“Twenty-three years ago…”
James’s gaze grew distant, mixed with a chilling dread.
It was as though he had mentioned an unspoken taboo, prompting a shudder to ripple through his body.
Twenty-three years prior, on an ordinary day, Paxton uncovered the truth-Adrianna was a Greater Sovereign. But the allure of the medical manuscript she possessed was too tempting for him to ignore. He was willing to risk everything.
After six months of meticulous planning, he finally made his move against Adrianna in February of that year.
Paxton arranged for ten teams of assassins to surround the Clark family estate. Ten teams! All comprised of top-tier killers hired with immense sums of money: 180 elite snipers, the underground king of Slatin-Lawson Langford-who brought along three Lesser Sovereigns and seventeen Great Grandmasters, and Ryder Caldwell, Slatin’s wealthiest man, who deployed two Semi Greater Sovereigns from his household.
In addition, six major families allied with the Clarks sent their bodyguards and retainers. Paxton also called upon sixteen other factions of cultivators. Altogether, over three thousand people were mobilized.
That day, snow fell heavily.
In the council hall, Paxton confronted Adrianna, demanding she hand over the manuscript. If she refused, he would kill her five-year-old son, Flynn.
Paxton had never loved Adrianna; she was merely a tool to bolster the Clark family’s prestige. Flynn, too, was seen as an unwanted burden. When Adrianna became pregnant with Flynn, Paxton had even tried to force her to abort the child to avoid future complications. But Adrianna fiercely protected her unborn son, and Paxton, unwilling to jeopardize his chances of obtaining the manuscript, was forced to relent.
He reasoned that Flynn’s birth might make Adrianna more compliant in supporting the Clark family.
Adrianna, however, was cautious. She feared the manuscript’s exposure would draw the attention of Greengate, so she withheld most of it, only sharing a handful of prescriptions over time.
These were enough to help the Clark family secure their footing in Slatin. She even provided a cultivation formula that transformed Mike Clark from an ordinary man into a Lesser Sovereign, elevating him to the highest rank in Slatin’s Governor’s Office.
But Paxton’s greed knew no bounds. He was obsessed with making the Clark family the strongest in Ostrad.
That day, Adrianna finally saw through the Clark family’s true nature. Overwhelmed with despair, she unleashed her full power as a martial god, slaughtering her enemies mercilessly.
Blood flowed like rivers through the Clark estate, leaving it in ruins. Countless experts fell at her hands.
But there were too many of them.
Most importantly, Adrianna was carrying young Flynn in her arms. To protect him, she sustained three severe blade wounds and was struck in the shoulder by Paxton while escaping.
That night, Slatin was in chaos. Countless factions scoured the mountains and seas, searching for Adrianna.
It was during this time that Mabel Sweetwood learned of the Clark family’s treachery. She brought members of the Duffy family, along with over a hundred bodyguards, to rescue Adrianna.
They eventually found her, gravely injured, at Slatin’s Blackwater Beach, with Flynn asleep in her arms.
Shielding them, Mabel led them to the Duffy family’s docks, planning to help them escape by fishing boat.
But thirty nautical miles out to sea, the Clark family’s forces caught up.
To prevent pursuit, Mabel set fire to thirteen of the Duffy family’s fishing boats with gasoline.
That night, the Duffy family docks were ablaze, the flames illuminating the freezing night sky, mingling with the sound of battle cries.
In the end, Adrianna and Flynn successfully escaped. But the Duffy family became the target of the Clark family’s wrath.
Paxton ordered Mabel Sweetwood stripped of her clothing and had her right hand severed with a blade.
James was also stripped and hung, enduring fifty lashes that left his right leg mangled, the wounds so deep they exposed bone.
It was the snowy depths of February.
The couple hung outside their own docks for an entire night-Mabel six months pregnant with Mia at the time.
“The Clark family promised to share the manuscript with their allies once they obtained it,” James recounted, his voice heavy with bitterness.
“And so, after you and your mother escaped, the Duffy family became public enemy number one in Slatin. Within a month, our fortune of tens of millions was reduced to ashes…”
James ended his tale with a sigh, his eyes blazing with both resentment and hatred toward Paxton.
“Oh, and the most laughable part? Among those who conspired with the Clark family was Viola Brightmoon,” he added bitterly.
