Chapter 280: Chapter 272: Challenging the Family Head’s Position

Silverwood held a large market on the fifth day of every lunar month. People from all the surrounding villages would gather in a small square to set up stalls and sell their goods.

Aurora Sinclair and Alvin Morgan came here to stock up on supplies—mainly daily necessities like tea, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, as well as some meat and vegetables that would keep well.

The two of them rode the town’s most common vehicle, an electric tricycle, speeding toward the market like a whirlwind.

One rode up front, the other sat in the back.

The scene was so picturesque it was hard to watch.

A certain man eating wontons by the roadside nearly choked when he saw them.

He quickly touched the glasses that were part of his disguise.

’How did these two end up here?’

’Did they get into the Lowell residence?’

Master Aerion sent Ronan Warner a message.

A line of text came back:

[Surprised? Unexpected, isn’t it?]

Master Aerion cursed inwardly, ’Old fox!’

He picked up his bowl and calmly drank the rest of the wonton soup.

「Meanwhile.」

The pair had already arrived at the large market, which was a sea of people and bustling with excitement.

Aurora Sinclair held a long shopping list, weaving through the various stalls.

Alvin Morgan followed behind her, carrying their purchases.

In a place this crowded, encounters with thieves were inevitable, and these were even working as a team.

They usually set their sights on unfamiliar faces.

Thus, Aurora Sinclair became an easy mark in their eyes.

Several of them exchanged glances and closed in.

A hand reached for Aurora Sinclair’s pocket, only to be caught red-handed by her.

“What are you doing?”

The teenager’s eyes flashed with alarm. He struggled with all his might, but he was held firmly and couldn’t break free at all.

Seeing this, his accomplice immediately moved forward, only to have his arm grabbed by Aurora Sinclair as well.

Their leader, who was hiding in the crowd, saw things were going south and was about to leave when Alvin Morgan blocked his path.

The police arrived after being called and took the three away, to the cheers of the surrounding crowd.

A few men drinking on the second floor of a small building heard that their buddies had been caught. One of them spat out a peanut skin and stood up.

“Let’s go. Time to teach those two busybodies a lesson about the rules!”

After Aurora Sinclair and Alvin Morgan finished their shopping and were about to leave on their little tricycle, a man suddenly rushed toward them.

Alvin Morgan immediately hit the brakes, but the man deliberately threw himself in front of the vehicle and fell to the ground.

“Aghhh, you hit me! You’re killing me—”

Aurora Sinclair hopped off the back of the tricycle and walked over to the man. “Let me see…”

But the man clutched his leg and kept wailing, refusing to let her look. A crowd of onlookers quickly gathered.

Just then, five or six young men who looked like trouble arrived. The man in the lead was slightly older, with a buzz cut dyed in various colors.

As soon as the man saw the person on the ground, he put on an exaggerated expression. “Doggo, what happened to you?”

“Boss, he hit me.” The man on the ground pointed at Alvin Morgan, clutching his leg.

The man rubbed his nose, held out a hand, and said nothing.

Aurora Sinclair didn’t understand the gesture and said to the man on the ground, “Let’s go to the hospital.”

Everyone nearby laughed, especially the man with the dyed hair. He reached out and shoved her. “Cut the act! Pay up—”

Aurora Sinclair’s body didn’t move an inch. The dyed-hair man not only failed to push her but was nearly sent stumbling back by the rebound.

Anger flashed in the dyed-hair man’s eyes. He wiped his nose. “So—you’ve got some moves?”

Aurora Sinclair glanced at him. His voice sounded a lot like the person who had been shouting obscenities outside the Lowell residence.

She yanked the man up from the ground as if lifting a chick, causing him to immediately scream, “Help! Murder—”

There was nothing wrong with the man’s leg at all. As Aurora Sinclair pulled him along, he even took a few perfectly normal steps.

Aurora Sinclair pressed her lips together and looked at him. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

The man froze for a second, then immediately started faking a limp and sat back on the ground, clutching his leg.

Someone in the crowd quietly advised, “Just give them some money, young lady.”

Aurora Sinclair looked at his shameless act and calmly asked, “How much do you want?”

The man hadn’t expected her to be so agreeable and was stunned for a moment.

“Two thousand—no, five thousand…” The man had just said “two thousand” when the dyed-hair man kicked him, and he immediately changed the amount.

Aurora Sinclair glanced back at Alvin Morgan. He had gotten off the tricycle, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Five thousand for one leg?”

The man nodded dumbly. Alvin Morgan took out his phone and readily transferred the money to him.

Only then were the two allowed to leave. Sitting in the back of the tricycle, Aurora Sinclair flicked her finger through the air.

