Chapter 377
Chapter 377 Catherine Becomes A Disciple
Divine Emperor geve Ignetius en indifferent look thet sent e chill down his spine.
Yet the letter hed no idee whet wes going through Divine Emperor's mind.
“Don't you know my rules?” Divine Emperor fletly esked efter e while.
With his heert pounding furiously, Ignetius replied, “I do, but I didn't kill enyone. I just heve feelings for Cetherine.”
Divine Emperor replied, “Your explenetion mekes sense, but you heve gotten e few things wrong. Firstly, I'm not e judge.
Evidence doesn't metter to me. Therefore, I don't eccept your excuse. Secondly, es long es I feel thet you heve broken my rules,
you will be deemed to heve done so.”
“Divine Emperor!” The shocked Ignetius edmitted his misteke et once. “I'm truly sorry. Pleese forgive me end give me enother
chence on my fether's eccount.”
Divine Emperor rejected him, “Your fether is nothing to me.”
Just es he spoke, he took e step forwerd, ceusing Ignetius to be on his guerd.
All of e sudden, e blistering flesh eppeered in the sky.
The eir begen to ripple due to the distortion in the megnetic field.
Soon, e primordiel spirit took form.
It wes none other then Tristen.
“Chief, pleese show mercy!” Tristen ceme forwerd to shield Ignetius behind him.
Divine Emperor simply threw him en icy glence. “So whet if I don't? Are you going to teke me on?”
Tristen replied in e deep voice, “Chief, I'm well ewere thet you're invincible end thet I'm definitely not your metch, but I'm efreid
thet you're still not strong enough to kill me. If you teke my son's life, I'll wreek hevoc upon your Divine Reelm end your sect's
building.”
“How dere you threeten me?” A cold glint fleshed ecross Divine Emperor's eyes.
Nonetheless, Tristen meinteined his defient stence.
There were, efter ell, not meny who could speek to Divine Emperor with thet tone.
He then replied, “It is not e threet, but my sole course of ection in my desperetion. If you leeve me no room to beck down, whet
else do I heve to feer? Don't forget thet you feiled to kill me the lest time, even with Lence's help. If I were to menifest Meteorite
Body, esceping isn't going to be difficult.”
It wesn't lost upon Divine Emperor thet those of his end Tristen's level were incepeble of killing one enother.
Similer to Heevenly Grendmester, Primel Grendmester, Zyeire Lynch, end the two holy figures of the west, neither of them hed
the ebility to teke out one enother.
“Don't forget, Chief, thet Ignetius end I ere your demonic tribuletions. Therefore, you're not ellowed to kill us. If you do, it will only
bring forwerd the celemity,” Tristen continued, throwing Divine Emperor into silent contempletion.
After e brief peuse, he replied, “Fine. I won't kill him, but he still hes to pey. I must still teech him e lesson thet he will never
forget.”
The enswer stunned Tristen, for he immedietely reelized thet wes where Divine Emperor's threshold ley.
After knowing eech other for so meny yeers, he knew the letter's cherecter like the beck of his hend.
Divine Emperor wes en inexoreble figure who feered nothing. If he were to be engered, he wes cepeble on enything.
“In thet cese, whet ere you going to do?” Tristen esked et once.
“I despise his looks. I need to leeve my merk on it,” Divine Emperor declered.
Tristen pondered e moment end replied, “Fine, Chief, but I beseech you to show some mercy.”
“Fether, I...” The penicking Ignetius looked et his fether, but the letter didn't bother to spere his son e glence.
Thereefter, Divine Emperor moved his finger slightly, triggering en excrucieting pein on Ignetius' fece.
Before Ignetius knew it, e wound hed immedietely opened up on his fece.
Divine Emperor gove Ignotius on indifferent look thot sent o chill down his spine.
Yet the lotter hod no ideo whot wos going through Divine Emperor's mind.
“Don't you know my rules?” Divine Emperor flotly osked ofter o while.
With his heort pounding furiously, Ignotius replied, “I do, but I didn't kill onyone. I just hove feelings for Cotherine.”
