novelnext Chapter 322: Let him live !!
Chapter 322: Let him live !!
Just like that, the morning passed.
The sun had climbed high into the sky.
The beach that had been filled with laughter, flying beach balls, and excited voices slowly became peaceful again.
The waves continued their gentle rhythm against the shore while everyone gathered their belongings.
"It is lunch time," Elena announced.
"I don’t care where we eat anymore."
"As long as there is food."
Everyone laughed.
The group slowly began walking deeper into the island.
A few staff members guided them through the forest paths.
Miles walked beside Chloe while the others followed behind.
Since last year, Miles had secretly invested in developing the island.
At that time, he had never imagined he would retire from Graveyard and settle in Star Harbor.
Now the island felt surprisingly close to home.
The deeper they walked, the more beautiful the scenery became.
Small stone paths curved through the forest.
Wooden bridges crossed over gentle streams.
Colorful flowers grew naturally between the trees.
Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, creating patches of gold on the ground.
Dion had lifted Hope and Asher onto his shoulders.
One sat on each side.
The twins looked like victorious explorers.
"Big bro Dion!"
"I can see everything!"
Asher shouted.
Hope pointed excitedly.
"There are butterflies!"
"There too!"
Dion laughed.
"Being tall has its advantages."
The forest itself felt alive.
Unlike the maple forest near Pearl Villa, this island had a more tropical atmosphere.
Towering coconut trees swayed above them.
Fruit trees carrying mangoes, oranges, and exotic fruits stretched throughout the area.
Medicinal plants grew in carefully preserved sections.
Fragrant flowering vines wrapped around tree trunks and bridges, filling the air with a refreshing scent.
Small streams flowed naturally through the landscape.
Birds occasionally flew overhead.
The entire place felt like a hidden paradise.
Alice looked around with amazement.
"This place is unreal."
Kate nodded.
"It doesn’t even feel like a private island."
"It feels like another world."
After nearly fifteen minutes of walking, signs of development began appearing.
The dense forest gradually opened.
Everyone slowed down.
Before them stood a settlement.
A modern settlement.
Yet it blended perfectly with nature.
No massive concrete structures ruined the scenery.
The buildings were designed with natural stone, wood, glass, and environmentally friendly materials.
Green roofs covered many of the structures.
Climbing plants decorated the walls.
Solar panels were carefully integrated into rooftops.
Network towers stood at a distance.
Their surfaces were disguised with artificial foliage, making them appear like giant trees from afar.
Several residential quarters stretched across the area.
Each building looked modern yet elegant.
Large windows allowed natural light inside.
Walking paths connected every section.
Farther ahead stood training facilities.
An outdoor training ground occupied a large open area.
Wooden weapon racks stood neatly arranged.
Targets lined the far side.
A running track surrounded the field.
Nearby stood a massive indoor training hall.
Its design combined modern engineering with traditional martial arts architecture.
At the center of the settlement stood a tall flagpole.
A massive banner fluttered proudly in the wind.
Everyone instinctively looked toward it.
The flag was black.
At its center was a silver circular emblem.
Five ancient symbols formed a ring around a single sword.
The symbols represented the five great clans.
The sword pierced through the center toward the sky.
Ancient.
Proud.
Powerful.
The symbol radiated authority.
Asher’s eyes widened.
"Woah..."
Hope pointed upward.
"Big bro."
"That flag looks so cool."
Even Dion stared for a moment.
"Now that is impressive."
Before anyone could continue, a familiar figure approached.
Reina Frostveil.
She wore her Snow Clan attire elegantly.
Her silver hair moved gently with the wind.
Several warriors accompanied her.
She stopped before the group and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings everyone."
"Welcome to the base of the Ancient Warrior Order."
Alice and Kate exchanged glances.
Neither knew what to say.
Flora and Dion did exactly the same.
Only Chloe remained quiet.
She wasn’t jumping to conclusions.
Instead, she carefully observed everything.
Miles looked around.
A smile appeared on his face.
"I was very excited to see this place."
"Though I have seen it in bits and pieces."
"This is way beyond my expectations."
Reina smiled proudly.
"To be honest, Leader."
"We are surprised too."
"It did not even take two days to settle here."
"This place already had everything we needed."
She bowed slightly.
"Thank you for providing such accommodations."
Then her eyes brightened.
"Also."
"Please allow me to challenge you someday."
"I heard from Sayaka that you are very strong."
Dion immediately smirked.
