Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 136: Alaric Von Seraph’s Interest

"Everything on this stall is yours!"

The moment those words fell, a stunned silence swept across the square. Several people stared so hard their jaws nearly dropped. Every item on the stall... all of it... just handed over like that?

Zora’s lips curved into a relaxed, amused smile. The stall owner’s decision did not surprise her in the slightest.

To someone who had lost the ability to cultivate, the Elixir of Tranquility was worth more than any weapon, armor, or demon crystal piled on that stall. Compared to the chance of reclaiming his path of cultivation, everything else was nothing more than scrap.

Clarissa, however, felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

Elixir of Tranquility?

A potion that had been tightly regulated by the Immortal Guild, suddenly appearing in Zora’s hands?

If this were a lie, it was too absurd. If it were true, it was even more terrifying.

She simply could not accept it.

"This... this Elixir of Tranquility must be fake!" Clarissa blurted out, panic breaking through her composure. "You can’t let her fool you!"

She was no longer thinking about dignity or pride.

All she could see was the enormous wager hanging over her head. One hundred thousand gold coins and fifty demon crystals. If the stall owner really walked away like this, what would she use to pay?

The stall owner stopped in his tracks and turned back, his eyes filled with cold disgust.

"Whether I’m fooled or not is none of your business," he snapped. "Mind your own affairs and shut your mouth."

With that, he no longer spared Clarissa a single glance. Clutching the porcelain bottle as if it were his lifeline, he strode out of the marketplace without hesitation. At this moment, all he wanted was to test the potion’s effects as soon as possible.

The scene unfolded too abruptly. Several people and spirit warriors stood rooted to the spot, their minds struggling to catch up. Some even whispered in disbelief, wondering if the stall owner would really not come back to question her later.

"Elixir of Tranquility’s formula can only be found in the hands of those elites who belong to the Immortal Guild. How could Zora possibly have it? This is ridiculous!"

"But the vibrating needle technique was also lost, wasn’t it?" someone retorted. "And didn’t she just use it yesterday?"

That single sentence struck like a hammer.

The crowd froze, and the looks directed at Zora instantly changed. Shock, awe, and deep curiosity intertwined. If someone can have the knowledge of the lost technique of acupuncture, it shouldn’t be a surprise if she has the exilir.

Perhaps, she was related to the Immortal guild? How else can one explain such treasures appearing in the hands of a 16-year-old girl?

Or maybe she is the descendant of a powerful, ancient family?

Clarissa’s face drained of all color. No matter how she looked at it, this was a gamble she should have won. And yet, she had lost completely.

One hundred thousand gold coins. And fifty demon crystals.

Even saying the numbers made her chest tighten. Where was she supposed to get that kind of wealth?

Zora glanced at her casually, her tone light and unhurried. "The wager stands. Three days from now, remember to hand everything over. With so many people here as witnesses, you wouldn’t dare to go back on your word, would you?"

Those calm words pressed down on Clarissa like a mountain. She wanted to deny it, to run, to pretend it had never happened—but the countless eyes around her made escape impossible. If she reneged, her reputation at Imperial Academy would be utterly ruined.

Before she could say anything, a cold voice cut through the air.

"If she can’t afford it, I’ll make sure she does."

Alaric Von Seraph spoke evenly, as though stating an indisputable fact.

Clarissa’s face turned even paler. She had never imagined that Alaric Von Seraph would intervene so directly. When had he ever involved himself in other people’s affairs?

The surrounding crowd, on the other hand, watched with undisguised excitement. Such a massive loss... Clarissa was truly in deep trouble this time.

Meanwhile, Zora calmly began collecting the items from the stall, one by one, placing them into her Storage pouch. Piles of demon crystals, odd materials, miscellaneous objects—whatever was on the stall, everything vanished neatly.

Judging by the quantity alone, it was more than enough to keep her dear Shihtzu fed for quite some time.

Exchanging a single potion that she considered only second grade for all of this?

By any measure, it was an incredibly profitable deal.

After a brief silence, Alaric Von Seraph spoke again, his expression unreadable, but his tone carried a sense of suspicion. "That potion... it was genuine, right?"

