Rosalie set her phone down. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and she drove straight to Sebastian's convenience store. When Lyanna saw Rosalie's furious expression, she burst into laughter and went up to her, asking, "Ms. Griffin, why do you look so angry as soon as you walk through the door? My master hasn't offended you, has he? Come and sit down. My master is in seclusion, so please wait for a while." Lyanna led Rosalie to a chair and poured her a cup of tea. At that moment, the door to the inner room opened, and Sebastian strode out. Seeing Rosalie was there, he looked startled but quickly smiled. "What's wrong? I see that your complexion isn't looking too great."Rosalie took a sip of tea and frowned as she said, "It's nothing! It's just that Cecilia was being too rude. Not only is she getting close to Ethan, but she keeps saying bad things about you to my face.""I thought it was something serious. Let her say what she wants." Sebastian smiled wryly and
What if the three top swordsmen took the opportunity to attack Sebastian? That would be no laughing matter. Rosalie had just finished speaking when they heard the sound of brakes screeching urgently to a stop outside the door.Moments later, the sound of leather shoes clacking on the floor echoed as Liam strode in, clad in his uniform. "Sebastian, Rosalie is right. You must not attend the banquet tonight," he declared and took out an identical invitation, tossing it onto the table. "Hmm? Liam? What are you doing here?" Sebastian asked, looking Liam up and down. Liam had been busy with work recently and hadn't come to visit Sebastian for a long time. "Seb, I came to warn you. I'm not the only one who received this invitation. The Stallones and the Winters did too. Not only that, but almost every influential figure in Sartvale will also be in attendance. I have a feeling that this is a trap for you, Seb," he said sternly as he analyzed the situation. Liam had sent people to
Liam was startled to hear what Sebastian had said. "Seb, what do you mean by that?" he asked. Sebastian smiled faintly. "It's simple. Just keep them waiting."He knew very well what the intentions of Trafford and the others were. They just wanted to embarrass him in public, and he didn't want to get into an argument publicly with the Nine Sects. After all, not all the high-level executives of the Nine Sects were traitors like Trafford. Sebastian could see everything that Trafford was doing, but it wasn't the time to settle the score yet. "Seb, do you mean that you accepted Swordster's invitation but will be late to the banquet?" There was a glint in Liam's eyes, and he understood what Sebastian meant very quickly. If Sebastian accepted Ethan's invitation but didn't show up, it would be a veritable slap in the face for Ethan. Sword Towers would be the ones getting embarrassed. Sebastian smiled, patting Liam on the shoulder. He grinned and said, "Exactly. This is how you win w
If Sebastian refused to return the Soulbell, he would be branded as the person who had taken Demongate's treasure by force. If word spread about his actions, Sword Towers or any other sects would be able to use this as an excuse to cause trouble for Sebastian.Ethan couldn't help but feel triumphant. He believed that he had gotten back at Sebastian. Although Sebastian had had the upper hand verbally, Ethan had come off looking morally correct.Sebastian didn't let him stay happy for too long. He said abruptly, "It's none of your business."Ethan's smile froze at once, and everyone present turned to look at him.Sebastian had a point. The loss of Demongate's precious treasure had nothing to do with Sword Towers at all!"Sebastian!" Ethan's rage erupted like a volcano.His patience had worn thin. How could Sebastian humiliate him like this when Trafford was right here? "I need you to understand something. In Dramon's martial arts community, you can't just do whatever you want b
"Pleasure to meet you," Sebastian said, lowering his head slightly to Trafford, looking perfectly self-assured."I am a deacon of the Gladius Sect. I used to be very aggressive in how I acted, so I was given the nickname of 'Swordster' by my peers in the martial arts community." Trafford clasped his hands behind his back and looked beadily at Sebastian as he introduced himself."I've heard." Sebastian nodded slightly.He was familiar with the name. In fact, a few years earlier, his mentor had told him personally about the rumors regarding some of the high-level executives in the Nine Sects. Trafford had happened to be one of them.It was just that the nickname hadn't been given to him the way he had claimed. Trafford had been born into a prestigious family, and the year he turned 16, his entire family was killed overnight. Out of the 76 members of the entire family, Trafford was the only one who survived.Luckily, he had been saved by an expert, who had then taught Trafford ever
The slap resounded across the lobby, and the sound of it traveled far into the quiet night. Ethan stood in stunned silence. Even Raphael and Leah were startled."How dare you!" Trafford barked. "How can you defame someone of Mr. Ballard's character?" He then turned to look at Sebastian and said, "However, since the rightful owner is present, I hope you can return the object to him, Mr. Ballard." Sebastian looked curiously at Trafford before laughing sardonically. Shaking his head, he asked, "What if I tell you I don't want to?"Trafford gritted his teeth. "Fine! I see that there are still heroes among our youth. You remind me of myself at your age. However…"His tone changed, and he said coldly, "The Soulbell is still Demongate's sacred object, and they've come to Sword Towers to ask them to seek justice. If you refuse to return it…" Trafford's gaze turned to Ethan.Ethan looked at him in confusion. This wasn't what they had planned beforehand. However, he soon understood w
