it, I don’t mind giving it to you. After all, money is of no use to me.”

“That’s true. Money is indeed meaningless to you.” Ivan nodded repeatedly. “Calligraphy brushes are inherently consumables. Therefore, it’s almost impossible to find one that has been left around for so long. As for cinnabar rosaries imbued with fresh animal blood, I’ve never heard of one like that before.” Despite shaking his head, Frank continued, “Having said that, perhaps you can look for them in a monastery.

After all, the priests there often use them to draw seals for exorcism rituals. Consequently, their calligraphy brushes might contain some spirituality as well!” John was elated upon hearing Frank’s words, as he had forgotten about the idea. The calligraphy brushes used by the priests would definitely be imbued with spirituality.

It was highly likely he would find a cinnabar rosary there too. Hence, all he needed to do was to find a monastery instead of running all over Antique Street for his search.

“Mr. Boston, thank you for your guidance.” John got to his feet and bowed.

Frank laughed heartily. “Don’t mention it. It was nothing but a casual remark.”

“Mr. Boston, excuse me for asking, but where did your Dragon Throne come from?” John inquired.

“Oh? You can tell how special this throne is?” Filled with pride, Frank explained, “I spent a lot of money to purchase this chair from overseas.

It’s a genuine Dragon Throne from one of the ancient dynasties. The emperor back then used to sit on it.” Frank gently ran his fingers over the throne. Evidently, he was enamored with it.

Chapter 34 Burn the Dragon Throne

The Dragon Throne was a symbol of one’s status. Although Frank had collected many antiques, the throne was obviously his favorite. Every day, he would sit on it and feel the authority of an emperor.

“Mr. Boston, I would like to advise you to burn the Dragon Throne so that you may live longer,” John persuaded.

“What do you mean?” Frank’s brows knitted at John’s words. “Are you cursing me to my death?” Frank was infuriated.

If it wasn’t for Ivan, John wouldn’t even have been worthy to step into his villa grounds. And yet, he was now spewing such vile words to him.

“Mr. Boston, please calm down. Mr. White must have his reasons for saying that.” Ivan sprang to his feet to mollify Frank. Then he turned to John.

“Mr. White, you can be frank with us. After all, Mr. Boston is no outsider.” Ivan naturally knew that John was someone capable. Otherwise, there was no way for him to be the overlord of the Dragon Sect.

“Kid, if you’re unable to give me a good reason, no one will be able to save you!” Snorting, Frank stood up from the Dragon Throne.

Unfazed, John explained with a smile, “The Dragon Throne did belong to an emperor from an ancient dynasty. Unfortunately, it’s covered with a vengeful aura. If my guess is correct, an emperor died on this very throne before. There’s no other reason why it would be tainted with so much hatred otherwise.

“The reason you don’t feel anything while being seated is that the spiritual energy within this entire area is being concentrated here. Hence, it’s suppressing the Dragon Throne’s aura for the time being. But as of now, the nine dragons on the throne have been filled with hatred. If you continue to keep it, you might lose your life very soon. Can’t you see that the eyes of the dragons have begun to turn black?” John’s words sent a chill down Frank’s spine and jolted him into action. When he took a closer look at the Dragon Throne, he realized the nine dragon heads had indeed turned slightly black compared to the colors on the rest of the throne.

“Kid, stop this fear-mongering of yours. The dragon heads have turned black due to oxidation from the passage of time. It’s not filled with hatred. That’s just a load of crap!” Frank snapped and slammed his hand on the table.

“Whatever!” John gave a disdainful scoff.

“I wanted to save your life in return for the guidance you provided. And yet, you don’t appreciate it. Perhaps this is what fate has in store for you. You might feel okay now, but you’ve been having nightmares every night for at least a month. In your nightmare, you’re being constricted by a python, causing you to suffocate till you wake up!” With that, John turned and left.

“Mr. White!” With an embarrassed expression on his face, Ivan ran after him. Meanwhile, Frank was stunned after being overwhelmed by John’s words. I told no one about my dreams. So, how does he know about it in such great detail?

“Wait!” Frank called out as he too chased after John.

“What’s wrong? Did I hit the nail on the head?” John sneered. Finally, Frank nodded in embarrassment.

“Ki— Mr. White, you’re right. I’ve been having nightmares recently. Moreover, the same dream has haunted me for a long time now.”

“The python in your dream is actually the nine dragons on the throne. Despite the hatred that’s suffusing them, they have yet to turn entirely black. Once they do, even God won’t be able to save you,” John replied blandly.

“In that case, what should I do?” Frank fully trusted John by then. “Burn the Dragon Throne. You can’t use just any ordinary fire either. Instead, you have to burn it with paper notes until nothing is left,” John explained.

“This…” Looking at the Dragon Throne, Frank’s eyes were filled with reluctance. After all, he had spent significant effort to purchase it from overseas and naturally felt it a shame to suddenly burn it. Thus, he asked John again, “Mr. White, other than setting the Dragon Throne on fire, is there any other way?”

Chapter 35 The Dragon Throne has become an ordinary chair

“There is!” John nodded. “All I need to do is to extract the Dragon Throne’s hatred and destroy the vengeful dragons.” Frank was ecstatic to hear John’s reply.

“In that case, Mr. White, please go ahead!”

“Why should I help you? In your eyes, I’m nothing but a fraud,” John sneered. Immediately, Frank was filled with remorse.

“Mr. White, it was my mistake. I didn’t know any better and offended you instead. I hope you won’t hold it against me and are willing to save my life!” Frank pleaded sincerely.

At the same time, Ivan interceded, “Mr. White, Mr. Boston didn’t mean to insult you. I hope you can help him as he will still be of use to us in the future.” Ivan’s intention was obvious. Frank could be instrumental in the Templar Regiment’s expansion in Fuyang. Therefore, by helping Frank, John would be helping the Dragon Sect at the same time.

“Going forward, if you have any use for me, I’ll be at your service.” Frank hurriedly made his stance clear. Only then did John nod in agreement.

“Fine, I’ll help you destroy the dragons.” With that, John walked up to the Dragon Throne. His hand darted out to press on one of the dragon’s heads. The next moment, a strange scene unfolded. The carved dragon began to emit a faint golden hue. What followed was the sound of agonized dragon roars that rumbled on incessantly.

Meanwhile, Ivan and Frank watched on in astonishment. Illuminated by the golden light, the nine dragons began to move and rise into the sky. While their bodies emitted a black mist, they stared furiously at John, as if he had foiled their grand plan. In the blink of an eye, the black mist enveloped the entire living hall, causing Ivan and Frank to have difficulty breathing.

At the same time, the century-old trees outside seemed to have sensed what was going on and began to sway violently even though there wasn’t any breeze at all. With their mouths gaping wide, both Ivan and Frank were stupefied by the sight of the giant dragons. Frank, in particular, was already drenched in sweat.

The thought of how he had been sitting on top of a group of demonic creatures every day caused him to tremble in fear. “Hatred induced dragons, begone!” John’s expression was calm. With a flick of his hands, rays of golden light penetrated the dragons’ bodies. Unleashing roars of desperation, the dragons began to morph into balls of black mist, which then flew toward John. Opening his mouth, John took a deep breath to suck the black mist into his stomach.

In the very next moment, peace returned to the living hall. Drake’s Focus Technique is amazing! It can actually absorb and cultivate energy from hatred too! The thought delighted John. Other than cultivating spiritual energy, the Focus Technique was able to do the same with hatred and anger, absorbing them to increase one’s strength. Having digested the energy from hatred, John could feel his power growing stronger.

After a long while, Frank finally recovered from his shock. He quickly went up to John and bowed. “Thank you, Mr. White, for saving my life. I will never forget this!”

“Don’t mention it. I was just doing it for my own self-interest.” John waved his hand dismissively. The energy he derived from the hatred absorbed was more than what he could cultivate in half a month’s time. Frank was slightly surprised as he didn’t know what John meant.

Nonetheless, he didn’t dare dig any further. After all, there was a lot about the supernatural world that was beyond comprehension for laymen like him. Turning his gaze to the Dragon Throne, Frank carefully asked, “Mr. White, about the throne…”

“The Dragon Throne has become an ordinary chair. Other than satisfying your ego, it has no other use. That aside, you have to take meticulous care of the old trees in the villa grounds, as they are the key to you living a long and healthy life,” John remarked while looking at the trees outside.

It was a shame the trees couldn’t be transplanted, as the spiritual energy they emitted would have been helpful to his training. If they could, John would have transported them to the top of the hill at Dragon Bay.

Chapter 36 Crippled Antonio’s Manhood

“All right. I’ll have my men take good care of the trees. Also, with regards to the spiritual brush and cinnabar rosary, I’ll help you find them too. I happen to know Abbot Eromin of Lama Monastery very well and will get him to help,” Frank offered.

“Thank you, Mr. Boston!” John nodded. “It’s getting late, so I’ll have to take my leave.” After checking his watch, John realized it was almost noon and time for him to go home for lunch.

“Mr. White, if you don’t mind, why don’t you have lunch here? I’ll get someone to prepare it right away,” Frank nervously invited. Considering Frank’s utmost admiration for John, he wanted to ingratiate himself at every available opportunity.

Looking at Frank, John nodded in agreement. “I hope I’m not imposing.”

“Not at all, not at all.” Elated at John’s response, Frank ordered his servants to prepare the food immediately.

Meanwhile, at Fuyang Hospital, Antonio’s arm had been wrapped up in a sling while Natalia stayed by his side. “Damn that John! Once I’ve recovered, I’ll definitely kill him,” Antonio bellowed out of frustration. John had broken his arm, threw his wedding into chaos, and turned the Gallemit family into Fuyang’s laughingstock. Consequently, there was no way Antonio would take all that lying down.

“Antonio, don’t be angry. I ordered Ryan to teach John a lesson by hiring professional fighters this time. He’ll definitely have John beaten to a pulp,” Natalia remarked while peeling an orange.

“If the Walton family hadn’t gotten in the way, John would have been dead!” A cold glint flashed in Antonio’s eyes. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the orange Natalia had peeled and threw it into his mouth. Right at that moment, Natalia’s phone rang.

After answering it, her expression drastically changed before she ended the call at once. “Who was it?” Antonio asked. “It was Ryan. He said that they were beaten up by John. Not just that, but his arm was also broken!” Natalia frowned.

“What in the world did John learn during his three years in prison? How did he become such a good fighter?”

“They’re nothing but useless scum, especially your classmate. Fuck it, looks like I need to do it myself!”

With his rage intensifying, Antonio gave Natalia a look before pulling her over. Then he tore off her clothes without warning. “Ah… Antonio!” Natalia screamed out of embarrassment as they were inside the hospital. However, Antonio couldn’t care less because of the urge to vent his rage. Just when he was preparing to do so, he realized he couldn’t get it up. All at once, he was seized by panic since he didn’t know what was wrong.

Can my broken arm affect the performance of other bodily functions? “Antonio, is it because you’re too nervous?” Natalia asked meekly.

“Nervous your ass! Get in position for me…” Pushing Natalia forcefully, he began to get it on again. Unfortunately, it was a futile effort no matter how hard he tried.

“Ahem!” Suddenly, Kelvin entered the room. When he saw his son trying to hump Natalia, he blushed instantly and coughed to announce his presence.

Both of them were given a fright. As for Natalia, she quickly put her clothes back on. “This is ridiculous! With your hand broken, how can you still engage in such horseplay?” Kelvin admonished Antonio. Despite hanging his head, Antonio’s eyes were burning with rage.

“Dad, I want John dead. No matter what, he must die!” At that moment, Antonio blamed his impotence on John. He assumed it was related to his broken arm. In truth, John was responsible for it. However, it wasn’t because he had broken Antonio’s arm. Instead, he had crippled Antonio’s manhood at the Grace residence.

“Stay out of the matter, and just focus on your recovery. Since Ivan didn’t take any action against him, I have to investigate and find out what sort of backing he has.” Although Kelvin was furious, he didn’t let his anger get to his head. He knew that there was a reason why Ivan didn’t touch John.



Chapter 37 Other Factions In Fuyang

“Dad, that bastard—”

“Shut up!” Before Antonio could finish, Kelvin shot him a fearsome glare, frightening him into silence.

“Mr. Gallemit, I know John very well because we were together in university. He doesn’t have any sort of background or support. His dad used to be a government servant but became a street cleaner after he was sacked. So, don’t let him frighten you,” Natalia explained while straightening her clothes.

“You know shit!” Kelvin shot her a cold glance. “You stupid bitch! If not for you, Antonio wouldn’t be in this condition. You’re nothing but a jinx!” Kelvin stormed off the moment he finished. In truth, he had objected to their wedding as he felt that Natalia’s family wasn’t up to his standards. Unfortunately, Natalia somehow managed to bewitch Antonio to the extent of getting him to marry her. Natalia’s face purpled in anger after being scolded by Kelvin.

Nonetheless, she didn’t dare say a word of protest. This was the price she had to pay for marrying into a rich family. “Damn that John! I’ll never forgive him!” Natalia hissed through her clenched teeth after Kelvin was gone. She didn’t dare offend Kelvin or Antonio. Hence, her only option was to vent her frustrations on John. Back at Frank’s villa, he, Ivan, and John were drinking happily together. They had enjoyed each other’s company throughout the entire lunch.

Everyone present was envious of John for being able to share the table with such illustrious men despite his young age. “Mr. White, today’s meal is just a casual one. But tomorrow, I plan to hold a feast at Glamor Hotel, where I’ll be inviting distinguished guests from both the political and business establishments of Fuyang. During the dinner, I’ll sing your praises!” Frank declared proudly. Frank’s intention was clear.

He wanted to open doors for John in the city. After the banquet, no one in Fuyang would ever dare mess with John again. Despite how generous the invitation was, John intended to reject it. He wanted to keep a low profile and focus on his training instead. After all, his aim was to wait for the fifteenth of July. Before he could respond, Ivan preempted him, “In that case, I would like to thank you, Mr. Boston, on behalf of Mr. White. Your recommendation will be of significant assistance to Mr. White’s affairs in Fuyang.” Since Ivan had taken the liberty of accepting the offer for him, John didn’t say another word. Instead, he nodded slightly.

“You flatter me, Mr. Boston.” After chatting a while longer, John and Ivan finally left.

“My Lord, please forgive me for accepting the invitation on your behalf. Although the Templar Regiment is expanding rapidly, we’ve hit a plateau outside of Fuyang. Moreover, many other factions are eyeing our turf. Therefore, we’re left with no choice but to strengthen our network further,” Ivan explained his actions softly in the car. John was caught by surprise.

“Aren’t you the absolute authority in Fuyang? Is there someone out there trying to challenge you?”

