"Cough...""Mistress, are you unharmed?"Hearing a raspy cough emanate from the pit, a frantic Irina rushed forward. Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in her mind: "Miss, stay back. It's perilous."Heeding the warning, Irina halted, her glare at Benjamin turning even more venomous. To her astonishment, the figure in the pit was still alive and didn't appear gravely wounded. In that moment, Benjamin's eyes gleamed with intense focus."Hmm?!"Before he could make another move, Remi, who had been observing from the sidelines, suddenly lunged at Irina. The sudden turn of events took everyone by surprise, especially Benjamin, who hadn't expected Remi's intervention. Yet, just as Remi's dagger was about to pierce Irina, a shadow materialized beside her, cutting a swathe through the space in front of Remi's projection."Ahh!"A searing pain shot through Remi, so agonizing it felt as if her very soul was being torn. Falling to the ground clutching her head, her screams filled the air. Witness
Contrary to the reaction of the Wade duo, skepticism slightly tainted Benjamin's face as he sought Roy's insights."Pulsatilla? What flower is this?”As if reading the depths of Benjamin's thoughts, even before he could voice them, Roy elucidated."Pulsatilla, also known as the White Pulsatilla, is a truly unique bloom. It thrives only in lands of damp climates, particularly in the deepest bowels of the earth. To find such a flower, not only must one find its habitat, but the seeker must also possess a certain yang aura, a determined spirit. Possessed with such spirit, the plucker ensures that the Pulsatilla remains intact, temporarily living within them for a week. After such a period, the Pulsatilla vanishes, returning to its realm.”Hearing this, the countenance of old Mr. Wade darkened drastically, while Violet, in her indignation, sharply inquired of Roy.“Roy, why did you share this with Benjamin? You know, if anyone touches the Pulsatilla, their yang energy will be drained. And
As the vehicle dashed elegantly through the boulevard, a suppressed glance welled up in Benjamin's eyes, directed subtly towards Andrea."You seem rather off today, don't you? I perceive an air of melancholy about you."Hearing Benjamin's concern, Andrea turned slowly to face him, her nodding acknowledgement devoid of words.Time eluded them as they journeyed on, until the streets were devoid of life and even the cries of street vendors faded into the quiet.In that stillness, Andrea gently pulled the car to the roadside.Stepping out, she released a sigh that had been building.She then fixed her gaze on Benjamin, her voice tinted with a shade of sorrow."Do you care to share a drink with me?"This proposition left Benjamin momentarily surprised.After pondering, however, he nodded in agreement.The two then ventured into a roadside tavern nearby.No sooner had Andrea set foot inside than her voice echoed a hearty order."Barkeep, serve us a large pot of hotpot and a plate of grilled
From the sidelines, Benjamin waited, a look of anticipation on his face. Enoch, the tavern owner, brandished a cleaver, positioning himself between the approaching ruffians and Andrea. Recognizing their intentions, Andrea yelled: "Benjamin, Enoch! You needn't get involved. Let me handle them alone!"With those words, she threw off her jacket and rolled up her sleeves, her belt tightened with resolve. Seeing her unwavering stance, Benjamin silently stepped back. However, Enoch hesitated, wanting to advise caution."Andrea..."But Benjamin stopped him with a gesture: "Let her be! As long as I'm here, she'll be alright." His words seemed to carry a certain magic, and Enoch nodded in silent agreement, retreating a few steps back. A pleased smile touched Benjamin's lips.As the gang closed in, they encircled Andrea, leaving her no path of escape. Yet, her demeanor remained cool and unflinching. There wasn't even a hint of fear in her eyes; instead, they blazed with determination."Attack!"
Hearing her father's poignant portrayal of her mother, Andrea was deeply moved. She stood there, silent and pensive, letting his words sink in for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, she cast a glance at her father, her voice laden with emotion and urgency: "Why didn't she come back, Dad?"Mr. Aylmer struggled to find words, taking a few sips of his tea for courage before he could muster a response: "Perhaps, she encountered some troubles she didn’t want us to be embroiled in." he suggested somberly.Hearing this, Andrea's grip tightened, determination flaring in her eyes: "Dad, I will make sure she comes home safely." she declared, her presence suddenly becoming more formidable, as if some latent power within her was about to burst forth. Yet, she wasn't fully aware of this transformation herself. After a few more exchanges with her father, Andrea retired to her room.Meanwhile, in a hotel bedroom, Benjamin was seated in a meditative posture on the bed, eyes tightly shut. A myste
For a moment, Benjamin was lost for words, his gaze transfixed on the hotel's main entrance.Standing there was a familiar figure, Isabella, adorned in an off-shoulder white dress that showcased her exquisite beauty. In comparison, even with Andrea standing next to him, it was clear that Isabella's beauty, combined with her inherent elegance, was unparalleled, especially in such attire.In the realm of intertwined destinies and shimmering intrigue, Andrea, the fierce-hearted policewoman, donned her uniform with a spirit that few outfits could truly complement. Should she stand beside Benjamin in her police regalia, a distinctive aura would certainly surround them. Yet, in that very moment, the depths of Benjamin's thoughts were far removed from such trifles.His gaze, laden with a plethora of complex emotions, was firmly anchored on Isabella. And in her close proximity was another man, an unexpected presence: "Isabella, have you been waiting long for me? My sincerest apologies, I was
"Benjamin, let's move to a conference room." Caroline swiftly beckoned, her urgency palpable: "This situation is graver than you can imagine." Her demeanor alone hinted to Benjamin the gravity of what was about to unfold.In but a fleeting moment, within the confines of the exclusive meeting room of the Royalty Hotel, there began an influx of myriad individuals whose faces were well-recognized in the capital.Furthermore, the majority of them were undoubtedly martial artists, skilled in the ancient art of combat.Amongst the congregation, Benjamin's discerning eyes caught sight of a man whose demeanor held a shadow of familiarity, an elusive echo from the past, perhaps.However, much to his chagrin, Benjamin could not place the man's identity. Yet, there were instances when the stranger's gaze would stealthily drift toward him, suggesting some sort of underlying sentiment or opinion he held about Benjamin."Permit me a momentary introduction." a voice broke the silence: "I am Finn Arn
"Alright, please, let's maintain our composure. While the theft of the artifact is indeed an oversight on our hotel's part, everyone here knows the true reason why we auctioned off that particular treasure. Our main aim for today's auction was to unveil the hidden secret within the treasure. However, due to the greed of a few, we'll have to postpone this quest. For this, we deeply regret."Feeling the room's tension, Finn finally couldn't resist stepping in to address the crowd. At his words, everyone fell into a contemplative silence.For some reason, Benjamin felt that Finn's glances, unintentional or otherwise, kept straying his way. Though discreet, Benjamin, being a former operative, trusted his keen observations implicitly. He wasn't mistaken about this."I understand most of you are here for the stolen artifact. However, the auction was announced earlier, and we can't halt it just for that one item. If you have no objections, I can have my staff prepare the rooms and invite you