Ch. 771..780
Chapter 771
Meditation was commonly used as a means to calm one’s senses
It was not a term that James felt was necessary to explain to Quincy.
Quincy served him a plate of rice.
James gladly received the food. He picked up his utensils and set to devour the food instantly. After being listless for so long, he had finally regained some strength and felt slightly more energetic.
Although his current shape was far from what a normal person would consider healthy, he was confident he could cultivate True Energy if he kept this up.
Moreover, he had only just gone through the second volume’s first chapter.
He had still yet to read the main content transcribed inside.
James was confident he would find an Internal Martial Arts cultivation method in the following chapters.
Seeing that James’ condition had finally started to improve, Quincy also breathed a sigh of relief.
After eating, James put down the tableware and turned to Quincy. “By the way, where’s General Highsmith’s ward? I’d like to go see him.”
“I’ll clean up and take you there.” Quincy quickly began clearing the plates and utensils.
James put aside the medical book and took a moment to rest in bed.
It did not take long for Quincy to return to the ward.
“Do you need a wheelchair?”
James declined her offer. “No, I can walk.”
Despite his previous reply, he struggled to get out of bed.
Quincy quickly walked over to prop him up.
With Quincy’s help, James walked out of the ward and headed to where Daniel was admitted.
A competent-looking nurse stood in the center of the ward.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man with tubes sticking out from various parts of his body and a ventilator covering his face was lying on the hospital bed.
“Hush!”
Seeing the two visitors, the beautiful nurse quickly warned them to stay quiet, and said in a hushed tone, “General Highsmith has just fallen asleep. He’s still in recovery and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
James walked silently to the hospital bed and checked Daniel’s pulse.
After examining his pulse, James was relieved at the information he gleaned about Daniel’s condition.
He was still a bit weak, but his condition had stabilized. He’ll make a full recovery after getting enough rest and time to recuperate.
“I’ll prescribe a formula for him. You should prepare the ingredients and decoct it for him,” James addressed the nurse.
The formula would boost Daniel’s immune system and speed up the recovery process.
“Alright.” The beautiful nurse nodded.
James took some time to prescribe the formula and left the ward.
Outside the ward, he turned to Quincy once again, “Where’s Thea?”
Quincy pointed to the ward opposite of them.
James continued to inquire about Thea’s current condition, “How’s she doing? Have the Callahans been informed?”
Quincy quickly replied, “She has two gunshot wounds in her thigh, and they turned out to be severe wounds. In the cavern, she fainted due to excessive blood loss. She’s still frail, and the doctor said that if her body is unable to recover properly, there’s a possibility that she’d lose function in that leg. I didn’t dare contact the Callahans and tell them what she’d been through.”
“I’ll go in and see her.”
James walked into Thea’s ward.
Thea was lying inside the ward, staring pensively at the ceiling.
Back then, she really thought it was it was the end of the line for her. She never expected to cheat death and come out of it alive.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching.
Thea turned her head in its direction. When she saw it was James, she excitedly tried getting out of her bed to greet him. The nurse quickly stopped her. “Ms. Thea, you shouldn’t be moving right now. You need to lie down and rest.”
“H-Honey…!”
Thea looked at James with teary eyes, unable to control them from overflowing as they rolled down her pale cheeks.
“I-I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
She felt guilty about Liam’s death.
If she had not suddenly screamed, Liam would not have rushed out to distract the enemies and would not have been shot to death.
James waved her concerns away as he continued to approach her. He took her hand and checked her pulse.
Right after, he wrote down a formula and handed it to the nurse. “Decoct the medicine according to the formula and administer it to her.”
“Understood.” The nurse nodded and left to prepare the medicine.
“I’ll just be outside.” Seeing James had intended to stay longer, Quincy tactfully left the ward after lightly tapping on James’ shoulder.
Chapter 772
Quincy stood outside the corridor and found herself a seat.
She wore a complicated expression as a billion thoughts raced through her mind.
Meanwhile, inside the ward….
Thea looked at James frantically while lying in bed and pleaded. “Honey, let’s remarry.”
James raised his hand and interrupted Thea.
Getting back together with her was not an option.
He had many things he needed to do and wished to avoid involving Thea again.
The Emperor wielded a considerable amount of power, and someone more powerful than him was definitely pulling his strings.
Marrying Thea again would only put her in harm’s way yet another time.
He knew this for a fact in his brain, but his heart was still undecided.
He owed Thea for saving his life. Without her, he would never have become the man he was today. He once swore to protect Thea and devote himself to her for the rest of his life.
