Revenge of the Hideous Lady (Xyla Quest)
Chapter 2019

"All right, Stan, I think you're right. What if Xyla hates us when she replaces out later?" Sharon Lindt asked.

Stanley Batton frowned deeply, feeling mixed emotions. "I'd rather be hated by her than have her go through an emotional breakdown."

Xyla Quest was already devastated. If she found out about her father's death, things would only worsen.

The consequences might be dire if the emotional stress takes a toll on her.

He wouldn't allow that to happen, even if Xyla ended up hating him.

He needed to protect his wife.

Sharon instantly nodded in agreement. "All right, Stan, I'll do as you say. What do we do next?”

Stanley furrowed his brows. "Send his body to the morgue but don't proceed with cremation just yet. Get an autopsy first."

His mother's eyes widened in surprise when she heard this. "Do you suspect there might be something behind his death?" He frowned again. "Just as a precaution."

It was better to investigate Jeremy Quest's death thoroughly since it happened a little too suddenly.

Sharon nodded immediately. "All right, I'll do as you say."

"Don't worry about it, I'll handle the rest," he assured her.

"Okay, but how will I face Xyla when she wakes up? I feel like I've indirectly caused her father's death," she said.

"Do what you need to, but don't be weird about it. And let's not jump to conclusions about the cause of his death." Since Betty showed up, Xyla had a premature delivery, and then her father died without a cause.

Perhaps there was a connection between those incidents?

The timing of these incidents seemed a little too coincidental.

The many questions in Stanley's mind terrified him.

Sharon inhaled deeply. "All right, don't worry. I'll put on a good show."

He didn't say anything. Instead, he silently hung up and called Zack Cassidy on the phone.

"My father-in-law just passed away. Keep this a secret, and don't let anyone else replace out. Also, send the body to the morgue and get an autopsy done.

"Make sure to hire more people to keep an eye on the morgue. Don't let anyone modify the autopsy results. Other than the pathologist, I don't want anyone else near the body, especially Betty Starmount," he added.

With that, Stanley hung up the phone and continued searching for Yaksha, feeling like he had hit rock-bottom.

Every step he made felt heavy.

During the mid-winter season, the mountain was covered in snow that reached his calves, leaving behind visible tracks with every step he took.

The cold northern winds continued to bellow, sounding like it would tear the entire world apart.

This place used to look lush and lively, but now, wilted and lifeless trees were everywhere he looked with no green plants in sight.

Although it was cold amidst the snow, he continued to walk forward calmly until he arrived at the peak.

There, he found Yaksha, squatting next to a boulder as he carefully dug a plant out.

He was wearing his mask, with a serious expression on his face.

Beside him, a large bamboo basket contained root plants of various shapes and sizes.

When he saw Stanley approaching,

he quickly stood up. "Why are you here? Didn't you tell me that Ms. Quest had a premature delivery? Why aren't you there with her? [was preparing to visit her after I received your call. However, I wanted to bring some useful herbs over before I depart."

Stanley immediately thought of his children when he mentioned 'premature delivery'.

Instantly, his facial expression turned gloomy again.

When Yaksha observed this, he promptly straightened and asked, "What's the matter? Did something happen to the children?"

"Yes." Stanley frowned again.

"What happened?" Yaksha asked in surprise.

Stanley then told him everything he knew.

"What? How could something like this happen?" Yaksha had a stunned look in his eyes and then quickly took a few steps back. "I didn't think your creditor would exact revenge on your children."

"I'm here to ask you if there's any way we could replace the nine-tailed demon fox," Stanley said with a look of urgency and panic in his eyes.

Although he rarely showed his emotions, he couldn't keep calm anymore.

Yaksha had a conflicted look in his eyes and didn't reply right away.

"You have a way, don't you?" Stanley immediately asked when he noticed the look in his eyes.

Clenching his fists tightly upon hearing the question, Yaksha then fixed a determined look at the younger man. "Yes, I do. Come with me." Stanley instantly sighed in relief. "Okay."

Yaksha didn't reply except to hand his bamboo basket over to Stanley before making his way down the mountain.

Stanley followed soon after, carefully carrying the basket on his back to the house.

The scent of burning sandalwood incense filled the old-fashioned living room.

It was sufficiently warm in the house, making it feel like summer as soon as they entered.

Yaksha quickly pointed at the couch.

"Have a seat. I'm heading upstairs.

Don't come with me, and don't

disturb me. Even if I don't come down for a long while, do not come looking for me.

"Also, you must stop anyone from disturbing me," he added.

"All right." Stanley immediately nodded.

Yaksha didn't say anything further and hurried upstairs.

After he was gone, Stanley silently sat on the couch and waited, feeling increasingly restless.

Meanwhile, back in Atlantis, Zack Cassidy had already transferred Jeremy Quest's body to a morgue via a helicopter.

Upon arrival at the morgue, the body was placed in a secret, darkened room inside.

Throughout the entire process, nobody was allowed to say a word about it.