The wooden door to the small cottage creaked open, and the heavy, copper stench of fresh blood instantly filled the modest living room. Louisa, who had been busy preparing the evening meal near the hearth, snapped her head toward the entrance. Her eyes widened in absolute horror as she saw Ethan standing there, his handsome face and the plain crimson hunter robes of her late father completely saturated in thick, dark blood.

"Ethan!" Louisa cried out, her voice trembling as she frantically dropped her cooking wooden spoon and rushed toward him, her hands hovering over his torso, terrified to touch him. "What happened?! Are you hurt? Where is the wound?!"

"I am perfectly fine, Sister Louisa," Ethan said softly, his voice remaining calm as a quiet lake. He gently raised his hands to stay her panic, offering a reassuring, relaxed smile. "None of this blood belongs to me. However... I am deeply sorry for ruining your father’s garments. I truly wanted to return his memory to you completely intact and untainted."

Louisa’s breath hitched, her eyes tearing up slightly as she looked from his pristine, uninjured skin to the blood-soaked fabric. "That is the absolute least of our worries, Ethan! As long as you are safe..."

"Still, I think it is best if I head out to the market to purchase some proper clothing of my own shortly," Ethan continued, his tone carrying a perfect layer of polite, respectful reverence. "The tokens of your late father must be incredibly precious to this household. I do not wish to insult his memory by keeping his robes in this state. I will take a quick bath now and wash them myself."

"Absolutely not!" Louisa countered immediately, her cheeks flushing slightly as she frantically shook her head. "You are our savior and our greatest benefactor! It is my absolute duty to wash your garments. Your immense kindness to our family is already far more than we could ever hope to deserve. Please, let me handle it. Go prepare for your bath."

Standing near the corner of the room, young Roy remained completely silent, his head lowered as his gaze locked onto the thick, dark stains on Ethan’s boots. He had seen the way his mother had walked into the house behind Ethan—her eyes wide, her face pale, and her gaze permanently fixed on the youth’s back with an overwhelming mix of awe and something mature that he couldn’t quite comprehend. It was blindingly obvious that an absolute slaughter had taken place on the mountain trails.

The sheer, unimaginable scale of Ethan’s strength was like an unyielding mountain pressing down on Roy’s chest. Unconsciously, the boy’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the handle of the training katana at his waist. His body was completely sore, his muscles screaming for mercy after hours of brutal conditioning, but looking at the crimson-clad monster before him, a sudden, fierce fire ignited in his veins. Without saying a word, Roy turned on his heel and walked straight back out into the yard, his mind screaming at him to train harder, to push past his limits until he could at least catch a glimpse of the youth’s shadow.

A few minutes later, the steam from the heated bathwater filled the small washroom. Ethan stepped into the wooden tub, letting the warm water rinse away the metallic crust from his skin.

A soft, hesitant knock echoed against the wooden door. "Ethan...?" Louisa’s voice drifted through the panel, quiet and remarkably shy. "I am here to collect the soiled robes."

"Of course, Sister Louisa," Ethan called out smoothly, a playful glint flickering inside his purple eyes. "I’ve left them neatly folded right by the side of the stool next to the door."

The wooden door creaked open slightly. Louisa stepped into the steamed room, her eyes strictly focused on the floor as she reached down to gather the heavy, blood-stained garments. However, as she stood back up, an involuntary curiosity forced her to lift her gaze.

She instantly froze, her breath catching completely in her throat.

Ethan wasn’t in the tub anymore. He was standing near the changing screen, slowly tying the silken sash of a loose, white-and-gold inner tunic around his waist. The fabric was completely open at the front, leaving his broad chest entirely exposed. The dim, misty light of the washroom perfectly highlighted his flawless anatomy—a deeply carved, rock-hard eight-pack that looked as though it had been chiseled from pristine marble, flanked by firm, powerful pectorals and wide, athletic shoulders. He looked utterly magnificent, an apex male radiating an intoxicating heat.

Louisa’s throat went entirely dry. She visibly swallowed her saliva, her face exploding into a deep, burning crimson as her heart hammered frantically against her ribs.

"I—I will go wash these immediately!" she stammered hysterically, clutching the soiled robes tightly against her chest as she turned on her heel and bolted out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Inside the washroom, Ethan let out a low, amused chuckle, thoroughly enjoying the simple entertainment of teasing the innocent girl. His physical state was still heavily locked in a volatile rut, but playing these small mental games helped soothe the constant, hard throb beneath his clothes.

When Ethan finally stepped out into the main living area, fully dressed in the clean white tunic, Mary was sitting by the table, her hands wrapped around a warm cup of tea. She had washed her own face, but her eyes still carried a trace of lingering exhaustion from the day’s overwhelming events.

"Ethan," Mary said softly, looking up as he approached the door. "Are you heading out to the commercial street? Do you want me to accompany you to the tailors? I know the best shops that won’t overcharge a traveler."

Ethan turned to her, his expression softening into a gentle, highly considerate smile. "No need, Sister Mary. I will make it a quick trip on my own. You should rest and stay inside this evening; you’ve had an incredibly long and active day."

He wasn’t referring to her physical stamina or her carrying capacity. His analytical eyes could easily read the subtle, defensive tension still lingering in her shoulders. The absolute, unmitigated butchery of over a hundred mercenaries in that narrow alleyway was an incredibly heavy, traumatic sight for a local widow to process. Ethan didn’t want to appear as a completely unfeeling, detached monster in her eyes, so he deliberately chose to grant her some space and time to quiet her mind, allowing her to fully assimilate the reality of his protection before the true weight of the grand examination descended upon the town.

-------------------

From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Dao Manifestation Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??