Chapter 36 – Trigger

“Lia!!!”

A cry echoed in the surroundings.

Many of the people present turned around and saw a black-haired youth running towards here with a saber in hand.

Despite the sweat in his brows, caused by the long sprint, the youth could be considered handsome and well-poised. His pair of black eyes combined with his current worried face spoke of the preoccupation he was currently feeling.

Perhaps the only drawback in the eyes of many of the people here present, was his relatively low cultivation at only the late core-forming stage.

“Young master!” Cried Lia seeing the youth, confirming to everybody that the two were related.

Many of the people in the surroundings were surprised after hearing the girl calling the young man as ‘young master’. After all, it was obvious to the ones here reunited that the young man was weaker. Some were even able of noticing the lack of spirit in his body.

So, for a talented cultivator as Lia, to call to a normal human without hopes of always breaking through the core-fusing realm as ‘young master’ could be described like ridiculous.

After all, in the world of cultivators, people without spirits were nothing more than servants.

Seeing that Lia was mostly alright, Aiden sighed in relief and walked towards her. In that moment, he already had noticed the situation in the surroundings.

Seeing the many pairs of eyes looking towards him with curiosity and disdain, Aiden knew that the thing he feared the most happened.

He was now under the spotlight.

Moreover, Aiden was able to see the pair of youths from the Noah family between the people here reunited. And though he wasn’t sure, the young master from the servants he trashed was probably here too.

Knowing that the situation was already impossible to change, Aiden simply sighed and decided leave everything to fate. Putting his worries in the back of his mind, he looked towards Lia worried.

“What happened?”

“Young master, you see…”

Lia proceeded then to explain everything what happened. Strangely, the surroundings were eerily silent while she spoke and even the girl standing besides Lia was only sizing curiously to the pair as if wanting to ask about something.

Aiden tried to ignore all the gazes in the surroundings and concentrate in Lia’s history. Hearing about what happened and seeing the wound in Lia’s shoulder, he was almost unable of containing his rage.

Forcing himself to maintain the calm, Aiden suspired deeply and looked towards the pair responsible for attacking Lia. Seeing them frightened in the ground and unable of move, he opened his mouth and simply spoke five words.

“You shouldn’t have done it.”

Then, putting his hand in the guard from the saber, he flicked his hand softly.

And saber intent erupted.

Many of the people in the surroundings tightened their guards instinctively after feeling the powerful saber intent; and even the girl besides Lia jumped backward with a serious face and surprised face.

But nothing seemed to happen.

The powerful saber intent only appeared for an instant before disappearing. Many of the people in the surroundings didn’t even see the saber leaving and returning to the sheath, being unable of determinate what happened.

But a second later, they understood.

An extremely thin red line appeared in the neck of the two men that attacked Lia.

And a rain of blood erupted an instant later.

The heads of the two men were sent flying by the blood pressure and a smell to iron filled the place.

Many unconsciously gulped after seeing it.

Others looked with interest.

And one person more, seemed find something extremely amusing in the scene.

The lively girl that rescued Lia was gazing the scene surprised, then, she looked towards Aiden with a strange expression.

Aiden made his best to ignore the commotion in his surroundings. Looking towards the girl, he inclined his head and spoke calmly.

“Many thanks for rescuing my companion. I will repay you I the opportunity presents someday.”

“No need, no need!” Answered the girl shaking her head vehemently. “I only did it because I could not tolerate a pair of shameless men bullying a girl! You don’t need repay something!”

“Even so, I feel the need of thanking you.” Said Aiden humbly.

Then, after bidding farewell to the girl and taking Lia in his arm, he departed, carrying Lia before the sight of everybody.

…

Aiden was carrying Lia in his arms while wearing a frowning expression.

The reason of it was because the happened before. Many different cultivators from different factions had seen Aiden; increasing the chance of someone recognizing him.

