Adrian gave a slight shrug. “You’ve already investigated me thoroughly, haven’t you? So why bother asking questions you already know the answers to?”Harrison Archer let out a cold snort and slowly pulled open the drawer at his side. “Young man, I’m being courteous to you for now, so you’d better answer me properly. My patience is limited. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what I might do.”As he spoke, a custom-made silver handgun appeared in his hand, its muzzle leveled squarely at Adrian.A chill entered Adrian’s voice, and his brow furrowed faintly. “I don’t enjoy repeating myself. And what I hate most is having a piece of scrap metal aimed at my head. You people really do love testing the limits of my patience.”Harrison Archer sneered. “Big words for a boy in chains. In this world, the victor writes the rules and the loser suffers them. You’re in my hands now. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll cooperate and spare yourself unnecessary pain. Surely you understand that the moment

“Now that he’s in our hands, whether he lives or dies is for us to decide. That boy has plenty of blood on his hands anyway. Even if he dies, no one can fault us for it. By the way—is he dead yet?”Hearing his father’s words, Harrison Archer felt a measure of reassurance and gritted out, “I threw him into the death cell. There’s no way he’s coming out alive.”“Good. If he cannot be used by us, then he must be destroyed before he becomes a threat. Call me again if anything comes up.”After ending the call, Harrison Archer slowly tore Adrian’s file to pieces and tossed it into the trash.For a man destined to die, the file no longer mattered.Less than half an hour later, while handling official business and having already dismissed Adrian from his mind entirely, Harrison Archer received another call from his father.“Go release Adrian.”Harrison Archer asked in astonishment, “Father, didn’t you say that boy had to die? After all this time in the death cell, there may not even be bones

The argument at the door drew out the steward of the clinic, who stepped outside with a frown to see what the commotion was about.The apprentice immediately complained in exasperation, “Sir! This guy was about to jab needles into our acupuncture chart at random! I was just trying to throw him out! If you ask me, he’s gone mad from wanting money!”The steward was an elderly man with a stern face and a pointed goatee. He looked at Adrian with disapproval and said, “Young man, perhaps you’re here for the money, or perhaps you truly wish to contribute something to the art of healing. But this chart is not something you can tamper with as you please. Leave at once.”Adrian let out a soft, mocking laugh and pointed at the chart. “You really are amusing. If this chart is posted here, it means anyone capable may attempt it. I offered to help, and all you’ve done is assume the worst.”“Tch, listen to him putting on airs. If he wants to try, let him try.”“I’ve lived around here for years and

Old Mr. Shaw’s words stunned everyone present.His standing was beyond question.In the entire field of traditional medicine across the Republic of Novaland, he was an unshakable institution, a living standard by which all others were measured.No one failed to admire him; no one dared not heed him. And yet now, he was prepared to acknowledge a young man not yet thirty as his master.Could that boy truly possess such extraordinary ability?Rosalind Shaw looked at her grandfather with a complicated expression.Silently, she found herself wondering what sort of background that young man really had.Could all of this truly be nothing more than coincidence?Adrian, meanwhile, had no idea just how much shock his casual act of assistance had caused.At the hospital.The private luxury ward was crowded with people.Harrison Archer lay weakly on the bed with his eyes shut tight, his brow furrowed in pain.“Doctor, what exactly is wrong with my son? Why hasn’t he woken up yet?” Kingsley Archer

Octavia Isaacson was plainly the cold, aloof type.Even the way she spoke allowed no room for courtesy.Harley Emerson cleared his throat awkwardly and made the introduction. “Adrian, let me introduce you. This is the head of the Mystic Formation Division, Octavia Isaacson, a true heir to the orthodox Eight Trigrams school.”Adrian arched a brow and said, “Impressive. That sets the bar quite high. All formations ultimately evolve from the principles of the Eight Trigrams. Master one, and you may grasp ten thousand. But the Eight Trigrams are not something just anyone can truly comprehend.”Octavia Isaacson had assumed Adrian was nothing more than a lecherous rogue, but to her surprise, he clearly knew what he was talking about.“The Chamber Master is here! The Chamber Master is here!”At that shout, the chaotic hall fell silent at once.Everyone hurried back to their stations and resumed their work.Following the line of sight around him, Adrian saw a tall man—around six feet, handsom