Chapter 272: Chapter 272

Chapter 272 Yet I Must Kill You Jaxon feeling the effects, admitted defeat. “I talked big for nothing. You guys carry on, I need a break.”

He stumbled over to a hammock and collapsed into it.

Zephyr taunted him, “So much for being Jadeborough’s ‘Night Prince’. Can’t even handle your drink?”

Upon hearing this, Shaun nudged Zephyr, suggesting another round. “Let’s not brag and just drink.”

They both raised their glasses and downed their drinks.

Bennett cautioned, “Though my wine doesn’t cause hangovers and feels fine the next day, you should still take it easy. I don’t want anyone getting an upset stomach.”

“No problem, if Zephyr doesn’t collapse tonight, then I will!” Shaun declared, egging on Zephyr.

Casper, intrigued, joined their drinking contest.

The table buzzed with lively chatter, lifting everyone’s spirits. Rhiannon, Yuliana, and Nancy, initially planning on non-alcoholic beverages, decided to join in with another round of pineapple wine.

Bennett invited Finnegan, “Come on, let’s have a drink too.”

Finnegan laughed lightly, cautioning, “Take it easy, Bennett, I’m not great with alcohol.” He clinked glasses with Bennett and drained his in one go, then engaged in casual conversation.

By nine, Shaun and the others were thoroughly intoxicated, staggering about in disarray. Rhiannon and the other ladies had succumbed to sleep, snoring softly at the table.

Finnegan, his face flushed, set down his glass. “I can’t drink any more, Bennett…”

Mid-sentence, Finnegan slumped forward, collapsing onto the table.

Meanwhile, Bennett remained unaffected, as if he hadn’t touched a drop.

His complexion normal, eyes clear, he emptied his half-full glass.

Drawing a slender, shiny scimitar from his waist, Bennett wiped it with a tissue. His gaze, complex and conflicted, fell on Finnegan. “We have no old scores, yet I must kill you.”

Sighing, he hoisted Finnegan over his shoulder, steadying the man with one arm.

With everyone else asleep, Bennett carried Finnegan toward the orchard.

Minutes later, they arrived at a freshly dug pit, three meters deep, hidden within the orchard’s heart.

Bennett positioned Finnegan against a tree, his scimitar gleaming in his hand. “I owe you a life debt.

From this moment, I promise to protect your family, ensuring no harm comes to them,” he vowed.

As he spoke, the scimitar descended swiftly toward Finnegan’s head.

But just when it was mere centimeters away, a blur of black intercepted it. A dark, mesmerizing saber clashed against Bennett’s weapon, aimed at his neck.

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Bennett, reacting with lightning speed, spun his scimitar into a defensive maneuver.

Sparks flew as Bennett stepped back, sizing up his new opponent. Doom Star, dressed entirely in black, stood protectively in front of Finnegan. His saber was lowered, but his eyes blazed with lethal intent.

Bennett, taken aback, was not expecting this intervention.

Before he could recover, another icy wave of hostilitý surged, and the aura of a Preliminary Rank Terra Realm enveloped him.

Duncan, materializing like a phantom, engaged Bennett with his cutlass.

The resounding clash forced Bennett to retreat again. He scrutinized them, his expression growing more grave. “Are you with Finnegan?”

Duncan and Doom Star remained silent, their focus on Finnegan.

Surprisingly, Finnegan, who should have been incapacitated, opened his eyes, clear and alert. The drunken haze had vanished entirely.

Standing up, he confronted Bennett, “We have no old scores. Why do you want to kill me?”

Bennett’s heart skipped a beat at Finnegan’s unexpected recovery. “How are you unaffected?” he questioned, realizing his plans had unraveled.

Finnegan’s eyes narrowed as he explained, “Your wine is potent, more effective than any sedative. But as a doctor, I recognized ‘A Thousand Dreams’ herb in it. And I could detect the scent of its antidote, ‘The Awakening’, on you.”

Finnegan remained cautious throughout, discreetly using his spiritual energy to neutralize the alcohol’s effects as he sipped his drink.

Bennett, curious, asked, “Was that why you were so guarded?”

Finnegan explained, “From our first meeting, I could tell you were a skilled fighter, whose cultivation is at the Preliminary Rank of Terra Realm. Plus, you seemed to be cautioning everyone to drink less earlier, but your eyes betrayed a hope that they’d drink more. With these peculiarities, how could I not be alert?”

Bennett realized his oversight and sighed, “I’ve clearly underestimated you.”

“Now that I’ve answered your question, can you tell me why you’re doing this?” Finnegan pressed.

Bennett, aware of Duncan and Doom Star blocking any escape, confessed, “You and I bear no grudges, and I have no personal reason to harm you. However, I owe a life debt that must repay by taking your life.”

“Who is it?” Finnegan inquired.

Bennett shook his head. “Revealing his name would mean failing to repay the debt. I can’t betray him.”

Accepting Bennett’s principled stance, Finnegan didn’t push further. “So, was today’s invitation a setup? Did you ask Nancy to invite us here on purpose?”

Bennett hastened to clarify, “Nancy had no part in this. I knew she’d want to celebrate my birthday and invite others. So, I purposely showed her a fake ID.”

O Hearing this, Finnegan connected the dots. “You knew that Nancy’s best friend is Rhia. So by involving Rhia, you ensured I’d be present, making your plan seem less suspicious.”

Bennett nodded. “Yes. But please, don’t blame Nancy. It’s all on me.” He then surrendered his weapon, resigned to his fate. “After I’m gone, please find a way to explain to Nancy. Don’t let her resent you.”

Observing Bennett, Finnegan remarked with a hint of amusement, “With your skills, you could easily escape. Is sacrificing yourself for Nancy really worth it? She’s not even your biological daughter.”

Bennett’s eyes snapped open in surprise. “How did you know that?”

Finnegan replied with a subtle smile, “I’m aware of quite a few things. Like the fact that you’re just fourteen years older than Nancy. You’ve had a tough life, working for others since childhood. And I’m aware of the major calamity you encountered twelve years ago, one you narrowly escaped.”

Bennett’s alarm grew with each revelation. “Who are you? How could you possibly know all this?” He had been living under an assumed identity for twelve years, and those who had known him would have assumed he was long dead.

Finnegan, choosing not to reveal that he discerned this through the man’s physiognomy, offered a deal.

“Want to find out? Answer one question of mine, and I’ll tell you.”

Bennett’s expression was grave. “I cannot betray the person who saved my life.”

“I won’t ask you to betray your savior,” Finnegan reassured him with a knowing smile. “My question is simple. You’re skilled with mixing A Thousand Dreams and The Awakening. Have you ever given them to anyone else?”

Bennett, unsure of Finnegan’s motives but confident it didn’t involve betraying his benefactor, answered truthfully, “The only other person I’ve given it to is an elderly man.”

Finnegan curled the corner of his lips on hearing this, “Ah, so it’s Reginald who wants me dead!”