Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Leroy snorted. "Christie, go ahead and get to the bottom of it. I can't wait to see that bastard's face when you expose him for the fraud he is."

Not wanting to get dragged into the Stevens family's drama, Aspen slipped away to her room and dialed Gordon's number. She warned him, "Mr. Woods, you should be careful. Andrew might come looking for you."

Gordon's voice came through the phone, cold and dismissive. "If that kid wants to come die at my doorstep, I'll gladly help him with that."

Aspen replied, "Still, you should stay alert. I'm worried Andrew might show up with some of the underground forces in Jayrodale to ambush you."

Gordon scoffed. "Numbers mean nothing against someone at my level. If they come swarming like ants,

I'll just retreat and pick them off one by one later. It's nothing but a waste of my time."

Aspen's voice turned icy. "I'll wait for your good news, Mr. Woods."

Gordon chuckled darkly. "Relax. Once I clean up the mess here in Jayrodale, I'll be heading back to Bridgefields. Taking care of a bunch of small-time punks? It's hardly worth my attention."

Aspen smirked. "Don't worry, Mr. Woods. I won't let you make this trip in vain."

Meanwhile, at the Bamboo Hill Estate on the north side of the city, Andrew stepped out of his car and strode toward the wooden cabin ahead.

Standing in the clearing in front of the cabin, he called out in a calm, unyielding voice, "Gordon! Get out here and face your death!"

The wooden door creaked open with a low, eerie groan. Then, a man stepped out-Gordon, his back hunched beneath a grotesque lump of muscle, his face sharp and sinister. He let out a twisted, raspy laugh.

Gordon laughed, "Kid, you've got some balls. Tell me how many people did you brought along? Go ahead and call them out. I'm not afraid.

Andrew shook his head. "I didn't bring anyone. It's just me."

Gordon's eyes narrowed. He let out a cold chuckle. "Yeah, right. Like you'd dare come alone. I know your game you're trying to bait me into some kind of ambush, aren't you?"

Convinced he had unraveled Andrew's supposed trick, Gordon threw his head back and laughed hoarsely.

"Andrew, you're still green. If you

want to outsmart me, you've got a long way to go," he taunted. "So why don't you just call out your little backup squad? It makes no

difference to me. Killing one or killing them all-it's all the same!

Andrew's expression did not change. In two long strides, he closed the distance between them. He said coldly, "I already told you-I came alone. Or are you really so paranoid? Always scared of being ambushed."

He mocked, "You should've thought this through. For me to deal with a hunchbacked coward like you, why the hell would I need backup?"

Without warning, Andrew launched a punch straight at Gordon's face. The move was simple, direct, and brutal.

Gordon's face twisted with rage. "You arrogant punk! You've gone too far! You're digging your own grave!" He threw up both palms to block the punch and twisted his body to counterattack.

With a guttural snarl, Gordon unleashed his signature technique-Plaguebringer's Palm.

It was a deadly strike, one that had earned him a reputation as a martial arts legend. He could not believe Andrew dared to take him so lightly.

Who the hell charges in without a plan? Was this kid really so reckless, or just plain suicidal?

Before long, the two palms collided with a deafening impact.

A sharp, pulsing shockwave rippled through the air. Gordon's eyes widened as a strange, piercing force surged through his arms. Soon, a dull pain crept along his veins, like something was trying to burst them apart from the inside.

He exhaled through clenched teeth and quickly stepped back, his face tight with disbelief.

"You actually dared to block my Plaguebringer's Palm head-on?" he rasped, eyes locked on Andrew. "Do you have a death wish? Don't you know that even a single touch could poison your bloodstream, destroy your organs, and weaken your strength?"