When Zane spotted the sizable rock directly in his path, a pulse of adrenaline shot through him. Despite the sudden challenge, he managed to keep his cool, knowing that panicking would only make the situation worse. Drawing on his instincts and training practice in cultivation, he quickly decided to execute a bunny hop—a maneuver to jump the bike over obstacles by lifting the front wheel first, followed by the rear.With a smooth motion, Zane lifted the front of his bike, timing it perfectly as he approached the rock. Then, by moving his wrists and a push from his legs, he lifted the rear wheel, gracefully clearing the obstacle without breaking his forward momentum.James, who was watching him through the rearview mirror, could hardly believe his eyes. Seeing Zane handle the trail riding technique with such proficiency was unexpected and astonishing. He muttered to himself in disbelief, "A bunny hop? How could he pull that off so effortlessly? That move isn’t easy; it usually req
Zane remained calm, quietly observing and listening to the banter between them.Clark chuckled at James's reaction, well aware of how James tended to take things to heart. "Haha, James, did my comment sting a little?" he teased, knowing exactly how to provoke a response. Both Clark and Lily had known James long enough to understand his sensitivities.James chose to ignore Clark's jab, instead turning his attention to Zane with a challenging tone. "Mr. Gardner, be honest, I'm sure you're not really a beginner, right? I challenge you in the arena," he declared, a smug grin spreading across his face as he felt he had cornered Zane into admitting something more about his skill level.Lily quickly intervened, her voice laced with concern, "James, what do you mean by that?" She stepped in, aiming to shield Zane from what she perceived as an unfair confrontation.Zane responded calmly, maintaining his composure, "Mr. James, this really is my first time playing. But why should I accept you
Zane and James lined up at the starting line, their motorcycles idling and ready to roar into action. Lily positioned herself to give the signal, her hand poised and ready to drop. The anticipation was palpable, the air thick with the scent of fuel and excitement. "Ready... set..." Lily called out, and with a sharp drop of her hand, they were off.Both riders burst forward with a surge of power, tires kicking up dust as they launched from the start. For the first few moments, they were side by side, but James, with his extensive experience on this particular trail, quickly pulled ahead. His familiarity with every twist and turn, every bump and obstacle, allowed him to navigate with apparent ease. He knew exactly where to speed up and when to slow down, which roots to avoid, and how to angle his bike perfectly through the sharp bends.Zane, however, was not far behind. Though this was only his second time facing this trail, he was a quick study. The previous lap had given him a cr
Meanwhile, Zane continued to ride with impeccable focus and smooth execution, seemingly oblivious to the drama unfolding behind him. He remained unaware of James's predicament, fully concentrated on the challenges before him. Each obstacle was met with precision and confidence, reinforcing his skills and determination with every maneuver.As time passed, the finish line came into view for Zane. A smile spread across his face, fueled by the rush of nearing victory. His excitement was not for the prize itself but for the personal triumph it represented. Winning this challenge was about affirming his ability to adapt and succeed in new and demanding situations.As Zane approached the finish line, Lily spotted him from a distance and couldn't contain her excitement. She waved and jumped up and down, cheering loudly, "Zane, hooray!!" Her voice was filled with enthusiasm as she celebrated his achievement.Zane responded with a broad smile, pulling up to where Lily was standing. He d
Zane sensed the grave possibility that James might have ventured deeper into the hazardous alternate route and met with an accident. Preparing to follow the trail, he turned to Lily with a plan. "Lily, I'm going to go in and track him down," Zane said decisively. "I'll ask the guards to come and pick you up.""No, Zane, I'm coming with you," Lily responded firmly, her voice filled with determination."But, Lily, we don't know how extreme the path inside might be. Wouldn't it be better if you waited here?" Zane expressed his concern.Lily, aware of the alternate route's reputation yet having never traversed it herself, only knew of its challenges through tales from others. Despite this, her resolve was clear. "No, I'm going with you. I won't let you go in there alone," she insisted, her tone resolute.As Zane and Lily were about to enter the risky alternate path, the rumble of approaching motorcycles halted their plans. Five bikes approached; four were ridden by Lily's personal guar
Zane was deeply immersed in his meditation, channeling the energy around him into his own body. This process required considerable focus and time.While Zane continued his meditative practice, the others waited anxiously, especially Clark. Observing Zane's unusual method, Clark couldn't help but whisper to himself, "Can he really heal someone? What kind of knowledge is he using? Who is he, really?"Despite his doubts, Clark couldn't hide his concern. He had known James's late father and James himself for many years. Their long-standing relationship had fostered a deep emotional bond, amplifying Clark's hope that no further harm would come to James.Zane focused on the most life-threatening of James's injuries—a previously undetected internal bleeding in his abdomen that Clark had initially missed. Placing both hands in front of his chest, Zane then gently laid them on James's stomach, trying to stem the flow of blood within.Channeling all his energy, Zane concentrated on promoti
As Zane administered his unique form of treatment, James's consciousness ebbed, leaving him only vaguely aware of the events unfolding around him."Mr. Gardner, has James recovered? Did it really work?" Clark asked, his voice laced with hope yet fraught with concern.Zane responded with a gentle smile and a nod, his demeanor calm and reassuring. "Yes, Mr. Clark. It worked," he confirmed.Approaching James, Zane scrutinized his condition closely. Indeed, it appeared that the injuries had been effectively managed. "However," Zane continued, his tone becoming slightly more serious, "regarding Mr. James’s abdomen, although the bleeding has stopped, the area still requires restoration. Mr. James will need to be cautious with his movements."This update brought a mix of relief and caution to Clark. Realizing the effectiveness of Zane's treatment and reflecting on his previous aggression, Clark was filled with remorse. He repeatedly bowed his head in a gesture of apology and gratitude, s
That morning, the city's skyline was spectacularly clear, bathed in the bright light of a newly risen sun. A beautiful gradient of orange and blue painted the heavens, while the chirping of birds added a lively soundtrack to the tranquil scene. Below, the city lay quiet and pristine.Zane, who resided in an apartment featuring a rooftop complete with a private swimming pool, decided it was the perfect start to his day to take a swim. As he slipped into the cool waters of the pool, he felt a refreshing chill spread throughout his body, effectively banishing any remnants of sleepiness and recharging his energy for the new day. This was particularly welcome after a physically demanding day of trail riding with Lily.Meanwhile, Zane was expecting visitors. Cedric, Cecilia, and Alfred were due to arrive shortly. Cecilia had informed him of their visit beforehand, a courtesy to respect Zane’s privacy. When Cecilia, Cedric, and Alfred arrived and entered the apartment, they found that