Handrich was deep in thought within the room when a maid's voice suddenly cut through: "Master, the young mistress requests your presence!" There was an unmistakable tension in her tone. Though she had no concrete knowledge of the situation, she had a sinking feeling it was far from good news.

Audrich frowned. He was occupied with crucial matters and desired no interruptions, so he simply stated, "Very well, I understand!" The maid remained waiting outside, unwilling to depart.

After a considerable silence during which Audrich did not emerge, she hesitated once more, saying faintly, "Master, something may have occurred in the young mistress's courtyard." She dared not withhold this information; silence in such a matter was a grave offense! The door slammed open with a sharp sound, and Audrich emerged with a grim expression.

"What is the trouble?" The maid shivered visibly, stammering out, "Lord Zachary is in the young mistress's courtyard..." As she spoke, she closely watched Audrich’s face. Seeing his brow furrow, she swallowed the rest of her words.

Audrich found it deeply strange. He had explicitly sent Zachary to apprehend the culprits who had injured Loris.

Why had he returned now, and why was he in Loris’s private garden? This whole affair smelled of deception!

Audrich turned his gaze toward the maid standing below the steps and asked in a low voice, "What is Zachary doing there?" The maid dared not conceal anything, forced to reply with a tremor, "Lord Zachary brought two children... and the young mistress appears terribly frightened of them!" "What?" Audrich gasped.

He remembered the reports from Casius and the others clearly: the ones who hurt Loris were children. Could it be— He couldn't bear to think further.

Audrich strode swiftly toward his daughter's courtyard! Meanwhile, Zhong Shenxiu waited there quietly, quite impolitely helping himself to the pastries set out near Loris!

Loris, however, remained visibly tense. Though she hadn't been physically harmed during this long wait, the terror continued to sweep over her uncontrollably.

What Loris found most unbearable was that Robin stood right beside her, his eyes fixed directly upon her, scrutinizing her as if holding a gleaming knife! Time dragged agonizingly during the wait.

Loris kept glancing nervously toward the courtyard gate, desperately hoping to see her father’s figure soon, so he could simply pay these two little devils off and send them away! "Loris!" Audrich's voice preceded his arrival.

Loris’s eyes lit up, and she soon saw her father approaching, looking somewhat disheveled. She wanted to call out, but after glancing at Robin, she restrained herself.

Audrich slowed his steps upon entering. He first checked on his daughter, visibly relaxing when he saw she was unharmed.

Then, his gaze shifted sideways, and upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, his expression clearly faltered, confusion crossing his mind: Could these two children be the ones? Finally, Audrich’s eyes settled on Zachary, and he couldn't help but demand, "Zachary, what are you doing here?

And what is the meaning of these two children?" However, Zachary acted as if he didn't know Audrich at all, completely ignoring him. "Zachary, I am addressing you!" Audrich’s volume increased slightly.

Although he knew Zachary was typically arrogant and overbearing in the household, the man usually showed him respect. He never expected Zachary to behave like a stranger today, brushing off his direct questions!

Zachary’s demeanor remained unchanged, infuriating Audrich to the point where he almost lashed out on the spot. But considering they were in his daughter's private garden, with her present, he managed to restrain himself for now.

"Loris, what did you call your father for?" Audrich shifted his focus to his daughter and walked toward her. To his astonishment, a shadow flashed before his eyes—Zachary had stepped forward and blocked his path!

"Move aside!" Audrich’s patience was nearly spent, and a powerful aura began to seep from his body. But Zachary didn't budge, adopting an expression that clearly declared, This is my post.

"Are you attempting treason?" Audrich’s oppressive aura intensified, his gaze locked fiercely onto Zachary! Yet, in the next moment, his expression froze.

He noticed something profoundly wrong with Zachary; there was a distinct lack of spirit in his eyes—or rather, they were utterly vacant, seemingly unfocused! What was happening?

The situation was growing increasingly bizarre, and a knot of unease tightened in Audrich's chest! "Are you that Duke, then?" Zhong Shenxiu’s voice suddenly broke the tension.

Audrich turned to the source and saw Zhong Shenxiu looking back at him with a slight, knowing smile! "Who exactly are you?" Audrich’s brow furrowed deeply.

He could already sense that these two children were far from ordinary. Zhong Shenxiu smiled again, saying lightly, "Didn’t you send someone to invite me?" Hearing this, Audrich’s body clearly jolted.

