Chapter 4 The Choices

Marcus explained, "No. You're overthinking it." Madison continued, "Are you naively dreaming that your fortunes can change? It's utterly ridiculous." Marcus shrugged, "I'm really not. You're overthinking it." Madison waved him off impatiently. "Let me tell you. Mandy has extraordinary talent, and with a master like me guiding her, her future achievements will be beyond your reach no matter how hard you try." Marcus nodded. "Oh. Well. Congratulations to her then." As Madison spoke, he had already stepped in front of Marcus. "But I've always been meticulous in everything I do. Even if there's a one-in-ten-thousand chance of a threat, I'll eliminate it. So, I'm going to cripple you right here and now," he declared. "Huh?" Marcus was stunned. What kind of logic is this? I'd already agreed to break off the engagement, yet now the other party wanted to cripple me? What kind of absurd fantasy was playing out in this guy's mind? Is he insane? "Madison, what are you planning to do?" Frederick shouted angrily. "Shut up!" Madison waved his hand, and a surge of icy cold energy enveloped Frederick instantly. "Ugh…" Frederick's face turned pale, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. He stammered, "Are you in the Void Realm?" In martial cultivation, the realms were the Body Refining Realm, the Qi Cultivation Realm, the Spiritual Realm, the Void Realm, and the Profound Realm. These were the first five major realms. Frederick was in the third stage of the Spiritual Realm and was already among the top three strongest individuals in Borderwatch. No one in Borderwatch had reached the Void Realm for a hundred years. But Madison before him was actually in the Void Realm. This meant that he alone had the power to dominate the entire Borderwatch. "Loser," Madison said dismissively, glancing at Frederick with disdain. Then, he turned to look down at Marcus. "Marcus, don't say I'm bullying you. I'll give you two choices. First, I let you go, but I will kill all your family members. Second, you kneel before me now and let me cripple your elixir field, sever your limbs, gouge out your eyes, and cut off your tongue. In return, your family's lives will be spared." The two choices were both equally cruel and malicious. "Mandy, our two families have been close for generations. Even if the engagement doesn't work out, it shouldn't come to this, right?" Frederick said desperately and looked at Mandy, hoping she would say something to dissuade her master. Unexpectedly, a glimmer of malice flashed in Mandy's eyes as she replied coldly, "Close for generations? What a joke. Your father only saved my grandfather's life once. Did he even ask you to save him? Wasn't it just your Thorne Family acting out of self-interest for the sake of your reputation? You saved my grandfather, but your Thorne Family also gained prestige. So, the Boly Family owes you nothing!" "You…" Frederick was so enraged that he nearly spat blood. His family had been so kind to the other party for generations, but the other party actually thought like this. "So, have you made your choice?" Madison asked with a wicked smile. "Marcus, leave now and avenge us in the future. I, Raphael Thorne, am not afraid of death." Raphael roared. An elder from the Thorne Family also grimly said, "That's right. Our Thorne Family has integrity. We can die standing, but we will never live kneeling, nor will we bow to anyone. Marcus, go!" "Thome Family, death holds no fear for us!" All the Thome Family members stood resolute, ready to face death. "This doesn't make sense!" Marcus looked at his family members and was deeply moved. From his memories, he had known that the Thome Family was united. But this was unity beyond imagination. Meanwhile, a murderous glint flashed in Madison's eyes. "These Thorne Family members are all so stubborn. This kind of attitude is troublesome. To eliminate all risks, I must wipe out their entire clan today!" He had made up his mind. No matter what, the Thorne Family had to be eradicated. But before that, he wanted to toy with Marcus a bit more. "Come on, Marcus. Do you choose death or survival? Decide for yourself." He sneered at Marcus with mockery. If Marcus chose to grovel, the resolve of the other Thorne Family members would crumble. After all, if the person they were willing to die to protect turned out to be a coward, their beliefs would shatter. Madison wanted to kill them and also wanted to destroy their spirit. However, Marcus was utterly speechless at this moment. The sight of Madison and Mandy in front of him was disgusting beyond words. He had only wanted to return to his room and cultivate, yet now they tried to exterminate his entire family. This was bullying to the extreme! "Choose? I choose your mother!" Marcus spat. "You're asking for death!" Madison's eyes erupted with killing intent as he struck Marcus with his palm. Marcus' face turned cold. "Heavenly Breathing Technique, inhale!" "Golden Light Shield, full activation!" "Heavenly Fist Technique, Dragon Form First Fist—Strike!"