Chapter 69 Mr Ashcroft ? " Are you also going to watch the battle between Mason and Jeff ? " Cheryl fixed her wide , glistening eyes on Leander , her curiosity evident . 68 Finished Leander's face remained impassive as he replied casually , " From the way you speak , it sounds like you're headed there too ? " Cheryl's lips curled into a confident smile , her hands clasped behind her back . " Of course ! Our family's Eagle Claw Sect has always been close with the Tarlyn Guild . My grandfather is actually a dear friend of the Guild's leader . Now that Mason , the Guild's second - in - command , has openly issued a challenge , how could we possibly miss such a spectacle ? " As she finished , Cheryl gestured to the elderly man standing beside her . " This is my grandfather , Matthew . Just moments ago , he killed that massive snake with a single claw - our family's signature move : the Mighty Eagle Claw ! " As Cheryl spoke , she cast a sidelong glance at Leander , eager to spot some sign of admiration in his eyes . Though their family's Eagle Claw Sect might not boast the same level of fame as the Tarlyn Guild from Mornwick , they were still counted among the top martial families in the region . Her grandfather , Matthew , held significant prestige within Mornwick's martial arts community , his reputation nearly equal to Mason's . Most martial artists would show respect upon hearing his name . But Leander's expression remained unchanged . With a casual tone , he asked , " The Dale family's Eagle Claw Sect ? Is it that famous ? I've never heard of it . " Cheryl's face darkened immediately , her eyes flashing with anger . The Dale family was one of the leading martial clans in Mornwick , widely known across various sects . How could Leander claim ignorance ? She took a deep breath before snapping , " Who do you think you are ? How could you not know my family's sect ? Are you even part of Mornwick's martial arts scene ? " Just as her temper flared , Matthew raised his hand , cutting her off . " Cheryl , that's enough ." He then turned to Leander , his eyes narrowing as he sized him up , a subtle air of disdain creeping into his gaze . " From the looks of you , it seems you haven't even reached the inner strength stage yet . You're still lingering on the outskirts of the martial arts world . Naturally , you wouldn't have heard of the Eagle Claw Sect ," Matthew remarked , stroking his beard thoughtfully . His tone grew cryptic as he continued , eyeing Leander with mild condescension . " Young man , the Nine Peaks of Mount Lurvale are considered a treacherous area in Mornwick , vast and teeming with 1/4 13:06 Sun , Oct 12 M ... Chapter 6 Mc Ashcroft A 68 Finished resources , but often home to strange and ferocious beasts . For you to venture here merely to watch a battle ... quite reckless . " He paused for emphasis , his gaze resting on Leander . " With your limited skills , without an elder from your sect to guide you , if you were to encounter wild beasts or wolves , your doom would be all but certain . " Matthew seemed intent on imparting a lesson , his eyes glinting as he sized up the young man before him , clearly expecting some acknowledgment . Leander , however , only shrugged , appearing completely indifferent . " I had no idea there were so many dangers in Mount Lurvale . " Though Matthew believed his words were sinking in , Leander's mind was elsewhere . He had faced far greater perils in the past , and the threat of wild animals or mere snakes hardly fazed him . Misinterpreting Leander's casual response , Matthew's expression softened slightly . Assuming the young man had grasped the gravity of the situation , he offered with a tone of magnanimity , " Since our paths have crossed , you may as well join us . We're headed to the main peak of Mount Lurvale to watch the battle . It'll be safer for you , so you don't find yourself in any unnecessary trouble along the way . " Leander stifled a chuckle at the grandfather and granddaughter duo , their confidence seemingly boundless . Still , he didn't refuse the offer . With a simple nod , he followed them toward the main peak . As they walked , Cheryl , brimming with pride , seemed eager to share her family's accomplishments with Leander . She cast herself as a seasoned martial artist , keen to display her knowledge . " What did you think of my grandfather's claw strike against that black bear earlier ? " she asked suddenly , leaning closer to Leander as they approached the foot of the main peak . Leander glanced at her nonchalantly . " That claw strike ? It was ... fine . " Cheryl , expecting praise , frowned at his indifferent response . " What do you mean by just fine ? " She took a deep breath before continuing , her voice growing sharper . " Do you know that my grandfather is the foremost expert of the Eagle Claw Sect ? With the Mighty Eagle Claw technique , he's defeated countless martial artists across Mornwick . He's rarely met a rival , even Mason from the Tarlyn Guild wouldn't dare to guarantee victory over him . And yet you say it was just ... okay ? " Her frustration mounting , she shook her head in disbelief . " I see now - you must be an outsider to the martial arts world . You clearly don't grasp the true strength of such techniques . Even if you watched , you wouldn't understand it . " 2/4 13:06 Sun , Oct 12 Chapter 59 Mr Ashcrof Finished Cheryl wore a cold , unyielding expression , dismissing Leander as if he were someone insignificant . Without a second glance , she turned her head away , utterly disinterested . In her mind , no matter how much she tried to explain things to Leander , it would be like talking to a brick wall . Leander only shook his head , a faint smile playing on his lips . What Cheryl didn't realize was that his comment of " it was fine " had already been exceedingly polite . Had he spoken the unvarnished truth , Matthew's so - called " masterful " claw strike , despite his late - stage expertise , wouldn't have even been worthy of Leander's critique . As they made their way up the peak of Mount Lurvale , Cheryl maintained a determined silence . The three of them ascended quietly , not a word exchanged for the entire thirty - minute climb , until they finally reached the summit . At the top , beyond the central Tarlyn Residence , there was a naturally formed stone platform at the cliff's edge . Known as Mount Lurvale platform , this sturdy outcrop was renowned for its ability to withstand tremendous force , its surface as resilient as tempered glass . It was here that Mason had arranged to face Leander in their upcoming duel . Leander followed the grandfather - granddaughter pair as they approached the platform . The area around it bustled with energy - martial artists of all levels gathered in small groups , the air thick with anticipation . The moment Matthew and Cheryl appeared , the crowd stirred . Several martial artists immediately recognized Matthew and quickly moved aside , bowing respectfully , hands clasped in reverence . They cleared a path for him to approach the platform's edge with ease . Matthew , his face glowing with pride , graciously returned their respectful gestures . Cheryl , standing tall beside him , couldn't help but throw a triumphant glance back at Leander , her expression smug . " See that ? My grandfather is a renowned figure in Mornwick's martial arts community . Practically everyone knows him . Not like some people who've been living under a rock and claim they've never heard of him , " she remarked , her voice dripping with mockery . Her thinly veiled insult was clearly aimed at Leander , but he walked on in silence , uninterested in playing into her petty needling . When they reached the platform , the Tarlyn Guild had already set up seating . Only those with significant influence in Mornwick's martial arts circles had the honor of sitting , and Matthew was undoubtedly among them . As Matthew prepared to take his seat with Cheryl beside him , two figures suddenly appeared , bowing in unison . 3/4 13:06 Sun , Oct 12 ... Chapter 69 Mr Ashcroft ? " Greetings , Matthew . " It was none other than the Halloway brothers , Gale and Dylan . 68 Finished " Ah , the heads of the Halloway family , " Matthew replied , returning the gesture . Although the Halloway's weren't strictly a martial arts family , both Gale and Dylan had trained under esteemed masters , making them internal martial arts practitioners . Gale , in particular , had reached the early stages of mastery . With the Halloway family's considerable influence in Mornwick , Matthew treated them with due respect . Just as they finished exchanging pleasantries and prepared to sit , Gale's eyes suddenly locked onto someone behind Cheryl . His expression shifted to one of surprise . " Mr. Ashcroft ? " he said , his voice filled with astonishment as he stared at Leander . Send Gifts 50