"So, any idea about where you're heading for?" Agnes inquired about his future plans.
"Well, to be frank, no. I'm not sure yet. But I know I don't belong here. Anyway, I should get out of
here," Ricky shook his head and replied. He stared out into the distance, while thinking about the
endless possibilities of places he could go. He did not have a specific destination yet.
"Yeah, I know you don't belong here and won't stay here. The world is out there, waiting for you. Take
care!" Agnes said, knowing how capable this young man was going to be.
"You, too," Ricky replied with a smile.
They talked for a while, and then Ricky returned to his quarter. He planned to leave after nightfall. Only
Agnes and the grandmaster of the Purity Faction knew about his departure. He knew it would be foolish
to believe that everyone in the Purify Faction liked him enough to be loyal to him. A small bribe like
money could very easily buy them. Exposing his plans would be the stupidest thing.
At midnight, Ricky left the house of the Shui Clan following the secret path Agnes had instructed him to.
He walked into the forest, as Agnes had explained that if he walked through it to leave, he would not
easily be spotted and would be able to leave in safety.
However, minutes into the forest, Ricky sensed something unusual. He felt that he was followed.
He stopped, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before he shouted boldly, "Who's there?" He
confirmed his suspicions after he activated his internal strength to sense his stalker's breathing.
A figure appeared from behind him and walked up to him. Ricky had anticipated that someone could
tail after him. But he never expected that it was Dora - the genius from the Sage Faction! That was
totally shocking for him.
"Dora? It's you! How did you know that I would be here?" Ricky was alarmed immediately at the sight of
her. In the important fight, he had defeated Lyndon, shaming Dora by association. He was certain that
she was coming after him for revenge.
"Yes, it's me! How did I know? Ha-ha. Is it really a question? Don't you think it's a ridiculously funny
question? You are still standing on the grounds of the Shui Clan." Dora replied arrogantly with a giggle.
Ricky didn't sense any malice from her.
"Oh, yes. I see what you mean. This is the territory of the Shui Clan, and of course, you know
everything that happens here." Ricky understood immediately.
"But, why are you following me? Do you mean to take your revenge on me?" asked Ricky, preparing
himself.
"Revenge? That's absurd. I won't feel ashamed to lose to a warrior who is obviously much stronger. I'm
not that narrow-minded," Dora replied. "To be honest, I am just curious why you are so strong, as a
disciple of the Snow Sect."
"Oh? You are curious about me? Well, I suppose it must be because I defeated Lyndon," Ricky replied
with a hint of a smirk.
"Yes, you are right. I'm curious!" Dora said, nodding.
"You know what? Where I come from, there's a saying which goes that once a woman feels curious
about a man, it means that she has started to like him," Ricky said pointedly. Then he emphasized,
"And once she falls in love with him, it is likely that she will end up miserable."
Having someone, especially a woman, tail after him was the last thing Ricky wanted. So he made up
this so-called saying, trying to get rid of her. He hoped that she would take the initiative to leave.
"Is it true? Well, I'm starting to grow even more curious," Dora said stubbornly. Ricky's tactic had no
effect on her. She was more determined to follow him.
Ricky, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. 'Am I really so attractive?' he asked himself, speechless.
'Why would she want to stay with me? What does she want? I'm just a rather ordinary guy.'
"Humph! You are talking nonsense!" he responded gruffly and turned around, ready to go on with his
journey. He could just ignore her and drive her away by being mean.
But the moment he turned around, he sensed something wrong. The atmosphere had grown cold and
spiteful.
"Thump! Thump!"
The next second, four figures jumped from the branches of the trees and landed in front of him. They
were Alan, Jason, Lyndon, and an unknown man, who seemed to be their ally.
'It seems that Lyndon has allied with the West Vanity Valley!' Ricky thought, in shock.
Staring at them, Ricky narrowed his eyes, wondering how they could possibly know that he was here.
Suddenly, he turned to Dora and asked in a cold tone, "Did you do this?"
