The Ultimate Husband: Chapter 151-170

 Chapter 151

Darryl ignored their laughter, shrugging it off as he picked up an empty ceramic jar from the floor. The cave was cluttered with various bottles and jars, remnants left by unknown visitors. After rinsing the jar, he looked around and said, “Justin, William, and Kent. Take off your shirts.”

“Why should I do that? Are you crazy?” Kent shouted, incredulous.

“I need fire to produce the elixir, and all the twigs are wet from the rain. So I’ll need your shirts for fire,” Darryl replied calmly.

Justin protested, “Why does it have to be our shirts? Why don’t you use yours? You know we might catch a cold in this weather!”

Darryl shrugged, “Fine, your shirts are more important than Nancy’s life.”

“How dare you!” Kent was furious. “Fine! I’ll give it to you. We’ll see what you can do if Nancy doesn’t wake up later.”

The three men exchanged glances, resignation on their faces, before they started removing their shirts amid the laughter of onlookers. 

A fire was quickly set up, and the ceramic jar began to boil as Darryl focused on producing the elixir. He approached each step with caution and seriousness, despite the ridicule from William and Kent.

“He looks ridiculous!” William scoffed. “That’s how you produce an elixir? It looks fake!”

Kent clutched his stomach, laughing tearfully. “Stop pretending. Traditionally, special cauldrons are used to produce elixirs. How are you going to do it with a broken ceramic jar? It looks cheap too!”

Yes, it was absurd to use a broken ceramic jar for elixir production, and many in the crowd wondered if Darryl thought they were gullible.

“Who told you this ceramic jar cannot be used to produce elixirs?” Darryl replied coldly, standing firm.

The crucial aspects of elixir production were the accurate measurement of ingredients and the management of heat—not the container itself. 

While measuring ingredients might be straightforward, managing the heat during the brewing process was always challenging. If the heat was too high, the elixir would burn; too low, and it wouldn't form at all. 

However, heat management was not a problem for Darryl. Ever since he became a cultivator, he could manage his internal energy to control the heat precisely. That was why he could produce an elixir regardless of the type of container used. Unfortunately, none of the others understood this, believing he was merely putting on an act.

“Oh, so confident!” Kent teased, turning to Yvonne. “The Young family deals with antiques. Miss Young, I believe you’ll have some knowledge of this? Let’s hear from the professionals. Do you think he can produce an elixir using just that?”

Kent glared at Darryl as he spoke, eager to see how he would defend himself.

Everyone’s eyes shifted to Yvonne. It was a good point; she was the most knowledgeable person present on the subject.

Yvonne bit her lips, having been watching Darryl’s every move. She recalled reading about elixir production in ancient manuals. Historically, many people were superstitious, often pursuing the fabled Eternal Youth Elixir, which led to the rise of Elixir Masters. However, there were countless fake Elixir Masters, and no one produced an elixir as casually as Darryl was doing.

Finally, she spoke softly, “Based on my knowledge, ancient Elixir Masters required special tools such as an elixir cauldron, pot, seawater, pomegranate jar, and many others. This is the first time I’ve heard of making an elixir in a ceramic jar.”

Gasps filled the air as everyone processed what Yvonne had just said, leading them to conclude that Darryl was merely faking it. They turned to Dax, curious to see his reaction.

Chapter 152

Dax acted as if he didn’t hear a single word, sitting quietly and emotionless beside his wife. Yvonne felt terrible seeing everyone laugh at Darryl. “I’m not experienced. I cannot be sure. There may be certain people using ceramic jars to produce elixirs...” 

How foolish she felt. In her attempt to share general knowledge about elixir production, she had unintentionally humiliated Darryl. 

“Haha, Miss Young, you don’t need to cover for him anymore.” 

“Yes, even though this live-in son-in-law saved you from the shark this morning, you don’t need to be grateful. He’s just a fake!” William laughed. “Perhaps even if the jar explodes, he won’t be able to produce anything. Darryl, stop acting. Don’t you get tired?”

Suddenly, there was a loud pop! from the ceramic jar, startling everyone and causing them to step back. The jar didn’t break; the sound came from a reaction gathering energy inside.

Darryl slowly opened the jar's cover, and everyone leaned in anxiously, only to fall silent. Some ladies gasped and felt faint. At the bottom of the ceramic jar lay a black elixir, exuding a pleasant fragrance.

What? Did he just produce that? 

Everyone’s minds went blank as they stared at the elixir, disbelief washing over them. Lily, biting her lips, felt a rush of excitement and curiosity. Her husband never failed to surprise her, and she felt she didn’t know him as well as she thought.

“Dax, the elixir is ready. I’ll feed it to her.” Darryl lifted the elixir from the jar and administered it to Nancy.

Dax remained silent, having held his tongue through the earlier comments, worried they might distract Darryl during the elixir's production. Now that it was done, relief washed over him. 

“Darryl, thank you.” Dax nodded, anxiously awaiting Nancy’s recovery.

Everyone crowded around them, eager to observe the elixir’s effects. 

Ten minutes passed, and Nancy appeared healthier, her color returning, but she remained unconscious. Fifteen minutes went by with no signs of waking. Half an hour passed, then an hour.

“Darryl, what’s wrong?” Dax’s impatience grew.

“Don’t worry. It’ll take some time to clear the poison from her body. She’s no longer in danger. She’ll wake up before morning,” Darryl reassured him.

The Infinite Elixir Manual hadn’t recorded the time it took for elixirs to fully take effect. Just like the Godly pill Darryl had produced for Megan earlier, which didn’t show any effects immediately, he trusted this one would ultimately work too.

Dax nodded, though others around them began to laugh again. Despite their surprise at Darryl’s success in producing the elixir, they still believed it was sheer luck and that the elixir would have no effect. They thought Darryl was merely toying with Dax.

“President Sanders, I think this Darryl is just fooling you. She can only wake up tomorrow? If his elixir is effective, why hasn’t Nancy shown any reaction at all?” Justin, now shirtless and trying to impress Dax, vented his frustration.

The cold air seeped in, the chill intensified by the storm outside. Justin seethed as he remembered losing his shirt for Darryl's fire.

Just then, Darryl’s cell phone beeped incessantly with incoming messages. Who would be sending messages so late at night? He took out his phone, his eyes widening in shock. 

What was wrong with Giselle? Why had she sent him so many pictures? 

Curiosity piqued, Darryl downloaded the photos, swallowing hard as he saw the images on his screen. They were of his former class teacher, Lana Thomas. 

Thinking of Lana Thomas brought back memories of his school days. During high school, she had been the teacher he feared the most.

Chapter 153

Miss Lana Thomas was truly beautiful but very strict as well. The dozens of photos taken from various angles perfectly showcased her figure. 

What did Giselle want? Why all those pictures of Lana? 

Damn it! While Darryl was looking at the photos, a few people around him noticed and Kent shouted, “Come quickly! Darryl is looking at pictures of hot chicks, haha. That’s so disgusting! Please, at least do it privately!” 

Most of the ladies glared at Darryl in anger upon hearing that. All women despised disgusting men. 

Darryl felt embarrassed and quickly shut his phone, pretending to look around to dispel the awkward atmosphere. He stood with his brows tightly furrowed. 

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Kent shouted. 

Darryl didn’t respond; instead, he gazed at the cave walls and then the cave exit. He sighed and said, “There’s something not right about this cave.” 

Lily and Dax were confused. What was he talking about? What was wrong with the cave? 

Darryl pointed toward the bay located opposite the cave, a few hundred miles away, and slowly said, “If we look from here toward the bay where we had our swim competition, doesn’t it look like a dragon resting?” 

Dax and Lily looked in the direction he pointed. It was true; far away by the bay, it appeared as though a dragon was resting under the moonlight. 

Darryl continued, “In the world of Feng Shui, this is known as ‘Dragon Swimming in Shallow Waters.’ It’s a bad omen. Our shark attack earlier wasn’t solely caused by the pig's blood.” 

Dax asked, “You have knowledge about Feng Shui?” 

William rolled his eyes. “What does he know? If this guy had Feng Shui knowledge, he wouldn’t be a live-in son-in-law.” Laughter erupted from everyone. 

Dax seemed puzzled, noticing Darryl’s seriousness. “Darryl, if it’s true that this bay is ‘Dragon Swimming in Shallow Waters,’ is there a correlation with the cave here?” 

Darryl ignored everyone’s looks and faced Dax, saying, “Definitely. This cave is located at the bottom of a hill. The hill's shape resembles a starving tiger, with this cave being the tiger's mouth.” 

He pointed to the bay again. “The dragon in shallow waters meeting a starving tiger will cause a battle of power. Do you think standing in the mouth of a tiger would be good? Something bad will definitely happen.” 

“Oh no!” 

Everyone erupted into commotion after hearing his words. 

William was frustrated. “Darryl, what are you trying to do? What do you mean by the dragon swimming in shallow waters? What is this dragon and tiger battle? Everyone is about to rest now. Stop talking nonsense!” 

What was wrong with this guy? How superstitious could he get? Producing elixirs and knowing about Feng Shui—what else would he bring up next? 

Kent laughed. “William, why must your live-in son-in-law be so weird?” 

“Who knows? Maybe he’s gone crazy from the stress of being a live-in son-in-law,” William replied. 

Darryl ignored their remarks, looking around and shaking his head. “I cannot predict if there will be danger, but it’s not a good idea for everyone to sleep here. Just in case, I won’t be sleeping here tonight. Dax, do you want to go with me and look for another shelter?” 

