This time, however, Charlotte didn't allow any tears to flow out. Instead, she ran towards the man she loved and gave him a hug with a smile on her face.
"Next time, don't let me worry again alright?" Charlotte leaned towards Ace and whispered into his ears.
I'm sorry Charlotte. Ace wasn't able to convey his intentions through speech, all he could do was give her the warmth she needed.
As for Arith and Clarissa who had chased after Charlotte, their gazes met as they laughed out loud.
They chased after Charlotte because they were worried for her and yet they're the one feeling jealous now.
"To think that we chased after her out of worry only to make ourselves jealous." Arith sighed as he turned around, making his way back to the sect.
"I'm coming with you." Clarissa followed Arith as they returned to the sect.
Staying here would only hurt them, their sect master was only thirteen years old and yet he had already found true love.
Ace's hand gently brushed Charlotte's hair, her body was still trembling and even though he didn't voice his concerns out, his heart was in pain for her.
She had been with him since the moment she lost all her loved ones, even when their master left, she was the only one who accompanied him.
When he lost himself to the desire for strength, it was she who pulled him back to his senses and be his true self.
When he wanted to take the danger alone, it was her who insisted on following even though an accident might mean death.
Yet, what had he given her?
When she was fooling around because she was bored, he would always settle her down quickly before continuing with his task.
When she wanted to be involved in his life, he would always keep a distance from her by hiding his secrets and intentions.
When she actually made up her mind to take the risk with him even though it meant death, he had sent her away selfishly thinking it was the best for her.
"Charlotte, from now on, be with me alright?"
Ace asked Charlotte as he blushed slightly for the first time. He could feel his heart beating faster. He was afraid of rejection, what if he was just overthinking things?
Ace knew that there wasn't much he could give Charlotte for now, especially when his future seemed bleak, but the least he wanted to give Charlotte was a status and reassurance.
"Mhm...promise me that you won't abandon me again in the future," Charlotte said with closed eyes and reddened cheeks, the force of her hug increasing as though she was afraid that this was just a dream.
After a long time of silence, Charlotte asked, "Did you save those men who were captured?"
Ace expected her to ask and thus told her the truth, only to realise that his worry had caused him to forget his main objective.
"Charlotte, you care to make another trip with me?"
"Just make sure you don't abandon me again this time."
Soon, the two of them left and made their way back to the town to look for that woman who had given them the location.
"Mam, everything's fine now?"
Ace asked from behind as he took a glance at her husband and son. From their faces alone, Ace could tell that they were probably traumatised, but considering the gravity of the situation back then, he knew that it wouldn't take long from them to walk out of it.
The woman saw Ace and thanked him in agitation as she called out to everyone, "Everyone, this is the hero who saved all the men in this area!"
Two seconds of silence passed. The third second, however, the chain reaction started as the women dragged the men in their family to thank him while throwing out questions which made Ace chuckle in silence.
It was rude of him to ignore them and their questioning gaze, but it was the only option he had considering that Charlotte was with him.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Would you consider my daughter! She'll be of legal age in a few months!"
"I know of a few young…."
Seeing this, Ace knew he had to stop this as he whispered towards Charlotte, who was standing beside him as he held her hand, "I'm only doing this for your sake."
The next moment, he had already pulled Charlotte into his embrace as he announced, "Sorry everyone, but I already have a lover! The only reason I'm here today isn't for any impure reasons, but to recruit anyone interested in joining my sect!"
A few of the women were persistent in making Ace their son-in-law, but someone stepped out before them.
A man walked out from the crowd.
The man was wearing a white long robe and his hair was neatly combed to the back.
"I'm a musician who wanders around the world, searching for someone who knows how to appreciate my talent."
The man said as he took out a zither from his spatial ring.
"First heavenly note!"
The man pulled on a string as a musical note pierced through the air and dashed towards Ace.
Drawing out his sword, Ace dissolved the musical note easily.
The musician sighed as he said, "You truly think that attack was meant to harm you? It was a note meant to eliminate anyone who cultivates the evil energy. But for you to dissolve it that easily, your heart is pure."
The man smiled, looking up as he asked the crowd, "Anyone here that knows of my true identity?"
"Now that I think about it, aren't you the wandering musician Cidd?" A young man from the crowd asked in surprise.
"That's right. I'm the wandering musician Cidd, a man who only started cultivating at the age of twenty-seven, now already standing at the doorway to the Great Martial Master realm in just two years and ten months." Cidd said proudly, but Ace wasn't disheartened to pull him in.
That man wasn't boasting, he truly had the capability and talent to back up his words.
"Missing the golden age of cultivation, it didn't affect me because my heart for music remained through and that became my weapon and most importantly, the awakening of a universal halo."
"What's that?"
No one present has heard of this term, not even Ace or Charlotte.
With a smile, Ace gestured for Cidd to explain to everyone what the universal halo is.
"The universal halo has a wide array of effects, some are used for teaching, some are used in combat, some are used to conceal...as for mine, mine is one which guides others, if I were to help someone with a lower cultivation base then me, that person's cultivation speed would at least double if he trusts in me," Cidd explained without holding back, a yellow halo glowing behind him.
"Musician Cidd, if you manage to gather 100 merit points in my sect, I would consider building a lecture hall for you to hold lessons not only about cultivation but anything as long as it helps my sect disciples to develop. Interested?"
"Of course, that was my purpose for coming here after hearing about the strange occurrence of every man nearby vanishing. It was to find the person who brought them back."
"Before we leave, you might want to consider recruiting a few more talents, I have a talent stone here that glows depending on the person's cultivation talent."
"A white glow would mean below average talent."
"A green glow would mean average talent."
"A blue glow would mean decent talent."
"A purple glow would mean elite talent."
"A yellow glow would mean genius talent."
"An orange glow would mean demon talent."
"A red glow would mean peerless talent."
Cidd explained in one shot as he held the stone in hand as it glowed brightly, emitting an orange glow which was partial red,
"Sect Master, this is my meeting gift!"
Cidd threw it over as Ace caught it with his hand, a dazzling red glow sending the crowd into an uproar.
"Now then, who's interested to try?"