Chapter 7: Who Dared Stop Me

An elderly man in an upright collar tunic suit strode out of the villa's main hall with a squad at his back. His face was hard and jagged, like weathered stone. He was Patriarch Looske, Edison Looske. Behind him stood the Looske family's direct-line heirs. Reid Quinny stared at Edison with eyes gone pitch-black, as if an endless, icy vortex churned inside them. This was the man who had taken his parents. The man who meant to drive his sister to death. The man who wanted to wipe out his entire family. And this man was his own maternal grandfather. Zeke Looske's face twitched as grief and rage warped his features. "Father, this little bastard crippled Tony!" Edison's expression did not change. His voice fell like a gavel. "I know." Then he turned his head slightly. "Go. Bring that unfilial daughter out." "Let her see what the bastard she raised has done." "Yes!" Zeke spun on his heel and marched off. Alberto Quinny hurried forward and bowed. "Greetings, Father-in-law!" "Shut your mouth!" Edison snapped. "You think you're worthy to be the Looske family's son-in-law?" Alberto kept his head lowered, humiliation burning across his face. He could only change his address. "Patriarch Looske, Reid is still a child. He acts on impulse. Please be magnanimous." "I'll apologize to everyone on his behalf." Behind him, Destiny Quinny puffed out her cheeks and muttered in protest, "Dad, my brother didn't do anything wrong. He hit us first!" Alberto flicked his hand in a small, urgent gesture, signaling her to stop. Reese Yare, Tony's mother, stepped forward. Poisonous hatred twisted her expression. "That little bastard of yours barged into the Looske family's home, badly injured my son, and ruined his future." "You want to apologize? With what? What could you possibly offer?" She turned to Edison, voice breaking with fury. "Father, you have to stand up for Tony!" Edison's gaze stayed cold. "Enough. Step back." "Since these two bastards have shown up as well, we'll settle this today. Completely." "Yes!" Reese answered, but her eyes stayed locked on Reid, brimming with venom. Edison's gaze shifted to Reid. His voice cracked like a whip. "Bastard, get on your knees!" The shout hit like a hammer. Alberto and Destiny both went weak in the legs, their bodies almost dropping to their knees on instinct. Reid did not move. He simply looked at Edison, quiet and steady. It had to be said. The head of a Super Clan was extraordinary. The sheer authority he carried, honed by years of command, was enough to crush most people into submission. Three years ago, if Reid had faced that roar, he might have actually knelt. Unfortunately for Edison, the one standing here was no longer an ordinary boy. He was the First Sword Immortal of the Immortal Domain. "Edison Looske." Reid spoke the name slowly, each syllable clean and sharp. Reid's eldest uncle, Christopher Looske, wore black-rimmed glasses and carried a scholar's air. He barked, "Insolent! You beast, how dare you call the patriarch by his name!" At Christopher's side, a woman in a floral qipao cried anxiously, "Reid, you child, that's too rude! Call him Grandpa!" It was Reid's aunt, Regina Looske. She and Michaela Looske were close as sisters. Regina had always tried to mediate, hoping Edison would accept Reid's family. "Silence!" Edison thundered. "If you say one more word for that unfilial daughter, I'll lock you up too." Regina's face went pale. She dropped her gaze and did not dare speak again. Edison stared at Reid, his expression dark. "Little bastard, you really have no upbringing at all." At that moment, Zeke returned with Michaela Looske in tow. "Father, I brought Fourth Sister." Edison shot Michaela a hard look, then pointed at Tony, who lay on the ground. "You wretch. Look at the 'fine work' the bastard you raised has done!" Michaela saw Reid, and her face lit up in shock and joy. "Reid… you, you're alive? Am I dreaming?" Reid looked at the woman in front of him, a woman in her forties. She wore a woman's blouse and black trousers. Her hair was cut short at her ears, giving her a brisk, decisive air. This was his mother, Michaela Looske. Truthfully, he did not have many memories of her. Ever since he could remember, she had always been busy, though he never knew what she was busy with. For a long time, he thought she did not care about him at all. There was even a period when he wondered if he had been picked up somewhere. He had deliberately provoked her, rebellious and sharp, just to see if she would react. Only at this moment did he understand. The weight on her shoulders had never been lighter than his father's. "Mom, I didn't die. I'm back." "I already know what happened to you and Dad. Leave the rest to me." "As long as I'm here, no one can touch you." Michaela stepped to him and cupped his face with both hands. Tears poured down, soaking her cheeks. "Reid… hearing you say that is enough. It's sweeter than honey in my heart." "And thank you for not blaming me, for hiding all of this from you all these years." She swallowed, then forced herself to speak. "But listen to me. Take your sister and go home. Don't ever come back here again." Destiny ran up from behind and threw herself into Michaela's arms. "Mom, Destiny missed you!" "Mom, can we go home? Please?" Michaela's tears fell harder. This was not something she could decide. "Alright," she choked out, hugging Destiny tight. "Good girl. Mom promises. We're going home." "Mhm… mhm…" Destiny nodded over and over. Michaela turned, then dropped to her knees before Edison. "Father, please. Reid and Destiny are already grown. Leave our family a way to live." "In the future, we'll bow day and night for your great kindness!" Edison's face remained unmoved. "Whether they live or die doesn't depend on me. It depends on you." "As long as you cut ties with them, and never see them again for the rest of your life, I won't care whether a few ants live or die." "But if you insist on being stubborn, then they will not walk out of this door today." Michaela shook her head, pain and confusion etched into her features. "Father… why?" "Eighteen years ago, you already announced to the world that I was dead. Why, even after all this time, do you still refuse to stop until you tear our family apart?" "Why? Tell me why!" Edison suddenly raised his voice, fury shaking the air. "Because the Looske family has a name to protect!" "Because the Looske family's honor is above everything!" "The Looske family will never allow something that disgraces our house!" "Unless you die, you will cut ties with them and never have anything to do with them again!" Michaela laughed weakly, despair hollowing her eyes. "Father… you're forcing your daughter to die." Edison's expression did not change. "If you don't want to die, then choose the other option." Michaela's smile turned cold. "You want me to abandon my husband and children? Then I'd rather die." "Then die." Edison's voice was ice, merciless and final. "Ha… hahaha. Fine. What a cold-blooded father. What a heart of stone, Patriarch Looske." Michaela's laughter turned shrill, as if something inside her finally snapped. She stood. She looked at her two children. She looked at Alberto. Then she faced Edison again, her eyes clear with resolve. "Let them go. I'll die in front of you immediately." "No!" Reese screamed. "That little bastard ruined my Tony! I want blood for blood!" Reid could not watch another second. He reached out and took Michaela's hand, his smile calm and steady. "Mom, why beg him?" "If I want to leave, who can stop me?" Reid lifted his eyes and swept them across the crowd. An invisible pressure crashed down like a tidal wave, swallowing the entire space. It was as if a war god had returned, devouring the world with tiger-like might. The Looske family's people jolted in shock. Without another word, Reid took his mother and sister by the hand, turned, and walked away.