Chapter Ninety-Nine: [Okay, Okay, Wifey, Wifey]

Char was thrown heavily to the ground, the impact jolting him awake. With his face buried in the dirt, he shook his head vigorously and lifted it. Opening his eyes, he saw that darkness had already fallen; the sky above was pitch black.

At first, Char's head spun, but he snapped to attention as the memory rushed back—he had been knocked out by that bastard Hestings. The thought made his entire body tense, and he sprang up from the ground. Instantly, his hand went to his waist to search for his weapon. Feeling the handle of the fire poker resting in the scabbard at his hip, his heart settled slightly.

"Hmph, you're awake."

The voice came from the side. It was Hestings. The black warhorse stood nearby, and Hestings was just slipping a feed bag over its head. Hearing Char stir, Hestings turned around, his cold, sinister eyes staring at Char through the darkness.

Stared down by Hestings, Char felt as if the man's sharp gaze could pierce right through him. His hand gripped the fire poker, his facial muscles twitching, yet he hesitated to draw it.

The gap in their strength was too vast; fighting back seemed utterly pointless.

A hint of amusement crept into Hestings' eyes. He glanced at Char's hand gripping the hilt (which he assumed belonged to a sword) and sneered, "Thinking of drawing your sword? If you're not resigned to your fate, you are welcome to try."

Char took a deep breath, his expression grim, but he finally let go of the handle. He stared up at Hestings and slowly sat back down.

"Oh? Decided not to risk your life after all?" Hestings scoffed, turning around. His long spear was planted in the ground nearby, but he made no move to grab it. Instead, he walked toward Char empty-handed, stopping just two or three paces away.

Char shook his head.

"Scared of me?"

Char shook his head again.

"Hate me?"

Char raised his eyelids and nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"That's more like it." Hestings sneered. "I doubt there is a single Byzantine soldier who doesn't hate me, especially one from the Rhodrian Cavalry."

Countless thoughts flashed through Char's mind. Aside from the sheer pressure of facing such a powerful foe, a strange realization dawned on him: *This guy doesn't recognize me?*

The hillbilly quickly realized why. During their clash on the battlefield, he had been wearing a helmet with a visor, so Hestings couldn't possibly have seen his face. Moreover, he had deliberately worn oversized armor, which completely obscured his build.

But... wait! His voice!

Even if Hestings didn't recognize his face or build, he would definitely remember his voice!

At this thought, Char clenched his teeth shut.

Hestings sneered, suspecting nothing. He sat down, unhooked the waterskin from his waist, took a few gulps, and tossed it to Char.

"It's truly laughable. I thought that Bonfret, despite his underhandedness, was at least a decent fighter. I never expected him to be such a coward. When I killed him, he seemed completely paralyzed with fear. Had I known he was such a craven, I wouldn't have bothered risking myself to eliminate such trash."

For some reason, Char felt that Hestings' tone lacked hostility. In fact... there was even a faint hint of tranquility to it.

He remained silent. After taking a couple of large gulps of water, he pulled his clothes tighter. His outer light armor was already ruined, so Char simply stripped it off. He then used pieces of his torn shirt to wrap around his chest, securing the dragon scale underneath.

Hestings watched Char with interest. When his eyes fell upon the oval dragon scale worn close to Char's chest, he raised an eyebrow. "That breastplate of yours is quite peculiar. To think it actually blocked a strike from my spear. What is it made of?"

He didn't recognize the dragon scale—after all, powerful as Hestings was, he had never seen a living dragon with his own eyes.

Char still said nothing. Hestings was curious, but given his status, he wouldn't stoop to forcibly stealing a prisoner's breastplate.

They stared at each other in silence for a moment before Hestings finally got to the point. His face grew serious, and his gaze turned solemn as he stared intently at the pendant hanging around Char's neck, pointing his finger at it.

"This thing... where did you get it?"

Char froze. He looked down at the pendant on his chest, unable to hide the bizarre look on his face.

The pendant... the pendant again?! The very pendant that had brought him so many surprises...

Hestings actually recognized it?!

His heart leaped, and he almost spoke, but he forced the words back down at the last second. Biting his lip, he slowly shook his head.

Hestings frowned, his eyes flashing with displeasure. "Are you mute?!"

He glared at Char. "Judging by your gear, you should be an officer in the Guards Battalion. Would Adrik really choose a mute to be a Cavalry Captain?"

