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Chapter 80: Unexpected Question
Arin looked into Aldrian’s eyes, waiting for his answer. Aldrian also met her gaze.
"To be honest, I’m the type who will kill if there’s no advantage to keeping enemies alive—especially if those enemies are devils. If it weren’t for the fact that I need the demon territory’s cooperation for the future, I would’ve already killed most of the City Lord’s Manor and the devils in this city, not just the Black Rock Snake."
Arin and Vanisa heard Aldrian’s answer, and suddenly something clicked in their minds. Kill not only the Black Rock Snake? Did he just admit that he was the one who destroyed the entire western peak, causing the city to lose its Dual Horns? As they reached this conclusion, their eyes widened, realizing they were sitting in front of an ultimate expert.
To collapse an entire mountain, 15 kilometers high, leaving only a pile of rocks and dirt... He’d need to be at least at the Emperor stage to achieve that. But considering they sensed the giant Black Rock Snake at the mid-Emperor stage, did that mean this young man was beyond even that?
Their minds went blank. Hadn’t he just claimed to be an adventurer? What adventurer has that kind of power? Could he come from a powerful family, exploring the world on his own? But which family? He looked young, but appearances could be deceiving.
Aldrian sensed their thoughts but continued without pause.
"Alright, don’t think too deeply about it. I don’t need those people. I’ve already gotten what I wanted. You can have all of them, but I have a few personal requests."
Arin quickly nodded, listening intently.
"I’m listening."
"First, I want the Yu family’s name cleared of all the slander they’ve faced over the years. That’s my primary request.
"Second, I need you to cover my tracks and my location. I also want you—or your sect, in this case—to give me a warning if anyone starts looking for me.
"Third, if there’s any incident involving devils within the demon territory, I have my own way of dealing with it, and I want the demon territory, or at least your Thorny Flower Garden, to support my decisions in the future.
"Fourth, I expect no interference from demonic cultivators. If they disturb me, I’ll retaliate as I see fit. And I will act accordingly."
Arin and Vanisa thought the first and second of Aldrian’s conditions were easy enough to agree to, but the third and fourth presented challenges. What kind of actions did he plan to take in the future? What if his actions caused massive upheaval in demon territory? Was he threatening all demonic cultivators?
"I know I can’t avoid interacting with demonic cultivators in this territory," Aldrian added, sensing their concerns. "Not every demonic cultivator I meet will have a ’mature mind.’ I can’t waste time dealing with every problem that comes my way, so sometimes those looking for trouble will need to face consequences severe enough to stop them from bothering me."
"Even if you don’t agree with the third and fourth terms, that’s fine. I’ll still hand over the prisoners to you, but I’ll act on my own if I sense trouble."
Arin finally understood what he meant, but it still felt abstract. He seemed completely unfazed by the demonic authorities in their own territory! She pressed him for more clarity.
"What kind of actions would you take if trouble arises?" she asked.
"At the very least, I’d slap them in the face. At most, I’d kill them. If that’s not enough, annihilation," Aldrian said calmly.
A cold chill ran down Arin and Vanisa’s spines. They were unsure how to respond.
"I think, for your third and fourth conditions, I’ll need to report to the sect. I can’t decide that on my own," Arin replied cautiously.
"Good," Aldrian nodded. "I’ll wait. You can start with the first condition, and as a sign of goodwill, I’ll let you take the higher-ups of the City Lord’s Manor, except for the City Lord himself. But be warned—not everyone in the City Lord’s Manor is an accomplice. I won’t interfere with how your demonic cultivators handle them, but I’m telling just for you know."
He then took a sip of his tea, finishing it.
"Oh, and one more thing," Aldrian added. "There are still devils in this city, and their numbers are quite large. I have all the information here, so take it and do whatever you need to do."
Aldrian handed Arin an information crystal. She took the crystal and examined its contents. After she was done, she sighed.
