LORD CHESTER COMES BACK

As the hearty laughter rang out and entered everyone’s ears, a middle-aged man dressed in white robes emerged from behind the high hall into full view of everyone present.

This man was Dewei.

Clad in white robes, with a whip made of unknown golden threads wrapped around his waist, from which a purple-gold gourd also hung.

This middle-aged man did not seem as domineering as his name suggested.

On the contrary, he gave off an impression of being gentle and refined, like a middle-aged scholar.

With Dewei’s arrival, James Garner also slowly rose from his chair and respectfully bowed to Dewei, softly calling out “Teacher!”.

Dewei raised his hand to indicate no need for such courtesy, smiling and replying “James, there is no need for such etiquette.”

Gasps could be heard all around the great hall at these words.

Everyone present was shocked to realize that James Garner was actually Dewei’s disciple!

And from the looks of it… a closed-door disciple at that!

Who was Dewei? Aside from being a guest elder of the Garner House… the mere fact that he was the brother of Margaret Lovall was enough to overshadow many martial arts experts!

Furthermore… according to rumors, Dewei also had another identity – the sworn brother of the High Priest of Cradle Church!

Could it be that James Garner’s breakthrough of the Ethereal Core bottleneck was related to Dewei?

At this moment, Bradford and three elderly men also emerged from behind the high hall. The three were among the Four Elders of Garner House. However, their status was much higher than that of Amir, another of the Four Elders.

The reason being that many years ago, one of Garner House’s elders had exchanged moves with Dewei and was killed with a single palm strike. Since then, only three elders had remained, and Amir was brought in later as a replacement.

Right now, the attitude of these three Garner House elders who had just entered was nonchalant towards Dewei. They even seemed to harbor resentment towards him for the past incident.

Bradford’s reaction was different. After entering, the way he looked at Dewei was like greeting an old friend, even bowing with cupped fists.

“Dewei, you deserve at least seventy percent of the credit for James’ recent breakthrough of the Ethereal Core bottleneck. Bradford expresses his thanks!”

Dewei laughed heartily again and waved away the compliments.

“No no no, this is actually all due to James’ own martial talent. However, when it comes to the Ethereal Core bottleneck on the martial path, it really is just like a thin sheet of paper. Once pierced, it’s pierced. If not, then not. For James to break through at this age, he is already a prodigy rarely seen throughout the ages! I should consider myself fortunate to have been able to serve as his guide on the martial path during my lifetime!”

Bradford smiled. “Dewei is too modest.”

Dewei said “Actually, whether it’s you or James, you should both be thanking another person for James’ smooth breakthrough of the Ethereal Core bottleneck.”

After inviting Dewei to sit, Bradford inquired “Oh? And who might this person be, according to Dewei?”

With an unchanging smile, Dewei slowly uttered three words after sitting down.

“Jun Chester!”

These words were met with complete silence in the great hall. Even Bradford could not maintain his facade.

One of the three elders sitting next to Bradford directly voiced his displeasure “James’ breakthrough has everything to do with his own tireless efforts over the years, what does it have to do with that bastard Jun Chester?”

Dewei smiled at the elder who had spoken and made a shocking claim.

“Actually, James had already broken through the Ethereal Core bottleneck when he was at the Heavenly Infant Club the other day. And it wasn’t because of the Cradle Church’s blood pellets, but due to a single finger from Jun Chester!”

Upon hearing this, the previously displeased elder was furious. “Nonsense!”

But Dewei was neither angry nor annoyed, just looking towards James Garner with a smile and asking “James, am I right about this?”

James Garner hesitated for a moment before nodding “It is indeed so. That day, Jun Chester used the qi cultivation method from his own Ethereal Core breakthrough to inject a stream of qi into my meridians. Although he later took away some of my cultivated power using Nanite Energy, causing my strength to regress to mid-Ethereal Core realm, it was also from that day onward that I seemed to gain some enlightenment. Together with teacher’s guidance later on, I was finally able to truly break through the Ethereal Core bottleneck!”

Hearing this, all three Garner House elders were rendered speechless. Even Bradford had not expected this.

The others present in the great hall were also shocked to find out that James Garner’s Ethereal Core breakthrough was not only related to Dewei, but also to Jun Chester!

It’s just… too bad. Jun Chester had already died at Amir’s hands. Otherwise, since James Garner’s Ethereal Core breakthrough was due to Jun Chester… Bradford would surely have richly rewarded Jun Chester!

Just then, Bradford suddenly asked James Garner “Earlier I heard you say you don’t want to take Pyrokinetic pellets refined from Jun Chester’s marrow. Could it be you still have some gratitude towards Jun Chester in your heart?”

James Garner evaded the question, responding “If a dog chases a man, and the man does not die in the jaws of the dog but instead gains some enlightenment from the process of being hounded, does that man then have to thank the dog?”

Hearing this, Bradford roared with laughter “James’ analogy is very apt, I am greatly comforted!”

Dewei smiled at James Garner and added “That’s the right attitude! I heard Amir has already gone to take that dog Jun Chester’s life! Later I will personally stew that dog and you should eat more of it!”

James Garner indifferently replied “I find it unclean.”

Dewei sighed “Childishness. Dog meat is a delicacy!”

Bradford laughed “Since James doesn’t want to eat dog meat, let’s not force him. From today onward, he is the new patriarch of our Garner House. A new leader must exercise both reward and punishment!”

“Earlier, James killed a man. This demonstrates the might of the patriarch. Later, I will personally dissect Jun Chester’s corpse and use his bones to refine some Pyrokinetic pellets as a reward from the patriarch.”

Saying this, Bradford looked at James Garner and asked “Does this arrangement sound good?”

James Garner casually nodded “Do as you suggested.”

At these words, all the Garner House clansmen in the great hall rose to their feet. Then they knelt down together

“All elders and young of Garner House thank the patriarch for his grace!”

James Garner coldly glanced over everyone.C0pyright © 2024 Nôv)(elDrama.Org.

“You may rise,” he lightly stated.

The crowd got up, anticipation evident on each and every one of their faces. Some could hardly wait and kept glancing at the time.

It was already so late. How come Amir still hadn’t returned with Jun Chester’s corpse?

Bradford was also getting impatient. He checked the time as well, then ordered someone to go take a look to see if Amir was back yet.

“It’s just killing one man, how can it take this long?”

But just as he finished speaking, someone walked in from outside the great hall.

The man said “Good things come to those who wait. Impatience will not let you eat hot tofu.”

As these words drifted into the great hall, everyone looked towards the entrance.

Seeing the man’s appearance, all their expressions changed.

The speaker was none other than Jun Chester!