Chapter 647 - Charya and Layla

*Knock Knock* 

With two knocks, the door slowly opened as a pink-haired girl came in. She appeared to be fifteen years old or something, and this reference only came from Evelyn and Rose. The young girl had this energetic and happy aura around her but turned into hostility when she met Alex.

"Master, I won the match just now." She said while walking toward Charya and clasping her hands respectfully.

"Ah! That's right." Charya just forgot that she was watching her disciple today. She was startled as if she didn't hear someone coming just now. "Congratulations on your win."

Alex simply laughed, looking at this young girl. "It's your third disciple, right? Isn't she cute?"

Charya nodded. "Yeah, her name is Layla. She is a very energetic one… I met her one year ago. I was too bored at that time and decided to go outside to recruit some disciples, just like how that Old Conn brought you here."

"Ah… I certainly remember." Alex nodded.

"Master… Who is he?" Listening to her master, it seemed that he was also one of the Heavenly Sword Sect people, so she put down her hostility. At first, she thought this person wanted to steal her master.

"His name?" Charya chuckled first before answering her. "Not many may know about his appearance, but almost everyone on this continent knows his name."

The answer came in the form of a riddle, mystifying Alex's existence. However, Layla opened her eyes wide, dropped her jaw to the ground and shuddered. "Al- Alexander Sirius…"

She quickly knelt on the floor and clasped her hands. All the hostility and curiosity turned into reverence in a split second. "Layla greets Senior Uncle."

"Senior Uncle?" Alex glanced at Charya. 

"You have been teaching Evelyn and Rose here… also Putri. Then, Song Yu is your senior sister. With all the titles under your belt, there is nothing wrong with her calling you that. In fact, I am the one who introduces you like that… Haha!"

"So, it's you." Alex rolled his eyes before waving his hand. The Spiritual Energy gradually approached Layla and helped her get up. "Nice to meet you. I'm Alexander Sirius."

Layla had yet to understand why she suddenly stood up like this. She glanced at Charya and Alex back and forth, not knowing what to do.

"Anyway, you can sit first." Charya took another chair in the opposite direction of Alex. "You don't mind if she is sitting like this, right?"

"Haha, do you think I am a person who will mind?" Alex laughed. He knew Charya was joking since she knew his personality well.

Layla was unsure whether to sit or not, but since her master asked her to sit, she took a seat.

"By the way, how is everyone's progress?"

"Song Yu is missing currently, but I also haven't confirmed if she is dead or not." Alex suddenly dropped the bomb and silenced the entire room. He felt the need to address this first. 

"What did you say?" Charya was shaking as she asked.

"You didn't hear it wrong. I'm still trying to search for her whereabouts. But I know she isn't dead yet…" Alex nodded. He remembered the invisible strings that only he could see. The string of fate between him and Song Yu had yet to disappear, so he knew Song Yu was still alive. He confirmed such a case because his enemies' strings would disappear if he killed them, so Song Yu's must have the same condition. 

"Is that so…" Charya closed her eyes and clenched her hands. She was still shaken and tried hard to calm down so as to not appear embarrassing in front of Layla. "Anyway, I will leave everything to you… Can you inform me if you found her?"

Alex thought for a moment and nodded. "I will even force her to go back to meet you."

Charya made a weak smile. "Thank you."

"How about Putri, Evelyn, and maybe that Letizia?" 

"Putri is good. She has become a Martial Emperor right now. Though I don't really have much contact with her."

"As long as she is fine, I'm happy." Charya nodded with a smile. She was already shaken by Song Yu's condition, so she really meant what she said. There was nothing that could beat good news like this despite not having contact with each other.

"Martial Emperor!" Layla gasped, listening to these two's conversation. Due to Charya's strength and her nature, she had once asked about the cultivation from Charya. According to her, the realm above Martial King was the Martial Emperor and to think her senior sister had surpassed Charya. This was truly unbelievable. 

"How about Rose?"

"She is in Martial King at the moment. As for the specific, I don't know since I'm going to visit her right now." 

"She is fine, right? Seeing you have many enemies, I feel bad for Evelyn and Rose." 

"I won't let any of them die." Alex didn't answer her but showed his determination instead.

"Since you go to such lengths, then I won't need to worry." Charya nodded. "How about Letizia? Do you have any information about her? Those people from Rainbow Flower Sect really wish to know some information since she hasn't sent any message. They could be so patient because you said she is still alive."

"Letizia, huh… There is trouble in her side right now…" Alex sighed. "But tell them not to worry, everything should be resolved in two to three years, and I'm sure those people will be shocked by her strength."

"Alright. I will tell them this." Charya nodded. "And Last but not least, how about you? What is your cultivation right now? 9-Star Martial Emperor?"

Alex shook his head. "I'm a 3-Star Martial Monarch right now." 

"Oh." Astonishment appeared on her face, while Layla dropped her jaw to the ground. Seeing her, Charya smirked as she shamelessly asked. "That's right since you are here… Why don't you give my disciple a little gift?"

