Chapter 81
Linda’s heart tightened as she listened.
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She’d heard that kind of voice before. Her father, when he was dying, had sounded just as weak and struggling to hold on.
Even though he tried so hard, young Linda could tell his life force was already drained. In his final moments, he’d urged her to obey her teachers and remain at the High Sanctum of Archmagi.
But she hadn’t managed to do it.
Just Looking sounded a lot younger.
From the sound of his voice, he was probably twenty–four at most.
But he sounded like he’d been sick for
ages.
Linda thought, ‘Someone buying this many Sigil had to be a mage. So why did he sound so frail?‘
Moneybags looked surprised. “Dude, why do you sound so wiped out?”
Just Looking answered quietly, “Pulled an all–nighter cultivating.”
Moneybags chuckled, “Hey, man, take care of yourself. Burning the candle at both ends will catch you.”
“What?” Just Looking sounded puzzled.
up with
Moneybags said, “Alright, buy as much as you want. This vendor isn’t going anywhere. I’ll take ten more sets, and give me ten Vellum of Safeguarding too.”
Linda said, “One is enough.”
“No way, I burn through them fast,” Moneybags insisted.
Moneybags waved his hand and sent 600,000 credits straight to Linda. After the cut, she pocketed 420,000,
Linda said, “The Vellum of Safeguarding goes for 10,000 each.”
‘Wait, he just dropped 600,000 for thirty Sigil. That’s 20,000 apiece. Guess he really doesn’t care about the price,‘ Linda thought.
“Keep the change. Just make sure you deliver on time,” Moneybags said.
Linda paused. “Give me three days, I’ve got some stuff to handle.”
Moneybags said, “Don’t spend all your time in seclusion. See that guy next to you? That’s what happens when you lose control during cultivation.”
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Chapter 81
Linda didn’t bother replying. She looked at Just Looking and said, “Three days for delivery.”
Just Looking replied softly, “Okay.”
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After pocketing the Luster Shards, Linda glanced at her empty stall. ‘Maybe I should start selling some elixirs too,’ she thought.
Linda left the Mystic Exchange and made her way back to the Violet–Soul Atelier. The moment she arrived, she saw three people hanging out by the front gate.
Laura was eyeing the fruit in the courtyard with obvious anticipation, her gaze practically glued to it as if she was counting the days until it finally ripened.
Craig slung an arm around Rafael’s shoulders, suggesting, “I think we should crank up our training a notch.”
Rafael groaned, “Craig, you’re always the one throwing punches, and I’m the one getting smacked around. If we make it tougher, I’m still the one getting beat up.”
Craig replied, “Your mentor said we have to keep up with our cultivation, but we can’t slack off on body training either. He told me to keep a close eye on you.”
“Last time you hit me so hard I couldn’t get out of bed for two days,” Rafael complained.
“Hey, I’m not that bad, am I? If you think I’m tough, try going a round with Laura next time,” Craig teased.
Rafael said, “Just say you want me dead.”
Craig said, “That’s settled. My mentor’s back, so you’ll have all the medicine you need after I’m done with you.”
Rafael was speechless.
Linda was listening to their usual back–and–forth as she stepped out of the Hermit’s Sanctum. “Laura, Craig, Rafael.”
The three of them whipped around at once,
“Linda!” they called out together.
Laura zipped over to Linda like a gust of wind. When she saw Linda was alright, her face lit up with a bright smile, and she handed over a shiny red apple.
“Here,” Laura said.
Linda took the apple, noticing it was still warm from Laura’s hands. She wondered how long Laura had been holding onto it. Linda’s heart melted a little. “Laura.”
Laura said, “It’s sweet.”
Linda replied, “Yeah.”
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Linda took a bite, then smiled and echoed, “It’s sweet.”
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Craig grinned, “Seems like you’ve really recovered, Linda. Your aura’s looking much steadier now.”
Linda nodded. “A few days ago, my mentor gave me two tier–four medicines. I’ve already got two of my Gilded Cores fixed up.”
