“You jerk! You nearly cost Faiyar his life! I’ll end you!” Serena’s fury surged when she saw Keiran, now captured and brought back. She almost wanted to kill him.
“Serena, stop!” Trystan interceded, mindful of Keiran’s status as the favored scion of the Mueller family. His demise would undoubtedly provoke severe repercussions from the Muellers, rendering Soul Demon Sect vulnerable to retaliation.
“Mr. Mueller, it’s well known that Soul Demon Sect and the Mueller family have maintained amicable relations. Why then would you harm one of our sect members? If you fail to provide an explanation today, Soul Demon Sect will not overlook this transgression. We are not to be underestimated,” Trystan interrogated Keiran with simmering indignation.
It was impossible Keiran couldn’t recognize their sect’s members, especially Serena.
Yet, he had not only assaulted Serena, causing her injury, but had also seized Faiyar’s soul. Such blatant disregard for their sect was an affront that could not be overlooked.
Keiran sensed the simmering rage in Trystan’s gaze, understanding that without coming clean, his predicament would only worsen. Gathering his resolve, he began, “Mr. Pruitt, I-”
“Master, no more listening to his lies. Dispose of him and be done,” Clifford interjected abruptly, panicking when he realized Keiran was going to betray him. In a frantic attempt to silence Keiran permanently, Clifford moved to strike.
Fortunately, Moses intervened swiftly, positioning himself before Keiran, intercepting the impending blow.
“Clifford, how audacious of you! Step back!” Trystan thundered. Clifford’s audacity to act on his own and disregard his authority angered Trystan to no end.
Keiran was furious when Clifford tried to kill him. He lashed out, “Clifford, you treacherous scoundrel! Wasn’t it you who orchestrated this?”
“Mr. Pruitt, it was your own disciple who sought me out and asked me to do this. He said someone’s trying to snatch Serena from him. I acted upon his plea, swayed by his persuasion. I harbor no ill will toward Soul Demon Sect.”
Keiran decided to spill the beans since things had already come to this.
Trystan stood stunned by this revelation, never imagining Clifford capable of such deceit.
His furious gaze bore into Clifford, and Clifford, gripped by panic, sank to his knees before Trystan. “Master, I was misguided. Serena and I have a history. We were childhood sweethearts. Faiyar’s sudden appearance disrupted our bond. I couldn’t bear losing her,” he confessed desperately, his body trembling.
“Clifford, how… how could you do something like that? I’ve always regarded you as an older brother. I have no romantic feelings for you.” Serena’s disbelief resonated in her voice.
Trystan’s jaw tightened, his gaze icy as he struggled to find words.
Jared, standing nearby, broke the tense silence. “We ran into Dr. Livingstone, who suddenly attacked us. You tipped them off, didn’t you?”
Jared’s accusation triggered a revelation in Trystan’s mind. Recalling a moment during their journey when Clifford complained of illness and briefly separated from the group, only to reunite with them just before they encountered Stephen’s team, Trystan realized the likely betrayal: Clifford had betrayed Jared’s identity during that interval.
“Master, I beg your forgiveness. I admit my mistakes. Spare me, please,” Clifford pleaded desperately, his admission serving as tacit confirmation of Jared’s suspicions.
“You despicable traitor! You’ve besmirched the honor of our Soul Demon Sect. I’ll end you,” Trystan declared, his hand raised to strike at Clifford.
Witnessing Trystan’s resolve to disregard their master-disciple relationship and execute him, Clifford teetered on the edge of madness.
“Go ahead. Kill me if you must. But before I perish, I’ll reveal the truth. This man you call Mr. Chadwick is no Mr. Chadwick at all. His true name is Jared, the very same Jared sought by the Demon Seal Alliance, with a bounty on his head for over a century. Anyone who could eliminate him or deliver him to the Demon Seal Alliance would be handsomely rewarded!”
Clifford roared, glaring at Jared venomously. If it hadn’t been for Jared, Faiyar wouldn’t have shown up either.
