- Silent Vengeance

The thought of returning home filled me with dread, knowing humiliation awaited me there. I desperately wanted to avoid anyone seeing me in such a pathetic state.

Mabel seemed to read my thoughts perfectly.

She offered a gentle chuckle and said, "Some challenges become less difficult once you face them head-on, don't they?"

Taking a deep breath, I nodded and walked into the house alongside Mabel.

The family had gathered in the living room.

Harvey brazenly sat with Lyla nestled in his arms. Instead of showing any disapproval, my mother-in-law Maeve bustled around serving Harvey tea and refreshments.

The scene before me made maintaining my composure impossible. My fists clenched involuntarily, and just as I prepared to speak, Mabel tugged at my arm, subtly shaking her head.

I glanced at Mabel and swallowed my anger.

"Well, look at this," Lyla remarked, eyeing Mabel with obvious disdain. "We aren't even divorced yet, and you've already found yourself a little tramp?"

Though Lyla harbored no genuine feelings for me, seeing me with someone else clearly sparked her jealousy.

Meanwhile, Harvey stared at Mabel, completely mesmerized. Her beauty was undeniable – her figure, features, and demeanor all proved absolutely captivating. Standing next to Mabel, Lyla suddenly appeared remarkably ordinary.

"This is my friend," I stated coldly. "Please show some respect."

Lyla responded with a dismissive snort, ignoring me completely. "Tsk, tsk, sweetie," she said mockingly to Mabel. "You really have terrible taste, picking up something I've thrown away. Don't you know he's nothing but a useless loser?"

Mabel remained perfectly composed. She casually brushed aside a strand of hair and replied calmly, "Incompetent women need men to elevate their status. I'm nothing like you."

Lyla instantly erupted with rage at these words!

"You!" she sputtered, trembling with anger but finding herself completely unable to formulate a response.

Harvey eyed Mabel hungrily, visibly swallowing as he struggled to control his attraction to such beauty.

"Miss, you don't appear to be an ordinary person," Harvey said with a practiced smile. "May I ask what business you're in?"

Mabel considered for a moment before responding, "I handle various enterprises – real estate, investments, internet ventures, and more."

"Real estate?" Harvey's eyes lit up immediately.

He puffed with pride. "Miss, are you aware that the Sean Family from Capital City is planning development projects here in River City?"

Mabel nodded casually. "I am."

"Between us," Harvey continued smugly, "my Brown family has already secured a partnership with the Sean family! Miss, would you perhaps be interested in working with me?"

Harvey's intentions couldn't have been more transparent – using the Sean family connection as bait to lure Mabel.

Rather than appearing impressed, Mabel burst into laughter. "The Brown family, is it? I'll certainly remember that," she said between chuckles.

Harvey, misreading her response as interest, felt a surge of excitement. He quickly produced a business card. "Feel free to contact me if you need anything at all."

"What do you think you're doing?" Lyla snapped irritably.

Harvey cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped back.

Lyla retrieved a divorce agreement and slammed it down in front of me.

"Sign this, and we're done forever," she stated coldly.

I clenched my fists, staring intensely at Lyla. "You'll regret this decision, Lyla," I promised.

"Enough wasting time!" Lyla interrupted impatiently.

Without further comment, I grabbed the pen, quickly signed my name, and tossed the document back at her.

"Eventually, I'll make both you adulterers kneel and beg for forgiveness!" I declared, my eyes bloodshot with fury. This humiliation would remain etched in my memory forever.

Lyla and Harvey responded with mocking laughter.

"You idiot," Lyla jeered. "We're about to partner with the Sean family and potentially become River City's wealthiest residents. And you? You're still just a worthless nobody!"

I took a deep breath, remained silent, and departed with Mabel.

Once inside her car, I couldn't contain my emotions any longer.

"Just wait and see," I growled through clenched teeth.

With the inheritance fresh in my mind, confidence surged through me.

Mabel suddenly asked, "Do you hate them?"

I glanced at her and offered a bitter smile. "This kind of humiliation would break any man."

Mabel blinked thoughtfully, seemingly lost in contemplation.

Later, Mabel drove me to the Dragon Rising Community in central River City.

She handed me a key, pointing toward a nearby villa. "You can stay here for now."

I gazed up at the luxurious residence in astonishment.

Shaking my head, I protested, "Miss Mabel, this house is far too nice... I can't accept this."

Mabel shrugged casually. "This is actually my least impressive property."

I stood speechless.

Having nowhere else to go, I reluctantly accepted Mabel's key.

"I'll never forget your kindness, Miss Mabel," I promised, clutching the key with determination.

Mabel rolled her eyes. "Don't be foolish. Focus on taking care of yourself first."

With those words, she drove away.

As dusk settled, Mabel traveled in a Capital City-licensed Maybach toward an exclusive dinner gathering. The event had attracted virtually every influential figure in Chuzzle Province, with even River City's wealthiest residents relegated to serving roles.

During the journey, Mabel leaned on her hand, deep in thought.

"Miss, are you seriously considering marrying that loser?" her secretary inquired hesitantly.

Mabel cast him a sidelong glance. "Honestly, I'm beginning to think my grandfather was right."

"Believe the old Master?" The secretary appeared troubled.

"He's clearly a useless nobody! How could he possibly compare to those sophisticated gentlemen from Capital City?" the secretary pressed urgently.

Mabel shook her head. "I disagree. Consider this – he possesses remarkable abilities yet remains humble, and despite his current hardships, he never asked for compensation after saving me."

"How would you react if your wife humiliated you like that?" Mabel questioned.

The secretary frowned and snorted, "I certainly wouldn't let them get away with it!"

"Exactly!" Mabel smiled knowingly.

"He didn't request my assistance, which demonstrates his integrity," she added.

