The Retired Young Mercenary Is Secretly a Billionaire-Chapter 62: Beach Time!!!

The morning sun had risen higher when one of the elders stepped onto the training ground. His presence was quiet, but the shift in atmosphere was immediate — like the change in air before a storm.

He wore flowing robes with red-and-gold embroidery, the symbol of the clan stitched just above his chest. His beard was neatly trimmed, and despite his age, his posture was as straight as a blade.

Clarissa straightened. "Elder Kazuo," she said with respect.

Miles turned and gave a short bow. "Elder Kazuo."

The old man’s sharp eyes studied him for a moment before he spoke, voice graveled by age but firm with command.

"Young man, it’s time I teach you the Phoenix Clan’s exclusive move."

Miles blinked once, surprised. "That’s... an honor. Thank you, Elder."

Elder Kazuo stepped closer, hands clasped behind his back. "Mastering this technique is not simply a matter of memorization. Our clan’s move requires an unnatural bend of the spine, a twist that must feel like second nature. We begin molding the body from childhood... holding stances for hours until bone forgets its limits."

He tilted his head thoughtfully.

"But I watched you fight yesterday. Your flexibility... your flow... you’ve shaped yourself like water through a thousand different forms. I believe your body can learn this."

Miles nodded with quiet resolve. "Then I’ll give it everything I have."

Kazuo’s gaze narrowed, and then, without further word, he moved — slowly, but with such precision that even the watching disciples fell silent.

He demonstrated the form — a seamless blend of grounded stance, spiraling torque through the waist, and a finishing snap of both arms that carried deceptive force. It was both defensive and lethal — the kind of strike that could floor an opponent before they saw it coming.

Miles followed, mirroring the motion.

Kazuo corrected him once, twice — then simply stepped back, arms folded.

After five minutes, he spoke. "Perfect."

Miles held the position, sweat beading his brow.

"There may be some sanding left to do, but for a first try..." Kazuo smirked. "It’s almost like your body already knew it."

Miles exhaled and dropped the stance, respectfully bowing again. "Thank you, Elder. I’ll practice until it’s second nature."

Kazuo nodded once, then turned and walked away without another word.

Back at the residence, the smell of something savory filled the air.

Miles stepped into the foyer, his shirt still damp from a cold shower. The soft chatter of family blended with the clatter of dishes from the kitchen. He ruffled his hair dry with a towel and stepped down to join the table.

Daniel sipped on a fresh herbal tea, while Hope and Asher were bouncing slightly in their seats.

"Son," Elena said from the head of the table, "can I ask you something?"

Miles looked up mid-bite. "Yes, Mom?"

She leaned in slightly. "What is this place, really? They have such old traditions... and they keep calling you ’young master.’"

Miles paused, then set down his fork. He didn’t dodge the question.

He looked at everyone with a calm expression. "Mom... this is a place of ancient martial arts clans. You’ve probably heard stories about them — warriors who live in secrecy, guarding traditions hundreds of years old."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Wait, like the ones in those old documentaries?"

"Exactly," Miles said. "But they’re real. They train here, live here, and pass on their skills generation to generation. This one... is the Phoenix Clan."

Asher’s eyes widened like saucers. "Martial arts?! That sounds SO COOL!"

Hope gasped, looking around as if she expected to see someone break a brick with their forehead.

"They don’t use magic or anything," Miles added with a grin. "Just hard work, discipline, and insane training."

Elena’s eyes softened. "But they treat you like something more..."

Miles nodded slowly. "Clarissa is their leader — the current Matriarch of the clan."

Daniel’s jaw slackened. "Her? She’s so sweet. Quiet. Polite."

Miles chuckled. "Yeah, and I’ve seen her disarm five attackers with one sweep of her leg."

Elena blinked, clearly trying to process it all.

"And me... well, they want me to be their next Patriarch."

The table went still.

"You mean—" Elena began, but Miles gently cut in, voice steady.

Elena chuckled softly, folding her arms with a knowing smile."I would’ve never guessed... but now I see it clearly. There is something going on between you two."

Miles nearly choked on his juice."Mom! Come on, there’s nothing going on between us."

Daniel raised an eyebrow but smiled."Alright, Elena, don’t corner the boy. Let him breathe."

Hope leaned in with a mischievous grin."Sister-in-law Clarissa~" she sang teasingly.

Miles groaned, hiding his face."Shhhhh! You know she knows martial arts, right?"

A voice chimed in smoothly from behind, light with sarcasm."So now you’re using me to scare the kids?"

They all turned to see Clarissa leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, smirking.

Miles glanced at her over his shoulder."That was the plan. But it seems it failed."

Clarissa stepped into the room with a graceful confidence."It won’t work on them. Right, little ones?"

Hope and Asher jumped up from their chairs excitedly."Sister Clarissa is a good sister!" they declared in unison, running to hug her.

Clarissa grinned, kneeling down to ruffle their hair."See? Your scare tactic needs work, future patriarch."

Miles sighed in mock defeat while the entire room erupted in laughter, warm and bright — the kind of joy that could only bloom in peace, after years of chaos.

Clarissa clapped her hands with a wide grin. "Alright, everyone! We’re going to the beach today! Who’s ready?"

The room exploded with energy.

Hope and Asher jumped so high they nearly toppled their chairs.

"YESSSSS!" Hope squealed, spinning in a circle like a tiny tornado. "I’ve been waiting for this since we got here!"

