Treasure-hunting: Into the Unknown

Zachary returned to his house. As he entered the gate, he heard noises coming from inside the small room that was used to refine pills.

"Maybe it's that mysterious Imperial Level beauty again," Zachary murmured to himself, feeling a sense of pleasant anticipation, even though their last encounter could hardly be called pleasant.

He was about to push the door open when he heard a sweet voice coming from the room. "Who's there?"

Zachary was familiar with that voice. It was the young woman he had met just yesterday. However, he knew she would not look favorably upon him. He had made a very bad impression at their first meeting, having commented on her figure and mistaken her for a servant girl. It was time to repair their relations. He stayed where he was, since she had not given him permission to enter the room. In what he hoped was a charming tone, he said, "I'm sorry to disturb you. My name is Harley Bai. I am an Imperial Level warrior, newly recruited into the Xiao Clan. We met yesterday. I offended you, and I hope you will forgive me."

"Oh, so it's you," Vivian said in a flat and unhappy tone. She recognized the voice of the infuriating young man from yesterday.

"Have you heard of me?" Zachary asked. He could tell from her tone that this was not just about their previous interaction. She might have heard some things about him even before their encounter yesterday.

"The whole Xiao Clan has been talking about you recently, ever since we started trying to recruit you after you won that King Level contest. It would have been hard for me to avoid hearing about you. You have won two competitions in the King Level contest, right? But I personally don't think it's a bi

He held out his hand, a lovely flower perched prettily on his palm.

"Really?" Vivian asked incredulously. "I don't believe it!" She was more than a little surprised. The Marine Magic Flower was a scarce Imperial Level herb. It was rare to find one in the Devil Kingdom, and it was extremely difficult to collect. But now this man was claiming that he had obtained one in just a few moments. That meant he owned such a treasure and that he was willing to give it to her just to find out her name. Vivian's brows drew together with skepticism.

"I have it right now. You can check it for yourself," Zachary said. He focused his martial energy on the flower and sent it into the room, slipping into the narrow crack between the door and the frame. It soared through the air and hovered in front of Vivian's disbelieving eyes.

Vivian gasped in amazement as she stared at the flower in front of her. No doubt, it was a genuine Marine Magic Flower. And he was just handing it to her, as though this scare and useful treasure was some ordinary thing he could afford to give away! Against her will, she began to become interested in him.