Ad copy

"Be honest with me, you old fogey. Are you just sick of having me around because I'm getting in the way of you fooling around with that widow, Gloria Jenkins? Is that why you're sending me off to be someone's live-in son-in-law?" Dragging his suitcase behind him, Damian Luther stood at the village entrance and snapped furiously at Alden Thorne, a pervy-looking old man who came to see him off. "That's nonsense! Do you think I'm that kind of guy?" Alden barked with a furious glare as he kicked Damian in the rear. "I've seen how you look at that sow in the village. Your eyes are always practically gleaming with lust. I'm worried you'll do something scandalous, so I'm sending you down the mountain to get married! Don't be so ungrateful." Pursing his lips, Damian said scornfully, "Who are you kidding? You eat far more than I do whenever we have pork." "Cut the crap! Your future wife's the most beautiful woman in Cloudcove. Who knows how many men are dying to be with her? If you don't go now, don't come crying to me if someone steals her away." "The most beautiful woman in Cloudcove?" Damian's eyes brightened. "Whoa! Why didn't you say so sooner? Why would I want to hang out with an old fogey like you if I had a hot wife waiting for me? "I'm off to meet my beautiful wife!" Thrilled, Damian dashed off impatiently, shouting as he did, "Gloria's a born seductress, Alden! Don't overdo it! I don't want to come back to find that you've been get dry!" "Scram!" Alden snapped with a laugh, his eyes misting over. Alden was a reclusive expert. When Damian was five years old, Alden had found him on the street and brought him up to the mountain with him. Over the past two decades, he passed down all of his incredible knowledge and expertise to Damian without holding back at all. Damian was gifted and highly intelligent. Never once did he disappoint Alden. Be it medicine, martial arts, or various random areas of knowledge, he was able to master them all with ease. He even surpassed Alden in his abilities. Alden was feeling a little reluctant to part with Damian. "Damian, have fun out there, but don't forget to do the three things I told you to do!" "Got it!" Damian shouted back and waved his hand without turning around. Alden watched as Damian's figure grew smaller and smaller. He had mixed emotions, and his gaze was dim. By leaving the mountain village and joining the rest of society, Damian was essentially given the opportunity to unleash his full power. Who knew the kind of storm that would be whipped up in Cloudcove? Unfortunately for Alden, his great enemy approached, and with a slim chance of survival, he probably wouldn't be able to witness for himself what Damian might do. … Two days later, Damian had arrived in Cloudcove. He was in awe as he stood before Spencer Corporation's headquarters, an office building over 20 stories tall. Was this where his pretty wife-to-be worked? It was a lot grander than the two-story house owned by the richest family back in the village. Damian stepped forward and began heading toward the entrance of the building. "Hold it! What's your business here?" The security guard at the entrance stepped forward and blocked his path. Damian smiled and pointed up at the building. "I'm here to find my future wife. She works here." Taken aback, the security guard gave Damian a once-over. With how shabbily dressed he was, he looked like a country bumpkin. "What's your future wife's name?" "Her name is Christine Spencer," Damian replied with a grin. Immediately, the security guard eyed him strangely. "Hey, man. Out of all the people here, you're the weirdest one I've seen. Wait over there, and good luck," he said in amusement as he pointed at a tree nearby. Looking over, Damian was startled to find several people waiting under the tree. "Why should I go there? What are those people here for?" Rolling his eyes, the security guard explained sarcastically, "What do you think? Like you, they're all here looking for their future wife." Confused, Damian came over to the tree and joined the other men. "Are you also one of Christine's admirers?" "What an interesting outfit. Are you testing out an unconventional approach?" one of the men asked as he swiftly approached. "Christine Spencer is my future wife," Damian corrected in all seriousness. The other men all chimed in, "No! She's going to be my wife!" Damian stiffened in shock. Did he have so much competition? Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "She's coming! Christine's coming!" Damian saw a breathtakingly beautiful woman exiting the office building. Her all-black office suit accentuated her tall, slender figure. The men under the tree shot to their feet and adjusted their clothes before saying, "Quick. Get in line. We'll talk to her one by one. Anyone who cuts in line is a filthy bad one!" The first in line approached Christine with a bouquet in hand and a beaming smile on his face. Just then, the sound of a roaring engine grew louder. Within moments, a red csports carar flew by and screeched to a stop in front of Christine. The door opened, and a dapper guy with a bouquet of roses got out of the car. "Is that Sean Webb?" The men who were lining up to talk to Christine all tensed up and stopped what they were doing. They looked terrified. "Get lost!" Sean barked at them with a scowl on his face. Frightened, the men all ran off within seconds, leaving only a bewildered Damian behind. He didn't know what was happening. Putting on a smile, Sean walked up to Christine and held the roses out to her. "These are for you, Christine." Frowning, Christine said curtly, "I don't need them. Please step aside. Thank you." But that didn't faze Sean at all. Still smiling, he said, "I really like you, Christine. Will you marry me?" Immediately, Damian became displeased. He realized what was going on now. Sean, that dapper guy, was trying to steal Christine from him! To make matters worse, Sean cut in line! Who could put up with that? He strode up to Sean and said, "Hey, man. Don't you know that it's first come, first served? Get in line!" Caught off guard, Sean looked Damian up and down before snapping arrogantly, "And who the are you supposed to be?" "I'm Damian Luther, and she is my future wife!" Damian gleefully declared as he pointed at Christine. Alden hadn't lied. Christine was indeed an incredible beauty. Briefly stunned, Sean began chortling. "Christine, he just said you're his future wife! Oh, my! I'm dying of laughter. "Hey, man. Have you looked in the mirror lately? What gives you the courage to pursue Christine, looking the way you do? Get lost now, or I'll break your legs!" Christine was also frowning. Having had plenty of admirers who came in all shapes and sizes, she was used to it all. Nevertheless, it was still her first time meeting an admirer of hers who looked like a country bumpkin. "You should leave. He really might break your legs," she warned. Sean's father, Franklin Webb, was a well-known property developer in Cloudcove and wielded a great deal of power in the city. With Franklin protecting him, Sean was arrogant and overbearing, acting like he ruled the world. He was also known as one of the four scions of Cloudcove. It was child's play for him to break the legs of a nobody. "Relax, darling. He can't win in a fight against me," Damian assured with a grin. He had a favorable impression of Christine since she was showing him concern. Meanwhile, Christine frowned. This wasn't about who could win in a fight. Nevertheless, she decided to drop it. She'd done her part by warning him. He couldn't blame her