Lauren was steadily recovering.

Over the next few days, Andrew started getting up early to train in martial arts, bringing along Aspen and the overly enthusiastic Francesca. Joining them were Natasha and Dylan, martial artists from rough backgrounds who had survived on raw instinct and brute strength.

Their paths had been messy and unrefined, leading them toward a dead end. Nonetheless, Andrew guided them back onto the right track, introducing them to proper martial discipline and real combat form.

Though neither of them said it out loud, both Natasha and Dylan already held a deep, unspoken gratitude toward him.

Andrew said, "Remember this—there are no shortcuts in martial arts. It doesn't matter if you're a natural or a slow learner. If you want to climb high in this field, you have to put in the hard work."

The morning breeze already carried a slight chill as autumn approached. On the lawn outside Serenity Villa, Andrew stood with his hands behind his back, addressing the four t