Chapter One
The Little Village Clinic buzzed with life on the sunny morning. Damien, the only male healer apprentice, tried to focus on sorting herbs, but the giggles laugh kept breaking his concentration. His cheeks turned pink as he heard footsteps coming closer. “Oh, Healer Damien!” Stella called out , batting her eyes. “I have this terrible pain right here.” She pointed to her Left breast, tugging at her collar so slightly and it made some part of her breast exposed for Damien to see. “I can go fetch some other female Healer for you.” Damian stammered, his hands fumbling with the herbs he was counting. At that moment another apprentice, Alice, leaned against his work table. “But you're so much better at finding the sore spots, Damien,” she said with a sweet smile. “Your hands are gentler than the others.” Immediately the other girls nodded in agreement, surrounding Damian's table like butterflies drawn to honey. At that moment Damien wished the ground would swallow him whole. Being the only male among his master's ten apprentices was a daily test of his patience. “Ladies, please,” he said firmly, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “There are real patients waiting and–” “We are real patients!” They chorused, breaking into fresh laughter. Just then, a messenger boy rushed in, holding a scroll sealed with golden wax. “Urgent letter for Healer Damien!” The room fell silent. Everyone knew that a golden seal message meant- it came from Westlake. Damien's hands calmly broke the wax, immediately his eyes scanned through the letter before setting it aside and returning to his herb sorting. “Damien?” Stella walked closer to Damien. “You're being mysterious. What does it say?” She pointed at the letter. He glanced up from his work, hands never stopping their methodical movements. “The fiancée Master Raymond arranged for me wishes to end our engagement.” “What?” The other apprentices crowded around his table, their morning tasks forgotten. “How dare she!” Immediately Stella collected the letter from the table, and the other apprentice walked closer as they began to read through it. [I, War Goddess Serenity, have ascended to heights you cannot hope to match. Our engagement, arranged by your master, no longer befits my status. I hereby dissolve our betrothal. Do not attempt to contact me again!] Stella slammed her palm on the herb table, sending dried leaves scattering. “A War Goddess? Ha! My father commands ten thousand special forces in the South!” Alice jade bracelet clinked as she crossed her arms. “My family guards the Sacred Spring of Healing. Without our blessed waters, her soldiers would never recover from battle wounds.“ “We should march to Westlake right now,” declared Stella. “I’m going to teach her a lesson!” “Wait,” Damien raised his hands, his voice gentle but firm. “Please, all of you. There's something you should all know.” The apprentices fell silent, their anger momentarily forgotten as they watched him pull out an old jade pendant from beneath his robes. Its surface was carved with mysterious medical symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint green light. “Two years ago, before the Master left on his journey, he told me something important.” Damien's fingers traced the pendant's edges. “He said the engagement could only be ended by one person - my fiancée's grandfather.” “But you've never even met her!” protested Stella. Damien nodded. “That's true. He said I needed to visit her family personally to make the engagement official. And he was very clear - only her grandfather could dissolve it. No one else's word matters, not even the War Goddess herself. So even if I want to cancel this engagement myself, I still have to get my fiancee’s grandfather’s approval.” Hearing Damien words the room grew even more quiet. Alice stepped forward, her earlier flirtation replaced with genuine concern. “Then this letter...” “Is meaningless,” Damein finished. He clutched the jade pendant tighter. “I have to follow his order. I'm going to meet Serenity's family.” He declared and none of the apprentices could say anything because it's the master’s instructions. Damien started packing his medicine bag. Though his heart felt heavy because he didn't like Serenity that much, he knew he must follow his master's wishes. He was about to leave when he heard his sister's voice. “Damien! Wait!” Hazel called from behind him. He turned to see his sister rushing toward him, her arms laden with parcels and boxes. Hazel stopped in front of Damien pressing a sleek black card into his palm. “The Celestial Bank's highest tier card,” she said with a wink. “It has unlimited spending. Show that War Goddess you're not just some penniless healer.” Before Damien could say anything, one of the elders pushed forward, holding out a scroll sealed with golden threads. “The deed to Phoenix Corporation. I bought it last year as a hobby, but you'll make better use of it.” She smiled sweetly. “It's only the largest medical supply company in three cities.” immediately Damien eyes widened. “Senior sister, I can't possibly–” “Nonsense!” Alice cut him off, slipping a small crystal bottle into his robes. