"It's fine," she finally said. "That fool has chosen his own path. Whether he grows stronger or perishes… only ti will tell."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. None of them dared to challenge her words, though the weight of their missing brother lingered heavily between them.
Then, as if shaking off the lingering thoughts, Katherine turned back to them, her expression composed. "Co. I'll introduce you to my man."
With that, she led them deeper into the estate. The halls were bathed in warm golden light, the polished wooden floors reflecting the glow of lanterns as they walked in silence.
Finally, they entered a spacious chamber where Riley awaited them. He stood near a table, his posture relaxed yet confident, his piercing gaze eting theirs without hesitation.
The mont they saw him, the four remaining Lotus Guards fell into complete silence.
Their eyes, trained to observe every minute detail, flickered across his figure—his stance, his presence, the subtle yet undeniable shift in his deanor since the last ti they had seen him.
They were not just looking at him. They were dissecting him.
Riley, to his credit, remained composed under their scrutiny. He offered a polite nod, but he could feel the weight of their unspoken judgnt pressing down on him.
It was clear they were evaluating him—not just as their master's chosen partner, but as a man who would stand beside her.
Sebastian's expression was neutral, but his gaze was calculating, as if weighing Riley's worth. Kardel, the tallest of the four, crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
Olivia, with her ever-present air of quiet wisdom, studied him with an unreadable look, while Mira—youngest among them—seed almost reluctant, her lips pressing into a thin line.
It was obvious.
Much had changed since they first t Riley. And now, whether they approved or not remained to be seen.
"Is this really Elder Riley Mason? Rumor has it he's already in the Void Tribulation Realm."
"But that's impossible! He was only in the Golden Core Realm when we first t him."
"Are you blind? The spiritual signature he's releasing is still only at the Golden Core Realm, even now."
"He's clearly concealing his true cultivation base. He must think we're fools. This is probably how he won over Master in the first place—he tricked her too."
The four guards stood rigid, their expressions unreadable as they conversed through their spiritual senses.
Their silent communication was a skill honed through years of training, an invaluable technique for warriors who operated in secrecy.
With just a flicker of thought, entire conversations could unfold, hidden from prying ears.
Or so they believed.
Riley, of course, caught every word. His divine sense was far superior to theirs, allowing him to perceive not just their spoken thoughts, but the subtle shifts in their emotions—Sebastian's calculating scrutiny, Kardel's simring distrust, Olivia's quiet contemplation, and Mira's growing unease.
He could have exposed them, could have crushed their doubts with a re display of his true power. But what fun would that be?
Instead, he chose a different approach.
With a practiced ease, Riley stepped forward, his presence neither overbearing nor ek. His lips curled into a warm, welcoming smile, his deanor radiating confidence without arrogance.
"Welco, friends," he said, his voice smooth, composed. "Please, make yourselves at ho in my humble abode."
The air in the room seed to shift.
The four guards stiffened slightly. His words were polite, his expression friendly—but there was sothing beneath the surface.
A quiet certainty, an unshakable confidence that made their suspicions waver, if only slightly.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed, scanning Riley as if searching for a crack in his facade. Kardel remained still, arms crossed, the tension in his muscles betraying his skepticism.
Olivia, ever the observer, tilted her head slightly, as though reevaluating her earlier assumptions. Mira, the youngest, lowered her gaze for a brief mont, uncertainty flickering across her face.
They had expected a man full of deceit. A trickster who had sohow ensnared their master through manipulation.
Instead, they were t with soone completely unreadable.
Riley t each of their gazes in turn, unflinching. He had nothing to prove—at least, not yet.
And as the silence stretched between them, the four guards began to realize sothing unsettling.
Whether he was a fraud or a true powerhouse…
Riley Mason was not a man to be underestimated.
***
That night, Riley followed his usual routine, making his rounds with practiced ease.
He went to Katherine first, then Veronica, then Leia—each ti leaving them breathless and satisfied, taking his own pleasure in turn.
He had long established this ritual, visiting them in the order he had won them over, a habit that had beco second nature.
Yet, as he approached Fay's room, an odd feeling crept into his chest—sothing different, sothing off. The door was slightly ajar, candlelight flickering through the gap.
It wasn't unusual for Fay to leave the door open for him, but the air felt charged, as if sothing beyond his usual indulgences awaited him inside.
When he stepped in, he was t with a sight that made his breath hitch.
Two naked won knelt on the bed, bent over in the most inviting way, their flawless curves illuminated by the warm glow of the lanterns.
The smooth, perfect arch of their backs, the softness of their bare skin—Riley was montarily stunned. His gaze darted between them, drinking in every detail.
He could count. There were two.
And though their positions made it difficult to distinguish them at first glance, there was no mistaking the only possible answer.
Fay and Ava.
His heart pounded violently against his ribs. He had known Ava was becoming more open with him and even obvious just yesterday promising to give him this—had sensed the lingering glances, the subtle shifts in her deanor and how eagerly she recruited his won.
But never had he expected this gift to co so soon!
"Is this… what I think it is?" Riley asked, his voice slightly unsteady, though not from fear—far from it.
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