John didn’t understand why Ivan felt threatened. Based on his understanding, no one other than the political elite dared to touch him. Ivan replied in an embarrassed tone, “My Lord, those are just the assumptions of ordinary folk. Other than us, there are other factions in Fuyang, such as the Crimson Dragon Gang and the Moon Sect. This doesn’t even include the lesser factions around. The Crimson Dragon Gang and the Templar Regiment are mortal enemies.

Every year, both sides will suffer casualties from their struggle against each other. However, their gang leader, Jerry Friedman, managed to learn the Impenetrable Skill from somewhere. Hence, I’m afraid I’m no longer his match.” Staring at Ivan, John could see that times had been tough for him over the last few years. Despite how glamorous he looked in the eyes of others, it was nothing but appearances. In truth, people like him faced danger every single day of their lives.

“If anyone causes you trouble, just let me know,” John stated. Given that the Templar Regiment was subordinate to him, there was no way he would ignore their troubles. Ivan was delighted.

“Based on what you just said, I’m no longer afraid of anything. With you at the forefront, no one will dare stand in your way, let alone someone like Jerry.”

Having seen how John annihilated the nine vengeful dragons, Ivan was so impressed that he utterly worshipped John. Surprised at how adept Ivan was at flattery, John broke into a smile.



Chapter 38 Level Five Energy Cultivation

When John arrived home, his parents weren’t around. He figured they were out for a stroll which he thought would do them good. Without anyone to interrupt, he stayed in his room and continued his training. With no time to waste, he trained as hard as he could. After all, he wasn’t sure what he was going to face on the fifteenth of July. Although Drake promised him a wonderful opportunity, he was worried that the opportunity could also be dangerous too.

Sitting with his legs folded, he chanted the mantra of the Focus Technique. As his abdomen began to move, the surrounding spiritual energy was gradually drawn into his body. John continued training the entire night and even missed dinner. Huff! The moment he opened his eyes, he puffed out a ball of turbid air.

“I didn’t expect the vengeful dragons to be so powerful.” Gently clenching his fist, John felt the power coursing through his veins. Evidently, he had made a breakthrough. At that moment, John had reached Level Five Energy Cultivation.

When he was in prison, he had only achieved Level Four under Drake’s guidance. Hence, he was ecstatic and pleasantly surprised to have ascended to Level Five after absorbing the nine vengeful dragons’ energy. John felt as if he had found a shortcut for his training. As long as he absorbed the energy generated from hatred and vengeance, he was able to advance his training at exponential speeds. Nevertheless, it was a shame that an encounter with such objects depended on luck, given how rare they were. After exhaling gently, John got out of bed and straightened his clothing.

At that moment, Anna’s voice rang out. “Is that you, Ms. Walton? Although I can’t see, I can recognize you from your footsteps.”

“Mrs. White, you’re really sharp!” Miranda replied with a smile. “Don’t be a stranger. Just call me Miranda.”

“You’re right, you’re right. Miranda it is!” Anna’s face lit up as she nodded repeatedly.

“Are you here to see John? He’s still holed up in his room.” Turning, she then yelled in the direction of John’s room, “John, get up, quick! Miranda is here to see you.”

“Mrs. White, there’s no need to shout. I’ll go get him myself.” Upon saying that, Miranda headed toward John’s bedroom. When Anna heard Miranda’s footsteps walking toward her son’s bedroom, she was so excited that she almost jumped for joy.

“That son of mine even lied to me about them just being ordinary friends! Do ordinary friends go straight to the bedroom? I’m dying to see how my future daughter-in-law looks like,” Anna mumbled to herself. Walking up next to her, Robert whispered into her ear, “Darling, let me tell you, Ms. Walton is the prettiest girl in the city!”

“Really?” Anna was surprised as she was aware of how high Robert’s standards were. Back when John was still together with Natalia, Robert had objected to their relationship. Now that he had made an approving comment, Anna was certain that Miranda was undoubtedly a great beauty.

“My son is really something. Despite having just been released from prison, he’s found a girlfriend and even hid her from us!”

Anna beamed with pride. “That goes without saying, especially when you think about who he takes after. With my genes, there’s no way he can go wrong.” At that moment, Robert was proud of his son. Instead of the gloomy expression he had in the past, he was now smiling all the time.

“Enough, stop boasting. Anyway, take me someplace else right now so that both of them can have some privacy.” As she spoke, Anna pulled Robert out of the mansion.

Meanwhile, Miranda pushed John’s bedroom door open and entered. When she saw John standing by his bed with his clothes smoothed out, she was stunned.

“So you were already up?”

“Why? Do you not want me to get up? Or do you want to see me naked?” John teased.

“Pfft, no one wants to see you naked.” Miranda rolled her eyes. Nevertheless, she was slightly excited by his quip. The fact that he was joking with her meant that their relationship had improved significantly.

“There’s something I need your help with. Come with me!” Without waiting for him to respond, Miranda pulled him along.

Before he could ask her where they were going, Miranda had led him into the car. Checking his watch, he realized that he still had some time before the banquet Frank organized in his honor happened. Hence, he allowed Miranda to tow him wherever she wanted.



Chapter 39 Accompany Her Shopping

Focal Mall was an exceedingly renowned shopping mall in Fuyang with almost all the major brands available. Hence, John was a tad surprised that Miranda brought him there.

“Did you bring me here to accompany you shopping?” he inquired apprehensively. After all, it was a vastly scary matter to accompany a female shopping, and he had personally experienced the horror of it. Back then, he once went shopping with Natalia, and she spent the entire day at the mall.

Therefore, he was seriously traumatized. “Why, are you not willing to do so?” Miranda countered, looking him straight in the eye.

“Of course not!” John shook his head in denial. If I’m honest, I’m pretty proud to accompany her shopping since her status and looks are top-notch. Innumerable men will envy me for getting to keep such a woman company while she shops! But then, I’ve got something to do at noon. I’ve already promised to meet Frank, so I can’t stand him up.

“I’ve got a prior appointment at noon, so I’m afraid that I might run late,” John answered honestly.

“I don’t care what appointment you have, but your main task now is to keep me company while I shop!” After saying that, Miranda dragged him into the mall. There was a dazzling array of products, but Miranda towed him over to the section selling men’s clothes before holding up shirt after shirt in front of him.

“Are you planning to buy me clothes?” John exclaimed in astonishment.

“Who else would I be buying clothes for? My closet at home is already bursting at the seams.” Miranda wasn’t idle as she spoke, her hands flipping through the clothes. In the end, she chose a suit and placed it in his hand.

“Go and try it on!” John stood rooted to the spot for a moment with the suit in his hand.

Seeing that, she remarked, “Hmm? Are you waiting for me to go into the fitting room with you and help you into it?”

“No, it’s okay!” John shook his head frantically even as he hastened into the fitting room. At the sight of his terrified expression, Miranda giggled, the tenderness in her eyes growing all the more pronounced. When John walked out in the suit, her eyes lit up at once.

She looked him up and down before commenting in surprise, “I didn’t expect you to have such potential! You’re much more handsome when you wear a suit!” Noticing the admiration in her gaze, John couldn’t resist looking at himself in the mirror, only to realize that he indeed appeared far more striking. Ever since he went to prison and started training with Drake, his desire for material things had faded over time.

Despite having some money after being released from prison, he was still wearing his old clothes from before. A wardrobe change had never crossed his mind as training was a better use of his time than shopping for clothes.

“What are you planning to have me do with you? Attend a wedding?” he asked.

“Never you mind! This is even more important than a wedding!” Pulling him along, Miranda bought him shoes and a watch as well, transforming him into a dapper and handsome man. John could only allow her to drag him around, going with the flow.

As they continued shopping, the things on him increased. Not only did Miranda buy him a tie and belt, but she even spent tens of thousands to buy him a small lighter. On the whole, John’s entire ensemble cost at least a few hundreds of thousands.

“Aren’t you being a bit lavish here?” John was even beginning to feel a touch nervous to walk around while wearing such an expensive outfit. Ah, I really don’t quite understand the mentality of rich people like her. What’s the point of spending hundreds of thousands to buy a suit and tens of thousands on a lighter?

“Nope, not at all. You were dressed too shabbily in the past. I can’t allow you to dress in such a manner anymore in the future, or people will be laughing at me,” Miranda replied placidly. But just after she finished speaking, she abruptly realized her slip of the tongue. At once, her face flushed bright red. Meanwhile, John’s lips curved into a smile when he heard that. “Why would people be laughing at you if I’m dressed shabbily?”

At that question, Miranda’s face blazed hotter. Shooting him a glare, she snapped, “I’ve already asked to be your girlfriend in public, so people will naturally take me at my word. Aren’t you just embarrassing me if you dress shabbily? Okay, this matter is now closed. I’m going to the washroom, so wait for me here.” She hurriedly left after making up an excuse.



Chapter 40 Handsome Man

Chuckling, John stood there and waited for Miranda. Many ladies who spotted him when they walked past inexorably turned back and stole another glance at him. Several of them even came over to him and asked for his contact, but he turned them all down. Coincidentally, Natalia and Sarah were also shopping on the other side of the mall. Still seething after having been hauled over the coals the day before, Natalia planned to go on a shopping spree to cheer herself up.

“Quick, look, Natalia! A handsome man is standing across from us! His back alone is mesmerizing!” Sarah said to Natalia in an excited voice. Hearing that, Natalia hastily lifted her head and cast her gaze over. Sure enough, she caught sight of a tall man in a suit standing ramrod straight opposite them.

From his mere back, one could sense the noble aura he exuded. “Could it just be someone with an arresting figure but unsightly looks?” she wondered in a whisper.

“No way! I can sense that he’s definitely a handsome man! You’ve already got Mr. Gallemit, so leave this gorgeous specimen to me, Natalia!” No sooner had Sarah finished speaking than she eagerly rushed over. Natalia was also curious, so she promptly followed.

“Are you waiting for someone, handsome?” Sarah questioned, moving forward and tapping the man’s shoulder. But the instant the man turned around, both Sarah and Natalia were wholly confounded.

“J-John? Why is it you?” Sarah exclaimed with surprise written all over her face. Natalia was staggered as well, for she had never seen this side of John despite having been with him for a few years. It looks like clothes really do make the man!

“Why not?” John sneered when he saw that it was Sarah and Natalia. “How could you patronize this mall? The things here are extremely expensive!” Sarah demanded with a puzzled expression. The products in this mall were so expensive that ordinary people couldn’t afford to shop here. In her eyes, his family background was far below average, so it made no sense that he’d appear in the mall. Besides, the clothes he was wearing seemed to have cost a fortune!

“Is this your family’s mall? I can patronize it anytime I want to do so!” John retorted unceremoniously, instantly leaving her speechless.

“You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, John! You can never become someone of high standing even if you dress the part. How shameful to buy some imitation suit somewhere and come here in hopes of hooking up! Bah!” Natalia proceeded to spit at the man. Before John could speak, Miranda strode over.

“That’s none of your business, you shrew! Wipe your filth off him!” Miranda ordered, pointing at the spit on his clothes with a frosty expression. When Natalia saw her, unease crept into her eyes. Crap! As the daughter of the richest man in Fuyang, I’m nothing when compared to her! Nonetheless, she was naturally chagrined to be rebuked in front of so many people in the mall. Not only that, but she was instructed to wipe John’s clothes too.

Thus, she still tried her best to maintain her composure. “Y-You’d better watch your tongue! Stop throwing your weight around just because you’re the heiress of the Walton family!”

“I told you to wipe it off. Are you deaf? Say, if I were to slap you across the face now, would Antonio dare seek me out to avenge you?” It was clear as day that Miranda’s imposing aura intimidated Natalia, for the latter started trembling imperceptibly.

She knew that she would only suffer the slap in vain because Antonio wouldn’t make an enemy out of the Walton family for her sake. Meanwhile, the corners of John’s mouth turned up as he stared at her. He merely watched with a sneer without saying anything.

“I’ll do it! I’ll wipe it!” Upon seeing that things were going downhill, Sarah quickly took out a piece of tissue to wipe the spit off John’s clothes on Natalia’s behalf.

“Who do you think you are? How dare you think that you’re worthy of touching my boyfriend?”

Miranda pushed her away in short order. Sarah felt so mortified that her face flushed bright red, but she didn’t dare utter a single word of protest. Even Natalia didn’t dare offend Miranda, much less her.

 

[jhonmichaelmateo]

more please. Thank yoi

 

[Adzkie_17]

hey man! Any updates??? Hehe.. I started reading to pass time but it captivates me..

 

[lawline]

N

Chapter 7 Saving Sam

“What garbage are you spewing? You’re not needed here. Get out!” Miranda barked, as she was worried that John would disrupt the treatment.

“Fine. You’re the one that asked me to leave. I’ll be waiting in the corridor. In less than five minutes, you’ll be out there begging me to come back in.” The moment he finished, John opened the door and went out. After he left, no one bothered about him. Meanwhile, James carefully continued with Sam’s acupuncture treatment.

Soon, he was entirely drenched in sweat. After the last needle was inserted, Sam gradually regain his consciousness and opened his eyes.

“Dad! My dad is awake, Dr. Watson. He’s awake. This is wonderful!” Miranda cried out jubilantly as tears filled her eyes. Just a moment ago, she was worried that he would never ever do so. When James saw Sam was awake, he, too, heaved a sigh of relief. After all, he barely had any confidence going in. Unfortunately, the moment Miranda and James sighed in relief, Sam began to tremble violently.

He looked to be in excruciating pain as his face started turning purple. “Dad! Dad!” Miranda yelled as she turned to James in panic. “Dr. Watson, why is this happening?”

At that moment, even James was feeling so distressed that he was just stumped. “I… I don’t know why this is happening either. How did it turn out this way?”

“Who are you asking? You’re the doctor here!” Miranda roared at the doctor in desperation.

At the same time, Sam’s shiver began to grow faint before he finally stopped moving. Even his breath could not be felt at all. Watching the change in Sam, James felt his panic intensify. If anything happened to Sam, he would have to suffer the consequences.

“Dad, don’t scare me… Don’t scare me…” Miranda began to cry. “Ms. Walton, let’s take Mr. Walton to the hospital. I have run out of ideas!” James suggested anxiously.

He wanted to send Sam there so that he could shirk his responsibility. If Sam died in the hospital, it would then not be his fault.

“Do you take me for a fool? Given my dad’s condition, there’s no way he can make it to the hospital! You better save him! If not, don’t think you will survive this unscathed!” Miranda exploded, having lost her rational mind. The Walton were the wealthiest family in Fuyang. To destroy a lowly doctor would take no more than a flick of their fingers. James was stricken with terror by her threat. Nonetheless, he was devoid of any ideas.

Suddenly, he thought of John and quickly suggested, “Ms. Walton, the guy that just went out. Perhaps he might have a solution. I think he probably knows a thing or two.” James’s words reminded Miranda of John. Still, it was not lost upon her that James had looked down upon him earlier, but was praising him now. Evidently, James was planning to let John take the blame. Once John stepped in to treat Sam, even if he was dead, James would be able to absolve himself of any responsibility.

