Journey to Become the Zenith

The End of the Valier Matter

After punishing Simon, Victor released the pressure he had been exerting onto the surrounding people.

The invisible weight that had crushed everyone into submission disappeared without warning.

For a moment, nobody moved.

The people who had been forced to their knees remained frozen where they were, breathing heavily as sensation slowly returned to their limbs. Some rubbed their shoulders and wrists, while others simply stared at Victor with pale faces.

The street, which had been filled with tension and fear only moments earlier, became strangely quiet.

Victor stood at the center of it all.

His black hair moved gently in the passing breeze, while his golden eyes swept across the people before him. His black shirt and leather pants looked almost untouched by everything that had happened, while the golden jacket hanging over his shoulders gave him an almost careless appearance.

He had finally finished dealing with Simon.

That should have been the end of it.

Victor slowly turned his head.

His gaze landed on Kite.

The older man immediately stiffened.

Kite was trembling in fear.

His hands had become cold, and his breathing was uneven. He couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened to Simon.

The young man standing before him was extremely cruel.

Kite had known many powerful people throughout his life. He had seen nobles act ruthlessly when their interests were threatened, and he had witnessed cultivators destroy their enemies without mercy.

But Victor was different.

There was something far more frightening about his calmness.

Victor hadn’t needed to scream.

He hadn’t needed to display anger.

When he decided someone deserved punishment, he simply carried it out.

Kite swallowed hard.

He couldn’t even imagine what kind of punishment awaited him.

His mind raced through countless possibilities. None of them gave him even the slightest comfort.

Victor stared at him for several seconds.

Then he sighed.

That single sound made Kite’s heart sink.

Victor turned away.

But the expression he had given Kite before doing so remained burned into the older man’s mind.

Contempt.

That was what Kite had seen in Victor’s eyes.

Not fear.

Not hesitation.

Not even anger.

Just contempt.

Kite lowered his head.

A bitter feeling spread through his chest.

He had thought that by interfering, he could protect his family’s interests. He had convinced himself that stepping forward was the right thing to do.

Instead, he had only made himself look like a fool.

Worse, he had accomplished nothing.

Victor hadn’t even bothered to punish him.

Somehow, that hurt more.

Kite clenched his fists tightly.

His pride burned inside him.

He had been completely disregarded.

As though his existence wasn’t even worth Victor’s attention.

Victor then shifted his gaze toward Cedric and the remaining members of the Valier family.

Cedric stood beside his son.

As the patriarch of the Valier family, Cedric had always believed that he possessed enough authority and strength to protect his family.

The Earl’s face was pale, but he kept his expression firm.

Only his eyes betrayed him.

Whenever they fell upon Simon, there was pain in them.

Simon was his only son.

Cedric had watched everything happen.

He had seen his son break down.

He had seen his family’s people helplessly kneel before Victor.

And yet, there had been nothing he could do.

Nothing.

As the patriarch of the Valier family, Cedric had always believed that he possessed enough authority and strength to protect his family.

Today had shattered that belief.

For the first time, he understood just how powerless that authority could make him feel.

Victor looked at him without any visible emotion.

”Take your son and scram. If you ever try to do this kind of sh*t again, expect total annihilation.”

Victor’s voice was calm.

There was no anger in it.

No shouting.

No need to raise his voice.

That calmness made the warning even more frightening.

Cedric’s fingers tightened.

For a brief moment, pride urged him to resist. ℯℯ𝑙.

He was an Earl.

The head of a powerful noble family.

The young master who had started this entire incident no longer looked like someone who could command anyone.

He couldn’t simply stand here and accept being ordered around in the middle of a public street.

But then reality came crashing back.

He remembered the pressure that had forced him to his knees.

He remembered his strongest subordinates being completely helpless.

And he remembered the overwhelming power Victor had displayed.

What good was his pride now?

Could the title of Earl stop Victor?

Could the Valier family’s reputation protect Simon?

Could his authority undo what had just happened?

No.

Cedric slowly lowered his gaze.

Then he nodded.

”I understand.”

Victor narrowed his eyes slightly.

”Good. Then don’t make me repeat myself.”

Cedric didn’t respond.

There was nothing left to say.

He bent down and gathered Simon into his arms.

The young man was still crying.

His body shook uncontrollably.

The arrogance he had carried earlier was gone.

Completely gone.

The young master who had started this entire incident no longer looked like someone who could command anyone.

He looked small.

Broken.

Cedric stared at his son for a moment.

A complicated emotion crossed his face.

Disappointment.

Pain.

And helplessness.

Simon was his son.

Of course he wanted to protect him.

But protecting him had already cost the Valier family enough.

Cedric couldn’t allow his family’s remaining dignity to be dragged into the mud as well.

His jaw tightened.

He looked away.

”Let’s go.”

------------------------------

Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

--------------------