114 Chapter 114: Change (2/2)
”Master Sacha did?” Yuan Dao frowned in puzzlement. He stared at the letter, his head tilted. ”He could have just sent me an email instead of going through the trouble of crafting a handwritten letter. What does he need?”
”I wouldn't know.” Adrian shrugged. Then he brightened. ”But he was asking about your family.”
”My thanks to him for his concern. Tell Master Sacha that my wife is doing fine.” Yuan Dao nodded, but I noticed that his movements had turned imperceptibly stiff, as if he was reluctantly broaching a subject he didn't want to talk about. He tucked the letter into his uniform, and turned away from us to make his way toward the elevator. For some reason, I had the impression that he was averting his gaze. ”Shall we proceed then?”
The three of us obediently followed him to the elevator. Yuan Dao stepped aside and waited for us to enter before pressing the button for the hundred and ninety-fifth floor. With a humming sound, the doors slid shut and the elevator jerked before ascending.
”If you do not mind me asking a question,” Yuan Dao began as the elevator slowly rose toward the hundred and ninety-fifth floor.
”I mind,” I retorted, but shrank back when I saw his expression. The security chief was scarier than even my dad during a training session in his dojo. ”I was just kidding. Please go ahead.”
Yuan Dao cleared his throat. ”Aren't you the first young man of your generation who defeated Lady Cecilia?”
”That was a fluke,” I muttered under my breath.
”Begging your pardon, but I hardly think someone capable of nuking an entire valley and obliterating three rank A monsters with a single spell would require a fluke to best Lady Cecilia. That is not to say I look down on her abilities, but…”
”Cecilia is strong,” Alicia agreed. ”But not that strong.”
Yuan Dao fell silent for a moment before nodding. ”Precisely.”
I raised my hands in a helpless shrug. ”Well…okay? What exactly is your point…sir?”
”…no. It's nothing.” Yuan Dao was casting his glance from me to Alicia, and then back to me again. ”Your relationship with the young lady of the Violet family is known to Lady Cecilia.” He sighed. ”It might have been very different otherwise.”
For some reason, Alicia reached out to grip my arm tightly. The gesture was not lost on Yuan Dao, who bowed apologetically.
”I mean no offense.”
”None taken,” Alicia replied sweetly, though for some reason there was an undercurrent in her tone that sent a chill down my spine. Yuan Dao paid it no heed, however, and raised his head to regard the climbing numbers at the top of the elevator.
”Uncle Yuan Dao, what do you know about this Shawn Franklin?” This time it was Adrian, his tone curious. ”I've never met him personally before.”
”Hmm…” Yuan Dao paused for a moment as he pondered the question. ”Just as much as you, I suppose. You probably already heard about how he had defeated Lady Cecilia in a proper duel, haven't you?”
”Yeah.” Adrian nodded excitedly. ”I heard that he's among the strongest and most talented in our generation!”
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”That's correct. This probably isn't known as much, but also prior and after his duel with Lady Cecilia, Master Shawn also defeated ten students from the elite class of Southampton Academy in a row. His skills with the sword are exceedingly remarkable for someone of his age. Furthermore, he comes from the prestigious Franklin Clan, which is one of the top ten great families along with the Stuart Clan. His pedigree and upbringing alone is impressive.”
Cool, I guess?
”Heh…” On the other hand, Adrian didn't sound very impressed. Instead, he smiled mischievously. ”But is Shawn Franklin a match for Brother Richard?”
”I think he is obviously stronger than me,” I replied, but Yuan Dao didn't seem to pay any attention to me.
”To be honest, I'm curious about the answer to that question as well.”
”Didn't I just answer the question?” I complained, but the rest of my retort was cut off when I suddenly felt an enormous killing intent suffocate me. My hands twitched and my knees buckled as the very air around me distorted.
What the hell?! Blinking, I suddenly realized that the vast ocean of raw killing intent was emanating from Yuan Dao. Cold perspiration dripped down my spine even as my vision of him warped the security chief into an image of a terrifying demon. Struggling to breathe, I stood my ground. This guy is the real deal!
All around me, I saw Adrian buckle and pass out. Alicia fell to her knees, gasping for air. I wanted to reach out to her, but I found my body completely paralyzed, refusing to obey my mental commands. Only Yuan Dao was still standing, and his currently demonic visage appeared to swallow up my entire perspective. I could almost see the incredible killing intent radiating from him.
In fact, it was warping the very air around him, distorting it into what seemed like a mirage. Probably the same effect that made him resemble a monster to me.
He's much stronger than anyone I had ever faced before…even Hades, even the three Crastrates from a month ago…even Dad…! What the hell is he?! Some kind of monster?!
Gritting my teeth, I defiantly stared him down, refusing to submit, refusing to crumble before his formidable might. Even though I had been totally immobilized by the deadly aura that emanated from him in tsunami-like waves, I was determined not to allow him to intimidate me.
”Not bad. Even Shawn Franklin couldn't handle this amount of killing intent. Yet you can still stand even after such an onslaught.” As if he had hit an off switch, the killing intent completely disappeared in an instant. He nodded thoughtfully. ”I am thoroughly convinced that you truly are capable of unleashing a spell of mass destruction and slaying rank A monsters, even at your young age.”
I helped Alicia up to her feet. She was still pale and trembling from the earlier pressure, but it was impressive that she didn't pass out and managed to maintain her consciousness. Yuan Dao bowed apologetically.
”I apologize, Lady Alicia. I ended up indulging in my curiosity at your expense.”
”No, it's okay.” Alicia forced a smile, but I could feel her still trembling as I held her hand. She glanced at poor Adrian, who was slumped at his corner of the elevator. ”Adrian is worse off than I am.”
Once I was sure she was all right, I let go of her hand and knelt by Adrian's side to check on him. He had just barely regained consciousness.
”What the hell was that?” he demanded, breaking out in cold sweat. ”I felt as if a giant hand had just crushed me to death.”
”It was the answer to your stupid question,” I replied, unable to suppress the irritation in my voice. After all, the kid was responsible for the whole thing when he asked Yuan Dao that dumb question about whether Shawn Franklin was stronger than me.
Before Adrian could protest, the bell chimed and the elevator jerked to a stop. The doors slid open to reveal the hundred and ninety-fifth floor in all its glory.
Yuan Dao stepped into the corridor, as if to make sure the coast was clear and it was safe to proceed, and then turned back to us with a smart bow.
”Shall we?” he asked.
Well…given that the alternative was to stay in the claustrophobic elevator, none of us objected and we followed him into the new level.