My mind whirled with possible solutions as Cultivator Diana smirked at us and Clarissa’s parents rushed in our direction. We had some time before the latter arrived, since they had to push their way through the crowd, but not too much.

Given the amount of attention we had drawn, and were continuing to draw, I doubted we would be able to extricate ourselves from this situation without any trouble. If we just had to deal with Minion One and Minion Two, then it wouldn’t have been a problem. I was confident that Clarissa and I could deal with the two of them with ease. However, with Cultivator Diana’s intervention, and with Clarissa’s parents heading towards us, the situation had taken a turn for the worse.

Well, we might as well seize the initiative and go on the offensive. Hesitation and indecisiveness would not help us here. I gave Clarissa’s arm a gentle squeeze before I took inspiration from Cultivator Harlow and gave Cultivator Diana a benevolent smile.

“Ah, good,” I said. “You’re here, Cultivator Diana. Perhaps you can apologize in your retainers’ stead, since they refuse to do so.”

Cultivator Diana looked taken aback by my words. I guess she expected us to back down right away considering we were at a significant disadvantage. However, she recovered her composure in less than a second.

“Apologize?” she sneered. “What sort of nonsense are you spewing? I came over here because it looked to me as if you were harassing my retainers.”

“Yes, young mistress,” Minion One said with vigor. “These two were-…”

“We were minding our own business,” I said, cutting him off. “When your retainers bumped into us. Not only that, but they started to harass and insult us.” I shrugged. “In fact, it almost seemed as if they were trying to…” I paused for dramatic effect. “… Provoke us. But of course, that couldn’t be true. After all, they are retainers serving the illustrious Clan Verdant Lotus. There is no way they would stoop to such behavior.”

The people around us snickered at that. Cultivator Diana looked around and her face turned red, either from anger or embarrassment or both. It hadn’t been my intention to play to the audience around us, but I realized that perhaps that was a valid strategy in this situation. If we put enough pressure on Cultivator Diana and her bodyguards, then perhaps we could resolve this without any more trouble.

“He lies, young mistress!” Minion Two cried out. “They’re the ones who harassed and insulted us. They’re the ones who tried to provoke us.” He gave me a sly look. “In fact, that woman had the audacity to insult you to our faces. How could that be anything but a provocation?”

I felt Clarissa flinched at his words, but she maintained a calm expression on her face.

“So not only are you rude and vulgar,” Cultivator Diana said with a sneer. “But you are also a liar. How dare you accuse my retainers like that? I should have you flogged and your cultivation shattered for such insolence.”

Clarissa scoffed.

“We aren’t lying,” she said. “We can prove it too.” She gestured towards the people surrounding us. “We have witnesses that can attest to our innocence.”

The crowd around us looked surprised that Clarissa would involve them into this little spat of ours and they started murmuring to one another. Some looked annoyed and upset, while others looked indifferent. However, a few seemed interested and intrigued.

That gave me hope. According to Cultivator Harlow, few within the Dawn and Dusk Sect could match Clan Verdant Lotus when it came to power and influence. In my experience, status came hand in hand with envy and jealousy. I had seen it back on Mt. Wind Dance with Lucius. Most of our kin loved my cousin and looked up to him, but not everyone. A few hated him for one reason or another. They tried to sabotage him or smear his name. The smart ones made sure to keep their actions subtle and never openly acted against Lucius. My uncle dealt with the dumb ones.

If Clan Verdant Lotus had any enemies or rivals within the sect, perhaps they would speak up for us, if only to knock Clan Verdant Lotus down a peg or two. It was a far-fetched hope, but it was better than nothing.

However, before anyone could say or do anything, Clarissa’s parents reached our position. Cultivator Clemont ignored me and focused on his daughter. On the other hand, Cultivator Sylvia, Clarissa’s mother, studied me with a frown on her face.

“Clarissa,” Cultivator Clemont whispered in an urgent tone. “That is enough.” He glanced over at Cultivator Diana. “Remember your position. There is nothing to be gained from offending someone like her.”

Clarissa glanced over at her father with an affronted expression on her face.

“She’s the one who started this, Papa!” she whispered back. “Not us!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Cultivator Clemont said. “We have little influence here. You can’t afford to offend someone of her standing. Apologize before you jeopardize your position within the sect.”

Clarissa looked conflicted by his words, before her expression hardened.

“No,” she said. “I will not. Why should I have to apologize when I’ve done nothing wrong?”

“Clarissa!”

Cultivator Clemont looked shocked, as if it never occurred to him that his daughter would ever disobey him. Meanwhile, Cultivator Sylvia continued to study me with a frown on her face. Several moments later, her eyes widened.