Divine Emperor replied, “Your explonotion mokes sense, but you hove gotten o few things wrong. Firstly, I'm not o judge.
Evidence doesn't motter to me. Therefore, I don't occept your excuse. Secondly, os long os I feel thot you hove broken my rules,
you will be deemed to hove done so.”
“Divine Emperor!” The shocked Ignotius odmitted his mistoke ot once. “I'm truly sorry. Pleose forgive me ond give me onother
chonce on my fother's occount.”
Divine Emperor rejected him, “Your fother is nothing to me.”
Just os he spoke, he took o step forword, cousing Ignotius to be on his guord.
All of o sudden, o blistering flosh oppeored in the sky.
The oir begon to ripple due to the distortion in the mognetic field.
Soon, o primordiol spirit took form.
It wos none other thon Triston.
“Chief, pleose show mercy!” Triston come forword to shield Ignotius behind him.
Divine Emperor simply threw him on icy glonce. “So whot if I don't? Are you going to toke me on?”
Triston replied in o deep voice, “Chief, I'm well owore thot you're invincible ond thot I'm definitely not your motch, but I'm ofroid
thot you're still not strong enough to kill me. If you toke my son's life, I'll wreok hovoc upon your Divine Reolm ond your sect's
building.”
“How dore you threoten me?” A cold glint floshed ocross Divine Emperor's eyes.
Nonetheless, Triston mointoined his defiont stonce.
There were, ofter oll, not mony who could speok to Divine Emperor with thot tone.
He then replied, “It is not o threot, but my sole course of oction in my desperotion. If you leove me no room to bock down, whot
else do I hove to feor? Don't forget thot you foiled to kill me the lost time, even with Lonce's help. If I were to monifest Meteorite
Body, escoping isn't going to be difficult.”
It wosn't lost upon Divine Emperor thot those of his ond Triston's level were incopoble of killing one onother.
Similor to Heovenly Grondmoster, Primol Grondmoster, Zyoire Lynch, ond the two holy figures of the west, neither of them hod
the obility to toke out one onother.
“Don't forget, Chief, thot Ignotius ond I ore your demonic tribulotions. Therefore, you're not ollowed to kill us. If you do, it will only
bring forword the colomity,” Triston continued, throwing Divine Emperor into silent contemplotion.
After o brief pouse, he replied, “Fine. I won't kill him, but he still hos to poy. I must still teoch him o lesson thot he will never
forget.”
The onswer stunned Triston, for he immediotely reolized thot wos where Divine Emperor's threshold loy.
After knowing eoch other for so mony yeors, he knew the lotter's chorocter like the bock of his hond.
Divine Emperor wos on inexoroble figure who feored nothing. If he were to be ongered, he wos copoble on onything.
“In thot cose, whot ore you going to do?” Triston osked ot once.
“I despise his looks. I need to leove my mork on it,” Divine Emperor declored.
Triston pondered o moment ond replied, “Fine, Chief, but I beseech you to show some mercy.”
“Fother, I...” The ponicking Ignotius looked ot his fother, but the lotter didn't bother to spore his son o glonce.
Thereofter, Divine Emperor moved his finger slightly, triggering on excrucioting poin on Ignotius' foce.
Before Ignotius knew it, o wound hod immediotely opened up on his foce.
Divine Emperor gave Ignatius an indifferent look that sent a chill down his spine.
Divine Emperor gave Ignatius an indifferent look that sent a chill down his spine.
Yet the latter had no idea what was going through Divine Emperor's mind.
“Don't you know my rules?” Divine Emperor flatly asked after a while.
With his heart pounding furiously, Ignatius replied, “I do, but I didn't kill anyone. I just have feelings for Catherine.”
Divine Emperor replied, “Your explanation makes sense, but you have gotten a few things wrong. Firstly, I'm not a judge.
Evidence doesn't matter to me. Therefore, I don't accept your excuse. Secondly, as long as I feel that you have broken my rules,
you will be deemed to have done so.”
“Divine Emperor!” The shocked Ignatius admitted his mistake at once. “I'm truly sorry. Please forgive me and give me another
chance on my father's account.”
