Chapter 66
Linda’s sobs came out shaky. But she fought desperately to hold them back.
Craig and Rafael couldn’t help but feel miserable too.
Laura clung to Linda, refusing to let go.
Claudio kept his eyes on Linda, his eyes dark and silent, saying nothing.
Claudio occasionally glanced at the High Sanctum of Archinagi crew, his eyes glinting with a chilling coldness.
Linda’s crying ruined the mood Marietta had worked so hard to set up.
That made a lot of people glance over at the High Sanctum of Archmagi crew, and someone guessed aloud, “Did they bully that girl or something? Why else would she be crying like that?”
One female cultivator sneered. “Seriously? She just showed up, and that High Sanctum of Archmagi girl went straight to her knees in front of her. Is she playing the victim? Is she just making it look like someone bullied her so everyone pays attention?”
Another female cultivator said coldly, “She probably thinks nobody knows what really went down at Cloud Peak Cave, so she’s pulling this stunt.”
Another said, “My junior was there and already filled us in. Marietta lost an archery contest to the First Unity Coven girl, but she lost it and wouldn’t accept the loss. She forced herself to use her divine bow’s power.”
She added, “Her senior, worried she’d hurt herself, went all out with his Gilded Phase power and ambushed the First Unity Coven girl. It was only because the First Unity Coven guy risked his life to protect his junior sister that she made it out alive.”
Another person chimed in, “I heard the same thing. Matthew got wrecked because the First Unity Coven girl got pissed and hit him with a sky–splitting attack. He couldn’t handle it and got seriously hurt.”
“Serves him right!” someone scoffed.
“If his junior can’t handle losing, he should’ve just pulled her back and admitted defeat. Instead, he went and ambushed someone. So of course, the First Unity Coven seniors would step in for payback,” another person added.
“So what was Marietta doing, dropping to her knees in front of her? She’s the one who got her senior hurt with her stubbornness, and now she’s kneeling to the First Unity Coven girl? Is she out of her mind?” someone else muttered.
Someone replied, “She’s just trying to control the narrative. If she speaks up first, people who don’t know what really happened will think the First Unity Coven girl did something to her senior.
“People love to gossip. Once she starts talking, it’ll be too late for the First Unity Coven to set the record straight.”
“Damn, she’s got some real tricks up her sleeve,” another person muttered.
The female cultivators chimed in one after another, laying out the whole story. When others asked around, they realized it was true. Then Neil shouted, “There’s something else nobody knows! It was the First Unity Coven girl who helped us all wake up from that dream!”
Neil continued, “Her sword broke the seal at the dream entrance and saved everyone! She’s the one who saved my brother and Rafael!”
“So that’s what happened,” someone said in realization.
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Chapter 66
Everyone suddenly understood, and now they looked at Linda with newfound warmth and respect.
As for the fact that Linda got the companion spirit, Neil didn’t breathe a word about it.
165 vouchers
Matthew looked pale, barely able to stand. While Toney, though still on his feet, went from white to beet red as people started whispering and pointing fingers at him, his cheeks burning with shame.
“What do you people know!” Toney snapped, his voice rising. “These guys were working together behind our backs! They slipped us poison while my senior was distracted, and that’s why we’re in this mess!”
“What kind of cultivator uses poison? Only Malefic Casters would stoop that low!” Toney shouted.
A sect that specialized in both medicine and poison just went silent, staring at him.
Is he calling us out?‘ someone from the sect thought.
“Toney, you’ve got it all wrong. Medicine and poison go hand in hand. Poison’s just another kind of medicine. It’s all about how you use it. Using poison doesn’t make you a Malefic Caster,” one of them said.
Another person added, “So what if someone uses poison? In the cultivation world, it’s survival of the fittest. If you lose, don’t go blaming it on Malefic Casters.”
Toney’s face turned bright red with anger. “I wasn’t talking about you guys! I meant him!”
Craig found himself suddenly singled out.
Craig nearly snorted in exasperation, but he put on his best innocent face and said, “Sure, my affinity is a little unusual, but let me ask you something. When your junior tried to ambush my senior with an arrow, was I just supposed to let her get away with it and not fight back?”
He added, “Am I not allowed to stand up for my senior?” He stepped forward, meeting Toney’s gaze head–on.
Toney snapped, “But you used poison!”
