The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1797

Wynter felt an inexplicable irritation as she listened to the women's conversation. It wasn't just irritation—her state of mind was becoming increasingly unsettled after knowing the implications behind their words.

The most taboo thing for cultivators was to allow external factors to disturb their inner peace. Yet, ever since choosing to enter the Human Sacrificial Formation, Wynter's actions had been going against her principles.

Some ideas had been passed down from ancient times to the modern era. Compared to ancient times, the modern world seemed slightly better. But upon closer inspection, some things remained eerily similar.

For example, the most common advice was for women to have their own careers to avoid being left behind by society. Or nonsense such as having to marry eventually so that they'd have someone to take care of them in old age.

Wynter didn't understand why everything was about women. Didn't men also need to support their families? Shouldn't they be afraid of being left behind by society as well?

The ones who loved to gossip were often the same people, and sadly, a large portion of them were relatives and elders. Few would say that women should just live happily and freely. Society always seemed to place one lock after another on women.

Wynter hadn't noticed it as much when she was on the mountain. But now, she could feel that Nyxvarn Village was "cannibalistic".

They were warm and welcoming, smiling at others with open arms. Yet, their actions were filled with malice, though they themselves were unaware of it.

"Why aren't you speaking, sir? We're just country folks, so we don't know the rules. Have we disturbed you?" The two women were still asking.

Dalton, seemingly accustomed to such situations, remained expressionless. His demeanor was as aloof as ever. "I'm not the one you're looking for. My lord is."

The two women, hearing this, turned their surprised gazes toward Wynter, their eyes filled with disbelief. "L-Lord?"

Wynter hadn't expected Dalton to refer to her this way, but for the sake of manipulating people, it worked well.

"Hmm," Wynter responded lightly, her slender, pale fingers casually playing with a tarot card.

Suddenly, she smiled. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. You won't be able to send your daughters up the mountain for dual cultivation. But if you have sons, they might benefit. My hall is still short of a few bed warmers. How about it? Are you willing to send them?"

Wynter's words left the villagers who had come to offer their daughters utterly stunned. An unprecedented silence fell, as if even the air had gone still. Some gasped, while others turned pale.

Dalton, meanwhile, held onto the tarot cards. His gaze shifted back to Wynter when he heard the words "bed warmers". He knew she was only saying this to provoke the villagers, but she had said it too smoothly for his liking.

Wynter made the villagers both eager to curry favor with her yet deeply afraid.

"Y-You mustn't be angry. From a distance, we thought that gentleman was..." The two women tried to explain, their minds blank.

Wynter's smile remained. "Why would I be angry? We're all part of Mt. Nyxvarn. The talismans and artifacts you seek mostly come from here, too. We're already bound together. It would be tough to separate us.

"What do you want? Ask, and I'll listen. Of course, having a few men serve me would be even better. As for girls... you might not know this, but the major sects have recently deciphered a Celestial Secret."

What didn't they know? The villagers gradually gathered closer, all practically straining their necks to listen to this Celestial Secret. They wondered if it was something they were allowed to know.

"What secret? Tell us!"

"Yes, tell us!"

People were inherently greedy.

It was at this moment that Wynter decided to tweak her plan. Why bother making Aranya and the others go through so much trouble? With these people, a little manipulation would work wonders.

"I can tell you, but since this concerns the heavens, those who hear it must not spread it further," Wynter said, putting on a serious act. "Here, draw a tarot card first."

The two women's eyes lit up at the sight of the tarot cards. They scrambled for it, and one of them began snatching it.

Wynter watched this scene, her eyes cold but her lips curved in a smile. "Just as I thought."

"What do you mean?" the woman asked anxiously.

Wynter sighed deeply. "The worst possible sign. The heavens are angry, likely because of mistreatment in some households."

"Wait. Could you explain more clearly?"

They truly didn't understand. Even Aranya, disguised as a human nearby, was confused. Dalton, however, glanced at Wynter with a slow, deliberate look.

Wynter put on the airs of a profound cultivator and shook her head. "Given the urgency, I won't hold back. The sects once divined that the heavens would descend in the form of a woman."

"What? In the form of a woman?"

The villagers were in an uproar.

"The heavens? Are you sure?"

Wynter nodded calmly, her stunning face showing no cracks. Dalton smiled faintly as he watched her, his laughter cold.

On the opposite shore, the mystic spirits who had taken human forms exchanged glances.

"Is the little one telling the truth?"

"The heavens... as a woman? That's not impossible. Maybe the heavens enjoy playing."

Whether it was true or not, the seed of rumor had been planted.

Wynter was skilled at embellishing details. "Shh, don't make a fuss. Celestial Secrets must not be leaked."

Dalton scoffed. With the way she was practically shouting it to the world, she really didn't need to tell them to keep it quiet.

But the villagers nodded eagerly. "Of course! The Celestial Secrets must not be leaked."

Dalton narrowed his eyes, but Wynter continued, "When the time comes, whoever raises the heavens will receive a golden encounter. This has always been a secret. I'm telling you this because I hope you'll think carefully before acting.