The secretary muttered, "Perhaps he's simply enduring it."

"No, I believe he'll accomplish something remarkable someday," Mabel replied, her eyes shining with anticipation.

The secretary smiled skeptically. "Someday? Even with ten lifetimes of effort, he might never match those polished Capital City gentlemen."

"That's not necessarily true," Mabel countered. "Young men just need time to prove themselves."

She abruptly changed subjects. "By the way, do we have a company called Brown family among our business partners?"

The secretary quickly consulted his notebook. "Yes, Miss. The Brown family has shown genuine interest, and their company ranks among River City's finest. They'd make excellent partners."

Mabel acknowledged this with a simple "Oh," then added without hesitation, "Kick them out."

- Power Unleashed

Mabel stared at her secretary, who stood frozen in confusion. Though he didn't fully grasp her intentions, he dared not question further.

"Understood, Miss. I'll cancel the Brown family's invitation right away," the secretary replied obediently.

His fingers began tapping across the keyboard when Mabel suddenly raised her hand.

"Wait." A change of mind flickered across her face.

Cunning sparkled in her eyes as she spoke. "Send the invitation as planned."

"Huh?" The secretary's confusion only deepened.

Mabel's bright eyes gleamed with mischief as she whispered, "I'm curious to see their expressions when they spot Mason Raymond at the banquet..."

----

Dragon Rising Community stood as River City's most prestigious neighborhood.

I gazed around the luxuriously decorated apartment Quillen Sean had gifted me, feeling like I'd stepped into someone else's life. The opulence surrounding me seemed unreal against the backdrop of my recent circumstances.

"I still can't figure out Mabel's true identity," I muttered with a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

Deep down, I understood that favors eventually expire. Only by building my own strength could I earn genuine respect from others.

I wasted no time getting started.

Sitting cross-legged on the plush sofa, I closed my eyes and focused. Golden rays of light began bursting rapidly through my mind.

These luminous beams carried medical knowledge beyond imagination and cultivation techniques that defied conventional understanding.

I absorbed this information hungrily. Soon I realized these healing arts surpassed anything previously conceivable!

At their highest level, they could not only cure ailments but potentially resurrect the dead!

And those cultivation methods? They left me completely astounded!

Even the preliminary Qi Refining Stage would grant me freedom to move unchallenged through the mortal realm!

Reaching Foundation Establishment would render me virtually invincible, with centuries added to my lifespan!

The more I learned, the more excitement built within me, my eyes brightening with each revelation!

"Once I begin cultivating properly, the Brown family will mean absolutely nothing," I declared, clenching my fists as confidence surged through me!

"Harvey Brown, Lyla Lucas, just wait!" A flash of determination crossed my face.

Without further delay, I began drawing in nature's spiritual energy using the techniques now embedded in my memory.

Spiritual energy from across the entire community slowly converged toward me at its center.

The power seeped through my pores, flooding into my body before merging with my breath in my dantian.

Only when dawn broke the next morning did I finally open my eyes.

I exhaled a breath of impure air, feeling not fatigue but overwhelming vitality!

"So this is what the first layer of Qi Refining feels like," I breathed deeply.

I flexed my fingers, sensing the abundant strength flowing through my body, my smile widening with each passing second.

Compared to my former powerless self, this transformation felt nothing short of miraculous.

Testing my newfound strength, I threw a punch at a nearby decorative boulder.

With a thunderous "bang," the stone instantly crumbled to powder!

I couldn't help gasping in amazement. To possess such power at merely the first layer of Qi Refining—what heights could further advancement bring? The thought alone exhilarated me!

"Too bad the spiritual energy here is so thin," I sighed softly.

Just one night had depleted the surrounding energy reserves. Advancing further would prove extremely challenging.

According to my newly acquired knowledge, besides absorbing natural spiritual energy, herbs offered another path forward.

The older the herbs, the more spiritual energy they contained.

After brief consideration, I decided to visit a pharmacy to purchase some herbs.

Checking my pockets, I pulled out exactly $132.

The sight prompted a bitter chuckle from me.

Since marrying Lyla, every dollar I earned went straight to her. Even my monthly allowance depended entirely on her whims.

A thirty-year-old man with barely over a hundred dollars to his name—the mere mention would invite mockery.

"Seems that even on the path of cultivation, money remains essential," I remarked wryly.

Pocketing the cash, I headed out the door.

Just as I reached the community entrance, a Mercedes-Benz pulled up, blocking my way.

The vehicle stopped abruptly, and Harvey Brown stepped out with Lyla Lucas following closely behind.

"Mason, how disgusting can you be? Following us around?" Lyla spat venomously the moment she emerged.

"We've already signed divorce papers! Why keep clinging to me? What's your problem?" Her face twisted with contempt.

I cast her a cold glance. "Don't flatter yourself."

"Flatter myself?" Lyla jabbed a finger toward her chest, nearly laughing. "You show up first thing in the morning just to block us, and I'm flattering myself?" Her expression hardened to ice.

Beside her, Harvey stepped forward, clapping his hand onto my shoulder.

"Listen, kid. Lyla belongs to me now. Harass her again and I'll break your legs. Understand?" His smug grin oozed confidence.

Watching this contemptible pair, nausea rose in my throat.

How did I ever share three years of my life with someone like her? The question baffled me completely.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke coldly, "Don't worry. I have zero interest in garbage like her. She's all yours."

"What did you just say? Who are you calling garbage?" Lyla shrieked, her face contorting with rage.

Harvey immediately stepped forward, blocking my path.

His expression darkening, Harvey growled, "Mason, tired of living? Kneel down and apologize to my wife right now, or I'll shatter your legs."

I swatted his hand away, clenched my fist, and replied icily, "Let me give you a chance: kneel down and apologize to me, and maybe I'll let this slide!"