"Sure." Alex nodded before looking so confused, wondering what kind of gift he could give.

"I… I can't accept such a gift…" Layla's body was shaking. She was overwhelmed by favor. Even though it was her master asking for her, it didn't change the fact that Alex was a Martial Monarch, a higher being than a Martial Emperor. His gift would surely bring a catastrophe. 

"What weapon does she use?" Alex asked Charya. 

"She is using a sword. This makes training easier for me as well." Charya nodded as she was also a sword user.

"You know that my gift might bring problems, right?" Alex narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think so. I'm sure the Great Martial Monarch, Alexander Sirius, has a way."

"Tch." Alex clicked his tongue as he smiled. "You are still the same."

"I will take that as a compliment."

Alex thought for a moment. "A gift that can't be traced by other people…"

He thought for a few minutes to see what would be a nice gift for Layla. He didn't mind giving something since he had many things that were useful to her cultivation, and those were already useless to him anyway. However, everything might be able to bring trouble, except for one thing.

Alex suddenly lifted his chair and put it against the wall, facing Charya and Layla. After that, Alex walked toward Layla and said, "Get up."

Layla's body shook as she stood up out of reflex. These few minutes were like hell for her. Charya might not overthink this, but Layla only knew Alex was a godlike being in her eyes. The time he took to think felt like forever. Her hands became cold, causing her body to tense up.

"Stand here," Alex said softly before coming back to his seat. He slightly waved his hands and said, "This is my gift for you… Walk toward me, that's all you need."

Charya furrowed her eyebrows and glanced at Alex. "You are not joking, right?"

"No. This is really my gift."

Charya couldn't understand what he wanted to give. After all, how could she know there was a gift just by walking three meters forward.

Layla glanced at Charya, who nodded her head and took a deep breath. She didn't know why Alex wanted this, but she just should believe her master.

*First Step.* 

"Ah!" Layla screamed as a sharp pain brushed off her skin before kneeling on one knee.

Charya furrowed her eyebrows as she glanced at Alex, who had no change of his expression. He simply waved his hand to cover the whole room with a Sound Insulation Array and placed an illusion array so no one would know he was here. "What's wrong? Do you not want the gift? It's only a small price to pay."

Alex looked ruthless this time, but Layla could realize there was something behind this. The sharp pain didn't come from Spiritual Energy. She thought there must be something hidden behind this indescribable pressure. 

Not knowing why, the question that Alex asked lingered in her mind. 'He… He asked about my weapon… Wait, this sharpness… why does it feel like—!"

She suddenly looked up with a dumbfounded expression and found Alex smiling. 'He is testing me as well as giving me the most precious gift for a sword user!' 

Noticing her expression, Alex glanced at Charya. "Your disciple is pretty good. She can understand something simple after experiencing it."

Charya, of course, couldn't understand him, but hearing that her disciple could, the worry in her heart disappeared and let Alex do the rest.

Layla gulped down as she gradually stood up with a serious expression. She thought, 'Since I need to walk toward him, does this mean there will be something more the closer I am?' 

The thought arose at the same time as her courage. Although she was worried, she still stepped forward.

"Kh!" She felt the pain and grabbed her right hand while letting out a weak groan. 'I need to endure.'

Her steps were small, but she gradually got closer to Alex. At the first one-meter mark, she suddenly stumbled on the floor and spat blood. Even so, she still rose and walked toward Alex.

Little by little, she arrived at the two-meter mark. However, this time her symptoms became worse. Sweats covered her body as strength left her feet. She felt like she couldn't get up anymore. She looked at her shaking hands and thought, 'If I can't walk, I just need to crawl. I can still use my hands!'

Having a resolve in her mind, she began crawling toward Alex. Even Alex was surprised by this. This last one-meter mark was a test for her instead of a gift. Like Evelyn and Rose, he wanted to see whether Charya's third disciple had the heart to pursue the cultivation, and it seemed she had as, after two minutes, she finally reached Alex and touched his knee. 

"I…"

Alex patted her head and removed the aura. He had been releasing his Sword Path this whole time. Of course, after separating his Spear and Flame from his intent. "You have succeeded. Now, you can absorb everything you understand in these three meters."

"Thank you, Seni-" She couldn't finish her words as she sat on lotus pose and cultivated. It looked like she received something important.

Alex then stood up and walked to Charya, tapping her shoulder a few times. "You have another good disciple." 

"Of course." Charya laughed. "Although she doesn't have a tragic past like you, she has a goal that she wishes to fulfill. I can see that burning passion in her eyes back then, and I feel like taking care of her. Do you want to hear the full story?"

"No. I still have something to do." Alex shook his head. "Besides, your disciple might leave you again to pursue higher cultivation, you know."

"Because I don't mind, I shamelessly ask for a gift from you." Charya smiled. "Though, I really need to thank you." 

"It's something simple anyway. You protected me when I was weak while I just gave something simple when I became strong. Besides, I'm happy now that you can enjoy your life since all of us have gone away." Alex smiled as he went toward the door. "Bye."

"Good luck on your journey."