Chapter 181


    Three days hence, the Starlit Echoes, the Skyborne Rivers, and the Hidden Essence – three teams


    from various Orders – departed from Warriors'' Vale. The other Orders also began their


    preparations. Aside from the Ster Precepts, Bloodlore, and the Earthbound Spirits, the rest of the


    Orders nned to leave discreetly, concealing their tracks and secretly returning to their


    strongholds.


    This was because a loudmouth prisoner in the dungeons, Marak, was spreading rumors that Lord


    Viperbane''s forces were lurking near Warriors'' Vale, ready to teach the Eight Orders a harsh lesson.


    True or not, caution was the order of the day.


    "vin, I''ll be heading to Cloudveil Woods in a while. Will you entertain me?" E approached


    vin''s cottage once more, standing just beyond the fence.


    "If I''m still among the living by then, I''ll treat you to some wild meat," vin replied, causing Adirich,


    Niks, and the others in the neighboring yards to fall silent. What a thing to say. It was as if Cobalt


    Strike had a vendetta against him.


    "vin, mind your manners," an Elder chided as he passed by, frowning at the exchange.


    E looked at vin with a yful smile and batted her eyshes. "If you die, I''ll die of a broken


    heart."


    vin gave a thumbs up – she was fierce.


    E leaned on the lush green fence, gazing at vin with augh. "Have you made up your mind?"


    "About what?"


    "Abouting with me to Bloodlore. Grandfather would take you as his Elite Protégé, and I''d have


    you as my dear consort,plete with a gift of six maidens." E gave vin a sidelong nce.


    Her allure was undeniable. Any ordinary man might have been swayed by her charms.


    The Cobalt Strike Protégés in the surrounding yards were astounded. An offer to be a


    Commander''s Elite Protégé? E''s consort? Bloodlore was offering vin such astonishing terms!


    Wait, her consort? Had E fallen for vin?


    Their gazes turned odd, thinking back on E''s ferocity in the grand melee. These two madcaps


    were indeed a perfect match!


    Mari was in her room, taken aback by the news. She couldn''t help but peer outside.


    "I''m not interested in being an Elite Protégé."


    "What about me?" E shifted slightly, showing vin her perfect, sensuous figure through the


    gaps in the fence. Her body, sculpted to golden proportions, was enough to make many women feel


    inadequate and turn many a man''s soul upside down. That slender waist, it was so tender and soft.


    vin didn''t even nce her way. "You''re still young; after a couple more years, we''ll see."


    Adirich and the rest couldn''t bear to listen any longer, each retreating to their rooms and mming


    the doors. The brazen flirtation was too much, almost scandalous. Mari, even more disturbed,


    closed her window and door to avoid further annoyance.


    "You have high standards," E chuckled.


    "When does your order n to leave?" vin asked while packing his bags. Cobalt Strike was set


    to depart at midnight. If Lord Viperbane truly had ambush teams ready, Cobalt Strike was likely to


    be a target, so the Commander decided to leave as early as possible to hide their movements. It


    wasn''t out of fear – with the Commander''s strength, even if the Lord Viperbane himself appeared,


    they could stand their ground. He was worried about Protégés like vin; just a few ripples from an


    Archmage duel could obliterate them.


    Safety came first, so a low profile was the best option.


    "Tomorrow morning."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "Aren''t you afraid Lord Viperbane will target you?"


    "He''d need the guts to try," E wasn''t afraid of Lord Viperbane, and neither was Commander


    Jarad.


    "What about Marak? How will the Eight Orders deal with him?"


    "He will be detained in Warriors'' Vale, and after all the Orders depart, the Doramon family will escort


    him back to Lord Viperbane. Do you have a grudge against him? I could take care of him for you."


    "No need, I can handle it." vin nced back at Balder, who nodded in agreement, indicating


    everything was arranged.


    "Sure? No charge, consider it a gift from me."


    "Don''t overthink it. I''m at peace with the world, and my heart is full of good intent. I make no


    enemies."


    "Same here, I take no lives."


    Balder rolled his eyes – these two could really talk.


    E gave vin a cheeky wink. "Hope we meet soon. I''ll miss you."


    ……………


    That very night, Cobalt Strike departed from Warriors'' Vale, returning to their holdfast after more


    than twenty days. They took a secluded route, and despite nonstop travel night and day, they


    entered the vast expanse of Cloudveil Woods in just eight days.