Meanwhile.
Having lost his target, Beta Morgan trudged into an old residence, dejected and clutching a stack of yellow-and-white joss paper.
This was a Morgan Family property in Corvale. It was here that several Morgan family guards, including himself, had received guidance from the Nameless Master years ago. In just six months, their Combat Power had risen from the Warrior Level to the Martial Master Level.
They all held a special affection for this place, but today, both he and his brother had brought shame upon the Nameless Master.
He'd lost the fight, and then he'd lost the person he was tracking.
"I have failed in my duty!" Beta Morgan said to the man in the room, clasping his fists and lowering his head slightly.
Alvin Morgan was holding a black leather notebook, flipping through it nonchalantly without looking up. "That's to be expected. That girl is at least a Grandmaster."
Alvin Morgan was the "Crown Prince" of the Morgan Family of Kingsford. He usually lived a reclusive life, and few in Kingsford had ever seen him. However, nearly everyone who had was instantly captivated by his face and became one of his ardent admirers.
Thus, a saying circulated among the upper echelons of Kingsford society: When Alvin Morgan appears, the city's debutantes run wild.
When those captivating, almond-shaped eyes glanced his way, Beta Morgan's breath hitched, and he immediately lowered his head.
'His Lordship's eyes are getting more and more bewitching,' he thought. 'I can't even bear to look at them for too long.'
He cleared his throat. "My lord, that girl looks very young. Isn't calling her a Grandmaster a bit of an exaggeration?"
Alvin Morgan turned a page, his expression indifferent. "Have you ever seen anyone make a Great Martial Master cough up blood with a single punch?"
"..."
"Dean Morgan said he didn't even see when she struck."
Beta Morgan's expression finally changed. "My lord, should we..."
"Did you manage to follow her?"
Beta Morgan: ...
'His Lordship is always so sharp, twisting the knife right where it hurts!'
"My lord, I'll go out and look again..."
The moment Beta Morgan thought about the girl being at least a Grandmaster, he couldn't sit still.
Punching power could be trained, but speed was not so easily acquired. In addition to diligent practice using special methods, one's innate martial talent was also crucial. This meant having faster neural response times than the average person.
Among his brothers, Dean Morgan had the best martial talent. Consequently, his Combat Power was the highest among them, reaching the Ninth Rank of a Great Martial Master. With a little more effort, he could reach the level of a Martial Arts Master.
Now, a girl of seventeen or eighteen had a Punch Speed so fast that Dean Morgan couldn't even react. It could only mean her martial talent was at a genius level.
In that case, her future path in martial arts would only grow wider. It was very possible that Veridia could see the emergence of another Martial King after a century-long absence.
He could already imagine how frenzied the major global powers would become if this news got out!
A Martial King represented a nation's Combat Power. To put it bluntly, they were a deterrent against other countries.
Although this was an age of technology with many advanced weapons, it was still people who wielded them. True strength came only from within.
Therefore, every four years, nations would hold an international, top-tier free-fighting tournament to compete for the title of world champion.
It was both an honor and a form of deterrence!
***
Beta Morgan casually placed the yellow-and-white joss paper on the table and prepared to leave.
But Alvin Morgan stopped him. "Don't bother. You won't find her—"
"But..."
A single glance from Alvin Morgan was enough to make Beta Morgan snap his mouth shut obediently.
"What's that on the table?"
Beta Morgan glanced over. "Um... the girl gave it to me..."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw his master's look of utter disgust.
'Crap! I let it slip...'
"Let me see it!"
Beta Morgan picked up the joss paper and shuffled over slowly with his head down, like a timid new bride.
Among his brothers, he was the best at tracking. But in front of that girl...
No wonder his lord looked at him with such disdain!
Alvin Morgan set down his black leather notebook, opened the paper bag, and pinched the contents. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he pushed it away with a look of disgust.
"My lord, is there a problem with the paper?" Beta Morgan's eyes narrowed, his posture becoming as tense as if he were facing a great enemy.
"When you bought it, didn't you ask what it was for?"
"No... but the cashier did say 'my condolences'..."
'Oh, shit—'
"This is..."
Beta Morgan's face drained of color. He glanced at his lord's "I-guess-you're-not-a-complete-idiot" expression and wanted to cry.
***
At the foot of Sunstone Mountain, the black sedan practically followed Aurora Sinclair and her companions all the way back.
Inside the car, Sue Quinn stared at the large cloth bundle on Aurora Sinclair's back. When she compared her to the esteemed Miss Stella in Kingsford, the disdain in her eyes grew even stronger.
'This Second Miss is nothing but a useless country bumpkin, with only her Core Lineage blood to her name!'
'I really don't know why the Old Master wants someone like her to return.'
