—Inside the hotel beside Heaven Restaurant—
"Hey, little brother, did you finish getting everything we need for the trip?" Brian asked.
"Yes, big brother. We can leave anytime," Adre replied respectfully.
"Good. We'll wait for Leo and his family to get here, then we'll head out," Brian said.
They waited around fifteen minutes before Leo finally arrived with his daughter and wife in tow.
"My apologies, Young Master Brian," Leo said quietly. "My daughter forgot we were leaving today and went to work instead."
"Ah, no problem. Let's go," Brian replied.
The group left the city and continued their journey. Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure followed from a distance.
What exactly is that guy thinking…? Brian muttered in his mind.
The road ahead was smooth, and they passed through several towns without incident.
…
"Big brother, are we going to rob and snatch women again today?" one rough-looking man asked.
"Yeah, we are. But be careful—lately, a lot of students from Sky Blue Academy have been hunting us," the bandit leader replied.
"Got it, boss!" the other bandits shouted in unison.
…
Back on the road, Leo approached Brian.
"Sir, this area is known for bandits. They often rob travelers and kidnap women," he reported.
"Oh? Bandits?" Brian asked with interest.
"Yes, sir."
"Well… I hope they try to rob me," Brian said with a bright smile—yet anyone who saw it would feel a chill run down their spine.
"Eh?!" Leo was startled by his answer.
He was about to say more when an arrow shot toward the carriage. Brian casually caught it midair. A small scroll was tied to the shaft.
He unrolled it and read: Do not proceed. Dozens of bandits are lying in ambush ahead.
"Heh… that just makes me want to go forward," Brian grinned, then muttered, "Why's that idiot still following me? Why not just come out already?"
"What does it say, Young Master?" Leo asked.
"This? A warning," Brian said, handing him the scroll.
"Should we stop and continue tomorrow, sir?" Leo suggested.
"Why tomorrow? Don't you trust my strength?" Brian smirked.
"Uncle Leo, you don't have to worry—my brother's really strong," Adre reassured him.
Leo was at a loss for words.
"Alright, I'll go ahead," Brian said before disappearing from sight in an instant.
With that speed… he's at least Stage 5 Master. And under twenty years old? I've chosen the right man to follow, Leo thought.
…
"About this time of day, wagons and carriages usually pass through, boss," one bandit said.
"Good. Hopefully a pretty woman comes by so we don't have to bother raiding villages," the leader replied with a lecherous grin.
"I doubt you'll be seeing any woman ever again," a calm voice came from behind them.
"Who's there?!" the leader spun around, only to see a young man in fine clothes exuding a noble aura—Brian.
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is… you're all going to die," Brian said with a smile before vanishing in a flash.
His fist struck like lightning, and the bandits burst apart like overripe tomatoes.
"Now, just you," Brian said, fixing his gaze on the leader.
"S-Sir! No, Your Excellency, please spare me! I have two children to feed!" the man begged desperately.
Brian didn't reply. He simply walked forward and smashed the man's skull with a single blow.
After stripping the bandits of their valuables, Brian returned to the carriage.
Once he was gone, a dark figure stepped out from behind a tree, staring at the carnage in disbelief.
"Back when he deflected my attack, I already knew he was strong… but seeing it up close is terrifying," the shadowy figure muttered, his expression pale with fear.
…
Brian's group continued their journey without trouble. At night, while the others slept, Brian hunted beasts and successfully advanced to Grandmaster Stage 1—on par with the strongest members of a third-rank noble family in the Rain Empire.
With this power, I should be able to dominate a little, Brian thought.
Oh, right… advancing to Grandmaster gave me 25,000 system coins. I can use those to buy a pill to heal Leo. Plus, the ten high-grade weapons I took from the bandits add another 10,000 coins.
"Alright, I'll buy one Ren Pill for Leo and a high-level assassin cultivation technique," Brian decided, opening the system shop and selecting the items.
System:Purchase Ren Pill and High-Level Assassin Cultivation Technique for 30,000 system coins?
"Yes."
A small bottle and a scroll materialized before him.
"So this is the pill…" The Ren Pill was a bluish-white color, like clouds drifting in the sky. After inspecting it, Brian picked up the scroll—only for the system notification to chime again.
System:High-Level Assassin Cultivation Technique detected. Would you like to learn it?
"Yes."
A beam of light shot out from the scroll and sank into Brian's head. In an instant, countless memories and techniques filled his mind—every method to kill an enemy, even those five cultivation stages above him.
"So that's how it is… I now have a hundred ways to kill someone five realms higher than me," Brian said with excitement.
Satisfied, he called out to Leo in the rear carriage.
"What is it, Young Master?" Leo asked.
"This is a pill that will heal your crippled condition and restore your cultivation," Brian said, handing him the Ren Pill.
Leo hesitated but accepted it.
"Take it. Here and now," Brian ordered.
Leo nodded, swallowing the pill. Within seconds, he clutched his chest, coughing violently before vomiting a mouthful of black blood.
"Hey, System, this isn't poison, right? Why's he reacting like that?" Brian asked.
System:Do not worry, Host. The Ren Pill is expelling the impurities from his body and beginning the reforming process. The pain is normal.
"Oh, alright then." Brian relaxed.
Hearing Leo's cries, his wife and daughter Natasha rushed over.
"Father! Father! Young Master, what are you doing to him?!" Natasha shouted.
"Calm down, Tasha. He's fine. I gave him medicine to heal his condition," Brian explained patiently.
Once they understood, mother and daughter stood back, watching anxiously.
Thirty minutes later, Leo finally opened his eyes—tears welling up. He could feel his cultivation again… and even more, he had broken through to Grandmaster Stage 1, just like Brian.
"Amazing, Uncle Leo. Now you can protect me," Brian said with a smile.
"This is all thanks to you, Young Master. I swear… my loyalty will always belong to you," Leo declared, kneeling.
"Uncle, get up. There's no need for that," Brian said.
Leo stood and immediately embraced his wife and daughter, tears flowing. Seeing this touching scene, Brian quietly stepped away to sit beside the coachman.
A few minutes later, Natasha and her mother approached to thank him before returning to the rear carriage, leaving Brian and Leo alone at the front.
"Since you've sworn loyalty to me, Uncle, I'll share my plans with you," Brian said, then began outlining his ambition to build his own kingdom.
"Are you serious, Young Master?" Leo asked, surprised by the sheer scale of the goal.
"Yes, Uncle. You won't change your mind, will you?" Brian asked.
"Never. My life belongs to protecting you," Leo answered firmly.
"In that case, I'll appoint you as Commander of the Beast Guardians," Brian declared.
"Thank you, Young Master!" Leo replied with enthusiasm, fully understanding the position's significance from Brian's earlier explanation.