After a momentary hesitation, Miranda let go of Sam, who slumped in his chair as she dashed out of the room. At that very moment, John was sitting along the corridor, expecting Miranda to come and see him. When the woman saw John was still there, she rushed up to him. Just when she wanted to speak, she suddenly realized that she had no idea how to address him.

“P-Please save my father, I beg of you,” Miranda pleaded with an awkward expression. When John gradually raised his head at her, Miranda averted her gaze, as she didn’t dare make eye contact.

Not too long ago, she was berating him, but now, she ended up begging him instead. “Do you believe I can save your father and that I’m not a con man?” John asked. Miranda kept silent, as she didn’t know how to answer. She didn’t fully trust him yet, but she had no other choice. Looking at her reaction, John simply chuckled. He decided not to make things difficult for her as he got up and returned to the room.

When Miranda followed John back in, she saw James pacing back and forth with his head covered in sweat. The moment James saw John, he felt as if he had seen his savior. Regardless of whether John could revive Sam, he could push the blame to John once the latter took over. Lowering himself, James begged, “I’m sorry about just now, young man. Please save Mr. Walton!” Considering that he could potentially lose everything, James felt that being polite would not hurt at all. After shooting Sam a glance, John sighed.

“Looks like I’ll have to give it my all.” Turning toward James, John questioned, “Do you still have any silver needles?”

“Yes, in the medical bag.” James quickly handed over a bag of silver needles to John.

“It’s not enough!” John shook his head.

“Not enough?” James was stunned. “The bag contains thirty needles. How can it not be enough?” In acupuncture, anyone who could insert more than ten needles was considered impressive.

Even the president of the Association of Traditional Medicine, Edwin Thomas, who was also known as a miracle doctor, could only insert around twenty needles. As a result, thirty needles were more than enough.

“It just isn’t. I need more!” John replied.

“How many more?” James carefully asked.

“Eighty-one!” James was stupefied by the reply. Suddenly, his eyes were filled with horror. However, instead of saying anything, he handed over all his silver needles.

After receiving them, John laid Sam’s body flat on the ground. Moving ambidextrously, he swiftly inserted the needles into Sam’s body. At this moment, cold sweat began to break out on John’s forehead. He looked as if he was exerting a lot of energy to the extent his clothes were all drenched.

When the final needle was inserted into Sam, John let out a long sigh. As if he was entirely drained, he dropped his butt onto the ground to sit. During the entire time, Miranda watched on nervously. She didn’t know much about acupuncture, and she felt the urge to ask.

However, she was worried about disrupting John. As for James, he was already gawking in astonishment from the get-go. His mouth opened so wide that one could fit an egg into it. A short while later, James’s shock had turned into elation. With a loud thud, he dropped his knees to the ground in front of John. His sudden movement gave both John and Miranda a fright.

Chapter 8 Miracle Doctor

“Miracle Doctor, please take me as your apprentice!” Right after he spoke, James bowed to John. Gaping in response, John realized he no longer had any energy left. As for Miranda, she gave James a bewildered look.

“Dr. Watson, what are you doing? My dad hasn’t even woken up yet.” Miranda didn’t understand why James was addressing John as a miracle doctor when her father was still unconscious.

“Ms. Walton, you’re probably not aware that this gentleman had just applied the Soul Resurrection Needle, which is capable of reviving a dead man.

Therefore, Mr. Walton will be just fine!” James explained.

“He’s that good?” Miranda gaped at John in disbelief. If what James says is true, John really deserves his title as Miracle Doctor.

“I can’t believe you actually know the Soul Resurrection Needle!” James exclaimed in awe. The Soul Resurrection Needle was an ancient acupuncture technique that had been lost through the generations. However, John didn’t understand what James was talking about, as he had only learned it from Drake.

“Miracle Doctor, I’m Dr. James Watson, deputy president of the Fuyang Association of Traditional Medicine. I have read about this technique in some ancient books and didn’t expect to have the honor of witnessing it in action today. Please, accept me as your student.” With that, James prostrated in front of John. Just when John was confounded by James’s reaction, coughs rang out in the room. Sam was finally awake.

“Dad!” Miranda reacted quickly by trying to help him up.

However, John held her back. “Ms. Walton, he’s not supposed to move yet.

You’ll have to wait for me to remove the needles.” Holding Miranda’s slender hands, he could feel how warm and gentle it felt. The sudden sensation felt like a jolt to him. As for Miranda, she, too, felt the warmth from his hands. Blushing, she remarked, “This is all thanks to you.” John frantically released Miranda’s hand before collecting himself. With a wave of his hand, the eighty-one needles were pulled toward his palm as if there was a magnetic force at work.

“It’s done,” John informed Miranda while returning the needles to James.

At that moment, Miranda no longer had any doubts left about John. Thanking him, she helped Sam up with teary eyes. “Dad, how do you feel?” Miranda inquired. “I’m fine. I feel good, to be honest.” Sam let out a slight smile. Upon noticing James kneeling on the ground, he asked curiously, “What’s going on?” After Miranda related how John had saved him with the Soul Resurrection Needle, Sam was astounded.

When John diagnosed his ailment just by looking at him, Sam was already impressed. Nevertheless, he didn’t expect the young man to be so skillful that the deputy president of the Association of Traditional Medicine would drop to his knees and beg to be accepted as a student.

“Young man, you have saved me twice already. From today onward, you are a benefactor of the Walton family. I will readily fulfill any request you have as long as it’s within my powers,” Sam declared resolutely. “You’re being too kind, Mr. Walton, as I barely did anything.

Furthermore, this is a blessing you deserve for all the charity you have done.” After giving a cordial reply, John changed his tact.

“Although I used the Soul Resurrection Needle to save your life temporarily, you will still die within three months if your ailment isn’t treated.” Having heard John’s words, Sam dropped to his knees. “Please, sir, I’m willing to give you everything I have as long as you save my life.”

Fearing death, Sam no longer addressed John as a “young man.” Instead, he greeted him as “sir,” as he was really worried that John would refuse to help him. In order to survive, he was willing to give John all of his assets. As the richest man in Fuyang, Sam was unimaginably wealthy. Consequently, anyone would be envious of John for being in such a position.

“Mr. Walton, there’s no need for that. I’m obliged to save you after running into you. Nonetheless, there are some rare herbs that I need, and I hope you can prepare them for me.” John could not afford to buy Sam any herbs.

The herbs he requested were so expensive that they were out of the masses’ reach. “Sir, whatever you need, just say the word!” Sam nodded at once. Then, he turned to Miranda and instructed, “Miranda, prepare a pen and paper to write them down.”

Meanwhile, John felt awkward when Sam kept addressing him as “sir.” Hence, he suggested, “Mr. Walton, my name is John White. You can just call me by my name.”

“I can’t do that. Mr. White, you’re my savior, and the Walton family will never forget it for as long as we live.” Given how stubborn Sam was, John didn’t insist. Instead, he wrote down a long list of herbs and handed them to Miranda.

“Mr. Walton, most of the herbs on the list are for your treatment. Nonetheless, some are for my mother, as she has lost her sight. As a result, I need some of these herbs to cure her,” John explained to Sam honestly. Considering Anna had gone blind from crying, it would not be difficult for John to treat her.

It was just that he was incapable of getting hold of the herbs in his current state. Hence, he felt the Walton family was in a better position to obtain them. In spite of that, there were two items that John was worried the Walton could have trouble finding. One of them was a calligraphy brush which was embodied with spirituality after being used by a famous scholar for a long time. It could also be made from the fur of any spiritual animal.

Other than that, he also needed a cinnabar rosary. Although they were common items nowadays, the one he needed was made from woods of ancient trees. Combined with the spiritually endowed calligraphy brush, he would be able to cure Anna’s blindness by simply anointing it on her eye.

Even though he had put the two items on the list, he was not optimistic that the Walton family would find them. After all, one could only encounter the items with luck. Moreover, only those in the know would be able to tell upon seeing it.

Chapter 9 : Take me in

“Mr. White, just let me know what you need. As long as I can fulfill it, I will not refuse,” Sam quickly declared. At that moment, Miranda queried, “Mr. White, what do you need the calligraphy brush and cinnabar rosary for?” After all, both items didn’t look like they were required for medical treatment, and they were also widely available.

“Miranda, Mr. White has his reasons for writing them down. You shouldn’t question him!” Sam admonished her with a glare. “It’s all right.” John smiled. “They are used for treatments, too. However, they aren’t just any ordinary brush and rosary. They have to be imbued with spirituality for them to work.”

“Imbued with spirituality?” Miranda and Sam were dumbfounded, as they had no idea what John meant.

When he saw how confused they were, John explained, “Everything in this world will live and die, and all of them contain spirituality. Even items deemed inanimate by men can have spirituality as well. However, it can only form under very strict conditions.

“Let’s take this chair I’m sitting on as an example. If I sit on it and meditate for decades, it would gradually be imbued with spirituality too.” Worried that both of them would not understand, he illustrated the concept in layman’s terms.

“Oh, I get it!” Miranda suddenly exclaimed. “Mr. White, are you saying that it’s the same as what is shown on TV? At one of the trees where the immortals reside, it will gain spirituality after some time and even turn into a human form!”

“Miranda, stop your nonsense!” Sam was speechless at the way Miranda described it. From his perspective, immortals didn’t exist, especially not in the modern world.

“Ms. Walton, you hit the nail on its head,” John replied with a grin. Previously, John didn’t believe in such things too. However, after spending the last three years with Drake, he finally realized that there was still a lot out there that he didn’t understand. In fact, the secrets Drake had passed on to him were the Focus Technique. As long as he continued to train in them, he might actually become an immortal.

Sam smiled awkwardly, as he didn’t expect Miranda to get it right. If anyone else talked to him about spirituality and immortals, he would have scoffed at them. However, since it was John who brought it up, Sam’s skepticism wavered immediately. While John and Sam continued their discussion, they didn’t even give James, who was still kneeling on the ground, a look. Even though James was not particularly evil, he was unable to take on any real responsibility. Hence, John didn’t intend to accept him as his student. Moreover, he would not simply take in anyone without Drake’s permission.

After talking for more than ten minutes, John finally knew how Sam injured himself. When he was young, Sam was hit by a palm strike by a business competitor. As there was no external wound, and the results of his checkups were clear, he didn’t pay much attention to it. As time went by, Sam began to feel that he was growing weaker to the extent of having difficulty breathing. As a result, he kept himself going all this while by consuming a lot of health supplements.

Not wanting to cause any concern to his family, Sam hid the news from them. That was also why Miranda was unaware of her father’s hidden ailment. After hearing the story, John realized at once that the attacker was a martial artist who had managed to cultivate internal energy. From the looks of it, he had wanted to kill Sam. Fortunately, Sam’s immense wealth had allowed him to afford potent health supplements to keep himself alive all this while.

If Sam had not encountered John, he would have lost his life. “Mr. White, please accept me as your student!” James yelled again from the floor. By then, both his legs were so numb that he grimaced in pain. John gave James a look.

“You should get up. I won’t accept anyone as my student, but feel free to ask me any questions, and I will guide you accordingly.” John was finally moved by James’s sincerity after watching him prostrate for such a long time.

Therefore, he agreed to provide guidance even though he refused to take in students. James was naturally delighted with John’s response and thanked him profusely, “Thank you, Mr. White! Thank you!” As James gradually stood up, his legs hurt so much that he struggled to do so. Noticing James’s condition, John gently tapped on James’s leg, causing the painful numbness to disappear. Naturally, the doctor was astonished.

“Mr. Walton, my parents are still at home, so I have to return to them. Once you have collected the herbs, you can give me a call,” John informed as he gradually got to his feet. Given that his mother was home alone, John was worried about her. “Mr. White, do you mind telling me where you stay?” Sam asked.

“I’m staying at Happy Avenue. Why?” John questioned curiously.

“Oh, nothing really. I just have a house that’s currently vacant, which I want to present to you as a gift. That place has a wonderful environment to recuperate in, and I hope it will be of use to you.” When he was done speaking, Sam took out a key from his pocket.

“Thank you, Mr. Walton!” Initially, John wanted to decline, as he was not motivated by monetary gains when he first treated Sam.

However, when he thought about the dilapidated house his parents were staying in, he decided to accept it. Moreover, he needed time to make enough money to afford a new one. However, John was stunned to find out that the mansion was located at Dragon Bay when he received the key.

Chapter 10 : New House

Dragon Bay was the best neighborhood in the whole of Fuyang, constructed on the only mountain in the city. For that reason, not only was the scenery there astounding, but the air was also exceedingly fresh. Those who could live there were either wealthy or influential people from the upper echelons of society. Ordinary people couldn’t even afford to pay the property management fee there, much less Iive in the neighborhood.

“Mr. Walton, this… this mansion is too expensive. I can’t accept this!” John hastily returned the key to Sam.

“Of course, you can, Mr. White! Or is my life not worth a mansion?” Sam remarked smilingly. Since he had said as much, John had no choice but to accept it. Then, Sam proceeded to take out a bank card with ten million in it and handed it to him. Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to turn it down, John could only pocket it. Just when he was about to take his leave, a clamor sounded from downstairs, the noise deafening.

John’s brows furrowed slightly. When Sam saw the frown marring his countenance, he immediately summoned the hotel manager. “What’s going on here? Why is it so noisy?” Sam demanded.

“Mr. Walton, the heir of the Gallemit family is getting married today, and the wedding banquet is being held in the banquet hall on the second floor. That’s where the noise is coming from,” the manager hurriedly explained.

Only after hearing that did Sam decide not to pursue the matter. After all, the hotel was open for business, and a racket was inevitable when someone was getting married.

“I’ll be leaving then, Mr. Walton.” John waved to Sam before exiting the private room. Just as John arrived downstairs, he coincidentally bumped into Antonio strutting into the hotel with Natalia in his arms. Antonio was stunned for a moment when he spotted John, but he guffawed in the next instant.

“I didn’t expect you to really come and attend my wedding, John! Are you here for the free food and liquor?” Casting him a frosty glance, John said nothing and moved sideways to leave.

“Hey, don’t go!” Antonio blocked his path and drawled with mockery written all over his face, “Look at your ex-girlfriend. Isn’t she beautiful now? Do you not have anything to say to her?” In truth, he was deliberately embarrassing the man.

“Let’s not bother about him, Antonio. We’re running late,” Natalia murmured coquettishly to Antonio without even sparing John a glance.

“Don’t entertain this piece of trash anymore, Antonio. It’s bad to be late for your own wedding, so you two go into the banquet hall first. I’ll kick this worthless bum out!” Melinda urged, echoing Natalia’s sentiments.

