While the commotion outside was rapidly growing worse,

SLAM!

The door to their pavilion opened with a bang as a familiar figure dressed in a yellow and white came rushing in with a worried look on her face. It was Laura who was followed by a much calmer Vivienne.

Noticing that Zhen Shi was fine, and of course, Myne as well, Laura heaved a sigh of relief.

Laura and Vivienne had just returned from their trip to the Market Hall, only to find a great commotion outside the pavilion about assassins and an injured soldier screaming about a knife 'up there'...

As such, Laura had rushed in fearing the worst, despite Viviene's attempts to calm her down. She had relaxed only after seeing that they were safe with her own eyes.

However, noticing that Zhen Shi was seated close to a freshly steaming dark black furnace, which had obviously been used to artifice some item, and the apparent lack of said item, her eyes glowed in understanding...

Immediately, her lips curled mischievously as she pointed at Zhen Shi, "Big Brother Zhen Shi, your actions have caused irreparable mental damages to poor Lance and the rest of the guards of our Lyon and Turnbull Market Hall! Will you take responsibility... or shall we settle this amicably...?"

Hearing this, Myne innocently rested his hands behind his back and started to whistle a jolly tune while looking at the central garden. After all, this matter was 'completely unrelated' to him.

Vivienne frowned and stared at Myne suspiciously but ultimately didn't say anything.

Zhen Shi had been slightly touched by Laura's excessive worrying, but hearing her mischievous words, he immediately forgot about it as he calmly brought out that scryer crystal. Moreover, he was feeling rather unhappy about this blame-shifting brother of his.

Under Laura's evergrowing frown, he played around with the scrying crystal and stared sharply at the 'innocent' Myne. He began to whistle as well, copying Myne's actions.

With a devilish grin, Zhen Shi began wagging his index finger in front of Laura's face and spoke, "Laura, Laura... my dear girl, you jumped to accuse me without any investigation of the matter. I find this unbelievably unfair!

What if I 'accidentally' showed the contents of this scryer crystal to someone, while wallowing in my sorrow regarding the unfairness of the world?"

Laura was immediately caught by surprise and could only stutter, "You--you, shameless wolf--"

Zhen Shi grinned in victory as he continued, "Brother Myne was only showing me how to artifice a knife in order to teach me blacksmithing. In the end, he simply threw it out to show it's power. So this matter is completely his fault, and I have been unjustly accused!" and finished with a wronged face.

Vivienne began to laugh as her suspicions were proved correct, and said, "Sister Laura, I apologize for my husband's actions. Since Brother Zhen Shi says so, I am now sure of Myne's crime!"

But Myne was adamant about his innocence, "Vivienne, how could you have so little faith in your husband? I am being framed!" Pointing at his own face he continued, "Look at this face? Could this innocent face lie to you?"

Zhen Shi who had anticipated such a situation simply replied, "Grand Mage Bro, if you're truly innocent, simply do what you always do! Bring out a scrying crystal and show us the truth!"

Vivienne turned to him expectantly.

As Myne froze speechlessly, Zhen Shi grinned and edged him on, "Well...? Cat got your tongue? Even scrying crystals are double-edged blades. Don't you agree? Hmm...?"

Despite getting annoyed by Zhen Shi's taunts, Myne was completely helpless. Taking out the scrying crystal would be proof against him, but not taking it out would still be proof against him! As such, he could only scratch his head guiltily.

Taking this silence as proof, Vivienne stared at him with dangerous eyes.

Myne shivered as he turned to Zhen Shi with a frown and sent mentally, "Bro, how could you do this to me? Aren't we brothers?"

Zhen Shi frowned as well, "Oi, grand mage bro, you let the blame fall on me first! Besides you're the grand mage Merlin! 'Master of yourself, your sworn-brother, and your own wife'! If you can't take care of a little girl, aren't you pretty useless?" and finished with an innocent grin.

Myne grimaced helplessly... Nevertheless, he calmly turned to the expectant face of Vivienne and the rather uncomfortable Laura.

Laura was willing to accuse that shameless Zhen Shi but was unwilling to do the same to this senior disciple Myne, who she had wronged first. As such, she was planning on covering up this entire matter, immediately after Myne explained himself.

Myne spoke out with an apologetic face, "I am indeed sorry, Sister Laura. But you have to understand, that was only a Soul Tier throwing knife.:

Laura was astonished and speechless, 'Who the hell throws out Soul Tier artifacts like trash?'

Mortal Tier Artifacts were used by cultivators in the Mortal Primary Tier. Similarly, Soul Tier artifacts were useful until one could reach the Law Primary Tier! Even the kingdom couldn't afford to issue Soul Tier weapons for every soldier. As such, Laura's reaction was rather sensible...

