Living in the jianghu, sometimes one truly has no choice; to survive, one can only be cautious, ever more cautious!

Upon detecting poison in the food, Henry Thompson knew that the storm was about to arrive.

Outside the bed, the northern wind howled, wailing like the cries of ghosts and wolves—indeed, the storm had come.

In the pitch-black night, there was not a glimmer of light.

Henry Thompson's eyes stared into the distance, ignoring the biting northern wind that cut across his body like knives.

Ahead, several vague black figures flickered and vanished instantly.

An ordinary person might think these were just the shadows of trees swaying in the night wind, but Henry Thompson knew—these were assassins!

Yes, assassins.

Who would put him in such a deadly situation? Whose handiwork was this?

Henry Thompson let out a cold laugh, a hint of self-mockery in his gaze.

Perhaps he had been influenced by his father's stooped and somber figure; even after being abandoned by his family, he still clung to them, still fought so desperately, all to bring honor to the Li family!

It was all just to feel a bit of the warmth of family from his previous life.

He was still too naïve!

Chapter 012: Peril on All Sides

A trace of despair rose in Henry Thompson's heart. He knew that with Alice Thompson's abilities, the news would surely be reported to Samuel Thompson first, and now, with assassins coming for him and even top experts being dispatched...

"This father of mine is truly ruthless. But what reason does he have to kill me?" Henry Thompson gave a bitter smile. He really hoped he was just wildly guessing, and not truly facing such a reality—a father killing his own son!

A figure rushed swiftly toward him, and a familiar voice called out, "Third Young Master, come out quickly! The master sent me to bring you back to the family..."

"Third Young Master, go back and prove your strength, reclaim what is rightfully yours, and you will no longer be the useless young master everyone looks down on!"

Alice Thompson's voice came closer and closer.

Amidst the wind and snow, that swift figure became a faint flying shadow, dashing forward and sending snowflakes swirling.

Arriving in front of the pavilion, he suddenly stopped, twisted his body, and landed directly at the entrance. Then Alice Thompson rushed inside from below.

Henry Thompson smiled calmly. He knew Alice Thompson meant well, and that the kindness in Alice Thompson's eyes was genuine. But at this moment, could he really go back?

Glancing at the pitch-black poisoned needle still held in his hand, Henry Thompson also smiled.

Forget it, he would play along and see what tricks they were up to!

Immediately, he suppressed his breath, gathered his inner strength, and made his face flush red and purple—only then was he satisfied!

Thinking over the properties of the poison, Henry Thompson deliberately 'fainted' on the spot.

"Bang—"

Inside the room, there was the sound of plates falling and a basin being knocked over.

Emily Thompson, tidying up the dishes outside, heard the commotion. Her delicate hand trembled, and tears streamed from her eyes: "Young Master, forgive Emily..."

She entered the room and saw Henry Thompson lying on the ground, his handsome face now purple and blue. Emily Thompson's face turned deathly pale, her trembling hand reaching into Henry Thompson's chest to search for something...

"Third Young Master, are you ready? Uncle is coming in now." Although Alice Thompson sounded a bit old, his words were gentle and kind.

Hearing this, one could easily imagine the gentle, kindly smile on Alice Thompson's face.

"Ah—Young Master, you, what's wrong?" Emily Thompson found nothing useful, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, and a look of resolve appeared. She was about to strike with the gleaming dagger in her hand, but unexpectedly, Alice Thompson had already arrived.

With no choice, Emily Thompson could only cry out in alarm and then help Henry Thompson up.

Hearing Emily Thompson's cry from outside, Alice Thompson rushed in like the wind, leaving a long trailing shadow.

"Yi'er, Yi'er, what's wrong?" In his anxiety, Alice Thompson completely treated Henry Thompson as his own child, calling out in worry.

Seeing Henry Thompson's face so purple, Alice Thompson was shocked. He immediately pushed Emily Thompson aside, picked up Henry Thompson, placed him on the bed, and used his own inner strength to check Henry Thompson's injuries.

But no matter how he tried to probe with his inner strength, it would always dissipate after circulating less than a full round. The dantian in the other’s body was extremely strange, the regular meridians completely blocked. How could such a person be even a third-rate expert? Let alone a second-rate one!

For a moment, Alice Thompson was dumbfounded. Seeing that Henry Thompson seemed on the verge of death, he ignored the loss of his own inner strength and forcibly tried to nourish Henry Thompson's heart and lungs.

Such a loss of inner strength would take more than a year or two to recover, but Alice Thompson had no complaints at all.

At this moment, Henry Thompson was deeply moved, his nose tingling, almost brought to tears. He could sense that Alice Thompson's hair had turned even whiter.

With a slight movement of his mind, he subtly guided the flow of that inner energy, and then returned it intact to Alice Thompson's body.

At this, Alice Thompson's whole body trembled, and his face turned pale.