Miles rubbed his forehead.
"You know Sayaka?"
Reina nodded.
"She is my friend."
"I watched her grow much stronger after returning with you from retrieving the sacred crown."
Miles smiled.
"I am glad to hear that."
"She is the future of the Snow Clan."
"As for the challenge..."
He looked thoughtful.
"I would be happy to."
"Though I don’t know if I can beat Supreme Martial Artists."
Elena immediately looked at him.
Miles coughed.
"Also."
"My ribs are still healing."
"So we should schedule that later."
Reina laughed softly.
"I understand, Leader."
She stepped aside.
"Your accommodations have been prepared."
"It is lunch time."
"You may enjoy your meal with your family."
"I wish everyone a comfortable stay."
Miles suddenly looked confused.
"Wait."
"What’s this about?"
"I never told you to do any of this."
"I have staff here."
"Why is a warrior handling these tasks?"
Reina smiled.
"We are not, Leader."
"We simply decided to oversee things ourselves."
"We live here now."
"It is normal."
"And it is part of our training."
Miles blinked.
"Oh."
"Okay."
Reina bowed again.
Then she disappeared as swiftly as she had arrived.
For a few moments nobody spoke.
Finally Flora broke the silence.
"What’s going on here, Miles?"
"I thought this was just a holiday place."
Dion chuckled.
"I can feel strong pressure everywhere."
"So many powerful individuals."
He glanced at Miles.
"Looks like our brother has deep connections with the ancient clans now."
"She was calling him Leader."
Asher immediately raised his hand.
"Big bro is the coolest."
Hope nodded vigorously.
"Yes."
Elena smiled warmly.
"They are good people."
"Their hospitality is wonderful."
Flora looked surprised.
"You know them too, Aunt?"
Miles answered.
"It was during a family vacation at the Phoenix Clan base."
Dion instantly remembered.
"The one Hope and Asher talked about before?"
Miles nodded.
"That one."
Then he looked toward Alice, Kate, and Chloe.
"Let’s discuss it later."
"We are confusing our guests."
Flora immediately pointed at him.
"Right."
Then she turned dramatically toward the ladies.
"Sorry everyone."
"Just enjoy the place."
"Our rich Chairman Miles apparently owns everything here too."
Then she looked at Chloe.
"Oh."
"And Chloe."
"You should definitely ask him about the woman named Sayaka."
"He seemed very familiar with her."
Miles stared.
"Hey?"
Everyone laughed.
Chloe looked at Miles.
Then she smiled softly.
"I believe him."
Miles instantly made a proud expression and looked toward Flora as if he had just won a major battle.
Flora rolled her eyes.
"I am hungry now."
Daniel immediately agreed.
"Let’s go eat then."
And with that, the group followed the forest path toward the dining area, while Miles silently celebrated the fact that Chloe had trusted him without hesitation.
.....
Flashback
Graveyard Base, Commander’s Camp
The evening sky above the hidden base was turning orange.
Deep inside the commander’s camp, a secure communication screen glowed softly.
Commander Ray sat alone behind his desk.
His expression was serious.
The call had only started a few moments ago.
On the screen appeared Meiling.
The usually calm woman looked visibly upset.
Her eyes carried disappointment.
Anger.
And sadness.
Ray sighed inwardly.
He already knew what the conversation was about.
"How is my boy doing?"
The moment the question left his mouth, Meiling’s expression darkened further.
"How heartless can you be, Ray?"
Ray fell silent.
Meiling rarely spoke to him like this.
"He is just a boy."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"And yet he looks far too mature."
"He understands the world better than many old men."
She slowly shook her head.
"I cannot imagine what he went through to reach adulthood like this."
"The love."
"The care."
"The slow development every human being deserves."
"Everything was taken away from him."
Ray lowered his gaze.
Meiling continued.
"What do you want?"
"To completely destroy that child’s life?"
Her breathing became heavier.
"I don’t know how much blood he has seen."
"I don’t know how much violence he has survived."
"A normal soldier can suffer trauma from a single battlefield."
"A single event."
"A single terrible day."
She pointed toward the screen.
"But him?"
"It feels like he was built from trauma."
"Layer after layer."
"Scar after scar."
Her eyes became slightly wet.
"I have helped many Graveyard operatives."
"I have treated many of them."
"I have spoken with countless warriors."
"But none of them are broken like this."
"None."
Ray remained silent.
His fists slowly tightened beneath the desk.
