Chapter 39: Chapter 39 - Merciless Display
Carter Hill’s face stiffened instantly. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he quickly recognized the difference in status between them.
"Mi... Miss Sean, I... I’m sorry for my behavior just now," Carter Hill stammered, awkwardly wiping sweat from his brow. "Please understand, my son is lying in the hospital, and I’m extremely worried..."
Mabel Sean’s expression softened, showing no signs of holding a grudge. "Uncle Hill, did you come to see me about something specific?" she asked with a gentle smile.
Bitterness welled up inside Carter Hill. He’d originally intended to confront Mabel, but under these circumstances, questioning her seemed pointless.
"Don’t worry," Mabel spoke first, her tone casual. "I won’t interfere in whatever’s happening between you and Mason Raymond."
Carter Hill’s eyes lit up immediately. "Miss Sean, do you truly mean that?" he asked, barely containing his excitement.
"Of course," Mabel replied with a small smile. "I won’t help him, nor will I assist you. You two will need to resolve your differences yourselves."
Carter Hill could hardly contain his joy! He didn’t need anyone’s help to deal with someone as insignificant as Mason Raymond. As long as Mabel Sean stayed out of it, that was fantastic news!
"Well then, Miss Sean, I’ll take my leave," Carter Hill said with a respectful bow before hastily departing from the Sean estate.
——
At home, I sat cross-legged on the floor, deeply immersed in studying the heritage memories flowing through my mind. Beyond medical skills and dao techniques, this heritage contained various Xuan arts, though I’d never applied them.
"With sufficient strength, both medical skills and Xuan arts will merely serve as supplementary tools," I thought while reviewing the techniques. If I could advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage or perhaps even the higher Monastic Stage, healing would require nothing more than a simple hand gesture.
I spent the entire day refining ten Soul Nourishment Pills. By evening, I called Woods Walters to my home.
"Here are ten Soul Nourishment Pills," I said, handing the container to Woods.
Woods looked at the pills curiously. "Mr. Raymond, only ten pills this time?" he asked tentatively.
I smiled at his question. "One hundred and sixty thousand dollars each, and you can have as many as you want. Alternatively, you can exchange them for herbs aged over twenty years."
"No problem at all," Woods nodded quickly, accepting my terms.
Shortly after Woods left, an unwelcome visitor arrived—the white-haired young man from yesterday. His face now bore additional scars, and he leaned heavily on a crutch.
"What brings you here?" I asked, giving him a cursory glance.
The white-haired young man shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Mr. Hill sent me to inform you about a banquet tonight at the Riverfish House."
My eyebrows rose with interest. "Is that so?" After a moment’s consideration, I nodded. "Very well, I’ll be there on time."
The white-haired young man acknowledged this but made no move to leave.
"Is there something else?" I asked with a slight frown.
After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke. "I have a question. At Mr. Hill’s banquet last night, I noticed your breathing techniques. I reviewed the video footage today. They seem... extraordinary."
His observation surprised me. "You can actually perceive those subtleties?" I asked skeptically.
"I once observed someone practicing breathing techniques said to heal the five viscera and six bowels from within. Your method bears striking similarities," he explained solemnly.
This revelation astonished me further. Perhaps I wasn’t the only practitioner of dao techniques in this world.
"Just curiosity, nothing more," the white-haired young man concluded when I remained silent. He nodded respectfully before departing.
I watched his retreating figure thoughtfully. "This kid possesses impressive skills and knowledge. I should consult him when the opportunity arises."
——
That evening, I headed for the Riverfish House. Since I’d broken Xavier Hill’s arm, I specifically prepared a Marrow Generating Pill as a peace offering. I was doing this primarily out of consideration for Mabel Sean, uncertain about the tensions between these influential families.
The Riverfish House sat beside the river—isolated but surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Carter Hill had reserved the entire venue for tonight.
Four skilled bodyguards stood vigilantly at the entrance. As I approached, they stopped me immediately.
"Identify yourself," one demanded coldly.
"Mason Raymond," I replied calmly.
The bodyguard nodded and stepped aside. "Go in. Mr. Hill is waiting for you."
Without wasting time, I strode directly into the restaurant. More than ten bodyguards populated the main hall. A man in a white suit sat at the head table, indulging excessively in food and drink.
I glanced briefly at him before approaching. "Greetings, Mr. Hill," I said respectfully.
Carter Hill looked up, undisguised anger flashing in his eyes. "So you’re Mason Raymond? You’ve got some nerve breaking my son’s arm and potentially crippling him!" he snarled through gritted teeth.
"Xavier initiated the aggression. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have—" I began explaining.
"I don’t care about your reasons!" Carter Hill cut me off sharply. He brandished a club menacingly. "If you harm my son, I’ll ensure you suffer the consequences!"
As his words hung in the air, Carter Hill suddenly swung the club down violently against the white-haired young man’s knee! A sickening crack echoed through the room as the kneecap shattered. The young man collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.
Carter Hill spat contemptuously on his face. "Useless trash! You were supposed to protect my son, yet you let his arm get broken. What good are you?"
Despite excruciating pain, the white-haired young man remained silent.
"Break his limbs and throw him out," Carter Hill ordered coldly.
"Yes, sir!" The surrounding bodyguards moved toward the injured young man.
"Stop!" I shouted, anger rising within me. "Your son was the one I struck. What does this man have to do with it?"
Carter Hill snorted dismissively. "He failed to protect my son—that’s dereliction of duty! Anyone neglecting their responsibilities deserves punishment!"
I stared at Carter Hill, contempt growing. "He neglected his duty by not protecting Xavier? What about you? Have you educated your son properly?"
"How dare you!" Carter Hill slammed his fist on the table and jumped to his feet. "Who are you to lecture me?"
I met his gaze with icy determination. "No wonder Xavier is so arrogant and overbearing—with a father like you, it’s hardly surprising. Let me make this clear: breaking his arm was just the beginning. If he provokes me again, next time I’ll take his life!"
