Chapter 8: The Three-Year Pact

"Reid…" Michaela Looske cried out, panic cracking her voice. Reid Quinny gave her a small, steady smile. "Mom, just relax and follow me. Leave everything else to me." Michaela's heart lurched. Three years apart, and her son felt like a different person. She did not believe Reid had the ability to take her out of the Looske family, yet that smile settled something in her chest, as if it promised safety. Whoosh! A black shadow swept down from above and landed two meters in front of Reid. A young man in tight black combat clothes stood there with a longsword in hand. The blade was already drawn, throwing off a cold, glittering sheen. Reid stopped and stared at him, eyes turning icy. Behind him, Michaela's face went pale. "Ander Looske… you're actually back!" Ander Looske, the genius of the Looske family's younger generation, the foremost of the Four Great Young Masters of the Capital. Three years ago, Reid had heard their fame and even dreamed of becoming someone like them. But that was then. He no longer thought much of this so-called favored son of heaven. What surprised Reid was the spiritual fluctuation on Ander's body. It was far stronger than Tony Looske's had been. "You little bastard," Ander snarled, "you crippled my brother's cultivation base and you think you can just walk away?" "Die!" With a cold shout, Ander thrust his sword. The strike shot forward like a viper leaving its hole, fast and vicious, aimed straight for Reid's throat. "Watch out!" Michaela screamed. "And you think you're worthy of using a sword in front of me?" Reid sneered. He released his grip on Destiny Quinny's hand, raised two fingers like a blade, and caught the tip of Ander's thrust between them. With a light flick- An invisible thread of spiritual energy surged along the sword and drilled into Ander's meridians. "Ugh!" Ander grunted, his fingers going numb. He let go on instinct, clutched his chest, and stumbled back several steps. "How is that possible?" Ander stared at Reid in horror, his expression tightening into grim disbelief. The Looske family erupted in shock as well. Ander was an Inner Realm Martial Artist, yet he had been defeated in a single move by the "bastard" they spat on with such contempt! Zeke Looske blurted, "Father… that kid is an Inner Realm Martial Artist too!" Edison Looske's face darkened. He held onto his composure, but a flash of alarm still slipped into his eyes. Martial Artists were the Looske family's greatest secret, a legacy hidden for a thousand years. Yet the bastard he had never once taken seriously was a Martial Path prodigy. Reid could not be allowed to leave today. If he escaped, the consequences would be endless. Michaela stared at Reid as well, stunned and uncertain. As the Looske family's Fourth Miss, she naturally knew Martial Artists existed, but she also knew this was not the time to ask questions. Reid reached out and gripped the sword's hilt. He turned, leveled the blade at Patriarch Looske, and said evenly, "Whoever tries to stop me again, don't blame me for what happens next." The Looske family went livid, shouting in outrage. "Bastard!" "How dare you!" "Arrogant!" Regina Looske called out anxiously, "Reid, don't be rude! That's your own grandfather!" Michaela's whole body jolted. She had not expected Reid to be so bold, pointing a sword at Edison. She hurriedly tugged at Reid's sleeve, whispering, "Reid, don't do anything rash!" Alberto Quinny also rushed to persuade him. "Reid, stop messing around. No matter what, he's still your grandfather!" Reid looked at Edison's iron-dark face and let out a cold laugh. "Grandfather?" "Have you ever seen a grandfather force his own grandson to beg for food?" "Have you ever seen a grandfather try to drive his grandson's family to ruin and death?" "A grandfather like that? I don't acknowledge him." Those words hit Alberto and Michaela like a slap, leaving their faces strained and ugly. Even some of the Looske family members showed a flicker of shame. But Edison's expression did not change. He barked, "Attendant Looske, where are you?" "Stop him. No matter what it takes, do not let him leave today!" Reid felt two powerful spiritual fluctuation burst skyward from a corner of the courtyard. They were a hundred times stronger than Ander's. Even with his current cultivation base, dealing with experts of that level would be difficult. So there were cultivators on Earth after all. The Looske family… was not simple. Reid suddenly stepped forward. His sword came down and pressed against Edison's shoulder. "I told you. If I want to leave, nobody can stop me." "If you insist on blocking me, I don't mind making the Looske family change Patriarch Looske." As he finished, Reid shifted the blade a few centimeters toward Edison's neck. With a single light cut, he could take the Patriarch Looske's life at any moment. "Stop!" Christopher Looske roared. "Nobody move!" In the shadows, the two elders halted, their oppressive aura contained but ready. Christopher glared at Reid and said in a low, dangerous voice, "Boy, do you even know what you're doing?" "That little bit of strength of yours means nothing in the Looske family's eyes!" "If the Looske family wanted to wipe you out, it would be effortless." "If you so much as harm the Patriarch Looske, you and everyone around you will fall into endless damnation!" "Put the sword down. Kneel and beg the Patriarch Looske for mercy. Maybe you'll keep your life." Reid lifted his chin slightly and smiled at Christopher with calm disdain. "In my eyes, isn't the Looske family just a bunch of ants?" As the First Sword Immortal of the Immortal Domain, Reid did not just look down on the Looske family. Even the entire Milky Way meant nothing to him. "This kid is insane!" "Hmph. What a loudmouth!" "He doesn't even know how terrifying a Super Clan really is!" The Looske family muttered and sneered, their eyes full of contempt. Edison shouted coldly, "You little bastard, kill me if you can. If you're still able to leave alive afterward, I won't pursue anything that happened today!" Confidence. Tyrannical, overbearing confidence. Only the Looske family dared to speak like that. "Reid…" Michaela whispered. "Brother…" Destiny murmured, tense. Everyone's gaze locked onto Reid. Reid's face remained blank. He had no intention of killing Edison. He only used the threat to pin down the two hidden experts. Besides, this man was still his grandfather. Even if Reid refused to acknowledge him, he had to consider his mother's feelings. But if he let Edison go, that old bastard would never allow their family to leave so easily. For a moment, neither side budged, the air stretched tight as a drawn bowstring. Reid swept his eyes across the Looske family, then let them settle on Christopher. "Since you claim the Looske family is so powerful, why don't we make a bet?" "A bet about what?" Christopher asked, voice heavy. Reid's gaze shifted from Christopher to Edison, his tone flat. "Bet that within three years, I'll make the Looske family kneel before me and beg for mercy." "If I can't do it, then three years from today, I'll come to your door myself and accept whatever the Looske family wants to do to me." The Looske family laughed coldly. "What kind of nonsense is this kid spouting?" "Three years to make the Looske family kneel and beg? Dream on." "Yeah. Forget three years. He couldn't do it in thirty thousand!" Alberto frowned. How could that possibly be done? Michaela tugged at Reid again and whispered urgently, "Reid, stop talking nonsense. You have no idea how terrifying a Super Clan is!" Reid ignored them all. His eyes stayed on Edison, cold and unwavering. "Well? I'm asking the Looske family. Do you dare to bet?" Christopher looked to Edison, waiting for his decision.