As he reached the door, he heard Maximilian's smug voice behind him. "And don't bother coming back, Mr. Miles. You're no longer welcome here."Miles slammed the door behind him, the cool night air doing little to calm his seething anger.Inside the dojo, in a private room away from the main hall, Marcus Autumn, the family patriarch, addressed a group of attentive disciples. His weathered face bore the marks of a life dedicated to martial arts, and his eyes still sparkled with the fire of a true enthusiast."Remember, my students," Marcus intoned, his voice carrying the weight of years of experience, "after tonight's banquet, we face a great challenge. My old friend Argus has issued a formal duel, and we must be prepared to defend the honor of our school."A murmur of excitement rippled through the gathered disciples. Marcus allowed himself a small smile before continuing."This is not just about individual glory. It's about proving the strength and integrity of our teachings. Each of

From the corner of his eye, Miles saw Rachel approach, her face lighting up with a smile. "Miles! You came back!"Before Miles could respond, a commotion from the far side of the room drew everyone's attention. Maximilian stood there, his face contorted with anger and disbelief."You can't be serious," he spat. "After everything that happened, you're just going to welcome him back with open arms?"Marcus turned to his grandson, his voice stern. "Maximilian, that's enough. Your behavior tonight has been disgraceful.""My behavior?" Maximilian's voice rose. "What about him? What makes him so special that we're all bending over backwards to accommodate him?"Nigel stepped forward, placing a hand on Miles' shoulder. "Maximilian, you need to understand. Miles is-""I don't care what he is!" Maximilian shouted. "This is ridiculous. I won't stand for it!"With that, Maximilian turned on his heel and stormed out of the dojo, slamming the door behind him.An uncomfortable silence fell over the

The heavy oak doors of the Autumn mansion swung open, revealing Miles standing beside Nigel. As they stepped into the grand foyer, the butler Kernel's eyes widened in disbelief."Mr. Nigel," Kernel sputtered, his face contorting with barely concealed disdain, "surely you can't be serious about bringing this... this ruffian back into our home?"Nigel's expression darkened. "Watch your tongue, Kernel. Miles is our honored guest."But Kernel, emboldened by years of loyal service, pressed on. "With all due respect, sir, this boy is nothing but trouble. He's beneath the Autumn family's standing. I've heard rumors about his background, and let me tell you—"The sharp crack of Nigel's hand against Kernel's cheek echoed through the foyer, cutting off the butler's tirade."That's quite enough," Nigel growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You forget your place, Kernel."Kernel stumbled back, his hand flying to his reddening cheek. "Mr. Nigel, I—""Save it," Nigel snapped. He turned to Miles, h

The tension in the room was palpable as Argus Lyons leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and calculation. He fixed his gaze on Marcus Autumn, a sly smile playing at the corners of his mouth."My old friend," Argus began, his voice carrying a hint of challenge, "I have a proposition for you."Marcus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be, Argus?"Argus gestured towards Genos, who straightened his posture under the sudden attention. "As you know, my grandson here is the heir to the Lyon family empire. A fine young man, wouldn't you agree?"Marcus nodded cautiously. "Indeed, Genos is a credit to your family.""Well then," Argus continued, his smile widening, "I propose a little wager. A duel, if you will. If we win, your granddaughter Racheal shall marry Genos, uniting our families once and for all."The room fell silent, the shock of Argus's words hanging heavy in the air. Marcus's face paled, his eyes widening in disbelief."Argus," he sputtered,

Argus nodded, gesturing to Lee Chen. "Very well. Lee, if you would."The two men stepped onto the training mat, bowing respectfully to each other. Zhang's eyes darted nervously, while Lee remained calm and focused."Begin!" Marcus called out.Zhang lunged forward with a quick series of punches, his movements precise but somewhat predictable. Lee effortlessly dodged each strike, his body moving with fluid grace."Come on, Zhang!" Racheal called out encouragingly from the sidelines.But her words seemed to have little effect. Lee, seeing an opening, suddenly went on the offensive. His movements were a blur of speed and power. Before anyone could fully register what had happened, Zhang was on the ground, gasping for air.A stunned silence fell over the dojo. Marcus's face remained impassive, but a flicker of concern passed through his eyes.Argus couldn't hide his smirk. "Well, well. It seems your third disciple needs a bit more training, Marcus."Marcus helped Zhang to his feet, patting