Subsequently, she turned to John and lambasted, “Can you just stop hounding us? You’re so desperate that you even came to the hotel after us! Do you think my daughter will ever take a fancy to your peasant self? Go and take a look at yourself in the mirror! Hurry up and buzz off instead of kicking up a fuss here!” Her censure was caustic and vile, drawing blood with every single word. The relatives around them whispered among themselves, snickering as they stared at John. Right that moment, John was no more than a fool who was made fun of by everyone.

“One day, you will all fall to your knees before me and beg me!” Suppressing the fury blazing within him, John shoved Antonio, who was blocking his path, away before striding out. Antonio’s brows knitted together.

“Stop him! Regardless of whether you want to attend the wedding today, you’ve got to do so! I want you to see your girlfriend marrying me with your own eyes, you piece of trash!” As soon as he said that, Baldy and a few others instantly blocked John’s path.

They were still harboring a grudge after being beaten up at his house, so they wanted to take revenge on him. At the sight of them blocking his path menacingly, John slowly turned back to look at Antonio.

“Are you sure you want me to attend your wedding?”

“Yes! I want you to see with your own eyes and know that you’re not worthy of going against me!” Antonio wore a sneer on his face.

“All right, then. But a word of warning from me—if I attend your wedding, you won’t be getting married today!”

After saying that, John whirled around and walked into the banquet hall on the second floor. There were more than a hundred tables set up inside. “Haha, I’ll just see how you’re going to accomplish that!” Antonio laughed uproariously, not believing his threat in the least. Nonetheless, to prevent the man from kicking up trouble and dampening everyone’s merriment, he said to Baldy, “Baldy, bring a few men with you and keep a close eye on John. Restrain him at once if he dares to do anything!”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Antonio. Just leave this matter to me!” Baldy nodded, his gaze turning chilly. This is the perfect opportunity for me to take my revenge on him! In the banquet hall, John took his seat in a corner. Those who could attend the heir of the Gallemit family’s wedding were either wealthy or influential, all prestigious people in the whole of Fuyang. In other words, an ordinary person like him wasn’t even worthy of the honor.

Thus, his appearance had many of the guests in the banquet hall throwing him strange looks. After all, it seemed out of place for an ordinary-looking young man to show up at such an opulent wedding out of the blue. But soon, his identity spread like wildfire among the guests. With that, the gazes directed his way increased in number, most of them mocking and derisive, though a handful was sympathetic.

Nevertheless, John wasn’t at all bothered. He sat in the corner alone and nibbled at the snacks on the table with his face devoid of expression. Meanwhile, Baldy stood behind him with a dozen men, all watching him like a hawk. The second he made a suspicious move, they would restraint him without a hint of hesitation.

“Hey, if it isn’t John White! When did you get out of prison?” A voice tinged with sarcasm rang out.

John lifted his head and swung his gaze over, only to see a woman with heavy makeup on her face and dressed seductively sashaying toward him. A young man followed beside her. The woman’s voice promptly snagged the attention of the guests around them.

They initially thought that John was merely the bride’s ex-boyfriend and was there to see his girlfriend for the final time, but they never expected him to have a record. Following that, they grew all the more intrigued.nivce novel bro

hey man! Any updates??? Hehe.. I started reading to pass time but it captivates me..

Nice novel bro

 

[lawline]

Am in love Wit this novel

 

[Gily]

Am in love Wit this novel

I have been busy lately. Please find will post 50 episode in three days

 

[Edmund]

Chapter 1 Released From Prison

“I’m finally out,” John White exclaimed as he forcefully took a deep breath of fresh air.

Behind him was Fuyang Prison, where he had been locked up for the past three years. Today was the day he was released.

“Hmm, I wonder how my parents are doing.”

With a torn canvas bag on his back, Jared hurried home right away. Over the last three years, his parents never visited him. Hence, he was worried about them.

On the way home, John kept looking at the bronze-colored ring he was wearing.

There was a lifelike dragon carved on it. On top of the dragon’s head was a special symbol.

The ring was given to him by Drake, a friend from prison.

Drake was a strange man. He would constantly ramble on about how he was the leader of the Dragon Sect and knew everything, including astrology, geography, medicine, and many more. Not only that, he even claimed that he could bring back someone from the dead.

Everyone treated Drake as a madman and ignored him accordingly. Only John would chat with him and share his food occasionally.

Drake would tell John all sorts of strange stories about the Dragon Sect and Dragon Island. These were names that John had never heard before.

Moreover, Drake would get John White to accompany him in his meditation and martial arts training. Given how bored John White was in prison, he gladly went along with it.

At the end of three years, John had learned a plethora of martial art techniques and medical skills from Drake.

On the fateful day of John’s release, Drake gave the ring to John and told him to go to Nameless Island within the Eastern Sea on the fifteenth of July that year. There, he was supposed to flash his ring and someone would pick him up. When that happened, John would be bestowed with a wonderful opportunity.

Considering how much he had learned from Drake, John naturally took his words seriously and promised to do as he was told. Nevertheless, there were still a few more months to go before July.

Before he knew it, John had arrived at the entrance to his home. When he saw the dilapidated house in front of him, he felt a sense of bitterness, as he had no knowledge of how his parents held up during the three years. Due to my rash actions, my parents must have suffered a lot.

Thinking back to what had happened three years ago, John was filled with anger.

Back then, he and his girlfriend, Natalia Grace, were at the stage where they were talking about marriage. They were classmates at university and had been in a relationship for two years.

One day, when he was walking Natalia back home, both of them ran into Antonio Gallemit, who was drunk.

Antonnio was a rich kid in Fuyang, well-known for all his misdeeds.

When he saw how pretty Natalia was, he harbored lecherous intentions against her and began touching her physically.

As a famous rich kid, Antonio didn’t even bother to look at John.

Consequently, John was incensed when he saw his girlfriend being taken advantage of.

Please check the exact title for the novel, wow it's really intriguing, I like, I'm so hooked.

 

[bbaggi]

gilly I like this novel, I'm already getting hooked. it's the kind of "an understated dominance". please keep posting more chapters

 

[Gily]

gilly I like this novel, I'm already getting hooked. it's the kind of "an understated dominance". please keep posting more chapters

Starting this week I Will post some. Sorry I have been so busy with work. I am very disappointed that I haven't finished this

 

[Gily]

Chapter 41

“The two of you are just too much to pick on us, ordinary people, just because you’ve got wealth and power! Everyone, come and see this! The heiress of the Walton family is a bully!” Natalia staunchly refused to wipe John’s clothes for him, for she couldn’t get over the contempt within her. In the past, it had always been him pandering to her and being at her beck and call. For that reason, she couldn’t accept the reality that she was to lower herself before him then.

Right that moment, she feigned weakness, hoping that the people around her would take pity on her and lend her a hand. Slap! While she was trying to seek help from the bystanders, Miranda stepped forward and struck her right across the face without the slightest bit of hesitation, stunning her to the core. “That’s enough nonsense from you! I said to wipe it off right this instant!” Miranda asserted, her voice leaving no room for negotiation.

Natalia’s hand flew to her face, and she glanced at the crowd around her. Alas, no one spoke up for her. That aside, some timid ones even left quickly, not daring to stay and watch the show any longer. Left with no other choice, she could only take out a piece of tissue in the face of Miranda’s icy expression. Then, she dragged her feet over to John and bent down to wipe the spit off his clothes. John looked down at her with a smirk on his face.

But when her hand was a second away from coming into contact with his suit, he dodged it. Taken aback, Natalia looked up at him. “I’m afraid that your hand will dirty my clothes.” After saying that, John wiped the spit off himself with a piece of tissue.

“How dare you?” Natalia’s chest heaved violently, yet she had no retort to that. “Let’s go!” Taking Miranda’s hand, John strode out of the mall. As Natalia glowered at their backs, she was so livid that she shook with rage.

Gritting her teeth, she spat, “You bastard, I’ll never forgive you for this, John!” Regretfully, John had long since exited the mall and could no longer hear her. “You’re rather feisty today! But it isn’t quite appropriate with your identity as the heiress of the Walton family. Your reputation will be negatively affected if news of this gets out,” John said to Miranda when they had left the mall. “Ah, never mind that! I get mad whenever I see her!”

Miranda clenched her jaw, her face still stained with a trace of wrath. In the next moment, she turned to the man. “Were you frightened by my demeanor?”

In response, John shook his head with a smile. “Nope! You’re pretty appealing when you get up in arms.”

“Since you like it, how about I do it to you every day?” Miranda inquired, a gleam of something glinting in her eyes.

“No, no…” John waved his hands frantically and immediately changed the subject, asking, “Where exactly are you bringing me that you dressed me up so nicely?”

“Mr. Boston is hosting a huge banquet at Glamor Hotel today. Many distinguished people in Fuyang will be in attendance, and I heard that it’s exceedingly difficult to gain entry, for they don’t even allow the guests to bring their families. Anyway, it’s at my family’s hotel, so I can bring you in without an invitation.

Then, you can make the acquaintance of the eminent figures in the city!” Miranda admitted frankly without keeping him in suspense. Conversely, John was torn between laughing and crying after hearing that. Frank is hosting the banquet for my sake, yet she now wants to sneak me in.

“Why are you laughing? I’m serious! Besides, Mr. Boston is purportedly hosting this banquet to introduce a friend of his to the big shots in Fuyang. Right now, everyone is speculating about that friend of his! And do you know how many people want to attend the banquet this time yet haven’t the right or opportunity to do so?

If the banquet weren’t being held at Glamor Hotel, I wouldn’t even have the chance to bring you in! Make sure that you seize this opportunity and make an impression!” Miranda exhorted.

“Okay, I’ll do my best!” John chuckled, not telling her the truth so that he could give her a surprise later.

Unwittingly, he could also sense a shift in his feelings toward her. While neither of them said anything, they were both aware of the other’s feelings since some things could be discerned tacitly.


Chapter 42
Kelvin rushed to Fuyang Hospital and tossed a suit at Antonio, ordering, “Change and come with me!”

“I’m recuperating, Dad! Where are you bringing me?” Antonio inquired with bemusement etched on his face.

“To a banquet!” Kelvin answered. “I don’t want to go. My arm is broken, and I’m now recuperating. Why should I attend some banquet?” Antonio instantly lost interest after hearing that. He had attended quite a number of banquets, and they involved nothing more than feasting and drinking besides singing each other’s praises.

Furthermore, he would have to wear a suit that would keep him very much uncomfortable. Hence, he didn’t feel like going. “Do you know who’s hosting the banquet this time, you bastard? It’s Mr. Boston! Everyone who’s someone in Fuyang is attending the banquet! As such, ensure that you make a good impression this time! I’ll be handing the businesses of the Gallemit family to you in the future, and I don’t want you to run them to the ground!”

Kelvin snarled, smacking him upside the head. The instant Antonio heard that Frank was hosting the banquet, he didn’t dare utter a single word of protest anymore. He hastily changed, but he couldn’t manage with a broken arm.

“Where is your girlfriend? Where did she go instead of taking care of you here? Call her over and have her help you out! I want to see you at Glamor Hotel at eleven o’clock later. Don’t be late! I’ve still got something else to do, so until later!” Kelvin left as soon as he had finished speaking. Glancing at the time, Antonio didn’t dare tarry anymore. He gave Natalia a call and ordered her over right away. At half-past ten in the morning, the entrance of Glamor Hotel was already cluttered with luxurious cars. All the prominent figures from the political and business circles had arrived early, long before the banquet would begin.

They all greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries before entering the hotel with their invitations in hand, one after another. However, their accompanying family members could only wait outside the hotel. Frank only invited the head of each family and the leader of each department to the banquet this time because he wanted to reduce the number of attendees. He was afraid that John would be annoyed if there were too many people and it became too noisy.

Antonio, too, came with an arm in a cast while Natalia supported him at his side. When Natalia saw the countless big cheeses there, her excitement was so great that her heart almost pounded out of her chest. “Stand here and be on your best behavior! Don’t cause any trouble for me as the attendees this time are no ordinary people!” Kelvin cautioned Antonio.

“Am I not going in, Dad?” Bewilderment was written all over Antonio’s face. Huh? He asked me to come here, yet he’s not allowing me to go in?

“Of course not! Only the heads of each family or leaders of different ranks are invited to the banquet this time! What right do you have to enter?” Kelvin snapped, glaring at him. At once, disgruntlement swamped Antonio.

“Why did you call me here if I can’t enter? I’m going to burn to a crisp outside!” Hearing that, Kelvin was tempted to kick his idiotic son hard.

Plenty of people are waiting outside. Is he saying that they’re all fools? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Making acquaintances can only be beneficial to the development of one’s company. Alas, all he knows to do are eat, drink, and play! He never considers anything else!

“Mark my words that I’m going to cut off your allowance for half a year if I don’t see you when I come out!” he threatened, afraid that his son would take off at a whim. As soon as Antonio heard that his allowance for half a year was at stake, he shuddered in fright and nodded fervently.

“I won’t be going anywhere! I’ll be waiting right here!” Finally, Kelvin entered the hotel with peace of mind, leaving Antonio and Natalia to bake in the sun at the entrance. Right then, John and Miranda arrived as well. “Wait for me here. I’ll go and make arrangements for us to sneak in through the back entrance,” Miranda said to John after alighting from the car.

John nodded in acquiescence. Miranda then left to make the arrangements while John stood there and waited around. Everyone there was from the upper echelons of society, so he didn’t know any of them. As such, he could only fiddle with his phone. Having sharp eyesight, Natalia spotted John at once.

When she noticed him scrolling through his phone with no one paying him the slightest mind, a sneer immediately bloomed on her face. “Antonio, isn’t that John? How’s someone like him worthy of attending the banquet?” she whispered to Antonio.


Chapter 43
Antonio cast his gaze over when he heard Natalia’s remark, only to see that it was indeed John. His eyes glinted coldly, and he strutted over.

Seeing that, Natalia hurriedly trailed after him, glowering at John with resentment burning hotly in her eyes. The incident at the mall earlier remained vivid in her mind.

“Do you think you’re worthy of being here, John? Are you aware of the statuses of the people here today? Do you think you’re an elite just because you’ve put on new clothes?”

Antonio regarded John with an air of arrogance.

On the contrary, John merely threw him a chilly look before ignoring him altogether.

“Where’s your domineering demeanor back when you were at the mall earlier, John? And where’s your beautiful Ms. Walton? Why didn’t she bring you in?

Could it be that even she couldn’t get in? Pah!” Natalia again spat at John, convinced that he wouldn’t dare order her to wipe it off with Antonio there this time.

At that, John’s face went glacial. “Mark my words. You’ll be licking it off like a dog later!”

“Haha!” Laughing uproariously, Natalia spat at him again. “Who do you think you are that I’ll be licking it off you? You’re just an ex-convict! What’s so great about you?”

