“Just now, Jane has already competed in one match, and now she has competed again without losing her composure. She even challenged me to a vote, which shows her extremely high talent and exceptional stability in performance. This proves that she is excellent,” she said, smiling at Jane.
After this statement, no one looked down on Jane anymore. It also silenced others.
Seeing Isabella making a friendly gesture towards Jane, the people around started to think that something was not right.
“I knew it! How could Isabella have tied with someone like you? It turns out you borrowed her influence to put on a show here!”
Someone said this, and it received unanimous agreement from the surrounding people.
Otherwise, how could someone like Jane, a commoner, enter this gathering?
It was widely heard that Jane was nothing but a waste, and the fact that she could tie with Isabella was mostly because Isabella intentionally went easy on her.
“Nonsense has its limits.”
Jane’s eyes turned cold, feeling helpless about these baseless suspicions.
“Otherwise, why would someone like you attend our gathering? It’s simply an insult to us!”
Whispered conversations filled the small groups of people, further infuriating Jane.
“Even if I’m not the same kind of person as you, that doesn’t give you the right to verbally attack me. Is this what you self-proclaimed literati should do?”
Jane’s eyes were fierce as she glanced at the people around her. She never liked to pay attention to these self-righteous individuals.
“Huh, just because you borrowed Isabella’s influence, you dare to be so arrogant!”
They started discussing again, and Jane heard various offensive words.
“I’ve already said it, I have no relationship with her whatsoever.”
Jane was becoming impatient, growing more dissatisfied with their verbal attacks.
“Otherwise, why would she make a friendly gesture towards someone like you? Who would believe that nonsense?”
Facing more and more provocations, Jane couldn’t bear it anymore. She took a deep breath, slowly circulated her energy within her body, and then concentrated it in her hand. Suddenly, she rushed towards the nearby table and chairs, instantly shattering them to pieces.
“If you don’t control your mouths, you’ll end up like this.”
Jane’s words and actions were a blatant humiliation to the literati in front of her. Although they couldn’t swallow this insult, they knew that anyone who could tie with Isabella must possess extraordinary strength.
Looking at the shattered furniture, they dared not utter a word.
Isabella silently watched everything, her expression complex. Jane couldn’t decipher what she was thinking.
But Jane didn’t care. Isabella’s matters were none of her concern.
Then, the doors of the banquet hall were once again opened, and Elis walked in.
Everyone closed their mouths and lowered their heads, paying their respects to Elis.
The atmosphere became serious, in stark contrast to their sarcastic and harsh expressions towards Jane just moments ago. They were completely two-faced.
Jane shook her head, finding nothing to say to these people.
“Master.”
In the midst of silence, Jane addressed someone as “Master,” leaving everyone even more astonished. Who in this place would be willing to acknowledge Jane as their disciple?
The image of Isabella appeared in the minds of the people. But since Isabella had tied with Jane, would they still have a master-disciple relationship?
“Hmm, alright.”
With a single word as “Master,” the voice of Elis resonated in the surroundings, causing the crowd to turn pale.
They couldn’t believe that Jane was actually Elis’s disciple!
They looked at each other, unable to accept this fact.
Elis, as the leading figure of the Realm of Literature and Art, represented the highest authority in the realm. Many people had longed to become his disciples, and now, Jane had become his disciple?
“Mr. Edwards, is this person your disciple?”
Someone couldn’t believe it and asked Elis.
“Yes, why not?”
Elis replied calmly, waving his hand to Jane, who was still bowing.
“Perhaps you are all unaware, but I accepted Jane as my closed-door disciple yesterday. She is the person beside me. If any of you have a problem with her, then you have a problem with me!”
The fact that Elis publicly acknowledged Jane as his disciple surprised everyone.
It turned out that Jane was able to participate because of Elis’s influence, and naturally, no one dared to say anything against Elis.
As the crowd looked panicked, Jane ignored them. This was human nature.
Although Isabella was somewhat shocked, having just fought Jane in person, she knew of Jane’s strength, so it wasn’t surprising for Elis to accept her as a disciple.
Jane turned her face indifferently, wanting to follow Elis to the seats, but unexpectedly, many people followed along.
“We apologize, Ms. North. Just now, we were unaware that you are Mr. Edwards’s closed-door disciple.”
“Yes, yes, we were mistaken. Please don’t be angry with us.”
Several people came forward to flatter Jane, their attitude completely different from their previous aggressive behavior.
Jane closed her eyes and ignored them. She wasn’t a saint. The memory of so many people attacking her was still fresh. It was impossible for her to forgive them so quickly.
“I understand that we were in the wrong just now. We shouldn’t have spoken to you that way. Your temperament is excellent, and we have witnessed your strength. Please don’t be angry with us anymore.”
Several people around tried to persuade Jane, attracting her displeasure.
“Just now, how come none of you thought of me as a member of the Realm of Literature and Art? And now, you’re putting on this act. Who exactly are you trying to impress?”
The identity of that “who” was evident, referring to Elis beside her.
Elis raised an eyebrow, realizing that those conceited people had troubled Jane in his absence.
“As Mr. Edwards’s disciple, we naturally show respect towards you. How could we dare to look down on you?”
The people around quickly put on a smile and hurriedly agreed.
“No need for that.” Jane rejected them once again, her tone domineering. “I have a clear understanding of right and wrong. Just a moment ago, you were all hurling insults at me, and now you deny everything? Such hypocrisy.”
Jane sneered and turned her face away.
“Come on, we know we were wrong just now. Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, can’t we all get along?”