Dax hesitated, glancing at his wife, who was still unconscious. “I can’t leave. It’s still raining outside. I’m afraid my wife may not endure it.” 

He wanted to leave with Darryl to look for shelter but couldn’t abandon his wife in her current state. 

Darryl nodded, looking around and asking, “Anyone of you want to go with me?” Although he didn’t fancy them, he still extended the invitation. However, all of them looked at him in shock. Who would want to go out in a thunderstorm? He must be crazy! 

“Haha!” 

“Darryl, please stop,” Lily said softly, pulling on his arm. She almost believed Darryl when he shared his Feng Shui knowledge but then snapped back to reality. 

So much had happened that day, and Lily thought perhaps Darryl was just trying to impress her to heat up their relationship. All that talk of a dragon-tiger battle was probably just a story he made up to get her alone, and she— 

Lily blushed at the thought, feeling ashamed and angry. Wouldn’t they catch colds if they went out in such a thunderstorm? 

“I’m not kidding. I’m serious,” Darryl replied.

Chapter 154

What happened to Lily? Why was she blushing? 

“I'll go with you,” Yvonne stepped forward from the crowd at that moment. She felt the need to support him since her earlier words had led to Darryl's humiliation. At least this would make her feel better. 

What? Yvonne was leaving with Darryl? Why? How could the goddess choose to leave with him? 

The Young family couldn’t endure any longer. Darryl was just a live-in son-in-law while Yvonne was still single. Why would she want to go with him? 

“Miss Young, don’t listen to him.” 

“Exactly! Who knows what he’s up to? He bragged about producing an elixir, but Mrs. Sanders is still unconscious! Don’t be fooled by him!” 

Hearing that, Kent said, “President Sanders, this guy is just trying to escape because he knows his elixir doesn’t work. Don’t be fooled.” 

Kent was confident as he spoke, thinking, Darryl would never be able to trick me. 

“Yes, Kent is right.” 

“He's just trying to escape since he knows none of us will go with him. He’s just making excuses.” 

Dax ignored them, while Darryl was furious at hearing their words. When would they stop talking? 

Darryl didn’t wish to explain further. “It’s up to you whether to believe it or not. However, don’t come to me crying for help if something bad happens.” 

Everyone laughed, thinking Darryl was still acting, and none of them were pleased. 

Kent coldly replied, “We’ll beg for your help? Are you dreaming? If that ever happens, I’ll kneel and greet you as my father.” 

He seriously thinks he can save the world? That’s ridiculous, thought Kent. 

Darryl smiled and said, “Fine, I’ll wait for you to call me your father. Don’t forget what you just said.” 

“Shut up!” Kent was furious and about to charge forward, but Megan stopped him. 

“Megan, don’t tell me you believe his rubbish.” 

Megan was annoyed. “I didn’t believe him, but I stopped you so you could calm down. This outing is organized by your family; you shouldn’t behave so emotionally.” 

The truth was, Megan wanted to join Darryl too but had decided to trust the others after some thought. She couldn’t deny that Darryl’s words sounded rather ridiculous. What could possibly happen to the cave? 

“Brother, I shall move then,” Darryl bid farewell to Dax while ignoring the rest. He knew Dax wanted to join him but couldn’t leave his unconscious wife. Dax nodded, “Sure.” 

Darryl began building a grass hut from tree branches and coconut leaves about a dozen miles from the cave. Lily and Yvonne felt embarrassed standing beside him. Lily appeared calmer, thinking Darryl wanted to leave the others so he could spend some private time with her. Now, with Yvonne around, Darryl wouldn’t be able to do anything funny. 

“Although it’s simple, it’ll suffice. What do you two think?” Darryl smiled while asking the two goddesses after finishing the hut. 

“You’ve only built one?” Lily asked. The space in the grass hut was not huge; she hoped he wasn’t thinking of anything funny. 

Yvonne felt rather awkward and considered returning to the cave. However, she gave up when she saw the darkness behind her.

Chapter 155

Oh yes, Darryl had only built one grass hut. How would they fit? Yvonne and Lily were puzzled. 

Darryl laughed and said, "It's not easy to build one. Besides, the night is so cold. We would be able to keep each other warm if we stay close together. Don’t you agree?" 

Haha. There would be two beautiful ladies spending the night with him. Why would he build another hut? 

Lily blushed. "You wish to sleep between both of us? Don’t think about it!" She then pulled Yvonne along and said, "Let's go in and rest now." 

Once they were inside the hut, Lily shouted, "Darryl, please guard the hut outside. You're the best!" 

Lily shivered when she said that. She had never been so gentle with Darryl. 

"You—you're leaving me outside?" Darryl begged, while Lily just laughed. "You can't be in here since Yvonne is still single." 

Sighing, Darryl lit a cigarette and closed his eyes. 

Darryl woke up from an unknown period of time due to the cold weather. He could hear the ladies breathing from inside and swallowed his saliva. 

Darryl thought, Are they sleeping? Should I take a peep? No harm in just taking a peek, right?

Just as he was about to crawl into the grass hut, a loud bang echoed out of nowhere. 

Bang! 

The noise was as loud as a bomb and seemed to be coming from the cave's direction! 

Lily and Yvonne were awakened by the loud noise and crawled out of the grass hut, looking lost and unsure of what had just happened. 

"Something happened at the cave. Both of you stay here and don’t go anywhere," Darryl told them as he rushed quickly toward the cave. 

The ladies were stunned, watching him leave. 

It was just like what Darryl predicted earlier! The cave was not safe! Could he predict the future? 

They wanted to follow and find out what happened, but hesitated, remembering Darryl's words. 

Oh no! 

When Darryl arrived in front of the cave, what he saw gave him chills. The cave had collapsed, with its entrance completely blocked by a huge rock, leaving only a small gap. 

Everyone inside the cave was in shock and started screaming for help. How could there be anyone in such a secluded place? 

"Help!" 

"Let me out! Let me out!" 

Hearing all the voices, Darryl climbed up the huge rock and looked through the small gap. Almost the entire cave was blocked by massive pieces of rock, leaving an area of less than a hundred square feet. 

The dozens of families were squeezed into a corner, their bodies covered in dust and looking horrible. Some of the ladies started crying. 

Fortunately, no one was killed, but some were injured from being hit by the rocks. Their wounds needed to be treated before turning life-threatening. 

The main problem was the many small rocks still falling into the cave. The smaller ones were the size of a fist, while larger ones were as big as basketballs. One would definitely be seriously injured or even killed if hit by one of those rocks. 

Perhaps he should call for help? It would take at least three hours for help to arrive, and with the rocks continuously falling, the cave would not be able to withstand for another ten minutes before collapsing again. Some inside had already been hit by the rocks, their heads bleeding badly. 

"Shut up! Where is Dax?" Darryl shouted loudly. 

The cave fell into complete silence. Everyone looked toward the source of Darryl's voice, very worried but remembering his earlier words. 

It had happened. He was neither lying nor overreacting; the cave was indeed not safe. 

"Darryl, I'm here," Dax's voice came from inside the cave. 

"I'll pull you up!" Darryl made a rope out of tree branches. This was a skill he learned while living in the village. An old fisherman who rescued him had crafted a long and sturdy rope for him. 

With Darryl's help, Dax and his wife climbed out of the cave by holding onto the rope.

Chapter 156

The rest of the people in the cave reacted then. "Mister Darryl, pull me out first..." 

"Darryl, save me first..." 

"Mister Darryl, help my wife first. She’s two months pregnant..." 

With a few broken rocks still falling in the cave, it looked like it was going to collapse again soon. Under such circumstances, everyone wanted to be saved first, as it became less safe the longer they waited!

Kent wailed as he pushed himself to the front, lifting his head at Darryl with a face full of anticipation. "Mister Darryl, Mister Darryl, help me first. I can pay you..." 

Kent no longer cared about his grudges against Darryl; he only wanted to stay alive!

Darryl looked at him with a smile. "Kent, have you forgotten what you said before? Didn't you say that you're going to call me daddy?" 

This live-in son-in-law was crossing the line! Kent would not have cared about doing it if not for the fact that hundreds of people were around! Moreover, Megan was with him too! 

Darryl let out a cold chuckle and ignored him before saying loudly, "Everyone quiet down. I'll save everyone, but ladies first." 

After finishing his words, he looked at Megan. "Come on, what are you waiting for?" 

Darryl actually saved Megan first! 

Megan was pleasantly surprised as she stepped toward Darryl in heels. This woman's figure was out of this world, in Darryl's opinion. 

Gulp! Darryl quietly swallowed his saliva and dropped down the rope. 

Even though Megan held onto the rope, her feet slipped, and she almost fell to the ground since she was wearing heels. 

Thanks to Darryl's nimble reflexes, he managed to grab Megan's waist and pull her up. 

Kent was filled with unbridled rage upon seeing this scene! 

Motherf*cker! His classy and cool fiancée was being touched by this brat! 

Megan was extremely shy, with so many people watching Darryl carry her in his arms. However, they were waiting to be rescued and did not notice her expression. 

Darryl continued saving people with the rope. After 10 minutes, everyone trapped was pulled up, except for Kent. 

After the last person was rescued, Darryl sat atop a giant rock and panted for air. 

Damn, thank god he was a cultivator who had far greater energy and stamina than the average Joe. Even so, rescuing several hundred people was still exhausting. 

