Legend of Wyatt-Chapter 1493: Ruthless Leslie Howard

The white-haired elder, whom Leslie Howard referred to as ’Grandfather Mountain,’ was none other than the Howard Family’s Second Elder, Koen Howard.

From a young age, Leslie grew up under his care and was treated as though he were Koen’s own dear grandson.

Koen’s affection for Leslie far exceeded even Valentin Howard’s—Leslie’s father.

This was because Valentin’s love was divided in half between Leslie and Everly.

But Koen gave all his love exclusively to Leslie.

"Leslie, your father is not a foolish man. If he’s trusting him, it suggests that the man could indeed be someone from a ’seven-stream faction.’"

Koen shook his head and said with a smile.

"Grandfather Mountain, you also said ’could be.’ What if he actually isn’t?"

Leslie replied, "My father kindly invited him and planned to host him at the feast. Yet, he declined... claiming he had a meeting with his elder. If I had to guess, that’s most likely just an excuse."

Perhaps, even Leslie himself didn’t realize.

The casual lie he spun to belittle Wyatt Barnes in front of the elder was inadvertently true.

It was, in fact, Wyatt’s excuse.

"So, he left?"

Koen asked.

"Yes."

Leslie nodded.

"If he harbored any ulterior motives against the Howard Family, he likely wouldn’t have declined your father’s invitation... therefore, he seems to be harmless."

As the saying goes, ’Older ginger is spicier,’ Koen’s insight was thorough.

"Grandfather Mountain, while that may be true, what if he’s deliberately acting mysterious, retreating only to advance?"

Leslie grew increasingly anxious upon hearing Koen’s words.

If it were up to him alone, he wouldn’t dare tamper with things silently.

Moreover, his sister had told him previously that Wyatt—a young man with the surname Duan—was anything but an easy opponent. Even when he assassinated Lucas Walker, it was an instantaneous kill.

Leslie admitted his strength was only marginally superior to Lucas Walker’s.

"Hmm, that is indeed a possibility."

Koen contemplated the idea and nodded slightly.

"Grandfather Mountain, whether he’s a threat or not is something we can verify by monitoring the inn he’s staying at overnight... I want to see whether he truly has an elder coming or if he’s lying!"

Leslie’s eyes gleamed coldly as he spoke.

"Leslie, you seem highly antagonistic towards him?"

Koen faintly detected something amiss. Having watched Leslie grow up, he naturally understood his temperament.

"My intuition tells me he’s definitely plotting something against the Howard Family!"

Leslie realized he’d let his emotions slip in front of Koen, so he quickly added, "Anyone scheming against us should not be allowed to live! If he indeed lied today, by nightfall, he won’t remain in this world!"

As his words extended, Leslie’s face hardened with killing intent, as though frosted over.

"Grandfather Mountain, accompany me. We’ll watch him in secret. If his elder doesn’t show, we’ll know he’s deceitful, which means he harbors impure intentions. Then, we’ll need to eliminate him to avert future disasters!"

Leslie spoke with brutality, accompanying his words with a sharp gesture symbolizing assassination.

"Leslie, even if he lied, it only proves he’s unwilling to accept the Family Head’s banquet. This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s plotting against the Howard Family."

Koen frowned, his tone serious, "Furthermore, it doesn’t prove he isn’t affiliated with a seven-stream faction... Even if he is, declining a verbal invitation doesn’t imply hostility. Some individuals dislike grand and festive settings."

"If we recklessly act against him, we’ll most likely provoke the force backing him... If his backers are indeed from a ’seven-stream faction,’ it would spell disaster for the Howard Family!"

Koen spoke with dire concern.

"Grandfather Mountain, I’ve already considered this... If we leave the family estate, we can avoid walking through the main entrance so that no one notices our departure. Even if he ends up dead, no one would suspect the Howard Family’s involvement."

Leslie revealed his well-conceived plan.

Seeing Koen hesitate, Leslie intensified his tone, "Grandfather Mountain, the saying goes, ’Better to err on the side of action than regret in avoidance!’ He exudes danger... Keeping him alive will undoubtedly bring calamity to the Howard Family!"

Observing Koen’s furrowed brow relaxing slightly at his words, Leslie gritted his teeth and fell to his knees with a loud thud.

"Leslie, what are you doing? Get up, quickly!"

Koen rushed to his feet to help Leslie up.

But Leslie remained resolute, refusing to stand.

"Grandfather Mountain, please trust me just this once... Are you willing to see the Howard Family destroyed? You promised you’d live to see me become the Howard Family’s head. If the family is annihilated, what will be left for me to lead?"

Leslie spoke with fervor, punctuating his plea by fiercely bowing his head to the floor. His forehead split open, blood dripping vividly.

At that moment, a flicker of cunning crossed his gaze.

Because Leslie’s head was lowered, Koen couldn’t see it.

Even if he hadn’t lowered his head, Koen might not have noticed.