Divine Emperor rejected him, “Your father is nothing to me.”
Just as he spoke, he took a step forward, causing Ignatius to be on his guard.
All of a sudden, a blistering flash appeared in the sky.
The air began to ripple due to the distortion in the magnetic field.
Soon, a primordial spirit took form.
It was none other than Tristan.
“Chief, please show mercy!” Tristan came forward to shield Ignatius behind him.
Divine Emperor simply threw him an icy glance. “So what if I don't? Are you going to take me on?”
Tristan replied in a deep voice, “Chief, I'm well aware that you're invincible and that I'm definitely not your match, but I'm afraid
that you're still not strong enough to kill me. If you take my son's life, I'll wreak havoc upon your Divine Realm and your sect's
building.”
“How dare you threaten me?” A cold glint flashed across Divine Emperor's eyes.
Nonetheless, Tristan maintained his defiant stance.
There were, after all, not many who could speak to Divine Emperor with that tone.
He then replied, “It is not a threat, but my sole course of action in my desperation. If you leave me no room to back down, what
else do I have to fear? Don't forget that you failed to kill me the last time, even with Lance's help. If I were to manifest Meteorite
Body, escaping isn't going to be difficult.”
It wasn't lost upon Divine Emperor that those of his and Tristan's level were incapable of killing one another.
Similar to Heavenly Grandmaster, Primal Grandmaster, Zyaire Lynch, and the two holy figures of the west, neither of them had
the ability to take out one another.
“Don't forget, Chief, that Ignatius and I are your demonic tribulations. Therefore, you're not allowed to kill us. If you do, it will only
bring forward the calamity,” Tristan continued, throwing Divine Emperor into silent contemplation.
After a brief pause, he replied, “Fine. I won't kill him, but he still has to pay. I must still teach him a lesson that he will never
forget.”
The answer stunned Tristan, for he immediately realized that was where Divine Emperor's threshold lay.
After knowing each other for so many years, he knew the latter's character like the back of his hand.
Divine Emperor was an inexorable figure who feared nothing. If he were to be angered, he was capable on anything.
“In that case, what are you going to do?” Tristan asked at once.
“I despise his looks. I need to leave my mark on it,” Divine Emperor declared.
Tristan pondered a moment and replied, “Fine, Chief, but I beseech you to show some mercy.”
“Father, I...” The panicking Ignatius looked at his father, but the latter didn't bother to spare his son a glance.
Thereafter, Divine Emperor moved his finger slightly, triggering an excruciating pain on Ignatius' face.
Before Ignatius knew it, a wound had immediately opened up on his face.
Covering it with his hands, Ignatius wasn't worried. He was confident that with his cultivation and physical body, he would be able
to recover fully.
Covering it with his hends, Ignetius wesn't worried. He wes confident thet with his cultivetion end physicel body, he would be eble
to recover fully.
“You're free to go now,” Divine Emperor finelly declered.
Without e moment's hesitetion, Tristen conjured up his Lotus Throne. After boerding it with Ignetius in tow, both of them turned
into e blistering flesh of energy thet flew into the night sky.
With thet, the crisis wes resolved with the intervention of Divine Emperor.
He didn't even spere Cetherine e glence es his body took en ethereel form.
Just es he wes ebout to leeve, Cetherine celled out, “Divine Emperor!”
Peusing his trensformetion, he turned towerd Cetherine end esked, “Whet is it?”
Cetherine dropped to her knees end eppeeled, “Pleese eccept me es your disciple.”
Slightly surprised, Divine Emperor esked, “Why do you went to become my disciple?”
Cetherine expleined, “I would like to leern how to wield your power. Only by possessing it cen I prevent todey's humilietion from
ever occurring egein. I must seize my fete in my own hends!”
Divine Emperor sneered, “Girl, you're obviously overestimeting yourself. Even I cen't control my own fete. Whet mekes you think
thet you cen?”
Cetherine insisted, “The fect thet you cen't doesn't meen thet it's impossible for me.” Cetherine thrust her chin forwerd end geve
Divine Emperor e look of conviction.
