The blazing sun shone on the snow lake jungle, illuminating part of its road and deep locations that weren't covered by canapes of massive trees.
On a narrow road leading into the depths of the jungle, a carriage that looked like it had just come from a battlefield was preparing to move. A few people clad in armor mounted their horses, getting ready to accompany it.
Inside the luxurious room of the carriage, a man clad in heavy green armor looked at a kid sitting next to a young girl with a complicated gaze.
This scene continued for several minutes till the cute girl named Sara broke it as she angrily glared at the middle-aged man in front of her," Albert, stop looking at my friend like you saw a monster in human skin, if you keep acting this way I'll complain to my father."
"But my lady this..."
Albert couldn't even finish his sentence before Sara cut in again, her voice firmer than before, her right hand even placed in front of her friend, like a cat protecting her kittens from harm's way.
"No buts, this is Raven my friend and I'll not allow you to treat him this way, it was even me who invited him to accompany us, what will he think about me if you keep acting this way."
Even though her tone was a little angry, she didn't raise her voice at Albert, since she deeply liked him and knew he was only doing this to protect her.
After hearing his lady's words, Albert could only sigh and drop this matter for now, no matter how much Sara spoke, her words only helped to ease the matter for now. Albert swore that he would address this matter to the clan leader later.
"Are you sure about accompanying us even after what happened? If not, feel free to leave," Albert asked, changing the subject.
Sara glared at him again but Albert ignored her, fixating his gaze on Raven.
She was about to retort when she heard Raven finally speak up, his tone calm as if he didn't care about the consequences of his recent actions against Sword Cliff which Albert himself still didn't know how he accomplished them.
"There is no need to worry about me or your safety since I'm here, the sects at Lake City and clans aren't unreasonable, seeing my talent they will most likely proceed to converse and invite me."
Raven paused for a moment, took a quick glance from the window, and continued," Sword cliff in particular will be sending gifts soon to mend the situation and ease the tension that was earlier brought upon, so don't worry."
Albert couldn't help but scrutinize the kid from head to toe again, a hint of fear flashing past his eyes.
What Raven said was indeed the case, Sword Cliff would not hold a grudge against them and decide to invite him in, which is why he chose to keep heading towards their mission without worry even after losing so many guards and knowing that a target was placed on their backs.
However, he never thought an eight or seven-year-old kid would thoroughly and calmly analyze the situation to the point where he even studied his own worth and how the sects and clans would act.
If at this moment Raven stated that he was an old man who had lived for decades or an heir of an ancient sect of clan hidden in the depths of their regions, Albert would immediately believe him. In fact, Albert would rather if that was the case instead of any other.
Sigh...
However, in this situation, Albert could only sigh and forget about probing any information from the kid.
If Raven refused to speak and tell him or his lady about his origins, then he wouldn't proceed to ask for information, lest he implicated their clan and a disaster would fall upon them.
In the next second, Albert's expression returned to usual as his battle-harnessed aura spread across the carriage, the distress and worry he was displaying a moment ago were all gone, and his usual aloof and strong domineering personality took over again.
In a strict tone, he ordered," Everyone get ready to move,"
After he spoke, he lightly tapped on the wooden wall of the carriage's cabin, giving the order to the coachman to start moving. Alas, and even after a few seconds, he felt no movement coming from the carriage, it was as if the coachman ignored his order or just didn't hear it.
Albert didn't fuss about this situation and lightly tapped on the wooden wall again, only to encounter the same outcome.
This time around he was about to walk out when he finally got a response from the coachman, leaving him a little bit speechless.
"Sir, a kid full of injuries soaked in blood is blocking the road, and no matter how many times we try to ask him to move away, he keeps refusing and asks if we could take him to the city with us." The guard said, his voice filled with helplessness.
The kid was in a dire situation and as a last resort, he chose to cut off a carriage's path of unknown origins to ask for help, the guard didn't want to kick a kid this young to his death and chose to report this matter to their leader instead.
"Give him one of the horses belonging to the dead guards and point him to ride it towards the city, we are not heading there after all," Albert ordered, deciding to help the kid out.
He wasn't heartless and felt pity for him, but what could he do more than give him a horse, their destination is bound to be filled with some dangerous encounters, and protecting his lady was already a heavy burden, much less adding another burden to the already existing one.
The coachman heaved a sigh of relief hearing his leader's order and happily ordered," Kim, get the kid one of those horses and point him towards the city." He then glanced at the kid standing a few meters in front of him and said in a gentle tone," Hope this is good enough, we are sorry but coming with us is out of the question since it will be dangerous for a kid of your age."