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Chapter 82: Stewed Meat in a Silver Basin

That night Ashura failed to find a suitable tree hollow and planned to rest by meditating on a branch in the camp’s trees.

But Magina ran over and insisted that Ashura stand watch with her until midnight, claiming she was too bored alone and wanted someone to chat with.

Ashura would rather die than agree, yet Magina promised to give him 100 Academy Points if he kept her company, so he immediately jumped up and pulled out his badge, demanding payment before service.

Magina fumed; plenty of boys at the academy begged to talk to her and she ignored them, yet when she swallowed her pride to approach this scoundrel, he actually made her pay credits just to chat.

However, when she glanced at Lan Yu’s resentful gaze a short distance away, a secret thrill fluttered inside her, so she no longer cared about the 100 credits; after all, the credits had been snatched from him in the first place.

Thus Ashura accompanied Magina on watch for 2 hours, sitting beside her bragging and occasionally slipping in dirty jokes that made Magina flush and kick him every so often.

When he finally finished her watch and was about to climb the tree to meditate, Lan Yu yanked him down by the waistband.

Lan Yu’s request was equally simple: it was her turn to stand watch for the next 2 hours, and she would also pay 100 credits for Ashura’s company.

For the sake of credits Ashura sighed and followed Lan Yu to the post; after 4 straight hours of talking his throat was parched, and he felt more exhausted than after a cultivation session.

By the time he climbed the tree again the eastern sky was already growing pale, so he seized the remaining 2 hours to meditate, unwilling to slack off for even a moment.

The third day’s trek was even harsher; they occasionally encountered mercenary groups in Beast Forest, and the mercenaries withdrew at once when they spotted the Saint Gobban uniforms.

None of them dared provoke the powerful Saint Gobban Academy, for any one of these students might have a colossal force behind them.

A small squad they could ignore, but a column of this size must have an Instructor escorting it, so the farther away the better.

Fortunately nothing unexpected happened today, and the students were getting used to the pace of Beast Forest, each able to protect themselves quite well.

Only Class 13’s Mages grew more and more disheveled; a mage’s physique truly was ill-suited to trekking through Beast Forest.

At dusk they camped beside a river again; this time Ashura did not hide but loudly ordered the four girls around, for tonight he meant to use the big silver basin Clara had given him to stew meat.

He diced 5 or 6 kinds of Tier-3 Beasts, added forest spices, and simmered them over a low flame in the basin; yet Clara whispered with the other three girls and all four gave Ashura and the basin complicated looks.

Ashura had no idea what trick they were playing; he ladled a spoonful of broth, blew on it, and tasted the seasoning… the rich flavor pleased him greatly, but the four girls turned away as one, refusing to watch.

He found it strange; the four of them usually drooled over his cooking, so why were they acting so oddly tonight?

He ignored it, for students who had reserved stew were already lining up when the aroma reached them.

Ashura beamed and called the four girls to help sell the stew; kindly, he offered to ladle each of them a bowl first so they would not miss out, yet they all smiled awkwardly and shook their heads.

The stew was a huge hit, and the hot broth left every student feeling warm and relaxed.

Even several Instructors came to buy a bowl, especially Instructor Enge, who had not missed a single meal cooked by Ashura these past few days.

While everyone was praising the stew, Ashura announced that tomorrow’s supper would be different again, and the students eagerly paid to reserve a portion.

No one had expected Ashura’s food to be so delicious; some students had already spent more than 100 credits on supper without realizing it.

After selling out, Ashura divided the credits evenly with the four girls; seeing a little broth left in the basin, he happily hugged the basin and drank, but before he finished someone tugged his arm… he lowered the basin and saw Clara’s pale face.

Feeling the girls were acting strangely silent tonight, Ashura watched Clara bite her lip and say, “Stop drinking the broth, I have other food; eat something else.”

Hugging the basin, he asked casually, “Why? What a waste.”

Clara drew a deep breath, leaned to his ear, and whispered, “That silver basin is what I usually wash my feet in…”

With a clang the basin slipped from Ashura’s hands and crashed to the ground; he stood there petrified.

The other three girls covered their mouths and tittered, while the surrounding students found Ashura’s reaction baffling.

Eyes blank, Ashura turned to Clara; the girl blushed crimson and lowered her head, and he murmured gloomily, “You actually made me drink your foot-washing water! I…”

Before he could finish Clara clapped a hand over his mouth and said anxiously, “Keep your voice down… do you want everyone asking for their credits back?”

The mention of refunds sobered him at once; he glared at Clara as though blaming her for not warning him sooner.

Embarrassed, Clara muttered, “How was I supposed to know you would use it for stew? And there was only that one basin; without it how would you have sold stew tonight?”

Ashura seemed to accept his fate and nodded, signaling Clara to remove her hand; she quickly did so and wiped the hand that had covered his mouth on her magic robe behind her back.

Watching that little motion made Ashura see red… he had drunk her foot water, yet she minded merely touching his mouth!

Sensing his foul mood, Lan Yu and Magina did not drag him off to chat tonight; for once Ashura enjoyed some peace, found a tree out of sight, and sat down to meditate.

Around midnight Clara peeked from her tent and saw Ashura behind the tree still meditating instead of sleeping; her expression complex, she bit her lip and went back inside.

Nor was she alone; Lan Yu and Magina noticed the meditating Ashura when they returned from watch duty… they had always overlooked that Ashura was enrolled as a mage and sparred with them in Martial Techniques while wearing a robe.

His progress in Martial Techniques had already stunned them, and now, seeing him quietly practicing magic as well, they felt a sudden sense of crisis and returned to their tents with tense faces.

The accompanying teachers had also noticed the tent-less boy who spent the whole night cultivating in silence; even Instructor Enge nodded approvingly from afar.

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