Just as he reached the exit, a brawny young man not far away spotted Ryan Cole and called out loudly, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Ryan, leaving already? So early today? It’s not even mealtime yet."
He had a sturdy build and dark, gleaming skin. As he spoke, his white teeth flashed brightly.
Upon hearing the voice, Ryan’s back stiffened instantly. However, he quickly composed himself, forcing his body to relax as he squeezed out a smile and replied,
"Yes, Jake. For some reason, I got quite tired after working for a while today. I didn’t find anything either, so I want to head back early and get some rest. I’ll come again tomorrow."
After speaking, Ryan didn’t wait for a response. He simply waved goodbye and continued briskly toward the exit without stopping.
Jake, whose full name was Jake Tanner, was one of the few close friends Ryan Cole had who was around his age.
The two came from similar backgrounds. Both lived in the slums, were scavengers, and had attended the same welfare Bloodline Institute, where they had been students in the same year. Naturally, they had gotten along well and developed a good friendship.
However, Ryan Cole was currently carrying a valuable treasure, leaving him constantly on edge, as though he were treading on thin ice. This sudden, warm greeting had genuinely startled him.
Furthermore, he was eager to return home and didn’t want any unnecessary complications, so he had no desire to chat with Jake for too long.
Jake Tanner watched Ryan Cole’s hurried footsteps, his brows furrowing slightly as confusion appeared on his face.
He found it somewhat strange. Although he knew Ryan Cole was physically weaker than average, Ryan had always insisted on working for at least two hours before returning home.
Leaving so early today was certainly unusual.
But Jake couldn’t read Ryan Cole’s mind. He wanted to say something more, yet for a moment, he didn’t know how to bring it up.
In the end, as he watched Ryan Cole’s figure disappear into the distance, Jake could only shake his head with a wry smile and put the matter out of his mind.
He squatted down once more and continued digging through the garbage pile around him.
After walking for a while longer, Ryan Cole quickened his pace and finally emerged from the garbage disposal site.
His gaze swept across his surroundings. It was already noon, and Ashfall City was bustling with activity.
The main road was wide and spacious, lined with lush green trees on both sides. Warm sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the ground.
In the center of the road, luxurious Golden Fang Tiger Mounts occasionally sped past like streaks of light, dazzling in both appearance and speed.
At times, massive merchant-exclusive Titan Armored Carriages, laden with heavy cargo, lumbered along the road. Their heavy footsteps shook the ground, making the hearts of nearby pedestrians pound.
The Golden Fang Tiger Mount was powered by a second-tier Golden Fang Tiger, whose body was clad in armor forged from refined gold, making it resemble a golden-armored tiger. Majestic and swift as the wind, it was typically used by the wealthy for transportation—and, more importantly, as a display of status.
The Titan Armored Carriage, on the other hand, was processed and forged from a second-tier Titan Beast. Resembling a massive cargo truck, each one was capable of transporting several tons of precious goods. Because of its relatively high cost-effectiveness, it was a favorite means of transportation among most merchant families.
Beneath the trees lining both sides of the main road, various shops were open for business, their shelves displaying a dazzling assortment of goods—pills, combat weapons, secret treasures, combat techniques, secret arts, and all kinds of miscellaneous items. There was practically nothing one couldn’t find.
From time to time, Bloodline Fighters moved between the shops. They came in all shapes and sizes and possessed varying levels of strength. The occasional sound of bargaining drifted through the streets, adding to the atmosphere of prosperity and liveliness.
Ryan Cole took in the scene before him and breathed in the refreshing fragrance of plants wafting from both sides of the Boulevard of Blossoms.
Then, he remembered the pervasive stench that had filled the garbage disposal site.
Every time he emerged from that place, he experienced an almost indescribable sense of rebirth, as though he had suddenly stepped into an entirely different world.
For a moment, Ryan Cole simply stood there, slightly dazed.
However, just as Ryan Cole was standing there in a daze, perhaps because of congestion further ahead—
"Whoosh!"
A haughty, red-haired young man dressed in luxurious clothes suddenly veered off the main road while driving a Golden Fang Tiger Mount, brutally charging onto the sidewalk and heading straight toward Ryan Cole.
"Get lost, stinking beggar!"
The luxuriously dressed young man cursed at Ryan with a look of undisguised disdain.
Even after shouting, he showed no intention of slowing down. In the blink of an eye, the Golden Fang Tiger Mount was only four or five meters away from Ryan Cole.
The Golden Fang Tiger Mount possessed terrifying speed and strength. Charging forward like a moving mountain, it carried such tremendous momentum that if Ryan’s frail body were struck head-on, he would undoubtedly be severely injured, vomiting blood. At best, he would be crippled; at worst, he could lose his life.
Ryan Cole only snapped back to reality when he heard the commotion.
Hearing such baseless insults from the other party—especially the humiliating words stinking beggar—caused his expression to darken.
Derek Sterling?
He had actually seen this man before.
That distinctive red hair made him instantly recognizable, and Ryan hadn’t expected the arrogant young man before him to be Derek Sterling, the eldest son of Sterling the Invincible, one of the Five Great Houses of Ashfall City and a notorious tyrant.
But seeing the Golden Fang Tiger Mount already bearing down on him, Ryan had no time to think further. He could only curse silently in his heart.
Bastard!
Immediately, he threw himself to the side and rolled across the ground, narrowly avoiding the Golden Fang Tiger Mount as it thundered past him.
Derek Sterling kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, not even bothering to turn his head, as though everyone in his path were nothing more than insignificant ants unworthy of his attention.
Only when they narrowly brushed past each other did he condescendingly glance at Ryan.