Free Web NovelChapter 225: Quanzhi Province [1]
[Northern Continent, Quanzhi Province]
People were preoccupied with their various enterprises and affairs among a raucous crowd in a marketplace. It was a routine day for them until a commotion ruined it. The crowd was cut in half, making space for some important people to walk by.
Three majestic golden-coated carriages passed by in the marketplace, strengthened by a formidable array formation. The crowd’s loudness abruptly died away, as if youngsters were being hushed by their parents. They had dead serious silence expressions on their faces as if a small noise would kill them.
Only the stomps of the horses and the yells of the coaches could be heard as these carriages sped past. No one dared interrupt these people inside the carriages since they were deadly influential in the whole province.
The silence was deafening for a few minutes, and when they finally vanished, the crowd sighed.
Their thoughts were shut down inside their minds, waiting until they finally got away from that place where small gossip could not be heard. And when they were sure of it, their thoughts rampaged and raised the intensity of the noise in the marketplace.
"That is the convoy of The Cannibal Hero. I heard that he was crippled for life and was dismissed from duty. Heh... Talking about karma, it does really exist."
"Cutting their fangs when they invaded the Eastern Continent was just not enough for them. They can’t even look us in the eyes to see how we’re suffering as a result of their atrocities. I just hope that the Eastern Continent was a better place to live in."
"That is an obvious stupidity. Other continents were thinking the same thing: invade and seize power. That is what is happening in this era, after the Great World War."
"Great World War? Isn’t that just a myth? Why would you believe that kind of story."
"Heh... If not for that story, we wouldn’t learn about the other continents. But it makes me think, do the continents really exist? Why can’t they do the same to our land?"
"Are you looking for war? But let us not ignore that. Probably the reason why they can’t invade us is that all of the cultivators are required to join the ranks of the military. Have a think of it. If they can bring that high number of soldiers, will someone dare to attack Northern Continent?"
"Hmmm... That is plausible. And it is funny to see that the cruel ’The Cannibal Hero’ was crippled. Now, his ugly features won’t terrify us normal people."
***
[Two months had passed... Inside an inn in the Quanzhi Province]
At one table, a small number of people were sipping regular wine. They were the only group inside the modest inn who was having the loudest conversation. Regardless of how unpleasant their noises were, no one dared to bother them because they were guards with cultivation and importance in the city.
"Can you even say that? How could you ask the wife of bastard Rojert for sex? That’s utterly disgusting." One bald man in the group said, in a loud, unbothered voice. Everyone was talking about some random things and just stopped at one topic where a common person was involved.
"Hoo... You cannot say that it is disgusting. A beautiful ample pair of mountains and a clean slit of a cave were hidden behind those filthy and ragged clothes. You cannot judge a person by their looks." One guard said directly to the bald one, who also seemed to be the leader of the group.
When the bald guard, Xian Go, heard about his story, his cheeks turned red with excitement.
"R-Really? But, her face was not even that great." Xian Go followed.
"IF NOT washed well." A phrase said in intonation at emphasized words.
Xian Go became more excited. "Oh ho ho... Then, tell us more about what happened."
The group of guards continued their heated conversation, making other people awkward about their topic. They then raised their voices to higher intensity as the story reached its most climactic part. And as it became more heated, suddenly, a staff arrived, cutting them off.
"Excuse me, sir. May I ask if you would like to add another one to your drinks?"
"Hmm...? You stopped our talk. Aren’t you afraid of offending us?"
The staff was baffled, and he stuttered into silence and lowered his head. "P-Please forgive me."
"Heh! If you want me to forgive you, then give us Green Bamboo Wine." Xian Go said proudly, looking around at his group, bragging about his actions.
The staff could only keep his head down in an apologetic manner. "Please accept my sincere forgiveness, sir. But, I cannot bring you Green Bamboo Wine. It is too expensive for me to cover. Please ask for another thing."
"Tsk. You dared to cut off our conversation, not knowing the consequences. Don’t you know who we are? We are guards!"
The staff continued to apologize, but then a scoff resounded, drawing everyone’s attention away from the main conflict. Their gaze was drawn to two individuals, young men wearing robes.
The guards were looking at them with a very irritated attitude. The regular customers were also bothered, but their primary concern was for the two. They assumed they were just fooling around, not knowing who they were up against.
"It is just a Green Bamboo Wine. Why can’t you buy it yourself instead of threatening a staff member? Is that the norm now to get free things, or are you just too broke that you can’t afford it?"
Xian Go was in silence, clenching his fist into a ball as he got annoyed at what the young man was making him look like.
"Huh? Do you think we can’t buy a jar of mere wine? How much is it?" Xian Go faced the staff.
"It is three round silver coins."
Xian Go’s eyes widened. It cost a lot more than a "mere" wine. The money he earned in guarding was just 3 round bronze coins, valued at 30% of each round of silver coins, meaning that even if he asked for his group’s money to buy it, protecting his ego, it wouldn’t be enough.
"G-Get me one jar." Xian Go forcedly said between his tongue that he almost bit.
"A-Are you sure, Sir?" The staff asked.
This made Xian Go more irritated that the next time he retorted was a shout. "Just get it for me."
He clenched his teeth as he watched the staff leave. His gaze was drawn to the two young men who were attempting to demolish his ego, but he expected them to remain silent and defeated. However, the polar opposite of his expectations occurred. The leader of the two young men grinned contentedly.
"Aren’t you just young people? You don’t know what you are doing, so I expect you to stop doing what you were doing now." Xian Go said. ’Fuck. I drained my fund just to buy that wine. Keeping my face is an easy task if not for these two. But, I also don’t want to lose face in front of my group. Then, I could just threaten that staff earlier. He looked weak.’
There was a reason why Xian Go was not standing up to confront the two. Their confidence was unreasonable, hence, he was uncomfortable doing it.
"Nah... That is just one jar. That won’t do to prove your wealth. Are guards these days just beggars?"
"Hey, young man! I demand you to stop it already!" After this one, the young man continued to smile in victory. He was not even slightly bothered by the shouts.
Ji An was the name of the young man who was disturbing the guards. Meanwhile, the person next to him remained mute, his true identity hidden by a hood on his robes that covered his face. His eyes were the only ones that were visible, and they were fixed on the center of attention.
"See... You demand me to stop, so it just means that you cannot prove that you have the money to buy it, instead of bullying someone to offer you the wine as compensation for the bother." Ji An pressed more.
Xian Go stood up from his seat. ’For some reason, I cannot control my anger. Is this an effect of his provocation? It is obviously one kind of it, but it was just simple. Why am I being provoked by it.’
Ji An inwardly smiled as he saw Xian Go being provoked by his words. He then had a soliloquy, ’Hmmm... Seems like the Provocation Agro Word Technique. With this practice, my month-long journey will end. I can finally return to my home!’
"Why are you standing? Are you just proving that you don’t have the money? That is why you are going to show your power. What power? Wealth and power are different." Ji An continued.
"Fuck you! I already said stop." Xian Go shouted, his legs moving on their own, rushing towards Ji An with the intent of hurting him. The watchers around them gasped in surprise as a guard just moved with hostile intent. And as it seemed that Ji An would be hit, he didn’t move.
’Why is this young man not moving? Please just move. I will be punished if this questionable incident continues!’
But then, just when he was about to get hit, a hand covered his face, catching Xian Go’s fist.
"Stupid. How could you fall for those simple words of provocation? " The young man who caught the fist stated. frёeωebɳovel.com
Ji An smiled and then looked at his partner, who had been with him since earlier. "Oh, thanks, Lucas!"