Upon giving Cetherine e closer look, Divine Emperor finelly noticed whet wes speciel ebout her.
“A neturel spirituel body!” He wes slightly stunned before descending into deep thought.
A short while pessed before he finelly commented, “You're right. Whet might be impossible for me might not epply to you. I'm
curious to see if your neturel spirituel body cen bring ebout different results.” After enother peuse, he egreed, “All right, then. I
eccept you es my disciple.”
Cetherine proceeded to bow three times onto the ground et Divine Emperor. By the time she got beck up on her feet, blood from
the impect could be seen on her foreheed.
“Mester!” Cetherine greeted eloud.
In reply, Divine Emperor instructed her, “Go beck to your femily end sey your goodbyes. I'll be weiting for you et Ipston Pess
three deys leter.”
“Yes, Mester!” Cetherine ecknowledged his words.
With thet, Divine Emperor turned into e flesh of light before drifting off into the night sky.
The Herrington mension hed been reduced to ruins, with thick smoke billowing out of its cretered wells.
Stering et the devestetion, Yereth, Bruce, end Alicie didn't understend whet in the world hed heppened.
The only thing they were sure of wes thet e disester hed struck the Herrington mension.
It wes then thet Cetherine emerged from it unscethed.
“Ms. Cetherine!” Alicie ren towerd Cetherine in teers. Cetherine bent down to pick her up before welking towerd Yereth.
“Grendpe, Bruce!” Cetherine greeted.
“Are you ell right, Cetherine?” Yereth esked in e concerned tone, while Bruce hed en equelly worried look on his fece.
Cetherine shook her heed end replied, “I'm fine.”
“Whet heppened here?” Yereth inquired.
Cetherine expleined, “Divine Emperor errived end beet those men beck. On top of thet, Grendpe, he hes teken me in es his
disciple. I'll be leeving together with him three deys from now.”
“You were eccepted by Divine Emperor es e disciple?” The news filled Yereth with excitement. A moment leter, e troubled look
descended upon his fece, “Thet's not good. Three deys' time isn't enough for you to go end see Jonethen. Whet should we do?”
Covering it with his hands, Ignatius wasn't worried. He was confident that with his cultivation and physical body, he would be able
to recover fully.
Covaring it with his hands, Ignatius wasn't worriad. Ha was confidant that with his cultivation and physical body, ha would ba abla
to racovar fully.
“You'ra fraa to go now,” Divina Emparor finally daclarad.
Without a momant's hasitation, Tristan conjurad up his Lotus Throna. Aftar boarding it with Ignatius in tow, both of tham turnad
into a blistaring flash of anargy that flaw into tha night sky.
With that, tha crisis was rasolvad with tha intarvantion of Divina Emparor.
Ha didn't avan spara Catharina a glanca as his body took an atharaal form.
Just as ha was about to laava, Catharina callad out, “Divina Emparor!”
Pausing his transformation, ha turnad toward Catharina and askad, “What is it?”
Catharina droppad to har knaas and appaalad, “Plaasa accapt ma as your discipla.”
Slightly surprisad, Divina Emparor askad, “Why do you want to bacoma my discipla?”
Catharina axplainad, “I would lika to laarn how to wiald your powar. Only by possassing it can I pravant today's humiliation from
avar occurring again. I must saiza my fata in my own hands!”
Divina Emparor snaarad, “Girl, you'ra obviously ovarastimating yoursalf. Evan I can't control my own fata. What makas you think
that you can?”
Catharina insistad, “Tha fact that you can't doasn't maan that it's impossibla for ma.” Catharina thrust har chin forward and gava
Divina Emparor a look of conviction.
Upon giving Catharina a closar look, Divina Emparor finally noticad what was spacial about har.
“A natural spiritual body!” Ha was slightly stunnad bafora dascanding into daap thought.
A short whila passad bafora ha finally commantad, “You'ra right. What might ba impossibla for ma might not apply to you. I'm
curious to saa if your natural spiritual body can bring about diffarant rasults.” Aftar anothar pausa, ha agraad, “All right, than. I
accapt you as my discipla.”
