Back at the Houston Martial Arts School, it was Sophia's decision.
She knew, of course, that cultivators were far stronger than martial artists. They were on entirely different levels. But that didn't matter to her. Sophia wasn't driven by ambition. In the past, all she had wanted was to remain in the Long family. Later, she had taken up martial arts—not for the power—but to escape a fate that was forced upon her.
She didn't want to be a pawn in her family's alliances anymore, especially when it came to the Tennat family. Now that Hardy Tennat was dead, no one would force her to marry him. And as long as John was around, the Long family wouldn't dare make any more demands of her.
Sophia was at peace with her decision. As long as she could stay at the Houston Martial Arts School, she would be content. She wasn't greedy. She simply wanted to live in peace, silently admiring those more powerful than her—just as she admired John at that very moment.
"Miss Long, I respect your decision," John said, smiling at her approvingly.
Sophia's stubbornness impressed him. It was rare for someone her age to have such a clear sense of what they wanted, and John admired that.
"Teacher Wood, you'll take care of Miss Long from now on. You know what to do," John said to Brian.
"Yes, sir. Don't worry, I'll teach Miss Long well and won't make the same mistakes again," Brian replied, enthusiasm lighting up his face.
Sophia was his link to John, and Brian was eager to make a good impression, hoping to build a connection with the powerful cultivator. He would do whatever it took to gain John's favor.
Once that was settled, John turned his attention to the Long family.
They were still in shock. They had been stunned ever since the moment they learned of Brooke Long's death and the revelation of John's true identity as a cultivator. Their shock had paralyzed them. They had been unable to process the truth, their minds blank in disbelief. How could they have missed the fact that John, so closely connected to them, was a cultivator? If they had known from the start, they never would have switched their loyalties so often.
They had wasted countless opportunities, blinded by greed. Now, they were left with nothing but the bitter taste of regret.
John glanced over the Long family, his expression unreadable. There was no anger in him—just disappointment. He had once thought highly of the family, but now that sentiment was gone.
"Mr. Lopez, actually…" Arno Long started, desperate to salvage something from this situation, but John cut him off.
"Mr. Long, when I first met you, I had a good impression of you."
That was all John said. His words were enough. Arno understood: John had once had a positive view of the Long family, but now, after everything, that view was soured.
Arno's face fell. A bitter smile crept onto his lips. John had been the family's savior. If not for him, Arno would have died early, and the Long family would have been in ruins. It was John who had given them a chance. And they had squandered it. Over and over again.
Sophia, her heart heavy, knelt on the floor suddenly.
The room fell into stunned silence. Arno was speechless, his mind racing as he rushed to her side. "Sophia, what are you doing?"
Sophia inhaled deeply and spoke clearly, despite the emotions she was holding back. "Grandpa, please forgive me for my disobedience. I might not come back to the Long family very often from now on."
The weight of her words hit like a thunderclap. She wasn't leaving just temporarily. She was breaking away from the Long family entirely. Her phrasing was soft, but the intent was clear.
"Sophia, you…" Arno's voice cracked as he tried to console her, but no words came. His heart ached for her, but what could he say? The truth was that the Long family had hurt her. Time and again, they had disappointed her, and now she was standing up for herself in the most powerful way she could.
In particular, the Long family had tried to push her into an unthinkable marriage to a dead man in order to save themselves, completely betraying her trust and love. Arno could not ask her to stay with them after all that.
Sophia's mother, her face stained with tears, knelt beside her daughter. "My dear daughter, I support you. The Long family doesn't deserve you."
Sophia, although her heart ached, smiled faintly at her mother. "Mom, if you miss me, you can always come to the Houston Martial Arts School to visit. If things go well, I might even become a teacher there after graduation."
Her mother nodded, tears flowing but a deep pride and understanding in her gaze. "Okay."
Throughout the entire exchange, Sophia didn't even glance at Buck Long. Buck, filled with regret, stared at the ground. He knew he had failed as a father. He hadn't been able to protect his daughter. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, and he had no right to ask for it.
Sophia stood and turned to Brian. "Teacher, let's go back to school."
With those words, she left the Long family behind, walking away with purpose. Arno sighed, a deep, hollow sound. He turned his gaze to Mandy, Brooke's wife, and his eyes grew cold.
The Long family had squandered too many opportunities, and now they would pay the price. Although Brooke had died, his wife, Mandy, remained—and her position in the family would be increasingly difficult to hold onto.
Mandy felt a chill run through her as Arno's eyes locked onto hers. She knew that her place in the family was uncertain at best.
When they reached the gate of the Houston Martial Arts School, John stopped. He turned to Sophia and spoke with a hint of finality in his tone. "Miss Long, I won't follow you in. But if there's ever an opportunity in the future, I'll come to see you. I hope, by then, you've become an excellent teacher."
Sophia's heart sank. A strong sense of reluctance washed over her—an unexpected, almost painful feeling. At first, she hadn't thought much of John. In fact, when they first met, she'd even been disgusted by the way he had looked at her. But over time, that feeling had changed. She had come to admire him—not just for his strength, but for who he was.
She didn't realize it until now, but she had grown attached to him. Every woman, after all, would naturally fall for someone so outstanding.
With watery eyes, Sophia mustered her courage. "Mr. Lopez, can I hug you?"
The question hung in the air, full of emotions she couldn't quite put into words.
4o mini