In the early hours of the third day, Alex stood before Mia's house and knocked softly on the door.
After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Mia standing inside.
"Big brother, you're here," Mia greeted him with a gentle tone.
"Yep," Alex nodded. "What did Elder Ethan say about the Pills?"
"Two days ago, the master had to leave urgently for something, so I couldn't meet him, big brother," Mia explained, her eyes blinking rapidly.
"Shall we head out then?" Alex asked, though he already had a good idea of what had transpired.
"Yes, big brother, let's go. Sorry for the trouble," Mia said, relieved that Alex didn't press for further details.
"You're too polite, Mia," Alex said, playfully pinching her cheeks. His gesture seemed to ease the tension of Mia.
With that, the two swiftly exited the academy gates. However, their departure did not go unnoticed by Olivia, who huffed in annoyance at the sight.
Unperturbed, Alex and Mia made their way to the outskirts of Heavenly Star City, where they purchased two 4th level General Rank horses and stocked up on necessary supplies for their journey ahead.
According to Mia's directions, their destination lay about four days away from Heavenly Star City, passing through Black Wind village before reaching Purple Cloud town and eventually arriving at the Nether Mountains.
Despite the lengthy journey ahead, they had ample time to reach their destination.
After Alex and Mia departed on horseback, a group of people emerged from hiding.
The leader's expression turned grim as he waved his hands, giving orders, "Get some horses. We must follow them. Otherwise, he'll make our lives hell." The group quickly prepared to set out, maintaining a distance of three miles from them.
As Alex and Mia urged their horses forward, two groups began tailing them, each with their own agenda.
The urgency of their journey left little room for conversation between Alex and Mia. With Alex leading the way and Mia following closely behind, they rode in silence, their focus solely on reaching their destination.
It wasn't until nightfall that they found a suitable spot near a water source to set up camp for the night.
Seated in a circle around the crackling bonfire, they enjoyed the food they had purchased before their departure.
As they sat around the crackling bonfire, enjoying the warmth it provided, Alex broke the silence with a gentle smile.
"So, Mia, have you ever been to Purple Cloud town before?" asked Alex looking at the shy girl.
Mia, her cheeks flushed from the fire's glow, shook her head timidly.
"No, Big brother Alex, this will be my first time. I've only heard about it."
Alex nodded, a smile brightening his face.
"It's a small town, brimming with charm and character. I have a feeling you'll really enjoy it."
Mia's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned in closer to the fire and spoke softly
"Did you ever visit that place, Big Brother Alex?"
Alex leaned back, gazing up at the star-studded sky.
"I went there with my classmates, and the locals were incredibly friendly, especially towards students of the academy. But I guess we'll find out for ourselves soon enough."
Mia nodded, a small smile gracing her lips as her ears turned a faint shade of red.
"I'm more excited to see it with you, Brother Alex."
Alex returned her smile warmly.
With that, they settled into a comfortable silence, the crackling of the fire providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation.
After three days of riding, they finally reached Purple Cloud town, thousands of miles away from Heavenly Star City.
With the terrain becoming hilly and unsuitable for horses due to their weak cultivation, Alex and Mia made the decision to stable their horses in Purple Cloud town before continuing on foot.
They found a stable in town to accommodate their horses for the remainder of the journey.
Once their horses were taken care of, they sought out an inn to stay at for the time being. After a bit of searching, they found a cozy inn nestled in the heart of Purple Cloud town.
As Alex and Mia entered the inn, they were greeted by a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The inn owner, a jovial middle-aged man with a hearty laugh, approached them with a friendly smile.
"Welcome, students of the academy! Come on in and make yourselves at home."
Alex and Mia exchanged smiles, feeling instantly at ease in the cozy inn.
"Thank you for having us. We're looking for a place to stay for the night." Said Alex.
"You've come to the right place! We have comfortable rooms available, and our kitchen serves up the finest home-cooked meals in town. Let me show you to your room." Said the middle aged man who is also a member of the shadow pavilion.
With a gesture of hospitality, the inn owner led them to a charming room with a view of the bustling street below.
"Here's your two adjoining rooms. I hope you find it to your liking. If you need anything at all, just give us a shout."
Alex and Mia thanked him warmly before settling into their room.
__________________
Meanwhile in a dimly lit room, a group of members sat together, their faces obscured by shadows as they discussed their plans in hushed tones.
Breaking the silence, Martin spoke up suddenly, addressing Elder Carson, "Elder Carson, when do we make our move? Alex is here in this inn. With your skills, capturing him should be a simple task, shouldn't it?"
Carson, a middle-aged man whose strength had reached the Golden Core 4th stage, was an Elder of the Blood Eclipse branch.
Driven by the intelligence provided by Young Miss Mia, the only daughter of their branch leader, and acting on the orders of their Lord, Carson and his companions were tasked with capturing Alex alive, awaiting the signal.
In addition to Carson's group, two other groups were stationed in the outer area of the Nether Mountains, each led by Elders at the Golden Core 6th and 7th stages, all under the instructions of their Young Miss.
With meticulous planning and careful coordination, the Young Miss had ensured that their operation was foolproof, leaving no room for error.
Elder Carson's smile widened at Martin's eagerness, but he spoke with a note of caution, "Young master Martin, while I understand your desire, we must proceed with caution.
Even in a small town like this, making a move against Alex will surely attract attention and leave behind traces."
Martin's eyes gleamed with malice as he clenched his fists, his teeth gritted in anger, "I can't wait to see the look of despair on that bastard's face. He dared to get close to Mia; he needs to learn his place."
Elder Carson, knowing Martin's twisted nature as the grandson of their Grand Elder, anticipated his response and cautioned him, "But Young master Martin, we must consider the consequences of displeasing the Young Miss with our own actions."
Martin's expression shifted, a mixture of fear and obsession crossing his face, drawing a look of disdain from Elder Carson.
After a moment of contemplation, Martin's features twisted into a wide grin as he relished the thought of his revenge,
"Alright, let's wait for the signal from Mia. But once we have him, I want to personally crush his indifferent face," he declared, his anticipation evident as he envisioned the downfall of a supposed genius.
Elder Carson's smile masked his disdain as he agreed with Martin's assessment. "Indeed, Young master Martin has a point. We just have to wait two more days."
Martin's grin widened at the thought, his bloodlust barely contained. "Excellent. Let's bide our time for two more days," he said, his anticipation palpable.
With the discussions concluded, the group prepared to retire for the night, ready to rest before the upcoming events.
Suddenly, a gentle knock sounded from the opposite side of the door, breaking the silence of the room.