Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
With a series of heavy thuds, four royal cultivators suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Seeing this, Caspian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What did you do to them, Chris?” Caspian asked, his face filled with shock.
Chris replied calmly, “Mr. Vance, weren’t you just mocking me, calling me a cripple? Now, you should see for yourself-how capable this ‘cripple’ really is.”
Clang!
As Chris finished speaking, a Dragon Slayer sword flew into the air, its blade pointing directly at Caspian.
“What… what’s going on here?” Caspian stammered.
With a sharp, metallic ring, the sword unsheathed itself. Caspian stood frozen, stunned into silence.
After a long pause, a bitter smile crept onto his face. “Chris, you never fail to amaze me.”
Though Caspian didn’t understand how Chris had done it, he knew that if Chris wanted to kill him, it would be effortless.
Chris smiled faintly. “Mr. Vance, this was just a small demonstration. After all, I’m just a cripple.”
“Hahaha!” Caspian burst into laughter. “What a ‘cripple’ indeed! Chris, you’re at your most dangerous when others underestimate you. They think you’re helpless, but no one could imagine how powerful you really are.”
After Caspian left, Chris reclined alone on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest.
Nearby, Mara Wainwright gently approached and began massaging his shoulders.
Seeing this, Esther couldn’t help but feel a pang of discomfort in her chest.
Candace, noticing her expression, teased with a smile, “Esther, are you jealous?”
Esther pouted, crossing her arms. “Of course not!”
At that moment, Chris stood and stretched. “I’m going to bed.”
Since arriving in Aethelgard, Chris hadn’t had a single good night’s sleep. The world was far too dangerous-a ruthless, survival-of-the-fittest realm.
From the moment he arrived, enemies had relentlessly hunted him. Under such circumstances, rest was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
Chris glanced at Mara and asked, “Mara, where are you planning to sleep?”
Blushing furiously, Mara stammered, “Wherever Mr. Shelby sleeps, I’ll sleep.”
Hearing this, Esther’s face darkened.
Chris couldn’t help but let out a helpless chuckle. He knew Esther was upset, but he also understood Mara’s intentions were innocent. Mara was a simple and pure-hearted girl, someone who often spoke without thinking.
Chris smiled gently. “Mara, I’ll prepare a guest room for you.”
The villa had plenty of empty rooms, so it wasn’t an issue for Mara to stay.
Candace stepped forward, taking Mara’s hand with a grin. “Mara, why don’t you sleep in my room tonight? I’d love to hear more about Aethelgard-I’m really curious about your world.”
Since Chris had returned, Candace had been staying at the villa to keep Esther company.
Hearing Candace’s suggestion, Mara nodded in agreement.
Chris shot Candace a grateful look. If she hadn’t stepped in, he wouldn’t have known how to diffuse the situation.
Meanwhile, Esther stormed back to her room, fuming.
Chris came back, and he brought a pretty girl with him?
“Idiot! Jerk!” she muttered angrily to herself.
“You run off for a year, and when you finally come back, you bring another woman with you!”
Just then, the door to her room swung open. Chris walked in.
Seeing him, Esther let out a cold huff.
“Why aren’t you with your precious Mara?” she snapped. “She seems to adore you-calling you ‘Mr. Shelby’ in that sweet, affectionate voice of hers.”
Chris let out a bitter laugh. He didn’t need to guess; Esther’s jealousy was evident.
“Esther, you’ve got it all wrong,” Chris began, his tone soft. “There’s nothing going on between Mara and me. I didn’t even plan to bring her here-Lindsay was the one who brought her back.”
Esther folded her arms, glaring. “Then why didn’t she stay with Lindsay? Why is she here with you?”
Chris stammered, at a loss for words.
Seeing his hesitation, Esther’s frustration grew.
Before she could say more, Chris walked over and wrapped his arms around her, a playful smile on his face. “Esther, we’ve been apart for so long… didn’t you miss me?”
Esther rolled her eyes. “Miss you? Why would I miss you? You disappeared for a whole year without so much as a call. Do you even care about me anymore?”
Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Ever since Chris left, Esther had spent every moment worrying about him. She searched for him, asked about him, but it was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth.
And now, he was back-with another woman in tow. How could she not be upset?
Chris sighed. “I wanted to call, but Aethelgard doesn’t have cell service. Without a signal, how could I contact you?”
Aethelgard was nothing like Earth-it was a parallel world, an ancient Aetherbinding civilization. Technology like cell phones was utterly useless there.
Esther’s gaze fell on Chris’s damaged hands, and her tears spilled over.
“What happened to you? You left perfectly fine, and now… you’ve come back like this.” Her voice broke, and she couldn’t continue.
Chris sighed deeply. “Esther, if you can’t bear to be with a cripple, I’ll let you go. You’re free to-”
“Shut up!” Esther cut him off sharply. “No matter what, I’ll stay with you. In this life and the next, we’ll be together.”
Chris gave her a sad smile. “But, Esther, I’m useless now. I can’t even dress myself or eat properly. Staying with me will only drag you down.”
“Enough! Don’t say another word!”
Before he could finish, Esther threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Chris had spent an entire year in Aethelgard, surrounded by danger and temptation, but he had never betrayed Esther.
Now, with her in his arms, all the longing he had suppressed came rushing out.
They fell onto the bed, their emotions overwhelming them.
—
In the next room, Candace and Mara lay side by side on the same bed.
“Our world is untouched by pollution,” Mara said softly. “The mountains are green, the waters are crystal clear… but there are fierce beasts everywhere. If you’re not careful, you’ll get eaten.”
Candace listened intently, her curiosity piqued. She made a mental note-if she ever got the chance, she would visit Aethelgard.
“How did you meet Chris?” Candace asked, her voice filled with intrigue.