Chapter 131: The Majestic, Benevolent, Brave, and Noble... Bumpkin

Chapter 131: The Dignified, Merciful, Brave, and Noble... Hillbilly

It was safe to assume that now that the blame had been successfully shifted onto the Four Young Masters of the Royal City, the ones who would have to worry about those endless sneak attacks and harassment were those guys from Nigul’s camp.

Xia Ya was happy for a while, and Dodoro was secretly pleased as well. He had deep grievances with Bidalo, so being able to cause some trouble for him at any given opportunity was always a good thing.

However, after walking for a while, Xia Ya suddenly pulled on the reins, his expression shifting to reveal a hint of confusion.

"What is it, Master Xia Ya?"

Xia Ya shook his head. He didn't say anything, but deep down, he felt a faint sense of unease. The warrior bodyguard accompanying Nigul earlier was definitely no ordinary character. In terms of the oppressive aura radiating from his gaze alone, Xia Ya felt he could easily rank in the top three among all the experts he had ever encountered.

Furthermore, when he thought about the subtle shifts in that man's movements while he was dealing with Nigul—the man had initially prepared to step forward to intervene, but then suddenly retreated, choosing not to interfere and letting them fight—Xia Ya suddenly broke into a cold sweat!

That guy had clearly seen through his intentions! At the very moment he struck, the man had realized he wasn't using any real power and was merely putting on a show!

And yet, despite seeing this, he didn't intervene, nor did he worry that Xia Ya might suddenly erupt and hurt his charge. There were only two explanations for this: first, the man was a reckless fool—but judging by his oppressive, cold, and chilling gaze, he was definitely not a brainless idiot. The second explanation was perhaps the only reasonable one: he was completely confident and fearless. Even if Xia Ya had suddenly lashed out to hurt Nigul, that man had sufficient confidence and absolute certainty that he could intercept him!

Thinking of this, Xia Ya wiped his face hard and muttered, "Damn it, the capital is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. I’ll have to be more careful in the future."

Though he warned himself to be cautious, Xia Ya soon relaxed. Regardless, shifting the blame onto others had at least relieved him of a major headache.

Seeing that Dodoro still seemed preoccupied, clearly still worried about the trial, Xia Ya suddenly slapped his forehead: "Wait! That trial only said you need to find the Magic Kiss Fragrant Taro; it didn't say you had to harvest it yourself. Let’s check the market; maybe we can buy some on the black market!"

Dodoro gave a bitter smile, wanting to say something but stopping himself. He held no hope, but then he thought, even if there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance, what harm was there in looking?

The two turned around, heading west then south, circling almost the entire city until they reached the bustling southern district of Osgiliath.

The area near the docks in southern Osgiliath had always been the busiest center for trade. As a coastal city, Osgiliath’s southern beach docks were quite magnificent, historically serving as the empire’s largest and most prosperous port. Marine transport routes brought a constant flow of vitality to the city. Just north of the docks, several old streets had developed over the years, fueled by maritime trade, into a vibrant commercial district. It gathered rare goods from all over the world brought in by sea, and naturally, it also hosted some underground black market trade for contraband.

Xia Ya came from the Wildfire Plains and had hung around the black streets of Wildfire Town. Although he had never been to this commercial district in the capital, the rules of underground black markets were much the same everywhere. They squeezed into the crowd, and Dodoro spoke with an Osgiliath accent. Xia Ya casually grabbed a hoodlum on the street, tossed him a silver coin for information, and was led to a small tavern in a side alley. After testing the waters with the tavern owner, they were led to the back, which was an underground shop specializing in contraband.

However, after inquiring about the market price of the Magic Kiss Fragrant Taro, the hillbilly and the mage were both disappointed.

The item could be bought, but the price was far beyond what they could afford.

The black market price for a single Magic Kiss Fragrant Taro was ten thousand gold coins, and it required a pre-order—there was no stock on hand. Even if there were, it would be difficult to gather ten of them at once, and even then, it would cost one hundred thousand gold coins.