Craig let out a mysterious chuckle. “Congrats, looks like you can get those last three Gilded Cores patched up
too.”
Linda was caught off guard.
Craig burst out laughing, hands on his hips. “My mentor’s back!”
The First Unity Coven’s one and only Apothecary had finally returned.
At the Verdant Ridge, Aurelio clutched his chest in agony, staring at the mess. “Laurence, I get you want a plot to grow spirit food, but did you really have to yank out all my witch–weeds?”
Laurence, acting like he couldn’t care less, rolled up his pant legs and tugged his straw hat down. “How am I supposed to grow spirit food if I don’t use your witch–weed fields?”
“I’ve got this huge field, and every time you plant something, it dies! Is there even a single patch left alive?” Aurelio dropped to his knees, bawling as he looked at all the dead witch–weeds.
Laurence just shrugged. “How should I know? I followed Miracle Manual to the letter, but every time I try, it just withers.”
Aurelio stared at Verdant Ridge, which had been a sea of green when he left. Now it was nothing but barren dirt. He dropped to his knees, unable to process what he was seeing.
“My fields…” he cried out.
All of it was dead.
Aurelio bawled, tears streaming down his face.
“Mentor!” Four figures swooped in astride their swords, two men and two women, each with an imposing
presence.
Aurelio leapt straight up from the ground, brushed the hay off his clothes, and put on his aloof, mentorly demeanor.
He gave a dignified nod to Rafael, who’d stumbled in first thanks to his shaky sword–riding, and said, “Graig, right? You’ve shot up quite a bit.”
Rafael was speechless. ‘Wait, what?‘
Craig was speechless.
Laurence was stunned.
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Chapter 81
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Craig blocked Rafael with his arm, locked eyes with Aurelio, deadpan. “Mentor, I’m Craig Chavez.”
Rafael straightened up and bowed respectfully. “Sir, I’m Rafael Vaughn, ranked fourth of the 101st generation.”
Linda bowed as well. “Ranked sixth, Linda Barber.”
Laura, seeing everyone else bow, quickly followed suit. “Ranked second, Laura Farrell.”
Laurence shook his hat and called out, “Come on, everyone, get a good look at him. Otherwise, you might not even recognize him if you bump into him outside.”
Aurelio sent a quiet voice transmission, “Cut it out, will you?”
Laurence was already setting up the Seance Circle. “Aurelio just mixed up his own student again.”
Everyone chimed in, “Figures, that’s so him.”
Aurelio cleared his throat, looking at Craig, who was so upset he looked ready to cry. He said sheepishly, “Well, you were just a little kid when I left.”
Craig put on a show of wiping his eyes. “Yeah, mentor, you left for fifteen whole years…”
Craig started out faking it, but the more he spoke, the more the hurt felt real.
He said, “You just ditched me and ran off, dumped a pile of books on me, and bailed. If Laurence hadn’t looked after me, I wouldn’t have had a clue where to go or what to do…”
Aurelio scratched his head, looking sheepish. ‘Guess I do feel kinda bad about it,‘ he thought.
He said, “This time, I’ll be sticking around for a good while.”
“How long?” Craig asked.
“I am probably not heading out again for the next ten years,” Aurelio replied.
‘First things first, I gotta save Verdant Ridge from total disaster,‘ Aurelio thought.
Craig gave a little smirk, clearly not trusting Aurelio one bit, but honestly, he wasn’t bothered about that right
now.
He pulled Aurelio aside. “Mentor, can you check on Linda first? She had her Gilded Core shattered, protecting
us.”
Aurelio quickly replied, “I know!”
As he spoke, Aurelio looked Linda over with obvious approval, his grin growing wider the longer he looked. Then he chuckled, “Hey, Linda, want to be my disciple?”
Linda blinked, caught completely off guard.
Verdant Ridge was swept by a chill wind, ice, and snow dusting the just–sprouted witch–weeds. From
ir, a
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Chapter 81
voice sounded, calm and a little teasing. “Looks like you’re ready to die, huh?”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