Unfortunately, many things happened along the way. Circumstances had changed.
Speaking of circumstances, another woman had already stepped into his life after the divorce.
He did not know how to choose between the two and how to appropriately deal with his emotions.
“I’ve already apologized earnestly! Why are you still unwilling to forgive me?” Thea spat out resentfully and sobbed harder.
“I-Is it because of Quincy?”
James did not answer and remained silent.
“I know it’s because you’ve chosen her. In what way is she better than me?” Thea began to adopt a more truculent tone.
James tried to calm her down. “You’re great and incredibly talented. It’s just…”
“Just what? Why’d you stop?”
James sighed and hung his head. “I’ve made too many enemies. While I still have these matters to resolve, I don’t want relationships to get in the way of anything. You should rest f’ll come to see you when I’m free.”
James turned around and left
“James!” Thea shrieked.
Paying her no heed, he continued walking out of the ward without even turning his head.
Seeing him leave, Thea let out heart wrenching sobs.
Outside the ward
Quincy saw James emerge from the ward and heard Thea’s sobs coming from inside. She could not help asking, “What’s the matter? Did it not work out?”
James regarded Quincy sorrowfully.
Quincy was an incredibly astute and rational woman. She was always considerate and conscientious toward him.
He thought a woman like her was wasted on him.
“Sorry…”
“Pfft!” Quincy snickered.
“Why’re you apologizing?”
“You should call the Callahans and inform them about Thea. I’m going to get myself discharged from the hospital.”
James began walking toward his ward.
Quincy followed after him. “You don’t exactly have anywhere to return to in Cansington, so why don’t you stay at my house for the time being? Although you’ve obtained the second volume of the medical book, your body has yet to fully recover. I’ve got a lot of time on my hands to help care for you.”
“I don’t want to trouble you more than I’ve already had…”
“It’s not troublesome at all.”
Quincy held James’ hand and said, “You promised to let me care for and accompany you for a while. I promise that when you’re fully recovered, I’ll respect your wishes if you decide to return to Thea.”
Quincy knew that Thea was an irreplaceable existence to James.
Even though she could not be with him forever, she was satisfied just being by his side for a short while.
The more Quincy doted on him, the more remorseful James felt. Who was he to deserve the affection of such a great woman?
“Haha! What’s with that expression? Why are you looking at me like that? Let’s go, silly!”
Quincy’s laughter brought James back to his senses.
He picked up the Medical Book Volume Two and left the military hospital with Quincy.
On the way back…
James stopped Quincy. “Don’t head home just yet. I need to see Blake.”
He had given Blake a lot of time to consider his offer, and James was prepared to send him to prison if he refused to cooperate.
This man was a dangerous criminal that could cause a lot of damage if he was not kept in check.
Chapter 773
After obtaining the second volume of the medical book, James was out of the woods for now.
However, he still had quite a lot of things he needed to settle.
Getting some help would make his life a lot easier.
Blake was the perfect man for the job.
He came to the apartment unit the Blithe King had previously provided for them. Many soldiers were posted around the apartment block to keep Blake in check. If Blake really wanted to leave, these soldiers would not be nearly enough to stop Surprisingly, Blake did not leave and obediently stayed in the unit for several days.
James opened the door and walked inside.
“Yo, you’re finally back.”
As soon as James entered the apartment unit, Blake greeted him with a bright smile. “You caused such a huge scene. I was so sure you were dead. You’re a really lucky guy, huh?”
James smiled faintly as he walked toward the sofa. Then, he took a seat and made himself comfortable.
His body was still frail, and standing on his feet for so long took a toll on him.
Blake casually tossed a cigar at him.
James swiftly caught it between his fingers.
“What were you looking for in that underground cavern?” Blake asked as he sat down.
James stretched out his hand at Blake. “Pass me a lighter.”
Grabbing a lighter from near him, Blake slid it over the table to James.
James lit the cigar in his hand and took a deep drag. This proved too much for him because he began violently coughing.
Quincy immediately patted him on the back.
James waved her away and said, “I’m fine.”
Blake’s eyes were glued on James, he was watching him like a hawk.
“Nothing much. I was searching for a cultivation method,” James calmly replied.
“What?”
Blake was blindsided by his answer. He stood up abruptly and stared down at James. “You went looking for a cultivation method?”
“That’s right.”
“Did you find it?”
“Of course, I did.”
James nodded and looked up. “Actually, I came here to get your reply. So how about it? Would you consider partnering with me?”
Blake squinted his eyes and sat down again. He was trying to get a feel for whether James was telling the truth.
