No matter how much he struggled, the ropes binding Coleman didn’t budge an inch. They were too strong, and every attempt to break free only caused him more pain. But now, rage consumed his heart, numbing the physical agony. The fire of his fury burned so fiercely that the pain faded into the background, completely overshadowed.
Erika had grown up under his care. After her parents died in an accident, Coleman had taken on the role of protector, cherishing his granddaughter more than anyone else. How could he possibly stand by and watch her suffer?
The man before him-Sterling Harrison-was his age. Yet he dared to harm Erika. If Sterling went through with his vile intentions, it would destroy Erika completely.
But could Coleman expose Kayden? Absolutely not! It was human nature to protect one’s own, and exposing Kayden would only bring more trouble. Sterling was immensely powerful, commanding countless cultivators with a mere wave of his hand. Coleman had no idea how strong Kayden truly was or if he could even stand a chance against Sterling.
If Coleman revealed Kayden’s involvement in Connor Powell’s death, Sterling might hunt Kayden down. And if Kayden were killed, wouldn’t that make Coleman a despicable traitor?
So Coleman stood firm in his resolve. He would never tell Sterling that it was Kayden who had killed Connor Powell.
Sterling laughed heartily as he watched Coleman struggle, his face flushed and his body bruised and bloodied from his futile attempts.
“Old man, don’t even think about fighting me! You’re no match for me. Crushing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. Don’t cling to false hope-you’re nothing to me. Do you understand?”
Coleman shouted hoarsely, his voice trembling with rage. “You beast! Let my granddaughter go! Kill me if you need revenge for your apprentice!”
Sterling shook his head and stared greedily at Erika, who was bound and struggling desperately. “That’s out of the question. The more I look at your granddaughter, the more I like her. And now, I’ll taste her right in front of you. I’ll teach you a lesson-you don’t mess with me!”
“You old bastard, the show begins now! Watch carefully as your granddaughter submits to me.” Sterling’s voice was laced with cruelty as he reached out and tore Erika’s clothing.
“Grandpa, help me! Grandpa, please help me!” Erika cried out, her voice filled with desperation as she begged Coleman to save her.
She was just a young girl. Faced with such horror, her only instinct was to scream for help, to cling to the hope that someone would save her.
Coleman watched, helpless, as Erika struggled. It felt as though a thousand arrows pierced his heart. He let out two anguished cries, his voice echoing with despair.
“Stop it, you filthy pig! Stop it!” he screamed hysterically, his voice breaking from the strain.
But Sterling only laughed. “Are you breaking down? Do you want to kill me? Too bad-you can’t! Even if I let you go, you wouldn’t be able to kill me.”
“Watch closely, old man!” Sterling sneered. Then, with even more force, he began to rip away what remained of Erika’s clothing.
The girl, barely out of her teens, lay before him, trembling and vulnerable. Sterling stared at her as though she were the finest delicacy, nearly salivating at the sight.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” He ran his hand across her skin, a twisted smile spreading across his face. “So smooth, so flawless. Such rare beauty! I love it. I love it!”
“Well, well, I never expected her to still be a virgin. What a pleasant surprise!” Sterling said, his voice dripping with perversion as he continued to touch Erika.
“Old man, I should thank you! Who would have thought your granddaughter’s purity would help me advance my cultivation? With her, my Unmatched Divine Technique will reach new heights!”
Coleman was on the verge of collapse. Tears streamed down his face as he clenched his teeth, overwhelmed by helplessness.
“Erika, I’m sorry. Erika, I’m so sorry…”
This was, perhaps, the most powerless moment of his life. He could do nothing but watch as his granddaughter was humiliated before his eyes.
“Grandpa! Grandpa!” Erika continued to cry out for help. But every plea was like a dagger to Coleman’s heart, each one cutting deeper than the last. The pain was unbearable, as though his soul was being torn apart.
If he could die now, Coleman wouldn’t hesitate. He would gladly choose death to escape this torment.
“Hahaha! Here I come!” Sterling growled like a beast as he climbed onto Erika. Before making his next move, he reached out and pulled the blindfold off her eyes.
Erika opened her eyes in a panic, only to see the grotesque face of the man hovering over her. She screamed in terror.
“Ahhh! Ahhh!” Her cries were filled with despair, a bottomless, soul-crushing despair.
Her pale, snow-white body shone under the dim light, and Sterling resembled a hideous beast preparing to defile a swan.
“Don’t worry. Soon, you’ll feel just how wonderful this can be. I’ll make you soar! I’ll make you lose yourself in ecstasy!” Sterling raved, his laughter maniacal and deranged.
“Bang!”
Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud crash.
Sterling froze, startled by the sound. He quickly looked up and saw a man standing at the doorway.
“Goldie!” Sterling called out, momentarily stunned.
“What are you doing here? You should be back in Inassea! You almost ruined my fun. Get lost!” Sterling barked, pointing angrily at the door.
But Goldie didn’t leave. Instead, he was shoved aside by someone else.
With a casual push, Goldie tumbled to the ground.
“Master, help me! Master, please help me!” Goldie cried out, scrambling to his feet and begging Sterling for aid.
“That man killed our cultivators-five of them! And not just them-he also killed Connor!”
Sterling’s face darkened as he processed Goldie’s words. His eyes shifted back to the figure at the door.
The man was young, slender, and pale, almost to the point of looking sickly. He didn’t appear strong, yet he had allegedly killed Sterling’s apprentice.
Sterling stepped away from Erika, his gaze locking onto the young man’s.
Kayden’s eyes swept over the scene-the bound and battered Coleman, the tear-streaked, violated Erika. His expression hardened. He understood what had happened here.
“Mr. Vincent, why didn’t you tell me about this?” Kayden asked, his voice carrying a hint of reproach.
Coleman sobbed, lowering his head. “Mr. Scott, this is my problem! This bastard-”
Kayden interrupted him. “If he’s looking for death, you should have told him where to find me. Don’t hide such things. Anyone who seeks death shouldn’t be stopped!”
Sterling scoffed at Kayden’s arrogance. “How did you kill my apprentice?” he demanded.
Kayden replied calmly, “The same way I’ll kill you-in a flash.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, a flying sword shot through the air with a sharp whistle.
The blade pierced Sterling Harrison’s chest before he even had time to react.