In a forested region close to the Huang manor was a person tied to a broad tree in the dark shadows of the night, a dark figure approached the man like a phantom emerging from the shadows removing the mask he had donned for the best part of the night, revealing himself to be a slim and sturdy handsome blue eyed youth, standing about I.8 meters with neatly cut black hair .
It was none other than Hartley , the captive man who was dressed in yellow robes, had tears running down both cheeks, making a couple clean tracks through the soot and dirt that now stuck to his face..
He was trembling as he had flashbacks of seeing the two elders who had made him feel invincible in the Verbena district both killed by one punch each like manged dogs in the slums. He had refused to kowtow and ask for the beautiful red hair woman's forgiveness.
Then this normal looking mortal youth showed his unbelievable strength. Scared witless he immediately fell to his knees kowtowing and asking for the forgiveness of the young miss but she swore an oath to never forgive a single person with the surname Huang. The killer then dragged him out to the forested area close to the Huang manor and knocked him out and he woke up tied to a tree..
Hartley came up to the sorry looking figure crying , pissing and shitting himself at the same time. He pleaded "I'm sorry, I'm sorry....If you let me go you will never see me again, I will leave and find the most remote corner of the earth to live out my days. please ancestor let me off this one time." With a stern malicious look, Hartley stared into the man's eyes and replied with slow blood curdling words "none with the surname Huang shall be forgiven and you are the last one left." The yellow robed man bawled out like a newborn being slapped on the rump,"Help!" he shouted himself hoarse as he called out for a savior in the secluded forest but none would hear or come to his rescue on this night..
Qin Li awoke to the slightly muted commotion outside, he washed up and came downstairs to take a look. He wasn't sure if Hartley was planning on leaving the Verbena district today or in the coming days according to what Hartley had originally said they were in no rush to reach the capital.
Coming out of the inn he could hear the hushed discussions among the people, the strange thing was no one wanted to speak aloud. Qin Li saw the stable boy near by and summoned him over with a copper coin and asked "what's going on in the town kid? what is everyone discussing?" The stable boy swallowed his saliva and looked left and right then replied in a low voice with his right hand covering his mouth "people think the dark arts users are back in the district, they must have come for revenge last night because the Huang clan manor has been razed to the ground," he paused and gulped again "not even the layer 4 xiantians were spared and all their heads are now on spikes in the front yard of the manor."
Qin Li knew that the dark arts users didn't really to need to cut people's head off, an intact and mutilated body could be robbed of its soul, but if the head was cut off, the victim would die too quick. So Qin Li ruled out that possibility as soon as he heard it.. Qin Li had taken all this time to catch up on the cultivation he missed while driving the carriage, so he had no idea when Hartley returned with Zhi Ruo and left again.
Hartley soon after came down to the first floor of the inn and met up with Qin Li. "Lets have some breakfast in the eating area," said Hartley while hugging a quiet Zhi Ruo. She had no idea what Hartley had done at the Huang manor last night, she had witnessed him punching the elders to death and the plump shop keeper came out in shock and helped to remove the mangled bodies from the shop while Hartley took the young master away with the promise of the shop keeper to never mention the situation in the future. Of course the plump man promised without a second thought with sweat running down his back.
" Let's have some delicacies this morning and after we will do some shopping here, I think we will stay here for a week and then be on our way," Hartley said with a slight smile. He had made a lot of money from the space rings of the people in the Huang manor, he had some precious beast cores and weapons to sell along their journey guaranteeing that money will not be a big issue for the next couple of years. He sighed, the only way to quick riches was killing and robbing his enemies he thought.
Zhi Ruo picked up the weird atmosphere among the locals and soon it became clear what had happened as Qin Li informed them of the rumors milling around the town. She had a small startled surprise as she looked at Hartley with her mouth slightly open.. Hartley whispered to her "Ruo that's why it is important to cultivate diligently on this journey because on our way to the capital there will be many like them looking to bully a beautiful woman, we have to be prepared to tackle these obstacles." He had a solemn look on his face and added "any oath you make along the way as long as it is within my power it will not be in vain" she looked at him and with a serious face said "I understand".
"We will buy some materials and equipment for you to practice producing armors along the way so you will not be so bored. I am sorry I overlooked these things and didn't make make proper preparations on your behalf" said Hartley lovingly as he hugged her close. "I love you" said a blushing Zhi Ruo. Now all doubts about her decision had been washed away like seashells on the beach, she now had a determined look brandishing on her face.
Delegates from the Royal family turned up to investigate the rumors, while Hartley and Zhi Ruo made their preparations. Qin Li spent every single minute to improve his power. The days passed by in a blur..