Chapter 702: Beneath the Village Facade
With Wei holding Qing and both safely hidden from the eyes of the world, Adam returned to the village gates, where the same guard he had spoken to paced under the rain.
Mud soaked his pants with every step, yet he was too engrossed in his mumbled anxieties to notice. "This cultivator brat said we’ll meet in an hour. Yet, boss Hu has been waiting for another one and a half already. Do you want to see my head on a spike?!" He clutched his neck, swallowing in horror. "Please, return..."
His words died down in his throat, his attention captured by a mysterious phenomenon. The rain arched over an unblemished silhouette, as if unwilling to smear its owner.
He blinked once, then twice, before his eyes widened on Adam’s purple and dark robes covered in intricate golden stars and patterns. Instantly, he waved his hand, his lips curling into a relieved smile. "Sir cultivator! Here! Boss Hu is waiting for you inside!"
Adam approached, smiling sheepishly. "Hahaha. I hope I didn’t make either of you wait. Finding the girl’s parents took a little longer than expected, but it’s all settled now."
"I... see." The guard nodded halfheartedly. "Of course, you didn’t make me wait, and your good deed honors you. Follow me. Boss Hu is impatient to meet you."
Adam let out a hollow chuckle and followed the guard into the resting room he had passed by earlier.
The makeshift militia members played dice around cups of wine, their voices dropping to a whisper as soon as they saw him. They rose, lowering their heads slightly in respect, admiration, and a sliver of fear as they entered a side room guarded by five burly men.
Adam took his time to enter, allowing his invisible partners to pass through the door before the guard who led him inside hurriedly closed it from outside.