The realization hit Elder Kuro like a physical blow: in a straight, head-on battle, Alistair Reid was an insurmountable mountain.No matter how much stolen soul-essence he burned, he was merely throwing dust against the sun.If I cannot break his body, I will shatter his focus! Kuro thought maniacally, his eyes darting through the dust clouds toward the edge of the courtyard.There, propped against a stone pillar under Master Xie’s flickering barrier, lay Sara Connor."Alistair Reid!" Kuro shrieked, his voice splitting into a dual-layered, demonic howl. "You claim to be invincible, but you are still shackled by mortal attachments! Let's see if your grand divine presence can protect her from a soul-rending strike!"Before the last word echoed, Kuro’s body dissolved into a cloud of jagged, pitch-black shadows, shooting across the courtyard at a speed that bypassed space itself, aimed straight for the unconscious Sara!"He's going for the mortal woman!" Elder Zhao yelled in horror."Stop

The twin headlights of the Bentley flared to life, cutting through the darkness as the luxury sedan glided silently down the winding mountain road, leaving the night's bloody storm far behind.Instead of taking Sara to the Connor manor, he took her back to the hospital.She needed some time to recover, and she might begin to ask questions if she ended up in her family home.This way, if she woke up in the hospital, she would only think that what she experienced was a really bad dream. Upon his arrival at the hospital reception, he found Isabella seated along with a few of her subordinates. “Master Reid.” Isabella greeted him as she got to her feet.“I told you to head home,” Alistair said as he had Sara in a princess carry in his arms.“I'm sorry. I couldn't bring myself to leave just like that, so I decided to wait for your return.” Isabella said.Alistair sighed.He could understand why she would do such a thing, so he decided not to scold her too much. “Alright then.” He remarke

“You, what's your name?” Julian asked. Alistair raised a brow. “I do not see how my name is relevant to you.”“Damn it, don't you dare disrespect me!” Julian bellowed.Clicking his tongue, he took out a chequebook and began writing on it. “Fine then, listen closely, I don't usually do this, but I'll make an exception for you. You look like a male escort from a reputable escort brand, so I'll give you a chance to become a millionaire right now as long as you get out of here and never show your face.”“Hmm.” Alistair raised a brow. “Julian Sturridge, what the hell do you think you are doing?” Isabella questioned.Julian ignored her as he tore out a cheque and tried to hand it to Alistair. “There. A million dollars. That's enough to get you a thousand women of your choice, right? Now take it and get out of here before I change my mind.”Then, he glared at Isabella. “As for you, I'm going to make sure you warm my bed tonight.”“Are you out of your mind?” Isabella shot back.Julian chuck

Alistair smoothly veered the Bentley off the main highway, taking a secluded off-ramp that led into an abandoned industrial district near the Haven docks.The surrounding streetlights grew sparse, casting long, ominous shadows across empty warehouses and rusted shipping containers."An industrial park?" Isabella asked, glancing out the window as the Bentley rolled to a stop in a vast, desolate gravel lot. "You're giving them an open stage.""Why deny them a quiet place to speak?" Alistair replied softly, putting the car in park and turning off the engine. "Besides, I prefer not to ruin municipal infrastructure if they turn out to be unreasonable."Behind them, three unbranded, pitch-black luxury sedans glided into the lot without their headlights on, pulling into a tight formation that boxed the Bentley in.The doors opened in absolute unison.Twelve figures stepped out into the cool night air.Unlike Julian's crude, rowdy thugs, these men moved with disciplined, military precision.

"Then they will learn the same lesson Samuel just did," Alistair interrupted gently, turning around to face her.He looked down at her with that same calm, inscrutable expression—the very same look that had made Elder Kuro crumble into dust."No family, no dynasty, and no queen stands above my authority, Isabella," Alistair said smoothly, a rare, faint glint of absolute sovereignty flashing in his golden eyes. "When the time comes for you to return to where they want you to go, it will be on your own terms, not as a pawn in someone else's game."He turned back to Samuel, who was struggling to his feet alongside his bruised, trembling men."Take your men and leave Haven," Alistair commanded cold-bloodedly. "Tell the Queen that Princess Evelyn remains under the protection of Alistair Reid. If she wishes to discuss her marriage arrangements, she can bring her grievances to me personally. I'll be more than happy to answer her."Samuel wiped the blood from his jaw, bowing deeply with a rev