As the founder of the Dark Castle, he naturally kept apprised of the latest happenings in the hired guns industry. So, he already knew about the incident at Mount Dragon Treasure.
He took a moment to deliberate carefully on the decision. He then opened his mouth, “I don’t want to die simply because I associated myself with you, James. Even if you obtained the method of cultivating True Energy and become a grandmaster, you simply don’t have what it takes to turn the situation around.”
“Is that so?” James only gave him a disappointed smile.
Blake took a deep breath and asked, “Do you know how many grandmasters it took to destroy the Gu Sect a hundred years ago?”
James shook his head.
Blake continued, “There are more grandmasters hidden in Sol than you think there are.”
“Even so, I have to try. Whoever’s trying to bring unrest unto the world is an enemy of mine. Since you’ve already given me an answer, I can’t continue letting you roam freely outside. So now, you only have two options-return to prison or die.”
“Bold of you to threaten me when you’re sitting here in your current condition” Blake wore a grim expression.
James looked at him and said coldly, “Don’t forget that you consumed the poison I developed. No one else is capable of neutralizing the poison except me. It’ll completely spread throughout your body in ten days. If you don’t take the antidote before then, your death is all but guaranteed. Why don’t you try counting how many days have passed since you were broken out of prison?”
“James, you’re leaving me without a choice.” Blake looked at him with a cold-blooded expression. He was ready to kill James at at moment.
“I know. Now, do you want to cooperate with me or not? Think about it. Your record will be wiped clean and you’ll bring honor to your family for generations to come.”
After saying that, James did not continue to press the question further and stood up to leave.
Blake watched James leave and angrily ran his hand over his face.
Then, he slammed his fist into the table which broke apart instantly on impact.
Chapter 774
Outside the door…
Quincy propped James up and looked at him with concern. “James, you already know that he’s dangerous, so why do you still insist on getting him to collaborate with you?”
James halted his steps for a while and said, “He’s Dark Castle’s founder, one of the deadliest assassin’s guilds in the world. He has huge sway in the underworld, and it’ll be easier for me to get things done with his help.
Quincy asked worriedly, “What if he just pretends to agree and disappears after getting the antidote from you?”
James thought for a moment and said, “That probably won’t happen.’
Although Blake was a ruthless and vicious man that had no qualms about killing, he was still a martial artist.
James was familiar with a martial artist’s core tenants.
They always stayed true to their word.
This was only applicable to those who had dedicated years to training, though.
Most that have yet to reach a certain level in martial arts would often go back on their word.
Blake was someone who stood at the pinnacle of martial arts and as such, would never go back. on his word once he agreed.
“James…”
Suddenly, he heard the click of a door opening behind him and the sound of someone calling for him.
James turned around and saw Blake opening the door. Immediately, a smile crept on James’ face.
“Hmm? What’s the matter? Have you already thought it through?” asked James, cocking his head innocently.
“Let’s talk inside.”
Blake turned around and went back inside the apartment.
James followed him inside. James saw the broken living room table and could not help remarking, “Your strength is outstanding.”
Blake ignored his statement and asked, “What do you want out of this deal?”
James said, “Since I became the Black Dragon, I could sense that someone has constantly been targeting me. I handed in my resignation and came to Cansington but still faced a lot of trouble. After my resignation was approved, there was a conspiracy to assassinate me, and these schemes to bring me down have only gotten more devious as time assed.
“The person behind all these machinations… is the Emperor.
“At first, I couldn’t understand his objectives. After getting poisoned with Gu, I have a general sense of what he’s trying to accomplish.
“If I’m guessing correctly, it’s exactly as you said before. He’s re-attempting the plan that failed a hundred years ago. He wants to use Gu to bring the world to its knees.
“Moreover, he’s not working alone. There is someone much stronger backing him
“In addition, the election is coming up soon, and the Capital’s political parties are at each other’s throats. The King’s position is highly coveted, and countless people have their eyes on it. The presiding King has a candidate in mind and is trying to pave the way for him. The Capital is bound for a political shake-up.”
“This isn’t an easy task to deal with. The Emperor alone is already going to be a huge pain in the *ss.”
Blake looked at James and asked, “I’m not interested in political affairs. Let’s cut to the chase, what exactly do you need me to do?”
James returned his stare head-on and said, “I want you to take charge of the Dark Castle again. I need your influence in the underworld to help me with some affairs, including providing me with information and dispatching killers to dispose of people when necessary.”
“That’s it?” Blake doubtfully retorted.
“That’s it.” James nodded.
