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Chapter 97: The Turmoil of Team Formation

Everyone turned to look; reaching 1st-rank Grand Martial Master at 17 unquestionably placed him among the prodigies.

Yet the boy stated his power so calmly.

Clay was not overly surprised; although he was 2 years older than the black-haired youth, he and his sister had also become 1st-rank Grand Martial Masters at 17, so he felt he had met a fellow genius.

Before he could open his arms for a welcoming hug, an ill-timed voice beside him rang out, “Where did this stray brat come from? With that scrawny frame you claim to specialize in power and speed? Come on, use all your milk-fed strength and punch me in the chest; let me see how strong you are.”

Clay frowned at the speaker, the burly warrior named White who had just joined the team and been flirting with his sister, a man fairly well-known in this adventurers’ tavern.

Rumor said he had even fought a few matches in the Pagoda Palace arena, and he milked that for bragging rights.

Clay was about to speak when Ashura turned, gave White an even brighter smile, and said lightly, “Sure, since you so sincerely want me to hit you, I’ll grant your wish… whoever dodges is the coward, agreed?”

The onlookers all stifled laughter, and even the expressionless girl with the longbow let the corner of her mouth rise.

The wood-element female magician even threw Ashura a seductive wink.

White, who had wanted to show off his might, felt the crowd’s gaze turn as if he were an idiot the moment that soft yet cutting remark landed, and the ever-proud warrior’s face changed at once.

He had always bullied others by relying on his strength and rarely met resistance, and today he saw so many beauties in this party.

In particular, the silver-armored girl with big golden curls had driven him lust-mad; he had joined the team on the spot, planning to claim her once they were inside the Beast Forest.

Yet after flaunting himself before the golden-haired beauty for ages without winning a single smile, he tried to assert himself by bullying the black-haired newcomer, only to be verbally slapped by the infuriatingly smiling youth.

Feeling humiliated, he rolled his shoulders and started forward to teach the boy a lesson, and no one around intended to intervene.

Even Clay hesitated and remained silent, while Ashura’s smile never wavered; he merely narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing and vanishing.

Before the two could trade blows, a timid voice asked, “Sirs and ladies, do you need a guide? I know the Beast Forest well and can lead the way; all I ask is 5 gold coins… would that be acceptable?”

The voice interrupted them; they and everyone else turned to see a huge figure in rags, hunched over and staring at them with hopeful eyes.

He was taller than the silver-armored Clay by a full head, yet long-term malnutrition left him looking less than robust, and his clothes could not even cover his frame.

He did not seem old, but his head was completely shaved, and his eyes now held a pleading glint.

When he felt every gaze rest on him, the tall man bowed even lower and said through clenched teeth, “I can walk in front and scout the path; I’ll block danger for you and claim none of the loot, but could you please pay me 5 gold coins in advance?”

The offer killed everyone’s interest; the two self-important magicians even cast scornful looks, and Clay had not yet spoken.

The quarrelsome warrior White jeered without restraint, “What kind of day is this? Where did you two blind brats crawl out from… one begging for a beating, the other begging for alms!”

“Hey, big stupid oaf, get over here… crawl between my legs and I’ll reward you with 5 gold coins! Ha-ha… ugh… ”

Before his crude laugh ended, a ghost-like figure appeared before him; a claw-like hand seized his throat and effortlessly lifted him.

White dangled off the floor, eyes wide in disbelief at the black-haired youth; he pried desperately at the arm choking him and kicked wildly in the air, trying to gain leverage.

No matter how he struggled it was futile, and disbelief in his eyes turned into terror.

The youth holding him up kept a pleasant smile and said, “Now do you believe I specialize in power and speed? Any more objections? Speak up… I can’t hear you.”

The nearby onlookers shuddered at the slightly manic smile and silently marked the youth as someone not to provoke.

That a 1st-rank Grand Martial Master like White had his life grasped before he could react made their skin crawl, and the boy’s gentle smile suddenly looked chilling.

Seeing White’s struggles weaken, Clay warned carefully, “Brawls are allowed in the adventurers’ tavern; the loser pays for damages, but killing is forbidden… break that rule and every mercenary will hunt you.”

Ashura merely smiled, then flung the nearly unconscious White out of the tavern like a dead dog; the hefty iron-wood doors clanged, making everyone’s scalp tingle and imagine the pain in White’s skull.

Dusting off his hands as if he had done nothing major, Ashura laughed, “We agreed on one punch… consider that a discount.”

He turned toward the bald giant who was staring at him and smiled again, “How about you introduce yourself, big guy?”

The hunched giant answered shyly, “Sir, I have no name; the village calls me Stone. I can muster 3rd-rank Martial Master strength, and I know the Beast Forest well. I can guide you, if you would pay me 5 gold coins.”

Ashura studied the giant, who stood nearly two heads taller than he, and laughed, “Stone? That’s a tough name. What do you mean you can ‘muster’ 3rd-rank Martial Master strength, and why exactly 5 gold coins?”

Before the bald giant could answer, another ragged boy rushed into the tavern and cried, “Big Brother Stone, Mother is dying! The village chief says if we don’t hire a priest today she won’t last the night… what should I do? W-waa…”

Tears welled in Stone’s fierce eyes; he crouched and hugged the boy, apologizing, “I’m sorry, Rocky, it’s my fault I can’t save Auntie… it’s all my fault…”

As the two wept in each other’s arms, a cloth pouch landed before them with a crisp clink of metal, and they raised their heads in shock toward the still-smiling black-haired youth.

The same youth who had nearly strangled a powerful warrior spoke mildly, “There are 20 gold coins in there… use them to save her first.”

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