53 Top 600 (2/2)

The following days passed peacefully as Hartley and company rested and recharged for the next leg of their journey. With the looming threat of the attack by the Hung clan, activities in the Rema district became less bustling. The streets still had many pedestrians and private carriages but not as busy as it was when they first arrived.

It was the fourth day since they had arrived in the Rema district Zhi Ruo still cultivated her knife strikes under the constraint of Hartleys gravity field in the privacy of the inn and had been improving steadily, they cultivated together and used the rest of the time to frequent the shops and restaurants where they were greeted with wide smiles. The uncertainty in the air had caused people to not be as generous with their spending, causing head aches for the managers.

”What are you looking for?”A blonde girl a head or two shorter than Hartley came over with a perfect flirtatious smile. She was about Ruo's age and wearing a tight pink dress which hugged her curves. Her massivetwin peaks stood pointing forward and portions of pale flesh could be seen bulging out of the neckline of the dress. ”I...I..I” Hartley awkwardly tried to answer andnot to look at the woman's chest, but somehow his eyes always drifted back to the region.

Hartley's body went rigid as Zhi Ruo came over and grabbed onto his arm like she was marking her territory, she stood close to him clinging onto his arm, ”He's here helping me to pick out some dresses”Zhi Ruo answered nonchalantly whilepointing her nose to the sky. She was obviously not putting the girl in her eyes. It was now the blonde girl's turn to be awkward as she forced a fake smile at Ruo while glancing at Hartley sheepishly.

”There is a red dress at the left corner at the back, I would like to see it.”Zhi Ruo ordered just like a real snobby noble. The blonde awkwardly looked at Hartley hoping he would say something.

”What are you waiting for”barkedZhi Ruo, the girl immediately got skipping to the back of the store.

Ruo then turned her head to give Hartley the death stare and through gritted whispered ”Just you wait.”

Hartley's eyes bulged and he made a big gulp ”Ruo..Ruo I did nothing” he pleaded. ”Oh yeah...what were you looking at? it weren't her face was it?”Ruo accused.

Hartley knew he was busted so hejust stood there and accepted Ruo's death stares as he watchedRuo givingthe blondegirl the most spiteful run around like a spoiled princess.

These normal moments with Ruo when she actedjealous and overbearing made him smile, over the past couple of days as they had been shopping he had seen more and more of these moments. From her glow of joy when she purchased the dress sheliked to the puppy eyes she gave him when she picked out clothes for him that he didn't like.

Now for the first since leaving the mountain Hartley wondered if it was the right decision, could he had just stayed in the Waltham province and lived happily ever after with Ruo?. Did he have the right to drag his beloved across the country through countless danger? Was his desire to make his mark on the worldimmature? Was he selfish? Was this quest just the dream of a boy who didn't fit in? Now that he was with Ruo didn't he finally find somewhere where he fitted in?

He was awoken from his introspection as Ruo yanked his right arm and led him out of the store at a brisk pace still giving him death stares.