2025-05-07 16:14:46“What are you talking about?” Adrian was confused. Dr. Martinez had been the one performing the treatment—how could any of this be the fault of that random kid?
Now that he had found a scapegoat, Dr. Martinez’s panic subsided. He adopted a serious, professional tone as he explained, “Mr. Lewis, you know better than anyone—I absolutely cannot be disturbed while treating someone.”
“needle therapy relies on the flow of qi. If that flow is interrupted, it can cause blockages and complications.”
“When I was inserting the needle earlier, that young man’s voice broke my concentration. I thought it was a minor distraction and continued anyway, but clearly, it had an effect. The needle didn’t work as it should have.”
Dr. Martinez had lived over sixty years. He was well-practiced in shifting blame without breaking a sweat, and his explanation came off smooth and convincing.
Adrian was skeptical. As a martial artist himself, he understood how qi worked, and he knew that interruptions could have some impact—but enough to bring someone to the brink of death? That seemed like a stretch.
Still, with his father’s face turning purple and his breathing growing faint, Adrian didn’t have time to argue.
“Dr. Martinez,” he said urgently, “what do we do now? My father—how do we save him?”
Blame could wait. Right now, Arlo needed help.
Dr. Martinez looked visibly uncomfortable. “Mr. Lewis, I truly didn’t expect things to turn out like this. Your father’s condition is critical. I’ll do my best to stabilize him, but I can’t promise anything. If you want me to continue, I will—but you should prepare yourself. This could go either way.”
“Of course,” he added, “if you know someone with more advanced skills, you’re welcome to call them instead.”
In other words of his, ‘I’m not guaranteeing results, and if you keep me on, I’m not taking the blame if he dies.’
It was a strategic move—clever and self-protective.
Adrian’s expression darkened. He knew full well they didn’t have time to look for someone else. His father might not last another hour. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to stay calm.
“I’ll trust you, Dr. Martinez. Please—do everything you can.”
Dr. Martinez nodded solemnly and returned to the bedside to continue the treatment. Outwardly, he looked composed. Inwardly, he had already washed his hands of responsibility. He’d warned them. If things went south now, it wasn’t on him.
Watching from the side, Adrian’s jaw tightened. His father hadn’t been in good shape before, but at least he was still conscious. Now, after treatment, he was on the edge of death.
The more he thought about it, the angrier Adrian became. Dr. Martinez’s explanation replayed in his mind—and slowly, he began to turn that frustration toward Hudson.
After all, Dr. Martinez had an established reputation. He’d healed many tough cases over the years. That wasn’t just rumor; it was documented. If Adrian hadn’t trusted him, he wouldn’t have paid such a high price to bring him here.
And yet, the only time something went wrong was right after Hudson interrupted. Coincidence? Maybe. But right now, Adrian needed someone to blame.
Fuming, he stormed out into the courtyard.
Outside, Ivory and Hudson were chatting when they heard heavy footsteps. Ivory turned and immediately called out, “Uncle! How’s Grandpa?!”
Adrian snapped. “How is he? You’ve got the nerve to ask me that?”
He glared straight at Hudson, eyes full of rage.
Sensing the tension, Ivory quickly stepped between them, alarmed. “Uncle, what’s going on? What happened?”
Adrian scoffed bitterly. “It’s him! Your grandfather’s condition is critical—and it’s all his fault! Dr. Martinez said it himself—this kid interrupted at a critical moment and disrupted the flow. That’s what caused the complication!”
He stepped closer, fists clenched, each step brimming with fury.
His knuckles popped from how tightly he was squeezing his hands.
“That’s complete bullshit!”
Hudson, usually calm, couldn’t hold back anymore. His voice was sharp with anger.
If your medical skills aren’t good enough, just admit it. Blaming your failure on someone else? Hudson couldn’t believe this man was ever called a “medical saint.”
Watching Adrian square up, Hudson calmly pushed Ivory behind him and asked coolly, “What, you plan to come at me now?”