"You're very confident, I see," Sebastian remarked, looking coldly at Ethan.Ethan scoffed, his expression cold and menacing. "You'll soon find out why I'm so confident."Sebastian's gaze swept impassively over him before he glanced at the high-ranking members of the Steinberg Martial Arts Association. Turning to Liam and Gavin, he said, "Let's go."Both Liam and Gavin were utterly confused. They couldn't understand why Sebastian had shown up even though he hadn't had any intention of attending the banquet."Mr. Ballard, can you explain what you were doing?" Gavin couldn't help asking once they were in the car."Liam, you're not going to ask the same question, are you?" Sebastian pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his fingers. He didn't light it and just stared impassively out through the car window. Liam frowned and said thoughtfully, "Seb, I was looking closely at them. There didn't seem to be any sign of the Sword Zealot and the Sword Fiend in the crowd. "Not all
Sebastian heard Whitney crying out, and he hurriedly turned to help her up."Sebastian… I'm alright," Whitney said. "I just moved too quickly, and it tugged at the wound. I'm fine."Although Sebastian had dressed her wound, she had still been severely injured by Terence's attack. Full recovery would take time. "I'm going out to take care of some business, and I'll be back right away. Lyanna and Nina will take care of you. You mustn't pull at the wound again. If your natural energy is damaged, it won't be easy to deal with," Sebastian instructed gently as he helped Whitney to sit down.Whitney looked up at him and said, "But I have an interview this afternoon to hire someone to manage the pharmaceutical factory. I can't just skip it. "The pharmaceutical factory has stopped operations for quite a few days already, and the deadline for our new batch of products is approaching. We can't delay a single day more."Sebastian took a deep breath and said thoughtfully, "It's alright. You
Sebastian threw his head back in laughter. He strode forward, standing in the center of the hall, and said coldly. "Ungrateful? How could you have the audacity to say such a thing?"Even if I'm surrounded by enemies, you Ballards can forget about making me submit! It's just death, after all. If I even blink, then I won't call myself a man!"Everyone there stared at Sebastian."How dare that brat be so cocky? If he's not punished, it'll be a disgrace to our family rules!""He should be given the death penalty!""It'll be a disaster if we just let him be, and it'll only bring trouble for our family. Please give the order, and we'll kill him at once!"The entire hall was in an uproar. Even Preston, who had been speaking up for Sebastian and Samson, sighed in resignation.Since Sebastian had already made his stance clear, Preston couldn't help even if he wanted to.Sebastian had roused the anger of everyone there, and Arnaud had closed his eyes and wasn't saying anything. He was cl
Sebastian was just about to step forward when Samson hastily waved a hand at him and said, "Sebastian, the grudges of the Ballard family from over ten years ago have nothing to do with you. Don't get involved!""But—"Sebastian's gaze sharpened as he turned to look at Milton. There was an icy glint in his eyes. Samson shook his head slightly at Sebastian. The Ballard Estate had at least ten experts at the eighth level of the Eldoria realm. At Sebastian's current level, trying to fight them would only bring him big trouble."Sebastian, one must learn how to adapt to the situation," Samson whispered into his ear using voice projection. "Today, I will exchange my legs for your and Whitney's freedom. Think of it as a payment for what I owe you and your mother."Sebastian clenched his fists tightly. He hated himself for being too weak. He couldn't even protect his own family in a place like the Ballard Estate, where many experts were gathered.However, he would never allow anyone to
"Do you accept it, Samson?" Arnaud asked harshly when he saw that Preston hadn't said anything else. He turned to look directly at Samson.Samson smiled bitterly and turned to look at Sebastian before raising his head to look at Arnaud, who was sitting high above them. He said, "Uncle Arnaud, I was the reason for everything that happened. I wish to ask you not to trouble Sebastian.""What are you talking about?" Preston was agitated. He stood up again and yelled, "There must still be an investigation about who was right and who was wrong. Why should they break your legs?"As he spoke, his eyes blazed with fury. He looked at the thin old man and said furiously, "Milton, you old bastard! How can you be so shameless at your age? Tell me! Did you embellish the story to Arnaud?""Uncle Preston!" Samson stopped him quickly and sighed slightly. "Forget it. It's my fault for bringing such huge trouble upon our family back then."I admit that I have let our family down. Since imprisoning m
