Giving Up on Herself

Celia's eyes went wide as she stared at the three fully armed figures in the doorway, then looked at Xia Lin on the bed. Her voice carried the anger and grievance of betrayal. "You... you were lying to me!"

Before Xia Lin could answer, a roar filled with rage and the pain of collapsing faith exploded first.

Kade stepped forward in fury, holy flames igniting on his warhammer.

"Shut up, demon!"

His bloodshot eyes glared fixedly at Celia, his voice cracking slightly from agitation. "I—I was actually bewitched by a filthy monster like you for so long! I actually believed you were innocent! You—you even dared to transform into the Goddess's likeness to deceive others!"

Though Kade was roaring, his gaze kept intentionally or unintentionally avoiding Xia Lin's direction, clearly embarrassed by the "steamy" scene he had just witnessed.

"That is where you are naive, Paladin," Tristan said coldly from the side. He stepped forward slowly and unfastened an ancient-looking Cold Iron Longsword from his back. "What demons are best at is disguising themselves as innocent victims."

He held the sheath in his left hand and the hilt in his right, assuming the standard inquisitor opening stance, Posture of Awaiting Judgment. His whole body was like a statue about to carry out divine punishment, exuding a cold and deadly aura.

Sera stood to the side and sent a mocking transmission to Xia Lin. "You knew she was going to make a move all along, didn't you? You deliberately waited until she finished this whole act before letting everyone come in. Having a lot of fun, huh?"

"I did that to deliver a decisive psychological blow to her and destroy her confidence, understand? Tactics!" Xia Lin refuted solemnly in his mind.

Just as everyone thought the outcome was settled, Celia suddenly