Asher grabbed his little backpack, half-packed with toys and snacks. "Do they have seashells there?! I’m gonna find the biggest one!"

Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, someone’s excited."

Miles looked at Clarissa with a soft smirk. "Thanks, princess. You just made their entire summer."

Clarissa rolled her eyes, but a smile played at her lips. "Hunnn, don’t flatter yourself. I’m doing it for them, not for you."

Miles raised his hands in mock surrender. "As you say, Your Highness."

Soon, the entire group was packed and ready, descending the mountain in sleek, glass-paneled cable cars designed to carry visitors down to the lush beaches far below. frёewebnoѵēl.com

As they climbed in, the doors hissed shut and the car began to move, smoothly gliding along the cable line suspended high above the green canopy of the forested cliffs.

Hope pressed her face to the glass wall. "Wooooaaahhh... We’re flying!"

Asher clutched the rail with one hand and pointed with the other. "Look down there! That’s a waterfall! A real one! And there—there’s a boat in the ocean!"

Elena sat beside Daniel, visibly tense at first as she glanced out the transparent floor, but slowly eased as the view unfolded. "This is... breathtaking."

Daniel smiled. "No wonder they built this place here. It’s like a hidden paradise."

Miles stood casually, arms crossed, watching the sea glitter far below. The horizon stretched endlessly, where blue ocean kissed blue sky. The winding coastline shimmered, and golden sands peeked out from between palm groves.

Clarissa leaned beside him. "I told you they’d love it."

He glanced sideways at her. "I didn’t say I wouldn’t."

The wind whooshed past as the cable cars curved around a ridge, giving everyone a wide panoramic view of the crescent bay and the jagged cliffs that framed it. Birds soared beneath them, and sunlight shimmered like diamonds on the waves.

Hope squealed, "It’s like a movie scene!"

Asher pressed his hands to the glass. "We’re gonna build the biggest sandcastle!"

Clarissa smiled as she looked at them. "Then you better get ready, little warriors. This beach is the real deal."

The cable cart touched down gently at the base station nestled among tall palm trees swaying in the warm breeze. As the doors slid open, the family stepped out into a scene that looked like it belonged on the cover of a travel magazine.

The beach stretched endlessly, a golden ribbon of sand hugging the bright turquoise water. The waves lapped rhythmically at the shore, their gentle crashing blending with the cries of seagulls above. A few colorful umbrellas dotted the beach, casting playful shadows over reclining chairs and picnic spreads. The sunlight shimmered on the sea like a trail of diamonds.

Hope and Asher burst forward, kicking off their shoes and sinking their feet into the warm sand with wide eyes.

"It’s so soft!" Hope giggled, scooping a handful and letting it slide through her fingers.

Asher ran in circles with joy. "It’s like walking on flour! This is AMAZING!"

Miles chuckled and dropped their bags near a shady palm tree. "Let’s make some memories," he said, pulling out a camera.

The family posed for their first picture:Elena with her sunhat tilted just right, smiling gently beside Daniel who looked proud and relaxed for once. Hope and Asher stood in front, flashing peace signs and beach grins, while Miles leaned in from behind with his signature calm smirk. Clarissa photobombed dramatically from the side, sunglasses on, flashing a peace sign upside down. Click!

Later, the kids started building an epic sandcastle — no, a sand kingdom. Daniel helped carve a moat while Elena collected shells to decorate the towers. Hope built turrets with expert precision while Asher, acting as "Chief Architect," shouted ideas like "Let’s make a dragon!" and "We need a throne room!"

Miles watched fondly for a while, then tossed a beach ball to Clarissa. "Ready for a challenge, princess?"

Clarissa raised an eyebrow. "You’re on."

Soon, a game of beach ball turned into a full-blown match — Clarissa and Elena vs. Miles and Daniel, while Hope and Asher acted as referees (and frequently ran off with the ball themselves). Laughter echoed across the beach as everyone shed their usual seriousness and just played.

After a while, Miles stood up and wiped his brow. "Alright, little champs," he called to Hope and Asher, "time for your first dip in the ocean."

Their eyes lit up with excitement — and a little nervousness.

"Will the fish nibble our feet?" Asher asked cautiously.

"Only if you’re a cookie," Miles teased, scooping up Hope in one arm and Asher in the other.

He walked slowly into the warm, shallow water, waves foaming gently around his ankles. The twins squealed and held onto him tightly as the water rose to their waists.

"It’s sooooo cold!" Hope shouted.

"No, it’s warm!" Asher countered, splashing her with a laugh.

Miles lowered them just enough so they could float for a second, still holding them securely. "See? The ocean’s got you."

Clarissa sat back on a towel, watching them from the shore, a smile playing on her lips. She snapped a few pictures from her phone, capturing Miles mid-laugh with the kids — a rare unguarded moment.

Later, the family sat together under the umbrella, sipping fresh coconut water and enjoying cold fruit slices. The salty air, the tang of the sea, the sun warming their skin—it all wove together into a perfect moment.

Hope leaned against Elena, drowsy. "I don’t ever wanna go back."

Miles looked out at the ocean, its horizon glowing orange as the sun dipped lower.

"You’ll always have a place like this," he said quietly, almost to himself. "A place where you can be free."

As the day ended, the last picture they took was a wide-angle shot: the whole family with the ocean behind them, arms around each other, the setting sun casting golden light across their faces.

A memory captured forever.

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