“Darian?” she asked. “Is that you?”

When he heard my name, Cultivator Clemont’s head jerked up and he stared right at me.

“Darian?” he asked. “But how…?” His voice trailed and his expression grew unsightly. “So this is all your fault. You’re the reason why my daughter is acting like this.”

He unleashed his aura and pressured me with it, forcing me to take a step back. Otherwise, I managed to hold my ground. He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but I had trained with Astra and Cultivator Raphael, both of whom were Golden Core cultivators. Compared to them, Cultivator Clemont’s aura was far more bearable.

That wasn’t to say that it was easy. Far from it in fact. It took all of my willpower to stay on my feet. A child would be able to knock me to the ground with ease in my current state.

“Papa, stop it!” Clarissa said, glaring at her father. She stepped between us. “Senior Brother Darian is the only reason why I made it this far. I owe him a great debt.”

Her parents’ eyes widened, no doubt surprised that their daughter stood up for me. The pressure from Cultivator Clemont eased but didn’t go away.

“What are you saying?” Cultivator Sylvia asked Clarissa.

“What did you do to my daughter, demon spawn?” Cultivator Clemont demanded of me.

However, before either of us could answer, another voice interjected.

“This has gone on long enough.”

We all turned to find a woman approaching us. She looked similar to Cultivator Diana. Both were small and dainty, with pale white skin, long red hair, and large green eyes. Like Cultivator Diana, she also wore a beautiful emerald green dress. However, that was where the similarities ended. Cultivator Diana was beautiful, but this woman eclipsed her with ease. She also had a presence to her that Cultivator Diana lacked; subtle and mysterious but powerful. One couldn’t help but look at her. If Cultivator Diana was a budding flower, then this woman was a flower that had fully blossomed.

She was also one of the few Nascent Soul cultivators present at the feast.

“Auntie Iola!” Cultivator Diana exclaimed with a joyful expression on her face.

Her words dashed any hope I had left. While I had no doubt that Clan Verdant Lotus’ enemies would be willing to speak up for us if we were just dealing with Cultivator Diana, I doubt they would do so now that a Nascent Soul cultivator had gotten involved.

“Explain yourself, Diana,” the woman, Cultivator Iola, said. She spoke in a soft and melodious voice.

Cultivator Diana snapped her fan shut and pointed at us with it.

“These two fools dared to harass my retainers and insult our clan,” she said with a triumphant smile on her face. “I was in the midst of teaching them a lesson, but then the girl’s parents arrived to talk some sense into her. Rather than interfere, I graciously allowed them to try, but alas…” Her smile grew wider. “… It was all in vain. Rude, vulgar, and unfilial. I suppose it’s too much to expect anything from a country bumpkin like her.”

I felt Clarissa start to shake, though I couldn’t tell if it was from anger or fear. I didn’t turn to look since I kept my attention focused on Cultivator Iola. She was the biggest immediate threat and I didn’t want to take my eyes off of her.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Senior-…” Cultivator Clemont started to say in a pleading tone, but Cultivator Iola cut him off by raising her hand. He snapped his mouth shut with a click.

Cultivator Iola studied us with a neutral expression on her face, making it difficult to gauge her thoughts. Whatever they were, I doubted they were favorable towards us.

“I don’t know which is more disappointing, Diana,” Cultivator Iola said with a sigh. “That you would resort to such petty tricks…” She turned towards Cultivator Diana. “… or that you think I would be stupid enough to fall for them.”

I blinked at her. That was not what I had expected her to say. From the way Cultivator Diana’s jaw dropped, I wasn’t the only one caught off guard by Cultivator Iola’s words.

“Wha-… What do you mean Auntie?” she asked after she recovered her composure.

“Do you think I’m blind, Diana?” Cultivator Iola asked with a hint of exasperation. “I saw everything that happened today, including your little spat with the Wind Dance girl. If you were going to get revenge for that, the least you could have done was be smart about it instead of…” She gave Minion One and Minion Two a dismissive wave. “… this.” She reached over and flicked Cultivator Diana on the forehead. “Now apologize for causing unnecessary trouble. Don’t think I’ll let you get away with such nonsense just because you’re my niece.”

Cultivator Diana took a step back and gave her aunt a look of betrayal.

“Apologize?” she screeched. “Why should I have to apologize to those ignorant fools?”

“You’re the ignorant one here, Diana,” Cultivator Iola said in a cold voice. She glanced in my direction. “Would you please stop veiling yourself, Martial Nephew Darian? Otherwise, I’m afraid my niece here will continue to make a fool out of herself.”

