The voice on the line pulled Leo back into a past he had tried to bury.He remembered how his father had always been obsessed with him becoming a titan of industry. The old man hated Leo’s fascination with the Ancient Arts of Healing. Forced into the city’s most prestigious business academy, Leo had done the impossible—he finished top of his class. But on the day of the ceremony, he simply handed the degree to his father.“You wanted this. Now it’s yours. I’m done living your life,” Leo had said, walking away from the family mansion without a cent to his name.He had spent years traveling, finding the legendary Master of the Six-Path Needle, learning until his hands could bring men back from the brink of the grave. But his career ended in blood. A patient had died during a complicated soul-stitch, and his master had banned him from ever touching a needle again. Leo was certain his father had sabotaged the surgery just to force him home.Now, irony had come knocking. The same man who

“I’m just a guy who knows nothing about the healing arts,” Leo replied, his voice dripping with dry sarcasm. He straightened his back, eyes flashing with a sharp, cold light as he stepped away from the medical monitors.“Father!” Sarah and Monica rushed to the bedside, their faces streaked with tears.“I thought the Underworld had claimed me,” the Governor gasped, his voice raspy.“We thought so too,” Monica whispered. She kept her head down, too embarrassed to look Leo in the eye after throwing money at his feet like he was a common beggar.“Thank you,” Sarah said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and newfound respect. Leo simply shook his head, his expression unreadable.“Don’t thank me yet. I’ve only put a temporary seal on the core. The toxin is aggressive—it’s a Sentient Parasite. If it isn’t extracted now, it will return with twice the strength and devour his soul,” Leo stated flatly, his tone devoid of any warmth.“What do we need to do?” Sarah asked, her voice tight with

Leo’s world shifted as he stood before the gates of his Master’s secluded estate. He had rushed there expecting a reunion, but the air was thick with the scent of incense and old parchment. His Master was gone.His emotions were a chaotic storm, but in his hands, he clutched a final directive—a scroll sealed with the ‘Six-Path Emblem’.Leo Vane. I barred you from the needles to protect you from the darkness of the world. You will understand soon. But now, as my breath fades, I return your title to you. Take my place. Rise again.Your first trial: The Shadow-Crawl is back. Find the source. Kill the parasite.“I won’t fail you this time, Master,” Leo swore under his breath, his voice like grinding stone. “I’ll find the truth, and I’ll restore our lineage.”A massive convoy of armored black SUVs accompanied him back to the city. Sitting in the back of a custom-built limo, Leo’s heart raced. It was his first day as the ‘Sovereign Manager’ of the Vane Group’s local division. He was headin

CHAPTER EIGHTThe silence lingered, but it only lasted for a couple of seconds. Murmuring took over, whispers of uncertainty kept on hanging in the air.“Wha… What did you just say?” Japheth’s voice shivered, his eyes wide with shock.“I…” He turned to Leo, his eyes flickering with fear.It wasn’t long before Sophia walked into the room, in the company of her six hefty bodyguards.Her eyes were on Leo, but soon they dispersed to Japheth.Everyone was waiting, eager to hear what the lady was going to say.“What if she chooses the peasant?” One of the guests asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she glared at Leo, appalled by the thought of someone being with a loser like him.“Then she surely likes to suffer…” A low tone responded to the lady’s question, grabbing his champagne flute and taking a sip.“I would rather die than see my daughter get married to a man like Leo.” Someone who was familiar with the Sterling family whispered from the back, causing some of the guests clos

CHAPTER TENLeo’s words made everyone choose silence one after the other, their eyes turning to face the future groom while they waited to see what his reaction was going to be.Stephen snorted, his eyes burning with contempt as he stared at Leo.“What did you say?” He made a move, but Jasmine grabbed his hand, causing him to stop.“Don’t…” Jasmine pleaded silently, tears almost welling up in her eyes.“He is not worth it, Stephen…” She urged, but Stephen pulled away from her grip, increasing his pace as he approached Leo.That was exactly what everyone wanted to see, their eyes staring while they desperately waited to see what was going to happen.There was another round of murmuring, but none of them could hear it. Especially at that moment when the heat between them had grown more intense.Leo clenched his fists, and so did Stephen.Their rivalry had just gotten darker, their eyes glaring at each other while their chests puffed.Leo took a step closer, his eyes burning with annoyan