For a hillbilly or a mage like Dodoro, one hundred thousand gold coins was a figure that made them shrink in fear.

Although the hillbilly had made a little money recently, his entire net worth was only a few hundred gold coins.

Buying it was impossible... and as for running deep into the Forest Sea in the chaotic Eastern Territories to face the human-hating Elven race... uh, he’d rather shake his head.

Leaving the underground shop in disappointment, the two returned to the bustling main street. Dodoro was clearly in low spirits, murmuring to himself as if lost in thought while leading his horse. Suddenly, a small, thin child squeezed out of the crowd and bumped into the mage. After a yelp of pain and a quick "I'm sorry," the child turned to run.

Dodoro hadn't paid much attention, but Xia Ya scoffed, reached out, grabbed the child's wrist, and jerked him to the ground. He stepped on the boy's leg, retrieved a small coin purse from his hand—which belonged to Dodoro—and held it up.

The child was terrified, trembling and darting his eyes around, pleading incessantly. Just as Xia Ya was about to hoist him up, a woman lunged from the crowd, throwing herself at Xia Ya’s feet and clutching his legs, begging with a tear-choked voice. The woman was sallow and gaunt, looking to be about thirty, wearing coarse, patched rags with empty, listless eyes and sunken cheeks.

"Sir, please let us go... my mother is truly starving! I... I really only did this for the first time..."

By now, a crowd had gathered to watch. Xia Ya scoffed, his face calm. He hoisted the child up, glared at him coldly, and then tossed him to the ground. He drew the scabbard from his waist and struck the boy's backside a dozen times with a loud *thwack-thwack-thwack*. He didn't hold back; the child wailed in agony, eventually bursting into tears, his face covered in snot and tears.

After finishing, Xia Ya hauled him up again and said coldly: "This isn't your first time stealing; your movements were too practiced. Lying is not a good habit, especially when you're so young! Those strikes were the punishment for stealing. You must be punished for doing wrong, otherwise, you won't remember the lesson."

After saying this, he let the child go, reached into his pocket, took out a few gold coins, and stuffed them into the woman's hands: "Buy something to eat, and then use the rest to find an honest living... you have a very filial son, since he was willing to become a thief for your sake."

Having done this, Xia Ya pulled Dodoro and pushed through the crowd to leave.

The two soon left the commercial district and headed north. The pedestrians thinned out, and as they passed through a small path, they suddenly heard soft, mournful cries for help and the evil, low laughter of several men echoing from a nearby alley.

Xia Ya immediately stopped, looked left and right, and strode quickly into the alley. He kicked over a broken bamboo basket blocking the entrance and shouted, "What are you sneaky bastards doing in there!"

Turning the corner, he saw a young girl backed into a corner by several men with lecherous faces and suspicious expressions. From their dress and appearance, they were clearly street thugs. The girl’s hair was disheveled, her clothes torn, and her cheeks were flushed crimson. Her face was delicate, her features refined, and her eyes were bright and moving—she was an unexpectedly beautiful girl, clutching her chest and cowering in the corner.

Seeing Xia Ya charge in alone, the thugs immediately moved to meet him. One of them pulled a dagger from his waist and brandished it: "Hey! Don't be a busybody, or else..."

Before he could finish, he felt a fist suddenly grow large in his vision. In the next instant, he went flying, crashing to the ground with a nosebleed and half his teeth knocked out.

Xia Ya scoffed. Ignoring the horrified expressions of the other thugs, he stepped forward and kicked two of them down one after another. The last thug stared in shock, then suddenly dropped to his knees and began begging for mercy.

Xia Ya looked at him and shook his head: "It’s not that I insist on punishing you, it’s just that your actions are truly disgusting! How could you bring yourselves to harass a girl like this!"

With that, he kicked the guy unconscious.

