At Greenland Villa, only two women were home today.
One of them was Kate. She had spent an entire day and night searching for John, but he hadn't answered a single call or text. She had no idea what had happened to him.
It was a cold and lonely night without him. Her hands felt icy as she curled up in bed.
The morning John had vanished, Kate had gone to Alice to ask where he'd gone. Alice only gave her a sly smile and teased, "Guess where he went!"
Then, that same night, Alice disappeared too.
The next day, Kate tried Queenie.
But Queenie just scoffed, "Didn't you say John was just a brat? Honestly, you're just like him."
Then she left the villa, her expression frosty, heading straight to the company.
Still not satisfied, Kate asked Tracy.
Tracy, ever gentle, simply replied, "Sister, you need to learn how to be independent. John's busy—though I really don't know what he's always so busy with."
Then she too left, heading off to the Feazer Medical Clinic.
Now, Kate sat in the villa, staring out the window.
She felt... abandoned.
Back when she worked as a reporter, everyone accused her of ignoring her family. But now that she'd quit and was staying home, trying to do better, they all told her to be more independent.
What exactly was she supposed to do?
But no—she still had one person.
Her younger sister.
At least Angela was still around. Angela hadn't abandoned her.
Clinging to that shred of warmth, Kate took the initiative to visit Angela's room to chat. But Angela was completely absorbed with a strange little bell, barely listening.
Eventually, Kate gave up.
Now, she was sure of it. The whole world had turned its back on her.
Sighing, she returned to her room and began reviewing her study materials on the computer.
In the next room, Angela was gleefully playing with her Spirit Calling Bell.
Suddenly, she stopped.
Her smile vanished. Her childish face became serious as she turned to glance out the window.
She sensed danger.
The first rule of the Grand Theft Tenet: No matter what's happening, hiding is always a good idea.
Angela was a very obedient girl. Her first instinct was to run.
But then she thought of Kate next door.
The tenet was important... but protecting someone important to her?
That was more important.
Angela's eyes steeled with resolve. She jumped out the window and landed lightly in the garden.
Several shadowy figures approached. She recognized them immediately—not by their faces, but by their black robes.
Demonism!
How did they find me here?! Angela panicked.
The Demonism disciples spotted her too.
The grand protector sneered, "Our leader says you're coming back with us to be his pet. Let's see where you run to this time!"
"Bah! I'm not afraid of you freaks," Angela snapped. "My senior is a powerful cultivator. You think you'll get away with this? You're digging your own graves!"
She was bluffing—using the Empty Fort Strategy to scare them.
"Otherwise," she continued, "how do you think your lackeys died last time?"
The disciples hesitated.
A cultivator?
That was no small matter. They knew better than anyone just how terrifying cultivators could be—their own leader was one.
Could there really be a cultivator hiding in this villa?
The grand protector narrowed his eyes, scanning the villa for spiritual energy.
But... he sensed nothing.
"Grand protector," one disciple reminded him, "our leader ordered us to bring the girl back. We can't disobey."
The grand protector's expression darkened.
He knew they had no choice.
When they joined Demonism, a mark had been planted inside their bodies. If their leader so much as thought about killing them, they'd die instantly—without mercy.
So even if there was a cultivator inside, they had to act. Going back empty-handed meant certain death.
"Do it!" the grand protector barked.
Immediately, the disciples surged forward toward Angela.
The grand protector, cautious, hung back behind them. If a cultivator did show up, he wanted to be in the best position to flee—and if he could claim he tried his best, maybe the leader would let him live.
Angela's face paled as the Demonism disciples charged. She knew her bluff had failed.
She raised her Spirit Calling Bell. An evil spirit burst forth.
The battle began.
But Angela's strength was limited.
She was a cultivator—but unlike John, she didn't have powerful vital energy attacks.
Her only weapon was the Spirit Calling Bell. And though she had trained under Gianna Semel, she'd mostly been sheltered. Her instincts were to flee, not fight. She had little combat experience and was quickly overwhelmed.
"You said there was a cultivator inside," the grand protector taunted. "Why hasn't he come out to save you?"
He knew now: Angela was lying.
No cultivator would stay hidden while a disciple was being attacked right outside their home.
Angela didn't respond. She couldn't.
She was barely holding on.
Just then, Kate opened her door, drawn by the noise.
Her eyes went wide in horror as she saw shadowy black-robed figures swarming Angela.
"Sister, you—AHH!"
She let out a frightened scream.
Angela looked up sharply. "Run, Sister! Go find your senior—call John! Hurry!"
Bang!
A blow landed squarely on Angela's chest. She staggered backward, coughing violently. Blood bubbled at the corner of her lips.
The grand protector turned toward the source of the scream.
His eyes lit up.
Another beauty.
He sneered viciously. "Well, well. What a nice surprise. We'll bring her too—for the sect leader's collection."
It was well known: the leader of Demonism was lascivious to the extreme.
If they brought back two beautiful women, their rewards would be immense.
And once the sect leader tired of his playthings, he often passed them down to his subordinates—for a "sip of the soup."
These two women? Absolute top-tier beauties.
Even if they ended up ruined by the sect leader... it would still be a great reward for the rest.