As the man in the black robe yelled, the entire hall fell silent at once. The thin old man threw the black-robed old man a disgruntled look, but he returned obediently to his seat.Once the noise had died down, Preston stepped forward and swept an icy gaze over the crowd who were present. "You call yourself the elders of the family?"The monument of our ancestral dragon is right in front of you. How could you bully two young members of the family in front of it? Don't you feel any shame?"Besides, how dare you speak before Arnaud does?"After the harsh scolding they received from Preston, no one in the crowd dared to protest. Sebastian nodded involuntarily. It appeared that Preston did have influence in the Ballard family. At least no one had interrupted his scolding, including Arnaud and the man in the black robe.Preston huffed angrily and bowed to Arnaud, who sat in the middle. "Arnaud, I've brought Samson and Sebastian!"Preston went over to the chair next to the black-robe
"Sebastian, I won't be going in. Remember, don't say anything without being spoken to, and don't be impulsive!" Andreas said softly in Sebastian's ear when they reached the door to the hall. He then walked over to the crowd, which was packed on both sides of the hall.Samson and Preston walked into the hall without any change in expression. Sebastian hesitated for a moment before hurrying to catch up.When they reached the entrance, the two old men reached out to stop them and said to Preston, who was in the lead, "Preston, I'm afraid that it wouldn't be a good idea for you to go in. Everyone knows that you're biased toward Samson's family. If you get into an argument with Arnaud, then—""Nonsense!" Preston yelled furiously. He spoke in a menacing tone to the two old men. "Don't try those tricks with me. Today, I'm going to be the voice of reason. Who among you can do anything to me?"With that, he pushed them aside and strode into the hall.The two old men gazed after his ret
The Ballard Estate's resources were unfathomable as it was. Could Isabella's family be even more powerful than theirs?Sebastian clearly remembered that both he and Samson were under the Sacred Medicine Society. They even had the same mentor.The Sacred Medicine Society was above all the other mystic martial arts sects. Even the sect leaders of the Nine Sects were very respectful toward his mentor.If Samson really was from the same sect as Sebastian, then his mentor had clearly been unable to save him. Wouldn't that mean that the Sacred Medicine Society was no match for the Ballards?Wouldn't that mean that Isabella's family was an even greater entity?"If my mother's family is really that powerful, why couldn't they rescue my father? There would also be no reason to let me join the Sacred Medicine Society either, right?" Sebastian asked probingly. It seemed as if Andreas had never even thought about such questions. He smiled and shook his head. "You probably don't know about a
As they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Samson suddenly turned and lowered his voice as he said to Sebastian, "I didn't treat you and your mother well. Please don't hold it against me."Sebastian felt even more conflicted. After everything he had been through, he knew very well that there were times when one really had no choice. When Samson saw that Sebastian was looking at him with a conflicted expression, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a warm smile. Then he took a token from Preston and walked out of the yard.They followed Preston as he walked toward the east, where there was a majestic-looking building."Why are you helping me?" Sebastian suddenly turned and asked Andreas in a low voice. Andreas glanced at him and gave him a long, cryptic smile. "Do you think I'm helping you? I'm helping myself while doing so!""Oh?" Sebastian looked at Andreas in confusion, his brow knitted. Even Rexton had mentioned that Andreas was in Arnaud's favor. Why would he need t
When Rexton and the others had gone, Preston turned to look at Samson and said irritatedly, "You little rascal. Would I ever hurt you?"Besides, you've been here in isolation for ten years. Why hasn't your temper changed at all? Couldn't you show me some respect in front of all those people?"Samson glanced at Preston but didn't answer.Preston huffed and ignored him. He turned and looked Sebastian up and down instead."Hey, kiddo. Over ten years have passed in just the blink of an eye. You've probably forgotten me. I even gave you candy back then! Come over here and call me Great Uncle Preston!"Sebastian looked at him in surprise. It was true that he didn't have much of an impression of what had happened over ten years ago. However, he could tell from what Preston had said and done that his attitude toward Sebastian's family was completely different from Rexton and the others.Beside Sebastian, Andreas kept shooting him meaningful looks. Sebastian finally smiled and said, "Hell
Although the old man looked as if he was over 60 years old, his expression was sharp and lively, and his skin was smooth as a baby's. It gave him a youthful air.Even the severely injured apprentices all scrambled up from the ground when they saw him. They hastily bowed and said, "Greetings, Great Uncle Preston!"Even Rexton had no choice but to suppress his anger. He bowed sullenly to the old man and said, "Greetings, Uncle Preston."Preston Ballard glanced at Rexton and turned to shout angrily at the apprentices, "If I hadn't come, were you planning to tear the Ballard Estate apart? Look at all of you! Get out of here right now!"Despite the scolding they had been subjected to, none of them dared to protest. They all lowered their heads and slunk out of the yard. Preston glared angrily at them as they went and snorted. "What an embarrassment to the family!"Then he smiled slightly and looked at Samson and Sebastian as he asked, "Samson, do you have anything to say?"Samson lo