if he did get his legs broken. "Christine, this is a fully customized sprots car Roma. I bought it just for you. Do you like it?" Sean asked. The women who were passing by immediately stopped and squealed in envy. The car cost hundreds of thousands of money. Many people would never be able to afford it in their lifetime. Wasn't it so romantic that Sean was giving it to Christine right in public? After glancing at Damian, Sean said derisively, "Hey, you. It takes more than words to pursue a woman. What are you going to give Christine? It'd better not be some sweet potatoes from your farm." The spectating crowd jeered as well. Damian clearly looked like he'd come from some rural village. He probably didn't even have a few hundred money on him. How could he compare to a wealthy scion like Sean? Damian didn't care about the mockery from the ones around him. He said, "I do have something to give to my future wife. I dare say that as soon as I bring it out, she'll take me home at once. Do you believe me?" Roaring with laughter, Sean mocked sarcastically, "Quit trying to talk yourself up. If Christine takes you home, I'll eat my right here, right now!" Brows furrowing, Christine glanced at Damian in disdain. She wasn't opposed to guys trying to pursue her. After all, everyone was attracted to a beautiful woman. That being said, Damian's boastful words sounded like he was just trying to make himself out as a big shot. It was rather pathetic of him. He said she was going to take him home, huh? In his dreams! "Oh, my. You'd best get ready to eat to your heart's content, then." Smirking, Damian took something out and held it out in front of Christine. She looked over with a hint of derision, but when she saw what he was holding, her expression stiffened. Chapter 2 Christine stared at the object in Damian's hand in shock, her mind completely blank. "Here I was wondering what it'd be," Sean piped up with a derisive laugh. "You made such a big deal over an emerald pendant? And a broken one at that, with only half intact! "Hey, you. Don't tell me you're going to claim that this is some ancient artifact you dug up while harvesting potatoes?" "Follow me home," Christine instructed icily after taking a deep breath. "You're agreeing to marry me, Christine? Are we meeting your parents today? Won't that be a bit sudden?" Sean asked with a look of glee, his excitement palpable. Christine eyed him coldly before saying, "I wasn't talking to you. I meant him." What? Sean's smile froze on his face. He didn't snap out of it until Christine had walked off with Damian. Then, furious, he yelled, "What do you mean by this, Christine? Are you using this country bumpkin to humiliate me? Does this mean you don't care about the project in the south of the city anymore?" Stopping in her tracks, Christine looked at Sean and said, "I'm not trying to humiliate you." "Hah! Then, how do you explain him?" Sean questioned with an outraged expression as he pointed at Damian. Christine opened her mouth but hesitated, unsure what to say. Damian, who was standing on the side, spoke up in dissatisfaction, "Hey, man. A real man keeps his word. It's time for you to start eating feet." Sean cursed inwardly, his expression nasty. His eyes were blazing with anger. Seeing this, Damian quickly said to Christine, "Let's leave, Christine. His complexion is pallid, and his breath is short. His forehead is dulled with darkness. Right now, he's probably sweating from his back and feels some pain in his right. "He's also experiencing dizziness, dryness of mouth, and bitterness on his tongue. These are all signs of early-stage liver cancer. It'll be a hassle if he collapses and tries to claim we did something to him." "Oh, quiet, you!" Christine frowned, clearly irritated. In her eyes, only the weak relied on clever words. Cursing Sean by claiming he was sick made Damian no different from an unreasonable madwoman having a fit on the streets. She walked up to a red car C-Class, opened the driver's door, and got in. Damian was about to get in the front passenger seat, but Christine snapped, "Sit in the back." "Oh," Damian mumbled as he opened the rear door and climbed in. Christine hit the gas, and the car sped off. They had no idea that, at that very moment, Sean was standing frozen like a statue, his face full of fear. After more than ten seconds had passed, he scrambled into his car, which roared as it tore away. While driving, he made a call. Still terrified, he said shakily, "Dad, I think I have cancer. I don't want to death!" … As Damian sat in the car, he kept looking around and touching various things with a look of wonder. "What a pretty car this is, darling. It's just as pretty as you," he said with a grin while looking at Christine, who was driving. "First of all, stop calling me 'darling.' I don't agree with this marriage. And secondly, stop touching everything. If you get something dirty, it'll be hard to get it cleaned." Christine's icy voice made Damian cower back against his seat. He sat stiff and upright, too scared to move around. Over 20 minutes later, the car stopped outside a villa. "Get out. You're going to go in and talk things out with my grandpa," Christine said icily. She entered the villa without even looking at Damian. Tagging along behind her, Damian was stunned the moment he entered the house. The Spencer residence was insanely luxurious. It looked like a palace. Compared to the dilapidated house he shared with Alden, it was on a whole different level. "Wait here, and don't touch anything. If you break something, you won't be able to pay for it," Christine said. She kicked off her heels and slipped on some house slippers before heading upstairs. Not long after, Eli Spencer, an elderly man, came downstairs looking rather excited. Christine and her middle-aged parents, David Spencer and Louisa Newman, trailed behind him. Upon seeing Damian, Eli took his hands and said happily with a laugh, "You must be Damian Luther, right? Your mentor called me yesterday and said you were coming. I was so thrilled that I didn't sleep at all last night. Welcome!" Eli led Damian over to the couch for a seat, his enthusiasm overwhelming the latter. Scratching his head, Damian asked with a smile, "You must be Mr. Spencer Senior, right?" However, when his gaze swept over Eli's forehead, his eyes flickered with a strange glint. "Yes, my name is Eli Spencer. Oh, right. Did you bring the emerald pendant?" Eli asked with a look of nervousness and eager anticipation. "It's with me," Christine abruptly chimed in. She placed the emerald pendant Damian brought onto the coffee table. Eli quickly got up, retrieved the other half of the pendant, and put it down. The two halves formed a complete pendant. That proved that Damian was indeed Alden's mentee, though Eli only knew Alden as an old sage and was unaware of his name. Laughing, Eli said excitedly, "Your mentor and I made an agreement many years ago. He said that one day, his mentee will come bearing this emerald pendant to marry my granddaughter. I've been waiting for this day for so long now! "At last, you're here. Tomorrow, you and Christine can register your marriage first. Then, I'll pick a good day for the wedding ceremony." "Grandpa!" Christine cried out. She was biting her lip, and her pale face screamed reluctance. "I-I don't want to marry him!" "Don't be ridiculous!" Eli snapped, his expression grim as he slammed his hand against the coffee table. "This marriage was agreed upon two decades ago! You don't have a say in it." "But—" "No buts!" Eli fumed. David piped up with a conflicted