The rain gradually stopped with the Heavens' blessings. Darryl pointed at the nearby forest. "Everyone go rest over there. There won’t be any danger as long as you’re not near the cave." 

Although some were bruised, they had their wounds treated in time after being rescued, and their lives were no longer at risk. 

The crowd nodded in agreement and obediently walked toward the forest. Previously, they had not believed Darryl's words and even ridiculed him. After suffering through this ordeal, no one dared to question him anymore. 

However, there was one person who did not move. It was Megan. 

Darryl stood up and stretched his wrists. "Hey? Why haven’t you left?" 

Darryl had pulled several hundred people just a while ago and felt like his arms were about to break. 

Megan bit her lips and looked at Kent, who was the only one left below. She softly said, "Darryl, Kent... he's still down there. Please save him." 

Kent had not cared about Megan’s safety during the shark attack incident earlier but had run away by himself instead. 

Regardless, Kent was still Megan's fiancé, and she could not ignore him. 

At that moment, the trapped Kent was filled with unspeakable anger! 

Thud, thud, thud! 

Several rocks started to fall again in the cave, with a few basketball-sized rocks tumbling right in front of Kent's eyes. 

Kent's face turned pale from fright as he instantly panicked and exclaimed, "Mister Darryl, Mister Darryl, I was wrong before. Please, I'm begging you to pull me up. I’ll remember the great thing you have shown..." 

This was not the time for Kent to be stubborn, as it might end with him losing his life! 

Only Darryl had a rope in hand; even if someone wanted to help, they were powerless! 

Darryl did not even acknowledge him and turned his head toward Megan before smiling. "Why should I save him? Your fiancé is so talented that he could even kill a shark. A little cave such as this won’t be able to trap him." 

After Darryl finished speaking, he turned his body and was about to leave. 

At that moment, Kent looked anxious, seeming like he was about to cry. He immediately shouted, "The shark that I killed was fake. I was just pretending. Mister Darryl, I'm begging you. Don't leave me here. This cave is going to collapse any moment; I don't want to die here. Mister Darryl, you’re better than me, okay!" 

Darryl struggled internally to hold back his laughter. Was it not obvious that the shark he killed was fake? Of the several hundred who came on this outing, who could not tell it was fake? 

This motherf*cker was always causing trouble, and Darryl wanted to simply leave him in the cave. 

Megan could not hold back any longer and quickly chased after Darryl in heels upon seeing his intention to leave. She grabbed his arm and said, "Please, brother, please pull him up. I'm begging you..."

Chapter 157

The usually high and mighty Megan did not know why she would say something like this. Her face instantly blushed after finishing her words, looking extraordinarily enchanting under the moonlight. 

Darryl furrowed his eyebrows. Even after hearing Megan's words, he had no intentions of saving Kent! This brat was rotten to the core. He had attracted a real shark to attack during the day and almost cost someone their life. There was no way Darryl would forgive him.

"Please, brother... Please save him..." Megan repeated herself softly as she rocked Darryl's arm. 

Kent felt a thorn in his heart upon hearing his own goddess calling another person "brother." However, he dared not speak up at this point. 

Darryl sighed and relented after hearing Megan's enchanting pleas. He used the rope and pulled Kent out of the cave. 

Darryl did not even bother to talk with him and simply returned to the grass hut. 

"Darryl, you're so amazing!" Lily, who was waiting by the hut with a joyful expression, shouted at Darryl as he approached. Lily had inquired with the people resting at the sides about what had happened and found out that Darryl had rescued them individually. Was Darryl still her so-called useless husband? Why did it seem like he was omnipotent? 

Darryl smiled and calmly said, "It's nothing. It's really late. Go get some rest." 

Needless to say, Darryl was exhausted after rescuing so many people throughout the night. 

Everyone was fast asleep not long later. As Darryl was soundly asleep, he heard the incessant beeping of his cellphone. 

Damn it! Who could it be in the middle of the night? 

Darryl begrudgingly opened up his phone. Another message from Giselle!? However, there were no photos this time, just a text paragraph instead. 

"Mister Darryl, Miss Thomas asked me to send those photos to you. She wants to join Platinum Corporation as well and asked me to be her referral. Check her out and see if she's good enough." 

"Lana wants to be a celebrity too?" Darryl whispered to himself, as thoughts of his schooling days flooded his mind. 

Lana always lectured Darryl back when he was still in school. There were two sentences that she often said to him, and those sentences were still fresh in his memory. The first sentence was, "Darryl, if you’re not willing to read, then get lost." The second was, "I gave you your chance; you'll be standing for today's lesson." 

Darryl had been terrified of Lana in school, as she was really strict. However, Lana had surely gotten more alluring over the years. The photos sent earlier showed her perfection from every perspective Darryl saw her from. There was no one similar to Lana's style in the entertainment industry. It was possible she could be famous after signing her on. 

After some consideration, Darryl sent a voice message to Giselle. "She's alright. Head over to the company tomorrow and let Pearl know; she'll arrange an interview for Lana." 

Darryl was about to return to the grass hut after sending that message. However, a sudden thought made him walk toward the nearby hillside. According to Dax, Nancy had eaten the Monk's Blood fruit there and gotten poisoned. The Monk's Blood fruit was an important ingredient in the refinement of pills and elixirs! 

It was true that Darryl found the Monk's Blood fruit shortly after arriving at this place. He counted dozens of the fruit. 

"Haha, it seems the outing this time was worthwhile," Darryl whispered to himself as he excitedly plucked the fruits. 

Darby Mansion. 

Today was an important day, as Old Master Darby had ended his seclusion. 

Old Master Darby was none other than Darryl's grandfather. He had undergone closed-door cultivation for five years, and today was the end of his seclusion. 

The Darby residence was very lively! Not only had every member of the family gathered for this occasion, but many prominent people were also here. 

Old Master Darby was a legendary figure in Donghai City. He had single-handedly managed the entire Darby clan. However, Old Master Darby retired from the business world more than ten years ago. 

After Old Master Darby handed over the family business to Drake, he became obsessed with Buddhism. 

Old Master Darby originally joined Buddhism because of the remorse in his heart. The average joe could not imagine the trickery and deception one had to endure in the cutthroat business world. Old Master Darby had been doing business for many years and had naturally engaged in some dishonorable matters. Perhaps Old Master Darby was looking for some comfort, which is why he started believing in Buddhism. 

Old Master Darby had joined the Shaolin Sect by chance five years ago. 

Old Master Darby had a good friend named Brian Cunningham, who was from the Wudang Sect. He was also known as Priest Brian.

Chapter 158

Brian gifted Old Master Darby a cultivation method called the Body Transformation Scripture five years ago. The Shaolin Sect and Wudang Sect had close brotherhood ties. The forebearers of both sects had worked together to create the Body Transformation Scripture, which disciples from both sects could cultivate. Of course, it was only available to those elite disciples, with the average disciple having no chance of seeing it.

Old Master Darby began his closed-door cultivation after obtaining the Body Transformation Scripture, and five years passed in the blink of an eye. Now that Old Master Darby had finally achieved enlightenment, he ended his seclusion today! 

Several prominent figures from Donghai City and even the surrounding areas rushed to the mansion to congratulate Old Master Darby upon hearing the news. A grand banquet was held in the mansion, featuring a variety of delicious delicacies. Even the waitresses were absolute beauties. Everyone eagerly awaited Old Master Darby’s appearance, and the man himself eventually appeared.

Old Master Darby wore a white tang suit that radiated an otherworldly appearance. His expression was welcoming, yet there were hints of superiority and majesty. 

"Grandpa," the offspring of the Darby family lined themselves up in two neat rows and respectfully greeted Old Master Darby. They could not contain the joy and excitement in their hearts. Now that the Old Master had finished his cultivation, he would be at the helm of the Darby family. The Darby family would surely be even more glorious in Donghai City under his leadership!

People from all walks of life who came to celebrate approached him one after another to politely greet him. Old Master Darby smiled as he nodded his head. He took in his surroundings and slowly said, "I've been cultivating in seclusion for five years. Did anything happen to the family while I was away?"

Darryl was Old Master Darby’s favorite grandchild among the offspring of the Darby family. Old Master Darby was confused by Darryl’s absence. His precious grandson must surely be present at the end of the Old Master’s seclusion. Why was he not there?

Members of the Darby family exchanged worried glances upon hearing the Old Master’s question. Did something happen? Even if they were given time, they still might not be able to finish telling what had happened. 

"Grandpa, we've banished Darryl and his parents from our family!" It was at that moment that Darryl's sister-in-law, Yumi, stood up and spoke.

Banished from the family? 

Old Master Darby's expression changed in an instant. He looked at Yumi in an imposing manner and asked, "What happened?" Old Master Darby’s son, Daniel, had a humble nature, and his wife, Luna, also virtuously took care of the family. The Old Master’s favorite grandson, Darryl, was even more beloved by all. Why would they be banished from the family? 

Yumi silently snickered upon seeing the Old Master’s reaction. "Grandpa, you didn’t know, but Darryl is actually a wolf in sheep's clothing! Three years ago, Darryl used family funds to purchase petroleum stocks without permission. We kicked him out, and he became a live-in son-in-law... Who would've thought he would get lucky and that the stocks he bought would go up? After that, he pretended to give the family three billion bucks to help us through some tough times, but he only used this as an opportunity to violate Jackson's newlywed wife!"

Wow. 

The people who came to congratulate were all in an uproar upon hearing those words. Did the Darby family actually raise such a scum? Who went as far as to violate his own sibling? 