Veiling myself? What was she talk-…Oh. That’s when it hit me. Back when we “fought” Senior Hellfire Bear, I revealed myself as a divine demon. However, at some point after that, I started concealing my cultivation again without realizing. To everyone else, I appeared like an ordinary Fire cultivator that practiced a demonic physical refining technique. Only those who witnessed my display earlier, or those who could see through my concealment, knew the truth. Given her words earlier, I wasn’t sure if Cultivator Iola was one of the former or the latter. Regardless, she had a point. It was time to stop hiding.

I stopped concealing my true cultivation. For me, it was a small change. However, the moment I did so, a hush fell over the crowd surrounding us. Cultivator Diana’s eyes widened and her face paled.

“Div-…Divine demon?” she asked. “You’re a divine demon?”

Like dropping a pebble into a pond, her words had a ripple effect and everyone around us started whispering to each other.

“Another one? It can’t be.”

“One divine demon appearing is a rare event, but two at the same time? That’s never happened before.”

“Truly, this is a blessed time for our Dawn and Dusk Sect.”

It took a considerable amount of willpower on my part not to fidget. It felt like everyone’s eyes were on me. I tried to school my expression into a neutral mask, though I didn’t know how well I succeeded. Clarissa squeezed my arm in a silent show of support. I gave her a quick smile, before turning my attention back to Cultivator Iola and Cultivator Diana.

“Do you understand the depths of your folly now, my niece?” Cultivator Iola asked, placing a hand on her niece’s shoulder.

Cultivator Diana swallowed and nodded.

“Yes, Auntie.”

“Good. Now, apologize.” Cultivator Iola leaned in closer. “And make it sincere. I will not have you shame our family any further.”

Cultivator Diana pulled away from her aunt and approached us. When she was just a few feet away, she bowed to me and Clarissa.

“I…” She stopped, as if the words were stuck in her throat, before continuing. “I apologize for my foolish behavior, and I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me.”

I blinked at her, unsure of how to react. While I had demanded an apology from her earlier, I never actually expected to receive one. This left me at a loss. I didn’t know what to do. The easiest course of action would be to accept her apology and move on, but I found that idea unsatisfactory. Besides, I wasn’t her primary victim. This all started when she started bullying Clarissa. I glanced over at my junior sister, who wore a conflicted expression on her face.

“I leave it up to you, Junior Sister Clarissa,” I whispered to her. “She harassed you first.”

Clarissa looked at me. We studied each other for several seconds, before determination replaced the conflict in her eyes. She nodded and turned to face Cultivator Diana.

“You think a mere apology is enough to make up for what you’ve done?” she demanded.

Still bowing, Cultivator Diana clenched her jaw.

“I will accept any punishment you deem fit…” She paused for several long moments. “… Cultivator Clarissa.”

“Young Mistress, no!” Minion One cried out.

“Punish us instead!” Minion Two said. “We’re the ones at fault here, not our young mistress!”

I heard two simultaneous thumps. I turned to find both of them kowtowing before me and Clarissa. It took me a few moments to come to terms with the sudden change in their attitude. Whatever their faults, at least they were loyal to their young mistress. However, Clarissa paid them no mind and walked over to Cultivator Diana. Her parents remained unfrozen, no doubt due to Cultivator Iola’s presence.

“Look at me,” Clarissa said.

Cultivator Diana rose from her bow and regarded Clarissa with a wary expression on her face. I glanced over at Cultivator Iola, who studied the scene before her with apparent disinterest. However, my intuition told me that she wasn’t as disinterested as she pretended. I had a feeling that whatever happened next would affect Clarissa’s future within the Dawn and Dusk Sect for good or for ill; as well as my own by extension.

Clarissa reached for Cultivator Diana. The latter flinched, as if expecting my junior sister to strike her, but otherwise didn’t react. However, Clarissa didn’t strike her. Instead, she placed a hand on Cultivator Diana’s shoulder.

“Guide me.” Clarissa said.

Cultivator Diana looked baffled by this.

“What?” she asked.

“You’re right,” Clarissa said. “I am a country bumpkin, ignorant and inexperienced, and the outside world is such a large and scary place. So, I would like for you to guide me. That is your punishment.” She let go of Cultivator Diana’s shoulder and started fidgeting. “You’re so beautiful and elegant, that I couldn’t help but want to be your friend. When you started attacking and insulting me, you don’t know how much it broke my heart.”

Cultivator Diana’s confusion deepened.

“That was-… I was-…” she stammered.

