After Lin Yue had finished packing everything on the platform, he walked out of the back door of the dueling arena alone.
Because this place was rather secluded, almost no one would pass by.
He had caused quite a stir just now, so it was best to keep a low profile.
If someone threw eggs at him on the way home, that would be troublesome.
Just as Lin Yue was about to head home with his iron pot and dagger, a chill suddenly brushed over him from behind.
Lin Yue turned around sharply and found Isabella, her eyes no longer calm.
Why is it her?
Lin Yue looked at Isabella, who was clearly here for something, tilted his head, and said, “What’s wrong? Did your sister cause trouble again?”
Thinking of Isabella’s usual methods, she might have just burned off the hair of everyone around her from the spectator stand, all to defend someone who had helped her.
Isabella shook her head and said with a complicated expression, “This whole matter started because of Valiana. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you…”
So Isabella actually understands.
She even came to apologize to me right away.
“It’s nothing. I don’t mind. I just wonder if after all this, the two of you will end up being forced into a political marriage again…”
“……”
Isabella was stunned for a moment, then softly said, “It probably won’t happen for a while. My sister and I have made a name for ourselves. Those who want to target us will have to reconsider their abilities.”
She knew she was talented, but hadn’t expected it to be the legendary Scale Four.
If nothing went wrong, both sisters had a high chance of becoming sixth-tier Archmages.
That is, if nothing goes wrong.
There are only a handful of factions on the continent that can suppress sixth-tier Archmages.
Either they’d try to kill the sisters outright, or befriend them in advance.
Those factions would soon realize that, although the Valiana family had tomorrow’s stars, for now they were just a political clan easily manipulated.
If they couldn’t be used, it was no big deal to kill them.
So both sisters were under great pressure.
No wonder Isabella wanted to just give up and let her sister grow stronger by herself.
There’s still a long future—she could settle the score after Isabella reached sixth-tier.
“That’s good, then. If nothing else, I’ll get going first…”
“Wait.”
Isabella called out to Lin Yue, her gaze calm as she said, “After hearing what you just said, I can be sure: it was to help us break free from that marriage alliance that you made those remarks about the engagement.”
So she saw through it after all.
Looking at the perceptive Isabella before him, Lin Yue shook his head with a bitter smile.
He hadn’t planned to hide it anyway.
If she could figure out this much, it was just her own cleverness.
“You really are something. I wasn’t planning to admit it…”
Lin Yue said helplessly.
He suddenly understood how Marpel felt a few days ago when she said, “It’s all because you’re too smart, too sharp.”
“Why? You know this doesn’t benefit you at all, and it even got you expelled from your family…”
Isabella really couldn’t understand Lin Yue’s logic.
Or rather, it was unheard of—to ruin one’s noble life for the sake of two strangers’ freedom?
That just isn’t the sort of thing that should happen in this world of the strong preying on the weak.
Not to mention, he used to be that playful, arrogant, bullying noble.
“Well… let me think.”
Lin Yue rubbed his chin, putting on a thoughtful look.
“I was never that great to begin with. If the marriage alliance broke your wings, that’d be too much of a shame…”
If, as in the original novel, he married Isabella, or even Isabella, the game would have been a dead end.
Even if he could help the protagonist break through the difficulties step by step, when it came to Lia’s rules-based kill mechanism, only the Law of Fusion and Disassembly from the Valiana family could break Lia’s defenses—could even touch Lia’s true self.
Whether he wanted to help Lia, or follow her original fate and kill her, he couldn’t do it without the sisters.
If no one intervened, the rules turbulence inside Lia would tear Avelina’s teleportation array ruins to pieces and chop Avelina into countless space fragments.
The CG in the game made this very clear.
If the sisters stayed with him, they’d never grow strong enough to break Lia’s spatial rules.
If the original [Lin Yue Hawk] hadn’t been crippled and had kept his engagement, Isabella would never have broken free from the cage of marriage.
