Chapter 29 – Nervousness

Aiden felt the world stop when the two boys spoke.

Though his appearance was a bit different from before and he could not remember seeing the two boys before, Aiden feared that they were able of recognizing him.

After all, when Aiden was considered a genius yet, his appearance was well known in the clan and the surroundings.

And though a bit of time a passed from then and his features are somehow different, Aiden is sure that four years aren’t near enough for the entire clan forget about him.

Moreover, he had learned through certain methods that the clan was searching for his traces.

He definitively wasn’t expecting for members of the clan appear in this rundown town far away from their territory.

Making his utmost to not show any sign of nervousness, Aiden tried answering the most normally possible.

“… I’m sorry, do you need something from me?”

“Ah, no no, we only need to know if you can guide us at certain part of the town.” One of the youths spoke, not finding anything strange with Aiden.

Hearing that the pair wasn’t here for him, Aiden sighed inwardly in relief before smiling assuredly. “Of course, you only need tell me here you want go and I will do my best to help you.”

“Haha, thanks but don’t worry if you are unable of answering, after all, we had been asking around without success.” The youth with red strands of hair spoke half in hope half in resignation, to which Aiden nodded amicability.

“We are searching for a place called Heavens’ Net, have you heard about it?”

Hearing the youth inquiries, Aiden was showed a surprised expression for a moment. The youth, seeing it, could not help but come closer and hold his shoulders excitedly.

“Could it be that you know about it!?”

“Hey!” Aiden retreated two steps surprised to the action of the youth what, seeing it, retreated embarrassed while his black-red hair waved with the wind.

“Yeah, I know.” Explained Aiden seeing the embarrassed expression of the youth. “You only need go to the marketplace and search for the oldest and crappiest before giving a code. You will be guided there with it.”

Hearing Aiden words and explanations, the youth shook Aiden’s hands excitedly and spoke in a grateful tone. “Thank you, little brother, you don’t know the time we have spent searching for it.”

Putting an awkward expression, Aiden indicated that he understood and tried go away after answering. But in that moment, the youth with black-white hair that had been silent the entire time, spoke with a doubtful tone.

“Friend, have we met before?”

Though Aiden was incredibly nervous inside, in the outside he only tilted his head like pondering before speaking after a brief pause. “… I don’t think so?”

The black-white haired youth seemed try remembering something for a moment before making a resigned expression. “Forget it, I probably mistook you for someone else.”

Aiden suspired relieved in the inside before bidding farewell at the pair; then, not waiting for their answer, he departed quickly.

The black-white haired youth looked towards him but could not remember anything for when Aiden left his sight.

Already far from them, Aiden could not help but sweat about how close he was at being discovered.

He sincerely doesn’t want to imagine his fate in the case that his clan learn about his whereabouts.

The clan where Aiden was born, Noah clan, is one the most powerful clans in the country neighboring the Lion Empire, the AllGod Kingdom.

Though the Noah clan could not be considered the strongest clan in the kingdom, their position is very near it. With an ancestor rumored in the spirit saint stage, the Noah clan possess a power only lesser than the royal clan.

And like such powerful clan, the number of experts in their ranks number in the hundreds. If such clan learns about his whereabouts, then Aiden doubts he will be able of escape their persecution.

And to be sincere, even now he feels lucky about being able of escape the first time.

Thinking about it, Aiden could not help but accelerate his footsteps.

Frowning his brows with a worried expression, Aiden reached home and called for Lia. Though she was just cultivating, she left her meditation immediately after hearing Aiden.

When Lia saw the expression in Aiden face she immediately knew that something was wrong. After all, after three years of living together she can read almost every expression in his face like an open book.

So, seeing his worried expression, she asked immediately.

“Young master, what is wrong?”

Aiden smiled bitterly seeing her concern. “Ugh, perhaps we are in a bit of trouble…” Then, he proceeded to explain everything what happened.

Hearing about the problem with the two servants, the appearance of the girl and the encounter with members of his clan, Lia’s expression became somber and somber.

After Aiden retold everything, Lia immediately asked concerned.

“Do you think him recognized you?”

“No.” Answered Aiden with a shake of his head. “If he would have recognized me then he probably would have tried capture me right away. The fact that they let me go indicates that though he found me similar to someone, he was unable of remember my identity. Though I could not be sure if he will able of remember something with time.”

Seeing the dark and worried expression in Aiden face, Lia hold his hand gently trying calm him. Then, thinking about the things Aiden told her, she continued asking.

“Young master, what do you think we must do?”

After thinking for a moment, Aiden responded “… The safest choice is for us leave the town. Though I normally would have chosen it in consideration at all the troubles, I’m unable of make up my mind at it now I’m so close to doing the ritual. The other option is to stay in the town and try don’t attract attention until we receive the materials from the old man and complete the ritual.

“Actually, I’m more inclined to the second option. After all, I’m not sure what so long it will take for us reunite all that materials in another place.”

Lia thought for a moment after hearing Aiden with a serious expression. Then, she mentioned her opinion calmly.

“I agree with you about staying in the town. At most, young master can stay at home during the next few days and I will try to stop going out as much as I can. With a bit of luck, that member of your clan will forget about his encounter with young master in a few days and I don’t think that the servants’ master is going to search house for house to find you.”

After pausing for a moment, she continued: “On the other hand, I think we must learn why so much cultivators are visiting the town. After all, staying uninformed could make us involved in a dangerous situation without us knowing. Do you know what can make your clan so interested to send two members so far away?”

Aiden thought for a moment before shaking his head, then, with an expression of doubt, he spoke about something he found strange in the encounter.

“Though I don’t know about the cause, I found strange that the members of my clan have to ask around for the location of Heavens’ Net. Normally, the clan would send someone to recollect information around in a more careful way. Even if they don’t do it, they can ask to the other clans for information. Why then, they sent two disciples for such job?”

Hearing the doubt of Aiden, Lia thought for a moment without success. Seeing it, Aiden spoke shaking his head helplessly.

“Forget it. I think we better go tomorrow to Heavens’ Net to ask for information. We only need to be careful of not causing any commotion.”

After hesitating for a moment, Lia finally nodded after failing to find a better option.