Emily Foster had come all this way to deliver a message, so of course she intended to help fight the demonic cult. But this Master Sullivan's attitude was a bit strange... His words sounded polite, but in essence, he was sending her away without even offering dinner. How could she shamelessly insist on staying? She was a free-spirited wanderer, not someone who would debase herself.

Thinking this, she felt a bit annoyed and said coldly, "I have fulfilled my duty as a fellow martial artist. Since Master Sullivan is confident, I won't meddle further. I shall take my leave. There is one more matter I hope the Master will attend to."

Master Sullivan cupped his hands and said, "Please speak, Fairy."

Emily Foster said, "Zhao Cuo is only a few dozen miles from here. Right now, the village is littered with corpses, a truly tragic sight. I hope the Master will send people to handle the aftermath and bury the villagers. There is no greater good than this."

As she spoke, she pulled over Charles Carter: "This survivor is named Charles Carter, and he is now alone and helpless. I hope the Master, for my sake, will take him in and give him shelter."

Master Sullivan smiled and said, "Of course. From now on, this will be little brother's home."

Emily Foster also smiled, patted Charles Carter's shoulder, and said, "This is farewell. I hope you can keep your simplicity as you have today. If we meet again in the martial world, I hope to hear you call me 'sister' once more."

With that, she turned and left.

Charles Carter walked her to the door, watching as the figure in red strode toward the steed under the setting sun. The scene was truly beautiful.

He had just arrived in this place, everything was confusing and unclear, so naturally he was lost and quiet, which made others see him as a "simple and honest youth." But Charles Carter knew he wasn't really that type. What he truly resonated with was the image of Emily Foster.

That was the martial world of his dreams, the heroine of his dreams.

Charles Carter watched as Emily Foster mounted her horse and rode away, feeling a bit reluctant. He didn't know how to talk to the The Sullivan Father and Son, nor what they planned to do with him...

As he was thinking this, he suddenly froze.

He clearly saw behind him, the The Sullivan Father and Son standing outside the hall, their expressions cold and grim as they watched Emily Foster leave.

She had come all this way to deliver a message, and they hadn't even offered her a meal—fine, but what was with those expressions now?

Charles Carter quietly took a few steps back, trying to eavesdrop.

The blind man had said this "eye on the back" could slightly enhance Charles Carter's normal vision, but he found it seemed to improve his hearing a bit too—sounds were much clearer than before. The others didn't pay any attention to this "simple village youth," and continued their conversation. Though their voices were low, he could still make out bits and pieces:

"Father, why did you let her go? Wouldn't it have been better to keep her here, maybe even..." Ethan Sullivan muttered, making a fist gesture, his expression a bit lecherous.

"You fool!" Master Sullivan hissed, "Do you know who Emily Foster is? Eighth level of the Xuan Gate, fifth rank of Hidden Dragon—what a force! Even I can't guarantee victory. And you dare plot against her? If things go wrong and she escapes, do you know what the consequences would be?"

"We could lure her to a secret room, use traps..."

"You know nothing! Did you notice that from the moment she entered, her hand never left her sword hilt? Her eyes and ears were constantly alert to every sound and movement around her—that's the instinct of someone who's survived the martial world! Do you think someone like that would follow you into an unknown place so easily?"

Ethan Sullivan: "..."

Master Sullivan said with bitter disappointment, "Let me tell you, any woman who has made a name for herself in the martial world—the more beautiful she is, the harder she is to fool. Because the number of men who covet them is more than you could ever know. They've survived countless dangers and schemes, and the fact that they're still roaming the martial world instead of becoming someone's plaything is proof enough!"

Ethan Sullivan: "..."

Charles Carter: "..."

Damn, that makes a lot of sense. Was it possible that when she let me sit behind her earlier, seemingly carelessly, she was actually observing me? Seeing me sit honestly a few inches away, maybe even blushing, she thought I was a simple, honest youth...

But that's just how us straight guys are...

Master Sullivan continued coldly, "Right now, she just thinks we were rude and left in displeasure—that's a good thing. If she had stayed longer and discovered that the people in Zhao Cuo were actually sent by you, then you'd know what endless trouble really means!"

Charles Carter's face changed instantly.

"Who told those villagers not to know their place!" Ethan Sullivan said angrily. "Messing with a village girl is nothing, but when the whole village rebels with hoes, if we don't teach them a lesson, they'll think we're easy to bully!"

Master Sullivan ignored this and simply said, "Luckily, Emily Foster was in such a hurry to save people that she didn't investigate thoroughly. She thought it was the demonic cult's doing, and ended up clearing us of suspicion. The Blood God Cult will take the blame for this without a hitch."

Ethan Sullivan said, "In other words, the so-called evidence of a demonic cult attack doesn't actually exist. Doesn't that mean she's just making things up and exaggerating? We really have nothing to do with the Blood God Cult."

But Master Sullivan hesitated strangely, and after a while finally said, "Better safe than sorry. It's never wrong to strengthen our defenses. I'll send a letter to the Demon Suppression Division in the capital and ask Chief Tang to send someone to keep an eye on things."

Ethan Sullivan didn't quite understand, but didn't argue with his father. He finally glanced at Charles Carter's back outside the door and signaled with his eyes: "That kid is still standing at the door, watching his benefactor leave, all dazed. Should we..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture. "So he doesn't find out anything and come back for revenge."