Char remained silent.

Hestings grew impatient, a trace of anxiety creeping onto his face. "I asked you, where on earth did you get this pendant?!"

Char stared back at Hestings, still silent. However, as he sat on the ground, he quietly pressed his hand against the dirt...

Just then, before Hestings could speak again, his expression shifted. He tilted his head slightly to listen, then frowned. "Why would anyone come to such a remote place?"

Sure enough, just as Hestings spoke, Char also heard the faint sound of bells in the distance. When traveling through the wilderness, some adventuring parties liked to hang bells from their horses' necks. Carried by the wind, the jingling of the horse bells drifted over in soft, rhythmic chiming.

Hestings snorted. But the moment he turned his head, Char finally found the lapse in attention he had been waiting for!

Char suddenly sprang from the ground, throwing his arms wide as he lunged at Hestings! The moment his hands flew up, he flung a fistful of sand.

A cloud of dusty sand rose, instantly blinding Hestings. Char threw all his strength into the tackle, clawing at Hestings' throat with one hand while driving his other elbow forward in a brutal strike!

This was his only chance. Hestings might be highly skilled in martial arts, and his spear technique might be peerless, but... right now, he was empty-handed! Perhaps his hand-to-hand combat skills were weaker?

This was Char's only shot!

But... Char was wrong!

As he lunged, Hestings sneered from within the cloud of sand. With a swift twist of his body, he made Char miss entirely. Hestings gave a light shove, sending Char stumbling forward, nearly face-planting onto the dirt. The instant Char fell forward, he slammed his hand hard against the ground, using the rebound to spring back up. Twisting his waist, he let out a roar, drew his fire poker, and thrust it forward viciously!

Char's eyes were bloodshot now, and he had unleashed his Crimson Battle Qi, which cast a faint red glow over the fire poker! The moment Hestings saw the shape of Char's fire poker, his expression changed drastically!

The fire poker was already at Hestings' chest when he suddenly leaped backward. A dagger slipped from his sleeve into his palm, and with a swift sweep, he clashed it hard against the poker!

With a sharp metallic crack, the front half of the dagger snapped and flew off. Yet Char also felt a massive shockwave travel up the fire poker, numbing his entire arm! He almost lost his grip, but managed to hold on by gritting his teeth. However, blood poured from his palm as the webbing between his thumb and index finger split open!

Having parried the blow, Hestings landed a short distance away. He looked down at his broken dagger, his face registering surprise. "What a sharp blade!"

He looked up, glaring at Char as fury erupted across his face. "It's you! It was you all along! I recognize your weapon! You were the despicable coward who ambushed me that day! You are the real Bonfret!"

Since he had been found out, and despite the excruciating pain in his palm and the numbness in his right arm, Char simply switched the fire poker to his left hand. Leveling the weapon at Hestings, he threw his head back and laughed wildly. "Haha! Hestings, you only recognize me now? Let me tell you, my name isn't Bonfret either! I was lying to you the whole time that day!"

Hestings was furious. He had ridden alone into Wildfire Town to execute Bonfret, all to cleanse the insult to his faith. He had taken such a massive risk, only to find out he had killed the wrong man?!

At this moment, he felt that the kid before him deserved to be sliced into a thousand pieces!

Hestings snorted and tossed the broken dagger aside. He raised his head and flicked his wrist. The long spear planted in the ground some distance away began to hum and vibrate. Suddenly, it tore itself free from the earth and flew straight into Hestings' hand, instantly erupting into a flurry of black, flowing flames!

This spectacular display left the hillbilly thoroughly awestruck. He tightened his grip on the fire poker, his mind racing through countless thoughts. But the disparity in strength between him and this formidable foe was simply too great. What could he possibly do?

Crimson Battle Qi? He couldn't beat him with that!

Dragon Thorn? Probably wouldn't work either...

Since he couldn't win, and Char was never one for foolish martyrdom, a single thought naturally rose in his mind: Run!

As long as the green hills remain, there is no fear of lacking firewood—survive now, fight later!

He had fought back in Wildfire Town only to stall this bastard, hoping the surrounding soldiers would have time to catch up and perhaps take down this dark-clad fellow together. But who could have known the garrison in Wildfire Town would be so utterly useless? Even with all those men, they had let him fight his way out.

But now, it was just Lord Char alone, and he was not in the habit of suffering a losing battle.