She gasped in surprise as she had a sudden realization and thought, 'Their master, Lord Myrden must be truly amazing to have made his disciples think so little of Soul Tier artifacts!'

Her amazement only improved as she considered the fact that the weapon had been thrown across the pavilion and through the refined bronze walls and was still enough to greatly injure the Soul Formation stage guard, Lance, outside! And this weapon had only been refined a few moments ago by this fellow in front of her!

Initially, when Laura had asked this trio for help with the appraisal competition, it had been simply due to Elder Hao Lei's mentions about their advanced formation knowledge.

However, accompanying Vivienne for shopping in the market hall had revealed her advanced talents in herbology and pill refining. And now she also found that this elder disciple was similarly talented in blacksmithing!

But, Myne ignored her amazed face. After all, to him a Soul Tier artifact meant very very little. He continued to speak proudly, " I was rather disappointed by the fact that the pavilion walls were unable to handle my artificing lessons. And your soldiers as well, screaming like a neck was chopped off, over a mere flesh wound... Tsk-tsk. How is this my fault? I simply thought too highly of your market hall..."

Laura who had still been celebrating her luck for having come across these powerful disciples who would undoubtedly be helpful to her paused in surprise at Myne's words.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

She couldn't help but think, 'This is one of our best guest pavilions! Even then, who the hell would make walls that can handle people throwing Soul Tier artifacts at them! Who can handle the monstrous costs? This elder disciple is just as shameless as that Zhen Shi!'

And almost as if on cue, Zhen Shi spoke out, throwing straw to the fire, "Don't forget that the employees here like to accuse people unjustly. Aiya! My innocence, my purity... you have stolen it!" while playing the victim with an innocent and wronged face, but his hand holding the scryer crystal would rather strangely dance about...

At this point, Laura could only throw in the towel, 'I have dug my own grave...'

But to her luck, Vivienne spoke out with a frown, "Do you two enjoy making poor girls feel helpless? It was obviously your fault!" rage boiling in her eyes.

Immediately, Myne and Zhen Shi grew silent. They calmly looked at each other, and with an agreeing nod turned to Laura while shamelessly saying, "We just realized that it is not good to bully juniors. So let's just forget about this matter..." with forced smiles.

Laura turned to Vivienne with adoration in her eyes, 'My angelic sister! That master Myrden must be disappointed in these disciples while being proud of only you!'

But, suddenly, a rather innocent-looking middle-aged guard hobbled into the doorway of the pavilion with a rather strange manner of walking.

Zhen Shi eyed this Soul Formation fellow who was holding on to tattered metallic remains of a shield and a familiar-looking knife. His lower body was covered in bloodied bandages.

He grimaced in pain as he politely bowed to Laura and the rest. He spoke out with pain in his voice, "Lady Laura, we have searched everywhere. But there were no signs of any intruder--"

Suddenly, he gasped as if he was being 'impaled'. With sweat rolling down his face, he continued speaking, "I apolog--apologize for this failure. "

Laura silently turned to Myne and Vivienne, letting them know that they could take care of this matter as they wished.

Myne walked forwards while eyeing the poor guard's bloodied lower body and spoke out with a smile, "Brother Lance right? Those daylight assassins are truly heartless. They attacked us within this pavilion, and in our retaliation, my knife missed and struck this innocent brother... Aiya! Those daylight assassins are my sworn enemies, thus I'm truly grateful for your help. Still, I ask for your forgiveness in having dragged you into this matter..."

Zhen Shi and Laura gasped at his shamelessness. But Vivienne simply shook her head helplessly...

The ignorant Lance nodded in understanding. He held out the dark silver knife back towards Myne and replied with a look of genuine conviction and satisfaction, "If I truly was able to help this elder brother and fulfill my duty, then I suppose my wounds are not so useless!"

Seeing his innocent and gullible face, even Myne felt a tinge of guilt at this point. As such, he pushed the knife back towards Lance and spoke out, "As a reward for your help, I'll let this brother keep the dark silver knife. I can only hope that it is sufficien--"

But, suddenly, Lance's eyes teared up, making Myne worry that he might be suffering from even more horrible pain.

However, in actuality, this Lance was a rather pitiful fellow with a horrible childhood and had only known deep betrayal and sorrow. He was unable to cultivate beyond the soul formation stage and would probably spend the rest of his life as a mere guard. As such, this simple and 'unconditional' gift from Myne meant the world to him!

Thus, to Myne's relief, Lance started to cry tears of joy saying, "My Elder brother! Thank you! You are the first person to give this useless fellow such a valuable gift!" and jumped forwards to hug Myne.

However, his sudden movement caused his wound to act out in an explosion of blood and bandages, causing him to trip over in pain. But in the end, despite the pain, he hugged the surprised Myne's feet, while rubbing his blood, tears, snot, and stray pieces of bandages all over Myne's trousers and legs while crying loudly.

