“You truly are a pitiful human aren’t you?” said Simon as he looked at Ren with a smile who was quietly walking behind them carrying two boxes on him.

Seeing that Ren wasn’t responding to his words, instead of getting angry, Simon smiled and continued, “When that Shemo guy told me about you, saying a trash who couldn’t cultivate even with an undamaged meridians and dentian and this and that, I actually didn’t believe it in the beginning.”

“But….” The smile on Simon's face turned to that of a mockery, “…..Now that I’ve seen you, it appears that he was telling the truth.”

Even when the words of mockery entered his ear, there was not a slightest bit of change in face of Ren. It was as if he didn’t hear any of the words spoken to him and remained as he always was, like a lifeless wooden puppet.

“Ren was it?” Simon Qin stopped in the middle of the road and looking in the eyes of Ren, he inquired.

Seeing the nod of Ren,. Simon Qin resumed his walking pace, but this time looking ahead of him, and said, “Say, Isn’t it normal for human to be a cultivators even if their talents in cultivation is very low? But in your case, it’s different. Something a gem but with no value.”

“That’s why” turning his head to Ren with a smile, “You are a trash but not a normal one, more like a special trash.”

Hearing all this, what was going through Ren’s mind was not about the words said by Simon but instead about how talkative the person in front of him was. About how the person seems like someone who couldn’t bother to talk when he was in the store but now it seems like that wasn’t the case.

“If it isn’t brother Simon?”

A sweet and childish voice of a girl resounded in the ears of Ren, Simon Qin and his people.

Startled at the sudden voice, the group turned their heads to look at the owner of the voice.

But what greeted their eyes was two beautiful young girls, coming towards them from the other direction of the road.

Ren recognized the younger girl who was called Lin Liu, but as for the other girl, having a red hair and around the same age as him, he didn’t know her as he had never seen her before. But based on the rumors he heard while in the store, if he was not mistaken then she must be the person called Jasmine Run, that’s what he thought.

“Ah! Greetings sister Lin and….” Moving his gaze to the other girl besides Lin Liu, Simon Qin continued, “…..Sister Jasmine.”

“Greetings greetings”, said Lin Liu playfully while Jasmine remained quiet.

Simon smiled, “So what brought two beautiful young girls out of their house?”

Lin Liu replied, “I was doing some shopping when I met sister Jasmine. So we both decided to take a stroll in the town, that’s when we met you……ah! You are Ren.” As her gaze landed on Ren, she exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh! Little sister Lin of this guy?” said Simon Qin while giving an interesting look.

“Of course I know him. We met at the White Clouds store where he one of the working staff.” Saying that she turned to Jasmine and spoke with excitement, “That was the guy I was talking about earlier.”

On hearing it from Lin Liu, Jasmine raised her eyes and gave a curious look at Ren. And then she gave a soft smile at Ren before she moved her gaze away from him.

“By the way, what’s he doing with brother Simon?” inquired Lin Liu to Simon Qin.

“Oh! As you can see, he's delivering an items to my house.” Said Simon as he pointed at the two boxes on Ren's hands.

“Still…..” Lin looked at Simon and his people who were all older than Ren by five to six years and then the expression on her face changed as she stared at Simon and his people with a weird look. Similarly was the case with Jasmine.

The shoulders of Simon jerked a little as he said, “He’s just doing his job. Those boxes are indeed heavy, but even as a mortal, he's pretty strong.” And he went on to clarify the truth feeling guilty.

Lin Liu and Jasmine continued with their stares for a few breath of time without saying a word. And breaking the silence, Lin Liu said, “Forget it. There are still a few things to do. So we might as well be on our way. Then, brother Simon, see you next time.”

Simon, “Next time then. Take care.”

After saying that, Lin Liu looked at Ren and gave her a playful smile which was rather cute on her childish face and then she turned around while Jasmine also gave a brief look at him before turning away.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Simon watched the backs of the girls mixing in the crowds of people with a complicated expression but as for Ren, he remained expressionless as ever.

Simon then turned his head to Ren and said with a teasing smile, “You are quite popular with girls aren’t you? Well, with that handsome face, it’s understandable. Pity, you are born a trash. Hahaha.” And he gave a disdain laugh at the end.

“Anyway, let’s be on our way.” Saying that, Simon started walking followed by his people and then Ren.

°°°°°

By the time the sun was about to set, Ren returned to the store.

As he went inside the store, he saw that there only a few people remaining here and there, browsing through the items.

He stood near the entrance without taking another steps as he moved his gaze around the store, searching for a particular person.

After finding the one he was searching for, he started walking to that direction, neither walking too fast nor too slow.

