“The instant you aligned with Bartley, our bond was broken. You were no longer our student, and we were no longer your mentors," Cyrus stated firmly, his words carrying a sense of closure.

Barth slumped and stood there silently.

He had only come to apologize...

But he wasn't wanted anymore.

Feeling dejected, Barth turned away and departed from the courtyard, which soon resumed its usual tranquility.

That evening, a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers through the air.

The three elderly men took turns keeping watch through the night, and from three to five in the morning, it was Devonte's shift.

Devonte enjoyed his drink, especially to unwind during tense moments.

Tonight, he had uncorked a bottle of his homemade wine.

It tasted smooth but ignited fiercely as it went down, its robust grape scent lingering in the air.

Xavier was supposed to join the night watch, but after a few drinks, he passed out, loudly snoring beneath Lilah's bed.

Devonte sat alone by the door, occasionally taking sips from the bottle.

The night dragged on, tinged with a feeling of solitude.

Looking at the moon, Devonte recalled a past love.

Suddenly, soft footsteps approached, quieter than most could notice.

Devonte arched an eyebrow and let out a derisive snort.

He gulped down a big mouthful of wine, slammed the bottle down, and dramatically slumped over, snoring loudly.

After a few minutes, his breathing steadied.

Outside, several figures dressed in black waited in silence.

Hearing the snores, they exchanged glances, silently confirming their strategy.

The most adept among them stepped forward to take charge.

Their objective was straightforward: to administer a drug to Lilah, rendering her incapable of ever practicing martial arts again.

The leader skillfully climbed over the courtyard wall, noticing Devonte sprawled on the ground in an "X" shape, the scent of alcohol thick in the air.

It was evident the elderly man had consumed quite a lot.