Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 133: Self proclaimed Gabriel’s woman

The tension that had weighed heavily over the room finally dissipated. Baldwin had survived, and Marcus had been pulled back from the brink of death. Compared to the tragedy that could have unfolded, this outcome was already a blessing granted by fate.

Zora quietly returned to Reesa’s side. Reesa grabbed her hand excitedly, eyes shining with undisguised admiration. "Zora, you’re unbelievable! You actually know even long-lost acupuncture techniques!"

Zora smiled softly. In ancient times, when the Eastern Continent flourished, acupuncture and moxibustion had once stood at the pinnacle of medical arts across the world. It was a pity she had never had the chance to meet the old man who had taught her everything, the one who had doted on her endlessly.

"The knot between Marcus and Tiffany has finally been untied," Zora said with a warm smile. When lovers were brought together, it was always a joy to witness.

Raphael looked at her, his gentle jade-like features softened further. "That’s all thanks to you."

Zora merely smiled and said nothing more. Her role here was finished. After exchanging a brief farewell with Raphael, she returned to her residence.

Reesa did not stay long either. Unlike the special enrollment students, she still had regular classes to attend.

Back in her room, Zora began to recover quietly.

The harrowing escape from the White Mountains had not been in vain. Her cultivation had advanced noticeably. Safe, comfortable training could never compare to growth forged at the edge of life and death. Only under extreme pressure did true potential awaken.

Her decision to come to the academy had been the right one.

The next day, Zora headed out to the City.

Heavenly City was where cultivators gathered, a place where nearly everything a practitioner needed could be found. potions, weapons, techniques, demon crystals—if it existed, Heavenly City had it.

Cradling Shihtzu in her arms, Zora sighed inwardly. Feeding this little fellow was no small expense. The demon crystals she had harvested in the White Mountains were limited, and Shihtzu’s supply had already been completely depleted.

Yesterday, the little creature had shamelessly acted cute and clingy, leaving her with no choice but to come to the city to restock. Still, considering what this little one could do, even draining her wallet was worth it.

The moment she stepped into Heavenly City, waves of noise washed over her. Shouts of vendors, calls to customers, and heated bargaining blended into a lively, chaotic symphony.

The city was clearly well-managed. Booths were neatly arranged, stretching in rows as far as the eye could see. Each stall displayed different goods, waiting patiently for their next buyer.

However, she had no interest in browsing anything else.

Her purpose for coming to Heavenly City was simple and singular. Buying Demon crystals. And not just one or two, but a large quantity.

In the city, very few people openly sold demon crystals. Most cultivators preferred to hand them directly to the Mercenary Union. Apart from alchemists, demon crystals had limited use, and students from the academy rarely needed them. Selling them privately was often more trouble than it was worth.

Zora wandered through the market for quite some time without much success. On the rare occasion she spotted demon crystals for sale, they were almost always low-grade, barely suitable for consumption, let alone enough to satisfy a certain glutton.

Just as she was about to give up, her gaze suddenly paused.

Just ahead, on an unremarkable stall, demon crystals of various colors lay scattered casually, as if someone had simply dumped them there without a second thought.

Behind the stall, the seller lounged lazily in a chair, half-asleep, looking like he had no concern for business at all.

The moment Shihtzu saw those demon crystals, its eyes flew open.

Greed sparkled brightly in his watery pupils. Its little claws paddled the air excitedly and its entire body radiated an urge to pounce forward and devour them on the spot.

Zora pressed a hand on its head, her tone firm but gentle. "Control yourself."

There was no way she would let this little fellow start eating demon crystals in the middle of a public marketplace.

Shihtzu immediately wilted. Unable to rush over, it obediently curled back into her arms, though his gaze never once left the pile of shimmering crystals, longing written plainly across his face.

Zora then calmly stepped up to the stall.

The seller was a man in his forties, with a scruffy beard and unkempt hair. His clothes were loose and worn, and his entire appearance carried a carefree, roguish air. Besides the demon crystals, a few strange, misshapen items were scattered across the stall, things whose purpose was difficult to identify at a glance.

It was, without question, the most peculiar stall she had seen all day.

"Mister," Zora asked politely, "how much are these demon crystals?"

The man slowly cracked open one eye, glanced at her lazily, and replied in a flat voice, "Not for sale."

For a brief moment, even Zora was at a loss for words.

Not for sale? Then why put them out here?

Before she could ask for an explanation, a sharp, familiar voice rang out behind her.

"Well, well. Fancy meeting you here again, Zora. What a coincidence."

Zora turned around to see Clarissa standing a short distance away.

Clarissa was dressed in a pale yellow gauze dress. Her features were delicate enough, but the arrogance in her eyes and the disdain curling at the corners of her lips ruined whatever charm she might have had.

Zora remembered her clearly. The hostility from yesterday had been unmistakable, though the reason behind it still made little sense.

She had no interest in dealing with such a person.

"I wasn’t planning to meet you," Zora said coolly, impatience slipping into her voice.

Clarissa froze for a moment, clearly not expecting such a response. Then she let out a short, humorless laugh. "Zora, do you even know who I am?"

Her chin lifted slightly, pride and threat mingling in her gaze, as if she expected fear or awe in return.

Zora remained unmoved.

"If you insist on telling me," she replied indifferently, "I suppose I can endure it." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Clarissa’s expression darkened instantly.

"It was you," she said coldly, hatred flashing through her eyes, "who killed Gabriel’s sister."

The words fell heavily.

If she hadn’t personally heard Silvan swear vengeance, she would never have believed it.

Zora’s gaze sharpened slightly.

So that was the reason.

The air between them turned tense, the bustling noise of the marketplace fading into the background as an invisible confrontation took shape.

Zora’s calm eyes flickered with understanding, followed by a trace of cold amusement. The moment Clarissa spoke, everything fell into place.

So that was it.

Clarissa was yet another person tied to Gabriel. No wonder the hostility in her gaze had been so sharp from the very first moment. Zora had been at the academy for half a month now, yet she had never seen Gabriel in person.

Instead, his so-called people appeared one after another, like flies drawn to a festering wound.

"How annoying," Black muttered in disgust inside her mind. "If he has the ability, why doesn’t he come himself? Always sending useless people to do his dirty work."

White tilted his round little head thoughtfully. "Maybe Gabriel enjoys being waited on like a lord. Calling and commanding people all day must make him feel important."

The corner of Zora’s lips curved slightly at their exchange, her expression relaxed, but her eyes cold. "So you’re just one of Gabriel’s dogs," she said lightly, her voice dripping with mockery. "If he wants trouble, he can come himself. I don’t have the time to entertain stray cats and dogs."

Her words landed like a slap.

Clarissa’s expression twisted instantly, rage boiling up from her chest. "Dog?" she shrieked, her voice sharp and piercing, venom flashing in her eyes. "How dare you call me a dog?"

Her sudden outburst drew attention from all around. Cultivators in the marketplace turned their heads one after another, curiosity igniting in their gazes. Heavenly City was lively to begin with, and a public confrontation like this was far too tempting to ignore.

"I am Gabriel’s woman!" Clarissa screamed, her voice trembling with fury and humiliation. "You’d better watch your mouth!"

She was on the verge of losing control.

This identity was her pride, the reason no one in the academy dared to offend her openly. Even special-enrollment students usually gave her face. Yet Zora had trampled over it without hesitation.

Zora raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression one of genuine confusion mixed with faint ridicule. "Oh?" she said slowly. "Gabriel’s woman? Then why haven’t I heard that he’s officially married? Has he already become family with you? Or were you just one of his playthings, someone who warmed his bed?"