Even worse, this time he was carrying the saber with him. Though perhaps, almost everybody would think of the saber like a normal weapon, the possibility of the two members of the Noah clan recognizing the sword was very high.

After all, when he was in the Noah clan, three things made him famous. The first was his talent, the second his powerful spirit and the third, his saber arts.

And many people knew about the saber he always carried around.

Aiden feared that someone would be able of recognizing him for it.

Thinking about it now, he realized he was too careless about it.

He should have thought before about making the saber less recognizable.

Of course, after the commotion of today, being recognized wasn’t the only danger he was exposed.

It was possible that the young master of the crow family was present in the site of the commotion. And if it was so, the probability of Aiden being recognized was very high.

At the end, he had not another option but leave all to fate and try increasing his strength as soon as possible.

Lia, seeing the frowning expression in Aiden’s face, seemed to know the reason of his worries.

Looking towards him guiltily, Lia made a crying expression and spoke while biting her lips.

“I-I’m sorry young master. I… I ended causing you troubles… I w–”

“Don’t worry Lia.” Interrupted Aiden tenderly. “What should have happened, happened. It wasn’t your fault… Besides, I was also in part responsible for going out despite knowing about the possible consequences…

“At the end, the most important is that you are fine. I don’t know what I would have done if you were hurt. I’m simply happy that you were unscathed.”

Hearing the words of Aiden, Lia could not suppress the tears coming from her eyes. Then, using her hands to wipe the tears, she made the sweetest smile thet she probably could have done.

“Yes, young master.”

…

A dark-skinned youth was looking fixedly a man leaving with a girl in his arms from the roof of a house.

Besides him, a middle-aged servant was bowing deeply while waiting for his instructions. Apparently, he didn’t dare to interrupt the thoughts of his master.

Putting a capricious smile in his face, the dark-skinned youth asked towards the servant without looking behind.

“Are you sure that the guy with the saber is the one that hurt my subordinates?”

“Yes, young master.” Answered the servant. “He matches completely with the description given for the two victims.”

“Is it so?” Replied the young man. Then, making an incredibly sinister smile, he gave an order. “Send three shadow crows to follow the pair. Tell them to find an opportunity to act. They can kill the boy, but they must do everything in their might to bring the girl with life.”

Hearing the orders of his master, the servant made a hesitating expression. Then, after thinking for a few seconds, he finally spoke.

“Young master, the girl alone was enough to face two late core-fusing experts for herself. Besides, though the boy is pretty weak, his saber arts are exquisite. Are you sure that three shadow crows are enough?”

“Haha, don’t worry.” Smiled the youth. “Though they two were in the late core-fusing, how can them to be compared with the core-fusing experts of our clan? Besides, that boy isn’t any risk. Though his saber intent is powerful, without the capability of breaking through core-fusing, he couldn’t do anything more than resist a bit. Besides, more than three people moving would attract too much atttention, we don't want to attract the attention of the city lord.”

Hearing the explanation of his young master, the middle-aged servant finally nodded towards the order. Then, bowing again towards the youth, he disappeared strangely from his position.

Now alone in the roof of the house, the dark-skinned youth continued looking towards the place where the pair disappeared without hiding the smile in his face.

Then, thinking about the girl that was fighting before, he could not help but laugh maniacally.

Such a beautiful woman!

…

Two handsome youths were walking through the streets of the border city of Cali.

One of them, with black-white hair, was lost in his thoughts, while the other, black-red haired guy, was smiling broadly besides him.

“I’m still thinking that the boy is a bit familiar.” Spoke the black-white haired youth with a pensive expression.

“Don’t worry about it.” Answered his companion. “I don’t think it is something important.

The black-white haired guy could only shake his head after hearing his companion. Then, looking towards his companion, he spoke in doubt.

“And what are you thinking? You have been strangely happy from a time ago.”

“It’s nothing.” Responded the black-red haired guy. “I only found something really amusing.”

Then, smiling like a lion finding his prey, he spoke again.

“Something really, really amusing…”