Novels by Laurel

The crowd pointed and whispered among themselves."Kid, do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?" Ryan's face turned ominously dark. "Right now, you're a sitting duck! If you don't want to meet a gruesome end, hand over the Longevity Fruit and get on your knees, or you'll be left in pieces!""No Longevity Fruit for you, but I've got a life to spare. If you've got the nerve, come and get it yourself," Gabriel taunted with a beckoning gesture."Fine! Fine! Since you have a death wish, don't blame me!" Ryan ordered, "Boys, chop off his limbs! I'll turn him into a human stump to cool my rage!"Immediately, several martial artists rushed forward, eager to claim the first strike."Boom!" Gabriel slammed his foot down.The floor exploded beneath him, sending debris flying, and a barrage of stones, like bullets, pelted the martial artists.In an instant, they were riddled with holes, wailing in agony."Attack! All together!" Ryan roared

"In your next life, be smarter." With a flick of his wrist, Gabriel tossed William's lifeless body aside like it was nothing more than trash.“Thud!” The heavy thump echoed ominously as William's body landed at Yvette and the others' feet.His face was frozen in terror and disbelief.Even in death, he couldn't comprehend why Gabriel dared to strike."Ah?" Everyone gasped, their eyes wide with shock as they stared at the lifeless body at their feet.They stood there, dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened.A noble scion, the pride of the Capital, killed just like that? How could it be possible?!After a brief silence, the room erupted into chaos."Gabriel! Are you out of your mind? You... you actually killed William?!" Yvette pointed, her face a mask of shock.Gabriel killing William was like a commoner taking down a king—utter madness, a complete disregard for the natural order!"Kid! You're finished!

Gabriel let out a cold snort, and with a swift flick of his wrist, "whizz, whizz, whizz..." a barrage of golden needles shot out, piercing precisely into the vital acupoints of the bodyguards.In an instant, the bodyguards seemed frozen in place, unable to move a muscle."You're asking for it!" William's face twisted with malice as he suddenly drew his sword, thrusting it straight at Gabriel's chest with lethal intent.Gabriel flicked his fingers, and with a swift "whizz, whizz," two needles embedded themselves in William's shoulder and neck.His body went rigid, limbs numb, unable to budge an inch."What kind of sorcery is this?!" William's face was a mask of shock.He, a martial artist at the peak of internal strength, immobilized by mere needles?"Your skills are lacking, but your arrogance is not. Who gave you the nerve to slander and assault others?" Gabriel's face was icy as he slowly advanced."You, Gabriel! You better let me go, or you

As danger loomed large, a hand shot out, grabbing the wrist of the bald man in black. His massive palm halted just an inch from Lily's face, unable to move any further."I don't care if you bully them, but these two are hands-off," Lucas said calmly."And who are you to meddle in my affairs? You're asking for trouble!" The bald man in black's face darkened as he raised his other hand high, aiming to smash it down on Lucas's head.Lucas let out a soft snort, with lightning speed, his fist shot out like a bolt, striking the bald man's chest."Bang!" A resounding thud echoed.An invisible force blasted through the man's back, shattering a bottle several meters away.The bald man in black shuddered, collapsing limply to the ground, his fate uncertain."Brother!" The man in gray's face twisted in shock. "You dare harm my brother? I'll kill you!"With a fierce step forward, he charged like a raging bull, throwing a punch aimed straight at Lucas's fa

"A little fish in a big pond, huh? Big talk for someone with no backbone.""A coward's a coward, always got an excuse up their sleeve. Pathetic!""All bark and no bite!""Spineless wimp! Makes me sick!"He was better off silent, but the moment he opened his mouth, he was asking for it."Kid, if you're useless, just admit it. Why put on airs?"Wayne sneered, "Get on your knees and bow twice, and maybe I'll show you a trick or two so you don't end up peeing your pants.""If you're such hot stuff, why not take out those two behind you first?" Lucas tilted his chin."Huh?" Wayne spun around, spotting two more figures at the door.Both were bald, one dressed in gray, the other in black.They were built like brick walls, eyes sharp as daggers, with arms that could crush boulders."Well, look who we have here! Two more daredevils?" Wayne smirked, clearly entertained."Was it you who injured our man?" the gray-clad bald man spoke f

"Hmph! It seems you're clueless about Wayne's background. Let me fill you in. His family is a real estate powerhouse in the Capital, with assets in the billions and connections that run deep in both the underworld and the legitimate world," the girl in red boasted, her face full of pride."And?" Gabriel replied with a dismissive shrug."Wayne's not just about his family's clout. He's a high achiever himself—an Oxford graduate, pulling in millions every year. And here's the kicker: he's been mastering martial arts since he was a kid, with talent that's off the charts. He recently joined the Martial Arts Association, a true blend of brains and brawn!" she continued, her pride undiminished."So?" Gabriel smirked, still unimpressed."With Wayne's status and prowess, he can rule the roost wherever he goes, a force to be reckoned with, far beyond what someone like you could ever hope to match!" The girl was starting to get annoyed."And?" Gabriel remained no