He scrutinized Zhong Shenxiu and Robin again with renewed intensity. The atmosphere grew heavy.

Loris attempted to speak several times— Suddenly, Audrich exploded forward, transforming into a blur as he charged toward Zhong Shenxiu and Robin. The action was so swift that no one anticipated Audrich's sudden aggression.

But though he was fast, someone was faster—and that person was not Robin, but Zachary! Just as Audrich attempted to maneuver around Zachary, the guard's hand shot out like a striking viper, seizing Audrich by the collar.

Audrich felt his balance instantly vanish, followed by a dull thud. He was hurled five or six meters away by Zachary.

All of this occurred in the span of a lightning flash. Audrich lay on the ground for a long moment, not because he was severely injured, but because he could not process the reality of what had just happened.

He genuinely could not believe Zachary could toss him aside so effortlessly. His own strength was known to be superior to Zachary’s; he was a ‘High-Tier Sword Saint’!

When did Zachary become this formidable? Audrich found the Zachary before him intensely unsettling.

Especially the chilling cold emanating from those dead, lifeless eyes—it inspired genuine dread! "Feeling a bit surprised, aren't you?" Zhong Shenxiu's expression held a hint of mockery.

Audrich ignored him, rising to his feet and coldly addressing Zachary, "I'll give you one last chance. Step aside, or don't blame me for being impolite!" A Duke's authority was not to be trifled with.

If not for the immense service Zachary had rendered him in the past, Audrich would have already used force. Zachary remained silent, but Zhong Shenxiu spoke again: "He won't listen to you!" Audrich’s eyes bored into Zachary with focused intensity.

Seeing that Zachary still had no intention of moving, he became truly enraged! A powerful surge of Battle Qi erupted instantly.

Audrich drew his sword; the intent to kill was evident. He cared nothing for Zachary’s strange condition; anyone who defied him was an enemy, even a once-loyal subordinate would be shown no mercy!

Zhong Shenxiu stopped talking now, but the teasing smile on his face grew wider, his look toward Audrich suggesting: Don't rush. You'll get what's coming to you shortly.

Loris watched her father dumbfounded. She never imagined things would escalate to this point.

She had naively thought a simple payment would placate these intruders, not that it would erupt into open combat! Loris knew her father was strong, but in this moment, a contrary thought surfaced.

Her eyes darted anxiously toward Robin, as if fearing he might intervene next. In that instant, Audrich swung his sword at Zachary, the strike carrying such fierce momentum that he clearly intended to finish the fight with one blow!

As the incoming sword approached, Zachary showed no sign of evasion. Only when the blade was inches away did he simply raise his arm!

There was a sharp clang. No limb was severed; instead, Audrich’s sword was violently repelled.

At this point, the shock in Audrich's mind was beyond description. He couldn't accept that Zachary had blocked his swift attack using only his bare arm.

Even though Audrich had only used fifty percent of his power, that force should have been devastating to flesh and blood! Did Zachary conceal a weapon in his sleeve?

Why did it feel like hitting solid bronze? However, Audrich’s astonishment had come too soon.

Zachary, no longer content to stand idle, suddenly accelerated, charging toward the still-dazed Audrich! The speed was blinding.

Before Audrich could react, his body was airborne. A massive boom echoed as Audrich’s body plowed directly through the courtyard wall, smashing countless flowers and foliage in the process!

Loris’s mouth dropped open wide enough to fit an egg. Her eyes reflected nothing but horror.

She could not fathom that her father had been defeated by Zachary, and so thoroughly beaten! Yet, Audrich proved his title as a ‘High-Tier Sword Saint’.

Despite taking Zachary's blow directly and crashing through the masonry, he emerged from the broken bricks seemingly unharmed. But his eyes fixed on Zachary with a savage glare, the look of a beast before a kill.

Perhaps alerted by the noise, a large contingent of guards rushed over. Seeing Audrich’s disheveled state and the chaos of the scene, they froze in collective shock!

What just happened? The question flashed through every guard’s mind.

They looked at each other, utterly unsure how to proceed. "Seize Zachary!

If he resists, execute him on the spot!" Audrich suddenly roared. A chaotic melee was thus initiated, and Zachary was about to demonstrate to them that even zombies could go wild.