Payton then cried out, "Sir! This man ruined my manhood! You have to avenge me!"

Urias' expression darkened as he looked at Adrian with sharp eyes, "Why did you attack Payton? He's a kind-hearted boy."

Adrian was speechless. Urias was blind to Payton's true nature. If Payton dared to assault his own fellow disciple, what would he not do?

Juleen quickly interjected, "Sir, Payton tied me up and planned to defile me. Adrian saved me."

The realization hit Urias hard. Payton, someone he valued, was supposed to be level-headed. He never expected his potential successor to do such a thing.

"Is this true, Payton?" Urias demanded.

Payton, having slid down from the tree, enduring pain and bitterness, found it hard to deny.

Adrian sneered. "Time to own up to your actions, my friend. Why are you being a coward after all those tough words you said?"

Embarrassed and wishing he could dig a hole and hide in it, Payton regretted provoking Adrian and lamented his actions. He quickly came up wi