CHAPTER 73: COMPENSATION?

While Wei Xiao hurriedly took a few pills to stabilize himself, the others heaved a sigh of relief and began to look around for the source of that aged voice.

Soon, a woman in green silk robes stepped out of thin air, staring deeply at Amber and watching her every movement. Instead of her left hand, she had a black bird’s leg attached to her arm, and her hair was also pitch black.

The woman seemed to be in her forties, yet her body carried a youthful touch as well. However, her eyes were unmistakably ancient, those black orbs following Amber’s every minute movement.

She was truly afraid that Amber would still attack Wei Xiao. Amber was that unpredictable.

"I didn’t expect the Wei Clan to send their old fossils to protect him," Amber snorted. She had sensed her presence long ago, but she couldn’t care less about it as long as the woman didn’t interfere with her or Leon.

That presence was also the reason she went to check the hall first.

"It’s nice to meet you, Amber," Wei Xue said, ignoring her jab. Well, she already knew she was old.

"I won’t repeat it."

"Then, I apologize on his behalf. I know what he did was wrong, and that’s why I didn’t stop you from giving him a reality check. But please, stay your hand. I’ll make sure he doesn’t repeat it," Wei Xue said.

Indeed, she was also quite angry with Wei Xiao for using such underhanded methods, so she didn’t stop Amber earlier. But she had to step in now because she knew Amber’s punishment wouldn’t be simple.

"Since when did Amber Frost turn so forgiving?" Amber wasn’t willing to back down. "If I don’t teach him a lesson, then the world will simply think they can get away after trying to harm my students."

"The Wei Clan will give you compensation," Wei Xue said.

"First of all, the compensation should be for my student," Amber responded sharply. "Second of all, do you think I lack anything? And if I don’t lack anything, how can my student lack anything?"

Everyone could see that she was simply being unreasonable here, since she wasn’t even leaving a way out for the Wei Clan. It was as if she was hell-bent on making the entire Wei Clan her enemy.

Just when Wei Xue was thinking of a way to resolve this situation, a voice attracted all of their attention.

"Let’s take the compensation, Amber."

Everyone turned around and found Leon standing there with a box full of different-colored vials. He still had a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes held a strange amusement.

"You do know that I won’t back down on something like this, right?" Amber asked, but her tone was considerably softer.

"Of course, but that won’t benefit us in any way," he said. "Besides, he most likely doesn’t even know much."

Amber’s eyes flashed for a moment before her lips tugged upwards. ’This guy... he continues to surprise me more and more.’

Since he already knew everything, Amber decided to back down for now. It was as he said, even if she broke Wei Xiao’s arm or something, they wouldn’t gain anything from it. It was better to take compensation.

"Fine! But I’ll decide the—"

"I apologize, Leon. It was my fault for choosing to handle things like this," Wei Xiao, who had recovered by now, bowed before Leon, which surprised everyone present.

After all, he was an A-Rank Alchemist, someone even Ascendants sought to gain favors from. His status was among the top in humanity. It was one thing for him to bow before Amber, but Leon was a junior with no status and no power to back him up.

They didn’t expect him to lower himself so quickly and admit his fault.

"Don’t think I’ll waive off the compensation just because you apologized," Amber said before anyone else could.

"That won’t be necessary. It was my fault, and I will see it through to the end," Wei Xiao said firmly.

"Then, there’s no need for you to bow before a junior," Leon said. "But I’m still quite impressed by you, Mr. Xiao. Not many would admit their fault and lower themselves for it."

"I don’t think I’m lowering myself at all," Wei Xiao shook his head.

"Whatever you may think, but compensation alone is fine enough," Leon smiled and said. "It’s not like you managed to get anything else aside from superficial stuff anyway."

"You knew!?" Wei Xiao exclaimed in surprise.

It was just as Leon said. He had only managed to find out superficial information and nothing else. At first, Wei Xiao only planned to gather some details on the man who created such a miraculous potion.

But the fact he couldn’t find anything fueled his desire to dig deeper, yet the results were the same. He apologized because he realized that he was prying into someone’s privacy purely out of curiosity.

After all, deep investigation was different from collecting public information.

When he noticed Amber’s and Leon’s smiles, he realized he had been played. Indeed, if Amber was so protective of Leon, then how could she not protect his information?

Still, he didn’t say anything since he was at fault this time.

But he was quite wrong on one thing. It wasn’t Amber who protected Leon’s information. It was Jade, who basically controlled all information to keep Leon and his family safe.

And his family included Silver.

Leon knew that, so even if Jade didn’t want to help him, she would definitely do so to protect Silver. This was why he wasn’t really worried that Wei Xiao might have found something.

Truthfully, he didn’t really have anything to hide, but it was better this way. There was also the matter of his mother, so secrecy was safer.

Wei Xiao shook his head and asked, "I just have one question. How did you know I looked into his background when all I said can be easily found in the Academy?"

"Oh, that’s how you caught him," Leon raised an eyebrow and said. "Guess it’s also a good time to reveal it to the world."

"You sure you wanna do this?" Amber asked.

"I’m going big anyway, so might as well go full big," Leon smiled. "Besides, didn’t you say I would have a lot of strong backing? I’ll be relying on your words then."

"Haha! Go for it!" Amber laughed and gave a thumbs-up.

Everyone just stared at her in wonder. How did this woman, who was so enraged a few minutes ago, end up laughing so heartily so quickly?

"I’m confused," Wei Xiao admitted. "What happened?"

"Why don’t you check for yourself?" Amber said, pointing toward Leon. "Check his talent."

"Can I do that?" Wei Xue asked. "I’m curious about something..."

"Nope!" Amber flatly refused her. "You’re too suspicious."

Wei Xue looked away, afraid she would start a fight with this woman. She was so infuriating that Wei Xue felt her suppression on Corruption faltering.

This woman was worse than Corrupted Miasma!!

Wei Xiao didn’t pay attention to them and simply went towards Leon, helping him put down the vials. Then, he touched his forehead and said, "Forgive my intrusion."

After a few seconds, his eyes snapped open as he exclaimed in pure shock and disbelief, "Grade 8 Talent!!"