“That’s why I want to take this opportunity to mend our relationship,” Clarissa said with a sniffle. “There is so much that I need to learn and I don’t know that many people here.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Would you please guide me, Senior Sister Diana?”

I stared at the scene unfolding before me. As I watched Clarissa… finesse Cultivator Diana, for lack of a better word, it dawned on me that my junior sister wasn’t as naive or innocent as I first assumed. I narrowed my eyes at her. Had she pulled the same trick on me?

Clarissa’s plea took Cultivator Diana off guard, but the latter regained her composure soon enough and adopted a haughty expression.

“But of course,” she said. “It is the responsibility of those with more experience and education, such as myself, to aid their lessers. Yes, I shall take you under my wing, Junior Sister Clarissa.”

“Oh, thank you!” Clarissa gushed. “You’re beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.”

A self-satisfied smile spread across Cultivator Diana’s face as she basked in Clarissa’s praise. It amazed me that my junior sister managed to turn the situation in her favor to such a degree. I glanced over at her parents. They looked as stunned and surprised by their daughter’s actions as I felt. I glanced over at Cultivator Iola. She raised a single eyebrow in Clarissa and Cultivator Diana’s direction, but her expression remained the same otherwise.

“Now then,” Cultivator Diana said, taking Clarissa’s arm. “As your senior sister, it is my responsibility to introduce you to your future martial brothers and sisters. Come, join us at the table reserved for the disciples of Divine Dancer Hall!”

It occurred to me then that the beautiful woman was far more simple-minded than I realized. Just a few minutes ago she hated us. However, after agreeing to be Clarissa’s mentor, her attitude had taken a complete turn around. Either she was playing a deeper game, or she really was just that simple-minded.

After thinking about it for a moment, I shrugged. If Clarissa was all right with this turn of events, then it didn’t matter to me. This all started because Cultivator Diana started harassing her first. If Clarissa was willing to let this go, then I saw no reason to make a big fuss about it. Besides, befriending her could prove fruitful for my junior sister.

“What about my parents and Senior Brother Darian?” Clarissa asked. “Can they join us as well?”

“Of course!” Cultivator Diana declared while beaming at her.

“Our young mistress is such a benevolent soul!” Minion One cried out.

“Truly, she is a paragon among paragons!” Minion Two declared.

That would explain why they were so loyal and dedicated to Cultivator Diana. They were just as simple-minded as she was.

“Diana,” Cultivator Iola said.

Cultivator Diana flinched.

“As long as it’s all right with Auntie Iola,” she said, sounding abashed.

We all turned towards Cultivator Iola. She eyed Clarissa up and down.

“Very well,” she said. “The girl has potential, and I see that she is a good influence on you. She and her parents may join us.”

Clarissa glanced at me and opened her mouth to say something, but Cultivator Iola spoke up first.

“As for Martial Nephew Darian…” She paused. “… He’s already spoken for.” She glanced at me. No. She glanced at something behind me. “Isn’t that right, Vice Hall Master Sidra?”

I started and turned to find a woman standing behind me to my left. She was taller than me, with pitch black skin and golden eyes. A pair of horns protruded from her forehead. She wore her long and curly black hair loose, unlike most of the other women in the hall. Her aristocratic features were set into a haughty expression, as if she found the rest of the world lacking and made no effort to hide it. She wore a crimson dress similar in design to mine.

When I saw her, I stopped and stared, unable to pull my eyes away from her. I heard Cultivator Clemont let out a yelp. It seemed as if the woman's sudden appearance had caught everyone else off guard as well; assuming her appearance was sudden that was. She concealed her presence to such a degree that I still couldn’t sense her with my spirit sense even though I was looking right at her. She could have been there the entire time and none of us would have been any the wiser.

Sidra, Vice Hall Master of Flame Fiend Hall and my eldest sister.

“Yes, Elder Iola,” Big Sis Sidra said in a voice that matched her haughty expression. “Thank you for looking after my little brother. However, I think it’s time I claimed him to avoid any further misunderstandings.”

I turned to look at the others.

“But of course, Vice Hall Master Sidra,” Cultiva-… Elder Iola said with a small bow. “Think nothing of it.”

Cultivator Diana paled. So much so that she looked ready to faint.

“Come along, Little Demon.” Big Sis Sidra commanded.

I faced my eldest sister. She looked back at me, her gaze steady and unwavering.

“Yes, Big Sis.” I said.

I glanced back at Clarissa, who gaped at me with an astonished expression on her face before following my eldest sister.

“Why didn’t you tell me that your senior brother was the Frenzied Fiend’s son?” I heard Cultivator Diana ask as I left.