Alex left the room almost before a hour from middle night while Shelly and the others were fast asleep. Their snoring echoed down to the ground floor.
As he reached the counter, he looked at the boy and said, "Kid, I'm going to be back tomorrow morning, so go to sleep. Don't wait for me."
The boy nodded. "Yes, sir."
Alex's voice softened slightly. "Don't call me sir. I have a name—Feng Cheon."
The boy hesitated. "How can I call you by your name, sir? You're older than me, aren't you?"
Alex gave a faint smile. "You've been taught well, kid. But remember—become strong, or you won't be able to protect that woman for much longer."
The boy swallowed hard before responding firmly, "Sir, I will protect my sister. Don't worry."
"Good for you. Do you have any guardian besides her?"
The boy shook his head. "No, sir. Our parents died by the Count's hand… for their sins."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who is the Count of this town? And what sins did your parents commit that they had to die?"
The boy lowered his gaze. "Sir, I don't know… but they sinned. The Count is absolute. He cannot lie."
Alex exhaled. "Poor Kid, you are completely brainwashed. But I can hear it in your voice—you want revenge, don't you?"
The boy quickly shook his head while trembling. "Sir, no…" But in his eyes, tears of anger glistened.
"Then become strong." Alex patted the boy's head before turning away and leaving the inn.
The streets, which was teeming with the echoes of footsteps and chatter, now lay in unsettling silence. The air, thick with the remnants of a warm evening breeze, carried only the faint scent of spilled alcohol.
His thoughts wandered, drifting through the clutter of prostitution, drunken men, and thugs lurking in the shadows. Everything about this locality seemed eerily familiar, like any third street in Murim. The same filth, the same corruption. It also felt almost as if this place mirrored one of the cities from his first life too—a city whose name had long since faded from his memory. The memories of that time were almost gone, as if the threads of his past had been worn thin by time. Yet, despite the fading recollections, there were many cities that shared this atmosphere. It didn't matter which world he found himself in; the same sins, the same rot, plagued them all.
After few mintues the guild building was in reach of alex , with slow usual steps he moved forward stopping,
At the corner of the Rose Guild branch, Alex stood, leaning against the wall as people trickled out of the building one by one.
For half an hour, he remained there, his crimson eyes locked onto the entrance.
Women are easy. He scoffed internally. I only wanted information, but she thinks I was offering her the chance to become my Dao companion. What a shame.
His gaze darkened slightly. Let's see what she does…however lust or any other emotion is simply futile in my eyes… i did abandoned them long ago in my former life but from the day i have reborn… now i can't tell why i can't let them free , i have become weak….despite that i am only here for something else.
The woman finally emerged, laughing softly as she locked the guild doors behind her.
She spotted him immediately, her eyes gleaming, cheeks flushed.
"So, you've come," she giggled. "But… um, I mean, I'm not that type of woman, younger one."
Then, as if contradicting her own words, she hesitated before stepping closer to him, her face growing even redder. "Though… you are handsome. I mean—" She fidgeted nervously. "Let's do it."
"Alex paused, a tightness he couldn't quite explain settling in his throat. Was this hesitation? It didn't matter.""Hem hem. Are you kidding me? You're trembling all over. I'm not the kind of person who takes advantage of women."
She stiffened, embarrassment flashing across her face.
Alex continued, his tone indifferent. "Though I promised, if you're serious, we can drink some booze first."
Her voice changed immediately. "Yes, yes! That's exactly what I was saying!" She laughed awkwardly. "What did you think I meant, huh, younger handsome man?"
She blinked and then quickly added, "By the way, what's your name?"
"You can call me Feng Cheon."
"Welcome to the guild, handsome Feng Cheon," she teased, leading him inside.
As they entered, Alex took a seat at a table.
"Wait here, handsome," she said, flashing a playful smile. "I'll be back in a second—I just need to change and grab some booze."
Her face was still cherry red as she hurried off while disappearing, taking slow steps to the first floor.
the woman returned her hair which was disheveled before she switched adjusting into ponytail her brown eyes more brighter from before, she wore a long, light brown dress that accentuated her toned shoulders even more.
In her both hands, she carried bottles of booze. She sat down in the chair across from Alex, also she set bottles down gently on the wooden table with soft
!!Thud!!
The amber liquid inside them shimmered under the flickering candlelight, her hands brushed against the bottle as she placed them just within reach of Alex.
she broke the silence first her voice warm yet teasing.
"So, younger one, what are you doing in Goldcrest? This town isn't a place for generous and handsome men like you."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why? From what i remember from past five years its always like this?"