So he made a choice—one that would affect their whole lives, and his own.
Facts proved that the plot hadn’t gone too far off course, and the start had been smooth.
Though there were a lot of small surprises along the way, it was nothing he couldn’t handle.
“If I were to take advantage of someone in trouble, I’d rather not do it at all.”
“Especially Isabella. I know she hates being treated like a bargaining chip most of all.”
“You’re free for now, and I don’t have any burdens left. I guess that counts as me doing something good.”
Lin Yue certainly couldn’t reveal his true goal, but embellishing his real thoughts as an explanation was no problem.
Isabella lowered her head in silence, not knowing how to respond: “Lin Yue, you really are a unique person.”
“You act playful and arrogant, but deep down you’re strong, courageous, and shrewd…”
She slowly bowed deeply to him, her posture elegant and generous, filled with gratitude and respect.
“Our Valiana family… no, just my sister and I—we will never forget this favor.”
Compared to those who treated them as bargaining chips, this man before her seemed more like someone who truly cared for them.
“No need to be so formal. If you really want to repay me, just make sure to protect me a bit when you two become sixth-tier Archmages, haha…”
For once, Isabella smiled, then removed her usual sapphire earring and placed it in Lin Yue’s hand, saying solemnly: “You will always be our dearest friend. If one day my sister and I find a place in the world of magic, we will never forget you… I swear it by this token.”
Is that so… With these words, I feel at ease.
Lin Yue nodded in satisfaction, clutching the earring in his hand.
This time, he had completely cut off the cause and effect of the Valiana sisters’ incident, and in exchange for his actions, he had gained great karmic reward.
“But I still have to remind you…”
Just as he was feeling smug, thinking he really was a genius at handling things, Isabella suddenly said: “If you don’t want my sister to be angry, you’d best go explain things to her in person…”
Explain in person—she’d still get angry after hearing all this?
“You don’t seem to understand my sister…”
“To her, maybe you’re not as bad as you think. She’s also not as strong as you imagine.”
Isabella didn’t say more, just nodded to him and left, making up her mind to use this favor from Lin Yue as motivation to become stronger.
How nice, everything is finally getting back on track.
Lin Yue put his hands on his waist and gave a satisfied smile, but suddenly felt a little tired.
“Strong inside… huh…”
His smile stiffened, leaving only a faint look of loneliness.
Only he knew that perhaps, it wasn’t really so.
“Lin Yue Hawk…”
Not far away, a figure in a hat leaned against a tree, playing with lightning in his hand.
Charles had heard the whole thing, and frowned as he looked in Lin Yue’s direction.
He was more determined than ever to find answers to his own problems from this man who was also a former playboy.
Crack!
He crushed the lightning and turned away.
…
After returning to camp, Lin Yue found Airella, who hadn’t been here in a long time, sitting on a log with Lia, waiting for him.
For some reason, they both looked very tense.
“Yo, good evening.”
With that, Lin Yue naturally sat across from them and placed his big pot back on the stove.
“……”
Neither of them responded to Lin Yue.
They exchanged glances and said in unison, “You cook first, we have something to discuss.”
So secretive—what’s going on?
“Are you two hiding something from me?”
While Lin Yue was still puzzled, a gold coin suddenly landed in his hand.
“This is today’s meal fee! Don’t say I’m freeloading again!”
Looking at the hefty coin in his palm, Lin Yue had only meant to gently dissuade her from coming to find him.
He hadn’t expected she’d really pay him, and now he felt a bit awkward.
“Just cook! Don’t come over here!”
Arella saw that Lin Yue was still acting curious and immediately came over to push him away, shooing him with a gesture as if driving off an animal, urging him to work.
Sigh… After a whole day, I still have to cook for these two grand ladies.
Looks like this servant life won’t end until I clear the stage…
Today’s food was simple, nothing special—just spicy stir-fried meat and stuffed tofu.
But these were Lin Yue’s favorite dishes in the real world.
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