Chapter 54: Chapter 54 - Double Fortune
I watched as Kenneth endured a slap from Nola O’Connor without uttering a word, his hand still firmly gripping her wrist.
Unable to break free, Nola angrily glanced back at her bodyguard.
"Noah Seth, teach him a lesson!" she shouted.
The man called Noah stepped forward and delivered a sharp blow to Kenneth’s wrist.
With a crisp smack, Kenneth winced in pain and involuntarily released his grip.
"Kenneth, seems like following Woods Walters has made you forget your place," Noah sneered.
Kenneth’s expression turned grim as he forced a bitter smile. "Senior Brother, you must admit Miss O’Connor was clearly in the wrong here..."
"I couldn’t care less who’s right or wrong. Master ordered me to protect her!" Noah replied coldly.
"Stop wasting time and beat him up already!" Nola demanded, raging like a provoked lioness.
I felt my face hardening as my patience wore thin.
"For someone so young, your arrogance is astounding. What kind of upbringing have you had?" I asked coldly.
"You dare mention my parents?" Nola’s eyes widened in fury.
"Noah Seth, make him pay!" she stamped her foot in anger.
Noah advanced toward me, giving me a calculating once-over before speaking dismissively. "Kid, hand over the Angelica dahurica to our Miss now, bow down and apologize, and I might let you walk away."
I scoffed at his demand. "Are you even qualified to make such threats?"
Noah’s expression darkened. "Looks like you’re asking for trouble!"
The moment he finished speaking, he launched his fist directly at me.
Noah certainly possessed more skill than Kenneth, but if he couldn’t even defeat Victor Green, he stood no chance against me. Without even glancing his way, I delivered a swift kick to his lower abdomen.
Before his fist could make contact, Noah’s body went flying backward, crashing violently to the ground with blood spattering from his mouth.
Witnessing this, Nola showed no sign of backing down. Instead, she clenched her fists and lunged at me.
"You’re done for! Nobody messes with me! My dad will beat you to a pulp!" she yelled, attacking with both fists and feet.
I grew increasingly irritated. Part of me wanted to knock some sense into this unruly girl with a single slap. However, my traditional upbringing had instilled in me a strong aversion to striking women.
Fortunately, Kenneth quickly pulled Nola away.
Standing at a distance, Nola pointed at me defiantly. "Just wait! My father won’t let you off the hook!"
I chose to ignore her entirely, seeing no point in further engagement.
Once inside the car, Kenneth looked apologetic. "Mr. Raymond, I’m truly sorry about this..."
I waved dismissively. "How is any of this your fault? Though I question your master’s character. What kind of respected martial artist raises such an entitled daughter? He can’t be much of a person himself."
Hearing this, Kenneth rushed to explain. "My master is actually honorable. It’s just that... years ago, he had a martial arts duel with someone who later became his enemy and killed my mistress. He’s always carried guilt about it and has overindulged Nola as a result..."
I offered no comment on this revelation.
Woods Walters drove me back to Longyue Community. Before departing, Kenneth assured me, "Mr. Raymond, don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to my master."
I nodded in acknowledgment.
I wasn’t particularly concerned. If Quinn O’Connor dared to confront me at my doorstep, I wouldn’t hesitate to teach him a lesson.
After Woods left, I eagerly retrieved the Angelica dahurica.
Though unremarkable in appearance, its medicinal fragrance was potent. I estimated this Angelica to be approximately ten years old, making it the most mature herb I’d ever handled.
I wasted no time preparing to refine a Qi Gathering Pill using the precious herb.
For practitioners at the Qi Refining Stage, the Qi Gathering Pill was invaluable, capable of advancing one through an entire stage with just a single dose!
"This Angelica dahurica should yield one Qi Gathering Pill," I thought to myself.
I proceeded to slice the herb and place it into my sand pot.
Since I hadn’t yet mastered spiritual fire manipulation, I had to rely on natural flame.
I raised my fingers over the sand pot, channeling my qi into it, using my energy to guide the refinement process.
After more than two hours of concentrated work, my qi reserves were nearly depleted.
Finally, with a resounding boom, the sand pot shattered!
Among the fragments lay two peanut-sized pills, perfectly formed.
"I actually produced two?" I stared at the Qi Gathering Pills in amazement. This completely exceeded my expectations!
I had anticipated crafting just one, but ended up with double the result! My excitement mounted as I considered the implications.
"If a ten-year-old herb can yield two Qi Gathering Pills, what about twenty, thirty, or even hundred-year specimens? How many pills could those produce?"
The possibilities thrilled me. With sufficient herbs, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage seemed entirely achievable!
Without hesitation, I swallowed both Qi Gathering Pills.
——
At the O’Connor family residence, Quinn O’Connor, renowned as River City’s foremost martial arts expert, commanded respect throughout the region.
Wealthy young men frequently sought to become his disciples, continuously expanding his network of connections.
"Dad, I don’t care what it takes, you have to teach him a lesson!" Nola O’Connor stomped her foot, glaring angrily at her father.
Quinn massaged his temples, feeling a headache brewing. "Have you been causing trouble again?"
Currently, the O’Connor Family Martial Arts School had scheduled a competition with the Gutierrez Family Martial Arts School. Though ostensibly a friendly match between disciples, the outcome would significantly reflect each school’s reputation.
Quinn had many disciples, but rumors suggested the Gutierrez family had secured a formidable ally, causing Quinn considerable anxiety about the upcoming contest.
A defeat would potentially devastate the O’Connor Family Martial Arts School’s standing.
"It wasn’t my fault! He started it!" Nola protested vehemently.
Quinn turned to Noah Seth and asked sternly, "What happened? Didn’t I instruct you to protect Nola?"
Noah responded apologetically, "Master, that man knows martial arts. I couldn’t match him..."
"Useless trash! One kick and you were down!" Nola interjected disdainfully.
Quinn appeared shocked. "Is there truly someone so skilled in River City?"
Noah was his most accomplished disciple! Defeated with a single kick?
"Master, I... I underestimated him," Noah admitted reluctantly.
"A failure will always make excuses," Nola commented, crossing her arms in dissatisfaction.
Quinn, however, was formulating a different strategy.
If he could convince this powerful individual to assist them, wouldn’t that solve the O’Connor family’s predicament?
But Quinn sighed deeply. His daughter had just antagonized this very person, making such assistance unlikely.
"And Kenneth helped that guy too!" Nola added angrily.
Hearing this, Quinn suddenly perked up. "You mean... Kenneth knows him?"
"Yes, he even took his side! Dad, you need to punish Kenneth!" Nola demanded indignantly.
Quinn’s face lit up with unexpected joy. "Perhaps fortune favors us after all! Quickly, summon Kenneth!"
"Great! I’ll call him over so you can teach him a lesson!" Nola exclaimed excitedly, misinterpreting her father’s intentions as a promise of revenge.
