"Off again?"Kendra lounged on the rooftop pavilion, Ashton's head cradled in her lap. The softness of her thighs against his neck was a comfort few could know."Among those I know, you are the strongest. You are my go-to when I am away," Ashton said, eyes half-closed in the warm sunlight, relaxed."You expect me to look after your women? I'm not cut out for that, you know. I'm just a business person. Your rivals won't even blink at me. Heck, sometimes I can barely take care of myself," Kendra said with a sigh. Her fingers lightly brushed Ashton's forehead, straightening his unruly hair.Ashton paused, a moment of silence hanging between them.He should not have asked Kendra that. It was unfair. She was barely in her twenties, not nearly as tough as she pretended. Sharing her beloved with other women was hard enough, but caring for them, too? That was just cruel."I'm sorry.""Sorry? Did my softness startle you? I'm not usually like this, you know." Kendra teased with a playful
Ashton leaned in, hanging on her every word."The ancient tome I passed to you, Exceptional Basics Martial Arts Manual, holds the nearly forgotten wisdom of ancient cultivation. It has the secrets of self-cultivation. Our journey is destined to be extraordinary, standing out from the rest."Even more crucially, this method is shared with only one person in each generation. Right now, it's likely that only you and I are privy to these secrets."Ashton caught his breath. He knew his cultivation was exceptional but never imagined it was this exclusive—just him and his mom, the sole keepers of a unique legacy."The world does not welcome self-cultivation masters. Our cultivation draws in cosmic life force. If we overuse that power, it will dwindle, causing irreversible damage. Therefore, you can't share our secrets with anyone."Ashton nodded solemnly. "I will not forget."Wren was not worried about him spreading their ways. To succeed in that self-cultivation, one needed a familial
Two thin men suddenly appeared in front of the car, hands outstretched to yank Ashton out. In an instant, their arms snapped, grotesquely twisted in a flash, as blood gushed from their wounds, soaking their sleeves and dripping to the ground. Their screams came late, soul-shaking and hellish."I warned you. You've wasted my time. You will deeply regret it if you can't figure out a fix right now. I keep my word," Ashton said calmly.He let go. The men rolled and scrambled on the ground, clutching their mangled arms in agony. Ashton stepped out of the car, surveying the area with a sharp gaze.He was in a parking lot outside a large park that spanned dozens of hectares, dotted with many secluded, boxy buildings. Ashton's spiritual power surged forth, swiftly mapping the entire park's layout in his mind."You're a fighter? That explains the calmness. The usual kidnapped workers either weep for their parents or brag about their wealth, hoping to ransom themselves. However, you're somet
"No way! This can't be happening!"Their faces showed terror as if they had seen the devil.Ashton casually picked up a few of the bullets."Kung fu! This is the mysterious kung fu!"Someone yelled hysterically and ran across the park. Ashton flicked the bullets like stones, killing the runners with precision, some piercing heads and killing them."What's going on? Shoot! Take that guy out!" Someone barked orders from a high-rise in the park in a foreign language.The park's security, a squad of battle-hardened soldiers, raised their weapons and unleashed a barrage at Ashton. They were used to that kind of action, each composed and collected.Previously, a clueless Easterner boasted that his father was the president of a famous local company. He thought he could enter the industrial park and throw his weight around, cursing like he owned it. He quickly learned his lesson when they opened fire on him.That was what would happen when someone did not play by the rules and tried to
Solax was already in the clearing with a team."Mister Levin, you're ahead of schedule. I've lined up some extra entertainment to keep you occupied while you wait."Solax had rocketed up the Dark Dragon Society since enlisting Ashton. He had grown into an influential boss. No more hustling for recruits—his job was to keep Ashton happy.The guy was a grandmaster from Lindorm Land, a titan that could go toe-to-toe with the West's S-Class Superbeings. In Alara, he was the real titan of ninja strength—a shadow-level powerhouse, the kind of guy people would tip their hats to.About 45 warriors in black stepped forward as one, and with Solax leading the charge, they knelt and saluted. "Mister Levin."The man who escorted Ashton from Lindorm Land's border was so scared he nearly fell. He cursed Rafael for getting him into that mess. The middleman was supposed to trick some regular Joes, but a big fish from Lindorm Land? That was like painting a target on his back.When he realized Ash
Rosabella stopped, eyes wide, and nodded."The doctor had said it was just my nerves acting up after the shock I had been through. He said another hike up the snowy mountains—to face what happened head-on—might help me heal."However, Ashton just snorted at that. "Nerves? You've been poisoned, and it has spread to every corner of your body. You've got three days tops. It sounds like they're just scared you'll quit being their guide, so they fed you a line to get you here."Rosabella went white, managing a weak smile. "I... kind of figured.""If you knew, why did you come? You're walking straight into your grave," Ashton said, his smile not reaching his eyes.She shook her head. "I might've said no, but my family can't. Mister Levin, I'm sorry. I should not have dumped all this on you.""Rosabella, what are you doing? Bothering Mister Levin like this? The organization won't take kindly to this, and they won't spare your family either!" Solax, who'd been leading the way, shot her
Solax scoffed, brutally popping his daydreams like a bubble. "Forget about it. This treasure? It's only for big shots like Mister Levin, not for the likes of us. An average Joe would be a goner just by trying. Stick to making an honest buck, okay?"Matthew grinned at the comment. He had only been making conversation, after all. The idea of searching the icy wilderness for treasure? He would not dare do that.Ten minutes later, Matthew and Janice were settled in the pilot and co-pilot seats, with Ashton and Rosabella sandwiched in between. Solax, knowing his place, had wedged himself into the backseat.The wicked mountain paths were a breeze with a chopper.They ventured deep into the iceberg. Soon, the small town in the rear transformed into a tiny speck and vanished from sight. After several hundred kilometers north, the landscape became desolate—unsuitable for human habitation. Matthew said a remote village in the mountains was 100 kilometers away. The people there lived in isola
A shadowy group entered, their uniform dark cloaks parting to reveal dark red.Six strangers entered the tavern, which went silent. The clinking of glasses and low conversation halted as if time had stopped.It seemed like an eternity before Janice, sitting next to Matthew, broke the silence with a hushed, awe-stricken whisper."Scarlet Blood Battles."Those six were no ordinary patrons. They were the Scarlet Blood Battles, an elite team revered by the wealthy and feared across the globe, ranking third among the world's elite combat teams.Combat teams, unlike mercenaries, were small groups of fewer than ten people, with strength determining success and coordination placing second. However, mercenaries were large organizations with over 100 members, and their strength was often assessed using comprehensive criteria.Those small combat teams were scarier than mercenaries. Their smaller size, quick movements, and better coordination helped them complete tasks efficiently. Many miss