Rise of The Abandoned Husband Chapter 393 - 393 - Rankings and Revelations: The Truth Abou

"Number five? They ranked at number five?"

I stared at the screen, scrolling through Pyro's detailed analysis on The Warrior's Scroll. The list ranked the top young martial artists across the Central Plains region based on potential, achievents, and current strength.

Everest Leif claid the number one spot. No surprise there—the man was practically a legend already.

But fifth place for ? After everything I'd accomplished?

Sofia peered over my shoulder. "That's still impressive. You're in the top five across the entire region."

"I defeated three Peak Form Grandmasters," I said, unable to hide my frustration. "I beca an elder at the Celestial Apothecary Guild. And they put in fifth place?"

Eamon cleared his throat. "Read the analysis. It might explain their reasoning."

I scrolled down to find Pyro's detailed breakdown of my ranking:

*Liam Knight: Unprecedented talent and explosive growth rate. Rising from obscurity to defeating multiple Peak Form Grandmasters within months. However, his nurous powerful enemies and the constant threats to his life limit his developntal potential. His connection to the Ashworth family remains a double-edged sword.*

"Nurous powerful enemies," I read aloud, letting out a bitter laugh. "That's their justification? That I've made too many enemies?"

"They're not wrong," Eamon said carefully. "The Ashworths, the Veridia City Martial Guild, countless families seeking revenge... You've collected quite the list of people who want you dead."

I tossed my phone onto the couch. "Making enemies is inevitable when you refuse to bow to corrupt powers." This chapter was originally posted on *.

Sofia placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "These rankings are subjective, Liam. What matters is your actual strength, not so website's opinion."

She was right, of course. I had more important concerns than my position on so arbitrary list. The stolen spiritual energy, my plans to build a faction, finding a way to save Isabelle—these were what truly mattered.

Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the villa.

"That must be President Wu," Eamon said.

I straightened my posture and steeled my expression. "Let's see what excuses the thief brings."

When I opened the door, however, I was surprised to find not one but two n standing there. The older man had a round face with carefully combed gray hair and a practiced smile. The younger one—probably in his early twenties—had a sharp nose and eyes that imdiately assessed with disdain.

"Mr. Knight!" The older man extended his hand. "I'm Brecken Yates, President of the River North Martial Arts Association. This is my assistant, Braydon."

I ignored his outstretched hand. "You an you're the man who stole my property and drained my spiritual energy formation."

Brecken's smile faltered only slightly. "There seems to have been a misunderstanding. May we co in to discuss this matter?"

I stepped aside, allowing them to enter. Sofia and Eamon remained standing, their expressions guarded.

"Quite a nice place you have here," Brecken remarked, looking around the villa that had been transford by his people.

"It was nicer before your disciples turned it into a party house," I replied coldly. "Now, explain why you thought it was acceptable to seize my property."

Brecken spread his hands in a gesture of apparent sincerity. "A simple administrative error, I assure you. The association was expanding our training facilities, and this area was identified as available for developnt. We had no idea it belonged to you."

"Bullshit," I said flatly. "This property was purchased through legitimate channels. The deed is registered under my na. There was no administrative error—you simply took what wasn't yours."

The younger man, Braydon, scoffed. "Our association needed the spiritual energy concentration here. It was being wasted."

I turned my gaze to him, letting a hint of my cold anger show. "And who are you to decide how my resources should be used?"

"I'm Braydon Yates," he replied with an arrogant lift of his chin. "Future president of the River North Martial Arts Association."

"Ah," I said, understanding dawning. "The son."

Brecken cleared his throat. "Mr. Knight, I ca here personally to extend my sincere apologies. This situation is most unfortunate."

"Apologies don't restore a year's worth of spiritual energy," I countered.

"Of course, of course." Brecken nodded vigorously. "We're prepared to make ands. In fact, I'd like to offer you a position as Vice President of our association. With your reputation and connections, you would be an invaluable addition to our leadership."

I almost laughed at the audacity. "You steal from , then offer a aningless title as compensation?"

