The scent of spiritually-charged herbs filled the air as I carefully tended to my garden. These weren''t ordinary nts but rare medicinal ingredients I''d been cultivating with painstaking care for months. Each leaf, each stem contained energy that could save lives—or end them in the right formtion.


    Amotion at the front gate broke my concentration.


    "Master Knight!" The servant''s voice carried an edge of concern. "Conrad Thornton has returned, and he''s brought guests—important ones!"


    I straightened up, brushing soil from my hands. Conrad returning so soon after our meeting at the Blue Star Inn was unexpected. Even more surprising was that he''d brought others directly to my home without warning.


    "Show them to the reception room," I instructed. "I''ll be there shortly."


    After quickly washing my hands and changing into more presentable attire, I made my way to greet my uninvited visitors. As I approached the reception room, I could already hear voices—one familiar, two unknown, and all speaking with the unmistakable confidence of powerful men.


    Conrad rose immediately when I entered. Two strangers remained seated, evaluating me with barely concealed disdain.


    "Master Knight," Conrad said with unusual formality, "may I present Burton Griffin of Griffin Valley and Dirk Buchanan of Stonewater City. They''ve expressed interest in discussing the matter we spoke about earlier."


    I smiled politely, masking my irritation at their unannounced arrival. "Wee to my humble home, gentlemen."


    Burton Griffin, a powerfully built man with streaks of gray in his dark hair, barely acknowledged my greeting with a slight nod. Hispanion, Dirk Buchanan, younger and leaner with a permanent sneer etched onto his face, didn''t bother hiding his contempt.


    "So this is the famous King of Eldoria," Burton said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "I expected someone more... impressive."


    I maintained myposure. "Appearances can be deceiving. Please, have some tea."


    Eamon Greene entered silently with a tray of steaming cups, cing them before each guest. Neither of our visitors touched their cups.


    "Let''s dispense with pleasantries," Dirk cut in. "Conrad ims you''re essential to any alliance concerning the Divine Medicine. I see nothing special here."


    Conrad cleared his throat nervously. "Master Knight has demonstrated remarkable abilities. His knowledge of alchemy alone makes him—"


    "What''s your cultivation level?" Burton interrupted, addressing me directly.


    I met his gaze steadily. "I''m currently at the Sixth-rank Inner Strength Master."


    The pronouncement was met with barely suppressedughter from both men. Conrad''s face paled.


    "Sixth-rank?" Dirk repeated incredulously. "Conrad, you brought us to meet a Sixth-rank cultivator? We''re both Mighty Realm masters!"


    "The King of Eldoria is merely an Inner Strength cultivator?" Burton shook his head in disbelief. "No wonder this region produces nothing of value."


    I sipped my tea calmly. "Cultivation rank isn''t everything."


    "Only those without power say such things," Burton scoffed. "The Divine Medicine requires strength to obtain. What can you possibly contribute with such pitiful cultivation?"


    Conrad jumped in desperately. "Master Knight''s medical skills are unparalleled! He''s created pills that—"


    "An alchemist?" Dirk cut him off again. "We have dozens. The Ashworth family employs over thirty master alchemists, eachmanding armies of assistants."


    I ced my cup down gently. "If you''ve already decided I have nothing to offer, I wonder why you came at all."


    Burton leaned forward. "Curiosity. Conrad wouldn''t stop praising your abilities. We wanted to see this miracle worker for ourselves."


    "And now that you have?" I asked.


    "We''re leaving," Dirk stated tly. "This was a waste of time."


    I nodded. "Then we''re in agreement. I have no interest in cooperating with you either."


    The room fell silent. Conrad looked as if he might faint.


    Burton''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you just say?"


    "I said I''m not interested in an alliance," I repeated calmly. "Not with men who judge solely by appearances and dismiss potential allies before understanding their true value."


    Dirk''s face contorted with rage. "You dare speak to us like that? Do you know who we are?"


    "I know exactly who you are," I replied. "The question is whether you know who I am."


    Burton stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "I know enough. You''re a nobody ying at importance, hiding behind rumors and exaggerated tales."


    Conrad rose quickly. "Masters, please. I''m sure we can—"


    "Silence!" Burton snapped. "You vouched for this man, Conrad. Your judgment is now suspect."


    I remained seated, unmoved by their disy. "If we have nothing further to discuss, I have nts that require my attention."


    Burton''s face darkened with fury. "You dismiss us? For nts?"


    "At least the nts are productive," I countered.


    What happened next urred in a blur of motion. Burton''s arm shot out, a pulse of energy crackling from his palm aimed directly at my head. It was a casual attack by his standards—meant to humiliate, not kill.


    But Conrad leaped between us.


    The st struck him squarely in the chest. The impact sent him crashing into the wall behind me, leaving a spiderweb of cracks in the ster. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he copsed to the floor. <b ss="meta-ref-static">My Virtual Library Empire (*) thanks you for reading at the source.</b>


    Across the room, Eamon Greene dropped to his knees, vomiting blood—the spiritual bacsh from Conrad''s injury affecting him as well.


    "Conrad!" I rushed to his side, quickly assessing the damage. His meridians were severely damaged, internal organs bruised. Not immediately fatal, but serious.


    Burton lowered his hand, seemingly untroubled by what he''d done. "Fool. He shouldn''t have interfered."


    Dirk was already walking toward the door. "Let''s go. We''ve wasted enough time in this backwater."


    I looked up from Conrad''s unconscious form, my eyes tracking the two men as they casually prepared to leave my home after attacking my ally and damaging my property.


    "Did I say you could go?" My voice cut through the room like ice.


    Both men paused, turning back with expressions of disbelief.


    "You hurt my friend, destroyed my house, and you think you can just walk away like that?" I rose slowly to my feet, a cold fury settling in my chest.