"Master Benedict, you must be out of your mind!" Timothy had a very bad feeling when he noticed that
Benedict looked too determined. However, he was not about to compromise.
"My two conditions are incredibly simple. First, I want you to cancel the engagement between Miss
Hannah and the Heaven Shadow Pavilion's representative. Second, you must hand Basil over to me,"
Benedict continued on as if he didn't hear Timothy's words.
"Master Benedict, if you have any evidence to prove that Basil pretended to be the Heaven Shadow
Pavilion's representative, I may consider the first condition. However, the second one is unacceptable
for us. Even if Basil did something wrong, the Sword Spirit Sect should be the one to deal with him.
With all due respect, I think it's none of your business,"
Timothy wisely suggested.
"The members of the Sovereign Pavilion are the ones who want to take Basil away since he killed
Knox, who has been sent to cultivate in the Sovereign Pavilion a few years ago. Thus, the Sovereign
Pavilion considers him their member too. If Basil really killed him, it means that he has also
disrespected the Sovereign Pavilion!
And that is why Elder Clyde of the Sovereign Pavilion came with me this time,"
Benedict answered snidely.
Hearing that, Timothy immediately turned to Clyde, who was silently fuming with his whole face red and
livid.
"You'd better hand him over to us now. Or are you willing to sacrifice and destroy the harmony between
us?
As long as you hand him over, the peace between us won't suffer, and we will forget any hurt that has
come between us,"
Clyde finally stated.
"If you want to take him away, then you have to hand over the evidence first!"
Timothy could confidently challenge them because he was sure that Benedict didn't have sufficient
evidence to prove their allegations.
"Well, if you insist on being so stubborn, we have no choice but to show you some evidence!"
Benedict sneered and then waved his hands, shouting, "Guards!"
The next moment, a short-statured disciple dressed in the Sword Spirit City's typical clothes came out.
As soon as Timothy laid eyes on the disciple, his eyes turned cold and guarded.
Then, Benedict gestured towards the guards, who made way for the disciple to move forward.
"Now, tell me what you heard about the conversation between Basil and Miss Hannah..."
he commanded.
At once, the whole place grew quiet as they waited for the disciple to answer.
"Tha—that day..." the disciple stuttered heavily, obviously nervous. "I happened to hear a conversation
between Master Basil and Miss Hannah outside the Medical Service Hall. Master Basil was telling Miss
Hannah that he had pretended to be the Heaven Shadow Pavilion's representative so that he could
participate in the competition. That way, she wouldn't have to marry into the other sect..."
the disciple narrated fearfully, stammering and stumbling over his words.
The crowd around them exploded into an uproar once they heard his testimony.
"Well, Master Timothy, is that enough evidence for you? The disciple of your Sword Spirit City heard it
himself. I'm not framing you up. And, of course, you can't deny that this person is a disciple of the
Sword Spirit City." Benedict glanced at Timothy with a look of certainty.
It was evident from Timothy's surprised expression that he didn't expect one of their disciples to testify
against them, nor did he expect anybody to have overheard Basil and Hannah's conversation. But how
could such a disciple have the courage to confide their secrets to the Grand Sky Sect? If the disciple
was not a traitor, then there was someone behind him! Regardless of who was moving behind the
scenes, it was a big crisis for the Sword Spirit Sect at present.
"Miss Hannah, are you going to deny it in front of my witness here?" Benedict then looked at Hannah
who was standing behind Timothy.
Hannah's pink lips were reddened because she had been biting them worriedly. She, too, hadn't
expected something like that. It turned out she and Rocky had been too careless.
"Master Timothy, now that you've heard that, I hope you won't insist on denying anymore. If you didn't
ask Basil to do it, then that means he did this on his own, and it had nothing to do with your Sword
Spirit Sect. Therefore, you would gladly hand him over to us. We hope you can put the welfare of your
sect above your emotions in this case. Otherwise, everyone present will think that it is the Sword Spirit
Sect that is behind this matter. That's not a good thing for your sect!"
Evidently, Benedict was threatening Timothy.
At this point, Clyde also chimed in, urging Timothy to surrender Rocky too.
"Master Timothy, I hope that you'll think twice before you make a decision. Keep in mind that defending
Basil here will cause trouble, not only for you but also for your Sword Spirit Sect. I don't want to make
trouble for your sect, but I have to help the Sovereign Pavilion's leader deal with this matter and give
him an explanation."
"Our Sword Spirit Sect is also a famous sect. How can such a young disciple prove what he is saying?
If I give in so easily, people will gossip about me!" Of course, Timothy was not afraid of Benedict's
threat, as the Sword Spirit Sect was also powerful in its own right.