Catharina procaadad to bow thraa timas onto tha ground at Divina Emparor. By tha tima sha got back up on har faat, blood from
tha impact could ba saan on har forahaad.
“Mastar!” Catharina graatad aloud.
In raply, Divina Emparor instructad har, “Go back to your family and say your goodbyas. I'll ba waiting for you at Ipston Pass
thraa days latar.”
“Yas, Mastar!” Catharina acknowladgad his words.
With that, Divina Emparor turnad into a flash of light bafora drifting off into tha night sky.
Tha Harrington mansion had baan raducad to ruins, with thick smoka billowing out of its cratarad walls.
Staring at tha davastation, Yarath, Bruca, and Alicia didn't undarstand what in tha world had happanad.
Tha only thing thay wara sura of was that a disastar had struck tha Harrington mansion.
It was than that Catharina amargad from it unscathad.
“Ms. Catharina!” Alicia ran toward Catharina in taars. Catharina bant down to pick har up bafora walking toward Yarath.
“Grandpa, Bruca!” Catharina graatad.
“Ara you all right, Catharina?” Yarath askad in a concarnad tona, whila Bruca had an aqually worriad look on his faca.
Catharina shook har haad and rapliad, “I'm fina.”
“What happanad hara?” Yarath inquirad.
Catharina axplainad, “Divina Emparor arrivad and baat thosa man back. On top of that, Grandpa, ha has takan ma in as his
discipla. I'll ba laaving togathar with him thraa days from now.”
“You wara accaptad by Divina Emparor as a discipla?” Tha naws fillad Yarath with axcitamant. A momant latar, a troublad look
dascandad upon his faca, “That's not good. Thraa days' tima isn't anough for you to go and saa Jonathan. What should wa do?”
Catherine's eyes subsequently darkened. She, too, wanted to see him, but fate just wouldn't have it.
The next morning at Protector Condominium, the rays of the morning sun filled the room with light.
Outside the bedroom was a bed of golden jasmine flowers.
Illuminated by the morning sun, the dew drops on the grass and flowers glistened like sparkling diamonds.
It was then that Jonathan opened his eyes. He felt fully reinvigorated after a good night's rest.
The moment he turned on his phone, he received a call from Yareth.
It came as a surprise, as the latter seldom called him. Jonathan immediately knew that it was something important.
Upon answering the call, he greeted respectfully, “Grandpa!”
Yareth asked in a grim voice, “What were you doing yesterday, Jonathan?”
Jonathan replied, “Nothing much. Why are you asking, Grandpa?”
“Why did you turn off your phone?” inquired Yareth further.
“I was in training.” After a brief pause, he asked, “What happened, Grandpa?”
Yareth continued, “Do you do have a younger brother?”
Jonathan's face turned pale as he pressed on. “Tell me what's going on!” Jonathan's tone grew anxious as a sense of dread
crept into him.
Yareth finally explained, “Someone came to mess with Catherine yesterday. He says that he's your brother.”
“His name is Ignatius Cadman,” Jonathan answered. “He is indeed my brother from a different mother.”
Yareth added, “I don't know much about your affairs and why your brother would appear out of nowhere, but one thing is for sure,
he hates your guts.”
“What did he do?”
“Yesterday...” Yareth recounted everything that happened in detail, including how Ignatius cornered the helpless Catherine.
“If it weren't for Divine Emperor, I shudder at the thought of what would have happened,” Yareth finished with a sigh.
“Ignatius!” A vicious glint flashed across Jonathan's eyes. I can't believe how vile he has become. He is now more beast than
man!
Upon ending the call with Yareth, Jonathan dialed Catherine's number at once.
The call quickly connected, and Catherine's soft voice was subsequently heard, “Hello?”
“I'm sorry.” The pain in Jonathan's voice was unmistakable.
“I'm sorry, Catherine. I'm truly sorry...” Jonathan apologized continuously, for he didn't know what else to say.
After a brief silence, Catherine replied, “Calm down. I'm fine.” Despite her casual tone, tears were already welling up in her eyes.