expression, "Dad, don't you think you're being a bit too hasty? Times have changed. These days, people want to marry for love—" Eli cut him off, saying sternly, "Are you saying that I don't get a say in this family anymore?" David clammed up at once. Turning to Christine, Eli said patiently, "Christine, ever since you were a kid, I've doted on you most dearly. I'll never do anything to harm you. That's settled, then. Tomorrow morning, you and Damian will get your marriage certificate." "Grandpa, I…" Christine felt so aggrieved that her tears had welled up in her eyes. However, Eli had a weak heart. She was afraid that something might happen to him if she continued protesting. It would be her fault if that happened. "Martha!" Eli called, and the housekeeper, Martha Bates, came hurrying over. "Take Damian's suitcase up to Christine's room. Prepare the bedding, too. Damian will be sleeping in Christine's room tonight." The moment Eli said that, both David and Christine stiffened. "Dad!" "Grandpa!" Waving them off with a laugh, Eli said, "Don't bother protesting. I don't care if anyone protests. It won't make a difference!" All of a sudden, Eli's expression stiffened. Large droplets of sweat began rolling down his head. Clutching his heart, he slumped onto the couch. "Dad!" Alarmed, David shouted to Christine, "Get his medicine, Christine!" Christine scrambled up the stairs with a look of panic. Louisa, Christine's mother, was also just as anxious. She quickly made a call. "Where are you, Dr. Sutton? What? You'll only arrive in another five minutes? Mr. Spencer Senior just collapsed! You need to hurry up!" The Spencers were thrown into chaos. Meanwhile, Damian simply watched with a raised brow. Then, out of the blue, he reached out and smacked Eli's forehead with his palm. Christine, who had just sprinted down from the second floor with Eli's medicine in hand, turned pale with rage when she saw this. She screamed, "What are you doing?" Chapter 3 "You scoundrel!" David fumed as he shoved Damian aside and glared daggers at him. If it weren't for the fact that saving Eli was more important, David would've taken the time to slap Damian a couple of times for being such a disrespectful person! "I'm just saving his life," Damian protested, looking rather aggrieved. Alas, the Spencers couldn't even be bothered to pay any attention to him. David held Eli in his arms while Christine quickly fed him a fast-acting pill for his heart condition. After a short while, Eli's face finally regained some color. "Dad, are you okay?" David asked concernedly after exhaling in relief. "I'm fine. I just got a little too worked up," Eli said, breathing heavily. "I've had this for ages now. I know my body. Once Dr. Sutton gets here, he can prescribe something to help me with this." However, Damian's expression grew serious. The slap he gave Eli just now should've been enough to keep Eli's condition steady for at least ten more minutes. But now that Eli had taken that medicine, he wouldn't be able to last even longer than one minute. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of urgent knocking came from the door. Martha rushed to answer the door, and Joshua Sutton, an elderly man, hurried in anxiously. "How's Mr. Spencer Senior?" "Come take a look quickly, Dr. Sutton!" David exclaimed in relief. "Dad got too agitated and had an episode, but he seems a lot better now after we gave him one of those fast-acting pills for his heart." However, the moment David finished speaking, Eli groaned in pain. His face turned ghostly pale again. He clutched his hand in agony as sweat began pouring down again. "Dad!" "Grandpa!" Both David and Christine cried out in alarm. "Don't panic. Lay Mr. Spencer Senior down," Joshua swiftly instructed. Without any delay, David laid Eli flat on the couch. Joshua closed his eyes and used two fingers to check Eli's pulse. After about 15 seconds, he opened up his medical bag and pulled out a pouch of silver needles. "The emotional upheaval caused a reversal in Mr. Spencer Senior's blood flow, putting pressure on his heart. I'm afraid it'll take some effort to treat this." Hearing this, David quickly said, "Please do what you can, Dr. Sutton!" Joshua nodded and took out a silver needle. Eyes slightly narrowed, he quickly rubbed it between his fingers. "He's spinning the needle? That means he learned his trade from Imperial Medics. Is he planning on using the Lethal Seven acupuncture technique?" As Damian stood on the side, his gaze grew solemn as he observed everything. Eli had treated him so warmly just now. He wasn't going to stand by and let Eli death. Joshua spun the needle until it whirled like a top. Just as he was about to insert it into Eli, a voice rang out, making him freeze, "If you insert that into Mr. Spencer Senior, his life will be in even more danger." Scowling, David snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting? I haven't even settled the score with you for what you did earlier. Get lost! Stop causing trouble." Christine was also clenching her jaw in anger. Wagging her finger at Damian, she shrieked, "Get out! Get out of here now!" Meanwhile, Joshua's expression was contemptuous as he declared, "I've practiced medicine for 42 years and saved countless lives. No one has ever doubted my medical skills before. "Don't chase him out, Ms. Spencer. I want him to witness how I'll save Mr. Spencer Senior's life. Only then will he know just how utterly ridiculous his earlier remarks were." Christine dropped the matter, scoffing as she gave Damian a detestful glare. Meanwhile, Joshua became focused again. He struck fast, inserting the first needle into Eli, followed by the second and the third. He inserted seven needles in one go before finally stopping. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked a little tired as he said, "Everything's fine with Mr. Spencer Senior now. He'll be fully recovered when he wakes up in about 30 minutes, at most." David noticed that Eli had indeed fallen asleep, and his complexion looked much better. His anxious heart finally settled back in place. "Thank you, Dr. Sutton. Here's one million money for your treatment fee. Please accept it," Christine said as she quickly held out a check. Joshua reached out to take it when Damian's voice rang out again, "Don't give it to him, darling. This quack doctor didn't listen to me. Not only did he fail to treat Mr. Spencer Senior, but he also made his condition worse." Christine's expression hardened as she quickly screeched, "Shut up! Do you even know what you're saying?" Joshua was a renowned doctor in Cloudcove. In fact, he was famous all over the country, legendary for the lives he had saved. He wouldn't even have come if he and Eli hadn't been old friends. Who would think that Damian would have the audacity to call Joshua a quack doctor? Christine couldn't tell if Damian was just ignorant or. Joshua's expression was nasty as well. Eyeing Damian, he scoffed. "Young man, I was willing to forget about your earlier actions since you're young and. I didn't expect you to question my skills again. "Fine. So be it, then. Tell me what went wrong with my treatment. Allow this quack doctor to learn a thing or two!" David was bursting with anger. After glaring balefully at Damian, he quickly said, "He's just an ignorant fool, Dr. Sutton. Please calm down. It's not worth angering yourself over him." "No, I'm not angry," Joshua said with a stern expression. "I'm just refusing to allow anyone to question my medical skill!" Stomping her foot in anger, Christine barked, "Damian! Hurry up and