Chapter 194


    “That... let’s talk about something else.”


    Silence followed.


    Soon after, Adirich came over with a leg of roasted beast, looking glossy with rendered fat. He


    offered. “Here, have a taste!”


    vin returned the smile. “No thanks, I prefer not to die.”


    The Protégés in the valley all turned their heads towards vin’s direction. Adirich’s expression


    stiffened, holding the beast’s leg. "It''s delicious. Are you sure you won’t try?”


    “No, you eat. Mari and I will take a walk nearby.”


    “Where to?” Adirich tensed slightly.


    “Just to the hilltop beside us. We won’t go far.” vin pointed to a nearby barren hill.


    Mari looked at vin, meeting his bright eyes; she didn’t hesitate and epted the invitation.


    “Don’t leave our line of sight. We can’t be responsible for any mishaps,” Elder Connas subtly


    reminded, nodding to the others to ease their tension.


    The other Protégés continued to feast and were no longer paying attention.


    vin and Mari strolled leisurely, making their way to a nearby hillock. They found a stone to sit


    upon, quietly admiring the forest scenery enshrouded by the twilight.


    Elder Connas and the others asionally nced over in their direction. vin and Mari weren’t


    far off, and could be seen clearly.


    "What exactly is the rtionship between vin and Mari?" one of the Protégés couldn''t help but


    ask quietly.


    "Mari is known for her icy demeanor, like an icy rose. She rarely mingles with others, let alone


    men. Howe she''s suddenly so close to vin?"


    "Could it be that the icy rose has blossomed, and spring has touched her heart?"


    "Impossible, Mari wouldn’t be so easily swayed."


    "Impossible? Look at them, all cozy with each other. Knowing Mari''s nature, if she had no


    interest, she wouldn''t even grant you a passing nce."


    "Ha, thatd is truly blessed by Lady Luck. Celesse has always favored him, and now Mari too."


    "What''s so special about him, anyway?"


    The Protégés seemed to have stumbled upon an engaging topic, chuckling and chattering away,


    asionally casting nces towards the hilltop where two silhouettes clung to each other in the


    moonlight. They looked like the very picture of romantic lovers.


    Elder Connas was also puzzled, wondering how the two had be so close, almost to the point


    of embracing. He couldn''t help but ask Adirich, "During the championship, were their quarters


    adjacent to each other?"


    "There was something odd about them during the championship. Every time vin was injured,


    Mari was the first to his side," Adirich remarked, equally baffled. It made no sense—how had


    Mari suddenly taken such an interest in vin? It was a subtle feeling during the championship,


    but tonight, they were tantly strolling in the moonlight. Were they about to go public with their


    affections?


    "Could vin have resorted to some underhanded trick?" Elder Connas suddenly wondered.


    "You mean to say, vin has secretly...?" Adirich found the idea preposterous, but then he thought,


    what else could melt a woman as frosty as Mari? Perhaps they had really done the deed.


    Maybe during the championship, vin had crept into Mari''s chamber one night andmitted


    some dishonorable act. Mariel values her reputation above all and probably dared not speak out.


    Then, vin, through persistent wooing and demonstrating his talents during The sh of Eight


    Orders, won her over against her better judgment.


    This line of thought became lively in an instant. Adirich almost believed it himself.


    But Elder Connas didn''t care how vin had won over Mari; what mattered was the rtionship.


    If they were truly intimate, it meant vin had the backing of the Botanic Haven Elder, and who


    would dare touch vin then? Thed was cunning, securing a powerful ally with swift and sure


    moves. No wonder the Grand Elder saw vin as a threat that needed to be eliminated without


    dy. It seemed the Grand Elder had been prescient.


    "Proceed with the n tomorrow night," Elder Connas murmured.


    "Understood!" The Protégés nodded in unison.


    "What about Mari?"


    "We''ll distract her then."


    As the night deepened and the valley''s campfires dwindled, weariness settled upon the group. Yet,


    vin and Mari were still atop the hillock, indulging in each other''spany. From their vantage


    point, vin, shameless as ever, was even lying atop Mari. The scene was a portrait of intimacy.


    "Is there no end to this? At least be mindful of the impression you make."


    "I never knew Mari had such a wild side. She’spletely ignoring our presence."


    "They say once the ice queen thaws, well... hehe... it''s quite something..."


    The Protégés joked softly, still ncing towards the hilltop now and then.


    Suddenly, Elder Connas'' brow furrowed, and he stood up, peering intently at the hilltop as if


    something was amiss.


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


    "Elder, what''s wrong?" Adirich yawned.


    The more Elder Connas looked, the more he felt something was off, and he quickly strode towards


    the hillock.


    The other Protégés exchanged looks, then followed suit.