However, none of them dared to voice their opinions. After all, it was the Darby family's own matter. As outsiders, they had no right to interfere. The atmosphere was too tense, especially with Old Master Darby around. Even though the people present were not cultivators, they could still feel the immense aura emanating from the Old Master. He had ascended to Level Three Master General rank! His power was terrifying! 

A tremendous wave of internal energy rippled out from the Old Master’s body!

Silence. 

It was as silent as the grave. The sound of a needle dropping could be heard in Darby's Residence Hall. 

Old Master Darby’s expression was extremely unpleasant. "Is everything that you said true?" 

Darryl was deeply favored by the Old Master. He had been naughty since he was young, but he was never a bad person! Old Master Darby could not believe his own grandson could commit such an atrocity. 

Yumi instantly felt nervous upon seeing the Old Master’s terrifying expression. "Grandpa, I would never dare lie to you. Everything I said is true." 

"Yeah, Grandpa. Everyone in Donghai City knows Darryl became the Lyndon family’s live-in son-in-law. As for the shameful act he committed against Jackson's wife, every family member can vouch for it." Florian, who stood at the side, quickly chimed in with an earnest look on his face. 

At the same time, the remaining offspring of the Darby family nodded their heads. 

Old Master Darby took a deep breath as if trying to restrain his rage. He turned his head toward his eldest son, Drake. "Are they telling the truth?" 

Drake lowered his head in shame. "Dad, I’ve betrayed your trust. As the patriarch, I should’ve properly controlled my younger brother's family. As Darryl’s uncle, I’m also partially responsible for his hurtful acts. I did not educate him well enough as the patriarch." 

Huff! 

Old Master Darby did not say a word. He simply closed his eyes and sighed deeply instead. 

The proud and proper Second Young Master of the Darby family went as far as to purchase petroleum stocks without any authorization! He even became another family’s live-in son-in-law! He had dragged the family name into the mud! Such issues could even be tolerated! However, Old Master Darby never imagined Darryl was capable of violating his own sibling! 

Yumi spoke up again upon seeing the Old Master seething with anger. "Grandpa, Darryl's parents are detestable too! They're not much better for raising such a shameless son."

Chapter 159

Thump! Yumi's words further fueled the Old Master's anger, prompting him to slam the table. "Men, bring Daniel and his wife here. I would like to ask them how they educate their son!" Old Master Darby's emotions were thoroughly worked up at that moment! 

Brandon and Abby, who sat at the side, exchanged worried looks. They felt Darryl was not a bad person based on their previous interactions. Who would have thought he could do such a thing? Was he really a wolf in sheep's clothing?

Three days later, at Dragon Raising Lake, the weather was great and the sun was shining brightly. The Hough family had called some buses to pick them up early in the morning as the outing had come to an end. Several people had bruises from the cave-in that happened a few days ago. These rich kids were pampered since childhood; even though their wounds had started healing with no risk to their lives, they insisted on getting a medical check-up in the hospital.

Consequently, the injured people scrambled to board the bus once it arrived. Dax, Wendy, Darryl, Megan, and the others who were not injured boarded the last bus. It was noon when the bus slowly traveled toward the city. The sun shone on the seaside, creating superbly beautiful scenery. The bus was expected to take roughly five hours to reach Donghai City.

Some of the rich kids got bored and took out a deck of playing cards to play Golden Flower, a variation of poker that required a decent amount of skill to win, but was mostly luck-dependent. Their bets were considerably huge, as none of them lacked funds, which attracted the attention of a few girls. 

Kent seemed quite unlucky with his hand and had lost many games in a row. Suddenly, the driver slammed on the brakes of the bus. 

"Damn it, do you know how to drive!?" Kent shouted loudly as he tossed away the terrible cards in his hand. "Motherf*cker, I was going to win! Do you think you can afford to pay me back as a mere driver!?"

"Exactly, this is too f*cking much!" some of the other rich kids shouted in anger as well.

The driver had an innocent look as he hurriedly got up and explained, "Ladies and gentlemen, don’t blame me for this. Some people are blocking our vehicle ahead!"

Everyone went to the front to see for themselves after hearing what the driver said. Standing in front of the bus were indeed three siblings. Two brothers anxiously stood in front of the bus while their younger sister sat on the road with a bandaged leg. She was obviously injured. 

"H-h-help... Help my sister..." The two brothers, twins who looked to be around thirty years old, had a rather unique appearance—slightly crossed eyes and stuttering speech. The three of them were dressed like peasants with worried looks on their faces. They shouted at the driver, "I-I-I'm begging you, please help our sister. S-s-she's injured and her I-I-leg is broken. There aren’t any v-v-vehicles in the wilderness." 

The driver opened the driver seat window and rudely shouted at them, "Get out of the way!" He didn’t want to delay the journey any longer, as he had already gotten a scolding because of these three siblings. Those rich kids aboard were not to be messed with!

The twins hurriedly walked to the front window after the driver finished his words. "M-m-mister, p-p-please do us a favor!"

"What favor? The bus is already full; there aren’t any seats left for you!" exclaimed the driver.

At that moment, some of the girls could not stand it any longer and reprimanded the driver. "Why are you being like this? Don’t you have a sliver of compassion?"

The driver was left speechless. He seemed like he was about to cry. These rich kids were truly hard to satisfy. The driver helplessly asked the three siblings what they wanted.

The twins spoke with a stutter, and it took quite some time for everyone to understand them. It turned out these three siblings lived in a nearby village. The younger sister was tidying up the house when she accidentally fell and broke her leg. The twin brothers wanted to bring their sister to a hospital, but not many vehicles passed by this road; that was why they had stopped the bus.

These three siblings had rather funny names and were from the Johnson family. The older twin’s name was Hugh, while the younger one was Timmy, and their sister was Minnie. These three siblings were filthy, and everyone was reluctant to let them on the bus. However, they could tell the siblings were honest people. Several passengers instantly felt compassionate.

Chapter 160

"Kick, open the door." Megan could not hold back any longer and told the driver. It was always a good thing to help someone in need when out and about. The driver agreed and was about to open the door. The twin brothers were happy to see that and carried their sister to the front door. 

However, at that moment, Darryl stood up. "Hang on, I think we should just call an ambulance for them." 

"Why?" Megan furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. 

Darryl laughed. "No particular reason; it's just that our bus is full. Where would there be space for—"

Everyone aboard was a little angry upon hearing Darryl's words. How could he say something so inhumane? They couldn't come up simply because there were no seats? Their sister's injury was serious; what would happen if she didn’t arrive at the hospital on time?

In truth, it was not that Darryl was being unsympathetic, but rather he saw something was wrong once the siblings appeared. Minnie seemed like she was injured and in pain, but there was not a drop of sweat on her face. She was obviously faking it. Moreover, Darryl faintly saw a tattoo under her left arm when she raised it.

At first glance, it seemed nothing was wrong with the twin brothers, but Darryl noticed the calluses on their right hands! He had learned Wing Chun when he was little and could determine those calluses were not formed due to farm work; the positions were incorrect. It was clear to Darryl that they were from the frequent use of martial weapons! 

Darryl could not determine what those three siblings were planning, but he was certain they should not board the bus. Better to be safe than sorry. Darryl knew even if he explained himself, the people on board would never believe him. He could only make up an excuse—anything to keep them from boarding.

However, Megan was not aware of Darryl’s intentions and reflexively said, "It's no big deal; I’ll give my seat to the young lady later." 

Megan was somewhat unhappy as she spoke. Did this Darryl not have any hint of compassion in him? Initially, she had assumed Darryl was an exceptionally great person, but after this small incident, perhaps she thought too highly of him. 

Darryl sighed. Was Megan truly the Criminal Investigation Team Leader? Those three people were so suspicious, and yet she could not see it. Darryl merely gave her a glance and said, "Mister Driver, let's get going. Don’t let them in." 

Everyone on board was distressed in an instant! This idiotic Darryl! Did the Lyndons oppress him so much that his heart became twisted? Did Darryl want everyone to ignore that girl who was so severely injured? 

What kind of person was Darryl? A person like him deserved to be poor for the rest of his life. He deserved to be looked down upon! 

"Darryl, no wonder you're a live-in son-in-law. It's because of your attitude; you don't even have a hint of compassion in your heart. It's no wonder your life is so miserable." Kent was the first to stand up and berate Darryl. 

Megan was deeply disappointed in Kent after the shark attack; hence, Kent took this opportunity to redeem himself. Women adored sympathetic men! After Kent finished, Megan glanced at him with adoration, as expected, with her gaze gentler than before.

Justin, who was beside him, also sneered and ridiculed Darryl. "Darryl, you're crossing the line here. You're cruel enough to ignore Minnie's broken leg? Even if you've never met them, you don't have to be so heartless, right?"

"What does he know? He's just a toy boy." 

"Exactly, he's selfish and only cares about himself." 

Everyone started to incessantly berate Darryl. 

Darryl clenched his fists tightly, filled with rage from becoming everyone's object of ridicule. I lack compassion? Why did I save you then when you were trapped in the cave? All of you are talking without using your brains. 

The crowd was rendered speechless as they looked at each other. 

At that moment, William thought of something and said, "Darryl, stop pretending. I recall something from when you mentioned the cave. I’ve been wondering why it suddenly collapsed? It must have been your doing. You wanted to be alone with Lily and had to find an excuse by saying the cave was ominous. In order to justify your excuse, you found a way to cause a cave-in! It’s your doing!"