Blake contemplated for a while. Then, he nodded, saying, “Alright. I agree to help you, but I’ve got one condition.”
“What is it?” James cocked his eyebrow.
“I want you to teach me the cultivation method.”
“That won’t be a problem. However, I’ve just only acquired the knowledge and have yet to put it into practice. I’ll teach you after successfully cultivating True Energy and becoming a grandmaster.”
“I trust that the Dragon King will keep his promises.”
“I also believe the Dark Castle’s master won’t resort to underhanded tactics.”
The two smiled in unison and have each other a firm handshake.
James stood up and turned around before he left. “Alright, get some good rest. I won’t intrude any further for today. I’ll come back to see you in a few more days.”
After walking out of Blake’s temporary residence, he finally felt relief from the earlier tense atmosphere.
‘Finally, I managed to persuade him.
“This marks the beginning of the fight between the Emperor and me.
Chapter 775
After persuading Blake, everything that came next would be much easier.
Quincy drove James back home to her house again.
After returning home, James could not wait to continue reading the medical book. James completely immersed himself in its densely packed text.
He did his best to understand the ancient words as he slowly went through them.
Before he started, he had requested a notebook and pen from Quincy.
Whenever he came across a term or text he could not understand, he’d make a note of it in the notebook. Later he turned on the computer and searched for their meaning online.
James spent his whole day at Quincy’s home studying the contents of the medical book.
“James, you should take a break. Here, have a glass of water.”
Quincy walked over with a glass of warm water, took the medical book out of James’ hands, and placed it aside. With a look of concern, she said, “You’ve been reading for hours. Your body is still quite frail. You shouldn’t be overworking yourself.”
After she mentioned his body, James stretched his sore limbs.
Having studied intensely the whole day, he was both physically and mentally exhausted. On top of that, he felt a little lightheaded.
He took the warm water from Quincy’s hand and smiled at her. “Thank you.”
“Why’re you thanking me? It’s not that big of a deal. What do you want to eat tonight? I’ll order delivery.” She beamed back at him.
Although she knew the time she had left with James was limited, she still felt overjoyed just by being with him.
“I’m fine with anything.”
James was not a picky eater and did not have a particular preference for food.
Quincy sat down and leaned closer to James.
Resting her body weight against him, she took out her phone to order takeout from a popular restaurant.
“Should we get braised beef?”
“Oh, how about pulled pork?”
“Let’s get one of these too. It looks so tasty…”
James could smell the perfume on her body and felt his face heat up in embarrassment. He moved slightly to the side and created some distance from her. He kept his smile as he replied to her, “Sure, order whatever you’d like ”
James’ subconscious actions disappointed Quincy a little.
It was evident that James saw her as a close female friend rather than a girlfriend.
She quickly ordered a couple of different types of food.
After ordering, she said, “I’ve also prepared a hot bath for you. The food should be arriving after you’re done washing up.”
“Alright.” James nodded.
He got up and walked toward the bathroom.
As he undressed and got into the bathtub, he heard a soft knock on the door.
“Do you want me to wash your back?”
“N-No, I’m fine.” James frantically turned down the offer.
He resisted the urge to let Quincy inside.
The outside of the bathroom door went quiet once again.
As he soaked in the hot bath, he looked at the ceiling in deep thought.
His head was occupied with thoughts about his love life.
Thea was the woman that saved his life but ended up suffering for ten years because of him.
On the other hand, Quincy cared for him earnestly and did not ask for anything in return. She was understanding, intelligent, thoughtful, and extremely capable.
He kept thinking about the two women and had no idea how to choose between them.
James inhaled deeply.
‘I don’t have the time to be thinking about this at this moment. I’ll have to resolve the issue with the Emperor and ensure the new king’s election goes smoothly before I even think about trivial matters like this.”
James stayed like this in the bathtub for quite some time and gradually fell asleep.
The food had arrived, but James had yet to come out of the bath.
Quincy knocked on the door.
Despite calling out for James a few times, he did not answer.
She anxiously pushed open the door and walked in.
Seeing that James had fallen asleep in the bathtub, she walked over and tested the water temperature. It had cooled down for quite some time already.
“How did he manage to fall asleep? I’m honestly impressed. Isn’t scared of catching a cold?”
Quincy gently nudged James.
“James, get up. Food is here.”
James’ eyes snapped open.
His face blushed red after seeing Quincy next to him. He stammered in a panic, “W-Why are you in here?”
Quincy pouted and smirked at his boyish reaction. “I knocked on the door, but you didn’t respond. I was worried something had happened to you, so I came in to check on you. Look, I’m not even bothered by this. Why are you so embarrassed? Where did the War God in you go?”