Fighting to the death when you knew you were outmatched wasn't bravery; it was stupidity. Besides, even if he fought to the death, what value would it have? In special circumstances, facing an unbeatable foe to the end might be a worthy death, but dying out here in the wilderness after being captured was just too frustrating to accept!

Char's eyes darted around. He suddenly spun around and leaped toward the black horse, throwing his body forward. Miraculously, he landed right on its back! Overjoyed, Char laughed aloud, squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and shook the reins.

The black horse let out a long neigh. It reared up on its hind legs and bucked violently. Char, who hadn't even settled into the saddle, was thrown clean off!

Char crashed to the ground, and the horse quickly galloped away, running straight back to Hestings' side.

Sneering, Hestings pointed his spear at Char and began to walk toward him, step by slow step.

Shocked, Char scrambled to his feet, but Hestings' spear was already thrusting toward him!

The tip of the spear expanded rapidly in his vision, and black flames rushed at his face. Char could only hold his breath and swing his fire poker to parry!

Boom!

Char's entire body shook violently. Although the sharp fire poker sliced through and shattered the spearhead once more, it was Char who was sent flying! The sheer force washed over him, instantly paralyzing his body. He crashed to the ground in agonizing pain. His left hand could no longer hold the fire poker, and his entire arm trembled uncontrollably.

"Crimson Battle Qi?" Hestings continued his slow approach, his tone mocking. "So that's what you're using. I finally see it clearly now. Hmph... a pathetic level like yours counts as Crimson Battle Qi? What an embarrassment!"

Suffocated by the man's overwhelming aura, Char let out a desperate roar, scrambled up from the ground, and bolted.

As he ran, he quickly fished a ring out of his pocket. It was the wind-enchanted magic ring he had used before. The moment he slipped it onto his finger, his body felt light as a feather. With every stride he took, his distance doubled! It was as if the very air beneath his feet was filled with buoyancy, lifting him up!

Seeing Char cover so much ground in just a few steps, Hestings was slightly surprised before laughing in anger. "Not much skill, but plenty of tricks!"

Unhurriedly, he mounted his black horse, gave a shout, and galloped after him!

Char ran like mad, covering several hundred meters in one breath. However, he could hear the thundering hooves behind him. Glancing back in a panic, he was horrified to see Hestings' black horse flying across the ground! It was far faster than him, and the distance was closing rapidly!

Just then, the sounds of voices, hooves, and horse bells drifted from ahead. Treating it like a life-saving straw, Char charged toward the noise like a madman!

It was a caravan of about a dozen individuals, with six or seven horses laden with bundles of various sizes. Only when he drew closer did Char see them clearly...

The figures leading the horses were short and squat. Although they wore loose robes in the dark night, their exposed green skin and bizarre body shapes...

They actually weren't human!

They were... Goblins?!

Seeing Char charging straight at them, the goblins instantly grew alert. They gathered around, shouting in alarm, "Ouke! Ouke!"

Having no other choice, Char plunged headlong into the goblins' ranks. He spotted an exceptionally tall goblin whose size actually matched that of an average human—a rare and burly specimen among goblins.

This goblin wore a suit of cowhide armor reinforced with hundreds of iron plates, a beast-head helmet, and shoes woven from animal sinew. Unlike the smooth skin of the other goblins, his exposed green flesh was covered in thick hair!

He seemed to be the leader. Carrying a massive iron club that was nearly as tall as he was, he strode forward and bellowed in a deep, booming voice:

"Ouke! Ouke! Me! Goblin Lord! Tiangong! Strong! Enemy! Siki! Siki!"

As Char ran in, the goblin chief swung his iron club right at him. Even before the club arrived, it stirred up a terrifying gale!

The howling wind whipped past, stinging Char's face!

With a desperate twist, he took a massive leap to the side. The iron club scraped past his shoulder and slammed into the ground. With a loud crash, dirt and rocks flew everywhere, leaving a small crater in the earth!

This goblin was incredibly strong!

Char wanted to keep running, but the weightless sensation suddenly vanished. With a soft, faint crack, a tiny fracture appeared on the gemstone of the wind magic ring on his finger. Its magic was finally depleted!

Char stumbled, lost his balance, and crashed heavily to the ground. Seeing an easy target, several nearby goblins cheered "Ouke! Ouke!" and swung their rusty, broken blades down at him.