Damn, that made sense! Everyone was stunned upon hearing William's words. It sounded plausible. Was the cave-in actually caused by Darryl? 

Darryl laughed in frustration. "I made the cave collapse? You guys are giving me too much credit. Tell me, what abilities do I have that can cause the cave to collapse?"

Chapter 161

"Stop babbling nonsense!" William rolled his eyes at Darryl. "Darryl, we're helping these three siblings, whether you like it or not. You can get off the bus if you're not happy with it." 

What a joke! Darryl was rendered speechless. 

"Darryl, those three siblings look rather pitiful. Let's help them out." Lily spoke softly as she tugged his arm, sitting beside him. Perhaps Lily could have stayed silent if it were any other issue, but this was a matter of life and death. How could she not speak up?

Darryl subtly shook his head and gave Lily a look. The people on board were criticizing Darryl one after another. 

"Why are we even talking to him?" Kent laughed. "My family organized this trip and even called for this bus. I'll let them in." 

After Kent finished talking, he hastily went to the door and pushed the button to open it. 

The moment the doors opened, Hugh rushed onto the bus with a sly grin on his face. He instantly pulled out a dagger and held it against the driver's neck. "D-d-don't... f*cking move," he snarled. 

Timmy stepped onto the bus with a cold smile and a shiny black gun in his hand. He surveyed the bus with his crossed eyes. "F-f-freeze! This is a r-r-robbery," he stuttered. 

The way Timmy stuttered was honestly somewhat hilarious, but no one could laugh at that moment! All the passengers on board were stunned. Those who were timid cried upon seeing the gun. Some of the women were glued to their seats, their bodies trembling. 

Sigh. Darryl sighed quietly, feeling helpless. The twins were well-coordinated. They had obviously done this many times before. It was too late to say anything now.

"Haha! B-b-big brother, these people are s-s-so f*cking dumb. We g-g-got to them so easily," Timmy grinned. 

The three siblings planned this operation after getting wind that some of Donghai City's wealthiest families' children had planned a trip to this area. Hugh nodded toward Timmy in satisfaction. 

"Let's cut t-t-to the chase," he exclaimed. "Everyone hand over your money! Otherwise, d-d-don't blame us for g-g-getting rough," Timmy chimed in, waving his gun around.

Kent was distraught as he said nervously, "S-s-sirs, we don't carry much cash with us when we're out." Kent was anxious and started to stutter under the twins' influence. He was right; rich kids did not carry cash with them nowadays. 

Timmy stared at Kent, thinking he was purposely imitating him. He beelined toward Kent and shouted, "F*cker, a-a-are you mocking me?" 

Timmy whipped out a card terminal, shoving it in Kent's face while pointing a gun at his head. "Who wants cash these days? Swipe your b-b-bank cards, starting f-f-from you! Everyone s-s-swipe 200 million bucks!" 

What? 200 million bucks? Was this f*cker mad from greed? These three siblings probably planned to change their identities and disappear after this robbery. 

Everyone was dumbfounded. Even though they were rich, 200 million was still a hefty sum. However, no one dared to speak up at that moment. Kent had a gun pointed to his head, almost pissing himself in fear. He did not dare to utter any more nonsense and quickly swiped his bank card. 

Simultaneously, the rest of them obediently got out their bank cards as well. They seemed like experts. Do robbers nowadays carry a card terminal around? Darryl thought for a moment. 

"Sir, you guys are pretty advanced for using a card terminal. However, there will be a transaction record if we swipe our cards. Aren't you worried that we'll report it to the authorities?" 

Timmy laughed smugly, revealing his stained teeth. "Y-y-you don't get it. W-w-we had a professional modify this card terminal. There's no way to t-t-trace it." 

Timmy came to a realization halfway through and scratched his head. "Hey?! W-w-why am I even t-ttelling you this!? You talk too damn much! Hand over your money! Hahaha! This is too f*cking hilarious."

Chapter 162

Darryl nodded, holding in his laughter. "I'm warning you. Don't mess around. Hand over your m-m-money, and you'll be fine!" Hugh snarled. After finishing his sentence, he hastily walked toward William with a grim look on his face.

"It's a misunderstanding. I'm not calling the police. I don't have my bank card with me, but I can transfer you the money through my phone." William was extremely nervous, sweating profusely as he explained himself. 

Hugh did not even bother to listen to William's explanation. He snatched the phone away and violently smacked William on the head. "F*ck you. Who are you trying to fool?" Hugh brutally scolded William as he continued hitting him. Even if William was not planning on calling the police, the transfer would expose Hugh. He got mad, thinking that William was trying to trick him.

"Ouch! Stop hitting me!" he cried. "I really don't have my bank card!" William wailed as he was beaten; blood streamed down his cheek. "I truly don't have my bank card!" he groaned.

The people on the bus were frightened. Some of the girls were tearing up upon seeing William's bloody face. Hugh was ruthless. While the crowd was terrified, Megan felt regret and immense guilt in her heart. Darryl had previously rescued a student and a lady he had never met at the bank. Why did Megan still doubt his compassion? It did not matter. It was too late now.

Lily bit her lip and gave Darryl an apologetic look. Why did she not trust him just now? Everyone obediently swiped their cards, terrified after seeing what happened to William. Over 50 of them aboard the bus had swiped their cards. Timmy nodded contentedly, but he noticed Lily and Megan upon leaving. There was a gleam in his eyes. 

"KB-b-bro, I saw two p-p-pretty girls." Timmy walked over to Megan and grabbed her hand, caressing it. These rich girls were different from ordinary people. Their skin was soft and supple. Megan struggled to free herself, feeling embarrassed. 

Timmy waved his gun, grinning upon feeling Megan's resistance. "S-s-stop struggling, b-b-baby, or else I might accidentally fire my gun." 

"You—!" Megan bit her lip tightly. She was a formidable warrior from the Emei Sect. Her power had reached the rank of Master General, yet she did not dare to put herself at risk. Her opponent had a gun in his hand. 

Megan panicked, looking at Kent reflexively. She felt disappointment wash over her as she saw Kent frozen like a rock. He was even more afraid than she was. 

"Clive found a beauty too. She's pretty hot," Hugh grinned as his gaze locked onto Nancy, who sat beside Dax. Nancy was wearing a crop top and a short denim skirt. She was unbelievably sexy with a phoenix tattoo on her back. Hugh was fixated on having this tattooed beauty today.

Hugh silently swallowed his saliva and pointed at Lily, Megan, Nancy, and Yvonne. "Tie up these beauties. Today, we're gonna have some fun. F*ck, I've never had a rich girl before. Sis, stay on the bus and keep an eye on these people! Your brothers will be back soon."

Timmy grinned, aiming his gun at Lily and the rest. "Q-q-quickly get off the bus, nice and easy. D-d-don't make me hurt you." 

The twins were ecstatic. Not only did they rob them, but they were also going to get a taste of these wealthy beauties. What a great haul! 

Lily and the girls went pale with fear. Their legs were weak and trembling, but still, they were forced to get off the bus. 

"Megan, Megan... Don't be scared. I'll save you," Kent built up the courage to shout. However, his voice trembled as he was still struck with fear. There was no substance to his words. 

Megan turned back and glanced at him. She bit her lip tightly. It did not matter if Kent was simply putting on a show. His words gave Megan some comfort in her heart. When the ladies got off the bus, they were tied in a circle around a tree.

Chapter 163

The atmosphere in the bus was tense, remorse heavy in the air. They should have listened to Darryl and prevented the siblings from coming onto the bus! Alas, it was too late for regrets! Lily, Megan, Yvonne, and Nancy could clearly be seen through the windows. They were tied tightly against a tree.

It was an ancient tree over a hundred years old; its thick trunk could not even be wrapped around by a dozen men. The lush canopy was like a giant umbrella, with thousands of branches hanging beneath, shrouding the surrounding area. The twin brothers were salivating with excitement at the sight of these four beauties tied up in front of them.

Meanwhile, Minnie grew anxious as she waited on the bus. The three siblings had planned the steps of this operation in detail earlier. They even accounted for the duration, which would take no longer than half an hour. Minnie did not expect her brothers to be suddenly overcome by lust. 

Minnie was helpless as she was just the younger sister. "Bro, hurry up!" she snapped. Darryl clenched his fist upon hearing Minnie speak. He knew this was his chance. In an instant, Darryl stood up and threw a punch at Minnie! 

Dax stood up at the same time. 

Bam! 

Darryl's destructive punch firmly struck Minnie's body. Minnie could not react in time, flying out the bus door accompanied by a faint shockwave. Dax dashed forward to pick up the pistol Minnie dropped. 

Thud! 

Minnie spat out blood as she harshly fell onto the ground. She never imagined that someone would fight back! Minnie felt immense pain in her chest and immediately fell unconscious. 

"Bro, looks like something happened to sis!" Timmy exclaimed. It seemed that he lost his stutter under distress. "Let's go check it out!" Hugh ran toward his sister. Upon seeing her unconscious, he flew into a maddening rage!

The siblings had lost their parents at a very young age and relied on each other as they grew up. They had a strong affection for one another. "Motherf*ckers! You lot are dead—so f*cking dead!" Hugh roared. He whipped out a gun and opened fire at Darryl. 

Bang! Bang! Bang! 

The glass windows of the bus shattered. The passengers on board were startled and quickly laid prone on the floor. Darryl bit the bullet and rushed toward Hugh with his fists. Everyone would be dead if he did not act now. The twin brothers had lost their minds; there was no point in hiding anymore!

