After speaking, she glared at Wood Faulkner. In her eyes, he was a lost cause-too far gone to be saved.
Turning to Kayden, she spat angrily, “You’re such a scumbag! Let me tell you, my sister is getting married tomorrow! If you don’t go and see her, she might end up killing herself at the wedding!”
“I feel so sorry for my sister! Ugh, scumbag.” With those parting words, Priya spat on the ground and ran off.
Kayden and Wood Faulkner stood frozen, staring at Priya’s retreating figure and the stinging words she left behind. It took them a few seconds to regain their composure.
Wood Faulkner turned to Kayden and asked, “Commander, what’s this all about?”
Kayden took a deep breath, his gaze thoughtful. “Do you remember the first time you met me in Inassea? The college student who was with me?”
Wood Faulkner hesitated for a moment, recalling the girl who had been cornered by Nathan Atkinson’s men at the train station in Inassea. While the girl hadn’t left much of an impression, the memory surfaced clearly.
“What? Did something happen between you and that college student, Commander?” Wood Faulkner asked curiously. At the time, there hadn’t seemed to be anything between them-it didn’t look like it.
Kayden gave him an exasperated look and said, “Not what you’re imagining, and not what she said either. After the incident at the station, she waited outside the Henderson family estate for a week just to see me. When she finally did, she was taken away, and I haven’t seen her since.”
“Until a few days ago, when she came to Inassea to find me. That’s when I found out she might be in trouble.”
Wood Faulkner’s heart skipped a beat. “I knew it! She must have fallen for you too. The way she looked at you that day-it was different!”
Kayden shook his head slightly, uninterested in the topic. Instead, he replied coolly, “This is her sister. Apparently, she’s getting married tomorrow.”
“So, are we crashing the wedding tomorrow?” Wood Faulkner asked earnestly.
Kayden didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “What’s the name of the person marrying into the Alfredson family tomorrow?”
“Miss Walsh, I think…” As soon as the words left his mouth, Wood Faulkner’s expression changed drastically.
“That’s right. Let’s go take a look tomorrow. After all, we’ve met before. If she’s unwilling, no one can force her.”
Wood Faulkner nodded firmly, understanding his intent. “Understood, Commander. I know what to do.”
Back at the hotel, Kayden handed Wood Faulkner a bottle of Dragon Blood and insisted she drink it.
Though unsure whether it was truly Dragon Blood, Kayden inspected it carefully. He could sense faint spiritual energy emanating from it. When he held the bottle, the nine-dragon aura within him stirred restlessly.
About half an hour after drinking the Dragon Blood, Wood Faulkner felt no change and went about tidying the room as usual.
But then, her body began to change.
“Commander, my stomach hurts!” she suddenly exclaimed, collapsing onto the bed in pain. Sweat beaded on her face, dripping down in rivulets.
Kayden quickly approached her, seeing her drenched in sweat. “What kind of pain?” he asked.
“It’s like… something is moving inside me. This feeling is so strange!”
“Are you hot right now?” Kayden asked, noticing her condition.
“Hot! My whole body feels like it’s burning-like there’s a fireball exploding inside me!” Wood Faulkner’s body twisted uncontrollably as she spoke.
Kayden observed her, his brow furrowed. He placed his hand firmly on her shoulder to steady her.
“What are you doing, Commander?” she asked in shock.
“Taking off your clothes,” Kayden replied coldly.
Without hesitation, he tore off her sweat-soaked clothes, leaving nothing behind. Her garments were completely drenched, and water dripped from them as he removed them.
Energy was surging through her body, racing into every corner. It was the start of a transformation-a painful process that would reshape her entirely.
For Wood Faulkner, this was agony. To achieve greatness, one had to endure immense hardship. Advancing to the Grand level of cultivation was no exception.
“Commander, I’m so hot!” she cried, clawing at her body, her hands moving to strip off her pants.
Now only half-conscious, Wood Faulkner was overwhelmed by the pain. Kayden understood the torment she was enduring.
Not long after, she had stripped herself completely, lying exposed in front of Kayden.
The sight before him was indescribable-if it had to be put into words, it could only be described as stunning.
Writhing in pain on the bed, Wood Faulkner seemed to have lost all control over herself.
Kayden wasted no time, filling the bathtub with cold water. Once full, he carried Wood Faulkner into the tub. As he held her, she clung tightly to him, her grip intense.
The moment she entered the water, it began to heat up rapidly. The Dragon Blood’s effects were unmistakable.
Kayden inserted a soul-calming needle to stabilize her emotions, but she remained visibly uncomfortable. Heat continued to radiate from her body.
That night, Kayden stayed awake, constantly changing the bathwater to keep her cool. He worked tirelessly until morning.
When Wood Faulkner woke the next day, her mind was clear. She opened her eyes to see Kayden sitting by the bed, dozing off. His fatigued appearance was a testament to the sleepless night he had spent watching over her.
Looking down at herself, she realized she was still naked and lying in the water. Kayden must have carried her here-and undoubtedly, he had seen everything.
She didn’t remember much of what had happened, only that Kayden had been by her side, changing the water repeatedly.
As she gazed at him, a wave of happiness washed over her. Kayden rarely showed signs of exhaustion, let alone fell asleep like this.
He wasn’t made of iron; even he could grow tired.
Watching him slumped by the tub, Wood Faulkner felt profoundly fortunate.
She studied his face, wanting to reach out and touch it. But halfway there, she drew her hand back.
No, she thought. This is the person I respect most. What am I doing?
“You’re awake,” Kayden said suddenly, opening his bloodshot eyes.
“Commander!” Wood Faulkner instinctively called out.
Kayden nodded slightly. “How do you feel now?”
“Oh!” Wood Faulkner exclaimed, standing up in the tub. As she rose, her completely bare form came into full view before Kayden.