Chapter 139: Drinking
After his victory over Quake, Han Ming advanced to the top 16 of the tournament.
"Come on, buddy, let''s grab a drink!" Han Ming said with a grin, clapping Quake on the shoulder. He genuinely liked the big guy—Quake was straightforward, open-hearted, and someone Han Ming wanted as a friend.
"Drinks it is! Haha!" Quake laughed heartily, tearing off his tattered shirt. It was clear he respected Han Ming just as much.
The two men, who had just been locked in a life-and-death battle on the stage, were now walking shirtless through the streets, laughing and joking like old friends. The audience, still lingering in the stands, couldn''t help but chuckle at the sight.
"Wait, didn''t they just fight like crazy? And didn''t the big guy lose? How are they suddenly best friends now?" a female spectator muttered, her cheeks still flushed from the excitement of the match.
A male spectator nearby watched the two men walk away, a look of admiration on his face. "You wouldn''t understand. That''s the kind of bond men share. Women just don''t get it."
As the crowd dispersed, still buzzing from the match, Han Ming, Quake, and Kulo made their way through the bustling streets. The sight of two shirtless men and a stunningly beautiful woman drew plenty of attention.
Along the way, they ran into a group of five people, led by a portly man who immediately perked up when he saw Kulo.
"Miss Kulo! What a pleasure to see you here. Would you care to join me for a stroll?" the man asked, his eyes gleaming.
Kulo simply smiled sweetly, wrapping her arm around Han Ming''s and gazing at him affectionately without saying a word.
"Han, who''s this guy?" Quake asked, his distaste for the man evident.
"Don''t know him," Han Ming replied.
"Good," Quake said with a grin. "Let''s keep moving."
"Wait, Miss Kulo!" the man called out, hurrying after them.
Han Ming stopped and turned to the man with a polite smile. "I''m afraid we can''t accompany you. Please excuse us."
The man, emboldened by the fact that Kulo was Han Ming''s girlfriend and seemingly unimpressed by Han Ming himself, sneered. "Do you know who my father is?"
"I don''t care who your father is. Get lost!" Quake snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"How dare you speak to me like that?" the man sputtered, his pride wounded in front of the woman he was trying to impress.
"Not only will I speak to you like this, but I''ll also hit you!" Quake roared, delivering a punch to the man''s eye that sent him sprawling to the ground.
The man''s lackeys, terrified by Quake''s sudden violence, hesitated before two of them ran off to find help.
"Pathetic! Trying to hit on my buddy''s girl? You''ve got some nerve," Quake spat, grabbing Han Ming''s arm and striding off with Kulo in tow.
As they walked, they were frequently stopped by passersby and carriages returning from the tournament. People rushed up to congratulate Han Ming and Quake, shaking their hands and praising their performance.
Han Ming found himself awkwardly shaking hands with a short, enthusiastic fan who wouldn''t let go. "Brother! You''re my idol! You''ve given me hope! Seeing someone like you, with your slender build, standing tall against giants—it''s inspiring! From now on, whenever someone mocks me for being short, I''ll point to you and tell them to shut up!"
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The crowd grew thicker as more people recognized Han Ming and Quake. Even the wealthy and influential, who usually kept their distance, approached with warm smiles and handshakes.
"The world''s a harsh place, and people have changed. But seeing you two today, it feels like I''m young again! Brotherhood, camaraderie, conquering the world together—it''s beautiful!" an older man exclaimed, his eyes glistening with emotion.
Realizing they couldn''t continue like this, Han Ming, Quake, and Kulo finally managed to slip away from the crowd. Quake, in particular, was overwhelmed by the attention, especially from a group of giggling girls who had surrounded him.
Meanwhile, the girls who noticed Han Ming was already taken sighed in disappointment.
After a long struggle, the trio finally escaped the throng and found a quiet little tavern to relax in.
"So, Quake, what''s next for you?" Han Ming asked as they sat down.
According to the tournament rules, Quake''s loss meant he was out of the competition. There were no second chances, so his journey in the Tri-Nation Tournament was over. Han Ming felt a pang of sadness—he had grown fond of the big, straightforward man and had hoped to fight alongside him in the future.
Quake laughed heartily. "What''s next? I''m staying, of course! Didn''t we agree, win or lose, we''d fight side by side against those damned demon armies?"
"Good!" Han Ming said, raising his glass in a toast.
"Quake! There you are!" A group of seven or eight young men, around the same age as Han Ming and Quake, burst into the tavern, spotting the two and calling out excitedly.
"Ha! Boss, bring us more tables!" Han Ming called out, and the tavern owner quickly set up additional tables and brought more food and drinks.
"These are my buddies from the Kabu Empire. They came with me to watch the tournament but didn''t compete," Quake explained, introducing his friends.
The group quickly fell into lively conversation, the atmosphere warm and cheerful. Han Ming glanced at Kulo, who was smiling beside him, and then at the boisterous group of men. He felt a deep sense of contentment.
As the night wore on and the drinks flowed, the men grew more animated, laughing, reminiscing, and even shedding a few tears. Han Ming learned that most of them were orphans from the Kabu Empire, who had grown up together on the streets. Quake, with his strength and sense of responsibility, had taken care of them, working grueling jobs to provide food and shelter.
Quake shared how he had met a mentor who taught him combat skills, allowing him to rise to his current level of strength. Despite his success, Quake had never forgotten his friends, always making time to visit them and leaving behind money to help them out.
One of the men, tears streaming down his face, hugged Quake tightly. "Quake, you''re the most loyal friend anyone could ask for. I remember when I was starving as a kid, I tried to steal some money and got caught. They beat me in the street, and you jumped in to take the blows for me. You were bedridden for a month after that."
Quake patted the man''s shoulder. "That''s all in the past. We''re all doing fine now, aren''t we?"
"Yeah, we''re doing just fine!" the man replied, his voice choked with emotion.
Han Ming watched the scene with a soft smile, deeply moved. It seemed everyone had a painful past, but surviving and thriving in this world was a blessing in itself.
"By the way, Quake, who was that mentor you mentioned?" Han Ming asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Quake''s expression turned reverent. "His name is Gamori. He''s a fifth-tier water-element warrior like me, but far stronger. You might even face him in the tournament. He''s easy to spot—he always keeps his eyes closed and rarely opens them."
Han Ming nodded, recalling Gamori. He had initially disliked the man for standing by while Zhenluo and others bullied the weak, but hearing Quake''s story made him reconsider. Perhaps Gamori wasn''t entirely bad—maybe he just had a side he didn''t show to strangers.
The tavern door suddenly burst open, and a squad of patrol soldiers marched in, led by the portly man Quake had punched earlier.
"Gentlemen, what can I do for you?" the tavern owner asked nervously, rushing to greet them.
"Out of the way!" the man snarled, slapping the owner aside. He pointed at Han Ming and Quake. "That''s them! They''re the ones who attacked me! Don''t let them leave!"
Han Ming smirked, holding Quake back as the big man started to rise.
The patrol captain''s eyes swept over the group, landing on Han Ming and Quake. His stern expression immediately softened.
"It''s the two legends! I''m a huge fan! Boss, bring us another table! I want to drink with my idols!" the captain exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
The portly man''s face turned red with rage. "You—you''re supposed to be here to help me!"
"Go find somewhere else to whine. I''m not here for you. If it weren''t for your father, I''d have kicked you out long ago. Now get lost and let me drink with my heroes!" the captain barked, dismissing the man with a wave.
The man, humiliated and furious, glared at Kulo, who simply smiled back. In a fit of rage, he slapped himself across the face and stormed out of the tavern.