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Chapter 50: Black Wind Mercenary Corps

Ashura and Daifei chatted amiably while driving the wagon.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was time to camp for the night again.

Along the way they talked about many things, such as when Ashura asked why their mercenary corps chose the more dangerous outer route of Beast Forest.

Daifei answered that their commissions were limited, so taking the fringe of Beast Forest saved time and let them avoid some city officials’ extortion, which meant more money for everyone’s families.

Ashura also asked what her wish was, and Daifei said her dream was to own a shop in a city where she could sell delicious food.

She believed that eating tasty food was the happiest thing in the world.

Yet when Ashura asked what delicacies she would sell, she admitted she did not know, because until today the tastiest thing she knew was the meat buns sold in town.

But the royal-jelly snack Ashura had given her today completely overturned that perception.

Daifei then asked the question she most wanted answered: what was the boy’s name and why had he come here?

Ashura did not dodge the question; he told her his name was Ashura, he came from the distant Olei Kingdom, and he was here to temper himself and grow stronger.

As for his status as a Saint Gobban student, he chose not to mention it.

At noon Ashura produced another snack for Daifei, but to his surprise she shook her head and refused.

First, she assumed the treat was expensive.

Second, she feared that once she got used to such delicacies she would feel sad when she could not afford them later.

Seeing her like this reminded Ashura of his sister Azhiya; the two shared the same kindness and gratitude.

He felt a trace of homesickness and wondered whether his family was well.

That night when they camped, Ashura sat by the fire and ate with the others.

Every mercenary spoke loudly, and a bearded giant named Taylor asked Ashura what kind of Beast had clawed him.

Ashura replied shyly, “I didn’t see which Beast hurt me; once I was wounded I simply ran for my life.”

His answer made everyone burst into laughter; Taylor teased him a few more times, and Ashura took it in stride, joking along with the mercenaries.

Not long afterward trouble arrived: several young mercenaries surrounded him and said they wanted to spar over Martial Techniques.

Daifei planted her hands on her hips like a mother hen protecting her chick, blocked Ashura, and scolded the youths to leave.

Ashura merely smiled and said, “My ability is limited and I’m still badly hurt; I concede.”

Seeing him back down, the young men felt they had saved face, mocked him a little, and dispersed.

Daifei, angry at his lack of fight, kicked his foot, sat back down, and muttered that on King’s Continent people always worship the strong.

The bearded Taylor passed Ashura a wineskin; Ashura glanced at it, took a huge swig, and the harsh, cloudy liquor made him cough, provoking another round of laughter.

Taylor hooked an arm around Ashura’s shoulder and asked whether this little weakling was still a virgin, then promised to find him a friendly brothel girl in the next town to fix that.

Daifei angrily snatched the wineskin from Ashura’s hand and returned it to Taylor.

Only Captain John said nothing; he simply watched Ashura quietly, convinced the youth was not ordinary, for anyone that badly injured should still be bedridden.

When everyone finished eating, bragging, and went off to rest, Daifei grew bashful.

Ashura merely smiled, said nothing, found a big tree near the fire, and leaned against it as though preparing to sleep.

That sigh of relief eased both Daifei and Captain John, who was watching from afar; after thinking a moment Daifei ran to the wagon, grabbed the bedding Ashura had used, and handed it to him.

Blushing, she said, “You’re still hurt and the ground is damp; use this quilt.”

Ashura replied, “I couldn’t possibly take your bedding,” even as his hands accepted it and spread it out.

Seeing his shameless behavior, Daifei wanted to kick him twice and grumbled, “You dirtied it anyway; I won’t use it unless it’s washed,” then turned and went back to the wagon.

Ashura watched her leave and smiled silently; the quilt was spattered with bloodstains left from when she saved him, and he remembered every one of them.

He guessed she had no spare bedding now, and he resolved to make it up to her once they reached Puro City.

He then wrapped himself in the quilt, leaned against the tree, and entered meditation; he was long accustomed to meditating through the night.

The next day he would still feel energetic and tireless, and the practice stored a great deal of Magic energy for him, so he never skipped a night.

At dawn the first ray of sunlight pierced the trees and fell on Ashura’s face; he slowly opened his eyes and stretched broadly.

Feeling the surging power of his fresh advancement, he was eager to test his new Grand Martial Master and Grand Magician levels, certain he was several times stronger than before.

The injuries inside his body had recovered almost 60%; the wounds were nearly closed, and when Daifei asked yesterday why he healed so fast, he had said his family’s salve was miraculous and even gave her some.

The girl accepted it with delight, saying the medicine would be invaluable to their mercenary corps and could save several lives.

When the mercenaries crawled out of their tents to pack up, Ashura lent a hand, and they greeted him with friendly smiles.

Of course, a few middle-aged mercenaries joked about the little weakling while they worked.

Ashura mimicked their banter, continually ‘greeting’ their female relatives, and amid the roars of laughter and curses they broke camp and hit the road again.

As usual Ashura plopped onto Daifei’s wagon, holding a strip of jerky he had filched from the bearded Taylor.

He broke it in half and handed a piece to the girl; she accepted it without fuss, chewing while scolding him for picking up bad habits from those mercenaries.

Several young mercenaries nearby ground their teeth in envy and decided that no matter what they would spar with this black-haired kid tonight.

Around noon, before Captain John could order a meal break, Ashura’s ears twitched on the wagon.

He immediately slid sideways on the seat and positioned himself in front of Daifei.

At that moment several whistling sounds cut through the air, and Captain John shouted a warning, “Enemy attack… watch out!”

The words had barely left his mouth when two mercenaries were shot off their horses by arrows; fortunately the wounds were not fatal.

The mercenaries instantly raised their shields and formed ranks; their practiced movements showed this was not their first ambush.

At the same time more than 30 burly men armed with weapons burst from the trees, and their dress and faces made it clear they were no innocents.

Their leader, a muscular man in black iron armor, strode forward laughing and shouted arrogantly, “You pass through Black Wind Mercenary Corps territory without paying toll? How ignorant… do you all want to die here and feed the Beasts?”

The members of the Bida Mercenary Corps turned pale; they had heard of the Black Wind Mercenary Corps, a band of ruthless brigands.

Inside Beast Forest these thugs specialized in plunder, and their chief, Kidd, was a formidable Grand Martial Master Stage 1, one whole realm above Captain John’s Martial Master Stage 3.

In an instant everyone braced as though facing a mortal enemy!

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