Bang! 

A bullet penetrated Darryl's shoulder as he let out a muffled groan. Blood continuously poured out from the wound. 

"Darryl!" Dax's eyes were burning red with anger. He rushed toward the twins, punching both of them. 

Bam! Bam! 

The two punches struck the twins firmly on the head. The immense force rendered them unconscious immediately. Dax was famous for his willingness to kill. He was also a cultivator with the rank of Level Five Master! 

"Darryl, are you alright? You gotta hang on!" Dax held onto Darryl, his eyes red. It was not easy for Dax to meet a comrade like Darryl. He could not bear losing him. 

The people on board were dumbfounded by what just happened, unable to recover their senses. At that moment, Kent quickly ran down the bus toward the huge tree. "Meg, Meg! Don't be scared, I'm coming to save you!" 

Kent was relieved when he arrived at the tree, seeing that Megan's clothes were still intact. Good thing they were not violated. 

"Meg, you must be terrified. It's alright, I'm here now," Kent chuckled as he loosened the ropes on the women. 

Megan was surprised and looked at Kent. "What happened to the three robbers?" The robbers were armed. How did Kent manage to get over here? She even heard gunshots! 

Kent pounded his chest and said, "You were captured, so I had to fight them, of course! Thankfully, Darryl and Dax had some morals left in them and helped me take down the three siblings. Meg, it would be another great deed from you once you bring those three robbers back to the police station!"

Chapter 164

"Kent, thank you..." Megan mumbled, feeling inexplicably moved as she hugged Kent. She bit her lip and said softly, "Kent, you're so brave." Kent had previously taken the Godly pill and was now a Level One Master General. However, it was still tough to beat three armed robbers. Alas, he managed to do it.

Lily, on the other hand, felt dejected. She had hoped that Darryl would be the one to rescue her. Never did she imagine that it would be Kent. Meanwhile, on the bus, Darryl's lips had been drained of color. 

"Darryl, you'll be alright; you gotta hang on," Dax muttered anxiously, his eyes bloodshot. 

"Darryl? What happened to you?" Lily gasped in shock upon seeing the situation in front of her. Did Kent not say that he had already subdued the three robbers? Why was Darryl injured? Darryl felt a sharp pain in his chest and had difficulty breathing. He could not speak, merely smiling to express that he was fine. However, Darryl's blood had already drenched his clothes and was flowing on the floor! 

Kent said nonchalantly, "Darryl wasn't strong enough, yet he wanted to provoke the robbers. Of course, he would be injured. I could've subdued the robbers myself even without his interference." Kent spoke ambiguously to cover up his actions. Lily did not question it further but instead sighed internally. 

Dax became furious and instantly pointed at Kent, shouting, "F*ck you! Shut the f*ck up! This brat Kent did nothing when the robbers were tying up the women; he was as scared as a mouse. Now that the danger is over, he comes up with all these ridiculous remarks. What a joke!" 

Darryl was worried, knowing that this brat was trying to act cool again. Darryl wanted to speak up, but his vision turned dark as he fell unconscious. 

Donghai City First Hospital. Previously, Darryl's father had a sudden heart attack. After a few days of treatment, Daniel's condition had improved. However, he was not allowed to be discharged until after at least a week of observation. Shelly felt appreciative of Darryl after she became the Chief of Staff. She frequently visited the old couple, even arranging the best ward for them. She would chat with them whenever she had the time. 

That afternoon, the old couple had just woken up from their nap when they heard a knock on the door. Luna happily opened the door, thinking that it was Shelly. Once she opened the door, a group of men barged into the room wielding steel pipes. Florian was leading them! 

"Are you two old farts fit to stay in such a nice ward?" shouted Florian. This ward was probably the best in the entire hospital. There was even a television in the room. 

Daniel looked unwelcoming. "What are you doing here? If you're looking for my son, then go ahead. He hasn't visited for a few days." After all, Daniel was Florian's elder. It was rude of Florian not to greet his uncle. 

Florian laughed haughtily. "What use do I have for your useless son? Today I'm here looking for you lot!" Florian spoke to the burly men as he finished his words, "Go, tie up these two old farts!" 

"Florian, this is too much!" Daniel's face went red as he coughed a few times. He stared at Florian and said, "There's not a slither of manners in you toward your elders—bringing so many people here to cause trouble. Get out." 

The burly men did not care and had already rushed toward the old couple and seized them. At that moment, the door to the ward opened up. In a white coat, Shelly hastily stepped into the room on her heels and shouted with her pretty face, "What are you guys doing? This is a hospital ward, not the streets!" 

Although Shelly was wearing a white coat, it could not hide her graceful figure. Florian's eyes widened as he checked her out. "Director Sullivan... Oh, sorry. It's Chief Sullivan now! It's only been a couple of days, but you've become even more attractive. I haven't congratulated you on your recent promotion. Perhaps we can have a meal someday?" 

"No, thanks," Shelly spat. "Let go of the old couple now! Daniel's condition can't be agitated!" 

"You're just the chief of staff in this hospital, yet you dare pretend to be proper with me?" Florian thought. Florian was not in a rush. He would get his chance with her eventually. 

"We can't let them go. The Old Master wants to see them," he spat. 

The Old Master? Daniel's body trembled as he mumbled, "Dad... Has he ended his seclusion?" 

"What does that have to do with you?" Florian snickered. "You're no longer part of the Darby family. Grandpa wants me to bring you guys back for questioning. He wants to know how you raise a brute like Darryl. Do you understand?" 

After Florian finished his words, the burly men forcefully dragged the old couple out!

Chapter 165

Elsewhere, Darryl fell into a long dream while he was unconscious. He was being chased in his dream, and he could not stop running. Eventually, he slowly opened his eyes.

Darryl was greeted by the sight of a luxurious bedroom. "Darryl, you're awake?" Darryl heard a cheerful voice. Lily's eyes were red as if she had been crying. 

"Honey, why are your eyes so red?" asked Darryl with a smile. "Were you worried that something had happened to me? Come, give me a hug." Darryl forced a pained smile. Even though his wounds had been tended to, they still stung. 'Damn it. I can't believe I got shot twice a few days apart,' Darryl thought to himself.

Lily blushed and backed away shyly. "I... I wasn't worried about you. I didn't even cry!" Lily refused to reveal her true feelings even at that moment. 

The doctor mentioned that Darryl's injuries were severe. The bullet was close to hitting his heart. Thankfully, he had finally awakened. 

"Darryl, I know what happened then. You and Dax saved us all," Lily whispered. "You... You were really manly, but how could you be so dumb? Those robbers had guns. What if something were to happen to you?" Although Lily was moved by his actions, there was still some guilt in her tone. Lily's voice grew softer, feeling even more bashful.

Darryl looked at Lily with a smile and consoled her. "Dummy, nothing's gonna happen to me. Besides, you're my wife. Even if I had to sacrifice my life to save you in that situation, I would still do it." Lily felt warmth and affection in her heart. 

"Where is this place?" Darryl clenched his teeth as he sat up on the bed. This place was so luxuriously decorated. It could not have been the Lyndon residence.

"This is Dax's house. His private doctor treated you," Lily explained. Darryl nodded his head. Dax was indeed a reliable comrade.

"Where's Dax?" Darryl inquired.

"He's in the main hall," Lily replied. "Tomorrow is Dax's grandfather's birthday, and some guests arrived earlier to congratulate him. Dax is entertaining them in the hall now."

Dax's grandfather was Saul Sanders. Two years ago, Saul handed the company over to Dax and stopped involving himself in business. However, he still had a lot of power and authority in Donghai City. He was held in high regard; many people would surely attend his birthday celebration.

"Is that right? I'll have a look," Darryl said, enduring the pain and slowly getting out of bed. Darryl and Dax were like brothers. Since it was Dax's grandfather's birthday, Darryl could not afford to be disrespectful.

Lily quickly supported Darryl, seeing that he was still rather frail. "Are you sure you can go down like this?" Darryl had no regard for himself. It was really concerning.

Darryl motioned that he needed no help and smiled. "I'm fine now. Don't presume that I'm weak after the surgery. I'm well enough to even make love to you tonight."

"Can you be a little more proper?" Lily started to blush. "So uncouth..."

Darryl laughed. Seeing Lily's bashful behavior brightened Darryl's mood. He felt like he had recovered his vigor and quickly stepped downstairs.

While Darryl was walking down, he took out his phone and sent a message to have someone bring a few gifts. Since it was Dax's grandfather's birthday tomorrow, Darryl could not attend empty-handed as Dax's brother. 

A dozen or so people sat in the hall. They were all prominent people from Donghai City. These people had important matters to attend to tomorrow and could not attend the celebration. That was why they brought the gifts earlier.

Saul Sanders sat in the middle as he laughed. This old man was over 70 years old, and yet his body was still tough and full of energy. What a coincidence! Darryl laughed as he saw a familiar face. It was his high school class monitor, Clifford Conway. 

The people who came with gifts for Old Master Sanders were famous people within society. Clifford was not even worthy enough to think about giving gifts! However, Clifford's godmother maintained a good relationship with the Sanders. She was too busy, so she had Clifford present the gifts. Clifford was thrilled at that moment! After all, the Sanders family was renowned in Donghai City! If Clifford could use this opportunity to get to know people like Dax, he would brag about it to his friends and family.

As Darryl and Lily entered the hall, everyone looked toward him curiously. 