The girl in the corner stumbled to her feet. As if she had just seen a savior, she threw herself toward Xia Ya, her soft body pressing against him. Her clothes were already in disarray, and a patch of pale skin was pressed against Xia Ya’s shoulder. Her alluring eyes were swollen red like peaches, making her look quite pitiful and moving.

Xia Ya, however, was not the least bit swayed. He calmly pushed the girl away and said indifferently: "Alright, you don't need to thank me. I was just passing by. You should get going."

The girl wanted to say more, but seeing Xia Ya's cold expression, the words died in her throat. After a moment's thought, she took a snow-white silk handkerchief from her bosom and offered it to Xia Ya, intending for him to wipe the blood from his knuckles. Xia Ya pulled his hand back, so she could only gently place the handkerchief in his hand and say softly: "Sir, thank you for saving me... My name is Lena, and I live just down the street. If you have time, please come to my home. I would love the opportunity to express my gratitude."

Having said this, the alluring girl curtsied, half-covering her chest, and trotted away.

As she ran out of the alley, her graceful figure left Dodoro dazed for a moment, his eyes lingering on her waist for a long time before he reluctantly tore his gaze away.

These two incidents seemed like small interludes on their way home, but after walking through another street where pedestrians were even scarcer, Xia Ya suddenly reined in his horse, his face changing. He looked at Dodoro beside him: "You go first!"

Dodoro was startled, but Xia Ya’s expression was stern: "Go first! Get lost, I have something else to do."

Dodoro didn't dare ask more and quickly rode away.

Once the mage had left, Xia Ya dismounted, stood in the middle of the street, pressed one hand to the handle of his fire fork, and placed the other on his hip. He stared coldly at the other end of the street and let out a heavy scoff, shouting loudly: "You've been following me for long enough! Come out!!"

When he shouted so loudly, the two or three pedestrians on the street cast strange looks his way and whispered among themselves. Others, seeing Xia Ya’s hand on his weapon, didn't dare stay and quickly ran off.

The street was soon left with only Xia Ya. And right at that moment, a figure finally emerged from the other end of the long street.

Medium build, wearing a loose warrior's robe, with short hair like steel needles and a rugged, battle-hardened face. The man walked forward step by step, his gait like that of a leopard hunting on the wilderness!

The moment Xia Ya saw this guy, his eyes changed instantly. This was clearly the warrior bodyguard who had been by the side of that giant, Nigul!

"It's you! Hmph, did you think I wouldn't notice you tailing me?" Xia Ya’s grip on his fire fork tightened involuntarily. He could clearly feel that as the warrior walked closer, a powerful, invisible aura seemed to radiate from him, pressing down on him. Every step the man took, the pressure grew deeper!

"I did not intend to hide my tracks. If I wanted to hide, you wouldn't have discovered me at all."

The warrior finally spoke. To Xia Ya's surprise, although the man looked rugged and cold, his voice was gentle and pleasant, forming a sharp contrast with his appearance.

The opponent stopped ten steps away from Xia Ya. Xia Ya felt the air around him turn viscous; the invisible pressure from all directions enveloped him. He desperately gathered his own aura to resist, his muscles tensing involuntarily, veins bulging on the back of his hand gripping the fork, his eyes locked on his opponent.

Yet the short-haired warrior stood there as if it were nothing. His expression was cold, but his eyes were relaxed. After sizing Xia Ya up for a few seconds, a strange smile gradually appeared on the corners of his mouth.

"You are very cunning." The warrior seemed to smile with complexity: "You let Nigul suffer a small loss; he will soon know he was tricked by you."

"…Hmph." Xia Ya gritted his teeth: "How can you be so sure?"

"I am Nigul’s bodyguard. I know his capabilities better than you do." The warrior still wore that cold smile: "However, you interest me... Are you the fellow who defeated Hasting on the battlefield? Hmph, interesting..."

Xia Ya immediately grew tense.