Myne was flabbergasted, 'No! Just let go-- you're dirtying my handsome aura!' But how could he say this out loud or even use force on an innocent man that had been wounded due to his own mistake?

Zhen Shi and Vivienne couldn't help but start to laugh at this.

But under Laura's strange and condescending look, they coughed awkwardly and calmed down. After all, who would be heartless enough to laugh in the face of the wounded?

Laura brought out an amulet and mentally sent out some commands.

Several awkward moments later, during which Myne had been struggling with the bloody and tightly hugging Lance, while Zhen Shi and Vivienne were also struggling to hold back their laughter under the disapproving yet slightly smiling Laura, several guards walked in with a stretcher.

They too struggled but ultimately pulled apart Lance's tight hands holding onto Myne's trousers and put him onto the stretcher.

Myne heaved a sigh of relief as he hurried to brush off the blood, and other extremities from his dirtied clothes.

But, Lance continued to look at Myne in adoration and spoke out amidst painful gasps, while continuing to spew blood all over the stretcher, "Big Brother, thank you for today! I'll cherish your gift forever! If you ever need me to sacrifice my backside again for any of--" he coughed painfully, but still continued, "your needs, just say the word. Next time, I won't even need a reward! Today was that blissful for me!" while gripping tightly and lovingly onto the 'reward'; the Soul Tier black silver knife.

Myne's eye twitched ಠ_ಥ as he worriedly eyed the rest of the guards, 'FUCK! Lance, could you have worded that differently? Even if I explain it now, it'll only make things worse!'

And just as Myne had worried, the worst-case scenario came true.

These other guards that arrived with the stretcher were from a completely different area. As such, they were unaware of the knife attack by 'daylight assassins'. All they knew was what they could see; a fellow guard with a heavily 'wounded' backside that was literally bleeding, another man who the soldier was thanking for a 'blissful' time, a valuable Soul Tier knife which was given as the 'reward', and a few respected customers struggling to hold their laughter.

As such, they quickly put two and two together to realize the 'obvious' 'truth' of the matter... This middle-aged man and the wounded guard HAD to be lovers! But something must've gone REALLY wrong to cause an injury of this level...

As such, they glanced at Myne with judging looks...

However, some of the guards also seemed to be looking at Myne with impressed, seducing glances and shining eyes. After all, the 'reward' was pretty good, and supposedly 'blissful'...

Zhen Shi and Vivienne, finally unable to hold back, broke out in a cacophony of laughter. Even Laura joined in a fit of giggles, as Myne palmed his forehead in exasperation.

The stretcher carrying the grateful Lance who was still speaking out words of thanks was taken away as the soldiers continued to stare at Myne either with judging or enticing gazes. One even winked suggestively at him...

Zhen Shi was the one who was laughing the loudest, and he even sent mentally to Myne, "Looks like the guards will be extra 'friendly' to you from now on...!"

Myne grimaced angrily and flicked his fingers as he muttered, "Just fuck off, kid! Take the furnace and these materials," and materialized several bags. He continued to speak out through grit teeth, "It's Vivienne's turn now. So I'm going to take a break," and quickly vanished in a puff of underworld blue flames.

Even after he vanished, the laughing trio struggled to stop. But, in the end, they did, albeit rather difficultly.

Laura turned to look at Zhen Shi with a victorious grin, "Shameless Elder brother, did you see that? That is what happens to people who mess with this missy here! Even your senior brother was unable to survive! Scared yet? Will you apologize and destroy the evidence now?" and shouted with a pleased look.

But Zhen Shi simply laughed out loud, "Laura... Laura... Little Sister Laura. How can you keep underestimating us fellow students like this?"

He grinned confidently as he wagged his index finger in her face and brought out the used scrying crystal. He spoke out, "Not to mention the initial evidence of you attempting to engage in 'adultery' with my senior brother, I also have the recording of you acting lecherous when I simply brought out that 'long' list from my pants. And now, I have a recording confirming in your own words that you were responsible for embarrassing my senior brother!"

Laura was speechless once more, 'Why do I even keep trying this...? The teachings of this Master Myrden are too profound to be handled by the likes of myself!'

As such, she lowered her head in defeat, "I was just joking Elder Brother! It was just a joke..."

Zhen Shi grinned and nodded calmly, "As long as you understand..." while playing about with that same scryer crystal.

Even Zhen Shi had to admit that he was impressed with the power of scrying crystals. As such, he made a mental note to get some actually working ones from Myne later on.

Laura ignorantly shook her head and said, "Well, I'll be on my way now. Feel free to contact us at any time for anything. I'll be here later to give you more information regarding the appraisal competition."

She waved her hand with a playful grin and quickly walked away from the pavilion, leaving Zhen Shi and Vivienne alone.