"Darryl, you're fine! This is amazing! Come sit with us!" Dax quickly stood up and greeted Darryl ecstatically.

Chapter 166

"Darryl?" Clifford shouted, unable to hold back his surprise. What was going on? Why was Darryl here? He remembered clearly that Darryl rode an electric bike to the reunion. Was Darryl here to attend the celebration as well? Right, Darryl was here to accompany his wife to present her gift, Clifford thought. A live-in son-in-law whose life revolved around his wife all day was the only thing Darryl was good for. Clifford could not resist taking a few looks at Lily. She was such a beauty! Her figure was perfect and extremely sexy! That beautiful face was comparable to that of a celebrity. Darryl, that brat really got lucky. However, rumor had it that this brat had not even touched his wife after three years of marriage. Everyone in Donghai City knew about this. Haha!

"Old class monitor!" Darryl smiled as he walked over to greet Clifford.

"You guys know each other?" Dax asked.

Before Darryl could answer, Clifford laughed internally. "Everyone in Donghai City knows the Lyndon family's infamous live-in son-in-law," he said with disdain. It was an embarrassment to be classmates with this brat! In such a classy setting, being associated with this brat was utterly embarrassing to Clifford.

Darryl was startled at Clifford's words. Did he offend him? They had been classmates for so many years. What was going on? At that moment, the people around them burst into laughter. After going on for so long, it turned out that Darryl was just the Lyndons' live-in son-in-law.

Lily was somewhat unhappy and said to Darryl softly, "Who is this guy?" 

Darryl let out a straight laugh and said casually, "He's just a joker." Darryl did not hold back, seeing that Clifford had no respect for him.

Clifford laughed coldly. Oh' this idiotic Darryl! He's just a toy boy, and yet he dares to challenge me!? he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Old Master Sanders watched them with interest. His grandson had told him that he made a friend named Darryl. It should be the young man in front of him. Saul could not help but be reminded of his younger self when he looked at Darryl. He was a poor man who was looked down on by many people. However, if someone were to push him to his limits, he would fight till the end. Today he would like to see if Darryl was the type to back down or fight back. He wanted to know whether Darryl was fit to be his grandson's friend.

"Darryl, who's the true joker between us? If I'm not mistaken, you're just here to accompany your wife to present her gift? You should know that the only reason you're here is because of the Lyndons. If not for them, you would be worth less than dog sh*t. You wouldn't even have the right to speak," Clifford said.

"Since you put it that way, I'm guessing you're here to present your gift too?" Darryl laughed. 

Clifford blushed slightly and proceeded to puff up his chest. "Of course! I'm here on behalf of my godmother. Do you know who she is? I'm afraid that you'd be surprised if I told you."

'Godmother? Haha!' Clifford was a grown man, and yet he was still talking about his godmother. Moreover, he was only here on behalf of someone else, yet he acted so high and mighty. This brat was hilarious, Darryl thought.

"So, who's your godmother? Introduce her to me, would you?" Darryl asked cheerfully.

"Do you think you deserve to know her name? Even if I told you, you wouldn't be able to get close to her; you're only fit to do house chores," Clifford scoffed. 

In an instant, everyone sitting there nodded their heads in agreement. When Clifford presented his gift, everyone had seen the name on it. Indeed, this brat's godmother was no ordinary person. Meanwhile, Darryl, who was a live-in son-in-law, still insisted on challenging Clifford. Such a stupid act, the crowd thought. Those who were of a lower standing must learn to endure. When you get scolded, you should just bear with it.

With his face full of pride, Clifford pointed towards the table. "You see that? That's from my godmother!" 

On the table was a set of exquisite porcelain wares. They were lustrous with intricate designs, and one look was enough to tell you that they were not cheap. Darryl glanced at the porcelain wares. The porcelain wares were genuine, and this set would cost at least a few million bucks. It seemed that Clifford's godmother was indeed a person of power.

Chapter 167

Clifford called himself a man of success at the last class reunion, but it turned out he just had a good godmother. "How was it? How was my godmother's gift?" Clifford looked at Darryl triumphantly as if he had the upper hand.

"It is indeed a good gift, but no matter how good it is, it's not a gift from you. What do you have to be proud of, flaunting your godmother's gift here? You are pretty shameless," Darryl smiled.

At this moment, everyone in the hall focused their eyes on Clifford. No matter how this young man showed off, it was still a gift from his godmother. "Damn it," Clifford cursed to himself. Noticing everyone's gaze on him, Clifford was angry, but he did not show it. "Who said there wasn’t a gift from me?" 

Clifford stood up, strode over to Dax, and took out an exquisite gift box. "President Sanders, it's my honor to be here today to celebrate your grandfather's birthday. This is a token of my appreciation. Please accept it," Clifford opened the gift box and said respectfully. After Clifford said all this, he did not forget to turn toward Darryl and give him a provoking look.

Some of the people in the hall stood up immediately when they saw what was in the gift box. A pair of white jade pendants was delicately placed inside. The jade pendants were snow white and shiny without a trace of impurities, and the birds on it were very delicately carved and lifelike.

"From the looks of the carving technique of the jade pendants, is it from the Ming Dynasty?" someone asked. Everyone in the hall was part of society's elite, and they all knew something about antique artifacts. The others nodded one after another upon hearing that. The price of the pair of jade pendants was probably no less than two million dollars. This young man was good, and a person who was willing to present such a gift truly knew how to socialize.

"You have good eyes. Yes, this is from the Ming Dynasty. I knew that Old Master Sanders was interested in antiques, so I purposely bought this pair of jade pendants from a private collector, hoping that he would like it," Clifford smiled. The pair of jade pendants were so exquisite. Even someone who did not know anything about antiques would love it when they saw it.

"You spent a lot of money on the jade pendants, right?" someone asked.

Clifford smiled slightly and said casually, "It's not much. It's only five million bucks." This young man was clever. He knew that he would get to network with the Sanders family closely with these five million dollars, which was indeed worth it. A few of the guests nodded silently and continued admiring the pendants. Even Lily, who was standing on the side, could not help but glance at them.

Only Darryl remained silent. When he saw everyone admiring it incessantly, he shook his head and laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Clifford became angry all of a sudden.

"I wanted to ask how much you spent on the pair of jade pendants?" Darryl grinned.

Clifford was stunned. "Are you deaf? Five million bucks. Didn't you hear it? Why? Is five million bucks such an astronomical number for a live-in son-in-law?"

Darryl subtly shook his head and looked at Clifford arrogantly. "That's too much." 

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Lily quickly pulled him and whispered, "Darryl, stop talking nonsense. Although he had a good relationship with Dax, the people who came here today were here to celebrate Old Master Sanders' birthday. It was a special occasion. Besides, all the people here said the jade pendants were good. So please don't mess things up," Lily continued.

Instantly, everyone looked toward Darryl. A few of the ladies were confused. The price was too much? What was the meaning of this? Did Clifford lose money? It was a pair of beautiful jade pendants. Five million bucks were not too much, even if it was a bit expensive, right? people thought.

"Darryl, what do you mean? Tell me then, how much are these jade pendants worth?" Clifford replied dismissively.

Darryl stretched out two fingers. 

'What?' Clifford thought.

"Two million bucks? What do you know about it? This pair of jade pendants are only worth two million bucks? Are you crazy?" Clifford sneered.

"Darryl? Do you study antiques?" Dax asked, surprised. It seemed that Dax's comrade was quite knowledgeable.

Darryl nodded and smiled, “I know a little bit."

Chapter 168

Clifford was immediately angered. He pointed at Darryl. "Darryl, shut up! You don't know anything! What nonsense are you talking about!? What makes you think it's worth only two million bucks?" Damn it, this man was crazy, Clifford thought. Clifford's uncle bought the jade pendants, and his uncle had been collecting antiques for decades! The actual price of these jade pendants was three million bucks. He only pretended that it cost five million bucks just to show off. However, Darryl said that it was only worth two million bucks, which Clifford thought was total bullsh*t! 

Darryl shook his head. "There's another name for this kind of paired jade pendants. Do you know what it's called?" 

Everyone was curious and shook their heads. 

Darryl sighed and explained, "They were called Gemini Pendants in ancient times. It was a unique dowry a woman could give for marriage during the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was very much concerned with etiquette, so the Gemini Pendants were highly adored. After the woman brought the jade pendants to her husband's house, one piece would be given to the husband, and the other piece the woman would wear. Also, their names would be engraved on each other's pendant to symbolize a harmonious union lasting a hundred years." 

Darryl picked up the two jade pendants and took a closer look at them. "So, the real Gemini Pendants of the Ming Dynasty would have engravings on them, and this... unfortunately, does not. They're fake." 

Darryl's voice was soft, but everyone in the hall could hear it! Everyone was stunned. Darryl's explanation behind the Gemini Pendants made sense, and it was even more detailed than what those antique appraisers had said. As everyone sighed internally, they came back to their senses, and doubts arose in their minds. Could it be that the pair of Gemini Pendants were fake? they thought.

"As expected, there's no engraving," Dax said, frowning, as he inspected the jade pendants that he took from Darryl's hand. The surrounding people immediately gathered around to take a look. Lily also went closer. As expected, there were no traces of any engraving at all on the pair of jade pendants except for those delicate carvings.

Clifford's face flushed as his eyes flickered. He could not accept what just happened. "What does the absence of the engraving prove? You said it yourself, this kind of Gemini Pendant is a dowry from a married woman. What if the owner of this pair of jade pendants died before she got married? How would she get it engraved without a husband?" he sneered, pointing at Darryl. 

