Chapter 28

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The old man's face was contorted with rage.

"How dare you insult me! You deserve death!"

The middle-aged fighter's voice croaked like a duck as he forcefully slapped the teacup in his hand. A sinister energy pulsed through his palm—enough to shatter an average fighter with ease.

Ethan didn't flinch. He calmly raised his hand and caught the teacup mid-air, ignoring the malevolent force behind it. Without hesitation, he threw the cup back.

Nathan couldn't believe that an old man who had just begun learning martial arts could catch the teacup and return it. Panic flickered in his eyes, but it was too late to escape. The cup smashed into his head, and blood and brain matter splattered across the room.

The casino owner, trembling with fear, licked the blood off his lips. A warrior of Nathan's strength had been killed so easily. He collapsed to his knees.

"Mercy, great hero! I have family—elders to care for and children to feed. Please, spare my life," he begged, his voice choked with fear.

Ethan sneered. "I gave you a chance once, didn't I?"

As the casino owner sobbed, Ethan's voice turned colder. "Since you reminded me… don't worry. I believe in keeping families together. You won't be traveling to the underworld alone."

Realizing his impending doom, the owner tried to bargain. "No! Please, take all the silver I have! Spare my family's lives, even if it costs mine."

"Revenge doesn't end until the roots are torn out."

Ethan's palm struck the casino owner, killing him instantly. His men fell quickly after, meeting the same fate.

Jack, watching from a nearby tree, was shocked by Ethan's merciless actions. He had never seen anything like it and couldn't help but feel a pang of fear.

Ethan approached Jack, his expression fierce. "Are you afraid of me, boy?"

Jack hesitated before shaking his head. "No… they deserved it. If we weren't strong enough today, we'd be the ones dead."

He continued, "I've seen death before. People get beaten to death in the streets. I used to be afraid of ending up like them, so I wanted to study and learn. But today, I realized something: studying won't save me. Only by mastering combat can I protect myself."

Ethan ruffled Jack's hair and shook his head. "Don't underestimate studying. If you can't read, how will you understand combat manuals? Blind training will only get you killed faster."

Ethan paused, then gave Jack a choice. "I'm leaving this place to travel the world. You can stay here and live a comfortable life, or you can come with me."

Jack didn't hesitate. "Master, I want to come with you. I'm afraid that if I don't, no one will be there to bury you when you die."

Ethan chuckled at Jack's unexpected response. "Alright, but understand this: you'll see a lot of blood, and you must know that weakness in this world will only lead to death."

Ethan lifted Jack, and they made their way to the casino owner's lavish estate. Every brick of the mansion was built on the blood and sweat of the people. The owner had married eighteen wives but bore no children, perhaps a sign of divine justice.

Ethan instructed Jack to kill the casino owner's family. Though they didn't resist, Jack carried out the task without blinking. Blood splattered across his clothes as he swung his blade.

"Master, I knew them. They were all terrible people. One of them killed a close friend of mine for bumping into him. I never thought I'd have the chance to avenge him."

Jack grinned grimly, his memories of his friend's death fresh in his mind. Justice had been served.

Ethan patted his shoulder. "You've got guts, kid. Even without me, you'll make a name for yourself."

Ethan told Jack to pack his things and be ready to leave the next day. He had plans, and Jack was going to play a part in them.

Later, back in the estate's courtyard, Ethan instructed the servants to bury the bodies and then dismissed them. Word of Nathan's death spread quickly. Though a fearsome fighter, Nathan had been defeated—by an old man no less.

The town's gossipers, eager for coin, spread the tale far and wide. The owner of the Golden Sword Dojo couldn't believe it. Nathan had been a formidable post-acquired warrior, a level of talent uncommon in the region.

"How did a man in his seventies, with only third-rate skills, defeat someone as strong as Nathan?" the dojo owner mused.

Wang Lun's alias, "The Nameless," spread rapidly. People marveled at the idea of an elderly man learning martial arts and defeating a warrior of Nathan's caliber. It was so astonishing that even the Heavenly Pavilion ranked him 100th on the list of acquired warriors.

Curious onlookers flocked to see Ethan, but by the time they arrived, he was long gone.

The next day, Ethan and Jack stood on a small boat, drifting down the river.

Ethan, staring at the water, muttered to himself:

"I've never done a good deed in my life. Only lived for eating, drinking, and pleasure. But now, like the river's tides, I've broken free."

"Master, that's a good poem… but I don't understand it," Jack praised, a bit confused.

Ethan chuckled. "It means that my life was once empty—focused only on indulgence. But now, seeing the tides, I realize who I've become."

"You used to live like that?" Jack asked, his innocence showing.

Before Ethan could respond, another boat approached them. A man carrying a sword bowed respectfully.

"I am Zach, a swordsman. I've heard of your skill and wish to challenge you!"

Zach's eyes gleamed with excitement. He had heard of "The Nameless" and believed this was his chance to make a name for himself by defeating him.

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I want to give a huge thanks to the Dragon king card holder : Strxnz

I want to give a huge thanks to the Dragon king card holder : RrJ

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