Chapter 141: Chapter 135: Master, Why Are You Here?

「Two days later.」

Ronan Warner handed Aurora Sinclair a blue-patterned cloth bundle and an IOU for 30 million, demanding she pay it back within five years.

“Dawn Miles, even though you and Jared Miles are from the same school, most of this debt is yours. That’s why I wrote your name as the debtor. Any objections?”

Aurora Sinclair shook her head, took the IOU, and tucked it away safely.

Jared Miles started to say something, but swallowed his words when Flora Guthrie shot him a glare.

Leigh Miles grumbled in dissatisfaction, “Apothecary Warner, your medicine is too expensive! My senior sister helped you grow herbs for free for so many years, and I never saw you pay her a wage. She just used a little of your medicine. Do you really have to rip off an acquaintance like that?”

“A little medicine? In the twelve years since she arrived, she’s eaten through all my most prized reserves…” Ronan Warner nearly jumped to his feet at the thought of his once-abundant apothecary.

Leigh Miles stuck out her tongue and muttered, “You could at least give a discount…”

“A discount? Fine. If you become my disciple, you can have ten percent off.”

Leigh Miles did the math. “Twenty-seven million… that’s three million less. Okay, I accept.”

“Don’t celebrate too soon. You’re only considered an apprentice after you’ve memorized the pharmacopoeia. In one year, I’ll test you on it. If you get a single word wrong, you won’t be joining The Verdant School.” Ronan Warner couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from turning up, but he still gave her a light tap with his fan.

“Ah… Isn’t that a raw deal for me?” Leigh Miles got a headache just thinking about that thick pharmacopoeia, pouting as she mumbled under her breath.

“If you want to join my Verdant School, you must know the pharmacopoeia by heart, backward and forward!”

Ronan Warner irritably shoved the blue and white bundle into Leigh Miles’s arms, then added a warning for Jared Miles, “You can help her for a while, but you can’t help her forever! Some things aren’t made better just by you stepping in…”

Jared Miles’s expression shifted slightly.

***

A black SUV drove down the winding mountain road, its trunk stuffed with local specialties from Sunstone.

It was the first time Levi Forrest had ever seen his CEO in a suit, carrying a cloth bundle that was so out of character.

An inspirational story of a mountain boy making his way in the big city resurfaced in his mind, and his respect for Jared Miles grew even deeper.

In the car, Aurora Sinclair took out another IOU and handed it to Jared Miles beside her.

It read: I, Dawn Miles, owe Senior Brother Jared Miles 53 million for medicine, to be repaid in this lifetime.

“Dawn Miles… Don’t take Apothecary Warner’s words to heart. You were just a kid back then. As your senior brother, I was happy to spend the money on you…”

But Aurora Sinclair shook her head and said seriously, “Master says that even close brothers must keep clear accounts. I can’t always have you paying my debts.”

Then, she firmly pressed the IOU into Jared Miles’s hand. “Take it…”

Jared Miles looked at the elegant calligraphy on the note and the red thumbprint over the signature, a bitter feeling welling up in his heart.

***

The flight from Sunstone to Kingsford took about five or six hours, and it was 2 a.m. by the time they landed.

The pitch-black sky held only a few faint stars, their brilliance seemingly eclipsed by the city’s vibrant lights.

“Junior Sister, you all should come back to the hotel with me for now. I’ll arrange a car to take you home in the morning,” Jared Miles said, but Leigh Miles held up her phone. “No need to trouble yourself, Senior Brother. Morgan and Mr. Dixon are already waiting for us at the exit.”

The moment she finished speaking, Jared Miles stopped in his tracks. His face darkened, and he seemed to be getting angry.

The smile on Leigh Miles’s face froze. She slowly lowered her phone, biting her lip, afraid to speak.

“Have you forgotten all the rules? Do you think favors are so easily accepted?” Jared Miles’s voice was stern, scaring Leigh Miles into hiding behind Aurora Sinclair. She pouted, her eyes turning red.

“Senior Brother…”

“You can make friends, but you must be measured. Kingsford isn’t like Sunstone. The people from The Great Families are driven by profit, and none of them are simple. As newcomers to Kingsford, you must be extremely cautious. Don’t trust people so easily, and don’t casually reveal your identities. Have you forgotten everything Master taught you?”

“I…”

Leigh Miles watched Jared Miles walk ahead, radiating a dark aura. She gently tugged on Aurora Sinclair’s sleeve and asked pitifully, “Does Senior Brother not like Morgan and the others?”

Aurora Sinclair patted her, but a flicker of worry crossed her eyes.

With a grim expression, Jared Miles was the first to emerge from the exit. He spotted Alvin Morgan in the distance and, without a word, waved his hand, sending a powerful surge of Power straight at him.

Dean Morgan’s face paled. He quickly moved in front of Alvin Morgan, mobilizing all the Power in his body to block the attack. But Aurora Sinclair was even faster, taking the blow in Dean Morgan’s place.

“Dawn Miles—!” Jared Miles cried out in alarm.

But a figure quickly steadied Aurora Sinclair. “Aurora, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Aurora Sinclair shook her head. “No, I blocked it…”

Only then did Alvin Morgan relax, but the look he gave Jared Miles was anything but friendly.