apologize to Dr. Sutton!" However, Damian shook his head and stubbornly declared, "I wasn't wrong, darling, so I'm not apologizing. However, since this quack doctor says he wants to learn a thing or two, I can help him with that." "Why, you!" Christine nearly fainted from rage. Did Damian know what he was saying? To think he just said he'd help Joshua learn a thing or two! He must've lost his mind. Joshua was shaking with anger now, too. Clenching his jaw, he declared, "Hah! Excellent. Go ahead, then!" Brows creasing, Damian sighed and said, "How unlucky of Mr. Spencer Senior that he had a quack doctor like you treating him. He's bound to suffer. "In just another minute, he's going to wake up in pain and start coughing up blood. Then, his airway is going to get blocked, cutting off oxygen to his brain and making him faint. Without timely intervention, his life will be in danger." Joshua scoffed in outrage. "You sure know how to spin a convincing story. Too bad it's all nonsense!" However, the moment he said that, a pained cry rang out. Eli had abruptly regained consciousness, but he was groaning in pain and coughing up blood nonstop. Within moments, his breathing grew labored, and his eyeballs rolled backward. It looked like he was about to suffocate. "Dad!" "Grandpa! What's wrong?" The panicked David turned to Joshua and asked, "W-What's going on, Dr. Sutton?" Joshua's mind went blank. He looked just as stupefied. "That's impossible! How could this be?" Much to his disbelief, he realized that Eli's symptoms were exactly as Damian had predicted earlier! Chapter 4 "Hurry up and save him, Dr. Sutton!" Christine shouted anxiously. Joshua was drenched in cold sweat. His mind was completely blank. He had no idea how to treat Eli. "T-There's nothing I can do," he said in despair. He knew that after today, the stellar reputation he'd built up over the course of his life would be completely ruined. Just then, Damian abruptly spoke up, "Stick one needle on the top of his head and another on the midline of his chest, between his . Do it quickly!" "Shut up! Stop causing trouble at a time like this!" Christine shrieked in fury. However, Joshua tensed up. Since Damian could accurately predict Eli's symptoms, perhaps he did know how to treat him. There was no time to think. Gritting his teeth, Joshua quickly pulled out two silver needles and followed Damian's instructions. At that point, trusting Damian was his only option. He could only hope Damian wasn't talking nonsense. A miracle happened. Eli immediately stopped coughing up blood. His breathing became smoother, and color returned to his face. After a few coughs, he opened his eyes, feeling more comfortable than he had in days. Overjoyed, David and Christine repeatedly thanked Joshua. "Thank you so much, Dr. Sutton!" But Joshua simply waved them off, looking visibly shaken and somewhat dazed. "You saved my life again, Dr. Sutton," Eli said gratefully. That brought Joshua back to his senses. Turning red, he let out a rueful laugh. "I didn't save you, Mr. Spencer Senior. It was this young man here." Joshua looked at Damian with a mix of shame as well as shock. "Oh?" Startled, Eli looked at Damian in confusion. He'd fallen unconscious earlier, so he didn't know what had happened. Damian gave a modest smile and said, "Dr. Sutton used acupuncture to save you, Mr. Spencer Senior. All I did was watch from the side to offer some advice." Joshua froze. He had expected Damian to take all the credit, humiliate him, and make today's incident known to all, stepping on him to rise to fame. Damian could've benefited greatly from doing so. But instead, Damian didn't claim any credit and even helped preserve his dignity. Joshua felt both grateful and ashamed. He also felt a sense of deep respect for Damian. "No, not at all. If you hadn't guided me, I might have caused a serious disaster today. I don't dare take the credit," Joshua said quickly. Smiling, Damian said, "Actually, this wasn't your fault. Your treatment was fine. You just didn't realize Mr. Spencer Senior has been plagued with malevolent energy. Your treatment forced the malevolent energy out, but it had nowhere to go, so it gathered in his heart and worsened his condition." David scoffed in derision. "This is getting more and more ridiculous. You're even bringing up such superstitious nonsense." However, Joshua was stunned. "Are you a part of Mystic Healers? May I know who your mentor is?" Shaking his head, Damian said, "I'm not from Mystic Healers. I just know a thing or two about this." He didn't mention the fact that he was skilled in all schools of medicine. Meanwhile, Eli's brows were furrowed in shock. "Damian, did I really get possessed by malevolent energy?" Something like that sounded far too absurd. He would've dismissed it with a laugh if it'd come from someone else. However, he had to believe Damian, who was the mentee of someone he knew as a sage. "You were, Mr. Spencer Senior, but don't worry. The malevolent energy has been removed from you," Damian said as he pointed at the needles stuck to Eli. Everyone looked over and gasped. "The needles… Why are they black?" The needles were now covered in a strange black mist that looked eerily disturbing. Smiling, Damian asked Joshua, "Mind if I keep these, Dr. Sutton? You're not equipped to deal with the malevolent energy on them." Joshua nodded quickly. "Of course. Go right ahead." Damian swiftly pulled out the nine darkened needles and asked Martha to bring a cloth to wrap them up. "Mr. Spencer Senior, have you been anywhere lately with a lot of dark energy?" Damian asked Eli. After giving it some thought, Eli said, "I don't think so. I'm at home most of the time and rarely go out." Damian nodded without saying anything else, but his eyes flickered with suspicion. It seemed unusual for Eli to be plagued with malevolent energy. They continued chatting for a while. After confirming that Eli was no longer in any danger, Joshua got up to leave—though he insisted that he wasn't comfortable accepting the one million money in treatment fees. Before leaving, he said to Damian, "When you have a moment to spare, Damian, feel to drop by my clinic, Sutton Clinic, for a visit. You're always welcome!" "I will." Damian nodded with a smile. After seeing Joshua off, Eli was also exhausted after his ordeal. The staff helped him wash up, and he went to sleep. Only then did Christine finally look at Damian and ask curiously, "Are you proficient in medicine?" "I learned a few things," Damian replied with a grin. Christine's expression turned cold. "Don't think learning a few things makes you some kind of expert. You simply made a lucky guess today. That's why things didn't go wrong. You won't be so lucky next time, you know. Do you understand?" Damian chuckled and said, "Got it, darling. It's getting late. Shall we head back to our room?" Her cheeks flushed instantly. She gritted her teeth and snapped, "Don't push it!" "Oh? Shall I sleep with Mr. Spencer Senior instead?" he murmured. It was just as well. He wanted to look into the matter of Eli getting plagued with malevolent energy. "Why, you!" Christine clenched her jaw in fury. To think that he was threatening her! Eli might get another heart attack if he found out she refused to let Damian her room. A grim-faced David spoke up, "Listen carefully, punk. There's no way you're going to end up with Christine. You're not worthy of my daughter, so you'd better not get any ideas. Otherwise, even if Dad is protecting you, I still won't let you off the hook. Do you understand me?" "Certainly, Dad," Damian replied with