The Sherwood Clan’s influence was formidable, and nearby residents quickly began to inspect their own homes.

Ultimately, the Guardian determined that the individual of comparable strength had not yet escaped far.

He began searching the members of the Sherwood Clan again, including the visiting Trent Family.

Aurora Sinclair followed behind the Trent father and son, heading over discreetly.

In the Sherwood Clan’s Patriarch’s Manor, she once again saw the middle-aged man.

He was not tall and had a plain, unremarkable appearance. He would be practically invisible in a crowd.

Aurora Sinclair could already feel his Power Domain sweep over her several times, as if trying to confirm her identity.

"Mr. Sherwood, you’ve summoned us. Has something happened?"

Tate Sherwood’s attitude toward Victor Trent was no longer as warm as it had been initially. He said bluntly, "A thief broke into the Sherwood Clan last night and was discovered by one of our Elders. Now, the Elder needs to confirm your identities."

Victor Trent’s expression darkened. He let out a cold snort. "And how do you intend to do that?"

"By letting the Grand Elder probe your meridians."

Victor Trent’s expression turned even uglier. A Martial Artist’s meridians were their most guarded secret.

Probing meridians was a major taboo in the Martial World. Unless it was between individuals with absolute trust, for one unfamiliar Martial Artist to do such a thing to another was an act of provocation.

"And if we refuse?"

A slight smile played on Tate Sherwood’s lips. "Then I’m afraid we’ll have to ask you two gentlemen from the Trent Family to extend your stay... until we find the real thief."

Drake Trent’s face fell. He unleashed his Power Domain, directing its full pressure at Tate Sherwood.

But a much stronger Power Domain bore down on him, forcing him to his knees and causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

"Drake—"

Victor Trent cried out, his face ashen as he glared at Tate Sherwood. "This is a blatant provocation—"

He immediately pulled out his phone, seemingly to contact the Veridian embassy.

With a CRACK, his phone split in two.

The break was clean, as if it had been severed by a sharp blade.

Victor Trent dropped the shattered phone and wiped away the sweat that had suddenly beaded on his forehead.

His body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The middle-aged man walked over slowly, raised a hand, and pointed a finger toward Victor Trent’s forehead.

A formidable Power flowed along Victor Trent’s meridians and into his body. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Aurora Sinclair’s expression grew heavy.

’I absolutely cannot let him probe my meridians.’

The middle-aged man’s Power was domineering. After he finished probing their meridians, both Victor and Drake Trent looked as if they had been pulled from water. Their faces were deathly pale, and they collapsed onto the ground.

He slowly approached Aurora Sinclair. She feigned fear and backed away, while Drake Trent, propping himself up, growled, "She’s a normal person! She can’t withstand your Power."

"We’ll find out if she’s a normal person after I’ve checked," Tate Sherwood said, a sense of satisfaction welling in his chest.

He could tell that Drake Trent cared a great deal for this maid.

Aurora Sinclair shrank back, her hand, hidden inside her sleeve, balled into a tight fist.

The middle-aged man was now close to her. He slowly raised his hand, the Power on his fingertip moving closer to the space between her brows.

Just at that critical moment, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the entrance.

"Family Head, we’ve found traces of the suspect."

The middle-aged man’s hand froze. He turned and was gone, moving so fast that he appeared before the newcomer in the blink of an eye.

"Where?"

"Fleeing toward the sea to the east."

The middle-aged man gave chase at once.

Aurora Sinclair didn’t relax. She looked at the man making the report not far away, and a strange glint appeared in her eyes.

’That’s not Mr. Beta. Could it be... he...’

Her fist suddenly clenched.

The Trent Family was placed under guard by members of the Sherwood Clan.

Aurora Sinclair huddled in a corner, her gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

’If I had been more careful, more cautious, I wouldn’t have let Mr. Beta take this risk.’

’He’s only a Great Martial Master. How could he possibly escape?’

"Don’t be afraid. Everything will be all right."

Seeing Aurora Sinclair’s tense posture, Drake Trent assumed she was still frightened. He walked over and tried to pull her into an embrace, but she shifted to the side, avoiding his touch. She then turned her face toward the wall, looking as if she were facing a corner for punishment.

The sight made his brows furrow deeply.

’What’s wrong with her?’

’Was she really that terrified?’

***

「Meanwhile.」

In a dilapidated seaside warehouse, Beta Morgan held his breath, hiding inside a shipping container.