Darryl was very impressed with Clifford's wit. Yes, indeed. What if the woman had not married? the guests questioned themselves. A few of the guests had also come back to their senses and cast a questioning glance at Darryl.

Darryl laughed and stared at Clifford as if he was a fool. "What you said sounds very logical, but I can tell you that this kind of Gemini Pendants was made half a month before a woman's marriage. Her own family would specifically hire highly-skilled craftsmen to make it for her." Darryl shrugged his shoulders. "If you insist on telling me that the woman died of a sudden illness in the month and a half before she married, then I have nothing more to say." 

Clifford was quiet; a layer of cold sweat seeped out from his forehead. "Also, I want to correct your mistake." Darryl took a step forward and said with a smile. "What is it?" 

Darryl grinned. "I simply stretched out two fingers, but I didn't say it was worth two million. What I meant was that the jade pendants are worth only two hundred bucks. If you don't believe me, take a look for yourself." 

Crack! Darryl immediately threw the jade pendants to the ground as he finished talking, and they shattered into a million pieces! The jade pendants were shattered, and you could clearly see the glue on the inside of the jade pieces. It was obvious that they were fake. 

The whole hall was silent! Clifford's body shook, and his face was full of embarrassment. 

Clap, clap, clap! At that moment, Nancy could not hold back and applauded, and thunderous applause followed her. "Bravo, bravo!" the crowd cheered. 

Clifford clenched his fists tightly and yelled, "Darryl, even though it's an imitation, it's still a gift. How about you? You're only here because of your relationship with the Lyndons. Did you even bring a gift?" 

This stupid Darryl made me look like a fool. I won’t let you off so easily, thought Clifford. 

Darryl took a deep breath and looked at Clifford impatiently. "You're wrong. I did bring a gift today." Darryl had sent out a text message when he was on the way down. It was probably time for it to arrive. 

What? Did he bring a gift, too? people thought. 

"Darryl, you just found out about Old Master Sanders' birthday. Where did you get the present?" Lily tapped her foot anxiously.

Chapter 169

Lily was genuinely anxious. If Darryl couldn’t produce a gift, he would face ridicule once again. Even though he had a good relationship with Dax, making things up would be inappropriate.

“Haha! Darryl, where’s your gift? Still bragging about it? Even your wife doesn’t believe you! Come on, show us the gift, let me see it,” Clifford laughed loudly.

“It should be here soon,” Darryl replied, checking his watch. “I had someone send it over.”

"Had someone send it over? Hahaha, that’s hilarious!" Clifford thought to himself, clutching his stomach with laughter. "Everyone, you have no idea! Darryl showed up to our class reunion on a lousy electric bike a few days ago, and nobody even acknowledged him! He doesn’t have any friends. Who’s going to help him with gifts? Don’t tell me you ordered delivery? Hahaha!"

Some of the girls couldn’t hold back their laughter and chuckled quietly.

“President Dickinson is here!” a voice called out from outside the hall.

Everyone immediately turned towards the entrance. Emily walked in briskly, dressed in a sharp pencil skirt and high heels. She was stunning, the skirt accentuating her figure perfectly. Emily exuded both beauty and power, known as a prominent figure in the cosmetics industry with her highly successful company, Poesia Eleganza. But at that moment, she looked anxious.

“Godmother! What are you doing here?” Clifford stood up suddenly, his face filled with confusion.

'What’s going on?' Clifford wondered. His godmother had told him she had important business to attend to, which was why she had sent him to deliver the gift on her behalf. Seeing her arrive was a surprise.

However, Emily paid no attention to Clifford as she walked straight past him and placed a gift on the table. It was a set of the finest celebratory tea leaves.

“Aren’t those tea leaves from the Heavenly series? A set like that is worth millions!" someone whispered.

“Didn’t President Dickinson send her godson to deliver a gift? Why is she bringing another one?” the crowd murmured in confusion.

As the guests exchanged puzzled glances, Emily turned towards Darryl.

“Mr. Darryl, I’m sorry for the delay. There was traffic on the way. I’ve placed the gift you requested on the table,” Emily explained, leaning forward slightly.

The hall erupted in shock. Everyone was dumbfounded, their jaws practically hitting the floor.

“M-Mister Darryl? Did she just call this live-in son-in-law Mister Darryl?” they thought, unable to believe what they were hearing.

Lily’s legs trembled, and she felt weak, barely able to stay on her feet. ‘What on earth is going on?’ she thought in disbelief.

Clifford, standing to the side, turned pale. His thoughts raced. ‘Godmother called him Mister Darryl?’ he repeated in his mind, unable to process the scene before him.

Clifford had recognized Emily as his godmother three years ago, though she was only five years older than him. She had been his support, raising him up from nothing. In all the years he’d known her, he had never seen her show this level of respect to anyone.

'This... this...' Clifford was in complete disbelief.

"You made it just in time. Is Clifford your godson?" Darryl asked with a sly smile.

Emily nodded immediately. “Yes.”

Emily and Darryl had known each other for years, and she understood his temperament well. If he was asking, there was clearly an issue.

She glared at Clifford as she responded.

“Your godson is quite a man. He’s been arrogant and disrespectful to others, all because he relies on your support,” Darryl said slowly.

The hall fell completely silent.

Emily’s face turned pale, and her legs trembled slightly as she realized what was happening. “Mister Darryl, I’m so sorry, so sorry. It’s my fault for not controlling his behavior,” she apologized urgently.

At that moment, Clifford snapped out of his shock, his face twisted with confusion and frustration. “Godmother, why are you apologizing to him? He’s just a live-in son-in-law!” he shouted.

“Shut up!” Emily yelled, cutting him off.

She stormed over to Clifford in her heels, her face cold and furious.

Slap!

Chapter 170

Emily slapped Clifford across the face without any warning, leaving an instant red mark on his cheek.

"God... Godmother, why did you slap me?" Clifford stammered, his hand covering his face in disbelief. He was stunned—his godmother had always pampered him, treating him like her own son. The slap left him feeling hurt and confused.

"Why do you think I slapped you? You almost got us into serious trouble," Emily fumed as she slapped him twice more.

No one should dare mess with Darryl. Emily knew she wouldn’t be where she was today without him.

“Go kneel and apologize to Mister Darryl,” Emily ordered after slapping Clifford a few more times.

Clifford’s body trembled. He didn’t dare ask any further questions and walked over to Darryl, kneeling in front of him with a forced smile. “I... I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

The other guests in the hall gasped quietly. Emily's powerful presence was overwhelming, making everyone feel small. No one dared to speak up against such a commanding woman.

Darryl remained silent, staring at Clifford without showing any emotion. The entire hall fell into a tense silence as all eyes were on Darryl.

Emily stood off to the side, biting her lips nervously, afraid to say anything as she watched Darryl’s stoic response.

Suddenly, Darryl's phone rang. He pulled it out and saw it was his mother, Luna. He hadn’t visited his parents in a while, so he was surprised by the sudden call.

As soon as he picked up, he heard Luna’s panicked voice before he could even speak. “Darryl, quick! Come quickly! Save your father—save him!”

Darryl’s heart raced, his hair standing on end. “Mom, don’t panic. What’s going on? Where are you?”

He could barely process what she was saying. 'Wasn’t his father being treated at the hospital? Had his condition suddenly worsened?' he thought.

“We’re at the Darby residence! Hurry! Your father’s in big trouble! Please come quickly!” Luna sobbed before hanging up.

Darryl’s mind went blank.

“Darryl, what’s wrong?” Dax asked, rushing over.

“Something’s happened to my parents,” Darryl replied, his voice tense.

The sun shone brightly outside, with people dressed lightly as they walked the streets, but a chilling air hung over the Darby residence.

Inside, Old Master Darby sat expressionless in a large chair. Nearly a thousand people stood around, and every member of the Darby family was present. Darryl’s father, Daniel, was being held down on a stage, his face pale and lips colorless.

A burly man stood behind Daniel, holding a cane soaked in oil, with barbs on it. Each lash could tear flesh, leaving bloody gashes.

Snap! The cane struck Daniel’s body, soaking his clothes with blood.

Luna, held back by several people, sobbed helplessly, her eyes swollen with tears.

“Daniel, I’ve been in seclusion for years, unaware of the family’s affairs. Is this how you raised your son? To violate his younger sister-in-law? Such shameful behavior! Where is Darryl?” Old Master Darby asked coldly.

Despite being his son, Old Master Darby showed no mercy—he had always been strict in disciplining his family.

Daniel shook his head, barely able to speak, his lips pale. He knew Darryl would never do such a thing. Never!

“You’re still denying it!” Yumi stepped forward angrily. “Do you think we’re all lying? Is Darryl the only good person in the Darby family, while we’re all making up stories? Darryl is a beast! He violated his younger sister-in-law, and you still refuse to admit it!”

“Lies!” Daniel gritted his teeth, spitting on the ground.

“You still won’t confess?” Old Master Darby shouted. “Keep whipping him until he admits his mistakes!”

The burly man behind Daniel raised the cane again.

Snap! The sound of the cane echoed in the room as Daniel’s body convulsed in pain. His face was covered in sweat, though he didn’t scream. He gritted his teeth, determined to stay silent.

“Stop it! Please stop whipping him!” Luna wailed as she struggled to reach Daniel. But the men holding her were too strong, and she could only cry helplessly as tears poured down her face.

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