Riverdale Park, by the riverside.
Within this somewhat bustling park, countless guards lay hidden... Among them were fully armed soldiers in camouflage... Martial General-level experts disguised as park-goers... and even a Law Realm existence above the Martial Lord, watching from the white clouds overhead!
Meeting Andrew Han's gaze.
Buzz.
The white cloud drifted slightly, rolling and stretching, as if greeting Andrew Han.
Any Law Realm existence, regardless of temperament or nationality, was worthy of Andrew Han's respect. Without Law Realm guardians, how could there be today's stability?
Faced with the Law Realm's goodwill, Andrew Han naturally did not dare be negligent. He bowed slightly, clasping his hands in salute.
At the same time—
"Wow."
"Are you okay?" The girl in a purple short skirt, with an oval face, widened her eyes. "Why are you clasping your hands out of nowhere... I, I mean nothing by it, just wanted to recommend our Kevin Duke to you."
Andrew Han was simply showing respect to the Law Realm.
Then—
He turned around, shaking his head with a faint smile. "What does 'recommend' mean?"
"You don't even know 'recommend'... It means to strongly promote!" The girl in purple raised her little fist, completely unaware of what kind of person Andrew Han was.
She tapped her small chest. "I'm the Riverdale chapter leader of Kevin Duke's fan club, in charge of organizing this fan meet today."
Chin lifted, the girl wore a look of pride across her face.
As if being the Riverdale chapter leader of the fan club was a truly remarkable achievement.
Finally, she said, "We specifically chose Riverdale Park as the fan meet location so as not to disturb public order... Actually, Kevin Duke doesn't care for pomp at all."
No sooner had she finished speaking—
A distant crowd erupted in a frenzy of screams, sounding both excited and feverish.
The celebrity Kevin Duke was about to use the restroom, and the female fans’ eyes sparkled with excitement. Four or five security guards in black suits and sunglasses dispersed the park visitors waiting in line for the restroom, escorting Kevin Duke into Riverdale Park’s public facilities.
Whoosh, whoosh.
A gentle breeze drifted along the riverside.
The girl in purple looked embarrassed, her head lowered.
Her fair right hand shielded her forehead as she blinked her big, watery eyes and lightly bit her lip. "These awful security guys are just terrible, always putting on such a show."
Beside her—
Andrew Han smiled faintly. "Child, you have no idea what a real display looks like."
"You—you called me a child?" The purple-skirted girl, about seventeen, stared wide-eyed. But Andrew said nothing more, simply standing next to Liam Lee, gazing at the lush willow trees.
The girl hesitated, at a loss for words.
In truth—
After she stopped walking, her heartbeat subtly quickened... Was Andrew Han’s Peerless Paragon reputation just empty talk?
Even a trace of his bearing carried extraordinary presence.
Just a single glance instantly captivated the purple-haired girl; this was the real reason she lingered and chatted for so long.
"Ah."
The purple-skirted girl opened her mouth, wanting to speak but stopping herself.
Kevin Duke’s image and smile flashed through her mind—mostly internet photos, but they still managed to suppress her budding feelings.
"Sigh."
She let out a barely audible sigh.
She turned and left, hopping along the riverside, secretly thinking: Kevin Duke isn’t arrogant, and he’s a superstar famous throughout Sinovera!
That’s right.
In the purple-haired girl’s heart—
The superstar Kevin Duke was a lofty figure in Sinovera, like someone dwelling in the clouds.
Whenever Kevin Duke posted on Weibo, thousands upon thousands of likes and followers appeared instantly. His glory was unmatched, his social status extraordinary—even the city officials likely wouldn’t dare offend him.
"Sigh."
The purple-haired girl never turned her head... She simply felt that, compared to the superstar Kevin Duke, all her peers seemed dull and insignificant.
At the same moment—
Standing by the riverside, Liam Lee let out a long sigh, his gaze flickering between excitement and sorrow.
"Andrew Han."
Liam looked at Andrew Han.
"What is it?" Andrew asked.
"Andrew..." Liam bit his lip, a decisive look flashing in his eyes. "There’s something I’d like to ask of you."
Andrew Han frowned.
A gentle breeze blew and sunlight shone brightly. His face was sincere. "If we’re talking about global status, I can’t compare to you for now... But if you ever need anything, just say the word. I, Andrew Han, will never refuse!"
A kindness as small as a drop of water should be repaid with a spring!
This was Andrew Han’s philosophy in life, and also the belief of most people—only Andrew was luckier than most, truly able to repay kindness with abundance.
"Alright, alright."
Liam Lee breathed a sigh of relief.
"Andrew, let’s talk as we walk." Liam and Andrew left the riverside side by side, stepping onto a winding pavilion bridge, heading for the small mountain pavilion in Riverdale Park.
Inside the pavilion—
The main structure was maroon, with ancient dark green pillars, stone tables, and stone benches, sketching out a serene and quiet scene.
"Sit, let’s sit."
Liam Lee’s face was full of smiles.
The two sat on stone benches, surrounded by gently trembling green trees. A cool breeze brushed their faces, bringing a rare coolness to the heat of midsummer.
Liam sat on the stone bench, his arm resting on the stone table. "I grew up without parents, raised in an orphanage... Actually, there are two people I owe the most in my life."
"The first is my teacher, Zhou Guangxue, who taught me scientific knowledge."
As Liam spoke, Andrew Han was moved.
Before the Hundred-Mile Road of Life and Death—
Zhou Guangxue and Liam went to the final destination. On the way, Zhou sensed something was wrong, but remained calm and composed, showing no trace of panic, and stood alone among eleven terrifying ghosts.
Tragic!
Heroic!
Over seventy years old, Zhou Guangxue—stayed behind in the terrifying hell, sacrificed himself, and pushed Liam out!