“….and the effects of this pill is that it can strengthen the body for a time taken to burn an incense stick. As for the after effects, there will be sore pain in the muscle but it will go away after a night of meditation.”

Xu Shemo was explaining about the pills to the people when suddenly, he saw figure approaching towards him.

Turning to the figure, a smile appeared on his face as he said, “Took you a long time to return, Ren. There wasn’t any problem with the items I presume?”

Ren quietly nodded.

“Good.” Shemo expressed joy and continued, “The store will be closing soon. So wait till it closes before you do you job of cleaning the store. Now go.”

Ren nodded and turned to walked away.

“Ehm. Sorry about that.” Shemo said turning back to the people he was explaining stuff about the pills, “Where was I? Ah! Yes. And the next pill is…..” And he continued to explain to the people.

Ren returned to his place and stood there quietly. But this time there was a tired expression on his face and a drop of sweats were running down his cheeks from his forehead. Noticing it, he wiped them away with his sleeves and continued to stand, waiting for the store to close for the day.

°°°°°

Somewhere in the wilderness.

Swooosh. Swooosh

A group of people were running with their life on the line, through the forest of the wilderness.

These people were running towards the outer area of the wilderness from the inner area. They ran without stopping even when some were injured and blood was pouring down from those injuries and some with a missing hands.

But even with these conditions, they kept on running and running.

“huff……huff….we…we are all going to die.”

One of the people said while trying to catch a breath.

“Stop saying nonsense. We will live. We are not going to die.”

His friend running besides him rebuked angrily.

Roar. Roar. Roar

The sounds of roaring of many beasts came closer and closer from behind them, sending chills down to their spine.

On hearing the roars, one man shouted, “Everyone. Looks like there will be drinks for tonight.”

Determination showed on his face as he continued, “I have family in the town. As the head of the family, I don’t want them to suffer, I want to protect them. Who's with me?”

Even knowing that their fate was sealed, the despair in their eyes glowed with determination at the words of the man.

Seeing that everyone was willing to go down with a fight even when knowing that there’s no retuning from this, the man felt satisfied.

Then following him, everyone stopped on their tracks and turned to the direction of the incoming beasts.

The man then turned his head to his friend besides him who was missing a hand and blood was dripping from the would and said softly, “ Brother, I want you to run to the town while we buy you some time and inform them about what we saw.”

“No”, Shouted his friend, “Even if I were to die, I will die fighting them.”

“You bastard.” An angry voice came from one of the people, “We are letting you go, not because we care whether you live or die, but because we want you to spread the news so that at least my family will survive and live on.”

“Brother please” said the man, “We choose you because you are the fastest among us. Please…….don’t let our sacrifice be in vain.”

Tears started flowing out from his eyes as his friend said, “I am sorry everyone. Brother…” and then he looked at his two friends, the man who spoke to him and the other who was standing pale due to lost of many blood from the wounds on his back was giving a smile and continued, “….i-I am sorry that I lied about killing the second level beast by myself.” And cried loudly.

At these words, everyone burst out laughing and the man said, “Hahaha. We Know. We didn't believe it in the first place anyway. But…” His expression turned soft and continued calmly, “……I want you to survive and become strong enough to kill not only second level but higher level beasts with a wave of your hand.”

“I will. Definitely. I promise.” Said his friend as he wiped away his tears.

“Now go.”. The man said with a smile.

His friend raised his head to give one last look at his fiends and the people around him. But seeing them smiling at him, tears started flowing again in his eyes as he shouted,

“I am going my brothers.”

Then he turned around and started running without looking back even once and headed straight to the direction of the town even when he heard the roar of the beasts and the cries of his friends and the people.

°°°°°

On one of the gate under the control of Song clan.

“Hey look.” Shouted one of the guards, pouting the outside, “ Someone is coming out from the wilderness and he look feeble.”

The captain of the guards stared in the direction pointed by his underling for few breath of time and suddenly ordered, “Quickly, bring that person over here.”

His underlings complied and after a few moments later, the person was brought in front of the captain.

Looking at the person who was missing one arm and on the verge of dying, the asked the person,

“What happened?”

The person mumbled with weak voice, “Many beasts. Thousands of them. Led by Fifth level fire tiger. Coming towards the town. May reach in two to three days.”

Saying that the person fell down on the floor.

Checking the pulse of the person, one of the guards said, “He’s not dead. Just unconscious., Captain….Captain.”

Lost in thoughts, the captain of the guards was woken up by the voice of his underling. The captain, then, made a complicated expression as he looked at the person lying unconscious on the floor and then turning his head to his underlings, he quickly ordered with a serious expression, “You are not allowed to leak this information. And quickly conveyed this bad news to the higher up. Dismissed.”

All the guards present in the room saluted and said in unison, “Yes, sir.”