“Jessica, Mabel, and your mother were her closest friends-her best friends! Yet Viola Brightmoon betrayed them all.”
“She had been working with Paxton since their college years. If it weren’t for her telling Paxton about the manuscript, things might have turned out differently.”
“And the irony? Your mother once saved her son. Without Adrianna, her boy would have died at three years old.”
James let out a long, sorrowful sigh.
This was a scar he never wanted to reopen. Yet now, he spoke of it both as a warning to Flynn and as a reminder of how terrifying the Clark family still was.
But it was also a call to action for Flynn-to grow stronger and exact justice someday. Still, James knew how difficult that would be.
The Clark family, bolstered by Adrianna’s prescriptions, had become a towering colossus.
As Flynn listened to the story, his eyes turned blood-red, his fists clenched tightly.
Hatred consumed him.
Beasts! Worse than animals!
Paxton had sent over three thousand people after his mother, had struck her himself, and had subjected Mabel to such cruelty.
All to solidify the Clark family’s position? To climb to the peak of power at any cost?
Fine.
Then Flynn would make him watch as the Clark family crumbled, reduced to rust and ashes.
His blood-red eyes burned with murderous intent, freezing the air of the living room.
He remained silent, partly out of fear of alarming Mabel Sweetwood, partly because his rage was too great for words.
The silence in the room stretched on.
After a long while, Flynn finally spoke, his voice calm: “James, my mother and I owe you everything.”
“From today forward, you are my godfather, and Mabel Sweetwood is my godmother.”
At that moment, Mabel entered, carrying five bags of groceries, her face glowing with warmth.
“What are you all talking about? Why so serious?” she asked with a cheerful smile.
The kinder she was, the more Flynn’s heart ached.
How could someone so virtuous and gentle have suffered such cruelty?
“Mabel, do you not agree?” Flynn asked, forcing a smile as he took the groceries from her hands.
Mabel beamed. “Agree? Of course, I agree! You’re Adrianna’s son, so naturally, you’re like a son to me as well. Just don’t let Jessica get jealous!”
“Come, Flynn, help me pick the vegetables. Mia, you too!”
As they moved to the kitchen, Flynn took the chance to inquire about the Duffy family’s current situation.
“Mia should have graduated by now. Where is she working?”
“I was working out of town,” Mia replied softly, “but with my parents’ health declining, I returned home this year. I haven’t found a job yet.”
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Today…”
Her voice faltered, and she lowered her head, focusing on the vegetables in her hands.
“Today, I went for an interview at Golden Crest Imports, one of Lawson Langford’s companies. His son slapped me twice.”
The apartment was small, and James heard her from the living room.
“Why are you telling him this in front of Flynn?” Mabel scolded, quickly rushing to the kitchen.
“Why not? Am I not allowed to vent my frustrations?” James retorted bitterly.
Though he didn’t resent Flynn and his mother, he couldn’t bring himself to feel fondness for them either. Adrianna’s actions had destroyed the Duffy family, and now his daughter had suffered humiliation.
Flynn remained calm. “Do you have to work for an enemy’s company?” he asked Mia.
Mia smiled bitterly. “Which company in Slatin isn’t connected to the Clark family? Which isn’t an enemy of the Duffy family? And I studied international trade. If I don’t work for Golden Crest Imports, where else can I go?”
She had no choice. The Clark family’s influence had seeped into every corner of Slatin.
“What about Titan Holdings?” Flynn asked.
Mia froze, then shook her head with a self-deprecating laugh. “Flynn, do you know who owns Titan Holdings? The Raven King! Even the heirs of major families would struggle to get in. How could I possibly stand a chance?”
“Besides, Titan Holdings doesn’t even have a foreign trade department-only finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, light industry, and a few others. My major doesn’t fit.”
Flynn nodded thoughtfully. Titan Holdings had come to Ostrad on his orders, primarily to encircle the Clark family’s businesses. Since the Clarks lacked a foreign trade company, Titan Holdings naturally hadn’t ventured into that sector either.
“So, Golden Crest Imports is your only option?” Flynn asked again.
Mia, confused by his tone, nodded hesitantly.
“Fine. I’ll take care of it,” Flynn replied decisively.
If Slatin belonged to Lawson Langford, it was time to have a chat with him.
After all, wasn’t he Paxton’s sworn brother?