"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 thanwomen.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 andpossibly 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.""Leander Ashcroft?" Aria echoed blankly. Unfamiliar with the name, she quickly lost interest and turned her attention elsewhere."Daphne, are you heading to the Dual Meridian Sect too?" she asked."No, we're here for something else," Daphne replied.Then she glanced at Leander and smiled. "They came all the way from Edgemontale for the suitor-selection ceremony. It wasn't easy. Let's drop them downstream first, then continue with our plan."Leander, understanding Daphne's generous nature, nodded. "Of course. We're already at the estuary, so there's no hurry. We'll take them there first."The siblings expressed their gratitude repeatedly to Daphne but treated Leander with casual indifference.The boat ride to Dual Meridian Sect took only half an hour. Leander handled the oars expertly, while Aria and Daphne sat together, chatting."Daphne, do you think my brother can secure the top spot and catch the heiress' attention?" Aria asked.Daphne smiled faintly, unsure how to answer.She knew the current heiress of Dual Meridian Sect. A year ago, the girl's realm had already rivaled her own Although the sect maintained a low profile and she wasn't listed among the Great Seven Geniuses, her strength matched that of Daphne and Ethan. According to her calculations, the current heir of Dual Meridian Sect had undoubtedly reached the Martial Sovereign realm. Several young practitioners attending the suitor selection ceremony had already passed by at the peak of Elite Grandmaster level Even these alone were far beyond someone like Grant, who was only at the Advanced Grandmaster level. Not to mention, there were likely a few half-Sovereigns-or perhaps even full Martial Sovereigns-among the contestants. With so many top contenders, Grant had no chance of taking first place; it was nothing more than a daydream.But she didn't want to discourage the siblings, so she let out a soft chuckle. "Considering Grant's cultivation, I'd say he has about a 70 percent chance."When Aria heard Daphne's words, her face lit up. "Grant, did you hear that? Even Daphne thinks you have a 70 percent shot. You better bring your A-game, got it?" Her eyes shimmered with excitement and hope.Steelblade Hatt sounded prestigious, but the reality was different. Only her dad practiced martial arts, and hewas 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 wouldselect 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 ofSteelblade Hall would rise, becoming known throughout Astria.Leander rowed in silence, a faint smile playing on his lips, but he kept his thoughtsto 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 Sectwill open the Dragon Gate. They say there are magical beasts inside, enshrinedthere 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 oldlegend 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.noveldramaA 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."