"The guy who defeated Hasting on the battlefield..." He had heard this line countless times over the past few days, and every time someone said it, they immediately challenged him. He took a step back, hesitating whether to draw his fire fork and strike first... "You don't need to worry, I’m not here to challenge you." Seeing Xia Ya's movement, the mocking tone in the warrior's smile deepened. He said indifferently: "You don't really believe that I would think Hasting was defeated by a kid like you, do you? Hmph... that was nothing more than a farce—a farce concocted by the Military Department."

The warrior looked into Xia Ya’s eyes: "Your strength is not bad, but to speak of defeating Hasting is laughable. I know you must have encountered a lot of trouble these past few days, but you should be fortunate. At least the real experts in the capital aren't idiots; they don't believe the lies fabricated by the military. Otherwise, the ones coming to challenge you wouldn't be those low-level nobodies."

Xia Ya was silent. He admitted that what this guy said made sense.

"But... how can you be so sure I’m not Hasting's match?" Xia Ya scoffed. He was just feeling annoyed because his momentum had been completely suppressed by the opponent.

"Why?" The warrior shook his head: "The reason is simple. I have sparred with Hasting, and I know how terrifying he is... and you, you are far too lacking." As he said this, the warrior shook his head, looking disinterested.

As the warrior spoke, he suddenly walked a few steps closer and then strolled past Xia Ya with ease. The moment their forms crossed, Xia Ya felt every hair on his body stand up. It was as if it wasn't a person walking past him, but a ferocious beast ready to devour him at any moment! Several times, he felt the insane pressure forcing him to act, wanting to draw his fork and slash out. But after that impulse came a strange feeling that made him hold back!

That strange feeling was... fear!

Yes, it was fear! Genuine, authentic fear!! Xia Ya had a strange premonition that if he dared to strike, he would surely die! This guy was absolutely beyond his power to contend with!!

Finally, the warrior slowly walked behind Xia Ya and stopped, standing with his back to him.

In that instant, Xia Ya suddenly felt a sense of relief; that pervasive pressure vanished into thin air.

The man's voice sounded a bit warmer: "I didn't come to cause you trouble. It's just that while I don't believe you could defeat Hasting, I heard he was indeed injured by you. I was curious, so I followed to see you... I saw everything you did to that thief mother and son in the market, and how you saved that orphan girl in the alley. Hmm, you are an interesting kid."

He suddenly tilted his head, turning it slightly, and a smile appeared on half of his face: "So... interesting kid, I hope you live a long life. Although your strength isn't top-tier, for your age, this level is not bad. Among those who can withstand my aura, you are the youngest I’ve ever met. Live on, live well... live until your strength grows to the day... when it is worth me making a move."

Once those words were spoken, the voice vanished instantly. Xia Ya stood there, feeling his whole body stiffen. Finally, he slowly turned his head to look behind him, but the street was empty—where was there any sign of a person?

A breeze blew by, and Xia Ya shivered, only then realizing that his undergarments were soaked through with sweat!!

***

"Oh, so that's how it happened."

A faint, slightly weary voice.

In a bright little room, Kavishier was lounging lazily on a soft couch, his body curled up under a soft, thick fur blanket, as if the cold winter was still a torture for the old man. Beside the couch, a young girl with a few freckles on her face stood holding a hand warmer. She tested the temperature and then tucked it into Kavishier's hands.

In front of Kavishier, three people were kneeling on the floor.

If Xia Ya were here, he would surely have called out in shock.

These three were the thief mother and son he had met at the market, and the beautiful, delicate orphan girl he had rescued from the thugs.

At this moment, the three were kneeling respectfully. Facing the frail old man on the couch, they were as silent as cicadas, not even daring to look up from the floor, their faces filled with awe.

"You may go." Kavishier's gentle voice came. The three didn't dare say a word, quickly stood up, bowed, and left.

The old sage sat there, hugging his knees, lost in thought for a while, a playful smile gradually appearing on his face.

