David Bolton's beautiful face showed a hint of restrained anger as she stared directly at the hunchbacked old man and snorted, “Once we get the medicine, we’ll leave immediately. Otherwise, a few words of intimidation won’t make us go.”

　　“Unwilling to leave?”

　　A murderous glint still lingered in the hunchbacked old man’s eyes, but a strange smile appeared on his aged face. “In that case, even if we meet, there’s no karma between you and my young master, right? Do as you please.”

　　Whoosh!

　　Three ghostly figures suddenly appeared silently atop the courtyard wall. Their voices, thick with mockery, surged like waves: “The old dog beside the Poison Demon William Parker is actually quite kind-hearted! The life and death of three ants can even stir your pitiful compassion…”

　　The hunchbacked old man’s gaze was sharp as a torch, locking onto the bald elder in the lead. He said coldly, “Yin-Yang Freak… Robert Foster!”

Chapter 0002 Cause and Effect

　　As the sun set in the west, the evening glow blazed like fire across the sky. Flocks of wild geese flew south, adding vivid beauty to the twilight scene. On the wall of the “Precious Medicine Shop” courtyard, wild laughter thundered like a storm, so loud it scattered the formation of the geese overhead.

　　After a hearty laugh, Robert Foster sneered, “Old dog, I heard your master has gone missing. Could it be that he had too many enemies and was quietly taken care of?”

　　Old dog?

　　The hunchbacked old man narrowed his eyes. Though a cold light flashed within them, he remained silent. He knew well who Robert Foster was. With his own cultivation and strength, he was no match for Robert Foster—even the two elders at Robert Foster’s side posed a tremendous threat to him.

　　Life and death, humiliation.

　　The hunchbacked old man didn’t care!

　　But he cared about Henry Clark, who was at a critical moment!

　　“Coward…”

　　Robert Foster snorted coldly through his nose and said grimly, “Back then, the Poison Demon flooded my Jade^Island and scattered gut-wrenching poison, destroying a hundred acres of my medicinal fields. Today, I’ll burn down his lair and ruin his livelihood. Do you have any objections?”

　　The hunchbacked old man’s expression changed dramatically, a desperate aura erupting from his body.

　　The house—let it burn if it must!

　　But!

　　Even if he died, he would protect his young master at all costs.

　　Memories of his young master’s care flashed through the hunchbacked old man’s mind.

　　The Poison Demon William Parker was vicious and violent by nature. Whenever he was in a bad mood, he would either beat or curse him. Every time the young master was present, he would shield him, even if it meant taking the beating or scolding himself, or being subjected to William Parker’s cruel poison experiments.

　　The hunchbacked old man had no family. Even after following William Parker for decades, he never felt the slightest closeness.

　　However!

　　The young master was different.

　　His presence, his care, and the suffering he endured for the old man’s sake warmed his heart and made him feel that, in this life, he finally had a family.

　　Robert Foster showed a look of disdain. With a flip of his hand, an exquisitely crafted blue-and-white porcelain bottle appeared in his grasp. As he uncorked it, streams of liquid as thick as silver needles shot out toward various parts of the courtyard. At the same time, Robert Foster flicked his fingers, scattering a cloud of phosphorus powder.

　　“Boom…”

　　When the liquid met the phosphorus powder, a sudden burst of flames erupted, surging like a tidal wave and spreading rapidly, instantly igniting the buildings wherever the liquid had landed.

　　Everyone in the courtyard

　　was instantly trapped in a sea of fire.

　　David Bolton was in a foul mood—extremely foul. Coming here today, she was first humiliated by Henry Clark, then intimidated by the hunchbacked old man, and now, these inexplicable newcomers treated her like an ant and trapped her in a fire.

　　David Bolton was burning with shame and anger.

　　Although she felt Robert Foster was no good, she couldn’t hold back the stifled rage in her heart and shouted angrily, “Old man, setting fires at will is a heinous crime. Aren’t you afraid of being punished by the laws of Hanshan City?”

　　Old man?

　　A muscle twitched at the corner of Robert Foster’s eye. As he swung his arm, a loud slap rang out, sending David Bolton flying seven or eight meters and crashing heavily at the base of the courtyard wall. A bright red handprint appeared on her well-maintained cheek, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

　　“Foolish child, threatening me with the law? Hmph… That’s nothing but nonsense in my eyes.”

　　James Bolton’s face was dark, but he didn’t act rashly. He glanced at the stunning young woman, only to see her silently shake her head at him.

　　Robert Foster let out a cold laugh, turned to the hunchbacked old man, and said in a deep voice, “I don’t care if the Poison Demon is dead or alive, or if he’s playing some trick. In any case, I’ve vented my anger, hahaha…”

　　With a burst of wild laughter, Robert Foster and the other two elders suddenly departed.

　　The hunchbacked old man narrowed his eyes, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

　　Such is the way of the world—where there is cause, there is effect.

　　The cause planted by his master back then had borne fruit in today’s humiliation.

　　Outmatched, he could only endure.

　　The hunchbacked old man glanced coldly at David Bolton, who was struggling to get up from the base of the wall, and sighed inwardly, “Ignorant.” He turned and rushed toward the side courtyard. The fire was growing too fierce to put out. What he needed to do was ensure Henry Clark’s safety in the side courtyard.

　　“Father…”

　　David Bolton’s eyes were filled with venomous resentment, but as soon as she spoke, she was silenced by James Bolton’s stern gaze.