Isabella.Rockefeller sat upon a weathered rock, her bare feet idly kicking at the cool stream water. The refreshing chill soothed her, if only for a moment.
Gazing into the crystalline waters, her reflection stared back—troubled, haunted by Henry.Rockefeller's parting words. What was once sweet had turned bitter, all because of William.Rockefeller's venomous whisper. Now, she wondered—should she truly follow Elliott to find Henry.Rockefeller again? With a sigh, she turned her gaze toward the waterfall, where Elliott remained motionless beneath its relentless cascade.
It had taken her two full days to find this secluded waterfall, and yet, Elliott hadn't even uttered a word of thanks. He had simply walked into the torrent and sat there, unmoving, for five days straight. All she could do was replenish his supplies and stand guard, ensuring no disturbance shattered his focus.
If he remains like this much longer, I might as well leave, she thought bitterly. He's turned to stone anyway.
But Elliott was far from idle.
This was his most critical moment.
After driving Gabriel away, while nursing his injuries, a revelation had struck him—the true brilliance of the Nine Yin Manual had only manifested when Leo and Luna practiced it together.
Back then, their martial prowess had soared without relying on external aids like the Ice Bed. Even after losing an arm, Leo had wielded a heavy sword with sheer determination, training relentlessly in the water until he mastered it.
The Nine Yin Manual emphasized the cultivation of innate qi—the primordial energy within. Though Luna, a prodigy trained since childhood, should have refined more of it, it was Leo who achieved greater heights.
Why?
Because losing his arm had forced Leo to awaken his latent potential—perhaps even unlocking his innate qi through sheer desperation.
And so, Elliott had asked Isabella.Rockefeller to find him a waterfall—somewhere cold, where the energy flowed like water. Unlike the Nine Yang Divine Art, which burned with unyielding force, the Nine Yin Manual was fluid, gentle, yet unstoppable.
Now, beneath the waterfall, Elliott felt it—the qi circulating through his meridians, swelling like a rising tide, expanding and repairing his damaged pathways. It grew stronger, wilder, until—
It slipped from his control.
The energy surged unchecked, a torrent rampaging through his body. Elliott could only summon a wisp of qi to shield his heart, watching helplessly as the flood raged on.
Finally, the current crashed against an immovable barrier—the wound Gabriel had left behind.
Elliott had avoided touching it, fearing further damage. But this untamed force knew no caution. Like a reckless storm, it charged forward, determined to break through.
The first assault had begun.