Chapter 776
Quincy’s nonchalant response made James’ embarrassment even more pronounced.
“U-Um, could you get out of the bathroom first? I need to get dressed.”
“Okay,” Quincy replied while her eyes peered at the bathtub as if she was trying to check something.
After a glance, she turned and left the bathroom.
James sighed in relief.
Then, he got out of the bath and quickly got dressed.
After putting on his clothes, he walked out.
Quincy had already set the table for them.
When he sat next to her, she passed him a set of utensils.
James took them and started eating.
Halfway through the meal, James’ phone rang.
He took it out and saw an unfamiliar number. After hesitating for a while, he denied the call.
“Who was it? Why didn’t you answer it?”
James simply put his phone back down and picked his utensils up again. “I didn’t recognize the number. It must have been one of those telemarketers.”
Shortly after turning down the call, his phone rang again.
It was the same number.
This time, James answered it.
A shrill voice screamed at him from the other end of the phone, “James, where are you?! Get over here! Now!”
It was a familiar voice. Its owner was none other than Thea’s mother, Gladys.
James furrowed his brow and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“You have the gall to ask me?! I’m warning you. If anything happens to my daughter, I’ll never forgive you! Thea is trying to commit suicide because of you!”
“What?!” James’ expression immediately changed.
“What happened?” He pressed her for more information.
“She’s trying to jump off a building.”
James replied immediately, “I-I’ll rush over right now.”
Seeing his alarmed expression, Quincy could not help but ask, “What’s the matter? What happened?”
James turned to her helplessly. “It’s Thea’s mother. She said that Thea is trying to jump off a building.”
“What?”
Quincy urged James in distress, “Then why are you still standing there? Come on, I’ll drive you there!”
“Sorry about the trouble.”
“What do you mean trouble? Thea’s life is at stake! Let’s hurry.”
After leaving the villa, they immediately rushed to the military hospital.
Military Hospital, inpatient ward, eight-floor window.
Thea was sitting on the edge of the window.
Many onlookers gathered downstairs.
Thea’s family was also inside the ward trying to stop her.
Quincy had already informed Thea’s family about her condition in the morning, and they all were there to visit her.
Inside the ward, Gladys looked at Thea sitting by the window and pleaded with her, “Thea, what are you doing?! Please come back inside! We can discuss your problems after you come in, okay?”
“Thea, don’t be so upset. It’s not a big deal. You should come back inside.”
“Thea, you won’t listen to your grandpa anymore?”
Thea’s family members were trying to talk her out of her decision.
“D-Don’t come near me!”
Thea looked at her family inside the ward and threatened as she cried hysterically, “Come any closer, and I’ll jump! James doesn’t want me! He doesn’t want me anymore!”
Her tears poured down her face.
Thea’s family was worried that she would be overwhelmed by her emotions and jump off, so they refrained from approaching her.
Gladys instructed everyone, “Everyone! Quick, step back.”:
Everyone quickly backed away.
Quincy drove over to the hospital like a bat out of hell.
Throughout the whole car ride, James did not utter a single word.
He stayed away from Thea because he did not want her to get hurt again.
As long as he stayed with her, the Emperor would surely exploit his weakness over and over.
Soon, his battle with the political fractions was going to be intense.
He wanted to give off the appearance of a man who had no weaknesses, so his opponents would not have any ammunition against him.
Never did he expect Thea to commit suicide because of his consideration to her safety.
Chapter 777
Quincy drove as fast as she could.
Soon, they arrived at the military hospital.
The military hospital was not a public institution, so regular civilians were not permitted entry.
It was only opened up to military personnel who were in need of treatment.
Family members of military members were also eligible to be treated here.
All those that were admitted to the hospital were from military backgrounds or had connections to the military.
Many people gathered outside the inpatient ward, looking and pointing at the woman sitting precariously on the eight-floor window.
“Isn’t that the new genius doctor from Cansington, Thea?”
“What happened to her? Why is she trying to jump?”
“It’s probably because of James.’
“James?”
“Yeah. She wasn’t aware of James’ identity in the past and divorced him. Shortly after, a crisis broke out in the Southern Plains. James donned his uniform once again during her birthday party and returned to help with the situation. That’s when she found out he was actually the Black Dragon all along. I heard that she’s trying to get him back.”
Onlookers quietly gossiped about the situation.
It did not take long for James to arrive.
When he saw Thea sitting at the eighth-floor window, the color drained from his face and he quickly rushed toward the inpatient ward.
