James asked, “Are you alright? Do you need me to take your pulse?”

Maxine waved her hand and said, “No need, I’m fine. I only need a few days to rest up.” She looked at James and spoke in a gentle tone, “James, I plan to return to the Capital.”

“The Capital?” James frowned. “Tobias has already given up on you. You were lucky to survive this. If I hadn’t received the inheritance of the Blithes’ Grand Patriarch, you would have been dead at Mount Littleroot. And you…”

He turned to Thea and rebuked her, “Why did you act so recklessly? That’s the patriarch of the Blithes we’re talking about! He’s a sixth-rank martial artist. He could have easily killed you.”

“I-I was worried about you. It’s also partly your fault for not telling us that you escaped. I was worried sick, you know!”

“I was curious to see if Tobias would come to my rescue. I also wanted to see what the Blithes were up to.”

“Stop right there, you two.” Maxine interrupted their conversation and said, “James, Thea was