Jared Miles’s handsome features twisted in fury at the interaction between the two. His fingers clenched into tight fists, and the Power emanating from him surged once more.

’She’s defended him time and again, showing him closeness and trust. She even sacrificed herself to save him in a game.’

’Feelings like that have almost crossed the line of friendship.’

’If this continues, he might just whisk her away, and she’ll never return to Sunstone.’

’No, I absolutely cannot let them be together.’

At this thought, Jared Miles demanded sharply, “What are your real intentions for getting close to Dawn Miles?”

Fortunately, it was the middle of the night, and the airport terminal was nearly empty.

Alvin Morgan let out a soft laugh. “Intentions? What do you think my intentions are?”

“I know exactly what your intentions are. As long as I’m here, don’t even think about it!”

The two of them spoke in riddles, leaving everyone else confused.

Levi Forrest glanced at the man and woman opposite them, then back at his own CEO, and mused to himself.

’Why does it feel like my domineering CEO is jealous of that handsome man?’

Just then, the handsome man added provocatively, “Heh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that!”

“You’re asking to die—”

Jared Miles moved to strike again, but as he took the first step, he suddenly sensed an even more dangerous Power rushing at him from the side.

’A master is here?’

Jared Miles barely dodged it, his expression turning serious as he looked in that direction.

In a nearby coffee shop sat a man wearing sunglasses, a floral shirt, and ripped jeans.

The man held a coffee cup in one hand, retracting the finger he had just flicked. He said lightly, “Jared, you haven’t been practicing your martial arts since you left the mountain, have you?”

“…Ma…Master?” Jared Miles couldn’t believe it.

The man’s current appearance was so different from Master Aerion’s usual look that if it weren’t for the familiar voice and tone, he never would have realized this was his unreliable, frequently-disappearing master.

Master Aerion took off his sunglasses and wig, then stood up.

“Master…”

A childish voice called out.

Titus Miles hopped off a suitcase and ran over happily on his short legs.

Master Aerion bent down and scooped him up, testing his weight. He smiled and said, “Good lad, you’ve gotten much heavier.”

“Master, what are you doing here?” Jared Miles asked as he hurried over.

Master Aerion shot him a glare. “Go back and recite the Heart Calming Scripture 200 times!”

“This disciple will remember!” Jared Miles performed a traditional salute.

Holding Titus Miles, Master Aerion walked around him and said to Alvin Morgan with a chuckle, “My foolish disciple was reckless. I hope you can forgive him.”

“It’s no matter! This way, please—”

Jared Miles was stunned, utterly confused as to why his master was with him.

“Hurry up and follow!”

Jared Miles composed his expression and immediately strode after Master Aerion.

The group got into a nine-seater black van. Levi Forrest glanced at the people inside, then silently got into the luggage vehicle.

“Dawn Miles, come sit next to your master…”

Aurora Sinclair obediently did as she was told. Master Aerion habitually stroked his chin and asked with a chuckle, “My good disciple, are you getting used to Kingsford?”

Aurora Sinclair nodded. “I am.”

“Have you been to The Martial Alliance?”

“No.”

“Have your senior brother take you to register tomorrow! Since you’re already acting as Young Lord Morgan’s bodyguard, we should at least have some credentials!”

Dean Morgan glanced in the rearview mirror, silently breaking into a cold sweat for his master.

’It seems Master Aerion is displeased that my master is using his disciple as a bodyguard.’

“Master, being a bodyguard is dangerous. Junior Sister should come work for me at EM Group instead…”

But Master Aerion glared at Jared Miles again. “Go on, get out of here… You want to exploit your junior sister too?”

Those were some very blunt words. Dean Morgan glanced in the rearview mirror again, but his master didn’t seem to mind at all. He even took out a roasted chicken leg, Aurora Sinclair’s favorite, from the adjacent seat.

“Aurora, are you hungry?”

Aurora Sinclair glanced at the roasted chicken leg in Alvin Morgan’s hand, nodded slightly, and took it with a word of thanks.

“Master, have some chicken leg…”

“Good disciple—”

Master Aerion was secretly pleased. ’My disciple still favors me the most.’

’Neither of these two brats will do!’

***

Dean Morgan drove and first dropped off the three disciples, who were nearly asleep.

Before getting out of the car, Aurora Sinclair asked, “Master, are you coming to stay with us?”

“No, I’m going to your senior brother’s place. You all should hurry back inside!”

“Are you going to leave again?”

Master Aerion paused for a moment, then chuckled and patted her head. “I’m not leaving this time. Your senior brother and I will come see you tomorrow.”

Aurora Sinclair and Leigh Miles were finally relieved. They waved goodbye to the others and walked through the residential complex gate, carrying the sleeping Titus Miles.

After they had left, Master Aerion’s expression gradually darkened.

He glanced at Alvin Morgan and gave a pointed warning, “Young Lord Morgan, Sunstone has never interfered in the struggles of The Great Families. But if someone tries to interfere with the people and affairs of Sunstone, I won’t hesitate to let them know the strength of Sunstone!”

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