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Chapter 52: Dividing the Spoils

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ashura pulled the dagger from the back of a Black Wind Mercenary Corps member and surveyed the ring of bandit corpses on the ground.

He flashed what he believed was a brilliant smile at the distant, frightened Bida Mercenary Corps.

Yet the moment they saw that smile, cold sweat ran down everyone’s back, especially the middle-aged mercenaries who usually teased him.

Moments ago they had not lost heart even against the Black Wind Mercenary Corps, but now, faced with the frail youth who had lived among them for days, his terrifying strength and ruthlessness made their knees shake.

The young mercenaries who had planned to spar with Ashura felt even greater dread; the black-haired boy who always played weak seemed more frightening than the beasts of Beast Forest.

Captain John had also helped Ashura kill three members of the Black Wind Mercenary Corps, and although he had suspected the youth was formidable and had watched the wagon from time to time, he had never imagined such power.

He was now extremely tense, afraid the youth might turn on the Bida Mercenary Corps next and leave them no different from the corpses on the ground.

The only one truly excited was Daifei; the girl squealed with delight but, fearful of the corpses at the boy’s feet, still dared not come closer.

Ashura treated them as usual; after confirming no enemies were left alive, he strolled toward the Bida Mercenary Corps, but the crowd involuntarily stepped back.

Only Daifei hopped forward to meet him, and when she saw the blood all over him she wrinkled her nose in distaste.

She handed him a handkerchief so he could wipe off the blood, then gazed at him with worshipful eyes.

While wiping away the blood, Ashura quietly told Daifei, “Why are you still in a daze? Hurry and get your godfather to clean up the field and gather the spoils… quit standing there like statues.”

Daifei’s eyes lit up; she ran to Captain John and whispered a few words, and John hesitated, glanced at Ashura… who was not looking at him… then clenched his teeth and ordered everyone to scour the battlefield.

After receiving the order, the mercenaries all cast another look at Ashura before beginning to bury the dead and collect the booty.

About half an hour later Ashura crawled out of the wagon in a clean set of clothes and felt baffled when he saw a mound of loot piled beside the cart.

The mercenaries watched the wagon from a distance, and Captain John had even pulled Daifei behind him; she puffed out her cheeks in silence as though sworn to secrecy.

Captain John said, “Sir Ashura, thank you for your help just now; the Bida Mercenary Corps will never forget it. Here is the entire haul… we have gathered it for you, and you may take it all.”

Ashura was speechless; he glanced at Daifei, who was making faces at him behind John.

Smiling wryly, he said, “Captain John, please don’t be so formal with me. Daifei once saved my life, and all of you have looked after me; it was only right that I did my part today.”

“I won’t take these spoils; share them among the brothers as my thanks for rescuing me these past few days.”

John wanted to say more, but Ashura waved him off and told Daifei, “I’m going to sleep for a while… call me when it’s time for dinner,” then turned and disappeared into the wagon.

The mercenaries in the distance could no longer contain their joy; fear vanished and they swarmed to the cart to grab the loot.

Daifei also rushed forward, but after she grabbed a few items the big men behind her squeezed her to the back of the crowd.

She shrieked in protest and rolled up her sleeves to charge in again, but Captain John shouted, “Equal shares… no snatching!” and the chaos subsided.

Meanwhile Ashura lay inside the wagon under the bloodstained quilt, drenched in cold sweat; the fierce exertion seemed to have reopened the wound in his abdomen.

Even so, he was exhilarated, for he had almost one-shot an opponent of the same level.

Instructor Yuan Da had not lied to him: the further a dual mage-warrior advanced, the stronger he became; within the same tier he was virtually invincible and could even kill across tiers… how could he not be excited?

Daifei eventually lifted the curtain and burst in, ignoring whether Ashura was asleep, and began chirping excitedly.

First she said Ashura had looked amazing just now; no one had expected someone so young to be so powerful, and he had vented her anger and saved the Bida Mercenary Corps.

Then she asked why, when he mentioned Kidd, a bolt of lightning had come down from the sky and struck Captain Kidd dead.

Next she told him that the loot had been divided evenly and everyone had received items worth almost more than 20 gold coins… about two years of wages… and that they were all grateful to him.

Captain John had even obtained a spatial storage belt that would make their future transport jobs far easier.

Ashura, afraid she might notice his embarrassment, steadied himself and put on the air of an unruffled expert, pleased that Daifei could still trust him unconditionally.

He listened to the girl chatter about her spoils while she drove the cart, and before he knew it they had reached the place where they would camp for the night.

Ashura stepped out of the wagon and could clearly feel that the mercenaries were working harder than before.

When they saw him emerge, they unconsciously stopped what they were doing and stared straight at him instead of backing away as earlier.

Ashura gave a calm smile, walked over to the newly lit campfire, and shouted to the bearded mercenary Taylor, “Bring out that treasured flask of yours… don’t you owe me a drink?”

Hearing Ashura’s words, the surrounding mercenaries finally relaxed; Taylor hurriedly handed over his flask, and Ashura took a long swig of the fiery liquor as usual.

He had begun to love strong drinks like rum; the burning sensation down his throat made his whole body shiver, and he liked that feeling.

Seeing the boy was still approachable, Taylor lost his stiffness, and after a few more cups insisted on treating Ashura to the finest brothel in Puro City.

He, too, had received spoils worth more than 20 gold coins that afternoon, and the camaraderie among mercenaries was genuine and intense.

Before long everyone pounded their chests and vowed to take Ashura to every brothel in Puro City, and soon they were arguing red-faced over whose favorite mistress had the better skills, almost coming to blows.

In truth, these mercenaries who risked their lives rarely had money for high-class brothels; most of the time they visited cheap girls in the slums.

Even 20 gold coins might not cover a single meal in those grand establishments.

Ashura was happy to shoot the breeze with the rough men, and before he knew it it was time to rest; he patted the dust from his pants.

He strolled toward Daifei’s wagon and, under the men’s suggestive looks, slipped inside.

By the fire Captain John immediately clenched his spear, ready to charge into the wagon.

Before anyone could stop him, Ashura emerged holding the blood-stained quilt.

He shot Captain John a glance that made the captain shiver.

Ashura spread the quilt beside the fire where he had been sitting and planned to meditate through the night.

He recalled the girl’s panicked yet shy expression when he had entered the wagon to fetch the quilt a moment ago.

The thought made Ashura chuckle to himself.

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