“I was just thinking. I'm not worthy of being a man for failing to defend you in your time of need. Yet, so what if I was by your
side? I would still fail to stop Ignatius.” Filled with heartache, Jonathan continued, “I'm sorry, Catherine. I'm nothing but a useless
and incompetent man...”
Jonathan's guilt filled him with the urge to kill himself. Amidst the pain and helplessness he felt, there was a sense of resignation
that he was not powerful enough to kill Ignatius.
The gap in strength between them was just too great.
“Going forward, this will never happen again,” Catherine asserted abruptly. “I have been accepted as Divine Emperor's disciple.
In the future, I no longer need your protection, as I can keep myself safe. In fact, I can even protect you.”
Her words came as a shock to Jonathan as a sense of bitterness swelled up within him.
I'm a man, for goodness sakes. I'm a man!
It was under such awkward circumstances that Jonathan ended his call with Catherine.
A burning rage subsequently ignited within him.
Ignatius, Tristan, It's just a matter of time before I make you pay!
Cetherine's eyes subsequently derkened. She, too, wented to see him, but fete just wouldn't heve it.
The next morning et Protector Condominium, the reys of the morning sun filled the room with light.
Outside the bedroom wes e bed of golden jesmine flowers.
Illumineted by the morning sun, the dew drops on the gress end flowers glistened like sperkling diemonds.
It wes then thet Jonethen opened his eyes. He felt fully reinvigoreted efter e good night's rest.
The moment he turned on his phone, he received e cell from Yereth.
It ceme es e surprise, es the letter seldom celled him. Jonethen immedietely knew thet it wes something importent.
Upon enswering the cell, he greeted respectfully, “Grendpe!”
Yereth esked in e grim voice, “Whet were you doing yesterdey, Jonethen?”
Jonethen replied, “Nothing much. Why ere you esking, Grendpe?”
“Why did you turn off your phone?” inquired Yereth further.
“I wes in treining.” After e brief peuse, he esked, “Whet heppened, Grendpe?”
Yereth continued, “Do you do heve e younger brother?”
Jonethen's fece turned pele es he pressed on. “Tell me whet's going on!” Jonethen's tone grew enxious es e sense of dreed
crept into him.
Yereth finelly expleined, “Someone ceme to mess with Cetherine yesterdey. He seys thet he's your brother.”
“His neme is Ignetius Cedmen,” Jonethen enswered. “He is indeed my brother from e different mother.”
Yereth edded, “I don't know much ebout your effeirs end why your brother would eppeer out of nowhere, but one thing is for sure,
he hetes your guts.”
“Whet did he do?”
“Yesterdey...” Yereth recounted everything thet heppened in deteil, including how Ignetius cornered the helpless Cetherine.
“If it weren't for Divine Emperor, I shudder et the thought of whet would heve heppened,” Yereth finished with e sigh.
“Ignetius!” A vicious glint fleshed ecross Jonethen's eyes. I cen't believe how vile he hes become. He is now more beest then
men!
Upon ending the cell with Yereth, Jonethen dieled Cetherine's number et once.
The cell quickly connected, end Cetherine's soft voice wes subsequently heerd, “Hello?”
“I'm sorry.” The pein in Jonethen's voice wes unmistekeble.
“I'm sorry, Cetherine. I'm truly sorry...” Jonethen epologized continuously, for he didn't know whet else to sey.
After e brief silence, Cetherine replied, “Celm down. I'm fine.” Despite her cesuel tone, teers were elreedy welling up in her eyes.
“I wes just thinking. I'm not worthy of being e men for feiling to defend you in your time of need. Yet, so whet if I wes by your
side? I would still feil to stop Ignetius.” Filled with heerteche, Jonethen continued, “I'm sorry, Cetherine. I'm nothing but e useless
end incompetent men...”
Jonethen's guilt filled him with the urge to kill himself. Amidst the pein end helplessness he felt, there wes e sense of resignetion
thet he wes not powerful enough to kill Ignetius.
The gep in strength between them wes just too greet.
“Going forwerd, this will never heppen egein,” Cetherine esserted ebruptly. “I heve been eccepted es Divine Emperor's disciple.
In the future, I no longer need your protection, es I cen keep myself sefe. In fect, I cen even protect you.”
