The villa was quiet.
The jet had landed a few hours earlier. The rescued prisoners had been handed over to Vanguard medical teams, and everyone had returned to the villa. After showering and eating, the team had gone straight to their rooms, too exhausted to do much else. It had been a long day, one that involved hijacking a train, destroying a foundry, and fighting a Rank 4 cultivator.
For Holden, the day had also ended with another breakthrough. He had finally reached Rank 3, 9-Star, the absolute peak of mortal cultivation.
Maeve had fallen asleep in the common room, something Holden rarely witnessed. Her monitors were dark, her tablet lay on the floor, and her glasses rested beside a cold cup of tea. She was stretched across the couch with her mouth slightly open, sleeping so deeply that even the noise from the others returning hadn't disturbed her.
