Vicente Clark knelt before the grand gates of the Langford family estate, fully understanding his father’s intentions. His voice rang out decisively:
“Father!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Four loud, resounding kowtows echoed through the air.
To Vicente, acknowledging Lord Valerian Nox as his godfather was no humiliation. True strength lay in adaptability.
Yes, Vicente reasoned, what shame was there in gaining a godfather if it aided in cultivation? With Lord Valerian Nox’s support and the miraculous body-tempering elixir arriving in six months, who knew? He might surpass Lord Valerian Nox someday.
And when that day came, he could simply stab Lord Valerian Nox in the back and reclaim his dignity as a true man!
“Perfect!” Vicente thought. When the time came, he would crush Lord Valerian Nox with a single punch and rise above everyone.
The Clark family’s outrageous display left the crowd in stunned silence.
Madness.
Absolute madness.
What was this?
Paxton Clark had declared brotherhood with Lord Valerian Nox, while Vicente knelt to call him “godfather”?
Unbelievable.
The Clark family had gone all in, leaving no room for anyone else to breathe.
John Woods, Layla’s grandfather, nearly popped his eyes out in disbelief.
Paxton Clark, in his desperation to curry favor with Lord Valerian Nox, had stooped to such a low.
“Paxton, you truly have no limits!” John Woods thought, seeing the man’s ability to swallow his pride as a testament to his ruthlessness.
Carter Langford, descending from the mountain, stumbled and fell when he overheard the scene.
“What did I just hear?” Carter thought, dazed.
Paxton had knelt?
To his own son?
And now Vicente was calling Flynn “godfather”?
“Paxton, your family has no shame!” Carter roared internally.
How could a family that once scorned, despised, and treated Flynn as worthless now kneel before him, groveling and showering him with flattery?
Flynn, sipping wine nearby, couldn’t help but spit it out in shock.
“Are the Clark family insane?” Flynn muttered, his face full of disbelief.
Scott Chilton, standing beside him, sneered coldly.
“Insane? No, this is simply the price of ambition. Paxton Clark will do anything for power. He’s ruthless enough to kill his wife and son-what wouldn’t he do?”
The sight of the Clark family’s groveling left John Woods gritting his teeth. Turning to his granddaughter Layla, he urged her:
“Say something, child! The Clark family is already acting like this-don’t just stand there!”
Layla had been holding her emotions back, but her grandfather’s words gave her the push she needed.
She stepped forward and boldly confessed:
“Lord Valerian Nox, from the moment I saw your body, I fell deeply in love with you.”
Her words stunned everyone.
“I even dreamed of you at night,” Layla continued without hesitation. “I know you might hold grudges against me-like the time I helped Zion Watson treat his daughter-but everyone makes mistakes.
Please, grant me a chance to meet with you and explain.
As my grandfather said, I am willing to become your lover. I won’t question how many wives you take. If you accept me, I will dedicate myself entirely to you, striving to be worthy of becoming your wife. Together, we could become a legendary pair!”
Her confession sent shockwaves through the crowd.
What?
Layla had seen Lord Valerian Nox’s body?
Jealousy filled the air.
For them, this was no different than a man catching a glimpse of a goddess’s beauty-a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
But her words that followed were even more shocking.
The cold and aloof Layla, revered as the “First Saintly Hand of the Southern Territory,” had openly declared her love for Lord Valerian Nox.
She even admitted she was willing to become his lover-her tone humble, her admiration boundless, her passion unrestrained.
It was unheard of.
Yet Layla showed no embarrassment. Her love was bold and fearless.
“Is it wrong for a beauty to love a hero?” she asked. “Everyone has the right to pursue love, and I am no exception. Besides, Lord Valerian Nox is extraordinary-young, brilliant…
To stand beside him as he ascends to greater heights is a dream worth chasing.
He may even become the Heavenly Sovereign in the future. Who wouldn’t want to be his lover? For a noblewoman, it would be an honor!”
At that moment, Scott Chilton chuckled, raising his glass.
“Interesting… This just gets more and more interesting. I can’t wait for the day this girl meets him face-to-face.”
But Flynn’s expression grew colder.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” he muttered. “True. But how many mistakes have you made, Layla? Too many. And how many chances have I already given you?”
The Clark family was dumbfounded.
Vicente, in particular, felt as though he had been struck by lightning.
Layla, the woman he had tirelessly pursued without success, had just confessed to Lord Valerian Nox-willing to be his lover, no less!
Even if it was Lord Valerian Nox, Vicente felt humiliated.
Yet, this humiliation only fueled his determination to surpass him someday.
“Godfather,” Vicente pleaded again, “please grant me an audience. I am willing to follow you to the ends of the earth!”
Still, there was no response.
The crowd grew restless, each person replaying their words, wondering where they might have gone wrong.
Their sincerity was undeniable-why wouldn’t Lord Valerian Nox meet them?
Just then, Carter Langford opened the gates to the Langford family estate.
The crowd surged forward, bombarding him with questions.
“Mr. Langford, is Lord Valerian Nox here?”
“We heard he came straight to the Langford family from Crystal Liquor-why won’t he meet us?”
Carter smiled faintly at their desperation.
“Lord Valerian Nox is indeed here. He’s enjoying wine in the back mountain.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Paxton’s envy was palpable.
So the Langford family had secured Lord Valerian Nox’s favor after all.
Lawson Langford’s life had been traded for his benevolence-a price Paxton would have gladly paid himself.
Lord Valerian Nox was too young and too exceptional. If he became the Heavenly Sovereign in the future, aligning with him now would be invaluable.
But the Clark family still had an advantage.
Unlike the Langfords, they hadn’t offended Lord Valerian Nox.
Perhaps their sincerity hadn’t been enough.
“Lord Valerian Nox is in the back mountain?” Paxton declared. “Fine. I’ll meet him in person!”
Before anyone could stop him, Paxton began marching toward the mountain.
Carter Langford chuckled darkly.
“Mr. Clark, I advise you not to go. You’ll only experience despair.”
“Despair?” Paxton sneered. “Don’t try to scare me, Carter. You’re just afraid I’ll win Lord Valerian Nox’s favor and overshadow the Langford family.”
“Relax. Our families have always been close. We can serve Lord Valerian Nox together.”
Carter’s face darkened.
“Close? From this moment on, the Langford family has no ties to the Clark family. We are strangers!”
The crowd was stunned.
Had Carter just severed a thirty-year alliance?
Why?
It became clear: the Langford family wanted to monopolize Lord Valerian Nox’s favor, willing to burn bridges with the Clark family to do so.
Paxton’s eyes narrowed.
“Fine!” he roared. “If you want to fight, then so be it. Vicente, hold him off. I’ll meet Lord Valerian Nox myself!”
Vicente and his guards charged at Carter Langford as Paxton bolted toward the back mountain.