Free Web NovelChapter 285: The Stolen Ginseng and a Calculated Gambit
The Stolen Ginseng and a Calculated Gambit
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Time flowed quietly like water beneath a bridge, carrying hidden schemes and unseen ambitions toward an inevitable collision.
Far away in the Green Cliff Mountain region, the precious thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng had finally completed its journey.
The priceless medicinal treasure was carefully packed inside a specially designed portable freezer. Layers of insulation and preservation technology ensured that the spiritual herb remained in perfect condition during transport.
After arriving at the airport, the freezer was immediately transferred to a dedicated transport vehicle.
The assignment was simple.
Deliver the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng safely to the D’Aurelius family.
The driver had no idea that countless eyes were already watching this shipment.
Nor did he realize that the seemingly ordinary delivery had become the center of a dangerous struggle.
The afternoon sky hung low above the city.
Traffic moved steadily along the roads.
Everything appeared normal.
When the transport vehicle reached a small intersection, the traffic signal turned red.
The driver pressed the brakes. freewēbnoveℓ.com
The vehicle rolled to a smooth stop.
A few seconds later—
Bang!
A violent impact exploded from behind.
The entire vehicle lurched forward.
The driver was thrown against his seat.
"Damn!"
His face instantly darkened.
The collision wasn’t severe enough to cause serious damage, but it was enough to ruin his mood.
"Are you blind or what?"
He cursed under his breath.
Normally, he would have jumped out immediately to confront the other driver.
However, the cargo behind him was far too important.
His first concern wasn’t the accident.
It was the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng.
Turning his head nervously, he prepared to inspect the freezer.
Unfortunately for him, he never got the chance.
The doors of the black sedan behind him flew open.
Two figures rushed out with astonishing speed.
Their movements were swift and coordinated.
Before the driver could react, one of them yanked open the vehicle door.
The startled man barely had time to widen his eyes.
A sharp hand chop descended.
Thud.
His vision instantly went black.
The unfortunate driver collapsed unconscious before he could utter another word.
The entire operation was smooth and efficient.
Clearly, this wasn’t their first time doing something like this.
The two men were none other than Black Ghost and White Ghost.
After knocking the driver unconscious, the brothers immediately moved toward the freezer.
White Ghost swallowed nervously.
Even after receiving Steffan’s orders, he still felt pressure whenever he thought about Julian D’Aurelius.
"Big brother, let’s make this quick."
Black Ghost nodded.
Without wasting a second, he opened the freezer.
A burst of cold air escaped.
Nestled inside was a snow-white medicinal root.
Its surface glistened faintly beneath the light.
The thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng.
Even at a glance, one could tell it was an extraordinary treasure.
A look of satisfaction flashed across Black Ghost’s face.
The mission had gone surprisingly smoothly.
"Let’s go."
Confirming that the item was intact, one brother stayed in the car to drive, and the two vehicles turned around and left, one following the other.
Their vehicles disappeared into traffic within moments.
The entire robbery had taken less than a minute.
By the time anyone noticed something was wrong, they were already long gone.
...
Silverhaven City, Ashbourne family.
As the richest man in Silverhaven, Dario Ashbourne hadn’t been happy these past two years.
The luxurious Ashbourne estate stood proudly atop a scenic hill.
Magnificent gardens surrounded the mansion.
Fountains sparkled beneath the sunlight.
Servants moved quietly through the corridors.
To outsiders, it seemed like a paradise of wealth and prestige.
Yet none of those things could ease Dario Ashbourne’s suffering.
Because the problem troubling him wasn’t money.
It wasn’t power.
It wasn’t status.
It was something every man considered sacred.
Two years ago, he went on a trip to an undeveloped mountain.
The scenery had been breathtaking.
Towering cliffs pierced the clouds.
Ancient forests stretched endlessly across the landscape.
Hidden streams flowed through valleys untouched by civilization.
During that journey, he met a beautiful local woman.