Then, she raised her voice and hollered, “Everyone, look here! An ex-convict is all dressed up to attend the banquet! He doesn’t even know his place!”

Her shout attracted many people who all gathered to watch the show.

Nevertheless, John remained indifferent as he watched her incessant acting.

“Who’s that, Antonio? He doesn’t seem familiar,” a young man about Antonio’s age asked out of the blue.

After all, everyone who came was people of high standing in Fuyang or their family members. Therefore, they were either acquainted or had seen each other in passing.

John, however, appeared exceedingly unfamiliar and didn’t seem to be someone from the elite classes. For that reason, someone asked Antonio about him out of curiosity.

“Oh, him? He’s my girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend. He was her lapdog for three years but didn’t even get to hold her hand. Later, I put him in prison, and he was there for three years. He was just released two days ago,” Antonio explained with a derisive expression.

Following his words, everyone around them threw contemptuous looks at John since people of high statuses like them were loath to be anywhere near an ex-convict like him.

Everyone promptly shied far away and started whispering about the man. Despite that, John remained calm and unruffled as though he couldn’t hear anything.

“You’ve really gotten shameless after your time in prison, John! Do you still have the nerve to stay now that things have come to this?” Natalia derided with a layer of frost on her face when she saw that the man wasn’t at all bothered.

“John!” At that precise moment, Miranda was done making the arrangements and returned.

The second she caught sight of Natalia and Antonio, she instantly frowned. “What are the two of you doing here?”

“We’re naturally here to attend the banquet!” Natalia proclaimed proudly.

She wasn’t afraid of Miranda with Antonio by her side, backing her up.

Pfft! Miranda burst out laughing upon hearing that. “Attend the banquet? Why are the two of you still standing here, then? Is it because you don’t have an invitation and couldn’t even get past the door?”

Natalia opened her mouth, but no words came out because they indeed hadn’t an invitation and couldn’t enter.

At the look on her face, Miranda’s lips curved upward. Taking John’s hand, she declared, “Come, let’s go in!”

When Natalia saw that they were going in, she was promptly startled. “Do you two have an invitation?”

“I’m not telling you that!” Miranda retorted with a smug smile.

Natalia felt as though she was on the verge of bursting a blood vessel. But when she noticed them heading toward the back entrance, realization dawned upon her at once. “Antonio, they’re planning to sneak in via the back entrance! They don’t have an invitation either!”

Antonio had also worked that out, so he swiftly stepped forward and blocked their path. “How could you two sneak in the back entrance when you don’t have an invitation? I’m going to expose you both!”

“Are you dumb, Antonio? Glamor Hotel is my family’s property, so I can enter from wherever I want! What can you do even if I want to jump in through the window?” Miranda questioned as she eyed him as though he was an idiot.

At once, Antonio was left without a single retort.

“Keep a close eye on them. Kick them out if they dare sneak in from the back entrance!” Miranda ordered the few security guards.

“Understood, Ms. Walton!”

The bodyguards immediately trained their gazes on Natalia and Antonio.

Meanwhile, Miranda entered the hotel from the back entrance while dragging John along. As Antonio and Natalia stared at the couple’s backs, intense fury brewed within them.


Chapter 44
After going into the hotel, John texted Ivan and told him to give Kelvin the boot. He didn’t want to dine with the latter, nor did he want the Gallemit family to know about his identity. In truth, he wanted to see how much longer Antonio and Natalia could provoke him.

In the hotel, everyone surrounded Frank with deferential expressions on their faces.

Some of them were even aware of his penchant for collecting antiques, so they had searched high and low for rare antiques as a gift for him that day.

Beside Frank was a burly middle-aged man with a grim expression who was vigilant at all times. That was his personal bodyguard, Luca Turner. Luca was a retired member of the Dragon Squadron and once protected Frank when the latter was still holding office. When the man stepped down, he did the same and continued guarding him ever since.

Frank would bring Luca along for security purposes every time he attended a public event.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have some rules at this banquet of mine today. Firstly, I’m not accepting any gifts. Secondly, I’m not going to discuss business. I merely want to introduce a new friend to all of you, so please make yourselves at home,” Frank declared loudly after waving a hand to shush the crowd.

Many people had actually heard about this even before coming, but they were still inexorably surprised when they again heard it from the man himself. They wondered about the impressive background of the person he was going to introduce since he wouldn’t be making such a fanfare otherwise.

“Why isn’t Mr. White here yet?” Frank asked Ivan beside him after glancing at the time.

“He’ll probably be arriving soon.”

Ivan hadn’t any idea why John wasn’t there yet when they had hammered out the details the day before.

No sooner had his words fallen than his phone buzzed. When he saw that it was a message from John, he showed it to Frank.

After scanning through it, Frank nodded lightly. “No wonder he hasn’t made an appearance yet. It turns out that there’s such a reason behind it.


Chapter 45
It was my oversight.”

Upon saying that, he cast his gaze at Kelvin in the near distance. Right that moment, Kelvin was also anticipating the appearance of the young man Frank spoke of. Someone whom Frank Boston attaches such importance on is definitely no ordinary person! If I get an in with such a person, the Gallemit family might be able to surpass the Walton family!

While he was thinking along those lines, he noticed Frank looking at him before he started, “Mr. Gallemit…”

As soon as Kelvin heard that, he hastily rushed forward. “Mr. Boston… Is there anything I can do for you?”

“You’re not allowed to attend the banquet today, so please go back.” Frank ordered him to leave right in front of all the guests there.

Hearing that, Kelvin was stunned, and he gaped at the man in disbelief. “Mr. Boston, I....”

Without even waiting for him to finish speaking, Frank waved a hand. “Someone, escort him out!”

While Kelvin was very much confounded, he couldn’t shamelessly stay there, so he had no choice but to whirl around and leave. Following that, everyone wondered whether the Gallemit family had offended Frank.

By then, Miranda had already sneaked in with John. The two of them were watching secretly in a corner.

“Let’s hide first. We’ll go out when the banquet begins in a while. Then, we won’t get caught so easily,” Miranda murmured as she surreptitiously poked her head out.

“Why should we hide? Since we’re here, let’s just go out openly!”

Right after saying that, John walked straight out.Stricken, Miranda quickly stepped forward to pull him back. Alas, all she grasped was empty air.

“Mr. White is here!” Ivan exclaimed in exhilaration when he spotted Edwin. Upon hearing that, Frank raised his eyes. The instant he caught sight of John, delight showed on his face, and he strode toward the younger man.

Among the crowd, Sam broke out in a cold sweat when he saw John making an appearance and Frank heading straight for the man. Crap! I was the one who told Miranda to sneak him in, so I’m dead if Mr. Boston finds out about it!

Sam promptly rushed to the front while throwing looks at John, signaling him to leave posthaste. He blocked Frank’s path and fibbed, “Mr. Boston, that’s a server at the hotel, and he’s probably taken a wrong turn and came here instead.” Right then, Miranda had also caught up to John. She dragged him away while muttering, “Just how inattentive were you that you didn’t even watch where you were going and ended up here instead?”

“Wait a moment!” Frank called her back at once. Halting in her tracks, Miranda dropped her hold on John.

“I apologize for my mismanagement that a server barged in, Mr. Boston. I’ll be sure to give you an explanation later.” Sam was sweating bullets, afraid that Frank would fly into a rage. Unexpectedly, Frank was taken aback.

“Are you saying that Mr. White is an employee of your family?”

“Yes!” Sam nodded in affirmation, but in the next second, he froze. “M-Mr. White?” Huh? How does he know that John’s family name is White? And he’s even addressing him as “Mr.?”

“Yes, that’s right. The guest of honor of my banquet this time is Mr. White. All the other guests are just here for the company,” Frank explained with a nod. This time, Sam and Miranda were stumped and couldn’t make sense of the entire situation.

“I hope I’m not late, Mr. Boston?” John inquired with a smile as he took two steps forward.

“You’re right on time, Mr. White. And this is?” Frank queried, pointing at Miranda.

“This is my daughter, Mr. Boston. She’s friends with Mr. White.” Sam was indeed a veteran in the business field, for he gathered his wits about him in no time.

When Frank heard that, he chuckled. “They’re simply a match made in heaven, one handsome and the other beautiful!” Following that, all the other guests complimented John and Miranda on their compatibility. That had Miranda flushing bright red, and she didn’t even dare lift her head.

“Do be seated, Mr. White. We’ve been waiting for you!” Ivan stepped forward and made a sweeping gesture at John. John didn’t dither either but walked straight toward the main seat. The crowd gathered around him, for despite having no idea who he was, they knew that he would undoubtedly be an influential person in Fuyang in the future.

Not only was he greatly respected by both Frank and Ivan, but he was also the son-in-law of the Walton family, the wealthiest family in the city. As such, none of them dared to offend him. After exchanging a glance, Sam and Miranda followed as well. When John had taken his seat, Frank sat beside him. The other side of him was empty, for no one dared to sit there. “This seat is reserved for you, Ms. Walton. You two should sit together since you’re a couple.”

All smiles, Frank beckoned at Miranda. With her face bright red, Miranda shyly sat down beside John. The seat a step down from hers was given to Sam. It should have been Ivan’s seat, but if John and Miranda were in a relationship, Sam would then be the former’s father-in-law. Thus, Ivan wouldn’t dare sit above him. When everyone was seated, Frank lifted a glass of wine and said to John, “I’ll toast you first, Mr. White!”

He knew that he didn’t need to bother about anything else after doing so since not a single person there was a fool. Thus, they would naturally know what they should do. “You flatter me, Mr. Boston!” Picking up his wine glass, John downed it in one go. Right as he put his wine glass down, shock deluged Frank, for he had glimpsed the spit on the man’s brand-new suit.

“What happened to your suit, Mr. White?” he exclaimed, pointing at the saliva stain on John’s suit. “Ah, some uncivilized person spat at me twice when I was outside earlier,” John replied mildly.

“Who was so bold to spit on you, Mr. White?” Frank’s expression darkened and he swept his gaze over all the guests there.

It was no secret that the people outside were family members and the like brought by those seated there. That was why he turned his gaze on them. All at once, everyone’s heart leaped to their throats, and they fervently prayed that it wasn’t the doing of their family members.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 46

“It was the doing of the girlfriend of the heir of the Gallemit family, Antonio Gallemit. She used to be Mr. White’s girlfriend, but she now feels that she’s superior after hooking up with the Gallemit family. Hence, she spat on him several times,” Miranda chimed in. “The Gallemit family? How bold of them! I’m going to summon Kelvin here and question him right this instance!” Frank snarled, slammed his hand onto the table as a frown marred his countenance.

Ah, I now know why he texted to have Kelvin kicked out! It turns out that he has such a grudge with the Gallemit family! Realization immediately dawned upon everyone there, and they knew that the Gallemit family was going down. It looked like they had to quickly cut off all business ties with the Gallemit family!

“There’s no need to be so angry, Mr. Boston. I can resolve such a trifling matter by myself!” John flashed him a faint smile, not at all bothered about the matter. In that moment, Antonio and Natalia were merely ants in his eyes. Outside the hotel, the scorching sunlight irritated Antonio greatly. “Have some water, Antonio!” Natalia handed Antonio a bottle of water. Taking a huge gulp of water, Antonio dabbed at the sweat beading on his forehead while softly griping, “Why are we waiting here when we can’t go in? This is insanity!” Despite his grumbles, he didn’t dare leave as he really feared that his father would cut off his allowance for half a year.

Just as he was having a drink of water, he suddenly saw his father walking out of the hotel. Elation suffused him, and he hastily exclaimed, “My father is coming out, and I’m sure he’s here to inform us that we can go in!” With Natalia in tow, he rushed up to Kelvin.

“Why did you come out, Dad? Was it to tell us that we can go in now?” Antonio asked in excitement.

“Keep on dreaming! Even I’ve been kicked out!” Kelvin huffed. Antonio was startled for a moment before he demanded, “What happened, Dad? Why were you kicked out?” “How am I to know that? Anyway, let’s leave instead of making a fool of ourselves here!” Kelvin had come in high spirits, but he could only return with his tail tucked between his legs then. Antonio and Natalia, on the other hand, didn’t even get to take a step in the door at all. The banquet had already begun. About two hours later, it drew to an end. Everyone’s faces were flushed bright red, and they all conversed among themselves in high spirits.

“When did you make Mr. Boston’s acquaintance, John? What’s more, he’s so polite to you! And you didn’t even tell me that you’re the guest of honor of the banquet this time!” Miranda grumbled in chagrin. She had pulled John aside when she saw her opportunity at long last. “You didn’t say that you were bringing me to attend a banquet when you dragged me away in a hurry back then. When I later learned about it, I planned to give you a surprise!”

John explained, grinning from ear to ear. “Your surprise is really too much! I just about had a heart attack from the fright back then! You’re simply too mean! In the future, you’re not allowed to keep any secrets from me!” Miranda thumped his chest, but she didn’t put much strength into it. In fact, it was no different from a display of affection two between lovers. Unexpectedly, John grabbed her hand, and they both locked gazes.

Neither said anything nor communicated in any way save the interchange of their gazes. John gradually leaned closer to Miranda. Miranda wanted to dodge, but she didn’t move as conflict brewed within her. Seeing that the man’s lips were mere inches away from her, she closed her eyes and waited for the kiss to arrive. “There’s a smudge on your face,” John murmured out of the blue when she was anxiously waiting.

Miranda opened her eyes, only to see him regarding her with a devilish smirk on his face. “Ugh! You’re so mean! I’m not talking to you anymore!” Smacking him hard on the chest, she ran off with a blush staining her face. When Sam saw that, a faint smile bloomed on his face, and he headed toward John.

“Do you have any plans for your future, Mr. White? Are you interested in establishing your own company?” he asked the younger man.

John shook his head at once. “Nope.” All I want to do right now is to train and improve as soon as possible! As for establishing a company and doing business, I really have no interest in that, nor am I suited for that!


Chapter 47

“Huh?” Sam was momentarily stunned by John’s negative reply that came so swiftly, but in the next instant, he remarked smilingly, “That’s fine. While Miranda is a girl, she’s very skilled at running a company and doing business, so she can handle it alone!” The man then left after saying that. As John gazed at his back, a wry smile manifested on his face since he could understand Sam’s concern. Miranda is his only daughter, so she’ll be inheriting the family business in the future.

If I were to truly end up with his daughter, someone would need to bear the heavy burden. Alas, I really don’t have much of an interest in business! Soon, everyone had had their fill and bid each other farewell in preparation for leaving. But at that precise moment, the door of the banquet hall was pushed open, and dozens of men rushed in with weapons in their hands. The man in the lead appeared savage and radiated a faint aura, so one could tell that he was a martial artist at a single glance. At the sight of the people who abruptly barged in, shock swept over all the guests there.

