Chapter 30: Chapter 30 - Iron Grip
Since embarking on my cultivation journey, my hearing had improved dramatically. Even though Jasper Thompson and his companion spoke in hushed tones, I caught every word with perfect clarity.
I stood motionless in the room, fixing Jasper with a cold stare, silently waiting for his response.
Jasper gazed toward my room, his lips sealed in silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Jasper finally waved his hand dismissively. "Return to Chuzzle."
This incident had clearly shifted Jasper’s perception of me, though I could tell he harbored lingering suspicions.
"Mr. Thompson, we can’t simply walk away from this. Should I arrange some... assistance for Xavier Hill?" one of Jasper’s subordinates suggested with sinister undertones.
Jasper paused thoughtfully before waving his hand again.
"From this moment forward, I will not meddle in any matters between Mason Raymond and Xavier Hill," Jasper declared with a resigned sigh.
"Mr. Thompson, but—"
"Enough. This discussion is over." Jasper cut him off with a decisive hand gesture.
Once Jasper departed, I immediately set my plans in motion. The priority now was generating income—I couldn’t keep relying on Mabel Sean’s generosity.
I settled in my room and began the meticulous process of refining Soul Nourishment Pills. Though relatively simple to create, these pills offered remarkable bodily benefits. In today’s world, countless people had damaged their constitutions through excess—appearing robust externally while deteriorating internally. The Soul Nourishment Pills provided the perfect remedy to restore bodily balance.
I worked tirelessly until evening, finally completing the batch. Beyond the Soul Nourishment Pills, I dedicated three additional hours to crafting a single special Hydrating Pill for Mabel Sean. For this particular creation, I carefully selected premium ingredients from an almost discarded herb collection.
"I’ve never presented Miss Sean with a gift before," I thought to myself. "This will serve as a token of my appreciation."
I visited a local grocery store to purchase a wooden box as packaging for the Hydrating Pill. With everything prepared, I headed straight to the Sean family Estate.
Upon arrival, I found Mabel engaged in a phone conversation. Noticing me, she promptly ended her call, her expression registering mild surprise.
"Mason, what brings you here?" she asked.
I offered a rueful smile. "I’ve come to apologize."
"Apologize? For what?" Confusion flashed across her beautiful eyes.
"I shouldn’t have disregarded your feelings this morning," I explained helplessly.
Mabel burst into laughter at my words.
She rolled her eyes playfully. "You fool, I’d never blame you for that. On the contrary, if you hadn’t shown some backbone, I would have been truly disappointed."
"Really?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"Of course," Mabel confirmed with a warm smile.
"Mason, I want you to be yourself, not constantly holding back and accommodating others due to needless worries," she added earnestly.
Her words deepened my admiration for her. I couldn’t recall meeting anyone quite like Mabel before—perhaps it was due to our different social circles.
"Alright!" I nodded firmly.
Just as I prepared to present her with the Hydrating Pill, the thunderous roar of an engine interrupted us from outside.
Looking out, I spotted a Lamborghini parking nearby. A tall young man with dyed blonde hair emerged from the vehicle. Standing around 1.8 meters tall with well-proportioned muscles and dressed in an impeccable suit, he resembled a television heartthrob. Beside him, I felt decidedly underdressed.
This newcomer was none other than Xavier Hill from Chuzzle.
Xavier strode into the house and quickly approached Mabel.
"Miss Sean, why didn’t you inform me of your visit to Chuzzle?" he inquired enthusiastically.
"Why should I?" Mabel rebuffed him bluntly.
Xavier’s expression grew visibly uncomfortable.
After an awkward cough, he continued, "I’ve heard you’ve been spending time with someone named Mason Raymond lately. I’m curious what sort of man could capture Miss Sean’s attention."
"I am Mason Raymond," I stepped forward immediately.
Xavier scrutinized me from head to toe before letting out a laugh. "Really? You’re Mason Raymond?"
"Genuine," I replied expressionlessly.
Though Xavier clearly wanted to laugh more, he extended his hand with forced politeness. "Nice to meet you."
I gave him a brief glance before accepting his handshake.
"Nice to meet you too," I responded emotionlessly.
The moment our hands connected, I felt tremendous pressure, while Xavier’s expression turned playful.
I narrowed my eyes and couldn’t suppress a sneer.
In the next instant, Xavier’s face underwent a rapid transformation—from playful to shocked, then angry, and finally fearful!
Xavier felt as though his hand was trapped in an iron vice, his bones seemingly on the verge of shattering!
