getting close to the city he called back blood, changing his appearance to a mixture of himself and josh, a complete different person from both was the result, checking his disguise transformation, he was satisfied, getting to the outer layer of the forest he ran into five youth dress up in green robe in a battle with a rank 5 mortal beast, water salamander, seeing them he hid himself behind the bushes to watch the battle, the fight lasted for 30 minute, with the salamander dead, the five rested to regain there strength. that's when Dio walk out from behind the bushes with a cold expression on his face, startled the five youth who prepared to launch an attack on the intruder, thinking its another beast which want to snick attack them while the let their guard down, seeing its a youth like them the young lady who seem to be leader of the group stop the others from attacking, still put up their guard up anyway
"who are you and what are you doing here?"
without a change in expression
"am lance from the neighbouring city"
"what are you doing here then another boy ask, obviously not buying that expressionless answer"
"I traverse the forest to temper myself, I guess you're doing same or I would have to ask what you are doing here yourself"
hearing the arrogant response of Dio, he want to attack him but was stop by the young lady,
"am Lara from the green leafs sect, you must have heard of it, which sect are you from?"
"hahh I haven't heard of it and for sect am not from any"
"-"
they were all shocked, there is no way the were buying it, a youth treversing the forest who isn't in a sect, it not new but rare.
"you are not from any sect?" the other lady in the group ask
Dio nodded to them but said nothing, recollecting herself, Lara ask
"then are you going to the capital to join a sect, cause I can see you are in rank 3 meridian stage, your talent must be good at least blue grade to get to this stage, judging from your age appearance, you are no older than us"
"excellent eyes you get there, now that you mention it I think I should do just that" stated Dio with a frown.
"am Lara once more and this is alex, Amos, jenny and lastly Daniel, we all are from same sect, you are in luck we are from the capital and will be heading back in coupe of days, you can join our party"
"what are you doing Lara we don't know this guy, he could be a rogue bidding his time to attack us when we let our guard down and loot us" Daniel said rather angry
"be reasonable Daniel, he is just one person and we are five, what could he possible do to us"
"I would listen to him if I were you, I don't trust that you people won't attack me once I let my guard down and rob me either" Dio said with a creepy smile on his face, seeing the sly smile plastered on his face they were all lost for words before a roar of laughter erupted from them
"you been rob by us, hahaha you are the funniest crap i have ever seen, what do you even have for us to steal, quit acting bro and welcome to the group man, you just put a smile on this brother face, I like you already, I support you joining the group, how about you Alex?" Amos ask.
"you know I'll always support you brother why ask?"
"jenny what do you think, you got better perception among us here, what does your instinct say?"
jenny stare at Dio as eye eyes turn white, shock gasp escape her lip while she spat out blood, her mind became hazy, her Qi essence and soul energy depleted instantly.
"are you OK jenny?" they all rushed to her side
"am fine, I just exhaust my Qi and soul energy she said while staring at Dio with visible fear and respect for him, which didn't escape Lara eyes but said nothing about it.
"see! this guy is nothing but trouble, can we trust him Jenny?" Daniel ask glaring at Dio ready to attack him obvious mad at how jenny got drawback just using her ability on him.
"he can be trusted"
"then its settled" Lara step in to calm the Foss that was about to brew between those two.
"you are not going to refuse a kind guy request right" Amos smiled walking up to Dio with a you got to say yes kind of eyes.
Dio thought for a while and accepted to go with them, there is no harm in joing the lots anyway
"we camp here for now till jenny recover before heading out" Lara instructed. everyone settle down to recover while Dio walk up to one end to cultivate, jenny couldn't take her eyes away from him while recalling what she saw when she try to discerned him, calming her thought she recall to her self how lucky she was, if she had not just check if he can be trusted and try to pry further into who he is, she would have been dead. Lara watching from the side saw her lost in thought while starring at Dio, her interest towards him increase and she made up her mind to ask jenny later what she saw about him, she obviously isn't telling every she knows.