110 Chapter 110 – Loyalty’s Brutal Price
Eamon Greene stood unwavering at the entrance to Liam Knight’s villa, arms crossed firmly over his chest. The sun beat down mercilessly, highlighting the tension on his face as he stared down the imposing figure of Asher Lane.
“Move aside, guard dog,” Asher commanded, his silk robes rippling in the gentle breeze. His lips curved into a cruel smile that didn’t reach his cold eyes. “I won’t ask
again.”
I squared my shoulders, ignoring the sweat trickling down my spine. “As I’ve said, Young Lord Lane, Master Knight is not receiving visitors. Please return another day.”
Asher’s eyebrows rose in mock surprise. “You dare to refuse me? Do you have any idea
who I am?”
“I know exactly who you are.” I kept my voice steady despite the hammering of my heart. “It changes nothing.”
One of Asher’s attendants stepped forward, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek. “Young Lord Lane is a second–rank Master of Inner Strength. What are you?
Seventh–rank at best?”
I said nothing. They weren’t wrong.
Asher circled me like a predator, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Such loyalty is admirable but misplaced. Don’t throw away your life for someone who wouldn’t do the
same for you.”
“My orders are clear,” I replied. “No one enters while Master Knight is in seclusion.”
The young lord stopped circling and faced me directly. His power radiated off him in waves, making the air around us feel heavy. “Let me be perfectly clear. I am going to enter this villa and speak with Liam Knight. The only question is whether you’ll be
conscious when I do.”
I planted my feet more firmly on the ground. Master Knight had trusted me with this responsibility. I wouldn’t fail him.
“No.”
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110 Chapter 110–Loyalty’s Brutal Price
The word hung in the air for a brief moment before Asher’s face contorted with rage. Without warning, his hand shot out, fingers stiff as blades, aimed directly at my throat.
I barely had time to raise my arm in defense before his strike connected. Pain exploded through my forearm as I felt the bone crack. The force sent me staggering backward, but I managed to stay on my feet.
“Pathetic,” Asher spat. “Is this really the best protection Liam Knight could afford?”
I straightened up, ignoring the throbbing pain. My arm hung limply at my side, clearly broken. “I stand by my oath.”
Asher’s face darkened. “Then you’ll fall by it too.”
He moved with frightening speed, his foot connecting with my chest. The impact lifted me off my feet and sent me crashing into the villa’s stone wall. The air left my lungs in a rush, and I slid to the ground, gasping.
Black spots danced in my vision as I struggled to breathe. Through the haze of pain, I saw Asher approaching, his attendants watching with amused expressions.
“Get up,” Asher commanded. When I didn’t move quickly enough, he grabbed my collar and yanked me to my feet. “I want you to kneel and apologize for wasting my time.”
I met his gaze, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. “No.”
His eyes narrowed to slits. “No?” The pressure of his qi intensified around me, crushing down on my shoulders like an invisible weight. “KNEEL!”
My legs trembled under the force of his power. Sweat poured down my face as I fought to remain standing. Every muscle in my body screamed for relief.
“I… will not… kneel,” I managed through gritted teeth.
Asher’s face twisted with fury. He delivered a swift kick to my knee, causing it to buckle backward with a sickening crack. I couldn’t suppress the scream that tore from my throat as I collapsed.
“There,” Asher said, satisfaction evident in his voice. “Was that so difficult?”
I lay on the ground, my breathing ragged, pain radiating through my entire body. My broken arm, my shattered knee, my cracked ribs–every breath was agony. But Master Knight had trusted me with his safety during his most vulnerable moment.
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110 Chapter 110–Loyalty’s Brutal Price
“Young Lord,” one of the attendants called, pointing toward the villa. “Look at that glow from the window. Could it be… the Knotweed?”
Asher’s head snapped toward the building, his eyes widening. “The Knotweed? Here?” His expression morphed from anger to greedy excitement. “That explains his seclusion. The fool probably doesn’t even know what he has.”
He turned back to me, his foot coming down hard on my chest. “You’ve wasted enough of my time, guard dog. If Liam Knight is using the Knotweed for cultivation, I need to stop him before he ruins its potential.”
As he turned toward the villa entrance, I summoned every ounce of strength I had left. Dragging myself forward, I grabbed his ankle with my good hand.
“You… shall not… pass,” I wheezed, blood spraying from my lips with each word.
Asher looked down at me with incredulous disgust. “Still? You’re more animal than man.” He shook his leg, trying to dislodge my grip, but I held on with desperate strength.
“Let go!” he snarled, kicking at my face with his free foot.
My vision exploded in white pain as his boot connected with my jaw. I felt teeth loosen, tasted fresh blood, but I maintained my grip. My consciousness wavered, darkness creeping at the edges of my sight.
“Master Knight… trusted me,” I mumbled through swelling lips. “I won’t… fail him.”
Asher delivered another vicious kick to my ribs. “You already have failed him! Look at you–broken and pathetic! Let go or I’ll crush your skull!”
Each kick sent waves of agony through me, but I tightened my grip on his ankle. If I could just delay him long enough for Master Knight to complete his seclusion…
“Young Lord,” the scarred attendant said hesitantly, “perhaps we should return later? This seems excessive for-”
“QUIET!” Asher roared. “I will not be denied by some low–rank guard!” He bent down, his face inches from mine, breath hot on my bloodied face. “I’m going to enter that villa, take what I want, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
“As long… as I breathe…” I whispered.
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110 Chapter 110 – Loyalty’s Brutal Price
Something in Asher’s eyes shifted–a cold, calculating look replacing his rage. “Then perhaps you should stop breathing.”
He straightened up, gathering qi into his palm. The air around his hand began to shimmer with deadly energy.
“Alright, then let me kill you right now!” he snarled, raising his glowing hand to deliver a fatal blow.
I closed my eyes, my grip still firm on his ankle. I had done my duty. Master Knight would understand. With my final moments, I prayed he would forgive me for failing to keep his enemies at bay. The shadow of Asher’s hand fell across my face as I awaited the killing blow.
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