What began as a chance encounter quickly turned into a passionate affair.
He spent an entire week living alongside her in the mountains.
To Dario, it had been nothing more than another romantic adventure.
At the end of the week, he left behind some money and returned to Silverhaven without another word.
This was his usual way.
He’d sleep with the woman, give her money, but taking responsibility was out of the question.
At the time, he hadn’t thought much about it.
Half a month after returning home, however, something changed.
Something was wrong.
At first, he ignored it.
Then concern became panic.
His most prized possession as a man suddenly stopped working.
Worse still, it appeared to be slowly deteriorating.
The situation became so serious that he sought medical treatment immediately.
After consulting numerous renowned doctors, he eventually received a terrifying answer.
He had been cursed.
The diagnosis left him stunned.
Furious and desperate, he immediately sent people back to search for the mysterious woman.
Unfortunately, it was as though she had vanished into thin air.
No clues.
No witnesses.
No trace.
For the past two years, he had devoted countless resources toward finding a cure.
Business no longer interested him.
Meetings became meaningless.
Profits lost their appeal.
His days were spent visiting famous doctors, healers, and specialists from every corner of the country.
Yet despite consuming countless medicines and undergoing numerous treatments, his condition only continued to worsen.
Some doctors eventually offered a final recommendation.
Remove it.
Early removal would supposedly prevent future complications.
The moment he heard those words, Dario exploded.
His bodyguards nearly beat the unfortunate doctor into the hospital.
What man could give up his own manhood?
Even if it’s useless, keeping it is better than losing it.
It’s the essence of his parents, after all!
For a long time, despair became his constant companion.
Then Steffan appeared.
Like a ray of hope in endless darkness.
Steffan examined his condition and began treatment.
The results were immediate.
For the first time in years, Dario felt genuine improvement.
Hope returned.
That was why he treated Steffan as an honored guest.
At this moment, the two men sat inside a luxurious study.
The room smelled faintly of sandalwood.
Ancient paintings decorated the walls.
A chessboard rested between them.
Dario carefully moved a chess piece.
His expression remained calm, but the urgency hidden within his eyes could not be concealed. freewēbnoveℓ.com
Across from him, Steffan sat leisurely.
His black hair was neatly combed.
His posture was relaxed.
He appeared completely unhurried.
The contrast between them was obvious.
After spending time with this outstanding young man, Dario grew increasingly fond of him.
Steffan possessed remarkable appearance, extraordinary medical skills, and exceptional martial prowess.
Everything about him radiated confidence.
To Dario, he seemed like a dragon soaring above the clouds.
Unable to hold back any longer, Dario finally asked,
"Young Master Steffan, when will the last medicinal ingredient arrive?"
His gaze was filled with anticipation.
Steffan calmly placed another chess piece onto the board.
"No need to worry. My people are already on the way. It should arrive soon."
His voice remained steady and composed.
Dario immediately relaxed slightly.
Yet inwardly, Steffan felt somewhat disdainful.
Damn, it’s just about your crotch issues, asking every five minutes. Annoying!
If not for the Ashbourne family’s immense wealth, he, the Martial Art King of Africa, would never stoop to treating an old man’s problem.
Fortunately, today’s developments had greatly improved his mood.
The mission in Valemont had progressed exactly as planned.
Black Ghost and White Ghost had successfully snatched the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng from Julian D’Aurelius.
The success made everything feel much smoother.
A faint smile almost appeared on Steffan’s face.
He didn’t know why Julian wanted the ginseng too.
But that wasn’t important.
The treasure was now in his possession.
Soon enough, Julian would discover the truth.
When that happened, he would naturally connect the matter to the Ashbourne family.
And once a little provocation was added to the situation, the Ashbourne family would become even more determined to stand on Steffan’s side.
A perfect opportunity.
His fingers lightly tapped the table.
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Unable to deal with the opponent through force for now, he would start with economic warfare!
