Ethan walked over to the man lying on the ground—the father of the boy from earlier. Rose was already checking on him.
He asked her, "How’s the condition?"
Rose replied, "His internals are all mashed. Only a little bit of brain signal might be present in the body."
Ethan nodded. Then he said, "Can you wait there? I need to heal him."
Rose gently took the little boy with her and stepped away.
Ethan activated his healing skill. In less than a minute, the man’s body returned to its normal form, looking better than ever.
However, the look of horror still lingered in his eyes. Ethan then went over to heal the boy. After completing the healing process, Ethan was surprised. There was something special about this child.
Meanwhile, the father slowly regained his memory. Everything became clear in his mind. He quickly looked around, as if searching for something.
Then he heard a voice behind him, "Father!"
His son was standing there, well and alive, tears streaming down his face.
The boy, Alex, ran straight into his father’s arms. The man knelt down and embraced his son tightly. Both of them wept uncontrollably.
After some time, Alex told his father what he remembered—that the big brother standing over there had saved him.
Although the father was just an ordinary man, he was not a fool. He understood what it meant to resist those monsters, save his son, and still stand there like nothing had happened.
That person was definitely not an ordinary person.
He bowed deeply to Ethan and said, "Thank you, sir, for saving my son."
At this point, he didn’t know that Ethan had also healed him. Then, another vendor came forward and whispered something into his ear.
As soon as he heard that, the man dropped to his knees and said, "I don’t know how to repay you, sir. My life belongs to you from today onward."
Ethan replied, "I don’t need your life. But I have noticed your son is somewhat special. He might have a chance to become a cultivator. Would you be willing to let your son follow me to a sect?"
Instantly, it felt as though thunder rolled through the minds of everyone around, including Alex’s father.
"My child has a chance to become one of them?" he murmured, disbelief filling his voice. Without even realizing it, tears began pouring from his eyes again.
He turned to his son and said, "Alex, did you hear what sir said? Do you want to follow him?"
Alex looked confused, but still answered, "I don’t know, Father, but I like big brother. If he wants me to follow him, I’d follow him if you give permission."
Robin’s face immediately lit up. His wife had died giving birth to Alex, from then the father and son had lived alone ever since. Alex was unexpectedly mature for his age. Now, it seemed that the heavens were finally rewarding him—for his maturity, for never being a burden to his father, except for today.
Ethan nodded in satisfaction. He liked young people who possessed filial piety.
He stepped in front of Alex and said, "I am Ryan Hunt. It’s nice to meet you, Alex."
Rose blinked in surprise. Why would Ethan use Ryan’s name in this unknown world? But she didn’t say anything. She would find out eventually.
Alex bowed and said, "It’s nice to meet you too, big brother. I am Alex."
Ethan smiled and said, "Alex, I think there is something special about you. Maybe there is a chance you can become strong in the future. Do you want to take that chance?"
Alex’s little face turned firm as he nodded, "I am willing, big brother. I want to become stronger and protect Father."
Ethan smiled, "Very good. Now follow me. We will go somewhere. You might not be able to see your father for a long time. Are you ready for that?"
This time, Alex showed a strange expression. He had always lived with his father for the past seven years. Suddenly having to leave him and live far away was a heavy blow to his little heart.
Robin stepped forward when he saw his son’s face.
"Go, son! If you become powerful, come back and take Father to roam the entire world."
Alex’s eyes lit up. His gloomy face disappeared and was replaced by a look of determination.
He turned to Ethan and said, "I am ready, big brother."
"Okay then. We will leave in two hours. You can say goodbye to your friends too. Come back here after two hours."
Alex nodded and started running toward his home. Robin shouted behind him, "Slow down! You’ll fall and hurt yourself." But Alex was already gone.
Robin turned to look at Ethan again and bowed deeply once more. Then he followed after his son.
The vendors and the surrounding people had watched the entire scene unfold with wide eyes. From the moment Ethan healed Robin to the conversation about taking Alex for cultivation—it all felt like a dream.
They were just a group of ordinary people, trying to survive a normal life. Now, one of them had suddenly been chosen for something extraordinary. It left them awed, envious, and joyful all at once.
None of them dared look directly at Ethan, fearing they might offend this godlike figure.
Quietly, they began to leave the area. No one was in the mood to linger any longer. Too much had happened already.
After the crowd dispersed, Rose looked at Ethan with suspicion. "Why would you use Ryan’s name instead of yours?"
Ethan noticed her suspicious expression—she looked very cute like that. He reached out and pinched her cheek gently.
"You’ll know after two hours. Now let’s go and explore a few more areas."
Meanwhile, Timmy and his guards had finally reached their destination.
It was a massive castle. But the structure looked like something out of a horror movie. Though it was still evening and the sun had not fully set, the area within a one-kilometer radius around the castle was cloaked in pitch-black night. It had always been like this.
Timmy and the guards entered the castle without hesitation.
They made their way straight to a secret passage, accessed by using Timmy’s blood essence.
Soon, they arrived before a grand, shadowy throne. Someone—or something—was seated upon it. The upper body was cloaked in pure darkness. Nothing could be seen clearly except for two glowing red eyes.
Everyone knelt down instantly.