Outside, members of the Sherwood Clan were searching, each leading a dog on a leash, apparently trying to track someone by scent.

The container Beta Morgan was in was filled with stinking fish and rotten shrimp, which made it relatively safe for the time being.

Suddenly, an intense pressure descended on the area. It was obvious the Guardian had arrived in pursuit.

Beta Morgan’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. He didn’t know if the Master’s device could conceal his Power Domain.

Time ticked by, second by second, and his forehead became drenched in sweat.

His body trembled slightly. He was already reaching his limit.

The footsteps outside grew closer and closer, eventually stopping right in front of the container where he was hiding.

Suddenly, a beam of light pierced the darkness. Beta Morgan squinted, and his heart leaped into his throat.

’Master, Aurora, brothers... I’ll see you in the next life...’

Before he could finish the thought, he heard a thunderous BANG.

The sound of clashing Great Martial King Level Power Domains echoed from outside.

A huge hole was instantly blasted through the door of the shipping container.

Beta Morgan’s body was thrown backward along with a deluge of fish.

When he opened his eyes again, the figure at the doorway was gone. He could still hear the Sherwood Clansmen shouting outside, "Quick, after them—"

By the time he emerged from the container, there was no one left outside.

’What just happened? Could it have been Aurora who saved me?’

***

The sea wind blew in gusts as the waves churned.

Over the sea, two Water Dragons soared into the air and crashed violently into one another.

The resulting waves, laced with immense energy, radiated outwards.

The people on the shore were rocked by the aftershocks, reeling from the impact as they beat a hasty retreat.

Cassian Sherwood stood on a swaying fishing boat, his gaze fixed warily on the person before him.

The figure was dressed in a black cloak and wore a silver mask—clearly not the person he had seen the previous night.

The silhouette from that night had been smaller and more slender, not seemingly that of a man.

"Your Excellency, are you here to start a war?"

But the man just laughed. "Just passing through. Thought I’d say hello."

The casualness in his voice made Cassian Sherwood’s eyes widen instantly.

「Meanwhile.」

The members of the Trent Family were released from the room where they had been confined and were once again treated as honored guests.

A maid led them to the main hall, where they saw a beautiful woman in lavish attire sitting in the Sherwood Clan’s Family Head seat.

Although her face looked very much like the woman Victor Trent had brought with him, her entire demeanor was completely different. Most notably, the Sherwood Clan’s Family Head Order hung from her waist.

"My apologies for the trouble, Mr. Trent. Please, have a seat—"

Victor Trent’s eyes narrowed slightly. He sat down, his expression grim. A Sherwood Clan servant immediately served him tea.

"Thank you for helping me clear my name, Mr. Trent. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

A Sherwood Clansman walked over, carrying a small porcelain bowl.

The faint smell of blood emanating from it made a glint appear deep in Aurora Sinclair’s eyes.

Victor Trent’s expression was extremely unpleasant. The porcelain jar that had been stolen from them was at least seven or eight times larger than this small bowl. For the Sherwood Clan to return only this much was simply going too far.

Before he could speak, Neve Sherwood said with a smile, "Of course, this is only part of it. As for the rest of my humble gift, I’ll have to ask you to come to my room after the banquet to retrieve it, Mr. Trent..."

Her words were highly suggestive, causing the Elders and disciples from the Core Lineage to frown in displeasure.

Neve Sherwood glanced at a clansman beside her and said coolly, "Bring in the traitors."

Tate Sherwood and his entire family, including his youngest grandson, were brought into the hall, all of them bound tightly.

Someone nearby couldn’t remain seated. Just as they started to rise, a Power Domain pressed them back down.

This action caused the restless members of the clan to show a variety of expressions. Back then, Tate Sherwood had only become the Interim Family Head with Mr. Yuri’s staunch support. Why had he suddenly switched sides?

Neve Sherwood looked at them, her expression cold as she announced, "Tate Sherwood harmed the previous Family Head. He is hereby expelled from the Sherwood Clan."

"You’re framing me! I want to see the Grand Elder..." Tate Sherwood yelled. "Grand Elder—"

Neve Sherwood gave him a cold smile and had someone play numerous audio recordings of conversations between him and her—from when she had been disguised as Claire Sherwood.

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

Mr. Yuri stood up and took a few steps forward. "I convey the Grand Elder’s decree: whoever holds the Family Head Order is the Family Head."

"Impossible! This person isn’t Grace Sherwood herself! She’s an imposter!" Tate Sherwood screamed at the top of his lungs.