The Psychotic Girl’s Revenge

“Tour guide Nick, my boyfriend and I would like to go explore on our own for a bit. Is that alright with you?” Paige calmly asked as she walked up to Nick.

Nick was startled by her cooperative attitude and quickly responded, “Of course, that’s fine!”

Could he really say no to Paige?

Enrico picked up the suitcase beside him, glancing at Paige from the side. *Boyfriend?* She called him her boyfriend, but it was just words-she hardly ever treated him like one.

Paige didn’t notice his thoughts and opened one of the suitcases, taking out some health supplements suitable for the elderly and handing them to Enrico to hold. Then, she glanced at Angie and Carrie, signaling with her eyes to leave everything here in their hands. After that, she took Enrico’s hand and left.

River Town was a small, secluded city surrounded by towering mountains that enclosed it like a natural barrier. Walking from the parking lot, they passed through a towering stone gate, the only entrance to River Town.

At that moment, River Town was celebrating its annual Wine Festival, and tourists were continuously streaming in through the stone gate. Even before entering the town, merchants on either side were already busily selling wine.

The crowd was dense, and people frequently bumped into them.

Unhappy, Enrico pressed his lips together and put his arm around Paige’s shoulder, pulling her closer to him. “Isn’t there a way to drive in?”

Paige noticed his arm on her shoulder, feeling a little flutter in her heart. She smiled and explained, “The terrain in River Town is very uneven, and the houses are built up and down the slopes. The roads are narrow, so even riding a bicycle is difficult. You have to ride part of the way and push the bike for the rest. Cars with four wheels simply can’t get in.”

“It sounds like a good place to retreat from the world,” Enrico commented.

“That’s why we suspect Jeremiah has settled here. It’s a place most people wouldn’t think to search,” Paige said as she leaned against him while walking.

“So, who are we going to visit now?” Enrico asked, raising the health supplements in his hand. Clearly, this wasn’t just a simple investigation.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Paige glanced up at him, and the moment their eyes met, Enrico quickly looked away.

“What’s wrong?” Paige instinctively touched her face. *Was her disguise, courtesy of Carrie’s makeup, really that bad?*

Enrico, still holding her, continued walking. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

“…Okay then.”

They passed through the stone gate and veered off from the tourist crowd, taking a narrow cobblestone path deeper into the town. The air was filled with the scent of wine due to the festival.

They ascended wet stone steps, winding around the mountain as they climbed higher. It felt like hiking, with houses nestled in the hills, and many locals selling homemade wine in preparation for the evening’s drinking contests.

“At night, there’s a traditional wine contest. Everyone is getting ready for it,” Paige explained when she noticed Enrico looking at the preparations.

Wine.

Enrico’s thoughts suddenly wandered back to what Dr. Clinton had once told him.

*”Mr. Gustin, if nothing else works, use alcohol-either to loosen yourself up or to loosen her up.”*

Wine. A wine festival.

This trip to River Town felt like it was hinting at something.

“We’re here,” Paige said, pulling him from his thoughts. Enrico looked up and saw a simple stone courtyard with three old-fashioned houses nestled against the mountain.

A plump middle-aged woman was carrying a large jar of wine out of the house. She seemed to be a housekeeper and was grumbling to herself, “At his age, he should be enjoying retirement, not messing with bugs all the time.”

Paige chuckled, let go of Enrico’s hand, and walked past the woman.

The woman, mistaking them for patients, hurriedly called out, “The old master doesn’t see patients during the Wine Festival. You’d better leave.”

Under the eaves hung a row of finely crafted insect cages, each adorned with a wind chime that tinkled softly in the breeze.

Insect cages.

Enrico’s eyes narrowed. He now realized where they were.

Paige had brought him to the Earl family, where she had come to seek knowledge.

As Enrico stepped through the threshold, the pungent smell of herbs hit his nose. Inside, an elderly man with white hair lay in a rocking chair, eyes closed and a book in hand.

The old man wasn’t asleep, merely resting. After a while, he reached out for a nearby cup of tea.

Paige walked over and took the cup away. When the old man couldn’t find it, he frowned and opened his eyes, first noticing Enrico’s tall figure, and then Paige beside him.

Carrie’s makeup skills were impeccable, and the old man’s eyesight wasn’t great, so he didn’t immediately recognize her. He waved his book in the air and, in a grumpy tone, said, “I don’t see patients during the Wine Festival. Leave.”

He had quite a strong personality.

Paige twirled the teacup in her hand and smiled. “Teacher, your tea has gone cold. Drinking it like that isn’t good for your stomach.”

At these words, the old man immediately recognized her. He quickly sat up from the rocking chair, both surprised and delighted. “Paige?”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

But after a moment of joy, he quickly regained his composure and snorted, putting on a stern face. “You little rascal, you still remember to come visit me, huh?”

It had been a year since her last visit.

Paige smiled and moved to stand in front of him. She knelt down, crossing her hands together and touching her forehead to the ground, performing a traditional gesture of respect. “Teacher, I’m sorry for being unfilial. I’m only visiting you now.”

“Hmph.” The old man turned his head away, refusing to look at her.

Paige remained kneeling on the ground, not getting up.

Enrico stood to the side, frowning. Earl couldn’t keep up the act for long. He quickly put down his book and, with his bony hands, helped Paige up. “I told you this place is cold. You’ve got such a fragile body, and you’re kneeling on this cold floor. Don’t you know you’ll get sick? If you die, how will the Medicine Curse Sect carry on?”

Despite his stern words, his concern was evident.

“With you looking out for me, my health will be fine,” Paige replied with a smile.

“Who’s looking out for you, you reckless little brat?” Earl flicked her forehead lightly. Though it looked like a hard tap, it didn’t hurt. His fondness for his only disciple was unmistakable.

Paige stood up and knelt by the tea table, starting to boil some water.

“And this is…?” Earl turned his attention to Enrico. The man, tall and imposing, wore a mask, but his presence was impossible to ignore.

Since he was Paige’s teacher, Enrico treated him with respect. He placed the health supplements on the table, removed his mask, and bowed slightly. “Good day, sir.”

His deep voice was rich and magnetic.

“…” Earl didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stared at Enrico with a peculiar expression, scrutinizing him from head to toe as though trying to figure something out.

“…” Enrico felt a bit uncomfortable under the gaze, but not wanting to be rude, he looked over at Paige.

Paige was calmly kneeling there, her delicate hands gracefully pouring the hot water into the teacup. She smiled and said, “Teacher, please don’t bully him.”

“I was just looking! How is that bullying?” Earl retorted, but then seemed to realize something and turned to Enrico. “So, is he the reason you came to the Medicine Curse Sect?”

Earl, being an old man who didn’t keep up with current events, hadn’t recognized Enrico as a prominent figure.