Kayden hesitated slightly when he heard the words, “You can’t kill me.” He scrutinized the monk and sneered coldly, “Can’t kill you? Why not? If I kill you right now, do you think you’d have the chance to say no?”
“Recognize your position. Right now, you’re nothing more than an ant in my hand. Crushing you is just a whim. All I have to do is wave my hand, and you’ll be a ghost under my blade.”
Kayden’s words were sharp and merciless. The monk stared at him, powerless yet unwilling to give up. He wanted to refute, but he couldn’t deny the truth-he stood no chance.
Still, clinging to his last shred of hope, the monk shook his head and said, “No! You can’t do that. You can’t kill me. If you kill me, you’ll face punishment. You’ll definitely be punished! Do you want to become the hunted of the entire Hermit world? Do you want every Hermit on Earth to hunt you down?”
“Hunted? Chased?” Kayden’s voice turned colder. “Are you threatening me?”
He tightened his grip on the broken blade in his hand and suddenly thrust it forward.
With a sharp whistle, the blade pierced the monk’s chest again.
Blood spurted out, and the monk’s face turned ashen.
“You…” The monk looked at Kayden, his face filled with shock. He had never encountered someone so ruthless, someone who ignored all conventions and killed purely on impulse.
To Kayden, he wasn’t a man. He was nothing more than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
“You think I don’t know you work for Asher Voss?” Kayden said, his voice dripping with disdain. “If he wants to kill me, let him come himself! If he wants the entire Hermit world to hunt me, bring it on. I’ll take them all. And you? You’re nothing but a waste of space, a useless fool who doesn’t even deserve to speak in my presence, let alone threaten me.”
Kayden withdrew the blade and, without hesitation, plunged it straight into the monk’s heart.
He gave the monk no chance to catch his breath. The blade struck deep, extinguishing the last flicker of life. As the monk’s vision blurred and consciousness faded, Kayden’s cold voice cut through the air:
“Death is your best end. In front of me, leave your pride behind.”
The monk collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide open, lifeless.
Watching Kayden in action, it was the same as always-the same precision, the same ferocity. This man had not changed. His pride, his every move, remained unshaken. He didn’t even ask his opponent’s name before killing him.
This was Kayden, the invincible king of the battlefield. To him, the dead didn’t deserve names.
The sight stirred something familiar in Wood Faulkner. It was as if everything had returned to how it used to be.
After killing the monk, Kayden turned around and walked toward Wood Faulkner, expressionless. She struggled to sit up but couldn’t. The impact she’d endured left her body weak and unsteady.
Kayden reached her side and, without a word, scooped her up in his arms. A princess carry.
Startled, Wood Faulkner gasped, her face flushed. “Mr. Scott, put me down! I can walk on my own. You’re too noble to carry me like this. Please, I can walk!”
Kayden glanced down at her and said in a low voice, “Rest. Your body has only just recovered. Your muscles still need time to regain their strength. Don’t speak.”
With that, he held her closer, his grip firm yet gentle.
Wood Faulkner pressed against his chest, her heart racing with a secret joy.
This man, though not overly muscular, exuded warmth and strength that she found irresistible. She would never let Kayden know how much she loved him, but moments like this-so close to him-were the greatest comfort she could ask for.
Yes, she had fallen for Kayden on the battlefield, fallen for their king.
When they returned to the hotel, the two of them stayed in the same room.
At check-in, the receptionist couldn’t help but steal glances at Kayden. After all, he carried Wood Faulkner in his arms the entire time, not setting her down even for a moment. It was hard not to notice.
Inside the room, Kayden laid Wood Faulkner on the bed.
She lay on her side, her back to him. Kayden stood behind her, his expression unreadable. Suddenly, he grabbed her clothing and tore it away, exposing her smooth back.
Wood Faulkner let out a soft, involuntary moan as his hands pressed against her skin.
She felt the overwhelming presence of his masculinity, his touch sending shivers down her spine.
“I’m going to transfer some energy to you,” Kayden said. “To fully recover, you’ll need medicine and training. Your body has a chance to break through to the Grand level.”
Wood Faulkner’s body, though recovering, still needed balance and adjustment. Kayden channeled his energy to open her meridians, improve circulation, and restore her muscle memory.
Though fierce on the battlefield, she was far from her former strength.
“Mr. Scott, I’m sorry for being so useless,” Wood Faulkner said, biting her lip, her face full of guilt. “I thought I could handle him myself.”
Kayden shook his head. “It’s fine. I underestimated that old man’s strength. I should’ve killed him outright.”
“Ah!” Wood Faulkner gasped as a cool sensation spread across her back. She couldn’t hold back a soft whimper.
Kayden said nothing, continuing to work his hands over her smooth, tense muscles.
“Mr. Scott,” she suddenly said, “can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead,” Kayden replied firmly.
“Do you… like that woman?”
The question startled her. It was bold-something she would never have dared to ask before. Her heart pounded wildly as she anxiously awaited his response.
“Which woman? The lady from the Rocco family?” Kayden asked, his voice calm.
Wood Faulkner nodded. “Yes, her. Do you like her?”
Kayden fell silent, his expression unreadable.
Wood Faulkner panicked, thinking she had overstepped. “I’m sorry, Mr. Scott! I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business. Please forgive me for speaking out of turn.”
Kayden sighed softly and withdrew his hand. “No, I don’t like her. I just have some matters to discuss with her. How could you even think that? Stop overthinking.”
“Really?” Wood Faulkner asked, a hint of joy in her voice, like a child seeking reassurance.
Kayden nodded. Then, with a puzzled look, he asked, “Wood Faulkner, how could you even ask such a thing?”