Char rolled over with all his might, swinging his fire poker to deflect the blades in a flurry of metallic clangs. But then, a horse's neigh sounded right beside him, sending a freezing dread straight to his core! He turned his head to see Hestings charging in. The broken, spearhead-less shaft of the long spear thrust toward him like a streak of black light!

Char was not foolish enough to think a spear without a head couldn't kill. Gasping for breath, he desperately parried once more. With a sharp clang, another section of the shaft snapped off, but Char was sent flying through the air, coughing up blood before crashing down. This time, even the fire poker slipped from his hand and clattered onto the ground.

After hitting the ground, he lay there, completely unable to move.

Seeing Hestings spurring his horse forward again with a grim look on his face, Char's scalp went numb. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration struck him! He remembered the words the goblin chief had just shouted...

Turning his head toward the imposing goblin chief, Char screamed with all his might, "Tiangong! I know Ox! I know where your wife is!"

The broken spear was already right in front of his eyes. Char could only widen his eyes and stare death in the face.

Finally, an excited roar erupted from the side.

"Ouke! Ouke! I want wife!!!"

Tiangong suddenly charged forward like a madman. Having no time to pull Char out of the way, he swung his iron club directly at Hestings on his horse!

The fierce wind whipped up by the iron club startled even Hestings. Left with no choice, he withdrew his spear to deflect the blow!

With a deafening boom, Tiangong let out a shout and stumbled back over a dozen steps. Hestings, still mounted, let out a soft gasp of surprise, his eyes flashing as he stared intently at this goblin opponent.

This goblin could actually take a blow from him?

Tiangong stumbled back a few steps but seemed unharmed. He shook his head vigorously and roared even louder.

"Ouke! Ouke! Wife! I want wife!!!"

He then lunged forward like a madman, raising his iron club and slamming it down with fury!

Boom! Boom! Boom! A faint glow suddenly erupted from Tiangong's body. The iron club rained down in simple, crushing overhead strikes. Hestings blocked three times in a row, the shaft of his spear bending under the force. Yet Tiangong stood tall, his eyes wide with fury, holding his iron club high with majestic ferocity!

Hestings snorted, sweeping his spear horizontally. Tiangong swung his iron club wildly in response, resulting in a rapid flurry of clanging collisions!

This Tiangong possessed astonishing strength, and every strike carried a glow reminiscent of human Battle Qi. What frustrated Hestings most was the goblin's reckless, suicidal style of fighting. While Hestings' martial skills were far superior, this creature fought with absolute disregard for its own life or safety. Every swing of the club was delivered with mutual destruction in mind, targeting vital spots... and when that failed, he aimed the club directly at Hestings' black horse!

The black horse was Hestings' treasured companion; he would never allow it to be harmed by a filthy, lowly goblin. This goblin's abilities were bizarre. To call him weak would ignore his Qi-like strength, but to call him strong would ignore his chaotic, messy techniques, which seemed like a hodgepodge learned from who knows where.

Most annoying of all to Hestings was that as this goblin fought like a demon, he kept bellowing gibberish like, "Ouke! Ouke! I want wife!"

Wife?

Who shouts about their wife while fighting for their life against an enemy?!

Finally, Hestings' spear, which was an ordinary weapon after all, snapped into two pieces under Tiangong's relentless battering. Furious, Hestings snorted heavily, threw the broken shaft to the ground, and turned his horse around. The black steed galloped away, vanishing into the night in an instant.

Once Hestings was gone, Tiangong lowered his iron club and let out a few roars to the sky.

"Ouke! Ouke! Wife! Wife!!"

Then, the goblin turned to look at Char on the ground. Suddenly, jets of green blood sprayed from his mouth, nose, and ears simultaneously. His burly body swayed a few times before collapsing backward with a heavy thud.

"Ouke, ouke... wife..."

The dozen or so goblins nearby were terrified. They quickly crowded around, lifting Tiangong up in a scramble. They poured water down his throat and wiped away the blood. Tiangong panted for a moment, coughed up another mouthful of blood, pointed at Char to say something, and then closed his eyes, finally passing out.

Char lay on the ground, powerless to move. A few goblins rushed over and kicked him a few times. Then, the mob stripped him of his armor and boots, leaving him in only his undergarments. His fire poker was also confiscated, proudly tucked into the waistband of one of the goblins.

Two goblins bound Char with rope and threw him onto a horse. With a cheer from the goblins, the caravan continued deeper into the wilderness to the jingling of horse bells...