The Grand Duelist

Chapter 195: Subterfuge

"Sect Master Taric!"

The old man's figure trembled when he heard Alice's shout.

"You..." 

"Young Lady Alice!" 

Sect Master Taric hurriedly rushed towards Alice's side.

He gently pushed the sect members that were attacking Alice.

"What the hell are you guys doing? Don't you know that Young Lady Alice is an Honorable Elder of this sect? By attacking her, what you are doing is tantamount to a rebellion! I can punish you according to the laws of the sect!" Sect Master Taric angrily scolded.

Wha...

"What?"

Joseph wasn't the only one who subconsciously uttered this word.

The sect members who were in a battle of life and death against Alice had their mouths opened wide. Their jaws looked as if it would fall onto the fall if not for the fact that they hurriedly closed their mouths for the sake of decorum. 

"Forgive us for what we have done, Elder!" The sect members felt weird calling such a young girl as "elder". But since their Sect Master himself have spoken. It was their duty to obey. The hierarchy was strictly imposed within the Divine Sword Sect and violating it by disrespecting an elder was tantamount to a punishment of expulsion.

As soon as the sect members heard that they could be punished under the law of the sect. They immediately fell onto their knees and sprawled onto the ground towards Alice's direction.

Some of the girls that attacked Alice even cried outright.

The sudden change of their attitude completely baffled even Alice who couldn't help but glance at Joseph as if she was asking for help.

Sect Master Taric followed her gaze and when his eyes landed on Joseph. He frowned once again, "Young Lady Alice, could he be your servant?" 

Alice immediately frowned, "Don't say something like that, Sect Master Taric. How could he be my servant?"

"He's my man..."

Alice directly confessed.

Joseph immediately blushed.

Sect Master Taric went speechless.

Lily secretly gnashed her teeth.

After a few moments of silence, Sect Master Taric spoke once again, "In that case, since he's with you, Young Lady Alice. Why did he have to crash the ancestral gates of the Divine Sword Sect? Since we both know each other, if you just told me in advance that you're coming to visit the sect, I would've personally welcomed you! Why even do this?"

Sect Master Taric was clearly displeased.

Alice lifted a bitter smile and explained, "Sect Master Taric, are you really sure that I will be able to reach you in time if I wanted to contact you? You're quite similar to grandpa so it would be useless for me to contact you since you would probably make some excuses that you're in seclusion just so you won't be bothered by guests!"

Sect Master Taric replied, "How could that be? If the message came from you, Young Lady Alice then I would immediately receive it! Why would I be so rude?"

Alice lightly chuckled, "Okay, okay, I believe you. But since everything has already happened. I suppose there's no use crying over spilled milk, right?" Alice stared right at Sect Master Taric.

Sect Master Taric was stuck in a tight and hard place.

The ancestral gates of the Divine Sword Sect were incredibly valuable for every disciple of the sect, but he really didn't care too much about it.

The ancestral gates could be considered as the faces of the Divine Sword Sect. Crashing it was the same as slapping the entire sect on its face. 

But Sect Master Taric himself doesn't really care about such a retarded concept such as keeping one's face. However, that didn't mean that his disciples and the other elders agreed with his opinion.

He reckoned that if he didn't give the disciples here a proper explanation about what was going on and some compensation, they would be forever unsatisfied.

This was why he felt conflicted towards Alice's proposal.

For him, Alice's visit was far valuable than the so-called ancestral gates.

But his people clearly didn't think the same as him.

In fact, at this moment, they looked like they couldn't wait to skin Joseph alive by their own hands.

Alice stared right at Sect Master Taric and whispered some words close to him.

Sect Master Taric revealed a look of astonishment on his face as if he was saying, "Really?". 

Afterwards, he then turned to look at Joseph.

Joseph's expression turned serious and he subconsciously bent his knees in order to react in time to any sudden changes.

But when he saw Alice's glance, he could only reveal a bitter smile.

'Ah, so that is what she wants me to do. It seems that she actually cares for this Sect Master of the Divine Sword Sect.'

'But I'm having second thoughts. Aren't all members of the Divine Sword Sect supposed to hate me to death? Why is their Sect Master trying to make peace and even communicate with me?' Joseph had a frown on his face.

Alice made a few discreet gestures and Joseph instantly understood what he had to do.

He raised his Nameless Rapier and rushed at the Sect Master Taric once again.

Sect Master Taric stared at him and said, "How foolish." He purposely infused his strength to his voice so that the disciples could hear what he was saying. Right as Joseph's rapier reached his body, he raised his hand, smacked the Rapier to the side and punched Joseph's sternocostal.

'Fuck...'

'I thought we were just acting?'

'Shit, it seems that I was too naive.'

'He really does hate me.'

Having lowered his guard for acting purposes, Joseph immediately lost his consciousness when the attack landed.

Alice let out a light chuckle as if she was amused by what happened.

Sect Master Taric, on the other hand, was quite confused.

'Young Lady Alice isn't mad? I thought she liked this man?' 

After thinking for a few moments, Sect Master Taric shook his head and bitterly smiled. 

'I really can't understand what women are thinking sometimes...'