The extortionist suddenly dropped to his knees, howling in agony.

“Aaaargh—”

The people in the crowd pointed at him. “They’re already gone. You can stop acting now.”

“Let’s go, let’s go! He’s going to try to scam someone else.”

Someone shouted, and the surrounding crowd scattered in an instant, afraid they would be the next targets of the scam.

The dyed-hair man kicked him. “Doggo, they’re gone. Stop faking it…”

But the man on the ground was already pale with pain, veins bulging on his temples and his forehead drenched in sweat.

“Doggo… what’s wrong?”

When they got him to the hospital for a diagnosis, they found nothing wrong with his bones, but he was still in excruciating pain.

The orthopedic doctor had a strange expression and finally said, “Have him see a Martial Healer!”

The dyed-hair man’s gaze tightened. Martial Healers usually only treated those who practiced martial arts. They were few in number, their fees were exorbitant, and it was nearly impossible for an ordinary person to get an appointment.

He immediately went to the person from the Lowell Family’s branch who had hired him and requested a Martial Healer.

The conclusion was: his meridians were severed.

The Martial Healer asked with a grave expression, “Who did you cross today? This was clearly inflicted by an expert.”

The dyed-hair man instantly thought of that man and woman. The man had said something like “five thousand for one leg.” ’Could it have been them?’

He asked hesitantly, “Can an expert injure someone without touching them?”

As soon as he said this, the expressions of everyone in the room changed. The man from the Lowell branch family glanced at the Martial Healer, then asked with a serious face, “Tell me exactly how he was injured. Don’t leave anything out!”

Seeing this, the dyed-hair man’s expression tightened, and he recounted the events of the morning.

The light in the Lowell branch member’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. Those two were definitely high-level Martial Artists! ’If we could win them over,’ he thought, ’how could we fail to return to the Martial World?’

“You must find those two and invite them here. Do this well, and I’ll give you another 100,000.”

The dyed-hair man’s face lit up with joy, and he nodded repeatedly.

“How are things progressing on Stephen Lowell’s side?”

The dyed-hair man looked confident. “Don’t you worry, sir. You can count on me for this. I guarantee I’ll make them hand over the item within three days.”

***

「At the same time.」

Members of the Lowell Family’s branch, led by Finn Lowell, arrived at Stephen Lowell’s home.

The Lowell Family had five branch lineages in total. Finn Lowell’s was considered the one that was still relatively friendly toward the Core Lineage.

“Family Head, we already came to an agreement yesterday. Why has that changed?” Finn Lowell asked, suppressing his anger.

Stephen Lowell took a sip of tea and said lightly, “I asked my father yesterday. There are many taboos within this heritage. For the safety of your branch, it would be best to practice it here…”

Finn Lowell’s gaze darkened. If they came here to practice, it would be just like before. They had gone through so much trouble to break away; naturally, they were unwilling to return to a position of servitude to the Core Lineage.

“Family Head, we have already split from the main family. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to be together again.”

Stephen Lowell glanced at him. “It’s only to learn the martial arts. No different from an external martial arts school. The only difference is that we are not charging any money.”

“You…” Finn Lowell was choked speechless, his face turning ashen. His fingers tightened on the armrest of his chair.

At that moment, a young man sitting next to him suddenly spoke up. “Stephen Lowell, we’re showing you respect by calling you Family Head. Don’t mistake our courtesy for weakness…”

Before he could finish, a disciple from the Lowell’s Core Lineage, who was standing nearby, threw a cup of tea in his face.

“What big talk. Who the hell do you think you are? Go ask around outside! When people mention the Lowell Family, who do you think they think of first? Even if you’ve split off, you don’t represent the Lowell Family.”

“You…” The young man flew into a rage, slamming the table as he shot to his feet. “If that’s how it is, then we’ll follow the rules of Ancient Martial Arts. I challenge you, right now! Do you dare to accept?”

The Core Lineage disciple clenched his fists and spat. “You really are shameless. You’re a whole realm higher than me and you dare call that a challenge? You’ve brought nothing but disgrace to the Lowell Family name.”

The young man laughed. “Well, that can’t be helped. Who’s to blame when you lot don’t even have a single martial master? I can’t very well commit high treason and challenge the Family Head, can I?”

“Insolence—”

“Ivan, stand down,” Finn Lowell said flatly. He rose and performed an Ancient Martial Ceremony bow to Stephen Lowell.

“Family Head, there is a rule in the Lowell Family traditions: when the Core Lineage is without talent or ability, a branch family can replace it through martial combat. The prerequisite is that all branch family members sign a letter of challenge. The other four families have already signed. It seems it is time for me to return and add my signature…”

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