It’s hard to imagine, hard to measure, what a grand and noble spirit that was. Even Andrew Han couldn’t help but feel deep respect.
"Did you know?"
"My teacher had heart disease. He always carried a white towel with fast-acting heart pills wrapped inside, because the towel was handwoven by my teacher’s wife... Later, I saw that same white towel, stained with blood—the blood-stained white towel!"
Liam’s face twisted in pain as he held his head.
"What?" Andrew was shocked. "Where did you see it?"
Silence.
A deathly silence.
With the midsummer breeze and the gently moving leaves, Liam opened his mouth but made no sound, only mouthing the truth to Andrew Han—“In the drawer of my bedroom.”
What!?
Andrew Han’s eye twitched wildly; he nearly couldn’t help but unleash his full presence. Liam Lee was actually in such danger—where was the Law Realm of Sinovera??
"Don’t ask, don’t ask." Liam slowly raised his tear-stained, reddened eyes. "Andrew, I only ask one thing of you... The second person I owe in my life—I ruined her whole life. All I ask is that, if you ever have the chance, please look after her for me."
"I promise. I promise everything."
Andrew spoke without hesitation, his expression grave.
At this moment—
He quietly activated his inspiration: "Even the Law Realm can’t detect my inspired transmission. Liam, look at me—what’s really going on with the world’s research institutions... In front of me, Andrew Han, no great ghost can stand!"
Responding to Andrew Han’s inspired transmission—
Liam didn’t move a muscle, just blinked as tears slid down his cheeks, silently shook his head, giving no indication... The return of the Law Realm and martial arts for all people—how extremely difficult it was.
Some things—
Some obstacles and hardships—
Only the blood of martyrs can open up a new era.
"Liam."
"Look at me, look at me." Andrew was truly anxious. "Great ghost kings are nothing—I could kill them with a slap. For something this important, you tell me not to ask??"
Cannot be spoken.
Cannot be said.
Liam covered his cheeks and shook his head... He simply believed Andrew Han could one day reach true invincibility, which is why he said this. But for now, Andrew was still far from it.
Just then, from far off in the pavilion, a bustling crowd appeared, lively and noisy, surrounding the fair-skinned superstar Kevin Duke. The purple-skirted girl was now standing by Kevin Duke’s side.
"Kevin Duke, Kevin Duke."
The purple-skirted girl murmured softly.
Kevin Duke seemed a bit shy, pursing his lips. "Hm?"
A blush flashed across the girl’s face, her heart pounding wildly twice. She quickly pointed to the pavilion about forty or fifty meters ahead. "Kevin Duke, let’s take a group photo in the pavilion together."
No sooner had she finished speaking—
The crowd immediately chimed in.
"Great idea! That pavilion is pretty big."
"Wait, there are two people inside... Never mind, there are so many of us. Let’s just have them give us the pavilion."
"Exactly, exactly."
"We’re the Riverdale fan club, and Kevin Duke is here. Even the city officials have to consider public opinion... Whoever it is, they all have to make way for our photo!"
The female fans chattered noisily, their collective momentum unmistakable.
Yes.
They crowded around Kevin Duke, fearless.
"Haha, alright then." Kevin Duke glanced around at his female fans and said with a reserved smile, "Let’s take our photo in the pavilion."
"Yay! Yay!"
"Let’s go, let’s go!" The massive crowd of fans surged around Kevin Duke like an unstoppable flood, rushing toward the maroon pavilion.
The purple-skirted girl was at the very front.
"Huh?"
The girl paused, a look of surprise on her face. "The young man sitting in the pavilion looks kind of familiar... Isn’t that the one I just chatted with?"
Hmph.
Her eyes flicked around, but she didn’t think much of it.
Whoever he is, in front of Kevin Duke everyone will have to give up the pavilion... So the purple-skirted girl followed beside Kevin Duke, charging toward the pavilion with the other fans.
Fifty meters.
Forty meters.
Thirty meters.
Their faces were flushed with excitement. Now within twenty meters of the pavilion, they could see that the people inside seemed to be crying, but what did that have to do with them?
Taking the group photo was the real priority.
What happened to others was none of their concern.
Just at that moment—swish! swish! swish! swish! swish! swish! swish!
From the dense woods on both sides of the path to the pavilion, fully armed soldiers in camouflage uniforms rushed out one after another—at least twenty of them.
They carried firearms, their eyes cold, like iron-blooded warriors descending from the sky.
"Don’t move!"
"Stay where you are, don’t move!" one of the camouflaged soldiers barked.
All the female fans were stunned—some faces turned ashen, others pale as death, and piercing screams rang out in waves.
Immediately after—
Many female fans began to protest.
"Who are you? What are you doing?"
"You scared our little Kai! Can you afford to pay for that? Get out of our way, and apologize to our little Kai right now!"
Everyone was indignant.
But there were also some more experienced female fans whose reason overcame emotion, and they retreated in fright, realizing something was very wrong.
"Move! Move!"
"Apologize! Apologize!"
Some fans tried to rush forward.
In an instant, the walkie-talkies on all the camouflaged soldiers’ belts crackled with static, followed by a deep, commanding voice: "Squad Five, listen up. If anyone advances—shoot to kill on the spot!"
After the voice rang out—
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
All the camouflaged soldiers raised their guns, instantly disengaged the safety, and aimed directly at the variously colored faces of the female fans and the superstar Kevin Duke.
Hiss!
The purple-skirted girl sucked in a breath.
Gulp.
The fair-skinned superstar Kevin Duke’s legs were trembling, and there seemed to be a wet spot at the hem of his pants.
At this moment, the hot midsummer breeze spread through the area, brushing across the faces of all the female fans, freezing their expressions and bodies, as if they were lifelike statues.