"Believe it or not, no, Ricky..." Dora replied calmly, no visible changes to her expression.
Ricky no longer cared about whether she was telling the truth or not. The most pressing matter at hand,
after all, was the four hostile men. He started at them with serious eyes and said, "You have four, right?
Are all of you asking to get killed?"
"Ha-ha! Asking to get killed? How arrogant this bastard is! Does he think he is still inside the Shui
Clan's protection?" Jason burst into laughter.
"He was quite patient, wasn't he? He hid in the Shui Clan for half a month! What a coward! And he
really chose to leave at such a late time through this discreet place. How clever! But we are even more
clever. We have the tracking bird. Otherwise, he would have escaped like the coward he is," Alan said.
'The tracking bird?' Ricky now understood how they managed to locate him.
"Hey, guys. I've changed my mind," Lyndon suddenly said to his partners.
"Yes, Young Master Lyndon. What's your new plan? We're all ears!" Jason and Alan asked, their voices
sweet as to flatter him. They would do everything to get into Lyndon's good graces. They wanted to
become friends to the family of Greenhill. There were benefits to that - this family was way more
powerful than theirs, the West Vanity Valley. Lyndon was their way in.
"I'll leave Ricky to you. You are free to take anything you like from him and do whatever you want. But
this woman, Dora, is mine!" Lyndon said slowly, staring intently at Dora. His eyes gleamed, but with no
obscene thoughts.
Jason and Alan were glad to hear it. This was in fact ideal for them. Compared to engaging with
women, they preferred to harvest something which would help them boost their power.
That way, they would not lose anything. Instead, they would do gain more and Lyndon would be happy.
It would be killing two birds with one stone.
"So, Ricky, we'll leave the choice to you. In which way do you prefer to be killed? Have you decided
yet?" Jason and Alan sneered as they walked towards Ricky.
"No. But I've decided how I want you to die," Ricky said indifferently.
"How dare you, bastard!" Jason and Alan sprang at him, launching their attacks.
They were by no means matches for Ricky, considering their current abilities. As they were still
gathering their power to launch the attack, Ricky was already upon them, his left and right fists
smashing through both of them simultaneously. There was nothing they could do but open their eyes
wide in disbelief, pupils dilating.
They felt the blood gradually draining from their bodies.
Ricky withdrew his bloody hands and rushed to Lyndon.
Lyndon was standing in stunned silence, petrified. He had lost the ability to think.
After lurking quietly in the shadows, the help who had accompanied the three vengeful warriors
shouted at Ricky while activating his strength, "How dare you kill the West Vanity Valley's young
masters! I'm going to tear you apart!"
This helper was no weakling. He was a mature warrior at the second grade of Blood Purification.
He was powerful, yes. But unfortunately, he was absolutely no match for Ricky, who had already
reached the third grade of Blood Purification. Ricky drew his long saber from its sheath and swept it in
the air. This unknown warrior's head was hacked clean off his shoulders, rolling onto the forest floor.
Everything just happened naturally, as if Ricky was dancing. Even a master warrior at the second grade
of Blood Purification would have trouble dealing with Ricky's attack.
Dora, who was standing behind him, was in total shock at what she beheld. She breathed in deeply,
realizing just how dangerous Ricky was when she saw what he just did. However, she grew even more
curious about him at the same time.
"That's just amazing! He is so powerful!" she murmured in a low voice, her heart beating like a drum.
Ricky raised his saber and placed it against Lyndon's throat, the metal digging into his skin. There was
a tiny drop of blood.
"Good evening, Young Master Lyndon of Greenhill, how are you feeling now?" Ricky smiled at Lyndon's
shocked and frightened face. He could see that the young master's hands were trembling in fear.
"Wh- what do you want? You better watch your weapon! If you dare hurt me, even a little, the two
grandmasters of the Greenhill will hunt you down!" Lyndon gathered his courage and threatened Ricky
with a shivering voice, the cold metal of the saber burning into his skin.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda