Chapter 67: Julian’s Suspicion

"Julian!"

Seeing the situation escalate, Elena’s expression turned furious. She once again stopped Ryan, who was about to make a move, and sternly shouted at Julian:

"Are you declaring war on the entire Winters Family?!"

She was genuinely angry now.

She had finally established a pleasant cooperative relationship with Ryan, only for Julian to ruin everything and leave him with such a terrible impression of the VIP area.

She had also noticed Ryan preparing to act several times, but each time, she had no choice but to stop him.

Otherwise, once the two truly started fighting, the situation would escalate beyond control. In the end, Ryan would gain an unnecessary enemy for no reason, which was extremely unwise.

Upon hearing Elena’s words, Julian froze.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he abruptly halted the activation of his combat skill.

In an instant, the vast and terrifying power surrounding him vanished.

The oppressive atmosphere disappeared, and the surroundings immediately returned to tranquility. The two metal rings quickly returned to his right wrist, becoming completely silent.

Seeing this, the sword-carrying, cloth-robed attendant also relaxed his grip on his sword hilt. The strange killing intent emanating from his body vanished instantly, once again making him appear like an ordinary, unassuming attendant.

"Miss Elena, what are you saying?"

Julian quickly calmed the chaotic aura within his meridians and gave an awkward smile.

"We are families who have been friends for generations. How could my Vance Family possibly declare war on the Winters Family?"

His eyes darted around before he continued:

"It’s just that when I used my Mental Awareness to investigate him just now, I couldn’t see through this young man’s strength. I suddenly felt an itch to spar with him. Please don’t take offense."

Although he spoke politely, his snake-like eyes remained fixed on Ryan, carrying a faint malevolence.

Just moments ago, seeing Elena standing so close to Ryan and even supporting him had genuinely enraged Julian.

However, Elena’s final words had awakened his reason.

That’s right.

He only wanted to win Elena’s heart. He didn’t want to cause trouble at Winters Tower.

If he truly fought Ryan here, the matter could become much more serious than he wanted.

Thus, he had abruptly suppressed his anger and casually invented the excuse of wanting to spar.

"Hmph! Is that so?"

Elena clearly didn’t believe him.

"I think you were trying to tear down Winters Tower just now!"

After reprimanding him once more, Elena turned toward Ryan and spoke apologetically:

"I’m really sorry about today. How about you leave first? I’ll help you find some good items next time."

She knew she couldn’t continue accompanying Ryan today.

Her immediate priority was to stabilize the arrogant and unruly Julian and prevent him from causing another disturbance.

"Okay, no problem."

Ryan loosened his clenched right fist and nodded.

His expression had already returned to calm.

"It’s a small matter. There’s no need to apologize. Until next time."

With that, Ryan didn’t bother paying any more attention to Julian. He calmly walked toward the side staircase and descended toward the first floor.

"Hey, kid."

Julian suddenly called out with a cold smile.

Before Ryan could leave, he couldn’t resist taunting him.

"Leave your name. If we get the chance next time, we can have a proper spar."

Ryan didn’t look back.

He acted as though he hadn’t heard anything and continued down the wooden staircase, quickly disappearing from sight.

He had never been interested in pointless verbal sparring.

Besides, he already had too many enemies. There was no reason to casually reveal his identity to someone who clearly harbored hostility toward him.

Otherwise, what would he need the Gray Light Shield for?

However, he didn’t need Julian to remind him.

For anyone who had bullied him or intended to bully him, there would be plenty of opportunities to settle the score once his strength improved sufficiently.

"Hmph. Ungrateful."

Seeing Ryan completely ignore him, Julian’s expression remained unchanged on the surface, but a trace of killing intent quietly emerged in his heart.

He secretly glanced at the sword-carrying attendant beside him before turning toward Elena with a faint smile.

"Elena, you were joking just now. How could I possibly bear to destroy Winters Tower?"

He paused before asking:

"Are you free today? How about we go boating on Serene Lake?"

"No time. I’m not going."

Elena rejected him without hesitation.

Julian: "..."

Just like that, Julian continued pestering Elena while she refused to give him a good look throughout the entire exchange.

Meanwhile, the sword-carrying, cloth-robed attendant had already understood the meaning behind Julian’s earlier glance.

While Julian kept Elena occupied, he quietly made his way toward the first floor.

It had to be said that Winters Tower’s soundproofing was indeed excellent.

The commotion on the second floor had barely affected the first floor at all.

At this moment, the first-floor lobby remained bustling with customers coming and going.

Ryan had no idea that someone was quietly following him.

He had already begun carefully browsing the various counters on the first floor, searching for suitable items.

After looking around for quite some time, he cautiously purchased several things.

Three Skill Stones.

Three healing pills.

And a set of formation plates.

After confirming that there was nothing else he needed, Ryan finally left Winters Tower.