In a trice, Frank’s expression turned chilly. Beside him, Luca instantly whipped out a half-foot-long machete from his waistbelt and stood before Frank. “Security! Where’s security?” Sam shouted at the top of his lungs when he saw the men charging in. Alas, not a single security guard appeared.

“Save it, Mr. Walton. None of your security guards will be coming in,” the man in the lead stated coldly.

“Why did you suddenly barge in with so many men, Steven? Do you know that this banquet is hosted by Mr. Boston?”

Sam chided loudly. It turned out that the men were from the Crimson Dragon Gang, and the person in the lead was the gang leader, Steven Fisher. Steven strode over to Frank and bowed low, murmuring, “I don’t mean to intrude, Mr. Boston. I’m just here to look for Ivan!” By then, Ivan’s hands had long since clenched into fists. From the second Steven stepped in the door, he knew that the man was there for him. The Templar Regiment and the Crimson Dragon Gang were mortal rivals. The two of them were likewise sworn enemies, but neither could do anything to the other for the time being.

Usually, Ivan brought a large number of men along whenever he attended an event. Unfortunately, he was a tad careless in attending Frank’s banquet this time, for he didn’t bring anyone with him. There was another reason for that he wasn’t worried since John would be there. He must have caught wind of it somehow, so he rushed over with his men. As long as he kills me, the Templar Regiment would be left without a leader and end up being annexed by the Crimson Dragon Gang in no time! “I don’t care about that! How dare you barge into my banquet?” Frank barked, his expression icy.

“As I said, Mr. Boston, I’m only here to settle the score with Ivan! I had no choice but to break in!” Steven replied respectfully.

“Nonsense!” Frank slammed his hand onto the table without warning. “Are you going against me?”

“I don’t wish to do so, Mr. Boston. However, I also don’t want to allow Ivan any chance of escaping as this is a rare opportunity. Besides, the fact that you only invited him to such an important banquet without extending me the invitation makes it clear that you look down upon the Crimson Dragon Gang,” Steven countered in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing.

It was plain as day that he was resentful that Frank hadn’t invited him. On the other hand, Frank didn’t invite the man because the enmity between him and Ivan ran too deep, so much so that his appearance would pose a problem.

“Steven, don’t tell me…..” His face flushed bright red with rage when he saw that Steven wasn’t giving him any quarter. But before he could finish speaking, Ivan stepped forward.

“It’s my problem, so I’ll handle it by myself. Since you’re here for me, let’s have a duel!” After saying that, he dropped into a fighting stance, ready to face Steven’s attack anytime.

“I laud your guts! In that case, I’ll kill you today before taking over your Templar Regiment!” While saying that, Steven charged at Ivan.


Chapter 48

“What insolence!” Frank slammed his hand on the table as he went through the roof. All the guests present were terror-stricken at his wrath. Beside him, Luca leaped up and landed squarely before Ivan when he saw Frank going off the deep end.

“You’re courting death to challenge even Mr. Boston, Steven!” Sheer menace radiated off Luca, and his bones popped audibly.

Halting in his attack, Steven eyed the man with a frown. “You might not necessarily be able to defeat me if we were to battle it out today. Furthermore, I have dozens of lackeys with me!”

“Hmph! We’ll only know about that after giving it a try!” Snorting, Luca dropped into a fighting stance right away.

“I initially didn’t want to make an enemy out of you, Mr. Boston, but you keep forcing my hand. Let me tell you that the Crimson Dragon Gang is no easy prey either! If worse comes to worst, we’ll all fight to the death! If that happens, no one will be leaving this place alive!” Steven’s eyes glinted coldly, seemingly long since prepared to go as far as risking his life.

Frank’s face was bright red, and he shook with rage. No one in Fuyang has ever dared to go against me, but today, he humiliated me thoroughly! Nonetheless, he was caught in a dilemma at the sight of the dozens of men who exuded murder behind Steven. He came prepared, so it’d be really tricky if things were to come to a head.

“Let me end things with Steven today, Mr. Boston. You don’t need to intervene in this matter.” Ivan naturally discerned the man’s hesitance. With that said, he made the first move and attacked Steven. He punched his fist forward with a whizzing sound as it cut through the air. The speed was lightning fast, and its force was the maximum he could manage. After all, he knew that he couldn’t show the slightest reservation when he dueled with Steven. When Steven saw him attacking, a sneer showed on his face. He made no move to dodge but faced the man’s blow head-on.

Bang!

Ivan’s fist struck Steven’s chest hard. The forceful recoil had the former stumbling back three steps, but the latter remained rooted to the spot without even a single scratch on him. Ivan’s face paled, and he stared at Steven with trepidation in his eyes. His capabilities actually grew again!

“Haha… Ivan, your punch was nothing more than a tickle! Don’t stop. Go on and hit me!” Steven threw his head back and roared with laughter, not taking the other man seriously at all. Ivan was a formidable figure, so he couldn’t possibly withstand Steven’s public insult and challenge. With a bellow, he again charged at Steven, but he snagged a wooden chair this time.

Smash!

The chair came down on the man hard and instantly splintered into smithereens, yet he remained standing there without moving an inch. “I’ve already mastered the Impenetrable Skill, so you can’t injure me. Now, it’s my turn!” No sooner had Steven finished speaking than he swung his leg out at Ivan.

Having no time to dodge, Ivan was sent flying by that kick. He coughed up blood and collapsed onto the ground, his face contorting from the excruciating pain. When John saw his condition, he frowned and wanted to get to his feet, but Miranda stopped him from doing so. “Don’t be a hero!

He seems to be exceedingly skilled, so you might not be his match!” She was worried that he couldn’t defeat Steven and would end up injured instead. She was still unaware of the relationship between John and Ivan, thus having no idea that the former wouldn’t sit idly by no matter how powerful Steven was.

Before John could act, Frank ordered, “Teach him a lesson, Luca!” Nodding, Luca balled his fists and lunged at Steven. In the face of the man’s attack, Steven wasn’t as relaxed anymore, nor did he dare stand there and allow the blow to land on him. After all, Luca’s punch was far more superior than Ivan’s in terms of both force and speed. In fact, it had already reached its ultimate extent.


Chapter 49 Ending Things

Shifting sideways, Steven dodged Luca’s blow. After having done so, he didn’t make a move but cast his gaze at Frank and asserted, “As I said, I don’t want to make an enemy out of you, Mr. Boston. Are you really going to force my hand?” Frank’s expression was grim, and he didn’t say a single word. Luca, on the other hand, felt humiliated that Steven managed to dodge his blow effortlessly. His temper spiked, and he thundered, “Stop yakking! Here I come!” Pulling back his fist, he swung it right at Steven. If that blow found its target, the man’s head would likely explode on the spot. Steven’s gaze narrowed, and fury reddened his face.

“Since you insist, I’m not going to pull my punches anymore!” he spat. After saying that, he reached out and grabbed Luca’s wrist before throwing a left uppercut at the man. Shocked, Luca jerked his head to the side and kicked his leg out to force the man back. To his surprise, Steven didn’t dodge but allowed the kick to land squarely on his chest. However, the forceful recoil sent Luca flying instead. It took considerable effort before he finally regained his footing. Upon noticing the astonished expressions of the people around him, he instantly roared, “One of us must die today, Steven!” While saying that, he charged at Steven once more.

“Stop!” As he was streaking toward the man, a figure abruptly appeared in front of him and brought him up short.

“You’re not his match, so it’s pointless to continue fighting him. I’ll fight him instead,” John stated, blocking Luca’s path. A wave of mortification inundated him, and Luca snapped, “Step aside! You’ll probably die from a single punch, considering your physique!” At that moment, he had lost all sanity, which was why he dared speak to the man so impudently, forgetting that John was someone even Frank revered.

That said, he had never witnessed John’s capabilities, so he hadn’t much respect for him in truth. He merely treated him politely because of Frank. One’s capability in martial arts increases by natural progression in time. He’s just a snot-nosed kid in his early twenties, so how skilled could he be even if he had started training while still in his mother’s womb?

“Shut up! How dare you insult Mr. White, you bastard?” Frank lambasted when he heard Luca’s insolent remark toward John.



He seldom reprimanded Luca and had never regarded him as someone inferior to himself, but he didn’t dare allow the latter to act so audaciously when he dared to speak to John in such a manner. Luca went silent, but there wasn’t much respect for John in his eyes. He feared Frank, but not John. At that exact moment, Miranda rushed up and tugged at John, urging, “Don’t be a hero! Didn’t you see that even Ivan and Luca weren’t his match?

You’re just a medical practitioner, so don’t poke your nose into this matter!” She presumed that he was only well-versed in medicine and wasn’t good at anything else.

“I should showcase my capabilities since there’s such a fitting occasion today. Otherwise, how am I going to be worthy of an heiress like you when I’m a pauper?” The second Miranda heard that, a shy look appeared on her face. This is the first time he’s ever uttered such a remark in public! Isn’t this tantamount to a confession?

“I don’t care about that! I just don’t want you to take any risks!” She clutched at his arm so that he couldn’t make a move.

“Hurry up and step aside! You might get caught in the crossfire, so this isn’t the time for you to be a hero!” Luca growled with a disdainful expression when he heard that John was stepping forward to flaunt his capabilities. After saying that, he leaped up again and lunged at Steven.

“Oh well. I already told you that you’re not his match, but you just want to go and get yourself beaten up! What an idiot!” John shook his head in exasperation.

“Stop commenting! Come, let’s go back quickly!” Miranda proceeded to drag him back to their seats. This time, Luca had just reached Steven after leaping into the air when he was kicked in the chest squarely by the man. Blood trickled out the corner of his mouth. At that sight, Frank and the others were all stunned to the core.


Chapter 50 Injuring With A Mere Leaf

Luca could feel his face burning hotly. He distinctly sensed that Steven had held back when the latter kicked him. But as Frank’s bodyguard, he was beyond mortified, especially when a crowd was watching. Right then, he would rather be beaten to death than admit defeat. After all, martial artists regarded their dignity as of far greater import than their lives. If I were to admit defeat today, my reputation would be thereby tarnished! Not only will I be unable to survive in this circle in the future, but Frank will also probably terminate my services! “You don’t have to hold back, Steven. I don’t mind dying today, but I can’t lose!” As soon as he finished speaking, his face turned bright red, and his body started swelling.

“Storm Fist!”

Following that bellow, his body seemingly deflated in the blink of an eye and returned to normal. However, his body flew out like a cannonball. Steven frowned and snapped, “It looks like you’re not going to give up unless I use my ultimate technique!” He crouched slightly, upon which the marble floor under his feet promptly cracked, and his clothes billowed though there was no wind.

“Here I come!” Luca’s eyes started turning scarlet, and he struck the man hard.

Boom!

The earth-splitting sound sounded just like thunder, causing everyone to cover their ears at once. Steven remained unmoved, his body as still as a statue. In other words, the blow hadn’t hurt him in the slightest. Luca was nonplussed, but his fists then started raining down on the man in the next moment.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

“That’s about enough!” Right after saying that, Steven threw his fist out. The two men’s fists collided.

Luca flew out, slamming heavily on the ground, unable to get to his feet for some time. “What?” At that turn of events, everyone was staggered. Even Frank was so shocked that his jaw dropped. A shudder went through Ivan, for he didn’t expect Steven to have grown so much stronger. Trembling inwardly, he surreptitiously fixated his gaze on John. Right now, he’s probably the only person who can defeat Steven! Luca, who was on the ground, struggled to get up. Alas, he failed even after trying twice.

“F-From whom did you learn your Impenetrable Skill?”

Luca asked in utter shock. “Donald Trump. Do you know of him?” Steven replied as he straightened to his full height. When that name rang out, Luca’s expression changed drastically, and he appeared very much fearful. Ivan, on the other hand, shook like a leaf. It was clear as day that they both knew of that man, and the person was exceedingly powerful. The others, however, hadn’t much of a reaction, making it abundantly clear that they were unfamiliar with that name.

“W-Who is Mr. Trump to you?” Luca inquired.

“He’s my mentor. I learned the Impenetrable Skill from him.” When Steven’s answer drifted into Luca’s ears, he became morose. Sighing, he shook his head and remarked, “No wonder I’m not your match. It turns out that you’ve gotten Mr. Trump to be your mentor. I admit defeat.”

The man surprisingly admitted defeat. He initially wanted to fight to the death, but he yielded after hearing Donald’ name. John’s brows furrowed slightly, and he turned to Ivan.

“Who’s this Donald Trump?”

“He’s an expert in ancient martial arts and possesses great internal energy. No one knows his true capability, but rumor has it that he can injure someone with a mere leaf!” When Ivan spoke of Donald, fear lingered within him.

“Injure someone with a mere leaf?” John chuckled softly.

“Like this?” As he said that, he picked up a toothpick. With a flick of his finger, it shot right at Steven. Steven hadn’t even the time to react when the toothpick penetrated his arm with only a tiny bit sticking out.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 51

“Who was it? Who sneaked up on me?” Steven roared, pulling out the toothpick. Although Steven was taunting the culprit, he was actually very worried, for he knew that his Impenetrable Skill was very strong. No one had ever been able to hurt him. However, someone had just casually stabbed him with a toothpick! He was shocked to find out that there was an expert in the crowd. Everyone exchanged looks. No one knew who did it.

Only Ivan was staring at John. His eyes were filled with admiration. “It was me!” John took a few steps forward.

“You?” Steven’s brows furrowed in disbelief. This young man is just in his twenties. How could he be so strong?

“John! What… What are you doing? Don’t try to be a hero! It wasn’t you.” Miranda reached out to John and pulled him back.

“Ms. Walton, Mr. White will be fine. Don’t worry!” Ivan stopped her.

“Hey, kiddo, are you standing up for Ivan? Your confidence is going to get you killed!” Steven said coldly.

“Cut the crap and get on with it! I’m busy!” John put on an expressionless look as he spoke. At that moment, a thin veil of mist surrounded John. It was so thin that it was almost invisible. The veil of mist that surrounded John was the spiritual energy in the atmosphere, and it had formed a tough shield around him. Except for Miranda, no one else was stopping John because they all wanted to see what he was capable of. They wanted to see for themselves the reason why Frank was so respectful of John.

“Well, you asked for it!” Steven’s eyes gleamed. He dashed toward John and appeared in front of him in a split second, then threw a punch at him. Despite that, John didn’t move a muscle. Instead, he stood still and stared at Steven calmly.

“Don’t,” Miranda shouted when she saw that John was about to get punched. However, that did not stop Steven, as he punched John in the chest as hard as he could.

Bang!

That punch was so powerful that it could have killed John on the spot. But strangely, the man remained still even though he weighed just over a hundred pounds. Instead, Steven was the one who had it worst as his arm was bent at a bizarre angle. The forceful recoil had broken his arm, exposing his bones. Steven howled in pain. He couldn’t believe what had just happened to his arm.