In a panic, he stumbled and crashed to the ground.
Quincy ran over to him and supported him, saying, “James, slow down. Your body is still feeble. You can’t just take off like that. Take it slow, you need to stay calm.”
James got up and thanked Quincy.
Quincy smiled back at him.
Although she was smiling, her heart was bleeding.
She devoted herself to caring for him, but despite everything, James still kept her at arms’ length and treated her courteously.
“Let me help you.”
“N-No, it’s okay. I can get there myself.”
He took the elevator and soon arrived at the eighth floor.
“Excuse me.”
He looked at the corridor that was currently crowded by the Callahans.
When they saw James approaching, they immediately made way for him to pass.
James speedily made his way into the room.
Gladys quickly pulled him aside and hissed at him. “Quick! Get Thea back inside. Right now!” James looked at Thea, her face was red from crying and tears soaked her gown. He called out to her desperately. “Thea! What are you trying to do? Please, come back inside.”
Thea turned around and saw James.
She screamed at him tearfully, “Why are you here? Go back to Quincy! Let me die! Why does it matter to you what I do with my life?”
James wanted to refute her and remind her that they had already split up, but he held back.
He was afraid that angering Thea would push her past her tipping point and cause her to jump off the building.
“Okay, I get it. I understand, so stop this. Whatever it is, you should get inside so we can have a proper conversation.”
“No! I’ll only come inside if you say you’ll remarry me! Otherwise, I’ll jump from here!” Thea yelled back at him.
Seeing Thea’s emotions spiraling out of control, James took a deep breath and addressed her calmly. “Why do you want to remarry me? I’m just a nobody now. I’m not the Black Dragon nor one of the Five Commanders. I’m just a man who’s sick and broke. I don’t even know how much longer I have left to live. Why would you want someone like me?
“Did you ever even love me?
“If you did, you wouldn’t have listened to your family and filed for a divorce.
“You would never have accepted the ten billion in the first place.
“You only loved my identity as the Black Dragon.
“You loved me for my money and power.”
James parted his lips and spoke deliberately.
“Plus, I’m already crippled. Even if I agree to remarry you, will your family be able to accept it?”
He turned to look at the Callahans standing behind him.
James was intimately familiar with the way the Callahans saw the world and people around them.
They were a family that only cared about money and affluence.
A family that was obsessed with the idea of being wealthy.
In the face of James’ declaration, the Callahans could say nothing in response.
Chapter 778
They could not find words to refute him.
Back then, James had provided them with assistance in secret whenever they ran into trouble, but how did they thank him? By mercilessly insulting him and assuming the worst of him.
James’ words also rendered Thea speechless.
Her mind went blank for a few seconds. Then she went back to screaming hysterically at him, I love you! I love you so much! I really do! James… Honey, I can’t live without you! My life is nothing without you in it. Please come back to me. I know I made a mistake! I’ll love and take
Mom? Right, care of you for the rest of my life. The Callahans will agree to it! Won’t we, Grandpa?”
“Yes, yes, of course!” Gladys nodded furiously.
As long as Thea was safe, nothing else mattered. She was prepared to say anything for her sake.
Lex stepped forward and looked at James frantically. “James, come back to us. The Callahans are sorry for mistreating you in the past. You’re a regular man now and you’re also unwell. We can support and care for you. We’ll treat you like family if you accept our offer.”
Xara also piped up. “James, Thea really does adore you.”
At that moment, Quincy pushed her way through the crowd.
She stood in front of James.
“Quincy, you b*tch! You stole my husband from me! You have some nerve showing your face in front of me” As soon as she saw Quincy, Thea saw red and started cursing her out.
Quincy ignored Thea and looked head-on at James.
“I know she’s always held a special place in your heart. No matter what choice you make, I won’t fault you for it.”
Quincy said with a sad smile.
“To be honest, I took pity on you because you looked so miserable. That’s the real reason why I took care of you up to this point. My ideal man is a hero like the Black Dragon. How could I ever like a crippled nobody like you anyway?
“I’ll be leaving. I’ll be sending your things to the Callahans.”
Quincy lightly waved and headed towards the door.
She walked out and left with her head held high.
However, her strength, bravery, and composure dissipated the moment she left the room.
Hot, indignant tears spilled out of her eyes and rolled down her face.
James simply stayed silent and chose not to follow after her.
However, he knew deep down that she had been deeply hurt. His next plan was dangerous.
He had been thinking about what to do about the two women in his life for the past few days. Even if he had resolved to never get back together with Thea, he also knew that being with Quincy was unsustainable in the long term.