a chuckle. David's blood pressure skyrocketed when Damian addressed him as "Dad". "Remember. Don't get any ideas about Christine at all. Here in Cloudcove, it's not that hard for us to make someone disappear. You'd better watch your back," David threatened before marching back to his room in a huff. Louisa sighed, looking rather hesitant as she glanced between Christine and Damian. "You two should get some rest," she said before going after David. Christine scoffed in frustration, but there was nothing she could do. She headed to her room, and Damian quickly tagged along. As soon as Damian entered the room, he was hit with a lovely fragrance that made him almost dizzy with delight. Was this what a woman's room was like? It was so much better than that rundown place he shared with Alden back at the village. Still scowling, Christine threw the additional set of bedding over to Damian and said, "Don't think I'll agree to be with you just because Grandpa said so. I'm taking the bed. You can sleep on the floor." "Sure." Damian wasn't angry at all. He happily spread out the bedding on the floor. Then, he took his shoes off and lay down with a look of satisfaction. "This is so comfortable. What a soft blanket this is. It's so much more comfortable than sleeping on the floor back at the village." "What a country bumpkin!" Christine growled under her breath. Still furious, she got in bed with her back toward Damian. However, she was extremely nervous. It was her first time sharing a room with a man. Would he get up in the middle of the night and try something with her? Feeling all tensed up, she couldn't sleep at all. Chapter 5 Christine was on edge. She clenched her fists tightly, taking quick, shallow breaths. She was terrified that Damian might suddenly pounce on her. But after a few minutes, the sound of steady breathing came from beside the bed. Christine was stunned. She turned her head and stole a peek. Damian was wrapped in the blanket, sound asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she felt oddly frustrated. She was the most beautiful woman in Cloudcove. So many men fawned over her. Yet, Damian had fallen asleep so quickly despite sharing a room with her. That gave her a strange sense of humiliation. Did she not arouse even the slightest bit of primal urge in him? "What a heartless evil," she muttered, too angered to sleep. … Early the next morning, when Eli woke up, he got Christine and Damian to wake up as well and urged them to get their marriage registered. In spite of her reluctance, Christine had no choice but to drive Damian to the city hall and get their marriage certificate. Eli laughed with joy when he saw their marriage certificate. He was thrilled. "Excellent! I'll talk to Wendell later and have him pick a good day for the wedding ceremony." "Mr. Spencer Senior, can we delay the wedding ceremony for a bit?" Damian abruptly asked. "Call me Grandpa!" Eli insisted with a frown. "Yes, Grandpa," Damian complied, though he scratched his head, the sudden change of address feeling a little awkward on his tongue. Satisfied at last, Eli looked at Damian and said, "Tell me why." "I grew up in a mountain village, Grandpa, and I've never dated anyone before. I often hear people talking about how wonderful it is to have a relationship. That's why I'd like to have a taste of that myself. We can date first before the wedding," Damian said bashfully. Thrilled, Christine glanced at Damian in surprise before hurriedly chiming in, "Yes, Grandpa. That's exactly how I feel as well." David also piped up, "Dad, let's do things their way. It would only make things awkward for them if they tied the knot without at least getting to know each other first." Eli wasn't entirely convinced, but since the idea came from Damian, he didn't argue further. He gave a slight nod, signaling his approval. Overjoyed, Christine went off to work in a good mood. On the other hand, David gave Damian a meaningful look and sneered to himself. He figured Damian had taken what he said last night to heart. That was just fine by him. After some time, he'd find a suitable excuse to ask for Damian and Christine to get a divorce. Then, he'd give Damian a sum of money that would allow him to live comfortably for the rest of his life. That way, the Spencers wouldn't owe him anything. "Grandpa, can I take a look at your room?" Damian suddenly asked with a smile. "Of course," Eli agreed with a laugh. "Come. I'll give you a tour." He led Damian upstairs to his room. The moment they stepped in, Damian's brows furrowed slightly. A wave of eerie, sinister energy hit him right in the face. "I like collecting antiques, Damian, so my room is furnished with antiques, historical artworks, and things like that." After looking around the room, Damian had it mostly figured out. "I'm guessing someone advised you on the setup for the furniture in your room, right, Grandpa?" he asked. "That's right. I had Wendell Hall, a renowned geomancy expert here in Cloudcove, set this up for me. He said that by following the rules of geomancy, the appropriate arrangement can guarantee the success of the Spencer family." Damian looked at Eli's forehead, his eyes sharp and piercing. It was just as he had suspected. Eli was once again plagued with a new gust of malevolent energy. What a conniving trick this was! Before leaving the village, Alden told Damian that Eli had saved Alden's life 20 years ago. Damian had come down to fulfill the marriage agreement to repay the favor on Alden's behalf. Since that was the case, he wasn't going to let any harm come to Eli. Moreover, out of the entire Spencer family, Eli was the only one who showed him any real sincerity. "You can't stay in this room for the time being, Grandpa," Damian said. Confused, Eli asked, "Why not?" "Because his room is filled with malevolent energy!" What was that? Eli was shaken. He looked shocked. "Do you trust me, Grandpa?" Damian asked Eli with a somber expression. After standing dazedly for a while, Eli slowly nodded. "I trust you, of course. Are you saying that there's something wrong with the geomancy setup here, Damian? Is Wendell trying to harm me?" Eli's eyes flashed with hostility. He'd started from nothing and single-handedly built up the Spencer family's business and wealth. Naturally, he wasn't a fool. After pondering briefly, he was able to grasp the situation. Shaking his head, Damian said, "There's nothing wrong with the setup itself, but someone is using it with malicious intent. That Wendell Hall you mentioned is the prime suspect, but it might not be him." Eli frowned. "Does this mean we can't find out who's behind this?" He sighed, feeling a deep sense of frustration. While he knew someone was out to get him, he didn't know who it was. It felt like he had a sword hanging over him. Who knew when it would fall? It was impossible to rest easy knowing that. However, Damian chuckled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa. Since we can't tell who it is, we'll let the culprit deliver himself to our doorstep." He switched the positioning of a few antiques in the room, and the invisible malevolent energy intensified. Even Eli couldn't stop himself from shivering, his expression stricken. "Let's go, Grandpa," Damian said, smiling confidently. "The culprit will take the bait within three days!" Although Eli moved to a different room, he still felt uneasy. Damian had the staff purchase a set of silver needles for him. He used them to extract the malevolent energy from Eli's body. After seeing the needles turn black again, Eli trusted Damian's words even