Thank you and suspicion

30 minutes later, Lian came back with a maid in tow, holding a bag of male clothes. 

"Sorry for what happened earlier. These are the clothes that I promised to give to you." Lian said.

After the maid handed over the clothes to Azrael, the maid then left.

"Thank you and don't worry about it earlier." Azrael smiled.

"T-then I'll be leaving."

Lian was about to leave when her parents appeared.

"Oh, it seems our daughter is entertaining our guests. How commendable." Reona teased.

Lian's face has a hint of red, "Mother, father I thought you were still in a meeting."

"I dismissed the meeting earlier since I want to meet the man that saved you," Maxwell said, he then looked at Azrael for a good moment.

After a while, he frowned and looked at Reona. He saw that Reona has the same expression as him, frowning as if thinking about something.

Lian had sensed something based on her parents' expressions.

"Mother, father, even though Azrael seems a non-cultivator he is nonetheless strong. I saw it with my own eyes," she explained, fearing that her father and mother would belittle Azrael.

"Don't worry we believe in you," Reona reassured Lian.

Reona and Maxwell entered the guesthouse and sat on the couches. Lian had no choice but to follow her parents. She was afraid that the earlier incident with grandpa would repeat. If that happens she wouldn't know how to face Azrael anymore.

Fortunately, her parents seem to have a sincere intention of coming here.

"First of all, I want to apologize for what happened earlier with my father." Maxwell bowed his head as he apologized.

"Don't worry. I'm not bothered at all. He is just an overprotective old man." Azrael simply said.

Maxwell and Reona sighed in relief hearing Azrael's response.

"And I want to thank you for saving our daughter in a dire situation. If not for you we may not see her anymore."

Azrael smiled, "Well, those men tried to attack me. Let's say that I did that for self-protection."

Maxwell lifted his head and looked straight at Azrael's smiling face. 

"Even so, I want to thank you." Maxwell insisted.

"I want to thank you too." Reona seconded.

"If you insist to thank me then, let me stay here for a while since I don't have a place to stay in this city."

"Gladly! From now on this guest house is yours."

They did not only allow Azrael to stay in their state, they even gifted him this guesthouse proving their sincerity. To them, no treasure or property that is more valuable than Lian.

Azrael looked at Lian beside them and teased, "Looks like your parents want me to live here from now on." 

Lian blushed and lowered her head.

Maxwell followed Azrael's line of sight and twitched when he saw his daughter's reaction.

"**cough** **cough**" Maxwell cleared his throat, "We will also assign a personal maid for you." 

"There is no need for that. I can care for my personal needs alone and if I ever need someone to help me. I will just call them." Azrael declined Maxwell's offer.

"I-is that so."

They talked for a while before Maxwell and the other two got up.

"I would like to have dinner with you later if it's okay with you." Maxwell invited Azrael.

"Sure."

"Well then, we will go first. Once again thank you."

Azrael sees them off.

Before they completely disappeared in his line of sight, Lian turned her head and took one look at him, her lips curved with a sweet smile.

Azrael smiled back at her and waved his hand.

The sun set and the night came.

Azrael had just finished bathing when a maid came.

"Honored guest, Lord Maxwell is inviting you for dinner." the maid courteously said, her head lowered a little as a sign of respect.

"Okay."

The maid leads him to a grand and big dining hall. At the center of the dining hall, a luxurious long table with a variety of foods on top of it is set up.

Maxwell, Reona, and Lian we're already sitting. Surprisingly The one sitting in the main seat is none other than the overprotective yet perverted old man, Dillon.

Maxwell stood up and welcomed him and invited him to sit.

"Welcome Azrael, you can sit beside Lian."

Azrael walked towards the seat beside Lian and sat.

"Good evening." Lian greeted him. She is not as bashful as earlier. 

"Good evening." Azrael greeted back.

Dillon's face twitched as he saw the scene before him. He couldn't do anything but snort.

Azrael looked at him and said, "It looks like you calmed down, old man."

"Who's an old man!?" he retorted.

Dillon stared at Azrael for a good moment, he furrowed his eyebrow and contemplated, [As I thought he has no cultivation. Then why Lian says he saved them in the forest. Lian would not lie to us, it means that she saw him taking down those black-clothed men. But how?] 

His suspicion grew the more he thought. Dillon couldn't restrain anymore and opened his mouth, "I can't still trust you."

"Grandpa," Lian called out.

"Don't even try to stop me, Lian. I need to confront this young man right now, it's for your safety."

Lian didn't try to speak anymore. She knew that her grandpa is serious right now and it's not her time to interrupt him.

Even Maxwell and Reona didn't open their mouths, they let Dillon continue with what he had to say. 

"I am not as soft as these brats. They may trust you, that doesn't mean you can gain my trust."

"Am I that suspicious?" Azrael asked.

"You're asking if you are suspicious? Heh, then let me ask you, would you believe me if I say that someone non-cultivator beats a cultivator?"

Before Azrael could even answer, Dillon continued.

"Of course not. No one would. Only a fool would believe such a story." he then paused and glanced at Maxwell for a moment before focusing his eyes towards Azrael. 

Feeling Dillon's gaze for a moment, Maxwell's face couldn't help but feel hotter

Azrael didn't avoid Dillon's stare.

"I am not saying that Lian lied to us. I know that she would never lie to us. It means that she saw you took down those cultivators, but the thing is..." at this moment his eyes became pierce, " you don't have cultivation! But how did it appear that you are the one who took them down? Maybe someone lurking in the shadows did that and he or she made it appear as if it's your doing. But why?"

Dillon didn't wait again for Azrael to answer.

"I have formed two reasons. First, you want to impress Lian. Second, ..." his eyes became even piercer, " Second, you are one of those who targeted her and those black-clothed men were just sacrifices to create a scenario where you saved Lian so you could gain our trust and infiltrate us."

When Maxwell heard these possibilities, especially the last one, he couldn't help but tremble.

"G-grandpa, t-that's too much." Lian protested.

But Dillon ignored her and just looked at Azrael.

"Tell me what your plan is." bloodlust appeared around Dillon.