Elixir of Tranquility was a treasure coveted by countless cultivators, after all. Seeing Zora produce it so casually had genuinely startled him.

Zora tilted her head slightly, a faint, playful smile dancing in her clear eyes as he looked at him. "What do you think, Senior?"

The question lingered in the air, light yet unfathomable. Alaric Von Seraph’s dark eyes lingered on Zora for a while. A quiet turbulence stirred beneath the surface of his gaze, yet he said nothing, his expression as cold and reserved as ever. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Sure enough, this man truly excelled at acting aloof.

Zora shrugged helplessly and added with a light tone in the end, "Well, if you are really curious to know... Yes, it’s genuine."

A faint ripple passed through Alaric Von Seraph’s gaze at her words. But he didn’t show any response and merely turned and walked toward the academy, maintaining his pace steady and unhurried.

She caught up to him and walked along.

Extraordinary.

That was the only word that came to his heart.

Whether it was the lost technique of vibrating needles or the incredibly rare Elixir of Tranquility, everything seemed to appear effortlessly in her hands.

This was no coincidence. It was enough to prove that her background was anything but simple. And perhaps... far more profound than he imagined.

For the first time in his life, Alaric Von Seraph felt a genuine sense of curiosity toward someone.

When students noticed Zora walking side by side with Alaric Von Seraph, shock spread across youthful faces. In the past, the only woman ever seen beside him was Sylvandria. Yet now, that place seemed like it was quietly replaced.

Eyes shifted. Whispers followed as they continued to walk side by side.

Sensing the strange looks around her, Zora raised an eyebrow slightly, but she merely shrugged and continued to walk.

Upon returning to the dormitory, she spotted Tiffany waiting outside her door. The moment their eyes met, Zora understood why she had come.

"Zora," Tiffany called softly.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for saving Marcus." Tiffany’s expression was sincere, mixed with apology and gratitude. "I was rude to you yesterday. I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

Her voice carried no pretense. Under those circumstances, Zora had still stepped forward to save Marcus. That kindness weighed heavily in her heart.

"I understand how you felt," Zora replied gently, with a warm smile. "There’s no need to take it to heart."

As a physician, she had long seen the fear and desperation of loved ones standing at the edge of loss. Compared to that, Tiffany’s reaction yesterday was completely understandable.

Tiffany felt her heart loosen. Zora’s generosity made her feel even smaller by comparison.

"Zora, from now on, if you ever need anything, just say the word. Marcus and I will never refuse!"

Her eyes shone with firm resolve. Gratitude repaid was the way she lived.

Zora smiled softly. "There’s really no need. Just take good care of Senior."

Tiffany nodded and bowed deeply. "Thank you. Truly."

*

Inside the room, Zora spread the demon crystals across the bed. "Go on..."

As soon as it got the permission, Shihtzu pounced onto them with unrestrained delight, its fluffy body sprawled over the pile as if claiming a treasure hoard.

Clutching a demon crystal with both paws, it bit down happily, its entire face radiating bliss.

Zora reached out and rubbed its little head. Demon crystals were hard as stone, yet this little fellow crunched them as if they were snacks. That mouth really was something else.

"Tiffany doesn’t seem so bad after all," White said while smoothing its fur. "She was pretty annoying yesterday, though."

"At least she knows how to apologize," Black snorted. "If it were anyone else, they’d still be barking nonsense."

Zora lifted one of the furry balls with a hand, her tone calm and practical. "When you first enter a place like this, earning goodwill never hurts. If it can buy hearts and loyalty, why not?"

With Marcus and Tiffany’s status, forming goodwill with them was hardly a loss. If anything, it was a profitable exchange.

"Haha, I knew Master would never make a losing deal!" Black puffed up proudly, its tiny chest rising as if it had personally sealed the bargain.

Not long after Alaric Von Seraph returned to his room, a knock sounded at the door. When he opened it, Raphael stood outside, a familiar glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Seraph," Raphael said with a half-smile, "I heard some rather shocking news today from cultivators who came from Elysia’s Imperial City. It’s all about Zora. Interested?"