He quickly hailed a Wind Wolf Express on the main road and instructed the driver to hurry toward Ashfall City’s East Gate.

What Ryan didn’t know was that his entire purchasing process, as well as the scene of him hurriedly boarding the carriage, had been witnessed by the sword-carrying attendant.

After watching the Wind Wolf Express disappear toward the east of the city, the attendant returned to Winters Tower.

He then subtly questioned several Winters maids and receptionists, gathering whatever useful information they knew about Ryan.

Once he had gathered enough information, he patiently waited for Julian near the side staircase on the first floor.

After a while, Julian finally descended from the VIP area on the second floor.

His expression was visibly displeased.

Seeing this, the sword-carrying attendant immediately approached him.

"That slut Elena!"

Julian’s face was clouded with anger.

As he walked quickly toward the entrance, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

"She didn’t give me any face again. She even refused to go anywhere with me. She’s truly infuriating!"

He gritted his teeth.

"Once the Winters Family Head marries her to me and I completely control the vital industries of the Winters Family, I’ll definitely make her kneel before me and lick beneath my crotch!"

"Sir Julian, please don’t be angry."

The sword-carrying attendant followed closely behind him and spoke earnestly.

"The major matter has not yet been accomplished. Everything still requires patience."

"I know. Don’t worry."

Julian nodded.

His anger gradually subsided as he continued walking toward the entrance.

Then, as if remembering something, he turned his head.

"By the way, did you find anything useful about that man?"

He still had questions in his mind.

Why couldn’t he completely see through that man’s strength despite probing him several times with his Mental Awareness?

The sword-carrying attendant’s expression became solemn.

"I found some information, but not much."

He paused before continuing:

"It’s strange. My Mental Awareness couldn’t see through his appearance or strength either."

"I heard several Winters servants mention that Miss Elena called him Sir Ryan. His full name is Ryan Cole, and this seems to have been his second visit to Winters Tower."

The attendant narrowed his eyes.

"He purchased three Skill Stones, three healing pills, and a set of formation plates. Two of the Skill Stones contained spider-type secret arts, while the remaining one contained a close-quarters combat skill."

"Afterward, he boarded a Wind Wolf Express and headed toward the East Gate. Judging from his actions, he appears to be preparing to leave the city."

The attendant found the matter particularly strange.

He had attempted several times to probe Ryan with his Mental Awareness, yet he couldn’t see through the man’s appearance or cultivation at all.

That strange Gray Light Shield seemed particularly mysterious, completely blocking his Mental Awareness.

In the end, he had been forced to rely solely on visual tracking and observation.

"What?!"

Julian’s expression immediately changed.

"Even you couldn’t see through him?"

"Ryan Cole?"

Julian frowned deeply.

"I don’t remember any prominent figure in Ashfall City with the surname Cole."

He paused.

"Although that name does sound somewhat familiar. I feel as though I’ve heard it somewhere before..."

Julian knew Rowan’s strength very well.

Despite his ordinary appearance, Rowan’s cultivation had already reached the peak of the Origin Transcendent Realm.

His Bloodline had also evolved to the C-Grade Top Tier, the Shadow Sword, and he was only one step away from reaching the B-Grade Ordinary Tier.

He wielded a sharp sword with extraordinary skill, capable of striking invisibly and without form. His innate beast, the third-tier Sword Ghost, had also been cultivated for many years.

His overall strength far surpassed Julian’s.

Within a medium-sized city like Ashfall City, Rowan’s strength was already considered to be at the quasi-first-tier level.

His identity as an attendant was merely a disguise.

Rowan was actually a personal bodyguard specially arranged by the Vance Family Head to protect Julian.

Yet even Rowan couldn’t completely see through that man.

Julian had never heard of a prominent family in Ashfall City bearing the surname Cole that could possess such mysterious means.

"Yes, Sir Julian."

Rowan’s expression became even more serious.

"He didn’t make a move just now, so I couldn’t determine his background at all."

"However, that Gray Light Shield is extremely mysterious, and judging from what I could sense, its level is very high."

He narrowed his eyes.

"I suspect there may be an expert assisting him from the shadows."

As they spoke, Julian and Rowan had already left Winters Tower and boarded their own Wind Wolf Express.

"Hmph!"

Julian snorted coldly.

"I don’t care who’s behind him."

His eyes flashed with fury.

"If he dares to stand in my way, Julian Vance, and covet Elena, I’ll make him die beneath my Ten Rings!"

The Wind Wolf Express sped along the main road.

Julian sat upright inside the spacious carriage, his eyes burning with fury.

"After we return, select two foreign worshipers from the clan with Insight and Tracking Bloodlines."

His voice was cold.

"Have them thoroughly investigate his background."

"Find out everything about Ryan Cole."

"Yes, Sir Julian."

Rowan sat opposite him.

His eyes flashed imperceptibly before he respectfully nodded.

"Understood."