more. He clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with hostility. It didn't matter who it was. He was going to make the person who wanted to hurt him pay a heavy price! After chatting with Damian for a little while longer, Eli began to feel a little tired. Having just been purged of the malevolent energy, he needed a lot of rest for his body to recover. Damian stuck two needles into Eli to help restore his energy. Once Eli was fast asleep, Damian left the room and walked out of the Spencer residence. He stared into the distance, his eyes briefly gleaming. Apart from marrying Christine and repaying the debt owed to Eli, Alden had also assigned Damian three other tasks to complete when he left the village. Today, he decided to start with the first one. Chapter 6 Mistfall Estate was nestled halfway up the side of Mount Mistfall. Situated near the sea, it was shrouded year-round in mist rising from the water, making it seem like an otherworldly place. Guards were stationed all year round at the base of the mountain, adding an extra layer of mystery to the place. At that moment, a black sports car was parked by the roadside at the bottom of the mountain. Two well-dressed men stood about ten yards away from a security booth, glancing up the winding mountain road with growing impatience. Anyone familiar with the upper echelons of Cloudcove would have instantly recognized them. They were none other than Franklin, chairman of the renowned Franklin Group, and his only son, Sean. "Dad, the owner of Mistfall Estate is far too arrogant. We've been waiting for half an hour!" Sean grumbled with a look of frustration. "Silence!" Franklin chided, keeping his voice low. "Your 25th birthday celebration is in a week. Do you know what it means if we can get the owner of Mistfall Estate to attend the party? Everyone in Cloudcove would revere you, and no one would dare to offend you!" Even after hearing that, Sean remained nonchalant. "Is he really such a big deal? And in any case, with my current status, no one would dare to offend me, either. Considering our family's social standing, why would we need to curry favor with someone else?" The Webb family's social standing? Sneering, Franklin looked up the foggy mountain road, his eyes filled with reverence. Sure, in the eyes of the ordinary people, the Webbs did indeed have a prestigious standing in society. Alas, in the eyes of Kane Swanson, the owner of Mistfall Estate, they were probably nothing more than ants. Franklin would never forget what happened that stormy night two decades ago. The Fanghood was a criminal organization that had ruled Cloudcove for three decades. They had the power to do whatever they wanted. But somehow, they ended up offending the owner of Mistfall Estate. As a result, they were wiped out in a single night. Despite numbering over 3,000 in total, not a single one of them escaped alive. Moreover, the leader's body had been strung up over the city gates for three days as a warning to everyone. Following that, the power dynamics in Cloudcove shifted overnight with the reshuffling of all the most powerful factions. At the time, Franklin had gritted his teeth and seized that opportunity to rise up the ranks. That was the only reason why he managed to build Franklin Group into what it was today. Since that day, Mistfall Estate remained silent, keeping such a low profile that most people didn't even know the place existed. However, Franklin knew full well that all of the so-called powerful factions in Cloudcove were nothing more than a joke compared to Kane. Kane, the owner of Mistfall Estate, was the real king who ruled over Cloudcove! "Dad, the security guard is coming over!" A security guard stepped out of the security booth and walked up to Franklin. Smiling, Franklin asked courteously, "Has Mr. Swanson agreed to see us?" Eyeing Franklin, the security guard said coolly, "Mr. Swanson wants you two to get lost." Franklin's smile froze. He stood in awkward silence with a face full of disappointment. He wanted to say something, but the security guard turned around and walked off. "What the f#@k? What's he so smug about?" Sean exploded. He'd never been treated this way before. Expression stiffening, Franklin quickly covered Sean's mouth, snapping, "Shut up! Are you trying to get yourself death?" Franklin only let out an exhale of relief when he confirmed that the security guard hadn't turned to look at them. His forehead was covered in sweat. Even a security guard at Mistfall Estate wasn't someone they could afford to offend. "I guess you're not going to be that lucky. Let's go, then," Franklin said with a sigh before dragging Sean back toward the car. Just then, Sean spotted someone, and his eyes went wide. "What's the going on? It's that evil! That's him, Dad! He's the one who jinxed me by saying I got cancer. He scared me half to death!" Sean immediately recognized Damian, who'd given him quite a fright yesterday. He did indeed have all the symptoms Damian had mentioned. Thus, when he heard it was cancer, he dashed to the hospital for a checkup, only to hear that he was otherwise healthy apart from a bit of liver inflammation. Having realized he'd been tricked, Sean was infuriated. He would've gone after Damian to settle the score with him if Franklin hadn't dragged him here. Who would've thought he'd run into Damian outside Mistfall Estate? "Oh, it's you. Your mouth stinks. You must've feasted on quite a bit of bad yesterday, huh?" Damian remarked with a grin. "I'll bit you up!" Sean roared, his expression stormy as he tried to lunge at Damian. However, Franklin stopped him and growled, "Do you want to death by causing trouble right outside Mistfall Estate? If you've got a problem, save it until we get back!" Sean stopped, but he continued to glower furiously at Damian. Meanwhile, Damian ignored Sean and walked up to the security booth. "Hold it. This is a private estate. Kindly leave at once!" the security guard said coldly. With a faint smile, Damian declared, "I'm looking for Mr. Swanson. Please pass him a message from me. To bestow salvation with the left and eternal damnation with the right." The security guard's expression shifted at once. "Please wait here while I notify Mr. Swanson," he said politely before immediately hurrying up the mountain. Over in the distance, Franklin and Sean were both dumbfounded. "What? What did that boy say anyway? The security guard's running like his life depends on it." Sean could still recall the look of reluctance on the security guard's face when they approached him earlier. He probably would've ignored them completely if Franklin hadn't humbled himself and spent ages beseeching him. Even so, all he did was make a phone call. Who knew that as soon as Damian finished speaking, the security guard would go running up the mountain, abandoning his post altogether? Franklin narrowed his eyes, feeling rather stunned. He had a feeling Damian was no ordinary man. Meanwhile, Damian stood beside the security booth, scanning the surroundings with a glint in his eyes. "There are over a hundred hidden sentries just around the booth," he murmured. "Mistfall Estate is no ordinary place. I wonder if Alden's message carries any weight." He was still caught up in his thoughts when, out of the blue, a black car with the number plate CC 88888 came down the mountain road, followed by a convoy of cars behind. It was an imposing sight. Seeing this, Franklin felt his hair standing on end. "Quick, Sean. We need to leave at once. That's Mr. Swanson's car!" Franklin dragged Sean into the car as if they