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Special elixir from the Butterfly Palace. One drop makes anyone's heart flutter with love, just in case Serenity is proving Stubbornness” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Alice!” Damien's face flushed crimson. The gifts kept coming, each more extravagant than the last. Just as he turned to leave, a quiet voice spoke. “One more thing, little brother.” The crowd parted as Hazel approached Damien. From her finger, she removed a simple silver ring marked with an ancient symbol. “Take this,” she said, pressing it into his palm. “I founded a small sect a long time ago. And if you ever need to use them, show them this ring, and its members will serve you without question.” Damien examined the ring, his healer's eyes noting the familiar pattern. Suddenly, his breath caught. “This symbol... Senior Sister, this is the mark of the Imperial Shadow Sect!” Damien stared at his senior sister in disbelief. Everyone knew of the Imperial Shadow Sect - the largest, most influential sect in the nation. Its members held positions in every corner of society, from top Business men and women, and top office holders in the country. And here stood its founder.Chapter two Upon collecting all the gifts and saying his goodbye to everyone.He turned and walked out the clinic compound when he saw three black luxury vehicles parked outside the clinic.At that moment Damien adjusted his travel bag, still in through of who must have parked those luxury vehicle in front of the clinic when two figures emerged from the car, a young woman in an elegant azure dress and a man in a tailored black suit that probably cost more than the clinic's monthly earnings. “Excuse me,” the woman called out, her voice carrying a musical quality despite its underlying tension. “We're looking for Master Raymond. Is he here?”Her eyes held a desperate hope.“Master Raymond left the clinic two years ago.”Upon hearing what Damien just said the man's face twisted in frustration.“Two years?”His eyes widened. Pulling out an ornate jade card from his inner pocket, he threw it on the ground angrily. “Then what's the point of this?”The card spun through the air before l
Upon hearing Serenity accusations, Damien frowned.“Your grandfather's condition?”“I wasn't aware he was ill.” War Goddess Serenity's already deadly eyes turned even more deadlier, her composure flickered for just a moment. She studied Damien with razor-sharp intensity, searching for any hint of pretense in his expression. Her hand was still tightened on her customized golden pistol, knuckles whitening beneath her military gloves.“You think I'm lying?” War Goddess Serenity's laugh held a sharp edge.“Very well. Follow me, since you're so determined to see him.” Her military boots clicked against the marble floors as she led Damien up a grand spiral staircase.“Perhaps this will finally end your pathetic pursuit of something you can't have.”Damien didn't say anything.The door to the top floor room opened, and it was turned into a medical suite. Advanced monitoring equipment beeped softly, their screens displaying vital signs in holographic detail.At that moment Damien's brea
Chapter four“Dr. Kyle,” Mr. Oliver's voice cracked as he stepped towards wanting to gripe Dr. Kyle sleeve. “Please, I'll give anything, everything I own – just try whatever you can to save my father.”“There is... one option.” Dr. Kyle weathered hands gripped his medical bag tightly. “A technique from the Ancient Arts. It could preserve his life, but...”“Please,” Mr.Oliver's voice cracked. “Whatever it takes.”Upon hearing what Mr Oliver just said Dr. Kyle's expression grew grave. “The procedure would place him in a sustained coma. He might live, yes, but awakening...” He shook his head slowly.“The chances are uncertain at best.”immediately the room fell silent. Sophia watched her father's shoulders sag under the weight of what Dr. Kyle just said. “Is there no other way, If there's even a chance...”Sophia's father began.Biting her lips, Sophia’s hand slipped into her pocket, her fingers brushing against the card Damien had given her.Damien’s voice echoed in her memory
