Chapter 179


    vin and hispanions returned to their room to continue their soak in the bath.


    The medicinal spring indeed had healing properties; soaking in it felt as though warm energy was


    flowing through their Channel of Energy, invigorating flesh and bone alike. The warmth and tingling


    sensation at the site of their wounds were indescribablyforting.


    "A marriage alliance?" Balder realized with a start, no wonder the fierce beating.


    "What secrets does Botanic Haven hold?" Cedrick lifted his goblet, tossing back the contents in one


    gulp.


    "I''m not sure," vin deflected vaguely.


    "You pummeled Marak to..." Balder looked intently at vin, leaving the rest unspoken.


    "Since he witnessed the tournament, he''ll see me as a threat. With his arrogant temperament, he''ll


    eventually seek my demise. So... what I mean is, if you can strike first, why wait for the future,


    right?" vin turned his gaze to Balder.


    Thrashing Marak wasn''t just about releasing pent-up anger; it was about making a statement so the


    whole city would know Marak trespassed in The sh of Eight Orders.


    This would mean the Eight Orders wouldn''t let Marak off lightly and would aggressively hunt down


    his guards, aiming to catch them all in one sweep.


    Cedrick said, "The Eight Orders won''t kill Marak. They''ll either negotiate with Lord Viperbane to


    have him taken back or deliver him personally."


    Baldery back in the warm water. “Leave it to me! He won’t be returning to Lord Viperbane.”


    vin chuckled softly; this was exactly his n! An ambush en route to eliminate Marak. Not only


    would this rid him of future trouble, but it would also incite Lord Viperbane, potentially leading to war


    with the Eight Orders. With both parties preupied and at odds, no one would bother him, nor


    would there be any more talk of unwanted alliances.


    Killing several birds with one stone. He never believed in the inherent goodness of men or women;


    dangers were better snuffed out early to avoid future suffering.


    Cedrick took a longer look at Balder, understanding vin’s ruthless disposition. He was curious as


    to why Balder would cooperate. The rotund fellow was no pushover either, it seemed.


    The hallway outside had returned to tranquility, as Enosto had personally appeased the guests in


    each room.


    But after a brief moment of quiet, vin''s door was rudely pushed open, and Lylian, wrapped in a


    bathrobe, stepped inside. "vin, do you have a grudge against Marak?"


    Her dripping hair casually spread over her shoulders, and her skin was soft and tender, revealing


    enticing arms and legs, like a nymph emerging from water. Though she was barely fifteen, she was


    well-developed, with curves in all the right ces. Shecked the fierce demeanor she had on the


    battlefield and was instead exuding a soul-stealing charm.


    "Aren''t you afraid of being misunderstood, wandering around in a bathrobe like that?" viny


    back in the spring,nguidly.


    "I''m asking you a question," Lylian retorted with a hint of petnce.


    "Are you friends with Marak?"


    "No."


    "Then why do you care?"


    "Why did you beat him? Aren''t you afraid of Lord Viperbane''s retaliation?"


    "Some things aren''t worth fearing."


    Lylian studied vin seriously before suddenly saying, "People are now saying that you''re..."


    "Saying what about me?"


    "Twisted! In the head."


    vin was speechless.


    Balder nearlyughed out loud, and even Cedrick lifted his gaze to look at Lylian.


    "You must have cursed Cobalt Strike from the shadows countless times over these eight years,


    right?"


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "Don''t paint me in such a dark light. Miss Lylian, are you just bored and looking for a chat? Why not


    come and join us in the bath? Sit down, and we can talk at leisure."


    vin intended to provoke her to leave, but to his surprise, Lylian nodded. "Make room."


    "Stop, stop, stop, I yield." Three grown men bathing with a girl, what kind of scene was this?


    "Hmph, lustful but cowardly," Lylian shot back, her youthful fragrance wafting around her. "I''m very


    curious about something. Answer me, and I''ll leave."


    "I''m listening," vin sipped at his medicinal wine, feeling a warm rush spread through his body,


    utterly soothing.


    "You healed remarkably fast from a severe injuryst time, and now again, you''re recovering


    quickly. How do you do it? Don''t tell me it''s some Magical Remedy. Given Cobalt Strike''s attitude,


    they wouldn''t give you anything of the sort." Lylian had never epted defeat, save for against


    vin. She couldn''t stand it but was even more curious as to how vin always bounced back so


    quickly after injuries. There had to be a secret.


    "A secret."


    "I could trade you for it."


    "What do you have?"


    "My friend."