'Is it to disgrace the Sinclair Family?'
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Sue Quinn decided to stop thinking and simply dialed a number.
Leigh Miles glanced back at the car following them and adjusted Tiger on her back. "Senior Sister, are the people in that black car really from your family?"
Aurora Sinclair nodded.
Leigh Miles's eyes lit up. "Senior Sister, is your family super rich? That car looks so expensive! Today, Tiger almost ran into it..."
Suddenly, the person beside her stopped walking. Clear, almond-shaped eyes stared straight at her. Leigh Miles's heart skipped a beat. Realizing she had misspoken, she gave a sheepish laugh. "Hehehe..."
The dark eyes continued to stare.
Leigh Miles started to crack under the pressure, pouting as she complained, "It was this kid's fault for playing around and not watching for cars. I already scolded him..."
Aurora Sinclair's gaze shifted from Leigh Miles's face to Tiger on her back, then to the small wooden cart in his hands.
"He wasn't playing with the wooden cart! Right, Tiger?" Leigh Miles quickly squeezed his leg, but only got an "Ahhh—" in response.
Aurora Sinclair watched Tiger in silence for a long moment before turning and continuing on her way. But her pace was much faster now. No matter how Leigh Miles tried to catch up, she couldn't close the distance.
There was always a meter of space between them.
Frustrated, Leigh Miles put Tiger down and pinched his ear. "Walk by yourself—"
She and Tiger were both orphans, taken in by their master from the foot of the mountain a few years ago.
When she first met her Senior Sister, she was just like this—always alone, never getting close to anyone. Even when they slept in the same room, she would keep her distance, never letting anyone touch her.
At first, she thought her Senior Sister disliked her and Tiger. She was so dejected that she even considered taking Tiger and leaving.
That was until their master explained that it was her Senior Sister's psychological burden. She had always believed she was responsible for her parents' death, that she was an ill-omened person who would bring misfortune to her friends and family, which was why she refused to get close to anyone...
Leigh Miles looked at the slender figure ahead and sighed helplessly.
"Senior Sister, wait for us! We're all wearing the peace charms our master gave us!"
***
Two familiar barks echoed as a mustard-yellow figure raced down the mountain, running up to Aurora Sinclair at lightning speed and wagging its tail.
"Old Man Dog, you've got a great nose!" Leigh Miles was green with envy. Her Senior Sister was the only person in the entire village who received such a warm welcome from this mongrel.
Aurora Sinclair tried to dodge it, but the dog was determined to brush up against her before it would let her pass.
Leigh Miles watched the standoff between the human and the dog, speechless.
"Senior Sister, you know what Old Man Dog is like. If you don't let him nuzzle you, you're not getting into the village..."
In the end, Aurora Sinclair did manage to get into the village... because she dropped her bundle and dashed past.
Leigh Miles: ...
'How could I forget? My Senior Sister doesn't run at human speed!'
A crowd had gathered at the village entrance.
The white-bearded village chief was smoking his long-stemmed pipe, surrounded by several villagers who were chatting about something.
The moment they appeared, they were met with a warm welcome from the villagers.
"Young Rory, are you going to Kingsford for school?"
Aurora Sinclair paused for a second, then nodded after spotting her master in the crowd.
The chief's wrinkled face beamed like a sunflower. He took another puff of his pipe. "Our Young Rory is really going places!"
The village uncles and aunties all chimed in, showering her with one compliment after another.
With a wooden expression, Aurora Sinclair carefully avoided the crowd's touch and walked briskly toward the fruit trees.
The villagers seemed accustomed to her cold personality and paid no mind to her odd behavior. A few children even chased after her, asking questions as they ran.
The elders here had lived on the mountain almost their entire lives. They only went downhill occasionally to the nearest town to buy necessities like oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar. Because of this, they were as excited as if it were New Year's whenever someone left the mountain for a long journey.
They always believed that those who went down the mountain were capable people who would bring good fortune to the village. Thus, Aurora Sinclair had now been promoted to the hope of the entire village!
***
When Sue Quinn and her driver climbed the mountain again, they were immediately surrounded by the fiery-spirited villagers.
"Are you here to pick up Young Rory?"
"Are you Young Rory's parents?"
"Is Young Rory really going to Kingsford for school?"
Each simple, earnest question was nothing but a deafening clamor in Sue Quinn's ears.
'These people are so boorish and ignorant!'
'Are they spitting when they talk?'
'So filthy!'
Sue Quinn's brow furrowed. A flash of disgust crossed her eyes as she lifted her chin slightly, pursed her lips, and glanced at the driver beside her.
The driver immediately stepped in front of Sue Quinn.
"Everyone, make way! This is an honored guest from the Sinclair Family of Kingsford. Don't offend her!"