At the same time, Eamon Rivers returned to the Noire family estate, his face dark and stormy.
“I apologize,” Eagle Noire said with a regretful expression. “We failed to demolish Emberwood Estate today.”
Eamon’s voice was cold as he replied, “We could have destroyed Emberwood Estate if not for the sudden appearance of the Emberwood Guards.”
Eagle Noire’s face turned serious. “These Emberwood Guards were trained by Archer Wintersong himself. Taking them on won’t be easy.”
Hearing this, Eamon’s expression grew even darker.
“Are you sure Chris is still alive?” Eamon asked.
Eagle Noire nodded. “I’ve already investigated. Chris survived being thrown off the cliff by Judge. Someone rescued him in Peace Village. Later, he went to Riverton, where he destroyed the Hunter family, the most powerful of the four salt merchant clans. However, after that, Chris left Riverton, and I couldn’t track where he went.”
Eamon sighed in frustration. “I intended to demolish Emberwood Estate to lure Chris out, but with the Emberwood Guards in the way, this plan won’t work.”
Eagle Noire smirked. “There are other ways to draw Chris out.”
Eamon’s eyes lit up with urgency. “What other ways do you have?”
Previously, Ethan Stone had ordered Eamon to kill Chris. As Ethan’s apprentice, Eamon was determined to complete the task.
Eagle Noire’s grin turned sinister. “Have you forgotten about Chris’s wife, Esther? If we capture her, do you think Chris won’t show up?”
“Hahaha!” Eamon burst into laughter. “You’re absolutely right, Eagle Noire. Aside from his wife Esther, Chris is also quite close to Candace, the head of the Nance family. If we capture both of them, Chris will have no choice but to appear.”
“But,” Eamon added with a frown, “both of them are protected by the Emberwood Guards. Capturing them won’t be easy. Go and summon the rest of the Dragon Order. Tonight, we’ll take both Esther and Candace.”
“Understood!” Eagle Noire nodded and turned to leave. As he walked away, a strange smile crept onto his face.
—
That night, Esther and Candace stayed at Emberwood Estate.
The estate was enormous, with many rooms. Though usually unoccupied, the estate was kept spotless by regular cleaning.
After the day’s events, however, both Esther and Candace found it hard to sleep.
Suddenly, a noise broke the silence.
Candace sat up immediately and glanced toward the window.
“What’s wrong, Candace?” Esther asked curiously.
Candace didn’t reply but quietly stepped outside the room.
Outside, a group of masked men in red robes stood silently.
“Who are you?” Candace asked warily.
One of them, Red, spoke calmly. “Don’t worry. We’re the Emberwood Guards, here to protect you.”
Hearing this, Candace exhaled in relief.
But then-
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of projectiles slicing through the air filled the night.
Figures moved swiftly toward the estate.
“So, the Emberwood Guards are quite numerous after all,” Eamon Rivers remarked as he and Eagle Noire arrived with an army of over a thousand men.
Eamon frowned at the sight of the Emberwood Guards. Turning to Eagle Noire, he said, “You go capture Esther and Candace. Leave the Emberwood Guards to me.”
Eagle Noire nodded silently and led his men toward the room where Esther and Candace were staying.
Eamon stared at Red and sneered. “Back when Archer Wintersong was alive, the Emberwood Guards were indeed fearsome. But now that Archer is gone, what are you but a shadow of your former selves? Tonight, I’ll wipe out the Emberwood Guards and raze Emberwood Estate to the ground!”
The Emberwood Guards remained still, their eyes fixed on Eamon and his men, brimming with caution.
Meanwhile, Eagle Noire and his group closed in on Esther and Candace.
With a twisted grin, Eagle Noire declared, “Esther, Candace, Chris crippled my brother. Tonight, I’ll capture you both and use you to lure Chris out so I can kill him once and for all!”
With that, Eagle Noire and his men stormed into the room.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Ahh!” “Ahh!” “Ahh!”
The sound of fierce combat and cries of pain echoed through the estate.
Moments later, Eagle Noire’s body was hurled out of the room, crashing to the ground.
A figure stepped out of the shadows.
“Chris!”
Eamon Rivers exclaimed in shock the moment he saw the man.
Then, a look of triumph spread across Eamon’s face. His plan had worked-Chris had shown himself.
Chris’s cold gaze swept over Eamon and Eagle Noire. “You two have some nerve, trying to kidnap my wife.”
“Hahaha!” Eamon laughed. “Chris, I didn’t think you’d still be alive! If not for my plan, you’d have stayed in hiding for the rest of your life.”
Chris smirked. “So, you’re Ethan Stone’s apprentice, Eamon Rivers. I killed your brother, Zephyr Rivers, on the East Coast. Did you think you’d fare any better?”
Eamon’s face twisted with rage. “Chris, you killed my brother. Tonight, I’ll kill you and avenge him!”
“Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes,” Chris replied coolly.
With that, he drew the gleaming blade of Dragon Slayer.
“Chris, you’ll die tonight!” Eamon roared, unsheathing his sword and charging at Chris like a bolt of lightning.
Chris didn’t flinch. As Eamon closed the distance, Chris swung his blade in a powerful arc.
Clang!
Eamon raised his sword to block, but the impact sent him flying backward.
Staggering to his feet, Eamon looked at Chris in horror. He hadn’t expected Chris to be this strong.
“You wanted to kill me? Judging by your pathetic performance, I’d say you’re far from capable,” Chris mocked, his tone dripping with disdain.
“You-” Eamon stammered, his face contorted with fury.
In truth, Chris had returned to Middleton the day before. He had planned to reunite with Esther and Candace but discovered that Leonard Frost and others were plotting to demolish Emberwood Estate.
Upon further investigation, Chris uncovered the masterminds behind the scheme-Eamon Rivers and Eagle Noire.
Through his inquiries, Chris learned that Eamon was Ethan Stone’s apprentice and the elder brother of Zephyr Rivers.