"How can you be so heartless?"
"How could you allow a child to suffer through all of this?"
"He deserves to live, Ray."
"He deserves a life."
"He deserves happiness."
Her voice softened.
"And the further he walks down this path..."
"The more of himself he loses."
"He may not understand it."
"But it is torture."
"Slow torture."
"No child should ever be treated that way."
The room fell silent.
Only Meiling’s breathing could be heard.
She wiped the corner of her eye.
Then looked directly into the camera.
"Don’t let him lose himself, Ray."
"Don’t let him lose his human heart."
For several long moments neither spoke.
The weight of her words filled the room.
Finally Ray leaned back in his chair.
His tired eyes revealed emotions he rarely showed anyone.
"I know."
His voice was low.
"I know all of it."
"And I think about it every single day."
Meiling looked at him quietly.
Ray stared toward the ceiling.
"He is like my own son."
The confession came naturally.
"For thirteen years..."
"I have searched for his background."
"I searched for many leads."
"Anything."
"But I found nothing."
He exhaled heavily.
"Looks like I was selfish."
His eyes carried regret.
"So much regret."
"I could have sent him away."
"I could have given him a better life."
"But I couldn’t do anything while the old commander was still alive."
A painful memory flashed through his mind.
"I even planned an escape once."
Meiling blinked.
Ray nodded.
"For him."
"And others."
"I wanted them away from Graveyard."
"A normal life."
"A second chance."
His expression darkened.
"But everything went wrong."
Silence followed.
Then Ray looked back at the screen.
"Tell me."
"What should I do now?"
His voice sounded almost helpless.
"You know I have always listened to you."
Meiling closed her eyes briefly.
When she opened them again, her emotions had settled.
"He is like an addict."
Ray frowned slightly.
"You cannot expect him to stop being a mercenary overnight."
"It won’t work."
"You have to slow him down."
"Reduce his missions."
"Give him less violent assignments."
"Force him into environments where normal people live."
"Let him interact with them."
"Let him understand ordinary lives."
She paused.
"Then retire him."
Her gaze sharpened.
"The choice is yours now."
"You can save him."
"Or lose him completely."
"Don’t let that child suffer anymore."
Ray sat silently.
Then he nodded.
A firm nod.
"I promise."
The call ended.
The screen went dark.
For several moments Ray remained seated alone.
Thinking.
Remembering.
Regretting.
And planning.
Meanwhile... at
Baby Dragon Art School.
Meiling slowly set down her phone.
Her office returned to silence.
Sunlight entered through the window.
The peaceful sounds of students painting outside drifted inward.
A gentle knock suddenly came from the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Ghost stepped inside.
He stood straight.
Disciplined as always.
"You asked me to come?"
Meiling smiled slightly.
"I heard you were outside today."
Ghost nodded.
"Yes."
"Wáng Yí asked me to help her with something."
A knowing smile appeared on Meiling’s face.
"So."
"Did you visit that school?"
Ghost looked surprised.
"You know about it?"
Meiling laughed softly.
"Of course."
"I am one of the sponsors."
Ghost blinked.
"You are?"
She nodded.
"We support differently abled children."
"We help them learn."
"We help them grow."
A warm expression appeared on her face.
"Wáng Yí is a good girl."
"It’s nice to see you making friends."
Ghost looked thoughtful.
"Friends..."
Then Meiling continued.
"You know..."
"She was a troubled child once."
Ghost immediately looked up.
"She was?"
Meiling nodded.
"Oh yes."
"A very troubled child."
Ghost struggled not to smile.
"Wáng Yí?"
"The same Wáng Yí?"
"The one who keeps calling me a troubled child?"
Meiling laughed.
"The very same."
"She was full of tantrums."
"Never listened to anyone."
"Always arguing."
"Always causing trouble."
"I personally taught her."
Her expression softened.
"Now she wants to become an artist."
Ghost finally smiled.
A genuine smile.
A rare sight.
"I cannot believe she was a troubled child."
Meiling noticed the smile immediately.
And for a brief moment she felt relieved.
Because it looked natural.
Not forced.
Just human.
She smiled back.
"Are you ready for today’s training?"
"After getting some fresh air outside?"
Ghost nodded immediately.
"I am."
Meiling stood up.
Then picked up several sheets of paper from her desk.
"Good."
"Because earning one star doesn’t mean your suffering is over."
Ghost sighed.
"I had a feeling you would say that."
Meiling laughed.