"Don't cut off your own path. Every household with a daughter must consider this, especially those who have done dirty deeds."

Wynter didn't elaborate on her last sentence, but the villagers felt a chill run through their bones.

Seeing their uneasy expressions, Wynter lowered her voice further. "I'm here for another reason. The malevolent spirits in the river can no longer be suppressed. They're seeking revenge. As you know, every action has its consequences.

"Other sects also want this golden encounter. Is the golden encounter more valuable than your life?"

This was different from the usual seminars. It didn't sound like something a cultivator would say. It felt more like a threat, but the villagers took it to heart. How could they fight the golden encounter? They pondered if this was the cause of the recent increase in malevolent spirits.

Meanwhile, the malevolent spirit in the river wondered if Wynter was talking about it.

The more they thought about it, the more terrified the villagers became. An elderly woman, Marion Kassie, looked up as she trembled. "Miss, you seem young. How do you know about the malevolent spirit in the river?"

This was what the villagers feared most.

Wynter smiled and stepped closer. "Cultivators know everything. For example, all of you are burdened with resentful energy, and it will follow you for generations."

As soon as Wynter finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck, nearly splitting a tree by the river.

It was true that some Celestial Secrets had been revealed, and this was a warning. The lightning had clearly been aimed at Wynter, but for some reason—perhaps because of Dalton, who stood beside her—it veered off course.

Wynter turned her head, glancing at the tree by the river and then at the handsome, pristine Dalton. She couldn't help but wonder if she almost got struck by lightning.

The villagers were utterly terrified by this scene. If they had been half-convinced by Wynter's words earlier, they were now drenched in cold sweat.

"But... But that cultivator said the gods loved these things!"

Aranya's eyes widened. "Little one, you..."

Wynter pointed to the river. "Look, it's much clearer now."

The way to appease malevolent spirits was to let them seek revenge for their grievances.

Dalton looked up after a moment and asked, "How did you come up with the idea that the heavens would descend as a woman?"

Wynter shrugged. "The heavens aren't here. Might as well borrow their reputation. They've got a good name."

Dalton was genuinely stunned.

…

With the mystic spirits acknowledging a master and women no longer being sent to the sects for dual cultivation, someone was bound to get restless.

In the afternoon, both Mt. Lunther's and Mt. Verfait's revered sages arrived at Mt. Nyxvarn's gates. They had come to demand an explanation.

Mt. Nyxvarn's disciples hurriedly bowed upon seeing them. "Mr. Dolph, Mr. Manley, your esteemed presence graces our humble abode. I shall immediately inform Mr. Glaisne."

Leading the group were Terell Dolph of Mt. Lunther and Jervis Manley of Mt. Verfait, followed closely by several disciples from their sects. Their expressions were stern and imposing.

When one of Mt. Nyxvarn's disciples stepped forward to block their way, Terell raised his hand, about to strike. "What? Must we wait for Ailithir to arrive before we're allowed entry into Mt. Nyxvarn?"

A voice rang out from within. "What has brought my beloved friends to our humble mountain today?"

The speaker was none other than Ailithir himself. Though he appeared to be walking at a leisurely pace, he stood before the two men in mere seconds.

Seeing this, Terell and Jervis slightly reined in their tempers. Though Ailithir's spiritual root was unremarkable, his current level of cultivation was equal to theirs. If possible, they preferred to avoid unnecessary conflict.

Terell was the first to speak. "Ailithir, my dear friend, Jervis and I merely wished to visit Mt. Nyxvarn, but we were stopped at the gate. We could come and go as we pleased in the past, as if this place were our own. But now? It seems times have changed."

His words carried both jest and warning—a subtle reminder that if they could once walk freely in Mt. Nyxvarn, they could do so again.

Ailithir responded with an indifferent smile, "My disciples were merely ignorant of proper etiquette. I ask for your understanding, my friends."

Then, stepping aside, he gestured, "Come, let us not linger at the gates lest others believe Mt. Nyxvarn does not know how to treat their guests."

Terell and Jervis exchanged a glance before nodding. "We shall give it a visit since you have invited us."

"This way," Ailithir said, before turning to a young disciple beside him and whispering, "Prepare two pots of tea and bring them to the main hall."

Before long, the three of them arrived at the main hall, where the tea had already been served.

Terell flicked his Arcane Staff and spoke. "Ailithir, Jervis and I have come today for an important matter. But with so many ears present…"

Ailithir understood immediately and waved a hand. "Leave us."

The gathered disciples exited the hall, and Terell and Jervis likewise dismissed their own followers. Now, only the three sages remained.

Ailithir, still calm, smiled and asked, "What matters bring the two of you here together?"

Terell wasted no time, his tone unyielding. "Ailithir, since there are no outsiders now, let me get straight to the point. Has that princess in your sect been privately keeping mystic spirits? Is she making them recognize her as their master?"

At these words, a storm brewed in Ailithir's heart, but his expression remained unchanged. "What makes you say that, Terell?"

Terell scoffed. "Don't play dumb with me, Ailithir. Word has already spread—many mystic spirits have been subdued under her name. You know fully well that such a thing is forbidden in our cultivation world!"