"I didn't expect that you would protect Basil to the detriment of the Sword Spirit Sect's reputation,"
Benedict remarked with one eyebrow raised critically. He didn't expect that Timothy would be so
stubborn.
"I am not defending him. All I am saying is that your accusations are groundless. You don't have
enough evidence, so why should I believe you?"
Timothy answered, relentlessly denying all of their accusations.
"Well, in that case, I'll have to present airtight evidence to you then. Master Miguel, please come over
here!"
Benedict laughingly announced.
"Miguel?!"
Timothy was stunned.
Miguel, who hadn't appeared before, suddenly walked out of the crowd.
He glanced at the crowd as if to check if everyone's attention was on him. Then he said to Timothy,
"Leader, please don't have to cover up for Basil. He pretended to be the Heaven Shadow Pavilion's
representative! I'm willing to prove that even if I have to risk my life.
I also know that you found out about it after it happened, but you chose to cover up the incident for the
sake of the Sword Spirit Sect's reputation. In fact, Basil has cheated all of you! He is an ambitious and
venomous snake. He deliberately hides his strength and stays at our Sword Spirit Sect. Now, he even
pretended to be the Heaven Shadow Pavilion's representative to marry Hannah. It's really unforgivable!
Moreover, he has colluded with the Robber Regiment. I've heard that he once abducted a senior
member of the Robber Regiment, but later he let her go. Don't you think that's very suspicious? This
person is definitely a wolf in sheep's clothing!
So, I'm coming forward to expose and denounce him for the sake of the Sword Spirit Sect!"
"Miguel!
I can't believe you..."
Timothy didn't expect that Miguel would actually come to their enemies on his own just to throw Rocky
under the bus and slander his name.
"Master Timothy, it looks like you didn't expect Miguel to come to us and disclose this matter. Even if
you don't believe a mere disciple from your Sword Spirit Sect, you should believe Miguel since he is
your adopted son." A wicked smile spread on Benedict's face.
At that moment, not only the guests present, but people from both the Sword Spirit Sect and the Sword
Spirit City were also looking at each other in surprise. They whispered to each other, showing a trace of
disdain. Now that even Miguel had come forward, they had to believe that Basil was indeed a cunning
and evil guy.
"Miguel, what the hell are you talking about?!"
Hannah blurted out, looking extremely exasperated.
"Hannah, don't let Basil fool you.
He was only trying to get close to you before because he wants to marry you!"
Miguel told her firmly.
Hannah was rendered speechless. She didn't know what else to say, for she knew that no matter what
she said now, it could not change everyone's opinion.
"Master Timothy, Master Miguel has already spoken on this matter. I think you should stop being
stubborn now. I give my word that I won't make things even worse, as long as you agree with the two
conditions I have set before. I can assure everyone present that this matter has nothing to do with your
Sword Spirit Sect..." At that point, Benedict was internally smiling, as he knew that his plan had
succeeded. The Sword Spirit Sect was surely going to hand Basil over to them now. They had no other
choice.
Timothy hesitated. He knew that it was useless to say anything now, but he also knew that if he handed
over Basil, it would be equivalent to admitting that the Sword Spirit Sect was at fault too. However, if he
didn't hand him over, it would imply that they were going against the Grand Sky Sect and, even worse,
the Sovereign Pavilion.
"Leader Timothy, I think we'd better hand over Basil first. We can at least avoid offending the Sovereign
Pavilion..."
"That's right, leader. You should put the welfare of our sect above everything else!"
"Although Basil is incredibly talented, he has gone too far this time."
At the time, the elders of the Sword Spirit Sect also changed their sides, as they hoped that Timothy
would protect the reputation of the Sword Spirit Sect first.
"Father!" Hannah was hesitant because she knew that the Sword Spirit Sect was in a dilemma.
However, she was torn because she didn't want to hand Rocky over.
On the other hand, Timothy couldn't help feeling helpless and morose. He soon noticed that Rocky
hadn't shown up yet, so he thought that the young man might have noticed that something was up.
"Well, as much as I want to help you, Basil is no longer in the Sword Spirit Sect. I can't hand him over
to you," he said.
"What?! That's impossible! I just saw him yesterday!" Miguel disagreed adamantly.
"Hmm... It seems that you still want to defend Basil even if that will put the Sword Spirit Sect in danger.
In that case, we have to offend you. I will find that guy today, even if I have to search your whole sect!"
Benedict shouted, intending to make the first move and teach the sect a lesson.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, a calm voice called out, catching everyone's attention.
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