"Vice President is hardly aningless," Brecken said, his smile growing strained. "It cos with significant benefits, access to our training resources, networking opportunities—"

"I want proper compensation," I interrupted. "A hundred-year dicinal material, at minimum, to replace the spiritual energy your people drained."

Braydon let out a derisive snort. "A hundred-year dicinal material? For this tiny formation? Do you have any idea how valuable such materials are?"

I kept my eyes on Brecken. "I'm aware of their value. Just as I'm aware of the value of what was stolen from ."

Brecken's smile remained fixed, but his eyes had grown calculating. "A hundred-year dicinal material... That's quite steep. But perhaps we can co to an arrangent. I'll need ti to locate such a rare item, of course."

"One week," I stated firmly.

"Now, now, Mr. Knight," Brecken said with a placating gesture. "These things take ti. But I give you my word as President of the River North Martial Arts Association that you will be properly compensated."

The way he emphasized his title made it clear he thought it carried weight with . It didn't.

"One week," I repeated. "And I want your people out of my property by tomorrow."

Brecken nodded, though the smile never reached his eyes. "Consider it done. And please, reconsider my offer about the Vice President position. We could benefit greatly from a partnership."

"I'll think about it," I lied.

After a few more minutes of hollow pleasantries, I showed them to the door. As they left, I noticed Braydon casting a venomous glance in my direction. The animosity was unmistakable.

Once they were gone, Sofia shook her head. "They have no intention of giving you that dicinal material."

"I know," I replied. "The question is, what ga are they playing?"

"Power and face," Eamon suggested. "Brecken Yates couldn't admit to stealing your property outright—it would damage his reputation. But he also can't simply hand over sothing as valuable as a hundred-year dicinal material. So he'll stall, make excuses, and hope you eventually give up."

I nodded slowly. "We'll see about that."

For the rest of the evening, we cleaned up the ss left by the association mbers, restoring so semblance of order to the villa. I tried to focus on the task at hand, but my mind kept returning to that ranking on The Warrior's Scroll. Fifth place. The justification bothered more than the ranking itself—the idea that my enemies sohow diminished my potential rather than proving it.

The next morning, a knock on the door interrupted our breakfast. I opened it to find Conrad Thornton, the local businessman who had helped acquire this property initially.

"Mr. Knight," he greeted with genuine warmth. "I heard you were back in town. May I co in?"

I welcod him inside, introducing him to Sofia and Eamon. After brief pleasantries, Conrad got straight to the point.

"I was distressed to learn what happened with your property," he said, his expression troubled. "Had I known the River North Martial Arts Association was eyeing it, I would have warned you."

"You know Brecken Yates?" I asked.

Conrad's lips tightened. "Everyone in River North knows President Yates. He's... well, he presents himself as a champion of local martial arts developnt, but his thods are often questionable."

"He offered a position as Vice President," I said, watching Conrad's reaction carefully.

To my surprise, Conrad laughed. "Of course he did. It's his favorite tactic—offering empty titles to people he wants to appease. The last three Vice Presidents never attended a single eting or made any decisions. They were just nas on a plaque."

I leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell more about how the association operates."

Conrad glanced toward the door, as if checking that we were truly alone, then lowered his voice.

"The River North Martial Arts Association used to be respected—a genuine organization dedicated to advancing martial arts in our region. But under Brecken Yates's leadership, it's beco sothing else entirely." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "He just uses the Martial Arts Association's na to seek benefits for his son. The River North Martial Arts Association has long beco their private property, and all good things have been monopolized by him... Unfortunately, his son is just a hopeless case."

I thought about Braydon's arrogant deanor and his father's practiced charm. Everything made sense now.

"And the apology yesterday?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Conrad shook his head sadly. "Empty words. Brecken Yates has never genuinely apologized to anyone in his life. He's simply trying to manage the situation until you leave town again."

I nodded slowly, a cold resolve settling over . Another corrupt power structure, another example of the strong preying on the weak. And once again, I found myself standing in opposition.

"Thank you for your honesty, Conrad," I said, my decision already made. "It seems I have so business to attend to with the River North Martial Arts Association."