"Oh!"
Caught off guard, the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal was kicked back into the living room, letting out a sharp scream.
But when he saw the face of the person standing at the door, his eyes widened in shock.
"It's you!"
How could the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal not recognize John? Back in New York, it was John who had ruined his plans and killed his evil ghost boy. To his surprise, they were meeting again today.
Opponents always meet in the strangest of ways.
After a brief moment of panic, the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal quickly regained his composure, sneering. "So, you set this trap up for me, waiting for me to fall right into it. Waiting for me to step into the vat! It's a clever trick."
"Step into the vat?"
John's lips curled into a chuckle as he locked eyes with the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal. "You, a villain, think too highly of yourself. It's not about waiting for you to step into the vat—you're just like a rat in a hole!"
"You—"
The Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal's face twisted in fury.
John's words stung deeply, likening him to a rat scurrying in the dark.
"You brat, I won't argue with you anymore. Do you think you can catch me so easily? You must be daydreaming!"
With that, the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal swiftly dodged and lunged, his hand grabbing Emily by the neck.
"Emily!"
Alton shouted in alarm, his voice filled with worry.
The Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal sneered, looking at John. "Move aside. If you anger me, I will snap the girl's neck!"
He had no intention of fighting John. After all, he had seen how powerful John was during their last encounter at Skyline Mountain. The Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal knew that John was not only a monk but a formidable one, far superior to him.
At that moment, his only goal was escape. The best way to do that was to take Emily as leverage, forcing John to let him go.
Five bloody marks appeared on Emily's neck, the imprint of the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal's fingernails. Her face turned ashen, and she gasped for breath, struggling against the grip.
"Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal, please—just don't hurt my daughter!" Alton begged desperately, his voice trembling with fear.
The Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal scoffed. "Do you hear that, brat? The people involved have already forgiven me. Get out of my way!"
"Really?"
John sighed, his voice calm but filled with an edge. "How dare a mere ant challenge the authority of the King of Horizon?"
Before the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal could respond, John uttered a single command.
"Go to hell!"
At that instant, the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal's mind went blank. It felt as though an invisible force was strangling him, and a strange, bloody light erupted between his eyebrows, resembling a red lotus blooming in death.
His body trembled violently before collapsing to the floor, dead with his eyes wide open.
Emily quickly broke free from the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal's grasp, her face pale and her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to steady her breath, still shaken by the close call.
Alton, panicking, rushed over. "Emily, are you alright? Don't you feel unwell?"
Emily shook her head, her face still pale. "I'm fine, Dad."
Alton let out a relieved sigh, his concern evident.
Meanwhile, Linda stood frozen, her face blank with shock. She had never expected that the formidable Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal could be so easily killed by John. She hadn't even seen how John did it—it was as though the man had vanished into thin air. This young man was truly terrifying.
"Linda, for the sake of our marriage, I will spare your life. Leave the Wood Family now!" Alton commanded, his voice cold with finality.
Linda didn't dare protest and fled the Wood Family in haste, grateful to escape with her life.
After taking care of the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal's body, Alton returned to the living room and faced John with deep gratitude. "Doctor Lopez, you saved our lives. I've heard about the medical fees from Emily."
John glanced at Emily but remained silent, his expression unreadable. In his mind, money was no more than a string of numbers.
The reason John had requested half of the Wood Family's assets was not because he needed the wealth, but to unsettle them, to show them that they were beneath him.
As Alton continued to speak, John's attention was drawn to the eager glint in the older man's eyes.
"I'm willing to give everything the Wood Family owns to you, Doctor Lopez. Half of our property is nothing in comparison to the favor you've done us."
Alton's voice held genuine respect, and there was a subtle pride in his tone as he recalled how easily John had dispatched the Yellow–Eyebrow Immortal. Theurgy like that couldn't be achieved by just anyone. John's abilities were extraordinary, and Alton wanted to make sure he kept the man close.
"You're willing to give me everything?"
A strange expression crossed John's face as he glanced at Emily. He hadn't expected the offer to include this woman.
Alton instantly understood. Smiling, he added, "Doctor Lopez, as long as you don't mind, Emily could be your servant, to serve you whenever you wish."
"Dad, what are you saying?"
Emily's face flushed a deep crimson. Though she glared at Alton, it was clear from her expression that she wasn't entirely opposed to his suggestion, though she was too embarrassed to admit it outright.
John remained calm and nonchalant. "I appreciate your generosity, Mr. Wood. But I already have seven beautiful sisters."
Then, without another word, John stood up, casually pushed his bike out of the living room, and left.
Looking after him, Alton smiled contentedly. "Doctor Lopez is so informal, but with his abilities, he's destined for greatness. We must make sure to stay in touch with him, right, Emily?"
"Oh, Dad, you're right."
Emily's thoughts were still clouded, her mind still lingering on John's words.
Teasingly, Alton added, "Emily, you look a little disappointed. Doctor Lopez didn't accept you as his servant. Are you upset?"
"How could that be? I didn't—"
Emily blushed even deeper, her pride flaring up. She couldn't let her father think she was upset by the suggestion. But when she caught Alton's knowing glance, she fell silent, unsure of how to respond.
What was she truly feeling? The answer was more complicated than she was willing to admit.