“You… You know the Impenetrable Skill too?” Steven was dumbfounded.

“Just a little,” John sneered. The truth was that no one believed John. It was impossible that John only knew a little of the Impenetrable Skill if even Steven had failed to penetrate it. Seeing that John was unharmed, Miranda gaped in shock. Suddenly, her admiration toward John grew even more.

“Who did you learn it from? It’s my mentor Donald Trump’s unique Impenetrable Skill!” Steven was puzzled and eager to find out who else could’ve taught John the skill.

“I’m not from any school or sect. Besides, there’s no such thing as Impenetrable Skill. It’s just a lie to trick people.” John smirked and hurled a punch at Steven’s chest. Steven instantly coughed out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward. The ability John possessed wasn’t the Impenetrable Skill. Instead, it was a technique that came from a person who was trained in martial and mystical arts. Not even a bullet could penetrate his shield, let alone a punch from Steven.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 52

Steven was trembling with fear as he stared at John. His mind went blank because he had no idea what had just happened. After receiving John’s powerful punch, he realized that his Impenetrable Skill was useless against him.

“Sir, may I know what your name is? One day, I’ll come back to learn from you!” Realizing that he was no match for John, Steven decided to leave while he still had a chance

“Steven, do you think you get to leave? Well, let me tell you Mr. White is here today, and this is where your life ends!” Ivan looked at him smugly.

Steven’s expression changed. If he strikes, there’s no doubt I won’t be getting out of here alive! “The name’s White. John White. You can come and seek revenge anytime. If you don’t think you can handle me, by all means, bring your mentor along,” John said upon reading Steven’s mind.

“Mr. White, you can’t just let him go! You’re just inviting more trouble!” Ivan warned when he heard that John wanted to let Steven live.

“Back away! I know what I’m doing!” John frowned. Sensing that John was about to fly off the handle, Ivan got so frightened that he didn’t dare to voice another word.

“All right, then! Duly noted. See you next time!” Steven got up and wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth. Then he waved at his subordinates and said, “Let’s go!” After Steven left, the spacious hall was once again left with those who attended the banquet.

“Mr. White, you were incredible! I’ve finally seen it with my own eyes!” “Truly incredible at such a young age! One can only imagine how strong you will be in the future, Mr. White!”

“Indeed, valor is better demonstrated by the young!” Everybody in the crowd was full of praise for John. Frank was impressed as well. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever thought that John was that strong. At this moment, his respect for John had increased.

“Please forgive my foolishness from before, Mr. White,” Luca apologized with embarrassment written all over his face.

“It’s all right!” John smiled. Sam looked at John, and he couldn’t be happier. He was so happy that he now approved of the matter between John and Miranda.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you knew martial arts? I was so worried about you!” Miranda pretended to be angry and pinched his arm.

“Ouch!” John acted as though he was in pain. “That hurts.” Miranda panicked.

“I… I didn’t even use much force! How can it hurt?”

“I was actually injured by Steven just now, but I’ve been holding it in. You made it worse!” John continued acting.

“I… I didn’t know! Let me take a look at your injuries!” Miranda had no clue that John was pulling a prank on her. She was on the verge of crying. Including Sam, everyone knew of John’s prank. However, none of them wanted to expose him as they simply stood by and looked at the couple quietly.

Only Miranda did not see through his act, as she was too concerned about him. “Okay, I’m fine now. I’m all healed right after you touched me.” John decided to drop the act when he saw that Miranda had tears gathering in her eyes. At once, Miranda realized that she had been deceived.

“John! How could you?” She threw a punch at him, which he managed to dodge. The crowd was laughing as they watched the two of them bickering with each other.

Frank tapped on Sam’s shoulder from behind and said, “Mr. Walton, the future of the Walton family looks brighter than ever!” Fully aware of what Frank meant, Sam answered humbly, “Oh, no, we still need you to take care of us, Mr. Boston!”

Frank burst into laughter. “I’m sure it’ll be the other way round!”



Chapter 53 She Meant Well

Meanwhile, at the mansion on top of Dragon Bay, Robert and Anna were resting in the living room after taking a stroll. They were still trying to digest the fact that they were living in such a luxurious home. Even though this is just temporary, it’s more than enough to experience this! “It seems that luck is on our side! Although John has just gotten out of prison, he has already made such a good friend in Miranda. I wonder how did those two meet each other,” Anna said, beaming.

“Me too. But Ms. Walton does seem like a kind soul.” As Robert used to be a civil servant, he had seen all sorts of people. Hence, he was always a good judge of character.

“Since she’s from such a wealthy family, what do you think she sees in John?” Deep down, Anna had always been worried about the fact that those two were from two different worlds and weren’t meant for each other.

However, right at the moment when Robert wanted to answer Anna, a man in a dashing suit showed up out of nowhere, catching Robert by surprise. “Let me answer your question!” the man exclaimed.

“Miranda is actually fooling around with John. Do you guys really think the famous Ms. Walton would be interested in John? Stop daydreaming! John is way out of her league! He’s just a university graduate! Besides, he’s poor. No parents of a lady from such a prominent family would accept John. Miranda is just showing her gratitude to him for saving her father’s life. Do you really think that they’re ever going to get married? I’m Miranda’s real boyfriend. We’re meant for each other. I’d suggest that you guys give up on your ridiculous hopes and dreams. Don’t you know where your son stands?” With that, the man sneered at them, his eyes filled with disdain.

Robert and Anna blanched upon hearing that. Despite the rude intrusion, they knew that the man had a point. Not only was John just a commoner, but he was also an ex-convict. No parents would accept John as a son-in-law. The man was pleased with Robert’s and Anna’s reactions. He took out a stack of cash and threw them on the ground.

“Take them and leave! Don’t give me a reason to force you out of that door!”

Upon saying that, the man turned and left in a sports car parked at the main entrance. Robert and Anna were dumbfounded. It was as if the man had just dragged them back to reality. After a long while of silence, Robert let out a long sigh and started packing up his belongings. People like us don’t deserve to live in such luxury. Anna was incredibly saddened as well. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. It took only a few moments for Robert to pack up.

He tapped on Anna’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go. We’ll talk to John about it later and have him face the reality. He’s just not meant to be with Ms. Walton.” Finally, they left the mansion and returned to their previous house.

“Anna! I thought you guys have moved into a mansion with John. What are you doing back here?” their neighbor, a middle-aged woman, asked curiously.

“Hi, Chloe! Well, we couldn’t get used to living there.” Anna chuckled awkwardly. Chloe Wallace was their neighbor, who had lived through tough times as well. Her husband had passed away when their daughter was just a teenager. She had to raise their daughter all by herself.

“That’s good! Now I have someone to chitchat with again! Since John has just gotten out of prison, I knew that the situation was a bit far-fetched. The person who lent him the mansion must have an ulterior motive. It’s better to avoid such people; otherwise, John might get in trouble and get thrown back into jail again,” Chloe said directly. Although her words were unpleasant to the ears, she meant well.

“I know.” Anna nodded.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 54

Back at the Glamor Hotel, the crowd had dispersed after the banquet ended. Frank got John to stay for a bit and said, “Mr. White, I need a few more days before I can get you the spiritual brush and cinnabar rosary you asked for.”

“It’s all right; I can wait. Thanks for your help, Mr. Boston!” John smiled. Since my mom’s eyes have been this way for a while now, I’m sure waiting for a few more days won’t hurt. I shouldn’t rush this sort of thing anyway.

“You’re too kind, Mr. White. From now on, just let me know if you ever need help with anything!” Frank said without hesitation. After chatting with Frank for a while, John planned to leave. However, Luca came forward to him right then and knelt down before him.

“Mr. White, please be my mentor!” Having witnessed John’s tremendous abilities, Luca couldn’t help but hope that he could learn from John. John grabbed him and helped him up.

“I’m not worthy of being someone’s mentor. You think too highly of me!” In actuality, the skills that John possessed were not in the same category as the ones these martial artists had. Hence, he couldn’t teach them even if he wanted to.

“But Mr. White….”

“That’s enough, Luca,” Frank interrupted. “Mr. White has already given his answer.” Although Frank wasn’t a martial artist, he knew how things were done in the community and that not many people would actually be willing to mentor others.

Upon hearing that, Luca stepped aside and kept silent. “You can look for me if you need anything. But me mentoring you? I’m not qualified for that.” John smiled apologetically.

“That will do, Mr. White. Thank you!” Luca was happy with John’s response. When John left the hotel and went back to Dragon Bay, he was puzzled to find that his parents were not around. Where could they be? They just got here and they’re not familiar with this place.

He took out his phone and called his parents. Upon learning that they had returned to their previous house, he hurried back.

“Mom, Dad, what are you guys doing here? Is it because you guys aren’t used to staying at Dragon Bay? The environment there is so much better, isn’t it?” John asked, baffled. Without saying a word, Robert went into his room after taking a glance at John. Anna let out a long sigh and said, “John, you’ve just gotten out of prison. Stop thinking that fame and fortune can be achieved overnight. Miranda is a kind lady, but you shouldn’t take advantage of her just because you saved her father once! You two don’t belong together. Just get a job and stop being delusional!” John furrowed his brows.

“Mom, did someone say something to you guys?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just stop contacting Miranda and return the mansion at Dragon Bay.

Your dad and I will not stay there anymore. I don’t wish for you to make a fortune, but as long as you make an honest living and have a family of your own, I’ll be more than satisfied,” Anna said, her tone heavy. Sensing that his mother was getting angry, John didn’t dare to talk back. He nodded and said, “Okay, Mom. I’ll listen to you.” He knew that his mother had suffered and had literally cried herself blind because of him. He did not want to upset her anymore. Hearing John agreed with her, Anna said in a gentler voice, “I’ll get your dad to ask Mr. Miller to find you a job tomorrow. Also, Mrs. Wallace’s daughter has just graduated, and she has found a job that pays well. You two have known each other since childhood. I’ll talk to Mrs. Wallace if you two don’t mind.” Anna might be blind, but she seemed to have everything figured out.



Chapter 55

“Well, if both of them are okay with it, I don’t mind either! Besides, I’ve watched John grow up since he was a little boy. It wasn’t entirely his fault either that he was sent into jail.” Chloe suddenly walked into their house with a bowl.

“I made this soup myself. Have a taste!”

“Mrs. Wallace?”

John was surprised to see Chloe. He quickly reached out his hands to receive the bowl. Ever since they moved to Fuyang when John was still a teenager, the White family had had a good relationship with the Wallace family and they had been neighbors.

“You’re too kind, Mrs. Wallace! I’ve watched Hilda grow up too. She’s a very smart and beautiful young lady. It would be great if we could be in-laws!” Anna stood up and grabbed Chloe to sit with her.

“Anna, I’d be more than happy if Hilda were to get married to John. After all, she’s my only child. I still need her to take care of me in the future, so I don’t wish for her to stay far away from me. I’ll give her a call now and ask her to come back home. We can all have a meal together,” Chloe chirped. She was obviously satisfied with John as well.

“Sounds great!” Anna nodded happily. “I heard that Hilda has found a job that pays well.”

“Yes, it pays well, but she seldom comes home. I rarely see her,” Chloe said, then picked up her phone and called Hilda. Hilda answered her phone and said in a sleepy tone, “Mom, I was still asleep. Why are you calling me at this hour?”

“It’s already afternoon! Why are you still sleeping? Don’t you need to work?” Chloe was confounded.

“I’m working overtime tonight, so I took a nap. What’s wrong? Is something up?” Hilda asked hastily.

“Nothing. John has been released from prison, so I thought maybe you could come home and we could all have a meal together,” Chloe replied.

“Mom, I’m busy. Perhaps another day.” Hilda hung up the phone as soon as she finished her sentence. At once, Chloe’s face turned crimson.

“It’s okay, Mrs. Wallace. If Hilda is busy, we can always arrange for another day.” Anna was afraid that Chloe might get angry, given how the conversation had ended. Chloe let out a sigh.

“Kids have their own thoughts now once they get older.” Chloe stayed at John’s house until evening. Since John had nothing better to do, he was about to go for a stroll when he received a call from Ivan, who wanted to invite him out for dinner.

John had wanted to decline his invitation, but on second thought, he decided to join Ivan, thinking that Chloe would probably stay for dinner and that she would surely join his parents in nagging him at the dining table. Ivan offered to fetch John from his house, but the latter rejected him and called for a taxi instead.

During the time when John was in jail, Fuyang had been booming. On his way to the restaurant, he saw numerous bars and nightclubs. The city was bustling with people. Right then, John spotted a familiar figure when the taxi drove past a bar called Moonlight Bar. It was a lady dressed in fine clothes, and she was walking into the bar with a few other girls.

Isn’t that Hilda? John frowned. Didn’t she tell her mom that she had to work overtime? Why is she walking into a bar? Could it be that she works there? In order to find out more, John paid the taxi driver and got out of the car. He then followed Hilda into the bar.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 56

In the bar, neon lights strobed and flashed. The atmosphere was extremely lively. John saw that after Hilda and the other girls went inside, they were brought to the back. He followed behind closely, but a man stopped him.

“I’m sorry, Sir. But you’re not allowed to pass through here. The backstage is for staff only.”

John looked in the direction where Hilda had gone to. Seeing that she had disappeared, he walked away and sat down at the table in the corner. He was eager to find out what she was doing there. Soon after, Hilda and the other girls came out. They were all wearing nothing but sexy lingerie. The girls danced their way toward the center of the stage, and immediately, the crowd went crazy as the spotlights flashed around them.

Hilda and the other girls started dancing erotically. It was obvious that Hilda’s movements weren’t as fluid as the others, but she did her best while forcing a smile. Everyone could see that she was a greenhorn. They all shifted their gazes to her, and some even tossed cash at her. John was utterly shocked because little did he expect the shy and well-behaved Hilda Wallace to become an exotic dancer.

Looking at the banknotes on the stage, Hilda bent down repeatedly to pick them up and shove them into her bra, giving the men in the crowd the opportunity to feast their eyes on her. Witnessing that, John walked toward the stage, fished out a few thousand bucks, and threw them on the stage.

“Thank you, Sir!” Hilda exclaimed the moment she saw the stack of cash. However, when her eyes met John’s, she froze for a good few seconds. Quickly withdrawing her gaze, she pretended not to see John and continued to pick up the money on the stage before resuming her dance. Only the smile on her face was no longer visible. John’s generosity had caught the attention of the partygoers. But the moment they saw that he was in simple clothing, the look of admiration in their eyes was replaced with those of scorn. One of the men tapped on John’s shoulder and said,

“Hey man, judging by how you look, I guess you’ve just thrown your life savings away, eh? I suggest you get lost before you get hooked on spending your next paycheck the same way.” John ignored him because his eyes were still glued to Hilda. It has only been three years. How did she change so much? Hilda turned away from John and danced facing the opposite direction while the other girls threw themselves at him upon witnessing his generosity.