In his conflict with the Emperor, Quincy would definitely be used as a pawn to threaten him.
Being with Quincy was only going to push her into harm’s way.
At the same time, he was also unwilling to have the same thing happen to Thea.
Still, he never expected her to threaten him with suicide.
Quincy’s figure slowly disappeared from his sight, causing him to let out an upset sigh.
At that moment, he suddenly thought of a plan.
The Emperor was unaware that he had obtained the Medical Book Volume Two and had acquired a cultivation method.
The Emperor only thought of him as a crippled man that was not long for this world.
The next thing to do was to keep up the act.
He had to continue feeding the Emperor’s false perception of him.
At the same time, he will secretly develop a strategy to interfere with the Emperor’s plan and prepare for the next election as well as the imminent political restructuring.
It was an excellent idea to marry back into the Callahans as a crippled man confined to a wheelchair to fool everyone.
After he had thought of this, he turned to Thea and tried to persuade her. “Thea, first things. first, come inside first.”
Although she had a special spot in his heart, her actions had disillusioned him.
“Y-You have to promise me first!” Thea looked at James, tears still falling from her eyes.
“Okay, I promise.”
Thea’s expression finally changed to one of joy. “C-Come carry me in yourself.”
James looked at her incredulously. “Do you think I can carry you in the state I’m in now?” Although he meditated for a while today and improved his mental state, his body was still frail and incapable of withstanding that much physical exertion.
At that moment, several nurses walked over and carried Thea down.
Thea had sustained gunshot wounds and had yet to fully recover. Since she forced herself to climb the window panel, it caused the wound on her leg to reopen. The gauze on her leg was soaked through with blood and had started leaking down her thigh.
She lay back down on the bed and had her wounds reexamined by the doctor Afterward, he said, “The patient’s wounds have reopened, so we need to dress it again.”
Chapter 779
Thea was wheeled back into the operating theatre to get her wounds closed back up.
James waited in the corridor outside the theatre on a bench.
His arms were propped on his knees, and his hands covered his face.
He felt immense guilt toward Quincy.
He walked aside, took out his phone, and texted her.
[Have you left?]
Quincy had already left the hospital and was sitting in her car absent-mindedly.
Suddenly, she heard the chime of a text notification from her phone.
She picked it up and saw James’ message. Her beautiful face was contorted in an expression of grief. Quincy knew that James still had feelings for Thea, and was unable to forget her despite the divorce.
Still, she wanted to shoot her shot. It was better than regretting having not done anything.
In the end, she still walked away with a broken heart.
‘Everything was my fault,’ lamented Quincy.
She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and replied to the text.
[Yeah, I left. I’m on the way home.]
After sending the message, she inhaled deeply.
She held up her fist and pumped herself up.
“Quincy, you have to be strong! This isn’t the end of the world. You just have to keep going.” Despite her attempts to cheer herself up, she ended up crying again.
She leaned on the steering wheel and wept wretchedly.
After crying for what felt like an eternity, all the tears she had were spent.
Suddenly, she remembered that James’ medical book was still at her place, but she knew that he had to stay at the hospital to take care of Thea. Knowing James needed the book, she quickly drove home to bring it to him.
Thea’s wounds were swiftly patched up.
She was sent back to her ward after.
The bulk of the Callahans also gradually left the hospital, and only a few stayed to accompany Thea.
“Mom, you can go back first.”
Lying in bed, Thea looked at the people around her.
“Thea, I’m staying here to take care of you.”
“T That’s unnecessary. There are nurses and also…” Thea looked toward James, who was sitting beside her silently
She smiled sweetly at him and continued, “James is also here with me. He’s all I need.”
Benjamin pulled at Gladys’ sleeve and urged her to leave. “Let’s go.”
“Fine.” Gladys begrudgingly relented.
Xara also bid her farewell. “I’ll also be heading back first, James.”
James finally snapped out of his daze and responded half-heartedly. “Alright. Go ahead.”
The remaining family members gradually left.
Soon, only James and Thea were left in the ward.
“Honey, I made a mistake. Please don’t be angry with me anymore, okay?” Thea gave James a remorseful look.
James shook his head and said, “I’m not angry at you. I still owe you and should make it up to you.”
Thea began sobbing again. “Honey, can you stop saying that? You don’t owe me anything. This is my fate, and what happened was inevitable. ”
“Let’s not talk about this. You should rest. It’s stuffy in here, so I’m heading out for some fresh air.” James stood up and walked out.