were fleeing for their lives. "Why are we leaving, Dad? Since Mr. Swanson has shown up, we can go up to him and invite him in person. Maybe that way, he'd find it hard to reject us," Sean remarked in confusion. Heart clenching, Franklin smacked Sean on the back of the head, snapping, "You stuptied young man! Do you think you can stand around and watch Mr. Swanson? Who knows if you end up seeing something you shouldn't? You could lose your life, okay?" After taking a deep breath, he added in all seriousness, "Listen carefully now. There's a high chance that man, Damian Luther, is acquainted with Mr. Swanson. From now on, unless absolutely necessary, you have to make sure you don't offend him, you got that?" "Yes, I got it," Sean casually replied, though he didn't take it to heart. Damian was just a country bumpkin. Why did Sean have to worry about offending him? He hadn't gotten even with Damian for what happened yesterday yet! At the same time, the car stopped at the security booth. The car door opened, and an old man in a three-piece suit with a stern, dignified expression disembarked. Dozens of people followed close behind him. He walked up to Damian and eyed him carefully before saying in a deep voice, "Hello, young man. I'm Kane Swanson. What did your message mean?" Upon seeing Kane, Damian felt a little apprehensive. Kane exuded such an imposing air that it was obvious he was a powerful figure. Alden had said that if he took out what he brought with him, Kane would immediately fall to his feet, but he didn't think that was possible. Would Alden have set him up on purpose? Nevertheless, it was too late for Damian to change his mind. Steeling himself, he grinned at Kane and said, "You'll know what I meant once you see this." He pulled out an object Alden had given him and showed it to Kane. He had also gotten ready to flee, just in case Kane got angry. However, as soon as Kane saw what Damian was holding, he fell to his knees. Looking quite emotional, he cried out, "I've been waiting for you all this time, sir, and you're finally here!" What the heck? It actually worked? Damian was stupefied. Chapter 7 Kane was overwhelmed with excitement. He quickly turned around and shouted at the dozens of men behind him, "You fools! Can't you see the Shadow Sigil? Why aren't you on your knees to greet our young leader?" Everyone behind him turned pale with fear and immediately dropped to their knees in front of Damian. "Greetings, sir!" Damian's mind was spinning. How the did he become their young leader? Just how powerful of a background did Alden have? "You can stand as we talk," Damian said as he helped Kane to his feet. Tears were streaming down Kane's face as he looked at Damian. His voice choked with emotion. "I've waited for this day for 20 years, sir! I finally got to see you today! This isn't the right place for us to talk. Please get in the car, sir. Let's go home." Kane respectfully escorted Damian into the car and brought him into Mistfall Estate. As soon as they entered the estate, Damian was stunned. The place was huge! It was bigger than his entire village. The buildings were luxurious while still maintaining a level of elegance. It was a display of refined taste. The Spencer residence had already been a symbol of luxury in his eyes, but it was a shoddy hut compared to what he saw in Mistfall Estate now. "Is this your home?" Damian asked, his eyes wide with shock. "No, sir. It's yours!" Kane quickly corrected. It wasn't just Mistfall Estate. Everything he had came from Alden, so now that Damian was here, it all belonged to him. Damian nearly choked on his saliva as he inwardly cursed at Alden. Who knew Alden was this rich? This was unbelievable! Why had he made Damian suffer 20 years of hardship out there in the village, then? It was so unfair! He followed Kane into the living room. After they'd taken their seats, Kane hurriedly asked, "Sir, is all well with Mr. Thorne?" Nodding, Damian replied in a huff, "Relax. He's perfectly fine. Who knows what he and that widow Gloria have been getting up to since he kicked me out?" "Oh…" Kane chuckled weakly. While Damian had the guts to say that, Kane dared not joke about Alden the same way. His expression grew serious as he said tentatively, "Mr. Thorne left some instructions before he left. He said that once you return, sir, I'm to work with you to rebuild the Shadow Sanctum. "May I know what your plans are, sir?" Toying with the Shadow Sigil in his hand, Damian replied somewhat exasperatedly, "Fill me in on the situation first. That old fogey was too lazy to even tell me anything!" The thought of that pissed Damian off again. Before he descended the mountain, Alden simply gave him the Shadow Sigil and informed him of the coded message. He said all would be revealed once he met Kane. Alden made no mention of the Shadow Sanctum or Damian becoming its young leader. He couldn't be relied upon for anything! Hurriedly nodding, Kane spoke up respectfully, "Sir, Mr. Thorne is the leader of the Shadow Sanctum, the top secret organization in Dacovia. The organization's influence stretches across the globe, wielding immense power and wealth. "But 20 years ago, Mr. Thorne suddenly vanished, and the organization fell into chaos. Now, it has broken up, our power fragmenting into multiple factions everywhere. Our glory days are long gone. I came to Cloudcove with Mr. Thorne two decades ago, and per his orders, I've been waiting here for your return." The leader of the Shadow Sanctum? Damian was stunned by the revelation. He could hardly believe it. How could a perverted old man like Alden be the head of a world-dominating secret organization? Didn't he claim to be some wandering, homeless bum? He'd tricked Damian all along! Damian felt a headache coming on when he realized the first major task Alden had assigned to him was to rebuild a major organization like the Shadow Sanctum. Moreover, based on what he just heard from Kane, the Shadow Sanctum was in a precarious position. Things didn't look good at all. Alden was busy having the time of his life with Gloria while making this mess Damian's responsibility. He sure knew how to make the poor Damian do his bidding instead. Nevertheless, even though Damian was inwardly cursing Alden, he'd spent two decades with him and long since considered Alden like a grandfather to him. Since this was what Alden wanted, he'd get it done no matter what it took, even if it meant sacrificing his life to do it. "Are there any branches of the Shadow Sanctum here in Cloudcove?" Damian asked while rubbing his temples. Kane replied, "Yes, there is one in Cloudcove. The branch leader is Benedict Hoover, chairman of Prestige Group, the largest property developer in the city." Pausing, he sighed before adding, "At first, I was still able to keep Benedict in check while relying on Mr. Thorne's lingering authority. But over the last 20 years, with no word from Mr. Thorne at all, Benedict has slowly revealed his true ambitions. "Not only does he no longer abide by the orders of the Shadow Sanctum, but a year ago, he even defected and allied himself with a powerful faction in Sengrove instead. "I wanted to get rid of him, but he has an extremely strong martial arts expert at his side. I've sent people to deal with him twice now, and both groups were broken in a horrific manner without ever returning. "What's more, he had their bodies chopped up and tossed at the foot of Mount Mistfall, right outside Mistfall Estate. He even said that no matter how many more people we send after him, he'll handle them all!" As Kane spoke, his eyes