"I’ll look into it. Thank you for your help, young master," she said, standing up and cupping her hands in respect. "Now, I’ll excuse myself. I’ve already taken up too much of your time."
"No worries," Aldrian replied with a smile. "I’m glad I could help. You can follow Yu Fenglian to the dungeon to retrieve the prisoners." Yu Fenglian had already appeared from a distance and now stood nearby. Arin and Vanisa cupped their hands again before heading on their way.
As they passed the pond, they sent each other voice transmissions.
"We can’t underestimate his demands, Even if we could ignore them, his nonchalant expression gives me a bad feeling if we reject them." Vanisa said.
"I feel the same, we need to find a way to convince the higher-ups. With his power, I doubt they’ll dismiss his demands easily. It’s better to build a good relationship with him." Arin agreed.
They both glanced at the distant eastern peak, now standing alone after the destruction of the western peak and the City Lord’s Manor. There would undoubtedly be a debate among the three great sects about who would replace the City Lord, adding even more complications. They sighed in exasperation at the troubles ahead.
As they walked, they suddenly encountered a woman, an elf to be precise, who was staring at them intently. They didn’t know why, but they felt a piercing gaze from her stare. The elf then passed them, heading in the direction of where Aldrian was. They had no idea who the elf was, but it was clear she was in disguise. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝔠𝔬𝖒
Aldrian, now alone, sat by the pond. The serene atmosphere refreshed his mind, offering a welcome escape from external troubles. Sylphia hesitated as she watched him enjoy his solitude but eventually decided to approach him.
Sensing her presence, Aldrian smiled and looked at her. She had already dropped her disguise, revealing her beautiful face and golden hair.
"Do you want to enjoy the scenery?" he asked.
Sylphia nodded and sat across from him. Silence settled between them as she continued to watch Aldrian’s face, observing his expression. She noticed how different he seemed compared to earlier when he had spoken with Arin. His demeanor now was more relaxed, showing that he treated strangers and those close to him differently—and that made her happy.
Aldrian smiled at her.
"If looking at my face makes you happy, I’ll let you see it anytime."
"Stop it! You and your sweet talk," Sylphia blushed, feeling flustered. She couldn’t believe how effortlessly this 13-year-old could charm her with his words. Sometimes she forgets that the young man in front of her is more than ten times younger than her.
Aldrian’s smile remained, enjoying the chance to tease Sylphia. Moments like these, when it was just the two of them, felt perfect for such lighthearted exchanges.
"Aldrian, are you ever afraid?" Sylphia suddenly asked, her tone shifting to something more serious.
Aldrian’s eyes met hers for a moment before he turned to gaze at the pond.
"Afraid, huh? Of course, I’ve felt fear," he admitted.
"When my parents left me, I was scared for the future. What would I do without them? What would happen to me? What happened to them?" His words were genuine. The fear he had felt back then was intense, though now his feelings had hardened. The constant visions that appeared in his mind had shaped his personality and maturity into what they were today.
"But I knew I had to move forward with my life," he continued. "There’s so much out there in the world waiting for me to explore, and I don’t want to miss any of it."
"And I also want to uncover the truth about my uniqueness, about where my power really comes from," he thought to himself.
"You have such a strong and determined spirit," Sylphia said softly. "I admire you for that. And I know you’re powerful, but I just wish you’d take better care of yourself. I’m worried that you’ll end up getting hurt because of your own recklessness." She looked at him with genuine concern.
"Thank you for your concern," Aldrian said with a gentle smile. "But even though it might seem like I act recklessly, I always measure my limits and have a plan B in mind."
Sylphia sighed softly. He really couldn’t help but make her worry.
Aldrian poured himself some tea and then filled another glass. He slid the second glass closer to Sylphia, and she accepted it, staring at her reflection in the tea’s surface for a moment.
"Tell me, Aldrian, do you like that type of woman?"
Urgh!
Aldrian almost choked on his tea. Why such a sudden question?
