Safety first...

'This is bad. I need to let go of my selfish thoughts and let her go. Only in that sect can she learn to have superior control over her physique,' Leon thought, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists tightly. It was obvious that if the physique moved to using her life force as an energy source, Amelia would age millions of times faster and die, and he wanted none of this to happen.

"Trust you'll keep all I told you to yourself," the Viscount said, his gaze narrowing at Leon, a bit of pressure from his cultivation base descending on him.

Leon, somehow unaffected by the Viscount's pressure, didn't even notice it, surprising the Viscount. Leon simply nodded his head firmly to the Viscount's words and replied with all seriousness, "I love your daughter. You can trust me with this. Your secret is safe with me."

As the pressure from the Viscount decreased, Leon, still not noticing the pressure, couldn't help but frown. 'Why did he reveal this to me?'

This secret was too heavy and delicate for the Viscount to reveal so easily. It was either that the Viscount trusted him way too much, but they barely knew each other, or there was another reason that Leon was not aware of.

'Maybe he told me because he wanted me to stop seeing him in a bad light since he hid something this important from his daughter. Or maybe he told me to stop feeling bad about himself because he might have guessed that Amelia told me about him not revealing her ice element affinity,' Leon thought to himself.

[It's neither of those,] the system interjected, its voice resounding in Leon's head.

'What?' Leon was surprised. Though he knew he might have guessed wrong, he never thought the system would know the exact reason.

'That's a system for you, I guess,' he shrugged inwardly and then asked, 'So, system, if I guessed wrong, what's the real reason the Viscount would reveal such a delicate secret to me?'

[It's to test you, Leon. When Amelia first brought you to him, the Viscount didn't know whether you were telling the truth about loving her. His butler, who is essentially a walking lie detector, wasn't present then, but he is here now. If you had been lying and harbored nefarious thoughts towards Amelia, like wanting her physique for yourself, the Viscount would have killed you on the spot.]

Leon gulped, glancing to the side. He had completely forgotten about the butler while listening to the Viscount's story. The butler's presence had faded into the background. If not for the system's explanation, Leon might have believed the butler had left long ago.

Subtly observing the Viscount and his butler, Leon noticed them communicating through eye signals, the Viscount nodding in satisfaction in the end.

The butler caught Leon's gaze and frowned. 'Did he figure out the real reason why the Viscount told him all this?'

Despite this, the butler was certain that Leon wasn't lying when he professed his love for Amelia. His ability to detect lies was not easily fooled. It didn't just track physical cues like facial expressions and heartbeats; it also observed the person's intent. Intent was the primary indicator, and it was nearly impossible to mask. Just as killing intent could be sensed, so too could lying intent, something inherent in all sentient beings when they lied.

When the butler confirmed that Leon was truthful, he sighed in relief. The result was what they had both hoped for. If it had turned out otherwise, they would have been forced to kill him. Not that they feared killing him, but because Amelia loved him deeply. The fact that Leon had broken her frost heart indicated the depth of her feelings. Killing him might not only exacerbate her already raging physique but also affect her cultivation negatively.

If word of Leon's death reached her, it would be devastating. They would have had to keep his death a secret from her, which was preferable to having a potential betrayer by her side. Her heartbreak from his betrayal would have been far worse than hearing of his death. They were glad he truly loved her, sparing them from such drastic measures.

The butler smiled. 'Amelia has found herself quite an interesting husband.'

Meanwhile, the Viscount sighed and muttered to himself in a voice inaudible to the others, "Amelia, at least the frost heart of yours made you fall in love with the right person," his mood soured as he added, "Just like your mother."

"If not for your mother, I wouldn't be where I am today. While it pains me that what happened to her happened, with the strength I have now, I will make sure that you will not die like she did."

After declaring these words in an inaudible voice, his face, which had hinted at the pain of the tragic memory he recounted, returned to its expressionless form. He looked at the butler and asked, "Have you sent word to the Sect Leader of the Glacial Frost Lotus Sect?"

The butler bowed, his voice carrying deep respect for the Viscount, "Yes, sire. The message has been sent, and I presume that the Sect Leader is preparing a portal to teleport here as we speak. She'll be here any moment now."

The Viscount nodded, thinking, 'If the Sect Leader comes, at least I will know the way forward. She must know of a way to stop the raging physique and yin and frost essence.'

Leon's heart lightened upon hearing this. It meant that Amelia's raging physique would be managed soon, but it also meant he would have to say goodbye sooner. He couldn't help but grunt inwardly.

The Viscount, noticing Leon's distress, placed a hand on his shoulder. "This isn't easy for any of us. But it's the only way to ensure Amelia's safety."

Leon nodded, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I understand. Her safety and well-being come first."