At that moment Jessica's lips curved into a mocking smile. “Oh, this is rich.” Her perfectly manicured nails tapped against the doorframe. “How much did it cost to rent the car and hire this... assistant?” She said with a mockery tone. However Damien did listen to her, he rose quietly from his seat, straightening his simple robes. “Uncle Bernard, thank you for your hospitality.” “But Damien, we haven't even had tea—” Uncle Bernard started. Bernard at that moment just smiled. “Some matters can't wait.” He bowed respectfully. “I'll visit again when time permits.” immediately Jessica laughter followed him down the path. “Did you really think we'd fall for such an obvious act? A village doctor with a Phantom Spirit Ultra?” Damien didn't pause or turn back, simply nodding once to the driver as he stepped into the vehicle. The car purred away, leaving Jessica and her mother standing in the doorway. “Can you believe his nerves?” Jessica turned to her mother, her voice dr
Chapter six“Dr. Kyle?”Mr.Oliver watched the renowned physician's hands shake as he gripped the edge of a chair. “What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.”“That technique...” Dr. Kyle's voice trembled, his usual professional composure completely shattered. At that moment He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweaty forehead. “The Celestial Dew Method... I've only seen it once, in my master's most treasured textbook.”Mr. Oliver looked totally confused.“I don't understand,”Mr. Oliver stepped closer. “What's so special about—”“Special?”Dr. Kyle let out a shaky laugh.“I spent twenty years studying that single page. Twenty years! And that young man just...”His voice cracked. “He performed it like he was breathing.”Upon hearing what Dr Kyle just said Mr. Oliver face drained of color as the implications sank in. His fingers clutched his jade paperweight so tight his knuckles went white. “You mean we just...”“We've insulted a master physician.”“The level of skill
Chapter seven“If you're this concerned about marriage,” Damein said quietly, not even bothering to make eye contact as he adjusted his sleeve.“Don't be. I'll tell Uncle Bernard today the engagement is off.”Upon hearing what Damien just said the color rose in Jessica’s cheeks, clashing with her expensive foundation.Her fingers tightened around her Fendi clutch until her knuckles went white.“Oh. My. God.” Victoria grabbed her friend's arm. “Jessica, he's totally doing that reverse psychology thing! My ex tried the same move last month!”Jessica's shock transformed into fury. “I see right through you,” she hissed, stepping closer. Her designer perfume wafted between them like a weapon.“Playing hard to get? Acting all mysterious and disinterested?”Her laugh was sharp enough to cut glass.“What dating guide did you get this from?”She tossed her highlighted hair, speaking loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. “Renting luxury cars, hiring actors to play chauffeurs, now this
Chapter Eight“War Goddess, Serenity.”Dr. Kyle's voice carried clear regret through the phone. “I... I failed to secure his contact details.”He paused, swallowing his professional pride. “Perhaps because I initially dismissed his abilities. Quite rudely, in fact–”“You doubted him?” Serenity's voice held a mix of understanding and frustration.“Who wouldn't? a young man from a village clinic...” Dr. Kyle sighed heavily.“But his skills... they surpass anything I've seen in forty years of practice.”upon hearing what Dr Kyle just said Serenity's fingers tightened she couldn't believe someone's medical skills would far surpass Dr Kyle to this point. Without wasting anymore she said.“The Nathaniel family. They can arrange a meeting between us.” Serenity voice carried the decisive tone that had won battles.“I'll handle this personally.”**Damien stepped out of Crystal Palace restaurant into the cooling air, pleasantly satisfied from the meal. At that moment his phone buzzed -
Chapter nine The word “Supreme black card” rippled through the lobby like a stone dropped in still water. Immediately Conversations halted mid-sentence. Private bankers emerged from their offices. Even the security guards straightened their postures.“The Supreme Black Card...” someone whispered reverently. “Only forty-eight exist worldwide...“Immediately the crowd started gathering discreetly, pretending to check deposit slips while stealing glances. The card's obsidian surface seemed to absorb light, its platinum inlays catching the crystal chandelier's glow.Jessica, who was close to the scene, froze at the VIP counter, her transaction forgotten as she turned to stare. That simple- village doctor... holding one of the world's most exclusive banking symbols? Her perfectly shaped brows furrowed in confusion.She thought Damien was poor but how on earth did he get his hands on such a valuable card.“Sir, if you'll just verify with your fingerprint,” The employee voice had transfo