From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 421

"We're buying that boat."

The voice was soft and pleasant, yet it carried a sharp edge—the kind that warned anyone not to cross her.

Leander and Daphne both turned toward the sound. From the reeds, a young man and woman emerged. The woman appeared to be just over 20, dressed in a pale-green gown. Her features were refined yet understated, though her brows carried a bold, almost boyish determination.

The young man, perhaps 18 or 19, wore simple sportswear and looked timid. Upon seeing Leander and Daphne, he instinctively stepped slightly behind the woman.

"Hey, sir!" the woman called out.

She cast a brief glance at Leander and Daphne before fixing her gaze on the elderly fisherman. "I heard your price. They offered ten thousand. I'll pay double. This boat is mine."

She thumped her chest with fearless swagger—a bravado more typical of men than women.

The old fisherman eyed the two bundles of cash on the ground and hesitated, but eventually shook his head.

"Sorry, miss. I've already sold it to these two. You're too late."

Her brows knitted in irritation. "What's that supposed to mean? You don't want more money?"

The fisherman let out a low chuckle. "It's not about the money. It's about honoring my word."

He turned and walked away, leaving the confident young woman standing there, momentarily at a loss.

Leander and Daphne exchanged a small smile and prepared to push off. Suddenly, the woman called out again.

"Wait!"

She looked at Leander, then turned to Daphne with a note of pleading. "Hey—I mean, miss, could you let us take this boat instead?"

She gestured to the young man behind her. "This is my brother. I'm bringing him to a matchmaking event. It's important for us."

"Matchmaking event?" Daphne's eyes flickered with recognition. She scrutinized them for a few seconds and then understood. "Are you heading to Dual Meridian Sect for their suitor-selection ceremony?"

The woman blinked in surprise. "You're a Martial Practitioner too?"

The woman had recently reached the Intermediate Grandmaster stage, while the young man was slightly stronger at Advanced Grandmaster. Daphne, however, had advanced to Martial Sovereign days ago; there was no way they could sense her true level.

Daphne smiled lightly. "I'm Daphne Florian."

The siblings froze.

"Daphne Florian? One of the Twin Stars of Highcliffe? The daughter of the Florian family?"

Among the young generation of Astria's martial world, Daphne's name was thunderous. Everyone knew it.

When Daphne nodded, the woman practically leaped with excitement.

"Oh my goodness! This trip is completely worth it! I finally get to see one of the legendary Twin Stars of Highcliffe!"

"Hi, Daphne. I'm Aria Clarke, and this is my brother, Grant Clarke. We're from Steelblade Hall in Edgemontale Desert. I'm taking him to the Dual Meridian Sect for the suitor-selection ceremony," Aria said brightly. Despite being slightly older than Daphne, she carried herself with an eager, youthful energy that made Daphne chuckle.

Then Aria looked at Leander. Though plainly dressed, he was strikingly handsome, radiating a quiet, magnetic presence. Shocked, she exclaimed, "Wait—are you Gareth's son? The other Twin Star of Highcliffe, Ethan Ashcroft?"

In Astria's young martial world, people assumed Ethan and Daphne were a pair and possibly engaged. No wonder she had confused Leander for Ethan.

Daphne covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Aria, you've got the wrong person. He's not Ethan. His name is Leander Ashcroft."

Steelblade Hall sounded prestigious, but the reality was different. Only her dad practiced martial arts, and he was a lone wanderer who had studied an old manual called Steelblade Six Forms. They were somewhat known in Edgemontale, yes, but almost no one across Astria had ever heard of them.

She had dragged Grant all this way, hoping the heiress of Dual Meridian Sect would select him as a husband and train alongside him in the Dual Insight Technique.

If that happened, riding the momentum of Dual Meridian Sect, the name of Steelblade Hall would rise, becoming known throughout Astria.

Leander rowed in silence, a faint smile playing on his lips, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at Midriver Isle, downstream along the Lyradon River. Leander intended to drop them off and continue toward his own destination, but Aria spoke up.

"Daphne, are you really not coming to Dual Meridian Sect?"

She turned to Daphne. "During this suitor-selection ceremony, Dual Meridian Sect will open the Dragon Gate. They say there are magical beasts inside, enshrined there for over a hundred years. Don't you want to see it?"

Before Daphne could respond, Leander's eyes flickered.

"Dragon Gate?"

He had never heard of it before.

He paused, narrowing his eyes. Dual Meridian Sect was located in Whitville. The old legend of 'chasing the dragon' had taken place nearby. Everything seemed connected to what they called the Dragon Gate.

If there truly was a Deepcoil Dragon in Whitville, the locals—Dual Meridian Sect—would know best.

A plan took shape in his mind. He steered the boat toward the shore.

"Dani, let's go. We might as well see this suitor-selection ceremony that Dual Meridian Sect is hosting."