"Hmm, a very interesting kid... It seems my old friend, the successor you chose, has not disappointed me too much." The mysterious sage suddenly glanced at the plain-looking girl beside him: "Little Sparrow, what is your assessment?"

The girl called "Little Sparrow" looked respectful: "Yes, Teacher." She lowered her head, thought for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Punishing the young thief shows his dignity. Alms to the sick and weak mother shows his mercy. Rescuing the helpless orphan girl shows his bravery. And refusing the temptation of beauty shows his nobility..."

"Hmm, dignity, mercy, bravery, nobility..." The smile on Kavishier's face suddenly became joyful. His aged face was now laughing like a child: "Haha, too interesting. Tell me, if a person possesses such precious qualities, and matches them with outstanding strength, then... it would be very hard for such a person not to succeed."

The girl called Little Sparrow was a bit puzzled: "Teacher... do you mean that this fellow named Xia Ya has gained your appreciation... but when I saw him that day, he didn't seem to have much ability..."

"You don't understand." Kavishier smiled faintly and shook his head: "Skills can be learned, but cultivating character takes the most effort. Character determines fate; this kid's character is very interesting."

Little Sparrow looked at her teacher in shock, her heart trembling!

Very interesting? Was this the teacher's evaluation of that guy?

One had to know that although these words seemed simple... for someone of the teacher's status to give such an evaluation was already a rare praise!

The youngest son of Duke Minas, a veteran of the Empire's military, Little Minas, was brilliant, talented in both literature and martial arts, and hailed as the Empire’s most promising future star. Yet, in Teacher Kavishier's mouth, his evaluation was nothing more than a simple "not bad"!!

If the teacher's evaluation were to spread—just based on these words from Teacher Kavishier, that kid would immediately become famous throughout the capital!

***

Xia Ya naturally didn't know that the capital's greatest sage had evaluated him as "dignified, merciful, brave, and noble"—if Dodoro, the Four Young Masters, Hasting, or the Rabbit General heard this, would they laugh their teeth off?

Well, it was safe to imagine, our hillbilly... him being dignified might be true; mercy and bravery might also exist. But as for the nobility of not being tempted by beauty... honestly, the only reason he could push that alluring girl away with such a calm attitude was because... *cough cough*... (The old man is still smiling in his grave...)

After returning to his residence, Xia Ya only felt his shock settle slightly as he entered the door. His undergarments were soaked with sweat; the terrifying, oppressive feeling brought by the mysterious warrior reminded Xia Ya of the first time he faced Hasting.

"That guy..."

After returning to his place in a disheveled state, Xia Ya immediately called for Dodoro: "What is the background of that Nigul?"

Dodoro indeed knew the details of the Four Young Masters: "That Nigul seems to be the nephew of the General of the Osgiliath Central Guards. I heard the General has no sons, only one daughter, so Nigul is likely the primary heir to the family."

The nephew of the Capital Guards General? This background was not small at all!

A general responsible for the capital's defense must be a trusted confidant of the royal family. Nigul’s backing was indeed formidable.

"Then... today, by his side, there was a guy with hair like a hedgehog... hmm, do you recognize him?"

Dodoro was stunned, then shook his head: "I don't recognize him... The Guards General is a high-ranking military official, and there are always some experts in his ranks. These experts rarely interact with common warriors, so many of them, despite their formidable strength, are not well-known."

Xia Ya frowned, thinking for a while... That guy, he seemed to say something... Ah, right!

He had sparred with Hasting!! This guy had actually exchanged blows with Hasting and was still alive and well, which alone was enough to show his extraordinary strength.

An expert in the military... had exchanged blows with Hasting... For some reason, the bone-chilling cold made Xia Ya feel uncomfortable just thinking about it. And even though that guy hadn't attacked him today, Xia Ya always had a feeling: this person was dangerous! A very dangerous existence for him!!

"Forget it, I'll find a chance to ask Ruhr tomorrow." Xia Ya sighed.