Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Marriage Proposal?

Chapter 126: Marriage Proposal?

After leaving the Alchemy Guild, Rhain arrived before an elegant, two-story building.

Gilded Sparrow teahouse.

Rhain pushed open the wide doors and stepped inside.

Behind the front counter, a familiar figure in a tailored crimson cheongsam looked up from a ledger.

Rosanna’s professional smile appeared instantly, but the moment her eyes registered who had just walked through her doors, she hurriedly rushed out to greet him, abandoning all her tasks.

"Master Rhain!" Rosanna greeted him with a deep bow. "It has been several days since your last visit. I trust everything has been well?"

"Well enough," Rhain replied with a faint nod. "Is Master Declan available?"

"Master Declan is on the upper floor," Rosanna responded respectfully. "Please, allow me to escort you."

Rosanna quickly led him to the sound-insulated private room on the second floor.

"Master Declan, Master Rhain is here to see you."

"Send him in," came the familiar voice from within.

Rosanna bowed once more to Rhain, stepped aside, and quietly retreated down the corridor.

Rhain pushed the door open and entered.

Inside the room, Declan Rowe was busy pouring over a massive stack of intelligence reports.

"Rhain," Declan greeted, rising from his chair. His expression was controlled, but his sharp eyes carried a quiet heaviness. "I was wondering when you would come."

Ever since the night the Ashvele Clan was literally evaporated, Declan’s reverence for the teenager before him had ascended to sky.

"You already know why I am here," Rhain said.

Declan let out a slow breath, ""You are leaving the city."

Rhain nodded. "Stormveil Academy envoys will arrive within a few weeks. Once they conduct their recruitment, Seris and I will depart with them for the Inner Province."

A complicated expression appeared on Declan’s face.

"Indeed! You have achieved everything you came here to do." Declan spoke with a hint of incredulity in his tone. "And all of this has been in such a short time that no one would believe it even if I tell them."

Rhain’s dark eyes locked onto Declan.

"Declan," Rhain spoke, his tone solemn. "You once told me about your past. Long before you became the master of this teahouse, you were the sect leader of a minor faction in the Outer Frontier."

Declan’s expression visibly turned gloomy upon hearing Rhain’s words.

"Yes," Declan replied, his hands clenched at his side, "My sect was brutally destroyed by my enemies. I was hunted like a dog, and I had to flee to Mirravele City to save my pathetic life. It is my life’s greatest shame. But why would you ask this...?"

Declan’s eyes widened as he suddenly realised.

"Rhain... you mean...?"

"I do not like owing debts," Rhain spoke indifferently.

"You provided me with intelligence, a safe place to stay, and loyalty when you didn’t have to. In return, I will help you get your revenge."

Declan was left speechless.

He wants to wipe out an entire faction... just to pay for a few days of room and board and some intelligence?

But Declan couldn’t care less about it.

The fact that his enemies were still alive had been burning Declan every single second for decades.

He wanted nothing more than his enemies being buried ten feet under the ground.

"I will not fake modesty with you," Declan said, his voice low as he tried hard to suppress his emotions, "For it’s been the sole reason of my living; to see the utter destruction of my enemies."

Rhain didn’t speak, he just listened quietly.

"It is the Iron-Blood Valley!" Declan gritted his teeth, spitting the name out with pure venom. "They are a tyrannical sect located five hundred miles north of Mirravele City! Their Sect Master is at the first level of the Core Formation Realm!"

"A single Level 1 Core Formation expert?" Rhain let out a short, dismissive scoff.

"Consider them dead."

___________

Half an hour later, Rhain stepped back into the Silvercrest estate.

But this time, it wasn’t just Seris.

Beside her stood Liana, Patriarch Aurelian, and the Old Patriarch, Solas.

Aurelian and Solas were pacing back and forth like over-excited children.

The moment Rhain walked in, Aurelian’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Rhain! You’re back!"

Aurelian hurried forward, his face showing an expression of uncontrollable excitement that was completely inappropriate for his status. He pulled out a glowing scroll from his spatial ring as if presenting a divine artifact.

"Look at this! Master Aldric of the Alchemy Guild personally delivered this to us! He said it was a gift from his master—the legendary Grandmaster Alchemist!"

Solas’s old eyes were red as he explained.

"It’s an Epic-Grade formula! One that can permanently cure our Earthfire toxins with a single pill! That Grandmaster is truly a god!"