“It’s all because of you! My dad’s life is hanging by a thread,” Adrian snapped. “I don’t care what your relationship is with Ivory—if your words put him at risk, you’re going to pay the price!”
As soon as he finished, Adrian lunged forward and threw a punch straight at Hudson’s face.
“Uncle, stop!” Ivory cried out, trying to intervene—but Hudson gently shoved her out of the way, sending her a few feet back.
She wasn’t worried that Hudson would get hurt. She was worried his impression of the Lewis family would worsen.
It all happened in a flash.
When suddenly, the sound rang out like a muffled drumbeat. Adrian’s expression froze. His eyes widened in disbelief.
He hadn’t gone all out, but as someone in the mid-stage of dark energy cultivation, he was confident that punch had enough power to take down any ordinary guy—especially a young one like Hudson.
But just before the punch connected, Hudson caught it with one hand, stopping it effortlessly.
It was like hitting the air.
Hudson hadn’t flinched. He hadn’t even braced himself. He just raised his hand and blocked it like swatting away a breeze.
Adrian had never seen anything like it.
“You’re too weak,” Hudson said calmly.
With a light push, Hudson sent Adrian stumbling back five full steps before he caught his footing.
When he looked up again, his entire demeanor had changed. The way he looked at Hudson was no longer hostile—it was stunned, even fearful.
He’s stronger than me… he thought.
Adrian felt a chill run through his body. If he hadn’t experienced it firsthand, he never would’ve believed someone Hudson’s age could be so terrifyingly powerful.
“And another thing,” Hudson snapped. “What kind of garbage excuse is that from your so-called ‘medical saint’? If the guy’s incompetent, just say it. Don’t blame me for his failure. I literally told you earlier that his needle therapy would kill someone. Did you listen? No.”
Hudson was clearly frustrated. He hadn’t wanted to get involved, but now he had to speak up.
Those words hit Adrian like a slap. Reality finally clicked into place.
This wasn’t just some arrogant kid. This was someone who had seen through everything from the beginning—someone who knew Dr. Martinez was bluffing, whose warning had been dismissed.
It suddenly made sense why his father had specifically asked Hudson for input before the treatment started. His father had sensed his strength and trusted his instincts.
Adrian realized the truth far too late.
The tragedy wasn’t because of Hudson’s interruption.
It was because Adrian had placed blind faith in Dr. Martinez and underestimated the one person who actually understood what was happening.
And now, Dr. Martinez had already said he wouldn’t be held accountable if the treatment failed.
The implication was clear: he was covering his tracks. Preparing for Arlo to die.
Adrian’s heart sank.
“Shit!” he gasped.
Without another word, he spun around and sprinted back into the house.
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25
“What the hell are you doing?”Warren’s voice cracked with rage as he glared at Hudson, his whole body trembling. He had only meant to humiliate Hudson by making him shine his shoes, but instead, Hudson had casually stepped on them, grinding yellow mud from his own soles into Warren’s polished leather.The once-pristine shoes now looked like they’d been dragged out of a dumpster. The humiliation burned inside Warren like molten lava.“Didn’t you ask me to shine your shoes?” Hudson said evenly, as if nothing was wrong. “You never specified how. I figured using my own shoes was the quickest way.” He smirked faintly. “Well, they’re polished. Now it’s time to pay up.”He calmly extended his hand.Warren’s fists clenched, his face twisting with fury. He knew Hudson was mocking him outright. The embarrassment was unbearable.Before Warren could snap, his date stepped forward, voice sharp and shrill. “Do you have any idea how expensive those shoes are?!” she snapped, glaring at Hudson. “Who
24
That night was a blur of passion. For the first time, both of them gave in, letting go of every restraint. Again and again, they clung to each other until exhaustion finally took over.By early morning, Ivory had to leave for work. She was tired but reluctant to go, stealing one last look before stepping out.Hudson, worn out from the night before, slept until noon. When he finally stirred, he stretched out on the recliner in his backyard, staring at the drifting clouds. His thoughts grew complicated.He remembered promises made in the past. Promises with Freya that never reached the point of marriage. They had drifted apart, no matter how much they once meant to each other. Then there was Ivory. He never really thought things between them would go this far, but now, somehow, they had. Life, he realized, never followed the plans people set.He sighed, lost in thought, until his phone buzzed.“Hudson, do you remember the auction I mentioned last night?” Ivory’s voice came through the
