Leon's hand paused when it was about to reach for the door as many threatening presence was suddenly sensed drawing closer from the outside.
His expression turned grim as he realised it was probably too late.
The party on the other side of the door had no intention of masking their arriving presence. Their arrival was very high profile as their killing intent billowed out indiscriminately.
Those who felt it shivered in fear and the sound of windows shutting could be heard. The people living in the area did not want to be implicated by whatever was happening outside their homes.
"Why did you stop?" Helen was oblivious to the danger and asked with confusion. Weren't you rushing us to leave?
"Sorry, Mom. It looks like it's too late." Leon apologised for getting them caught up in his mess.
He blew out the candle lights and shifted towards the front windows and took a careful peak outside.
'3...7...15...24...27! What... the... fuck!' Leon couldn't help but curse when he counted the numbers of people outside.
He had a hunch they would send more people after him, but why is there so many!? Did the Greys deployed their entire household after him!? Why?? Didn't he just kill one steward? It's not like he murdered their ancestors or something, right!??
Leon was agitated by how strongly the Greys had reacted to the death of one steward. His chest heaved up and down as his face became very ugly and regret started to seep in.
Why didn't he listen to Amelia and meet with his birth mother? He could have been able to avoid the steward's assault and the Greys would come for him.
He was the prince and the resources of the Royal family would be at his disposal. His birth mother wouldn't hesitate to lock him in the palace and nurture him with their resources.
Although he would be able to grow safely in the confinements of the palace, it was not what he wanted.
A person who is raised in a greenhouse would never truly be strong. One may possess powerful strength, but if they were weak in mind then their heart would also be weak and they may not be able to fully utilise that strength to its full capability.
A truly strong person can only be forged through a tempering of life and death experiences. There was no short cut to it, otherwise that person would be stepping on the face of all who have achieved it with great efforts and determination.
Leon knew his own weakness and the tempering was what he needed to forge his iron will.
Determination flickered in Leon's eyes as he looked at his parents.
"Mom, Dad, no matter what happens... do not go outside." He plans to face his enemies alone. His parents would not be able to help.
"Not possible. We should face the problem to-"
"Please!" Leon pleaded strongly.
Helen wanted to refute his decision but Brian placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. Just when they thought their lives were turning for the better, disaster strikes.
"We understand. We won't go out no matter what."
"Thank you, dad."
Brian understood that they weren't strong enough to help Leon and would only get in his way. However there was resolution in their eyes. If something happened to Leon, they would not want to live either and accompany him on his journey to the netherworld.
Leon exhaled a sigh of relief. His foster parents was one of his greatest worries and the biggest reason he chose not to meet his birth mother.
He heard that the queen was a cold and ruthless ruler. He was afraid that his queen mother would be narrow-minded and think that his foster parents had taken him away from her and kill them.
She was the one who was suppose to enjoy raising him and watching him grow, but it had falling into someone else's hands. Leon was afraid his queen mother would had such dangerous thought and jealousy.
However, Leon had already made his decision as he walked out the door. If he survived this ordeal, he would let go of his apprehensions and meet his birth mother. To protect his loved ones, he must use all the resource at his disposal. He would try to convince his birth mother if she does things contrary to his wishes.
...
"Is this the house of that bastard?" Albert Grey stood 100 paces away as he looking at the humble abode in front of him with disdain. If it weren't for Leon's secrets, he'd deign to step foot into the lower district.
"According to our information, this should be the address." As one of the servants reported.
"Father, would he still dare to be at home after killing one of our own? I can see that there is no light coming from the inside." Edric commented.
Albert frowned as his son's comment. "You're right. We should check. Bring his parents to me if they are inside. If there is no one, I want that thing razed to the ground."
"Yes, my lord!"
Albert would not step foot in such a lowly abode himself. He believes he would be tainted by the filth of the commoners, but actually there is no problems with hygiene inside.
The servants were all armed with iron swords and strapped with holstered revolvers.
The one in the lead raised his hand and halted the group just as they advanced a few steps.
"Someone is coming out."
Facing the crowd outside his home, Leon expression was sullen and his footsteps felt heavy from the pressure weighing down on him.
"Why do you want to kill me?"
Hearing Leon's question in the distance, Albert laughed as he heard a funny thing.
"That's him, father! That's Leon!" Edric pointed fingers at him.
Leon shifted his gaze towards Edric that made him cower behind his father. Albert felt his face heat up as his son's cowardly action that made him lose face.
