When they about to leave, the kids turn around and look at the run-down house for few minutes. They had already live here for quite long. Being some runaway slaves wasn't easy. They were fear if they would get caught and got separated after being sold. Now, they leave their fate to a stranger they have saved. Will it be a good or bad outcome, they don't know. But, hiding forever won't solve any problem. One day, they had to face the fact that they were weak if they miss this chance to be strong.
Albert silently wait them to firming their hearts.
"Let's go." Ace said with resolute eyes.
Other kids also nodded.
They walk away and not looking back even once. The sky was clear and today was quite warm. Albert estimating, they should arrive nearby town when evening. Ace was showed the way and Albert silently following. Since Albert rarely talk, only Reala, Dean, and Kyle were lively chatting with each other while looking scenery. Every land was covered with snow. So, aside from white color with some leafless trees, there's nothing caught their interest.
"Ah! There! A Two Fang Snow Rabbit!" Dean suddenly shouted.
Reflex, all the kids suddenly charging to Two Fang Snow Rabbit and fight it. Albert was speechless seeing this. Why did they suddenly charge attack? He was really wondered. It is just a normal beast without any spiritual power. So, there's no harm if they just passing by since this beast wasn't aggressive.
"Haa!" Ace movement was faster than other kids. Since he has a rusted knife, he trusted it to it neck and kill it with one hit.
"Alright!" Those kids cheered when they success to kill it.
Albert come closer. "So, why you kill it?" He was quite curious what will the kids do with it.
"For lunch!" all of them answered with unison.
Albert can't stop his mouth from twitching. He already showed them that he didn't lack of ingredient. But, why he did feels it's like no matter how much ingredients he had, it will never be enough for six of them? Did these kids doubt that he can't feed them for the next few days? Okay, right now Albert didn't seem as a rich guy. When they found him, his cloth is tattered. Now, he didn't wear any expensive cloth and choose normal cloth because he felt it wouldn't attract those who pursuit him.
If he didn't look like a peasant while walking with this kids, who dirty and little smelly, then he wondered how much people would attract if seeing them. Anyway, he didn't feel want to explain to the kids. He decided to let it be and didn't mind it much.
"Alright. Hold it till lunch time. Let go." Albert asked Ace to lead the way again.
About an hour past since they start journey. Albert stay vigilance till now and haven't sense any abnormality. His intuition tells him they may meet two or three group who pursuit him. Since every land covered with snow, it's make him easy to spot other people if they head close to them. If he senses any danger approaching, he would try his best to protect this kids.
"It's cold …" Kyle whispered while blowing him cold hands with his warm breath.
Albert frowned when he observed the kids. He didn't realize three of five kids were shivered. Their lips were little purple because freezing. It's look like it underestimate the weather. If he standing there for a whole day, he won't feel cold as long he could circulate his energy. But these kids, they just a normal people and a thick mantle wasn't enough to make them fully warm.
He felt they have to take a break for a while and make their bodies warmer. If he ignored it and keep moving, these kids may sick in the middle way. He looks his surrounded to find a place for rest. There's no place that not covered with snow. He sighed. He didn't have any choice but to make an emergency place to rest.
After summoning his weapon from space, Albert cut down two leafless trees as if he cut a tofu. He used the tree trunk as a fireplace. Using his spiritual power, he summoned a very, very small golden fire in his finger to burn some lumbers that he set on tree trunk. He put the rest lumber to his space, then he ordered the kids to encircle the fire.
After ten or so minutes, he could see the kids face was slightly better. They stop shivering and become spirited.
"Next time if you kids start to shivered, tell me. We will stop immediately to rest." Albert said it while taking out some waterskins from his space, then he gave it to them.
The water temperature wasn't cold or hot, so they drank in hurry before the water become freeze. After returning the pouches, they proceed to travel again.
When they walked just a few step, Albert suddenly tense up. What were he caution since they start to traveling has come! He saw a group of pursuit with black mantle and hood not far away from them. It looks like they didn't head to them, but they do realize Albert's group from far away. One of those men suddenly head toward Albert's group in high speed. Albert didn't sense any intent killing, but doesn't mean he will let his guard down.
Since the journey, Albert already suppressed his cultivation realm to third tier, Battle Warrior. With this realm and skin mask, he was sure they won't recognize him just with a single glance.
When that person arrived in front of them, Albert gave a fist salute while his head slightly down. "May I know why this Sir come to us?" Albert changed his tone so it makes them hard to recognize.
He sized Albert from up and down, then glanced to the kids. He failed to recognize Albert. Then he tried to size Albert's realm. He sniggered when he learned Albert was weaker than him. He didn't even size the kids' realm since he knows the kids just a normal people and didn't have any spiritual power. If they could use spiritual power, then these kids didn't need to use any mantle, just like Albert.
Normally, a cultivator rarely uses a mantle when winter or summer. They only used it when they need to hide their identities.
"Have you seen a heavy injured cultivator? He has a blond hair and blue eyes like you."
Albert slowly shaking his head. "I'm sorry, sir, but I nor the kids didn't see any injured cultivator while we on journey."
"Tsk!" The black mantle guy clicking his tongue. Then without say anything, he leaved just like that and back to his group.
After those men gone, Albert sighed lightly. He glanced to the kids. Their face was pale because scared. That guy just released an intimidate aura to pressure them, so they don't dare to lie. Only Albert wasn't effected by the pressure, so he was fine as if nothing happened.
Silently glaring at where those men gone, Albert vow to himself. Today, he was lowered his head to those lowly men, but when he come back with a new faction, he will crush them till nothing left. How dare they arrogance in front of him! If not for this kids' sake, he would kill them within a blink.
"It's alright. They have already gone." Albert consoling these kids, but didn't look at them. He still staring to where those men gone, as if he wanted to chase and kill them in spot.
It took five or so minutes before the kids gradually calm down. They continue to traveling to nearby town.
***
When the sun has set and the sky turned dark, they arrived at a town called Illuminate Town. They stop at the front gate of town wall. This town was bright even the sky already dark. Most of traveler already entered town before sunset. The town gate already closed at this hour since it was the rule of the town. There's no other traveler at this hour since the townsfolk already understood the rule.
If travelers want to entering town after dark, they need to knock the gate few times and a city guard may come out to do an inspection. They didn't want some dangerous criminals come into town and make a ruckus.
Albert knocked the gate more than ten times before someone opened a small window in the gate. A guard sizing them, who knocking the gate, for two minutes before he start to speak.
"What? Do you want to enter town?" He asked with annoyed tone.
Seeing the guard attitude, Albert knows it won't be easy to entering town. He knows if he didn't bribe this guard, then they may get chase away by this guard. So, rather than wasting times speaking with this guard, Albert throw a silver coin to the small window.
That guard instantly caught it. After obtain it, somehow the guard suddenly frowned. "Just a silver? Sir, don't be petty! How about few more silvers?"
Albert frowned when he hearing it. He can tell this guard was damn greedy and will make things hard for them. Just as he about to gives some more silver, a voice suddenly interrupted him.
"You, greedy guard! What the f*cking are you doing! What you need to do is inspecting that person, not ask some money!"