A thick, harrowing silence fell over the crowd. The people's eyes were wide in shock, but none dared to disturb the quiet while their minds were rushing to understand what they had just heard.
Even after Ricky's voice faded away, the people in the inn hall were still frozen in astonishment, watching Ricky and Ashley with a dumbfounded expression.
Finally, after a long, tense silence, the onlookers began to react one after another.
They looked at Ricky with admiration and deep jealousy because they believed that most of what Ricky had said was the truth.
Initially, both Ashley and Raylan had tried their best to invite Ricky to join them. Ricky said that he would consider it but didn't outright agree with either of them, which indicated that Ricky wasn't interested in the position of the holy son, nor was he interested in the abundant cultivation resources they two could provide him if he joined them. That made it plain as day that material riches could never sway Ricky.
However, whatever he had seen in the jade slip that Ashley gave him had instantly changed his mind.
Perhaps, beauty was the most attractive thing to a man like him. He could reject anything without a care except for the allure of a woman—that was how everyone thought after hearing Ricky's explanation.
Meanwhile, Raylan was at a loss. Just as Ricky had claimed earlier, it looked like this was an offer that could not be countered by the water branch. Even if the water branch could boast of many talented and beautiful girls in their faction, none of them could compare to Ashley.
At the same time, Raylan also felt slightly envious of Ricky. He and Ashley were rivals, and in the entire Five-element Region, only Ashley could match him in strength. Despite that, he still admired her a great deal.
If anything, Ashley should be his woman!
Therefore, at this moment, Raylan wanted nothing more but to kill Ricky.
"Boy, are you playing tricks again? Are you just saying that because you have a crush on Ashley?" the Dragon Intent Grass asked, laughing in amusement. In contrast to the Dragon Intent Grass' light mood, Tina and Amelia looked tremendously annoyed as they lounged inside the Massacring Zone in Ricky's body.
After all, no woman could watch the man she loved pursuing other women. No matter how broad-minded she was, she would undoubtedly feel upset.
"Dragon Intent Grass, beauty is indeed attractive to any man, and I am no exception in that regard. However, I am not the kind of man who would lose his mind when facing beauties," answered Ricky earnestly.
"Although I saw Wood Saint's message from Ashley, I wouldn't blindly believe her yet.
That is why I said those words in public. I need to see her sincerity."
The Dragon Intent Grass nodded and said, "So, that's how it is... But if you keep on acting like this, I won't be surprised if you get in trouble. After all, Ashley could inadvertently fall in love with you!"
"Ha-ha! Stop joking around. I don't think I'm that charming," Ricky denied with a laugh.
Ashley was too stunned to respond at first.
She was about to unleash her murderous intent and attack Ricky because she thought that Ricky offended her by saying those words. After all, she regarded herself above others and held her reputation with great care. The fact that people thought of her as holy and pure brought her tremendous satisfaction.
Of course, Ashley also liked geniuses and heroes, and she secretly thought of Ricky as her prince charming. But still, she would never stand for it if Ricky had said that in public to mock her.
Ricky's words sounded like he had considered her as a mere object that he could use for trading and bartering, which was insulting.
However, before she could say anything to reprimand Ricky, the man whispered to her,
"Girl, I didn't mean anything by what I just said. Please don't feel offended. You should know that the Wood Saint asked you to keep me, and your master must have given the same order.
And to tell you the truth, I can't simply follow you blindly without the Wood Saint's presence. I have no choice but to obey his words. Please don't get mad at me.
I only said those things to bind us together, which makes me more confident in our alliance."
Hearing Ricky's words, Ashley couldn't say anything more.
Although she was angry, she also understood that what he just said made sense.
As he had stated, Ashley desperately needed Ricky to go with her today no matter what it took. That was for the sake of the Wood Saint and the Five-element Flag in Ricky's pocket.
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