Grace Carter glanced at Claire Carter with some displeasure. Although back then her father's coercion had once made her resent William King, now, after four years, William King had always treated her with respect and propriety, never overstepping any boundaries. That resentment had gradually faded. No matter what, William King was her husband in name, the husband her father had approved of. Was it really amusing to make William King a laughingstock in front of outsiders?

"William King, you should go back first."

William King nodded at Grace Carter.

"Uncle Wright, has anything happened at home these past few days?"

As William King walked toward his own room, Grace Carter turned her head and spoke to an elderly man, George Wright, who served as both bodyguard and butler.

"Not much has happened. Oh, last night someone formally delivered a visiting card, coming to pay a visit... It should have been to visit you, but this morning it was Mr. Wang... it was Mr. King who received them."

The old man George Wright spoke, glancing at a servant, who immediately went to look for the visiting card.

"That was for me."

William King, already leaving the living room, turned his head slightly and responded.

"A friend of yours?"

Grace Carter looked at William King.

She had no impression of any friends of William King; over the years, Richard King had rarely gone out.

Of course, this was largely because she hadn't really tried to learn about his social circle.

"Not really."

William King replied, then said to the servant searching for the visiting card, "You already threw the card away this morning when you took out the trash."

"Uh..."

George Wright looked a bit embarrassed, and also a little puzzled. How could something so important have ended up in the trash? Now that the servant had accidentally thrown it away, it probably had something to do with William King.

Grace Carter clearly understood this as well. After William King entered his room, she turned thoughtfully to George Wright and said, "Uncle Wright, was the person who delivered the visiting card very formal? In what way?"

"They followed the exact customs of the ancient martial world for paying respects. The one who delivered the card was a young man, about twenty-three or twenty-four, with a very serious demeanor... Oh, and that young man's martial arts cultivation was not simple. Although I didn't observe him closely, from his breathing, footsteps, and speech, I could tell he was at least a second-level martial artist, maybe even third-level."

"Twenty-three or twenty-four, possibly with third-level martial cultivation?"

At this moment, Henry Foster couldn't help but become interested: "So young, yet with such achievements. If he is willing to devote himself to hard training, he might well become a martial arts master. Such a talented young man shouldn't be an unknown figure."

"Sorry, Mr. Foster, I didn't recognize him. He probably isn't a martial artist from our Green Province's ancient martial world."

"Is that so... Haha, Little King really keeps things hidden. His social circle even extends beyond the province."

Henry Foster said with a smile.

"Hmph, William King looks all gentle and refined on the surface, but maybe he's just a repressed guy. I think I should investigate him thoroughly. If he really has any issues in his private life, sis, I say just divorce him. After all, that divorce certificate is just a piece of paper..."

"Claire, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Grace Carter scolded Claire Carter, then turned to George Wright: "Uncle Wright, do you remember what was written on the visiting card?"

"The card was very simple, just said, 'I will visit at the hour of Chen tomorrow, respectfully, Stephen Ward.'"

"Stephen Ward?"

The name of a notorious demonic figure who had been in seclusion for years—Grace Carter clearly hadn't heard of it.

After all, communication in this world was not well developed. With the vast landmass and satellites unable to reach orbital speed, there were no satellite phones and no global communication. They could still learn a bit about experts from neighboring provinces, but as for those top figures who never showed themselves, they were completely in the dark.

"Grace is interested in this Stephen Ward. If we go back, I can just ask my master directly. He works at the Martial Arts Association and has access to their database, so it's easy to look up information on a martial artist."

Henry Foster volunteered with a smile.

"Then I'll trouble you, Senior Foster."

"Come on, sis, there's no need to be so polite with Brother Foster."

"Claire is right, there's no need for such formalities between us. Let's just be natural."

Grace Carter smiled but didn't reply.

"Sis, I checked the weather forecast. Tomorrow will be a beautiful sunny day. How about we go climb Mount Taiyue together?"

"You go ahead, I won't be going."

"It's so boring to go alone. Come on, let's go together, with Brother Foster too. The more people, the livelier."

Grace Carter glanced at Claire Carter, who kept sneaking looks at Henry Foster, and shook her head. "After sitting in the car all day, I'm a bit tired. Claire, Uncle Wright, you two entertain Senior Foster for me."

Chapter 7: Transcending the Ordinary, Entering the Sacred

On the bus, William King sat by the window, watching rows of landscape trees fly past behind him.

"There's no road ahead..."

William King murmured softly.

The bus was still moving.

The real dead end was not the road beneath his feet, but the future of martial arts.