"Leslie, Grandfather Mountain agrees with you."

Seeing the blood streaking down Leslie’s upheld forehead, Koen felt his heart twist as if carved by knives.

His entire life had been devoted to the Martial Dao.

Besides a failed romantic endeavor in his youth, he had always been alone, without spouse or children.

Leslie’s arrival was a beacon of light, illuminating the dark recesses of his heart.

From then on, he was no longer lonely. He now had someone he cherished and cared for unconditionally.

For Leslie, he’d do anything, even die without hesitation.

Now, as he saw Leslie’s bleeding forehead, Koen cast aside his doubts and agreed without reservation.

At this moment, regret filled his heart.

Not for agreeing with Leslie—but for his initial hesitation.

If he’d agreed earlier, Leslie wouldn’t have needed to kneel and wouldn’t have injured himself to such an extent.

"Thank you, Grandfather Mountain, thank you!"

Though Leslie had anticipated Koen’s agreement, he still offered grateful expressions of ’false’ thanks.

"Grandfather Mountain, I’ll prepare two sets of stealth robes and masks."

Leslie said to Koen as he turned to leave.

"I happen to have those items, Leslie... Be patient, I’ll retrieve them from my room."

Koen stopped Leslie and walked toward his quarters.

"Wyatt, if you truly have an elder present, I won’t interfere... But if your elder doesn’t show tonight, it’ll be your day of reckoning!"

Leslie’s eyes flashed with malice as he silently vowed.

Everything Leslie knew about Wyatt came from his sister.

Deep down, Leslie was nearly certain Wyatt belonged to a seven-stream faction.

Only prodigious talents from such factions could possess a Saint Artifact inscribed with ’Three-Star Saint Markings.’

"According to Everly, the Saint Artifact in Wyatt’s possession carries multiple layers of complex Three-Star Saint Markings."

At this thought, Leslie’s desires surged anew.

Leslie’s goal for enlisting Koen wasn’t truly for the Howard Family’s safety; all his reasons were but pretexts.

His true aim was to kill Wyatt and seize everything Wyatt possessed.

This included the Saint Artifact etched with Three-Star Saint Markings, as well as rare Taoist Talismans carried by Wyatt.

In Leslie’s mind, these treasures constituted a fortune so immense that he’d stop at nothing to acquire them.

Despite being the Howard Family’s Young Master, Leslie knew their status as merely an eight-stream force couldn’t compare to that of a seven-stream faction.

Just like within Thames River City.

The Howard Family operated under the dominion of the Nine Sect Alliance.

This reality stemmed from the Nine Sect Alliance being composed of nine ’seven-stream sects.’

Any one of these sects could annihilate the Howard Family effortlessly.

In Thames River City, it wasn’t just the Howard Family; every eight-stream faction lived under the shadow of the Nine Sect Alliance.

Although Wyatt had saved his sister’s life, Leslie took no heed of it.

No matter what favor Wyatt may have done—even saving his own life—if he had possessions Leslie coveted, Leslie would stop at nothing to take them.

Soon, Koen returned, already outfitted in black stealth robes.

In his hands, he carried another set of stealth attire alongside two eerie masks sufficient to conceal their identities entirely.

"Grandfather Mountain, let’s depart!"

After donning his stealth outfit and mask, Leslie eagerly turned to Koen, his voice brimming with excitement.

Of course, Koen couldn’t see Leslie’s exhilaration through the mask covering his face.

"Alright."

Koen nodded and raised a hand, leading Leslie out of his courtyard and into the shrouded night.

As the Howard Family’s Second Elder, Koen’s cultivation level was certainly formidable.

All along the way, the guards patrolling the Howard Estate failed to notice Koen and Leslie’s concealed movements. Within moments, the pair had leaped from the walls of a secluded corner and left the estate behind.

Once outside the Howard Family premises, they disappeared down a remote street of Thames River City.

At the Howard Family reception hall.

"Father, do you think... Could this be related to when Wyatt killed Lucas Walker and took Elder Thaddeus’s Storage Ring, and I demanded Wyatt return Elder Thaddeus’s Storage Ring to me?"

Everly tried hard to recall anything significant.

"But Elder Thaddeus was part of the Howard Family, so asking him to return the Storage Ring was perfectly reasonable... If it really stemmed from that, doesn’t that make him unbearably petty?"

Everly scoffed.

"Everly, how am I supposed to advise you?"

Valentin chuckled wryly, finally understanding the cause.

"Elder Thaddeus was slain by Lucas Walker. Had Wyatt not intervened, not only would Elder Thaddeus’s Storage Ring have belonged to Lucas Walker, but even your own Storage Ring would’ve been lost as his spoils. Wyatt stepped in, killing Lucas Walker and saving you. Claiming Elder Thaddeus’s Storage Ring was only fair; how could you demand he return it to you?"

Valentin shook his head with a sigh.