Chapter 69
Chapter 69 Mr Ashcroft?
“Are you also going to watch the battle between Mason and Jeff?” Cheryl fixed her wide, glistening eyes on Leander, her curiosity evident. This text is hosted at.net
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Leander’s face remained impassive as he replied casually, “From the way you speak, it sounds like you’re headed there too p>
Cheryl’s lips curled into a confident smile, her hands clasped behind her back. “Of course! Our family’s Eagle Claw Sect has always been close with the Tarlyn Guild. My grandfather is actually a dear friend of the Guild’s leader. Now that Mason, the Guild’s second–in–command, has openly issued a challenge, how could we possibly miss such a spectacle p>
As she finished, Cheryl gestured to the elderly man standing beside her. “This is my grandfather, Matthew. Just moments ago, he killed that massive snake with a single claw–our family’s signature move: the Mighty Eagle Claw p>
As Cheryl spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at Leander, eager to spot some sign of admiration in his eyes. Though their family’s Eagle Claw Sect might not boast the same level of fame as the Tarlyn Guild from Mornwick, they were still counted among the top martial families in the region.
Her grandfather, Matthew, held significant prestige within Mornwick’s martial arts community, his reputation nearly equal to Mason’s. Most martial artists would show respect upon hearing his name.
But Leander’s expression remained unchanged. With a casual tone, he asked, “The Dale family’s Eagle Claw Sect? Is it that famous? I’ve never heard of it p>
Cheryl’s face darkened immediately, her eyes flashing with anger. The Dale family was one of the leading martial clans in Mornwick, widely known across various sects. How could Leander claim ignorance?
She took a deep breath before snapping, “Who do you think you are? How could you not know my family’s sect? Are you even part of Mornwick’s martial arts scene p>
Just as her temper flared, Matthew raised his hand, cutting her off. “Cheryl, that’s enough p>
He then turned to Leander, his eyes narrowing as he sized him up, a subtle air of disdain creeping into his gaze.
“From the looks of you, it seems you haven’t even reached the inner strength stage yet. You’re still lingering on the outskirts of the martial arts world. Naturally, you wouldn’t have heard of the Eagle Claw Sect,” Matthew remarked, stroking his beard thoughtfully. His tone grew cryptic as he continued, eyeing Leander with mild condescension. “Young man, the Nine Peaks of Mount Lurvale are considered a treacherous area in Mornwick, vast and teeming with
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Chapter 6 Mc Ashcroft
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resources, but often home to strange and ferocious beasts. For you to venture here merely to watch a battle… quite reckless p>
He paused for emphasis, his gaze resting on Leander. “With your limited skills, without an elder from your sect to guide you, if you were to encounter wild beasts or wolves, your doom would be all but certain p>
Matthew seemed intent on imparting a lesson, his eyes glinting as he sized up the young man before him, clearly expecting some acknowledgment.
Leander, however, only shrugged, appearing completely indifferent. “I had no idea there were so many dangers in Mount Lurvale p>
Though Matthew believed his words were sinking in, Leander’s mind was elsewhere. He had faced far greater perils in the past, and the threat of wild animals or mere snakes hardly fazed him.
Misinterpreting Leander’s casual response, Matthew’s expression softened slightly. Assuming the young man had grasped the gravity of the situation, he offered with a tone of magnanimity, “Since our paths have crossed, you may as well join us. We’re headed to the main peak of Mount Lurvale to watch the battle. It’ll be safer for you, so you don’t find yourself in any unnecessary trouble along the way p>
Leander stifled a chuckle at the grandfather and granddaughter duo, their confidence seemingly boundless. Still, he didn’t refuse the offer. With a simple nod, he followed them toward the main peak.
As they walked, Cheryl, brimming with pride, seemed eager to share her family’s accomplishments with Leander. She cast herself as a seasoned martial artist, keen to display her knowledge.
“What did you think of my grandfather’s claw strike against that black bear earlier?” she asked suddenly, leaning closer to Leander as they approached the foot of the main peak.
Leander glanced at her nonchalantly. “That claw strike? It was… fine p>
Cheryl, expecting praise, frowned at his indifferent response. “What do you mean by just fine p>
She took a deep breath before continuing, her voice growing sharper. “Do you know that my grandfather is the foremost expert of the Eagle Claw Sect? With the Mighty Eagle Claw technique, he’s defeated countless martial artists across Mornwick. He’s rarely met a rival, even Mason from the Tarlyn Guild wouldn’t dare to guarantee victory over him. And yet you say it was just… okay p>
Her frustration mounting, she shook her head in disbelief. “I see now–you must be an outsider to the martial arts world. You clearly don’t grasp the true strength of such techniques. Even if you watched, you wouldn’t understand it p>
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Chapter 59 Mr Ashcrof
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Cheryl wore a cold, unyielding expression, dismissing Leander as if he were someone insignificant. Without a second glance, she turned her head away, utterly disinterested.
In her mind, no matter how much she tried to explain things to Leander, it would be like talking to a brick wall.
Leander only shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. What Cheryl didn’t realize was that his comment of “it was fine” had already been exceedingly polite. Had he spoken the unvarnished truth, Matthew’s so–called “masterful” claw strike, despite his late–stage expertise, wouldn’t have even been worthy of Leander’s critique.
As they made their way up the peak of Mount Lurvale, Cheryl maintained a determined silence. The three of them ascended quietly, not a word exchanged for the entire thirty–minute climb, until they finally reached the summit.
At the top, beyond the central Tarlyn Residence, there was a naturally formed stone platform at the cliff’s edge. Known as Mount Lurvale platform, this sturdy outcrop was renowned for its ability to withstand tremendous force, its surface as resilient as tempered glass. It was here that Mason had arranged to face Leander in their upcoming duel.
Leander followed the grandfather–granddaughter pair as they approached the platform. The area around it bustled with energy–martial artists of all levels gathered in small groups, the air thick with anticipation.
The moment Matthew and Cheryl appeared, the crowd stirred. Several martial artists immediately recognized Matthew and quickly moved aside, bowing respectfully, hands clasped in reverence. They cleared a path for him to approach the platform’s edge with ease.
Matthew, his face glowing with pride, graciously returned their respectful gestures. Cheryl, standing tall beside him, couldn’t help but throw a triumphant glance back at Leander, her expression smug.
“See that? My grandfather is a renowned figure in Mornwick’s martial arts community. Practically everyone knows him. Not like some people who’ve been living under a rock and claim they’ve never heard of him,” she remarked, her voice dripping with mockery.
Her thinly veiled insult was clearly aimed at Leander, but he walked on in silence, uninterested in playing into her petty needling.
When they reached the platform, the Tarlyn Guild had already set up seating. Only those with significant influence in Mornwick’s martial arts circles had the honor of sitting, and Matthew was undoubtedly among them.
As Matthew prepared to take his seat with Cheryl beside him, two figures suddenly appeared, bowing in unison.
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Chapter 69 Mr Ashcroft?
“Greetings, Matthew p>
It was none other than the Halloway brothers, Gale and Dylan.
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“Ah, the heads of the Halloway family,” Matthew replied, returning the gesture. Although the Halloway’s weren’t strictly a martial arts family, both Gale and Dylan had trained under esteemed masters, making them internal martial arts practitioners. Gale, in particular, had reached the early stages of mastery. With the Halloway family’s considerable influence in Mornwick, Matthew treated them with due respect.
Just as they finished exchanging pleasantries and prepared to sit, Gale’s eyes suddenly locked onto someone behind Cheryl. His expression shifted to one of surprise.
“Mr. Ashcroft?” he said, his voice filled with astonishment as he stared at Leander.
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