Free Web NovelChapter 232: Chapter 220: The Thirteen Lads (3)
Half an hour later, the silver light gradually faded.
Ah Ku opened his eyes, a silver glint flashing deep within his pupils.
He tried making a fist, and his knuckles crackled softly. His Power—it had increased by at least thirty percent!
"Next."
Ian walked over to the second boy.
From dawn until noon, all twelve boys completed the Rune inscription process.
When the silver light faded from the last boy, fine beads of sweat had formed on Ian’s forehead.
Drawing thirty-six basic Rune Arrays in a row was an immense drain, even for him.
’But it was worth it.’
He looked at the twelve boys before him, utterly transformed.
Although still gaunt, their spirit and demeanor were now completely different.
Their eyes were sharp, their backs were straight, and they faintly emanated weak ripples of Energy.
Thanks to his masterful methods and resources, they had reached the Nayuan Stage.
"From this day forward, you will practice the breathing technique for one hour each day at dawn and dusk."
Ian’s voice was weary, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
"Every three days, I will check your progress. The first three to complete their tasks will receive additional resources."
The boys answered in unison, their voices booming like a great bell.
Li Yao stood at Ian’s side, his eyes turning slightly red as he watched his companions, who had been mere refugees only yesterday.
He knew that from this day forward, they would walk a completely different path.
And the one leading them was his brother.
After finishing his instructions for the boys, Ian went to find the white-bearded old man.
"How’s the reconnaissance on the herb market?"
The old man pulled a small notebook from his robes, its pages yellowed and curled at the edges.
"Of the seven apothecaries in the outer city, three are properties of the Chixia Business Alliance, and their prices are the most stable. The other four are privately owned... their prices are inflated, but you can occasionally find a good deal."
He flipped to a page and pointed at the crooked script.
"Yesterday, in a corner of the East Market, a hunter was selling Gathering Essence Flowers. He was asking for three Dust Crystals a stalk. I took a look; their quality was decent, but the roots were starting to show some signs of rot..."
"How many did you buy?"
"Three stalks," the old man said, lowering his voice.
"I haggled him down to two Dust Crystals a stalk. The hunter was desperate for money to treat an injury, so he agreed."
Ian nodded.
Gathering Essence Flowers grew only on the fringes of the Purification Domain. They could slowly gather Elemental Energy from the air and were remarkably effective at helping ordinary people temper their bodies and sense that same Energy.
"Good work." Ian took a small bag of Dust Crystals from his robes and handed it to him.
"Keep looking today. Focus on Spirit Essence Grass and Honey Juice."
"Yes, sir!"
After taking care of the chores in the courtyard, Ian left with Li Yao.
The streets of the outer city were as crowded and filthy as ever.
Rotten vegetable leaves mixed with muddy water pooled at the roadside, emitting a pungent, sour stench.
A few emaciated beggars were huddled in a corner, their hollow eyes tracking the passersby.
Occasionally, patrolling Guards in Crimson Leather Armor would pass by, their boots SQUELCHING in the muddy water.
"Brother, over there..."
Li Yao suddenly tugged on the corner of Ian’s sleeve.
The boy pointed to a shadowy corner of the street.
Three men in tattered Leather Armor were surrounding a skinny young boy.
The leader, a bald man, was reaching out to snatch the cloth bundle clutched in the boy’s arms.
"You little brat! You were supposed to pay me back today. Where’s the money?"
"M-My mother’s sick. I haven’t gathered enough money for her medicine yet..."
The boy’s voice trembled as he clutched the cloth bundle for dear life.
"Sick? Like I give a shit!" The bald man slapped him across the face.
The boy’s cheek immediately swelled and turned red, but he still refused to let go.
Pedestrians hurried past, none daring to interfere.
Ian paused. His powerful Spiritual Sense allowed him to detect something unusual about the boy.
[Starlight Perception] spread out silently.
The bald man had a faint Energy fluctuation, placing him at the Awakening Initial Stage, but his aura was unstable—clearly, he had forced his way there with drugs.
The other two were even weaker, barely at the Nayuan Stage.
"Li Yao," Ian said, his voice calm.
"Brother!"
"Go get some practice."
Li Yao’s eyes lit up. He clenched his fists and rushed forward.
Though the boy’s frame was small and thin, his movements were as swift as a wildcat.
He dashed behind the bald man, stomped his right foot, and used the momentum to leap up, viciously slamming his left elbow into the back of the man’s neck!
It was one of the Basic Combat Techniques Ian had taught him: [Elbow Strike].
The technique emphasized sudden bursts of power, concentrating force on a single point to shatter a defense.
"Huh?"
The bald man sensed the wind rushing behind him and spun around, but it was too late.
THUD!
The tip of the elbow struck the weak spot on the side of his cervical spine with precision.
The bald man let out a muffled grunt as his vision went black, and he staggered forward before collapsing face-first.
The other two men were stunned for a moment before they roared and lunged at Li Yao.
Unflustered, Li Yao shifted his feet and slipped between their pincer attack as if he were an eel.
Simultaneously, his right hand shot out, fingers held together like a blade, and chopped viciously at the man on his left’s ribs.
RIP!
A gash was torn in the Leather Armor.
The man’s face turned white with pain, and he clutched his ribs as he crumpled to the ground.
Seeing things were going badly, the last man turned to flee.
Li Yao’s toe flicked up a loose stone from the ground and kicked it.
WHACK!
The stone squarely hit the back of the man’s knee.
"Aargh!"
With a piercing scream, the man fell to the ground, clutching his knee and writhing in pain.
From the moment Li Yao attacked to all three men being on the ground, less than five seconds had passed.
The passersby were all stunned, staring dumbfounded at the small, thin boy.
Li Yao caught his breath, his young face tense, and looked toward Ian.
Ian gave a slight nod.
’Not bad.’
’His movements are still a bit raw, but his timing and the precision of his strikes are already showing promise.’
He walked over to the skinny boy and crouched down.
"What’s your name?"
"A-Ah Shu..." the boy’s voice still trembled, and he clutched the bundle for dear life.
"What’s in the bag?"
"It’s... it’s my mother’s medicine," Ah Shu said, lowering his head as tears welled in his eyes.
"I borrowed one Dust Crystal from them yesterday for the medicine, and I promised to pay back two today... but I... I just couldn’t get the money..."
Ian was silent for a moment before taking two Dust Crystals from his robes and pressing them into the boy’s hand.
"Use this to pay your debt. Buy some food with what’s left."
Ah Shu froze. He looked up, his grimy face filled with disbelief.
"S-Sir... this..."
"My name is Li Xing," Ian said, standing up. "I live in the courtyard at the end of the alley on West Street. If your mother doesn’t get better, you can come find me."
With that, he ignored the boy and turned toward the Chixia Business Alliance branch.
Li Yao hurried to catch up and whispered, "Brother, what about those three...?"
"They’re crippled," Ian said without looking back.
"Dislocated vertebra, two broken ribs, and a shattered knee. In this outer city, that’s the same as being dead."
His voice was calm, as if he were commenting on the weather.
Li Yao pressed his lips together and said no more.
’He knew his brother was right.’
’In this wasteland, anyone who couldn’t move wouldn’t survive for more than three days.’