Seeing Frank Yates about to step through the doors, Cloud Lee’s anxiety spiked. She rushed forward, grabbing his arm."Frank, think this through!" she hissed urgently. "Just because you know a little medical theory doesn't mean you can cure everything. You don't have a Medical License. If that girl dies on your watch, can you bear the responsibility? Think about the consequences!"Cloud Lee was a sharp woman. The formidable men guarding Yvonne Hood radiated power and danger. If Frank intervened and failed—if that little girl died while he was treating her—these men wouldn't just file a lawsuit. They would destroy him.Yvonne Hood turned to look at Cloud Lee. She recognized her from the crash site the night before."I trust Mr. Yates," Yvonne said, her voice trembling but firm. She looked Cloud in the eye. "No matter what the outcome is, I promise I will not hold Mr. Yates responsible for anything. I swear it."The previous night, Yvonne had

As the Purple Glow Dagger vibrated with high-frequency tremors, the blood-red hue that saturated the jade began to recede like a tide going out. It moved swiftly, draining away to reveal the material underneath.Frank Yates’s right hand could no longer maintain its grip. The weapon shook violently, breaking free from his fingers. But instead of clattering to the floor, it floated in mid-air, hovering steadily at chest height in front of him.The transformation was complete. The crimson stain was gone. In its place, the dagger appeared to be made of crystal-clear, colorless glass—transparent and pure.Frank stared unblinkingly, his breath caught in his throat, waiting for the next change.Suddenly, the mysterious carvings etched into the blade's surface ignited. The Runes flared to life, emitting a brilliant, regal purple light.The glow wasn't blinding; rather, it was mesmerizing. Frank could clearly trace the intricate shifts and flows of energy

Once the Nine-Cycle Soul Return Needle formation was complete, Frank Yates’s vision shifted. To his spirit-enhanced eyes, the translucent gray shadow hovering over the little girl’s body—her fleeing Soul Essence—halted its ascent. It was no longer drifting toward the Gates of Hell, but it remained stubbornly detached, refusing to sink back into the physical vessel."It’s not enough," Frank thought, sweat trickling down his spine. "I need to force it back in."He extended his left hand, fingers pressed tightly together, and hovered his palm just inches above the girl's forehead. To the onlookers, the gesture looked mystical, almost like a priest performing a last rite or a magician preparing a trick. Even the police officers, who were busy documenting the crash site, paused to stare.The mother, Joy’s mom, sat on the cold asphalt, her bloody hands clasped together. She had stopped screaming. Now, she just watched Frank’s left h

Frank Yates knew that in the eyes of his wife, his image was set in stone. He was the live-in loser, the man who drove the car and cooked the meals, not a man of substance. Words were cheap, and after four years of being looked down upon, he knew that no amount of eloquent speech would change Cloud Lee’s mind. Only cold, hard facts—undeniable reality placed directly in front of her—would shatter her preconceived notions.So, he remained silent.His hands tightened on the leather steering wheel of the Mercedes, his knuckles whitening slightly. instead of arguing, he pressed down on the accelerator. Ahead, the traffic light at the intersection was counting down. The digital green numbers flickered: Nine... eight... seven...The engine purred, a low growl of German engineering, as the car surged forward to beat the light.Sensing the heavy silence, Cloud Lee sighed. The alcohol in her system was fading, leaving behind a residue of guilt. She realiz

"President Jennings, regarding the financing round... I'm really counting on you. Let me toast you again."Cloud Lee’s face was already flushed with a heavy, crimson hue. She stood up, her legs slightly unsteady beneath the table, and raised her wine glass toward one of the men seated at the large round table. Her vision was blurring at the edges, the luxurious decor of the Ink Flower Pavilion swimming in her sight, but she forced a professional smile.The man surnamed Jennings stood up as well, his smile practiced and oily. "Cloud, come on now. We’re old acquaintances. There’s no need for such formality. Leave the capital issues to me. I’ve got you covered."He patted his chest with a theatrical display of generosity, the picture of a reliable ally.They clinked glasses. Cloud Lee tilted her head back and drained the contents in one go. The liquid fire of the high-proof Baijiu scorched her throat, settling in her stomach like a hot stone,

Frank Yates didn’t waste a second on preamble. He pivoted on his heel, torque generated from the base of his spine spiraling upward through his hips. His leg whipped out—a blur of kinetic energy that connected solidly with the side of Blaze’s face.The impact was sickeningly wet.Blaze’s massive frame didn’t just fall; it was launched. He skid across the asphalt, his body carving a long, jagged trail through the dust and gravel. The left side of his face was instantly deformed, swelling rapidly into a grotesque, purple mound, while blood gushed from his split lip, splattering the ground.Silence hung heavy for a heartbeat, broken only by the settling dust.Then, a guttural roar tore from Blaze’s throat."Arghhh!!"It wasn't a cry of pain; it was a scream of primal rage. To Frank Yates’s astonishment, the man’s upper body began to convulse and expand. The fabric of his shirt screamed in protest before surre