“Hello, handsome.” One of them reached out to stroke John’s face. The dancers could easily recognize men who were rich yet humble. Hence, they assumed that John was one of them. John tilted his head and avoided the dancer. He was still staring at Hilda.

“What’s your name, beautiful?” a man beside John asked, flashing a lewd smile. After that, he pulled the dancer down from the stage.



Chapter 57

The dancer yelled as she was abruptly pulled down. The moment she fell onto the ground, a group of men rushed toward her and started groping her. They all wanted a piece of her. “Fuck off! Do y’all have a death wish?” a woman in formal attire thundered. She was heavily made-up and had a few burly bouncers behind her. Upon hearing that, the men scattered instantly.

“Jenny…” the helpless dancer cried out.

The men’s touches lingered on her skin and even her bra was pulled out of shape. “Get lost.” Jenny furrowed her brows. The dancer quivered in terror and ran toward the backstage. Jenny then took a glance around the stage and saw that John was still standing there alone. She ignored him and looked at Hilda.

“Hilda, come here.” Hearing her name, Hilda stopped dancing and walked down the stage.

“What’s the matter, Jenny?”



“The boss is here. He wants you to entertain him,” Jenny said straightforwardly. Hilda was stunned for a moment. Despite her reluctance, she dared not say much and could only leave with Jenny. When she walked past John, she deliberately avoided him by keeping her head down.

“Hilda.” John reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Do you know him?” Jenny asked with a frown.

“No… No, I don’t.” Hilda shook her head before staring into John’s eyes.

“Who are you? Let me go. I need to work!” After shaking John off, Hilda followed Jenny backstage. Jenny glared at John silently for a second before walking away.

“Hilda, the boss likes you a lot. Behave yourself around him. More importantly, don’t find yourself a boyfriend. If you can please him, you don’t have to worry about those loan sharks anymore. In fact, it doesn’t matter who comes after you because he’ll take care of you. Heck, I might even have to work for you by then,” Jenny said.

Although Hilda wasn’t happy, she tried her best to put on a smile. “Jenny, why would the boss be interested in me? I think he likes you more.” As a matter of fact, Hilda was disgusted by the boss. He was a bald man with a bulging belly. Even though she had no choice but to become an exotic dancer at the bar, she never wanted to be someone’s mistress.

“I’m too old, now. You can still make it,” Jenny said, looking at Hilda enviously. Indeed, age was very important in that particular industry. Soon, they arrived at a spacious and luxurious office. Inside, a bald, middle-aged man was sitting on the couch and in front of him was a bottle of red wine. Upon seeing the man, Jenny bowed and said, “Sir, Hilda is here.”

“She hasn’t entertained other customers privately, right?” the man asked.

“No, of course not. I dare not go against your order, Sir.” Jenny shook her head. “All right, you can leave now.” The man waved for Jenny to leave the room. Jenny gave Hilda a wink before she left and closed the door. Hilda was trembling with fear now that she was alone in the room.

 

[Gily]

Chapter 58

“S-Sir…” Hilda squeaked out. The man raised his head and appraised her from head to toe, his eyes filled with lust. With a grin, he said, “Relax, I won’t eat you. Come sit with me.” He patted on the couch next to him. Despite being absolutely terrified, Hilda didn’t dare to disobey him. She walked slowly toward him and sat down. At the sight of a fair and beautiful young lady, the man was all the more aroused as his eyes lit up.

He poured two glasses of red wine and offered Hilda a glass. “Come. Drink with me!”

“S-Sir, I… I can’t drink.” Hilda did not dare to reach out for the glass.

“It’s all right. You can learn now!” The man’s lips quirked up. Left without a choice, Hilda took the glass of red wine and downed it in one go. The man burst into laughter upon seeing that.

“Jenny told me that you owe the loan sharks quite a sum of money. Is that true?” he asked. Hilda nodded.

“Yes, a million.” “A million? That’s not a small number,” the man said, then wrote a check for one million and slid it toward Hilda.

“Satisfy me tonight and this one million check is yours.” The man sounded confident. He had used the same method on a lot of girls before Hilda and it worked all the time. Hilda’s breath hitched as she stared at the check. It’s one million! With it, I don’t have to hide from the loan sharks anymore. Besides, I can quit being an exotic dancer and quit being afraid of meeting someone I know. However, she was caught in a dilemma.

She knew that if she were to accept the money, her whole life would start spiraling downward. Although I’m an exotic dancer, my chastity is still preserved. Once I pay all my debts, I can still return to living a normal life. I can even marry a man whom I love and have a family of my own. If I accept the money now, I will have to be someone’s mistress for the rest of my life! Suddenly, she had a flashback and thought of John.

When they were still teenagers, John had been particularly protective of her. In fact, back then, she had liked him so much that she kept thinking about marrying him one day. However, they eventually grew apart when they got older. By then, John had found Natalia, and a marriage was on the horizon. Because of that, Hilda never looked for John anymore. Yet, life surely was unpredictable. Not only did John not marry Natalia, but he had been sentenced to prison.

Hilda had wanted to visit John in prison, but she was too caught up with her university life. In fact, Hilda was very upset that John had found out about what she did for a living. What if he tells Mom? If she finds out that I’ve been lying to her, she’s going to be so disappointed. She worked so hard to raise me on her own. If she finds out that I’m an exotic dancer, I’m doomed. Even worse, if I become someone’s mistress, I bet she’s going to disown me!

Thinking about her mother, Hilda decided to reject the man’s offer. “Thank you for your kindness, Sir, but I have to reject your offer.” The man was stunned. He had never thought that Hilda would reject him. After all, that was the first time that his method had failed him.



Chapter 59

“Is it because of the money? I can give you more. Also, I’ll buy you a house which will be our love nest. Whatever else you want will be yours. Furthermore, I won’t interfere with your private life. All you need to do is to accompany me four to five times a month. Given my current health, I don’t have much energy left for women. Consequently, this deal allows you to earn a lot more than what you make as a dancer.

Moreover, you don’t have to be taken advantage of by those lecherous men,” the middle-aged man persuaded Hilda. However, she had steeled her resolve not to be anyone’s lover. After all, she didn’t want to sacrifice her future for the sake of temporary gratification. In fact, she felt nauseated just by looking at him alone. If he wasn’t her boss, she would have long given him an earful.

“Sir, I really can’t do this. Why don’t you look for someone else?” Hilda shook her head again. Faced with Hilda’s rejection, the middle-aged man’s expression changed drastically.

“Given where you are, do you think you have a choice? Once I have set my sights on a woman, she will definitely be mine.” Frightened, Hilda sprang to her feet and tried to flee. Unexpectedly, her head began to spin the moment she stood up.

“Hahaha! There’s no escape. You’ve had a drink with me. Do you think I’ll let you go?” The middle-aged man burst into laughter. As Hilda’s face turned pale, she felt the urge to swear at him.

Unfortunately, she lost the ability to even part her lips while her vision of the middle-aged man began to blur. Finally, she collapsed on the couch with a thud. Unable to move a muscle, she gradually lost her consciousness. Meanwhile, Jenny was smoking a cigarette in the bar’s main lobby, watching the vivacious dancers on stage enviously. Once upon a time, she, too, was just as young and beautiful. Unmatched on stage, she had become her boss’ mistress.

But now, she had become a madam to him and was unsettled by her increasingly bleak future. “Jenny, the boss has set his sights on Hilda. Looks like she has struck gold this time,” a waiter remarked softly beside Jenny.

“That goes without saying. From now on, you’d better be more careful not to offend her, or else you will suffer the consequences,” Jenny advised after taking a puff at her cigarette.

“I won’t. But Hilda’s stunning figure and flawless skin are just amazing. I can’t help…” Before the waiter could finish, Jenny snapped, “Shut up! Do you have a death wish? How dare a nobody like you eye the boss’ girl?”

“Jenny, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for spouting nonsense.” The waiter quickly gave himself two slaps.

“I’ll let it slide this time. If you repeat it, I’ll deduct your salary as punishment,” Jenny warned.

“Thank you, Jenny. Thank you,” the waiter thanked her profusely before reaching out to pinch her on her butt.

“Look at that naughty look of yours…” Grinning, Jenny left with the waiter in tow. Despite falling out of favor with the boss due to her age, she still had her way with the young waiters at the bar. Nevertheless, their whispers were overheard by John. When he found out that Hilda was sent to her boss to be his mistress, John’s expression darkened.

Getting to his feet, John headed backstage and was stopped by two waiters at the door. Before they could react, he struck them both and knocked them unconscious. Inside, there were rooms everywhere. Not knowing where Hilda was, he grew anxious at once. Just when he walked past the washroom, he suddenly heard a feminine moan. Without any hesitation, he barged into the washroom and kicked open the cubicle door.



Chapter 60

“Ah!” Inside, Jenny was in the middle of getting it on with the waiter, and they looked as if they had just begun. When the waiter was about to scream, John knocked him out with a palm strike. After that, he grabbed Jenny by her collar.

“Where did you take Hilda?”

“You fucking….” Jenny swore the moment she saw John. Before she could finish, John grabbed her by the neck. With the air choked out of her lungs, her face turned red while her eyes were filled with horror.

“She’s… She’s in the office,” Jenny answered at once.

“Take me there.” John released his grip. When she saw the murderous look on his face, Jenny led him there without any resistance. Upon his arrival, John kicked down the office door. Boom! The thunderous sound gave the middle-aged man a shock. The moment John barged in, he saw Hilda lying motionless on the couch while the middle-aged man’s hands were fondling her body.

“How dare you!” With his eyes burning in rage, John stepped forward and gave the man a kick, sending him flying out of the office.

“Hilda… Hilda…” John took off his jacket to cover Hilda with it. Considering her unconscious state, he knew that she had been drugged. Hence, he transferred some of his spiritual energy into Hilda’s body. When Hilda gradually opened her eyes and saw John, she exclaimed in surprise,

“John!”





The very next moment, she lost consciousness again. Evidently, the drug’s effects had overwhelmed her. As for the middle-aged man, he was sprawled on the ground after John’s kick. By then, his face had already turned purple.

“Sir…” Jenny hurried up to him and helped him up. The middle-aged man glared at John.

“Kid, who are you? How dare you hit me? Do you have a death wish?” Just as he bellowed, four fighters in black suits entered the office after hearing the commotion.

“Sir, this guy might be Hilda’s boyfriend,” Jenny informed the middle-aged man. Judging from John’s response and the furious look on his face, she figured only a boyfriend would react that way.

“I don’t give a fuck who he is. How dare he hit me? Just kill him!” the middle-aged man roared at the sight of reinforcements. The four fighters charged at John at once. After he put Hilda down, John waved his arms without even looking at his approaching foes.

The four men were sent flying out and crashed heavily against the wall. Consequently, they lay lifelessly on the ground. Shocked by how powerful John was, the middle-aged man and Jenny gawked at him in horror. John shot a piercing glare at the man.

“Bastards like you deserve to die.”

“What are you going to do?” When he saw the murderous look in John’s eyes, the man said with a trembling voice, “Let me warn you. This bar is under Mr. Gilbert’ protection. Do you know who he is?” The moment he finished speaking, John’s phone suddenly rang. It was Ivan who had invited John for a meal. When John didn’t show up, he decided to give John a call.

“Mr. White, where are you?” Ivan asked softly.

“I’m at Moonlight Bar.”

“Moonlight Bar?” Ivan was surprised. “What are you doing there?”

“Killing someone.” John’s short answer sounded so vicious that it sent a chill down Ivan’s spine.

“Mr. White, Moonlight Bar belongs to Baldie who has been paying the Templar Regiment protection money. I’ll come over with my men at once. You don’t have to do it yourself.” When he heard John’s reply, Ivan knew that someone in Moonlight Bar must have gotten on John’s nerves.

“Sure!” John agreed before ending the call. Then he quietly took a seat on the couch to wait.



Chapter 61

As a deafening silence descended upon the office, Jenny and Baldie stared at the calm John. Slowly, a sense of dread began to creep into them.

“Sir, do you think he was speaking to Mr. Gilbert over the phone just now?” Jenny asked softly. Baldie didn’t answer because he didn’t know what to say. The voice over the phone did sound like Ivan, but this kid looks so young and doesn’t dress like someone rich at all. So, how is it possible for him to know Ivan and even speak to Ivan in such a condescending tone?

In response to Baldie’s silence, Jenny had no choice but to console herself, “There’s no way Mr. Gilbert knows someone like that. Hence, he must be putting up an act. Besides, the person on the other end of the line can’t be Mr. Gilbert, as no one in Fuyang would dare to speak to him in such a tone.” Agreeing with Jenny’s assumption, Baldie nodded in response.

“Kid, stop pretending in front of us. Given how pathetic you look, there’s no way Mr. Gilbert knows you. How dare you use his name to fool us? You will pay for it with your life,” Baldie roared. After giving Baldie side-eye, John ignored him with a smirk.

“Sir, you should give Mr. Gilbert a call and tell him to take care of this troublemaker. Also, you can find out if he was really speaking to Mr. Gilbert just now!” Jenny suggested. Nodding in agreement, Baldie took out his phone and was about to give Ivan a call when it suddenly rang. Coincidentally, Ivan had called first.





Baldie answered the call at once.

“Mr. Gilbert…” “Baldie, what did you do to offend Mr. White? Just you wait. I’m coming over right now. You can forget about running Moonlight Bar forever. If you have the guts to flee, you can go ahead and try. We’ll see if I’m able to track you down!” The moment he answered the call, Baldie was stupefied when Ivan’s thundering voice echoed through the phone. The truth was now obvious regardless of how much he refused to believe it. Not only had Ivan spoken to John earlier, but he was also addressing him respectfully as “Mr. White.”

Crash! Baldie dropped his phone onto the floor, smashing it into pieces. Gawking at John, he dropped to his knees with a thud. Equally shocked, Jenny quickly followed suit.

“Mr. White… Mr. White, I’m sorry. I’m sorry… Please forgive me.” Baldie groveled at John’s feet. However, John couldn’t be bothered. Instead, he was transferring his spiritual energy to Hilda so that she could regain consciousness.

The drug Baldie had used on Hilda was so strong that John had to expend a significant amount of his energy before she could gradually open her eyes. “John…” Hilda called out in remorse the moment she saw John. After all, working as a hostess at a bar wasn’t something to be proud of.

“Hilda, are you feeling better? Let’s leave this place,” John suggested softly as he helped Hilda up from the couch. Hilda nodded. Suddenly, when she noticed Baldie and Jenny kneeling on the ground, she was shocked. She didn’t understand why they were doing so and wondered if it was because of John.

She gave him a puzzled look. To her, he was only an ordinary person, an ex-convict, and nothing more. “Let’s go.” Nonetheless, John didn’t explain as he led Hilda out.