Thea parted her lips and wanted to stop him, but she could not find the words she needed.
She sighed despondently.
James sat on a chair outside and lit a cigarette.
A few passing nurses saw him smoking and wanted to tell him off. However, they were fully aware that he was formerly the Black Dragon, so they held their tongues.
James looked at the ground blankly, lost in his thoughts.
After a while, a book suddenly obstructed his vision.
Holding the book was a pair of slender hands.
James raised his head and saw the owner of said hands.
Chapter 780
He stood up, took the book, and uttered softly, “Thank you.”
Quincy smiled. “I know you’ll miss this book, so I brought it over for you.”
“Thanks….”
James nodded lightly and looked at her apologetically. “I’m sorry…”
Quincy’s pretty lips were curved in a smile as she waved off his apology, saying calmly, “It’s
make.” okay. It really is. I already told you that I’d respect whatever decision you
She let out a small sigh. “Thea has it pretty rough. The whole world turned against her after her face got burned. Even her own family despised her. Finally, everything was starting to look good for her, but she ended up getting poisoned. I wonder what will happen to her once the venom takes effect.”
Quincy could understand both Thea and James’ situation.
It was partly her fault for harboring selfish desires.
James would not be on the fence if she had not interfered back then.
“To be honest, I don’t want to continue this relationship with Thea anymore.”
James looked down and said, “Emperor will continue to target me as long as the both of us are alive. Being with her will only complicate things and make it dangerous for her. I never expected her to resort to suicide to get me back.” 1
“So, what are you planning to do next?” Quincy tilted her head as she looked at James.
Although she was unaware of the particulars of James’ plan, she knew they had something to do with the Emperor, the political factions, and the following year’s election.
James simply shook his head with uncertainty. He had not hashed out the finer details of his plan yet.
“I’m just taking it one step at a time.”
“Let me know if you need any help.”
“Mhm. I will.”
“Then, I won’t stay to bother you. I’ll head back to my place and rest.” Quincy waved her hand and walked away.
James did not get up to send her off. Instead, he sat down and stared at the medical book in a daze.
“I heard about what happened at Mount Dragon Treasure. Are you alright?”
James was absorbed in his thoughts when a voice suddenly spoke to him.
He raised his head and saw an ordinary-looking middle-aged man dressed in black wearing a duckbill cap on his head standing in front of him.
James was startled.
Gloom was a man of immense strength. James was surprised that he managed to approach without making a sound.
“I would’ve been doomed if it weren’t for the soldiers of the Blithe army.”
Seeing the medical book James was holding, a slight hint of surprise flashed across Gloom’s face.
However, he did not inquire press further about it. “The Capital is in a mess right now. Every new king candidate has massive backers behind them. Although no one has indicated their stance, they will definitely not be standing behind the current King’s choice.”
James looked at Gloom.
Gloom must have been sent to find him seeing that he had appeared so suddenly.
“An insane amount of wealth is needed to gain supporters. However, no one is willing to support the current king anymore. Following the changing trends, all the financial groups are gradually beginning to approach the other candidates.”
“What do you need from me?” asked James.
Gloom replied, “On the surface, the Emperor puts on a loyal facade toward the King. Behind the scenes, he has been involved in countless illegal schemes and has established many research institutes throughout the country. Additionally, the Red Flame Army is guarding the premises of these facilities. Unfortunately, we still don’t know his purpose. You must try to amass as much wealth as possible to prepare for when the new king takes office as you deal with the Emperor.”
James answered derisively, “The King sure does think highly of me. I’m penniless right now. How am I supposed to get that much money in such a short amount of time?”
Gloom smiled faintly as his eyes sparkled. “The King has already bestowed upon you the lands. ceded by the twenty-eight-nations. That alone is already worth a huge fortune. Although you’ve been dismissed, I believe the soldiers in the Southern Plains remain loyal to you.”
“One year isn’t enough time.” James was doubtful this would work out in his favor.
Gloom continued. “Cansington is also a huge mess right now. Many of the wealthy people from the Capital have started planning to build a new commercial center in Cansington. Oceanic Commerce, Five Provinces Business Alliance, and Infinite Commerce do not want for money. As for how to go about it… Well, that depends on you.”
Gloom finished delivering his thoughts and started walking away.
James fell into silence and began thinking carefully about what Gloom said.
At the same time, he tried to figure out the King’s candidate of choice.
He filtered through the people the King had close relations too but no one came to mind.
After a while, a sudden realization struck him.
He unconsciously touched his nose.
“Wait… Don’t tell me… The King wants me to succeed him?!”