Rhain glanced at the scroll.

Of course he knew what it was. He had literally written the whole thing himself a few hours ago.

He maintained an utterly expressionless face and simply nodded.

"That’s a wonderful news, patriarch Aurelian."

Aurelian looked at Rhain with hope, and high expectations.

"Rhain, your alchemy skills are unparalleled among the Expert rank alchemist. Since we now have the formula... could we trouble you to refine these pills for our clan?"

"Our clan will provide every single material, and we will compensate you with anything you demand."

Hearing this, Rhain slowly shook his head.

"I am afraid I cannot do that, Patriarch Aurelian."

The joyful atmosphere in the courtyard instantly stiffened.

"You... you cannot? W-why?" Aurelian asked, a trace of panic in his voice.

Solas, standing behind him also looked at Rhain with a doubtful expression.

Only Liana was calm, for she already knew the reason.

"I’m leaving," Rhain said in a calm tone. "I have my own matters to attend to. I won’t be staying in Mirravele City anymore. You will have to rely on Master Aldric and the Alchemy Guild from now on."

Aurelian’s expression turned extremely grieved. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He and Solas exchanged a helpless look.

Unwilling?

Of course they were completely unwilling!

To have a supreme alchemy genius right in front of them, only to watch him slip away, was a bitter pill to swallow.

But neither of them dared to voice a word of complaint.

Rhain had no obligation to help their clan.

He had already done more than enough by exposing the Ashvele Clan’s two-hundred-year-long poison and saving them from a fate worse than death.

They simply couldn’t thank him enough.

"We... we understand," Aurelian sighed heavily, "You are a dragon meant for the wider world. This small Mirravele City will not be enough for you. Nevertheless, we will forever remember your grace."

He bowed deeply, ’Rhain, on behalf of every man, woman, and child who carries the Silvercrest name, I thank you from the very depths of my soul."

Solas also bowed deeply, "You have saved our bloodline, young man. The Silvercrest Clan will remember this kindness for eternity. If you ever need us, the gates of our Silvercrest Clan are forever open for you."

Rhain also returned the bow politely, "I wish your clan prosperity and joy, patriarch Aurelian. May gods help your clan to get rid of this disease."

Rhain straightened up, turning to look at Seris.

He didn’t say anything, but his eyes were enough to tell.

It was time to go.

But just then Aurelian spoke up again.

"Rhain, since you are preparing to leave, there is one last thing I must ask."

Rhain raised an eyebrow.

"What is it, patriarch Aurelian?"

Aurelian gestured toward Liana.

"Liana is the pearl of our Silvercrest Clan. Her talent and beauty are unmatched in Mirravele City. And she also has a very kind heart."

Rhain’s frown deepened.

It doesn’t seem to be going in a good direction.

Aurelian spoke with an overly warm tone.

"Rhain, I would like to formally propose a marriage between you and my daughter."

The courtyard fell into silence.

"F-Father!!!"

Liana’s flawless face instantly turned burning crimson, the blush spreading all the way down to her neck.

"W-what are you saying? You didn’t tell me anything about this!"

Liana stammered in pure shock, her hands flying up to cover her burning face.

Yet, despite her frantic embarrassment, a tiny spark of hope flickered deep within her silver eyes.

She peeked through her fingers, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.

Aurelian let out a warm, hearty laugh — the kind of unrestrained laughter that only a father who deeply loved his daughter could produce.

"I had been planning to discuss it with you properly," Aurelian admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin that looked entirely out of place on the face of a Core Formation Realm patriarch. "But this boy decided to announce his departure so suddenly that I simply ran out of time. If I did not speak now, I would never get the chance."

Solas stroked his white beard, nodding approvingly.

There was no surprise on his face. Clearly, the two men had already discussed this between themselves.

"It is a fine match," Solas added warmly, glancing at Rhain. "In all my years, I have never seen a young man as talented as you. If he were to become a son-in-law of our Silvercrest Clan, it would be a blessing accumulated over ten lifetimes."

Liana just wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole.

Beside Rhain, Seris’s body stiffened instantly.

Her pale purple eyes snapped straight onto Rhain’s face.

Her small hands clenched tightly into fists inside her sleeves.

But she didn’t say a single word.

Every gaze in the courtyard converged on Rhain.

They all wanted to know his answer.