Craig explained, “As I said, my affinity isn’t like everyone else’s. Once I tap into them, I can’t really control what happens. I was desperate. My senior was already exhausted, and I had no other way to protect her. I’m an apothecary, it’s not like I have
other tricks up my sleeve.”
any
With that, Craig gave the crowd a respectful nod and sighed. “Sorry for making a fuss, everyone. I know my affinity is weird, and what comes out of them can be really dangerous.
“But I panicked. If I hadn’t done it, my senior would’ve died on the spot. I just…” Craig pressed a hand to his eye, choked up. “I really didn’t know what else to do.”
‘Playing the victim, huh? Everyone can pull that off. Rafael thought.
Rafael just flopped down on the ground and said, “Craig, it’s pointless. We’re just a tiny sect. Nobody listens to us. But them? The High Sanctum of Archmagi is the almighty top three.
“If they want to push us around, all it takes is a couple of words. We’re just trying to protect ourselves, but they act like we’re the ones getting all the benefits.”
Craig let out a sigh too. “It’s all because we didn’t try hard enough, I guess.”
Rafael agreed. “Totally.”
The crowd just stared at them, speechless. Everyone was left feeling pretty conflicted.
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someone though. Who are these in priligies even doing, pretending to be all fragile and pitifull Weren’t they the ones saying anyone who hasn’t hit the Gilded Phase by fifteen is a loser?
Kafael knew this was his rumors started
Toney got totally shut down by Rafael and Craig, and when he couldn’t win the argument, he got so worked up that he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Everyone jumped in shock.
Rafael immediately threw up his hands. “Whoa, this has nothing to do with us! He got so mad, he coughed up blood all on his own.”
Matthew watched the drama play out, his voice rough as he called, “Marietta, come back here!
Only then did everyone realize Marietta was still on her knees,
Marietta’s eyes shimmered with tears as she glanced at Matthew. She forced herself up, her steps shaky and uneven as she limped over to him.
Rafael looked at her, confused, “Come on, we’re all cultivators here. Kneeling isn’t exactly gonna snap your bones, is it?”
The crowd and Marietta were at a loss for words.
Any sympathy people might’ve felt for her instantly vanished thanks to Rafael’s comment. Marietta wobbled her way back to Matthew, her voice trembling as she cried, “I just wanted to beg for the antidote for you, Matthew.”
Matthew had been ready to scold her, but after hearing that, he just let it go and said hoarsely, “Forget it.”
Just then, someone spoke up. “I’m not great with words, but…”
Craig and Rafael both shot him a look. “If you know you’re bad at this, why even open your mouth?”
Robin just stared, speechless.
Robin gritted his teeth and said, “I just want to be fair. We all came in for the same trial. Yeah, we were rivals, but it’s over now. Once we walk out that door, we’re all on the same side.
“Since Matthew and Toney already lost, shouldn’t you just lift the poison and give them the antidote? Otherwise, it’ll look bad for all of us.”
Homer nodded in agreement when he heard that. After all, this was the High Sanctum of Archmagi.
Crossing the High Sanctum of Archmagi would only bring them trouble, and the rest of them might end up suffering for it
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With everyone backing him up, Robin felt even more sure of himself. He was totally in the right.
Rafael stared at that arrogant mug in front of him, instantly recognizing Robin, the same guy who’d pulled those illusion tricks at the inn and mocked them.
“You just can’t keep that mouth shut,” Rafael muttered.
Robin frowned.
Linda’s voice came out hoarse. “I can give you the antidote.”
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4:18 pm Fr
Chapter 66
At her words, everyone turned to look at Linda. She had already composed herself. Her eyes were still red at the corners, but her expression was calm and collected.
Matthew and Toney glanced over at Linda too.
Linda fixed her gaze on Marietta. “Admit you messed up and apologize. Do that, and you get the antidote.
Craig and Rafael chimed in, “Exactly! Say you’re sorry!”
Robin and Homer couldn’t say a word against that. All she had to do was admit she was wrong and apologize, hardly an outrageous demand.
But that one demand left Marietta frozen in place, like she’d just been struck by lightning. Her lips quivered, and her whole body shook.
“It was you!” Marietta blurted out, her voice trembling.
‘I knew it was you! Linda!‘ Marietta thought, her mind spinning.
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.
