The King Of War Returns (Jaden Rift) novel Chapter 114

The tension in the air was suffocating. The shattered remains of the Blake Family’s front gate still lay scattered across the marble driveway like broken pride, and in the middle of the wreckage stood Jaden — calm, unbothered, a devilish smirk curling at the edge of his lips.

Across from him, the Blake Family’s guards hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. Their strongest men — sprawled out on the ground, groaning in agony — had been dismantled like rag dolls. Fear crept into their bones.

The elderly man, dressed in a traditional black robe with silver linings, stepped forward. His face was sharp, carved with years of experience, but now flushed with rage.

“How dare you, you arrogant mongrel!” the old man barked, his voice carrying authority. “The Blake Family stands on generations of martial arts supremacy and military prestige. You—” He pointed a trembling finger at Jaden. “—dare slander us?!”

Before Jaden could reply, Captain Steven stepped beside the elder — massive, broad-shouldered, rippling with muscle beneath his tactical combat uniform. His expression twisted with hatred.

“You’ve got guts, boy… kicking down the Blake Family’s gate like it’s nothing. Seems you don’t understand the meaning of death,” he sneered, cracking his knuckles like gunshots echoing through the compound.

Jaden casually shifted his weight, planting one foot on the unconscious body of a fallen guard as if he were resting it on a footstool. His gaze remained cool, predatory. “Only you two?” His voice was calm, laced with disdain. “Tell your master to come out. I’m not here to waste time with clowns.”

“Arrogant bastard!” Captain Steven roared, his veins bulging with fury. “You won’t meet our master! You’ll meet your death right here, at my hands!” His eyes burned with murderous intent as he charged forward, fist cocked back like a sledgehammer.

“I’m Captain Steven,” he bellowed. “Remember the name of the man who ends you!”

But Jaden barely moved.

With effortless grace, he tilted his body to the side, Steven’s fist missing by a mile.

Smack!

Jaden’s backhand landed square across Steven’s face, the force snapping his head to the side like a rag doll. The sound echoed, sharp and humiliating. Steven crashed onto the floor, his cheek already swelling, eyes wide with disbelief.

Jaden’s smirk deepened. “Captain, you say? That’s cute.”

Steven scrambled to sit up, dazed, when Jaden casually strolled over and — without warning — delivered another open-handed slap that sent him sprawling again.

“Steward?” Jaden repeated with mock amusement, towering over them. “You’re all titles, no substance.”

Elder Hart winced, cupping his bruised cheek, his pride shattered. His voice cracked, desperation seeping in. “P-Please… enough… If you keep hitting me, I… I might not make it.”

Steven, now bleeding from the mouth, raised a shaky hand in surrender. “Big Brother… we were blind… We underestimated you… Please, spare us…”

The once-fearsome guards, witnessing their leaders humiliated, froze in place, paralyzed by fear. None dared to move, their courage evaporating.

Jaden’s gaze darkened as he swept his eyes over the trembling crowd. His voice was low, dangerous. “All of you… get the hell out of my sight.”

The guards didn’t hesitate.

Like frightened rats abandoning a sinking ship, they scrambled, pushing past each other in their rush to flee. Some tripped over the bodies of their fallen comrades, others bolted toward the mansion, but none dared to linger.