When the Hallowflame group arrived in Riverside, it was already evening, but it was not as late as they had feared. The sun was setting in a burst of yellow and orange hues, casting beautiful light onto the picturesque town.
In line with the town name, there was a huge river which flowed in the middle of the metropolis. Buildings were established along the river, giving their residents a pleasant view. Moreover, the town was surrounded by low-lying hills.
Yuan Haoran was surprised by the cleanliness of the town. Despite the vibrant population, the river was clean and free of unpleasant smells from waste or pollution. It was amazing how different it was from most water bodies in the modern world.
Since the team was a little late arriving in the town, the best inns were already full. However, since they were students, it did not matter if they were not comfortable. No one complained as they found a cheap inn farther from the river.
Yuan Haoran did not have money to pay for the inn, even though he had a lot of treasures he took from the old ghost in the necropolis. He also did not understand the value of money in the world yet, so he was not sure what he could use to pay.
However, it was fortunate that he was with Long Jingyi, the epitome of a responsible senior brother. He paid for the group's rooms without hesitation and handed over the keys, including Yuan Haoran who was still thinking about his financial state.
Yuan Haoran was a little surprised, but he recovered after a moment. He looked at the metal keys with a number etched on the end with a shallow smile. He could not remember if he had ever freeloaded anything in his entire existence.
In the past, he had a lot of power. And even when he was powerless, he preferred to use merciless means to acquire whatever he wanted from other people. The feeling of getting something from someone freely was a little different.
He was not sure if he liked it.
"I am going for a walk around the town." Yuan Haoran said unceremoniously to Long Jingyi before turning and walking out of the lobby.
Long Jingyi looked at the departing figure with a frown on his face. He had to admit that he was a little worried about this new friend he picked up. From what he could deduce after the journey, Yuan Haoran was a danger to himself and others.
But his instincts had never led him astray.
Despite what his logical mind told him, he was convinced that Yuan Haoran would not harm him and could even help him.
"Senior Long, can we talk?" Wan Xiu asked softly.
Long Jingyi felt a headache coming from the simple phrase, but it was his responsibility to care for his juniors. He could not dismiss Wan Xiu despite his tiredness.
"Of course." He agreed before turning to the rest. "The rest of you, get settled. You should eat and wake up early. The ship back to Obsidian City will be here early in the morning. If we miss it, we will have to keep going on the road or wait for two weeks for another one."
The junior brothers and sisters were tired, so they cooperated and went to their rooms, leaving Long Jingyi and Wan Xiu. Long Jingyi led Wan Xiu outside and the two of them sat on a bench in the small garden outside the inn.
The image was quite beautiful because the strong and manly Jingyi complemented the fair and gentle lady. The disappearing sun cast shadows around them, creating a unique atmosphere that gave off a romantic feel.
Wan Xiu was happy to luxuriate in the moment with her beloved senior for a while longer. But Long Jingyi was already feeling a hint of impatience.
"What would you like to talk about, Junior Sister Wan Xiu?" Long Jingyi asked calmly after waiting for the conversation to start in vain.
Wan Xiu broke from her fantasies and looked at Senior Long. She decided to be as direct as possible. Even though her main concern was Long Jingyi, she was also worried about the Hallowflame Academy and the impact a devil cultivator could have on the reputation.
Their futures would be ruined if they were responsible for bringing a demon among righteous cultivators.
"I think Yuan Haoran is dangerous, and we should separate ourselves from him." She continued. "Even though no one can prove he is a devil cultivator, there are too many suspicious points about him. As they say, there is no smoke without fire."
Wan Xiu expressed herself clearly because she wanted Senior Long to take her seriously. As a beautiful girl from a good background, she was used to acting a little spoiled and unreasonable at times. She could also be impulsive.
However, she was not an empty vase. Her thoughts were clear, and she could express herself as a mature lady when she wanted. It was just that being a little unreasonable was more effective when dealing with tough situations.
Long Jingyi knew Wan Xiu was right.
Yuan Haoran was indeed a person of unknown origin who seemed to be unfamiliar with life in the world. It was obvious that he was seeing a novel experience from the most common things. It was likely that he had not been in touch with the world for a long time if ever.
Moreover, he had displayed signs of spiritual instability multiple times since they met. His spiritual power seemed on the verge of exploding every time he got lost in his thoughts. Earlier in the day, Long Jingyi had also sensed the sharp bloodthirst from him.
If he had not interfered, he was not sure that Yuan Haoran would not have killed someone.
But he could also sense an affinity that he could not put a finger on from Yuan Haoran. He could not describe it, but he had the sense that he needed to remain close to him. The urge was almost instinctual and demanding.
He suspected it had something to do with his mysterious family history.
However, Long Jingyi was also aware he could not endanger other people just because he believed Yuan Haoran would not harm him. It was clear that the man did not have any kind of respect or fear, even when facing elders and the royal family.
"I will deal with Yuan Haoran. I will make sure that nobody is harmed." Long Jingyi responded after a long moment.
Wan Xiu was dissatisfied with the generic answer. "I know it looks like I am causing trouble for nothing, but I guarantee that I have everyone's best interests at heart. You should take my concerns seriously and eliminate all dangers."
"Rest assured. I am taking your concerns seriously." Long Jingyi replied with a comforting smile. "You will not have to travel with Yuan Haoran any longer."
"Thank you, Senior Long." Wan Xiu was happy, so she could not help adding something more with shyness colouring her face. "Would it be alright if we had dinner together?"
Long Jingyi stood up. "You should join your fellow sisters and brothers for a communal meal. That way, all of you will be able to wake up on time to board the ship."
The rejection was polite, but Wan Xiu was embarrassed. She comforted herself by reminding herself that Senior Long always kept a distance from his juniors to avoid rumours of impropriety. As long as she rose to his level, it would not be a problem.
After all, in the cultivation world, power was the great equalizer.