23
Even for a trained martial artist, it’s hard to fully control the body’s instinctive reactions in certain moments.It had been five years since Hudson and Freya married. Their union had happened quickly, without much foundation, and in the beginning Freya simply needed time. Later, she grew distant, avoiding him whenever possible. Because Hudson lived so low-key, she never truly looked at him as her husband, and so, five years passed without him ever touching her.Out of respect, Hudson never forced anything. The closest they had come to intimacy was holding hands. In the early days of their marriage, she would at least allow that much, but over time, even that faded. Whenever he came near, she would instinctively recoil.Seeing that she wanted nothing to do with him, Hudson gave up trying.But a woman’s body carries a power of its own, a kind of invisible pull on a man. Now, with Ivory pressed against him, Hudson felt his self-control falter. He immediately tried to channel his qi to
22
Right now, Wilfred was truly furious.As a seasoned powerhouse, he alone understood just how terrifying Hudson really was. He thought the same way Arlo did: this was a man you simply couldn’t afford to provoke.Yes, there had been bad blood between them before, but as the saying goes, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Wilfred had already made up his mind: with someone like Hudson on their side, the Anderson family’s future could rise to unimaginable heights. But if they provoked him? The Andersons could vanish from Beverly Hills overnight.The thought chilled him to the bone. And here was his own grandson, still mouthing off, still pushing the limits.Wilfred realized he had spoiled William far too much. If he kept letting him act like this, the family would be destroyed in his hands sooner or later. Today, for the sake of giving Hudson an explanation, and for the Anderson family’s survival, William had to learn his lesson.“Grandpa, why?” William’s voice crack
21
Inside the house, the air was heavy and still.Wilfred, a martial artist in the early stages of mastery, had cold sweat running down his forehead. His legs trembled uncontrollably. Since the day he set foot on the martial arts path, he had never felt fear like this.The Anderson family had already spent ten billion to treat William. Sure, they were one of the wealthiest families in Beverly Hills, with businesses spread across the city and assets impossible to count, but ten billion wasn’t pocket change. You didn’t just pull out another ten billion as if it were nothing.If they had to spend that amount again for his other son, it could seriously cripple the family’s resources. They’d have to think twice about every decision, from business expansion to even their daily lifestyle.As much as he respected Hudson’s incredible skill, Wilfred simply couldn’t afford another round of treatment at that price. For the sake of the family’s future, he forced a polite cough and said carefully, “Dr
20
There was a sudden silence.Everyone turned to Johnny, confused about why he was so worked up.“Johnny, are you out of your mind?” Wilfred asked sharply.Johnny’s face was pale, his voice trembling. “It’s him. It’s him! He’s the one who crippled young Master.”The room froze.Wilfred’s entire body trembled. His bloodshot eyes slowly shifted to Hudson, his voice shaking as he asked, “You… you’re the one who shattered my grandson’s meridians?”At that moment, Wilfred’s rage nearly exploded.The so-called miracle doctor, the man he had just paid ten billion to heal his grandson, turned out to be the same person who destroyed him in the first place?It was too outrageous to believe.And then, in a flash of clarity, Wilfred finally understood why Arlo had stepped in on Hudson’s behalf back at the Lewis estate. They had known all along. They had played him for a fool.“Ahhh!”Blinded by fury, Wilfred forgot everything Johnny had told him earlier, that Hudson might be a martial artist in the
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