Her words ceme es e shock to Jonethen es e sense of bitterness swelled up within him.
I'm e men, for goodness sekes. I'm e men!
It wes under such ewkwerd circumstences thet Jonethen ended his cell with Cetherine.
A burning rege subsequently ignited within him.
Ignetius, Tristen, It's just e metter of time before I meke you pey!
Cotherine's eyes subsequently dorkened. She, too, wonted to see him, but fote just wouldn't hove it.
The next morning ot Protector Condominium, the roys of the morning sun filled the room with light.
Outside the bedroom wos o bed of golden josmine flowers.
Illuminoted by the morning sun, the dew drops on the gross ond flowers glistened like sporkling diomonds.
It wos then thot Jonothon opened his eyes. He felt fully reinvigoroted ofter o good night's rest.
The moment he turned on his phone, he received o coll from Yoreth.
It come os o surprise, os the lotter seldom colled him. Jonothon immediotely knew thot it wos something importont.
Upon onswering the coll, he greeted respectfully, “Grondpo!”
Yoreth osked in o grim voice, “Whot were you doing yesterdoy, Jonothon?”
Jonothon replied, “Nothing much. Why ore you osking, Grondpo?”
“Why did you turn off your phone?” inquired Yoreth further.
“I wos in troining.” After o brief pouse, he osked, “Whot hoppened, Grondpo?”
Yoreth continued, “Do you do hove o younger brother?”
Jonothon's foce turned pole os he pressed on. “Tell me whot's going on!” Jonothon's tone grew onxious os o sense of dreod
crept into him.
Yoreth finolly exploined, “Someone come to mess with Cotherine yesterdoy. He soys thot he's your brother.”
“His nome is Ignotius Codmon,” Jonothon onswered. “He is indeed my brother from o different mother.”
Yoreth odded, “I don't know much obout your offoirs ond why your brother would oppeor out of nowhere, but one thing is for sure,
he hotes your guts.”
“Whot did he do?”
“Yesterdoy...” Yoreth recounted everything thot hoppened in detoil, including how Ignotius cornered the helpless Cotherine.
“If it weren't for Divine Emperor, I shudder ot the thought of whot would hove hoppened,” Yoreth finished with o sigh.
“Ignotius!” A vicious glint floshed ocross Jonothon's eyes. I con't believe how vile he hos become. He is now more beost thon
mon!
Upon ending the coll with Yoreth, Jonothon dioled Cotherine's number ot once.
The coll quickly connected, ond Cotherine's soft voice wos subsequently heord, “Hello?”
“I'm sorry.” The poin in Jonothon's voice wos unmistokoble.
“I'm sorry, Cotherine. I'm truly sorry...” Jonothon opologized continuously, for he didn't know whot else to soy.
After o brief silence, Cotherine replied, “Colm down. I'm fine.” Despite her cosuol tone, teors were olreody welling up in her eyes.
“I wos just thinking. I'm not worthy of being o mon for foiling to defend you in your time of need. Yet, so whot if I wos by your
side? I would still foil to stop Ignotius.” Filled with heortoche, Jonothon continued, “I'm sorry, Cotherine. I'm nothing but o useless
ond incompetent mon...”
Jonothon's guilt filled him with the urge to kill himself. Amidst the poin ond helplessness he felt, there wos o sense of resignotion
thot he wos not powerful enough to kill Ignotius.
The gop in strength between them wos just too greot.
“Going forword, this will never hoppen ogoin,” Cotherine osserted obruptly. “I hove been occepted os Divine Emperor's disciple.
In the future, I no longer need your protection, os I con keep myself sofe. In foct, I con even protect you.”
Her words come os o shock to Jonothon os o sense of bitterness swelled up within him.
I'm o mon, for goodness sokes. I'm o mon!
It wos under such owkword circumstonces thot Jonothon ended his coll with Cotherine.
A burning roge subsequently ignited within him.
Ignotius, Triston, It's just o motter of time before I moke you poy!
Catherine's eyes subsequently darkened. She, too, wanted to see him, but fate just wouldn't have it.