Chapter 3: Returning To The City

Words : 1754 Updated : Mar 7th, 2024

It was a strange and surreal scene. A young man, dressed casually, stood atop a purple-blue longsword as he soared through the sky. With his hands clasped behind his back and his posture as steady as a pine tree, he effortlessly glided past the cockpit window. He looked like an immortal, descended from the heavens. "Captain, what's going on?" The co-pilot, noticing Minnie's puzzled expression, couldn't help but ask out of curiosity. "Didn't you see it? A person just flew by on a sword!" "Flying on a sword?" The co-pilot was momentarily stunned before laughing in disbelief. "Captain, are you serious? There's no such thing as someone flying on a sword. That's practically divine! Maybe you're just tired and seeing things?" "Are you sure you didn't see anything?" Minnie's delicate brows furrowed slightly, her almond-shaped eyes filled with confusion. Did she really see it wrong? Impossible. At just twenty-two years old, Minnie had become a pilot not only due to her elite education and exceptional physical fitness but also because of her remarkable vision. She trusted her eyes completely. Yet, the idea of someone flying on a sword was extraordinarily hard to believe. When the co-pilot continued to deny seeing anything unusual, Minnie began to doubt her own perception. After all, while eyes might deceive, radar should be reliable. The radar had shown no anomalies, so she decided to put the incident aside for now. "Discovered already?" Benjamin was slightly surprised. His speed on the sword was faster than the plane; he had almost flashed past. He hadn't expected to be seen at all. But it didn't matter. Whether someone saw him or not was insignificant. As the clouds drifted by, Benjamin stood at an altitude of ten thousand meters, his clear eyes shimmering with determination. This was his unique eye technique. Capable of piercing through all obstacles and seeing the truth, it was similar to x-ray vision but far more advanced. With his eyes scanning through the boundless clouds, Benjamin took in the entire city of Jatonville. He felt like a deity, observing the city from the heavens. After four years of arduous training, he had reached the peak of his abilities. Now, the vast ocean was his playground, and the sky was his limit. His heart swelled with excitement. Four long years. At last, he could return home. Descending rapidly, the sprawling landscape of Jatonville unfolded before him. The Shaw family, a prominent local clan, had accumulated a fortune of 5 million dollars four years ago. They owned an entire mountain, including the villas perched atop it. Benjamin had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a quintessential handsome scion. At sixteen, the girls who pursued him could circle their family villa twice, holding hands. As Benjamin landed, he noticed that things hadn't changed much. The mountain was still the same, lush and towering amidst the bustling city. However, the decorations had become more extravagant, with famous trees and ancient woods everywhere. In front of the mountain gate, two pairs of stone lions stood vividly, their majestic forms striking. The gate was adorned with the characters "Shaw Family Villa" in flowing, elegant calligraphy. Two security guards stood at attention at the entrance, clearly indicating the presence of a prestigious family. "It seems my parents have done well over the past four years. Looks like I can continue living comfortably as a rich heir!" Benjamin smirked and walked directly toward the gate. "Stop!" Just as Benjamin stepped through the gate, the two security guards immediately blocked his way. One of them asked, "Who are you? Do you have an appointment with the Shaw family?" "Very professional guards!" Benjamin replied with a smile. "Who am I? I'm the son of the Shaw family, Benjamin. Go and tell my parents that their dear son has returned!" "The son of the Shaw family? Benjamin Shaw?" The two security guards exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise. "Are you really Benjamin Shaw?" "Absolutely!" "Okay, please wait a moment!" Everyone knew that the Shaw family's son had mysteriously disappeared four years ago. With his sudden reappearance, the guards couldn't be sure of his identity. One of them hurriedly ran through the gate to report. About three minutes later... Boom! Boom! Boom! The synchronized sound of footsteps echoed from the mountain. A large group of people, at least a hundred or so, hurried down from the mountain. They were all dressed in suits, well-groomed and serious. When they reached the gate, they stopped and stood in two rows on either side. It seemed like a rehearsed performance. Everyone bowed and greeted in unison. "Welcome, Mr. Benjamin!" "Welcome, Mr. Benjamin!" At the same time, a familiar figure emerged from the distance, striding toward them. It was his older brother, Jasper. Jasper, four years older than him, was now twenty-four. Although they hadn't seen each other in years, Jasper's appearance hadn't changed much. The only difference was that Jasper, who had been somewhat frail, was now much stronger, even stocky. His suit couldn't hide his robust muscles. "Benjamin, it's really you!" Jasper quickly approached, confirming it was indeed Benjamin. His eyes filled with excitement. "Benjamin, you're finally back!" He rushed up and gave Benjamin a big hug. Jasper and Yelena, though adopted by Benjamin's parents, had grown up together with him, and their bond was strong. "Four years!" Jasper looked Benjamin up and down, a hint of tears in his eyes. "Benjamin, where have you been all this time? You're finally back!" "Jasper, it's a long story..." Benjamin started to explain, but Jasper patted his chest. "If it's a long story, we'll talk about it later. Come on, let's go home!" "Where are Dad, Mom, and Yelena? Why haven't they come out?" Benjamin was puzzled. Given his status as the dearest son returning, his parents and sister should have been the first to greet him. Why was only Jasper here? "Um..." Jasper hesitated for a moment. "We'll talk about it later. Come on, Benjamin. I'll show you around the Shaw family villa. It's changed a lot in the four years you've been gone." He waved, and a car was immediately brought over by the security guards. Jasper dragged Benjamin into the car, and they drove slowly down the exclusive road within the Shaw family villa. A large group of bodyguards jogged behind the car, creating a grand spectacle. "Benjamin, look at our Shaw family. The villa now covers more than double the area it did four years ago. This area is a dedicated garden, over there is the fitness zone, and there's even an artificial lake. Our assets have expanded fivefold since four years ago, with three publicly traded companies under our belt, totaling nearly 15 million in assets..." Jasper proudly introduced the changes in the Shaw family over the years and continued, "I was doing well in Jatonville, with a high status. Now that you're back..." "Jasper, I just want to know about Grandpa, Dad, Mom, and Yelena." Benjamin wasn't interested in these things. After four years of trials, he had learned that wealth was just an external matter; if lost, it could be earned back. Jasper spoke proudly of the Shaw family's achievements but didn’t mention Grandpa, their parents, or Yelena, which Benjamin found odd. Indeed, when he pressed further, Jasper fell silent, his expression turning slightly heavy. "You'll find out soon enough..." After saying this, Jasper stopped talking and gazed out the window at the bustling Shaw family villa. A feeling of unease gripped Benjamin's heart.

Chapter 3: Returning To The City

Comments (0)