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The Elder, known for her composed and calculating demeanor, now paced the room with a sharpness in her steps that mirrored the fury emanating from her. Her hands were clasped tightly behind her back, and the muscles in her jaw worked furiously as if holding back a volcanic eruption of anger.

"How," she began, her voice icy, "does a rogue, an unaligned

nobody,

continue to defy us at every turn?"

Her gaze swept across the room, landing on Zerah, who sat stiffly, her face pale but composed. None of the disciples dared speak, sensing the storm that was about to break.

Elder Xue\'s sharp steps echoed through the tense silence of the room, her expression an icy mask barely concealing the tempest beneath. Her disciples dared not meet her gaze, their heads lowered slightly, knowing full well the consequences of testing her temper. She stopped abruptly, her piercing eyes settling on Zerah, whose pale face betrayed her internal struggle to remain composed.

"Elder…" Zerah began hesitantly, but Elder Xue silenced her with a single, cutting gesture.

"Do you understand," Elder Xue said, her voice dangerously low, "the magnitude of the insult we\'ve endured today?"

The room was utterly still, the flickering lantern light casting shadows across the faces of the disciples. Xue\'s hands clasped tightly behind her back, her knuckles whitening as her fury threatened to spill over. She didn\'t speak of the man they had paid to secure a victory against Lucavion—a man who had been utterly defeated as if their efforts had been a mere joke. Nor did she mention the ultimatum they had delivered to the city\'s inns, a decree ignored by none other than

her.

The Iron Matron.

Mariel Farlon.

Xue\'s mind churned with the implications. Mariel had always been an enigma—a retired adventurer with a reputation for strength, cunning, and, more recently, her infuriating defiance of authority. Though Mariel had left the adventuring world behind, her influence lingered, particularly in Andelheim. Her refusal to comply with the Cloud Heavens Sect\'s ultimatum was not just an insult—it was a challenge.

"You dare to go against my sect…" she murmured under her breath, the words laced with venom as her sharp eyes flickered toward the disciples seated before her.

Straightening her posture, she turned to address them, her voice cold and authoritative. "Enough sitting idly. This rogue and his so-called benefactor believe they can mock the Cloud Heavens Sect with impunity. They are mistaken."

Her gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Zerah. "You, and three others—prepare to accompany me. We will pay a visit to this \'Phantom Blade\' and his Iron Matron. I want them to understand exactly what it means to stand in the shadow of our authority."

The disciples straightened, their faces a mix of anticipation and unease. For Zerah, the prospect of directly confronting Lucavion was both an opportunity and a risk. Still, the chance to finally put him in his place filled her with grim satisfaction.

"Elder Xue," Zerah began cautiously, "are you certain—"

"I do not need to explain myself to you, Zerah," Xue snapped, her tone icy. "This is not a negotiation. We will make an example of them. Gather yourselves. We leave now."

******

The streets of Andelheim were alive with the hum of evening activity, the glow of lanterns casting long shadows over the cobblestone paths. Elder Xue strode with purpose, her robes flowing behind her like a storm cloud, her four chosen disciples trailing in her wake. Each step was deliberate, her presence commanding the attention of those they passed. The crowd instinctively parted, whispers spreading as the unmistakable emblem of the Cloud Heavens Sect came into view.

"Is that Elder Xue?" someone murmured from a distance, their tone tinged with awe and fear.

"She\'s going to the Iron Matron\'s inn," another said, their voice dropping to a whisper.

Xue ignored the murmurs, her focus fixed on the path ahead. When they reached the familiar doors of the Iron Matron\'s inn, she paused for a moment, taking in the modest yet sturdy structure. The warmth of firelight and muffled chatter from within did nothing to soften the disdain curling at the corners of her mouth.

Without hesitation, she pushed the door open.

*******

The heavy wooden door creaked, and the lively murmur of the inn came to an abrupt halt. All eyes turned to the imposing figure of Elder Xue as she stepped inside, her presence commanding the room. Behind her, the four disciples entered in practiced formation, their expressions cold and resolute, their movements deliberate and synchronized.

Mariel Farlon, standing behind the bar with her usual air of calm authority, looked up from her work, her gaze steady and unflinching as it met Xue\'s. Her expression didn\'t change, though a faint flicker of curiosity sparked in her eyes. The patrons, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, shrank back, their conversations fading into silence.

"Mariel Farlon," Xue said, her voice cutting through the heavy quiet like a blade. "Or shall I address you as the Iron Matron?"

