"Thank you for saving me." Beneath the moonlight, beside the phone booth, Alice—who had just called home to let her family know she was safe—bowed to Liu Tian in gratitude. "The Gayn Family will always remember this kindness."
"Ah, there's no need to be so formal." Liu Tian leaned against the phone booth. "I just happened to be passing by and saved you while I was at it. You were lucky. Be more careful next time. I'm not always this kind, and you won't always be this lucky."
By now, both their clothes were in tatters. Alice had fared a little better: although her clothes were badly damaged, they were mostly intact. Her body was partly exposed, but the important bits were conveniently covered. Liu Tian, on the other hand, was in a sorry state.
Although he had used his stat points to improve his martial arts and worked hard to heal all his injuries, making sure his physical abilities and skills were up to the standard of his level didn't mean his clothes would survive another intense battle.
Thanks to the protection focused on his lower body, his clothes there were mostly intact, but his upper half was covered in little more than scraps. They looked less like the uniform of Rose Academy and more like a scavenger's outfit.
In fact, if the person in front of him hadn't been a woman, Liu Tian would have tossed the rags aside without a second thought.
"My father often says that gratitude is a treasure of the spirit." Alice's eyes shimmered as she curiously studied the unremarkable-looking man from head to toe. He had a quality she had never encountered before, and she seemed intent on etching his appearance into her memory. "You've saved my life twice. If I don't repay you, I'll bring shame upon the Gayn Family's thousand-year history."
"Is there something on me?" Alice's gaze held neither murderous intent nor malice, so it didn't stir the Killing Intent that had just been sated. But being so thoroughly scrutinized by a woman was a new and uncomfortable feeling for Liu Tian. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I just want to remember what a real-life knight looks like." Alice seemed a little entranced, and unconsciously let her thoughts slip out loud.
"? A knight?" Liu Tian tilted his head, sensing trouble.
"Ah, no, it's nothing." Alice seemed to realize she'd said something she shouldn't have, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She tucked her long, black-satin hair behind her ear, revealing a translucent earlobe, then hurriedly changed the subject. "I was just talking to myself. Is there anything you'd like me—or the Gayn Family—to do for you?"
"The Gayn Family may be small and not particularly prosperous, but we have a long history and some connections in the Hundred Flowers Kingdom. We might be able to help you with quite a lot."
"Uh, 'benefactor'—that way of speaking..." Liu Tian felt a chill. He was straightforward by nature; how could he be used to the kind of speech he'd only ever heard on TV? "Just call me Liu Tian. If that doesn't feel right, I'm probably older than you, so you can call me Tian-ge."
"And please speak plainly. I'm a rough martial artist. I don't like beating around the bush."
"How could I do that?" Alice's heart began to beat faster. She slowly twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "It wouldn't be proper."
In the Hundred Flowers Kingdom, people of opposite sexes who weren't especially close generally didn't address each other by name alone. They usually added a title after the name, such as "classmate" or "sir." Liu Tian, however, didn't know that.
The main reason was that the original Liu Tian had been a bit of a shut-in, while Liu Yun and Sophie, who did know the rules, had never bothered to teach him. Having inherited everything about Liu Tian, he naturally didn't know them either.
"What's wrong with that? You don't seem like someone who follows every rule to the letter." Liu Tian took a small step forward and frowned. "If you're fine with it and I'm fine with it, that's all that matters. Why overthink it?"
"If you're fine with it and I'm fine with it, that's all that matters?" Alice pressed her lips together, putting a little more force into it. "I suppose you're right."
"Then... should I call you Tian-ge?" Alice's eyes wavered as she tested the words softly. Then, as if she'd made up her mind, she added, "And in return, Tian-ge can just call me Alice."
"Sure, that settles it." The sound of a car engine came from the distance. Liu Tian nodded, satisfied. "As for what I want—I've gotten interested in antiques lately. Since the Gayn Family has such a long history, could I have a look at your collection?"
"Of course. Just looking, though. If there's anything I really like, I'll pay you fairly for it."
"No, there's no need." Alice waved her hands in a fluster, not even noticing the car drawing closer behind her. "If there's anything you want, Tian-ge, you can just have it."
"That's what you say, but who knows?" Liu Tian let out a quiet breath. He saw several unfamiliar people step out of the car, then turned away. "Those people behind you are your family, right? They're here to pick you up. We can talk about anything else tomorrow."
"Alice!" Before Alice could react, she was suddenly pulled into a familiar, warm embrace. "How could you..."
"Big sister?"
The familiar softness relaxed Alice's tense body in an instant. She turned her head, wanting to say something, but it was smothered against something high and firm. She tried to push away without thinking, only for a pair of arms whose hidden strength their appearance belied to hold her fast. "It's my fault, it's my fault..."
"?"
This family sure is close, Liu Tian thought, shaking his head in admiration.
To avoid wasting time on the pointless back-and-forth that would probably follow if he stayed, Liu Tian decided not to interrupt their reunion. Instead, he waved the butler-looking man who had approached to step back. "You two talk. It's late, so I'm heading out."
"?"
Before the butler could open his mouth, the man who had saved their second young lady had already vanished into the night.
"By the way, where's the person who saved you?" After who knew how long, the woman Alice called her big sister finally came to her senses under Alice's desperate pounding and let go, averting a near-fatal smothering. She hurriedly asked, "We have to thank him properly."
"Honestly. Tian-ge's already gone." Alice spoke in a sulky tone, not realizing how far away Liu Tian was. "It's all your fault, Big Sis. I was going to invite Tian-ge home to rest since it's so late."
"Tian-ge?" Tia Gayn's eyes looked as though they were about to burst. "It's only been a little while, and you're already calling him that affectionately? What's going to happen if you spend more time together?"
"Where is he? I want to thank him properly." Tia sounded as if she were gritting her teeth.
"Big Sis, what are you talking about? If you keep this up, I won't speak to you anymore." Alice stamped her foot.
"Wait, wait." Tia hastily changed the subject. "By the way, where are the people who kidnapped you? I want to see who was bold enough to kidnap someone from the Gayn Family."
"One is in the ruins not far away. He has long, hard, sharp hands. The other two are near the slums..."
Tsk, women were such a nuisance. So hard to understand...
Liu Tian tossed the rags into a roadside trash can and looked up at the beautiful golden moon, sighing.
Back, back, back to bed. I hope this unexpected incident earns me more Origin Points. If I hadn't had enough Origin Points in reserve, my odds of winning would've been less than one in ten.
Sigh, tomorrow I'd have to ask Master properly what evolution was all about.
Liu Tian, who had a guess about Mantis's origins, sighed. There was no time to waste. He had to hurry up and get stronger, and build up more savings.
Heavenly Martial Killing Dao...
Before you continue