Enchanting Cult Leader 14

"Do you know? Recently, Skycrest Sect has joined forces with the other three major sects to send out invitations to heroes."

"Send out invitations? What does Skycrest Sect plan to do?"

"I've heard they are preparing to attack Nebula Sect."

...

Although they spoke in hushed tones, Elora overheard their conversation. No wonder there had been so many martial artists from the jianghu visiting Cuiyan Tower lately—Skycrest Sect was planning to strike at Nebula Sect!

But wait... Didn't the four sect leaders fall out three months ago? How could they have formed an alliance now?

A sudden realization struck her. Could it be that Evan Skylar was blackmailing them with some leverage?

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Since Evan Skylar was so eager to obtain the Nebula Eclipse, perhaps she should lend him a hand.

This would be interesting. A knowing smile played across Elora's lips as she looked at the whispering group of martial artists.

Gu Han sat in a private room, gazing out the window. He noticed Elora standing there, deep in thought.

She had grown a little thinner, though he couldn't explain why he remembered her figure so vividly, as if it had been imprinted on his heart. The moment he saw her, he couldn't help but notice her.

He had expected her to leave Cuiyan Tower once she learned his true identity, yet to his surprise, she was still here. And he, more laughably, had numerous chances to reveal her true identity to Victor Skylar, but every time, the words got stuck in his throat.

Ha... He had repeatedly told himself, "Once we meet again, we will be enemies," yet he couldn't stop himself from worrying about her.

Gu Han drained his cup of wine in one gulp. Indeed, he was drunk.

Ding~ Target's affection +10, current affection value: 60.

"Gu Han, are you listening?" Victor Skylar looked at him, frustrated. Had everything he said really been in vain?

"Mm? What did you say?" Gu Han snapped back to attention, staring at Victor Skylar with a blank expression.

"I said, why do you think my father suddenly decided to send out invitations to heroes?" Victor was completely at a loss regarding his father's intentions.

"I don't know. We'll find out when the alliance meeting is held in three days," Gu Han replied absently, his mind wandering. He recalled Elora's words that day; perhaps she had spoken the truth, but the people he had sent hadn't yet brought back any results.

If what Elora had said turned out to be true, what should he do? On one hand, there was Evan Skylar, whom he respected as an elder; on the other, there was the code of martial morality.

Gu Han was lost in thought.

"Your answer sounds just like my brother's—boring."

Gu Han drank in silence, not bothering to respond to Victor Skylar.

...

Late at night, a shadow slipped into the woods, landing in front of a large tree. "I greet the Sect Leader!" Zhiyao knelt respectfully before Elora.

"Go and do something for me," Elora said as she turned around. "Let the people of the jianghu know that our Nebula Eclipse is an unparalleled martial art. Whoever possesses this manual will have the power to dominate the martial world."

"Understood, I shall obey your command." Zhiyao, ever loyal to Elora's decisions, vanished from sight.

...

"Where have you been?" As Elora entered her room, she found Gu Han sitting there, staring at her.

"Where have I been? I don't think that concerns you, does it? What are you to me? On what grounds do you question me?" Elora's anger flared at Gu Han's tone, her words sharp with frustration.

"How could it not concern me? Who knows what wicked deeds you, this demoness, are up to?" Gu Han scoffed. He was irked by Elora's attempt to distance herself from him. Truth be told, he didn't even know why he had snuck into her room that night.

Since seeing her earlier at Cuiyan Tower, he hadn't been able to sleep, and somehow, his feet had led him here. When he found she wasn't in her room, worry gnawed at him. Fearing that she might be discovered by Raven Skylar and be in danger, he had waited anxiously. When she finally returned, his words had slipped out bitterly.

"Heh... If you think I am a demoness, then it's only natural for me to commit evil deeds, right?" Elora shot back at him with derision.

Her eyes were slightly reddened, and hearing him call her a "demoness" so flippantly, she couldn't help but wonder—did he truly despise her so much?

"You! You'd better not let me find out that you're doing anything malicious, or I will never let you off!" Gu Han's face darkened with anger as he stormed out, flinging his sleeve behind him.

Elora stood motionless, bathed in the dim light, until she finally turned and realized her face was already streaked with tears...