After getting permission, which was not easy to obtain, Yuto followed Gonzo to his shop and made a final check.
As an outsider, Yuto chose to stand outside the building while channeling Qi through his body.
A distant rumble caught his attention shortly after, causing him to open his eyes.
As they pulled a medium-sized carriage, the characteristic clip-clopping sound of horse hooves stopped in front of him.
Thanks to a storage item, most of the goods to be delivered were stored safely there. This would make the journey easier and cut down transportation costs.
"Let's regroup with the other one!"
Gonzo smiled as he sat in the coachman's seat, holding the reins tightly.
"Alright."
Like during their first journey, Yuto leapt up and sat beside him.
With a flick from the coachman's hand. The horses snorted happily and pulled the carriage forward, gliding through the cobblestone road.
He closed his eyes, plunging into his subconscious.
Two different suns, blue and red, swirling in a Milky Way vortex illuminated an endless darkness.
They flickered weakly, as if wanting to whisper something to their host.
As stated in his senior's Heavenly Demon cultivation book.
There were ten first challenges a practitioner must undergo on the path of cultivation.
Miraculously, Yuto had passed three of them by chance.
Qi Awareness: An ability to sense Qi in the atmosphere and implement it into his body. Opening his path to store it inside.
Qi Condensation: Refining Qi and creating a vessel to store the energy in his dantian. With the major meridian being opened at this stage, Yuto could also strengthen his body, albeit temporarily, depending on how much Qi he poured.
Qi Manifestation: Control over Qi. Understanding it flows and even channeled it into an object like his sword, even if the effect was still weak.
These three initial stages were preparation before one forges their body to break free from their Mortal shell and enter the Immortal realm.
Yuto was in a critical phase, during which he would begin the fourth path, the Bone Tempering, which would be the main foundation of everything.
Lost in his thoughts, his body was suddenly jolted violently, pulling his consciousness back.
"What!"
His eyes snapped open, seeing another horse-drawn carriage stop before him.
A tall gate loomed with tight security from armored knights. Gonzo's voice drew his attention to the side.
"Yuto, your adventurer card."
"...Alright."
Yuto tapped his chest. The place where his storage ring was. It glowed for a moment as it spilled his adventure card.
The ring was attached to a tiny silver chain made of mithril, a magical metal that was very hard and lighter than ordinary steel.
It was all a gift from Gonzo after he learned Yuto might fight with his fists one day.
"Huh...!?"
When he showed his card, his face tensed when he saw the bald adventurer trio riding the carriage in front of him.
'Those are!?'
As they noticed his gaze, the group replied by raising a hand. Yuto nodded and crossed his arms on his chest.
After a moment of inspection, the guards saluted before opening the way for the two carriages to go to their destination.
"Hmmm, hm, hm~."
Once he passed the gate, a melodious tune hummed beside him, accompanied by the sight of a green ocean dancing in the breeze.
Yuto glanced down, seeing his shadow merging with the carriage.
'So peaceful...'
***
Their first day's journey seemed peaceful. The sky lifted its dark curtain to cover the golden furnace.
Thousands of glittering dots become a jewel that paints the dim scenery full of life.
The night wind exhaled a cold breath and made the fire burn fiercely.
Yuto threw a dry branch into the core of the fire, causing it to crackle in joy as it accompanied him in the silent night.
The two carriages were parked near the side road, and the horses rested not far from them, tied to a tree.
Alone, Yuto glanced to the left, where Gonzo was sleeping inside.
"Yo, kid. How're you holding up?"
His gaze turned as he saw one of the trio approach him. He was the lanky guy amongst the other two, and he wore leather armor covered by a coat.
"I'm good and ready to stay up all night."
"Kyahaha, you're quite an interesting one, kid."
Yuto shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention to the fire.
The warmth seeped through his skin, reflecting the current state of his heart after meeting Gonzo's family.
"Oh yeah, it's a bit late, but my name's Dany."
"Yuto."
"Okay, Yuto, did you...!?"
"...!?"
The conversation was cut short as Dany immediately snapped his neck to the side. His eyes narrowed while gripping the hilt of a dagger at his back.
Yuto also noticed it, as he felt the same gaze stalking him for the past few days.
In his heart, he sighed in relief, knowing that they were after him.
However, a big question arose in his mind.
Who are they?
Where do they come from?
Yuto tried to dig deeper, and one possibility came to his mind.
'Are they sent by my father?'
Remembering that the only thing he did was the massacre of the knights' border back then.
Initially, he did it to ruin his family's reputation by painting the 'trash youngest son' as a brutal murderer.
It was also a reminder of how foolish they were to cast Elias away.
His heart suddenly pounded like a war drum. His fingertips turned cold, shivering.
Not out of fear, but from the tingling nervousness of how he should kill those who were trying to disturb his new life.
'I hoped that the old man would ignore me like he cast me aside, but it seems he still holds an attachment to me.'
Without realizing it, a fierce grin crept up his face.
'Let's see how strong they are.'
After a few seconds of silence, Dany released his grip, and his gloomy expression faded.
Yuto loosened the tension in his body. He threw a new log to keep the fire burning brightly.
Watching the boy, Dany swallowed to moisten his dry throat. Cold sweat trickled down his back, realizing how terrifying the boy in front of him was.
'He sensed the gaze before I did!'
A moment ago, he asked Yuto how he got the job.
Dany saw the boy's vacant gaze, filled with madness, as it stirred something inside him.
It instinctively awoke his survival mode and activated his talent as a scout.
That's how he noticed the gaze.
The man cupped his palms together, and his fingers trembled with fear. This was not the first time he had felt this way.
When he first met the boy. It was subtle, but he saw death, pointing its blade at the tip of his throat.
A culmination of terror mixed into one. It gave birth to an amalgamation of despair that pierced his consciousness.
Luckily, because of the presence of his two other brothers, Dany could still hold on to his sanity.
How could a child carry such a monstrous aura?
What kind of life had he endured to have such malice?
Tonight, he reaffirmed in his heart: Yuto was a monster in human skin.
The only good thing was that Yuto was also a member of the adventurers and not an enemy of the Empire.
Because he knew deeply that if the Empire dared to provoke the boy, they would be erased sooner or later.
Dany sighed and reached into his small pouch at his waist.
"Yuto, want a drink!?"
"Sorry, but I dislike alcohol."
"Oh, that's unexpected. Seems like we've got the same taste."
He pulled out two cups and a waterskin full of fruit juice.
When he opened the lid, a pungent citrus aroma filled the air, drawing the boy's attention.
"This smell, juice?"
"You interested?"
"You bet I am!"
Seeing the smile on Yuto's face made Dany realize one thing.
The boy in front of him was still a child who could smile at something as simple as a juice.
Just like he once did.
He poured the juice into the cups and gave one to Yuto.
"Cheers!"
They clinked their metal cups with a light chime.
Both took a sip simultaneously and enjoyed their night shift peacefully, wrapped in the sweetness that stung the eyes open.