Chapter 110

"Master, I wouldn't dare lie to you!" Evelyn Sullivan blinked innocently.

Professor Cloud snorted, slamming his palm-leaf fan onto the table. "If it weren't for treating that Sullivan boy's leg, would you even bother visiting this old man?"

Evelyn ducked her head, muttering under her breath, "I was afraid you'd scold me..."

"Afraid and still ran away?" Professor Cloud's eyes widened. "All your seniors stayed until they mastered their skills. Only you, half-trained, dared to leave!"

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Evelyn's eyes lit up. "Master, are we having mushroom chicken stew tonight?"

"Dream on!" His beard twitched. "You're eating vegetables!"

"You'd never make me!" She giggled and darted toward the kitchen. "I'll help Lily with the fire!"

Watching her skip away, Professor Cloud sighed. "That girl..."

Dr. Evan handed him a steaming cup of tea. "Don't be angry, Master. That's just how she is."

"How is she doing in Licheng?" The professor traced the rim of his cup, his voice low.

Dr. Evan paused. "Not as lively as before."

"Hmph!" The cup clattered onto the table. "Those Jackson ingrates abandoned her over some fortune-teller's nonsense. They only took her back for her bone marrow!"

"Master..."

"Enough." He waved a hand. "Someone will deal with them."

Dr. Evan looked up, puzzled. "Who?"

"The Xiao Family of the capital." Professor Cloud narrowed his eyes. "If they find out..."

Dr. Evan inhaled sharply. The Xiao Family—whose mere footsteps could shake the entire capital?

In the kitchen, Lily Cloud fed firewood into the stove.

"Elder Sister, is the outside world fun?" The young girl's eyes sparkled.

Evelyn stirred the greens in the wok. "You'll know when you turn twenty."

"Two more years!" Lily pouted. "Grandpa's so old-fashioned!"

"He just wants to protect you." Evelyn pinched her cheek. "There are many bad people out there."

"With you and my seniors around, who'd dare bully me?" Lily brandished a fire poker. "I could take on ten with this!"

Evelyn chuckled. "You'll understand when you leave."

"But what about Grandpa?" Lily's expression dimmed. "He'd be so lonely alone."

Evelyn gazed out the window. "Master could return to the capital..."

"He says someone there doesn't want him back." Lily tilted her head. "Why? Grandpa's saved so many lives..."

The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across Evelyn's thoughtful face.