C3 Coming out of Retirement

Julietta's home in the East Mountain Quarter was a ten-year-old property that showed its age and modesty, a stark contrast to the prestige of the Evans family of York City.

When Miron returned home, his in-laws, Alexander Evans and Gianna, were seated on the sofa, their faces etched with severity. "Humph!" Gianna scoffed. "Miron, you have the nerve to show your face here?"

"We're well aware of the debacle at today's wedding. Miron, you're a jinx—another fine mess you've gotten us into!" Gianna rebuked as she rose to her feet.

"Mom, that's enough," Julietta interjected. "It's not Miron's fault. Uncle Leon never planned to lend us a hand."

Gianna's anger flared at her daughter's defense. "Foolish girl, are you still taking his side? Hasn't he caused you enough trouble? If it weren't for him, would you be living in such hardship? You were meant to marry into wealth!"

"Mom, why must we always depend on others? Can't we make it on our own?" Julietta challenged.

"Make it on our own? Sure, that sounds wonderful," Gianna said with a bitter laugh, turning a dissatisfied look toward Alexander. "Our daughter is running herself ragged for you, and what do you do? What have you contributed?"

Alexander sighed, his face a portrait of worry.

Miron, having foreseen the tension at home, had discreetly retreated to the kitchen.

"Dinner's ready," he announced after finishing the cooking. He set the table with bowls and chopsticks, and the family sat down to a quiet meal.

Gianna, with a grave look, turned to Miron. "You heard what Rhyd said today..."

"Mom!" Julietta put down her chopsticks firmly. "I won't be coerced into divorcing Miron."

"What? You've fallen for him now?" Gianna stared incredulously at her daughter. "Aren't you aware of your father's factory troubles? Months of unpaid wages, and bankruptcy is on the horizon. Will we all end up destitute?"

"And you think that's the end of it? Miron has crossed Rhyd and her husband, and even assaulted Mason Evans. Do you think they'll let our family off the hook? Divorce is the only sensible option. It's time to stop letting this loser drag you down!"

Julietta bit her lip, saying nothing. Seeing her daughter's silence, Gianna snapped, "Alexander, what are you waiting for? Talk some sense into her!"

Alexander remained silent, his expression helpless.

After finishing a modest portion of his meal, Miron quietly cleared the table and returned to his room.

After his meal, Miron washed his bowl and chopsticks, then retreated to his room. There, he sat cross-legged on his bed, still as a coiled dragon. Over the years, meditation had become his sanctuary, a practice that steadied his mind regardless of the chaos of the outside world.

For Miron, this daily meditation was akin to purifying himself, imagining his being as a bowl of clear water, untouched by dust or blemish. The worldly troubles, like particles of dust in water, would eventually settle and fade away.

Suddenly, Miron reached out and grasped a black pebble from the head of his bed. With a flick of his fingers, the pebble turned to powder, cascading through his fingers like sand.

"Interior strength has been achieved," Miron whispered, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

His master had once said that only when he mastered his Interior strength would he truly be a successor of the Dragon Sect. It was then he could leave the mountains, use the jade token to connect with the Alvarez family in the Capital City, and freely access ancient medicines, wealth, and personnel. The martial path knew no bounds, and with his Interior strength awakened, Miron could now delve into the ancient martial world, seeking higher mastery and the summit of his destiny.

But with many enemies against the Dragon Sect, Miron knew he had to keep his abilities hidden. Revealing his true strength prematurely could cost him his life.

"Finally, with my Interior strength fully realized, I can leave the mountains," Miron reflected, clutching the green jade token, his eyes sharp with anticipation.

...

The following day, as Miron stepped out of East Mountain Quarter, a black Bentley blocked his path.

"Do I need to make a personal appearance for you to discuss the matters of the Morales family?" The man who emerged from the car wore a dark blue suit and looked at Miron with a stoic gaze.

The middle-aged man had a commanding presence, with sharp, angular features and piercing eyes that conveyed a sense of dignity and authority. On closer inspection, Miron noticed a striking resemblance to himself in the man's face.

Twenty minutes later, at the York Hotel on the 26th floor, Benjamin Morales and Miron found themselves seated across from each other in a vast conference room.

"Your grandfather has been bedridden and in poor health for the last couple of years. He constantly talks about you, longing to see you again," Benjamin said slowly. "Your uncles only have daughters, all of whom are married. That leaves you as the Morales family's sole male heir."

"The sole male heir..." Miron echoed with a hint of irony. "So, what? You want to use me as a pawn in your inheritance games?"

"You're oversimplifying things," Benjamin chided with a scoff. "The Morales family's empire in Capital City is extensive, with many branches. Our family rules dictate that if the patriarch dies without a male successor from the third generation, leadership must pass to another branch. Without you, our line will lose its claim."

"And how is that my concern?" Miron responded coolly.

"In the years your grandfather has been sick, your third and fifth uncles have been jockeying for control, creating chaos within the family. Do you really want to stand by and let your grandfather's legacy be usurped because of your pride?" Benjamin asked, his tone laced with frustration.

Miron's brow creased, and he let out a cold laugh. He knew exactly what kind of man his father was—ruthless in his pursuit of power, with no room for sentiment. If his grandfather's failing health hadn't shaken his status within the family, Benjamin, the esteemed second heir of the Morales family in Capital City, would never have stooped to visit him in York City.

"Miron, are you content to remain with the inconsequential Evans family, enduring humiliation indefinitely?" Benjamin Morales pressed, his research into Miron's life apparent since he'd located him.

"Yesterday, at the Evans family wedding, you were publicly shamed and powerless to retaliate," Benjamin continued. "Don't you crave the power to make them pay?"

"With a single word, you could bring the entire Evans family to their knees—if you so choose," Benjamin asserted with conviction.

Despite his father's compelling argument, Miron simply shook his head, choosing silence over engagement.

Benjamin snorted dismissively, then sighed. "I admit, I let you and your mother down. But put yourself in my place—you'd have done the same."

"A man can lose everything in life, but never the power he wields," Benjamin proclaimed.

Yet Miron just shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. Even after all these years, Benjamin showed no signs of regret or guilt for his actions towards Miron and his mother. Clearly, he still believed he was justified. A man like his father, who valued power above emotion, would never understand.

"I'll visit Grandfather when the time is right. As for the Morales family's business, it's of no concern to me," Miron stated calmly, rising to leave.

"Go then. I've laid out my terms, and I'll wait for you to come around. I'm confident you'll seek me out in time," Benjamin said, his confidence unshaken.

He was all too familiar with Miron's current situation and couldn't fathom his son rejecting such a lucrative offer. How could anyone, especially someone who'd been nothing more than a son-in-law for two years, turn down a chance to dramatically alter his fate? Who wouldn't seize the opportunity to rise above their station?

"Well, you can wait all you want," Miron scoffed, striding out of York Hotel without a backward glance.

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