flashed with resentment. "Sir, Benedict Hoover is a monster. He's pure evil. His hands are drenched with the blood of our comrades. He cannot be forgiven!" Having heard everything, Damian was fuming. Not only did Benedict betray the organization, but he also murdered his fellow comrades and mutilated their corpses. A man like that deserved to be killed. Damian slowly stood up. His eyes turned cold, and he began exuding an invisible air of dominance. "We will rebuild the Shadow Sanctum by starting with Benedict!" Kane was overjoyed. Brimming with zeal, he spoke up once more, his eyes gleaming with hostility, "Benedict will be celebrating his 50th birthday on the 7th of next month, sir. Why won't we spill his blood on his birthday in honor of our fallen comrades?" "You can make the arrangements," Damian said. "I'll only be in charge of the hit." Kane's body tensed. He sensed an overwhelming wave of bloodlust coming from Damian. It was as if he had encountered a ravenous predator, and it made his hair stand on end. Damian looked weak, but he possessed such a terrifying presence. Kane couldn't help but feel even more respect for Damian. Kane had no idea that since Damian was eight years old, Alden had left him in the wild to fight with the wild beasts. Hundreds, if not thousands, of wild beasts had died at Damian's hands. Even the fiercest predators would quake with fear if they saw a bloodthirsty Damian, let alone other human beings. "Sir, your return is a cause for celebration for all of us in the Shadow Sanctum. I'd like to host a dinner party tonight and gather all of our core members to give you a proper welcome. Would that be alright with you, sir?" After mulling it over for a moment, Damian nodded. "Sure." Since he'd been tricked into taking over Alden's organization, he had no choice but to complete the task assigned to him. Therefore, it was essential for him to acquaint himself with the core members of the Shadow Sanctum. Kane began filling Damian in on other matters regarding the Shadow Sanctum. At noon, Kane wanted Damian to stay for lunch, but Damian declined. Once the two exchanged phone numbers, Kane arranged for someone to drive Damian back to the Spencer residence. Soon, Christine came back from the office as well. During lunch, Eli abruptly said, "Christine, don't head back to the office this afternoon. Take Damian out shopping for some clothes. Also, he only just arrived in Cloudcove, so you should show him around and let him have some fun." Christine's expression stiffened briefly, but she soon regained her composure and said, "I will, Grandpa. Let's go, Damian." She looked at Damian with a faint smile that made her look devastatingly beautiful. Damian was captivated. He had to admit that she was truly gorgeous. "I'll have to trouble you, then, darling." "You don't need to be so courteous with me," Christine replied with a sweet smile that made Damian's heart melt. Eli was pleased to see how friendly Christine was with Damian. He kept nodding with a smile. From the looks of it, the two seemed to be getting along very well. After leaving the house, Damian obediently got into the back seat and sat still. As soon as Christine got into the car, her smile vanished, and her expression turned cold. Chapter 8 Along the way, Christine didn't say a word. The atmosphere inside the car was thick with tension. After about ten minutes, the car came to a stop in front of a shopping mall. "There's 100,000 money on this card," she said coldly. "Go buy yourself a few outfits and hang out in the mall. I'll call you when it's time to head home. Oh, give me your number," Christine said icily as she tossed a debit card to Damian. "Thanks, darling," Damian replied with a smile as he took the debit card and exchanged phone numbers with her. "You know what to say to Grandpa when we get home, right?" "Of course. I'll say you took me shopping and showed me around, making sure I had a great time," Damian replied with an agreeable smile. Christine frowned slightly. Seeing him like that, she suddenly felt a little guilty, so she said, "We come from entirely different worlds, Damian, so don't blame me for this. You can get out now." Just as Damian opened the door and stepped out, a fashionably dressed young woman came walking over, her purse swinging in the air. "Lacey, over here!" Christine quickly got out and waved. Lacey Ingram was a little out of breath when she came over. She said, "I was nearby when you messaged me. Where are we going?" After she spoke, she noticed Damian. Taken aback, she asked, "Is this the country bumpkin you told me about, Christine? He looks tacky, alright." Pursing her lips scornfully, Lacey crossed her arms and said with a haughty expression, "Hey, you. I'm warning you. A loser like you shouldn't even dream of being with someone like Christine. You'll stay far away from her if you know what's good for you. Or else, I'll get some people to beat you up!" "That's enough. Just get in," Christine said as she hurriedly pulled Lacey into the car. As the car pulled away, Lacey brought down the window and shouted, "Get lost, you trashy loser!" Damian's face darkened slightly. Alden was right. The women from the city were so snobby and materialistic. It seemed like he couldn't keep too low a profile, after all. Shaking his head, Damian walked into the mall and was immediately stunned. The place was luxurious beyond imagination. There were far too many styles of clothing available. Even the female sales assistants' long, fair legs were far too dazzling to behold. Damian blushed. He'd never seen such a scene before. He looked every bit the country bumpkin who had just entered the big city, drawing sneers and mocking looks from all directions. Eventually, a shirt caught his eye, so he entered the boutique. "This one seems pretty nice," he remarked. Just as he was about to take it down to try it on, someone cried out contemptuously, "Keep your hands off that! You won't be able to pay for it if you get it dirty!" The female sales assistant was leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, eyeing Damian with a look of disdain. Frowning, Damian was just about to speak when someone rushed into the boutique, walked up to the sales assistant, and slapped her across the face. "How dare you talk to Mr. Luther like that?" She was stunned. By the time she realized who had hit her, she looked shocked and terrified. "Mr. Webb, I… I…" "I'll handle with you later!" Franklin said as he shot her a vicious glare before turning around and flashing Damian a fawning smile. "What a coincidence running into you here, Mr. Luther!" Franklin had come to the mall to see his girlfriend, who worked as a sales assistant, for some light action. He was just about to leave when he spotted Damian. This was the same Damian who had the security guard at Mistfall Estate ditch their post and run up the mountain to report his arrival. He couldn't pass up on such a marvelous opportunity to get up to Damian! Startled, Damian couldn't help but look surprised. Wasn't this the father of the shit-eating Sean? He'd seen Franklin outside Mistfall Estate this morning. "What a coincidence it is, indeed," Damian replied with a chuckle. What were the odds of running into each other twice in a day? "Are you looking to buy some clothes, Mr. Luther?" Franklin asked enthusiastically. "This mall belongs to my company, Franklin Group. If anything catches your fancy, just go right ahead and take it!" Then, he eyed the sales assistant fiercely and snapped, "Are you silly? Hurry up and bring it over for Mr. Luther to try on."