"You're very arrogant don't you think, little boss of Golden Lion gang? However, if you tell me how you become so strong in such little time, I can spare your life." Albert said darkly, restraining himself from slapping his son as they were in public.
Realisation dawned on Leon. No wonder they came to him so strongly. They wouldn't be able to stomach such humiliation from his letter and suspected he held a great secret on him due to his cultivation speed despite being a commoner.
"Really? Will you really spare me if I tell you?" Leon faked a fearful appearance. He did not believe Albert's promise one bit, but he had to buy time as he think of a plan to overcome his sticky situation.
"Of course. I promise, now tell me." Albert was pleasantly surprised and smug at Leon's reply. Weren't you very arrogant? Hmph! Nothing but a paper tiger.
Albert thought his strong force had deterred Leon.
"Are you sure you want to hear the secret with all these people listening in? Can you trust that they are completely loyal to you and wouldn't betray you by selling the secret to others? Why don't you come over so I can whisper it to you?"
Albert froze at Leon's words. Due to his wary nature, he did not trust others and found Leon's words very reasonable. It would be surprising if one or two of his people were bought over or planted by other families. However, if he did as Leon said then he would be disappointing servants. How could he not see that Leon was acting and trying to sow discord? But so what? It did not matter.
As long as he got close and capture him, he would be able to torture the secrets out of him. The process was different but the results would be the same. He was completely confident in his strength.
There was a dividing line between the 6th step and the 7th step. The physical enhancement did not change but his earth ability was greatly improved.
He was not concerned how strong Leon was. As long as his guard was up, Leon wouldn't be able to do anything to him. Earth-users were strengths lied in their defence.
It was already impressive that Leon could kill his steward at his age.
"Alright."
Albert strode forward with ease and stood before Leon. "So what do you have for me?"
"The secret is..."
Leon drawn closer and his hand glowed red as he clenched it into a fist and threw it out at his quickest possible speed.
Albert saw the incoming move and smirked. He reached his hand out to catch it. He had been expecting Leon to make a move.
"You're too predictable brat-"
[9 Echo Oscillating Fist]!!!
The two made contact and the colours were drained from Alberts face as he quickly attempted to summon up his earth armour.
His palm was unable to stop Leon's fist as it broke his hand and continue straight for his chest.
Albert's body shot backwards like a kite with its strings cut and a fountain of blood sprayed from his mouth. He felt like he was hit by a truck as his body was struck by a force of 1500 jin.
A faint 3 echoes was heard when Leon's fist connected as he made a breakthrough with his martial technique. It followed by a wave of pain like he had just struck a rock mountain. His skin split and bled from the impact.
Due to the strain on his body from using the technique, there was an instinctual limiter that stopped him from reaching 3 echoes previously. But when he threw caution to the wind and went all out, the hurdle was overcome smoothly.
The martial technique was designed for body cultivators as it had strong requirements for body toughness and speed. Most divine practitioners stop at 2 echoes as it was an introductory skill. Majority practiced the energy cultivation system and at Energy Condensation state, they can begin using spirit arts, which was stronger than martial arts. They wouldn't waste time in practicing martial arts too much.
Speed was Leon's forte, while the 5 element body strengthened his body's toughness to some degree. Thanks you his new changing body constitution he did not suffer too much of a backlash from using 3 echoes. His bones would have shattered from the force if his body was still ordinary otherwise.
"My Lord!!" "Father!!" "Are you alright?" Everyone was shocked by the turn if events as they gathered to Albert.
"Fuck off!! Go and kill him now!! Shoot him to death!! Albert was enraged after suffering such a loss. What kind of force was that? It completely broke through his earthen armour defence and hurt his inwards badly.
Had he been slow, he would have died from having his bones shattered and his heart crushed from the blow!
"Yes, My Lord!" The servants drew the revolvers and chased after Leon.
Leon did not wait for them as he turn and ran. His plan was very simple. To catch the person with the biggest threat off guard by delivering his strongest attack. They might anticipate his attack but not its force.
Whether he was successful or not in killing the person, he had to utilise his advantage in speed and run.
A mob of 3rd step to 5th step awakeners was different to a mob of ordinary thugs. He could not fight 4 fist with 2. His powerful attack did not deter them as they still had their firearms. He had to run and draw them away from his home
As long as his parents hid well inside, they would be safe.
He would move to a more favourable terrain at the same time and be able to commence his counterattack on his pursuers without distractions then.