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Mariel set down the mug she was cleaning, her movements slow and deliberate. "Elder Xue," she replied evenly, her tone polite but laced with a hint of steel. "To what do I owe the pleasure of such a visit?"

Xue\'s gaze narrowed. "Spare me the pleasantries. You have defied a direct order from the Cloud Heavens Sect. Your actions have consequences."

The room held its breath as the two women stood facing each other, their contrasting auras clashing silently. Behind Xue, the disciples stood at attention, their eyes scanning the room until they found Lucavion seated at a corner table, entirely at ease despite the mounting tension. His smirk was already forming as if he\'d been expecting this.

"Elder Xue," Mariel said calmly, her eyes flicking briefly to Lucavion before returning to Xue. "I run my inn as I see fit. And as I recall, the Cloud Heavens Sect does not govern the laws of Andelheim."

Xue\'s lips pressed into a thin line, her knuckles tightening around the edges of her robe. "Do not mistake leniency for weakness," she hissed. "This inn, and the people you choose to shelter, will not be exempt from consequences."

Lucavion finally rose from his seat, his smirk widening as he approached, his tone light but dripping with amusement. "Well, well. I didn\'t realize I was important enough to warrant such attention. What can I do for you, miss?"

The room bristled with tension as Xue turned to face him, her eyes cold and unyielding. "You," she said, her voice sharp, "have overstepped your bounds for the last time."

Lucavion\'s smirk didn\'t falter as he spread his hands in mock innocence. "Overstepped? I\'m just a humble participant in the tournament, enjoying some hospitality. Surely that\'s not a crime?"

The corner of Xue\'s mouth twitched with barely restrained fury. "You are a nuisance," she said through gritted teeth. "And nuisances have a way of being… dealt with."

The room seemed to hold its collective breath, the tension thick enough to cut as Lucavion tilted his head, his grin turning razor-sharp. "Then by all means, Elder," he said softly, his tone as dangerous as it was mocking, "deal with me."

Elder Xue\'s gaze darkened as she met Lucavion\'s mocking grin, his audacity grating against every nerve she had left. Her disciples shifted behind her, their expressions a mix of outrage and disbelief at his blatant disrespect. Yet Lucavion seemed unfazed by the tension, his smirk deepening as he leaned slightly closer as if to deliver the final insult.

"Or maybe, Elder," he drawled, his voice low and deliberately taunting, "perhaps I\'ve misunderstood all this attention you\'ve been giving me. If you\'d like, I could offer compensation for the trouble I\'ve caused." He paused, letting the tension build before his smirk turned wicked. "Or… should I pay you with my body?"

The room seemed to freeze, the air thick with shock as his words echoed. The disciples behind Xue stiffened, their faces flushing with anger, but Lucavion pressed on, entirely undeterred.

"Surely, you wouldn\'t refuse a fine young man like myself, right?" he continued, his tone dripping with mockery. "After all, your disciples certainly don\'t seem to." His eyes flicked pointedly toward Zerah, whose face burned with humiliation, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Lucavion\'s gaze returned to Xue, his grin turning razor-sharp. "Though, I suppose there\'s a chance you\'re a bit… pickier. I\'d understand. At your age, Elder, you may not have the stamina to keep up with me."

The room erupted. Gasps and muffled exclamations filled the space as the tension reached its breaking point. One of the disciples stepped forward, her face red with fury. "You insolent—"

"Enough," Xue\'s voice cut through the chaos, cold and commanding. She didn\'t raise it, but the sheer weight of her authority silenced everyone in an instant. Her disciples froze, their anger cowed by the sharp edge in her tone.

Her gaze locked on Lucavion, her expression cold and unreadable, though her clenched fists betrayed the storm raging beneath her calm facade. "You dare," she said quietly, her voice low and venomous, "to insult not only me but the entire Cloud Heavens Sect?"

Lucavion shrugged nonchalantly, his grin never wavering. "I wouldn\'t call it an insult," he replied smoothly. "More like… an observation."

"Observation….." Elder Xue took a step closer, her presence radiating cold fury. "You think this is a game, rogue? That you can mock me, mock my sect, and walk away unscathed?"

"Yep….." Lucavion tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Just as you have said…..I will walk away, just like I came…..With my head, proud….And you will not be able to do anything about it."

His gaze contained a certain chill…..

\'This guy!\'

And it was the final straw for Elder Xue…..