Reborn as an Immortal in a Martial World

Chapter 7: Vanessa Sterling

It was an exceptionally beautiful starry night. Not one cloud drifted across the heavens. The deep blue sky was strewn with countless diamond-bright stars, and silver moonlight draped itself over the autumn night and the whole world below.

The fiery maples on the mountainside made a stunning sight, and the lights of the city beneath them sparkled like spilled jewels. Together they formed a scene like a painting, and a hush of quiet beauty settled over everyone present.

The tall woman glanced at Aiden, a flicker of disdain in her eyes. Then she walked straight past him and greeted the classmates behind him warmly.

Her name was Vanessa Sterling. She was close friends with Lucy and Vivian, but she had always opposed Lucy's bond with Aiden. She had likely come tonight to persuade Lucy to go to Celestara with her.

Aiden smiled indifferently, too lazy to spare her any attention. Now that he had entered the Spirit Awakening Realm, he and these classmates were destined to walk in different worlds.

"Vanessa!" Lucy heard the commotion outside and hurried out. Seeing that there was no quarrel between Vanessa and Aiden, she smiled and welcomed her into the villa.

A moment later she came running back out, stopped at Aiden's side, and brushed the dust from his clothes. "Come on, let's go in and have a few more drinks together."

"Sure." Aiden smiled, and the two of them started toward the villa, laughing and chatting. But just then another car approached from a distance, and the roar of its engine made every heart pound.

Aiden raised an eyebrow and looked back. A black sports carriage swept into the grounds like a ghost of the night and came to a smooth stop beside Vanessa's white one.

A young man stepped out. He had short hair and a powerful build, a little over six feet tall, with bright, sharp eyes.

His name was Garrett Holloway, another of Aiden's classmates. He used to bully Aiden constantly and had been quite influential at school. Aiden had never guessed that his family was so wealthy.

Garrett frowned instinctively when he saw Aiden, but his eyes lit up at the sight of Lucy beside him. He strolled over with a grin. "Miss Hartwell is here too."

Lucy felt a little disgusted by him but answered politely. "Are you here to see Vanessa, Garrett? She's already inside."

"Ha ha, I hope you don't mind me coming uninvited. Why don't we go in together and have a few drinks? Consider it my apology to you."

As he spoke, Garrett reached out to drape his arm around Lucy's shoulders. It was so sudden, and he moved so fast, that no one had time to react. If his arm had truly landed on her, Aiden would have been humiliated.

SMACK!

Just as Garrett's arm was about to fall, Aiden's right hand seized it in an iron grip. At that moment, Vanessa and several other clear-headed classmates stepped outside.

Garrett's face darkened, and a shadow of malice flickered in his eyes. He suddenly put force into his arm, trying to shake Aiden off and make him lose face.

But no matter how hard he tried, Aiden's hand held his wrist firmly in place, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

"Garrett Holloway, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay away from me?" A flash of surprise crossed Vanessa's eyes. The scene before her was strange.

Aiden was a bookworm who could not hurt a chicken, yet now he was gripping Garrett's arm, and he seemed to be doing it effortlessly.

Aiden did not want to reveal his strength yet. Seeing the group hurry toward him, he released Garrett's wrist. Only then did Lucy come to her senses and look at him in surprise.

Garrett glared at Aiden, deeply puzzled. He knew he had only just entered the martial world, and that three or five ordinary men could not even get near him. He was baffled, but this was not the time to question it.

"Vanessa, I'm just afraid you'll say too much when you've had a few drinks. You know a lot of what happens on Celestara is confidential, not something ordinary people should hear."

His words were rude, considering that most of the people present were destined to stay in the mortal world and would never have the chance to go to Celestara.

"Hmph. How I behave is none of your business. They're my good friends. You'd better put away that superior attitude." Annoyance flashed across Vanessa's face, and she drew the girls back into the villa.

Garrett watched her retreating back, his face growing ugly. Had anyone else dared to speak to him like that, he would have slapped them away long ago.

"Let's go in too." Lucy sensed Garrett's anger and did not dare to linger. She pulled Aiden along and hurried into the villa.

When did this kid get so strong? Strange. Garrett watched Aiden walk away, his eyes narrowing, a wild aura rising around him.

While Garrett stood on the lawn deep in thought, the girls inside the villa began drinking again and letting loose. Aiden watched them for a moment.

Knowing he was in the way, he told Lucy where he was going and climbed to the second-floor balcony. There he leaned on the railing and gazed at the lights of the far-off city.

"I still hope you won't stop Lucy from going to Celestara." Vanessa had followed him out, a glass of red wine in hand, her arms resting on the railing, her graceful figure tracing a perfect curve.

Aiden did not know whether to laugh or sigh, but he explained anyway. "I never stopped her from going."

Vanessa turned to look at his sharp, angular face. "You know that's not what I meant. I hope you'll refuse her. Only then will Lucy go to Celestara. Besides, you've already become a stumbling block in her path."

The words struck Aiden like thunder and sobered him instantly. His gaze sharpened as he stared at her.

Vanessa, ever assertive and never one to back down, turned to face him. "That's simply the truth. If you really care for her, you should set her free, not let her be trapped in this wasteland growing old beside you!"

"That's enough, Vanessa! If you say anything like that to Aiden again, don't blame me if I stop calling you my friend!" Lucy stood a short distance behind them. Neither had noticed her arrival.

Vanessa looked at her, angry and helpless. "Lucy! Times have changed. Everyone is training in martial arts now. The future belongs to warriors!"

"Let's not talk about this anymore. I know what I'm doing." Lucy gave her a long, deep look, then stormed downstairs and began drinking alone.

Aiden spoke slowly. "That Garrett must be a warrior, right? I don't think he's anything special. Are all the warriors on Celestara as weak as him?"

"What arrogance! In that case, do you dare come down and fight me? Back at school, when I beat you, you weren't half this cocky."

Garrett's voice rose from outside the villa. He had been about to leave when he saw Aiden and Vanessa standing together, talking. He had only just arrived, and hearing such arrogant words made him curious.

The shout drew everyone's attention. The girls present knew a thing or two about Garrett's bad reputation.