Chapter 140: A Quiet Life
When someone wanted to join them for drinks, Han Ming and Quake naturally didn’t refuse. As they chatted, the patrol captain mentioned that many soldiers had watched their match that day and were full of admiration for the two of them. Han Ming and Quake exchanged a smile at this.
The group continued drinking and chatting, and as word spread, more soldiers who were passing by heard that Han Ming and Quake were there and wanted to join in. Soon, even some off-duty city guards and palace guards sneaked over to join the gathering.
The small tavern was quickly packed to the brim, and it became impossible to fit everyone inside. Someone suggested moving to a larger venue, and before long, the group had relocated to the city guard barracks outside Fila City.
A long banquet table was set up in the open field, with rows of shirtless soldiers sitting on either side, all eager to toast Han Ming and Quake. Even some wealthy merchants with close ties to the military heard about the gathering and came to join in.
Han Ming watched the increasingly chaotic scene with a wry smile, feeling a headache coming on. Some envious individuals, hoping to cause trouble, reported the soldiers for neglecting their duties by drinking with Han Ming and Quake. To everyone’s surprise, the commander of the city guard issued an order granting the soldiers a day off, telling them to drink to their hearts'' content.
Han Ming couldn’t help but marvel at the influence of the Tri-Nation Tournament. It wasn’t just about selecting the strongest warriors—it was also about building their reputation and rallying support.
The drinking continued late into the night, and even Han Ming, a water mage, wasn’t spared from the effects of the alcohol. By the end of the night, he was red-faced and dizzy. A group of city guards escorted Han Ming and his companions back to their residence before finally leaving.
After parting ways with Quake and the others, Kulo helped Han Ming back to the magic academy. Quake, still shouting from a distance, called out, “Han, let’s do this again tomorrow!”
“What a brute,” Kulo muttered, wiping vomit from Han Ming’s mouth. “He can barely walk, and he’s already talking about drinking again. Doesn’t he care about his health?”
“Are you worried about me?” Han Ming slurred, his head lolling to the side. The alcohol had emboldened him, and for once, he dared to tease Kulo.
“Yes, yes, I’m worried about you. Let’s get you back so you can sleep it off. Look at the state you’re in,” Kulo said, half-carrying Han Ming back to his room.
Once inside, Kulo, her face flushed, helped Han Ming out of his dirty clothes, wiped him down, and tucked him into bed. “Drink! More drinks!” Han Ming mumbled in his sleep.
“Drink your head off!” Kulo giggled, playfully flicking Han Ming’s nose.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a serene glow on Han Ming’s youthful face. Kulo stood by the bed, gazing at him with tenderness in her eyes.
“You idiot. The other day, you were crying your eyes out drinking with me, and today you’re having the time of your life with a bunch of roughnecks. I can’t believe you,” Kulo murmured, her voice soft.
She leaned down and gently kissed Han Ming on the lips. “As long as you’re happy,” she whispered, pulling the blanket over him before quietly leaving the room.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
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Outside Han Ming’s residence in the magic academy, five shadowy figures emerged from the darkness beneath a tree, their movements silent and eerie.
“Is this the place?” one of them whispered.
“Yes, this is it,” another replied.
“Be careful. This kid is no ordinary opponent. He’s already killed one of our fourth-tier shadow guards. With five of us here, we can’t let him escape.”
“Understood.”
The five shadows whispered among themselves, their target clearly Han Ming’s residence.
“Looking for someone?” a voice suddenly called out from behind them.
The five figures spun around in alarm, but no one was there.
“Who’s there? Show yourself!” one of them hissed.
“How strange. You’re the ones sneaking around, yet you accuse others of being sneaky. And besides, I’m right here,” the voice said.
They turned again to see a woman in white standing calmly in front of them, a faint smile on her lips.
“A skilled opponent! Take her down quickly!” one of the shadow guards ordered.
Two of the shadows immediately flanked the woman from the front and back, while the other two closed in from the sides. The leader leapt into the air, dagger in hand, aiming for the woman.
The woman chuckled softly. With a graceful movement, she raised her arm, her fingers flicking the leader’s dagger aside. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the leader’s body, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
At the same time, the woman’s leg shot out like a whip, slicing through the shadow guard in front of her. Her left hand darted out, two fingers piercing the throat of the guard on her left.
The remaining two guards attacked from the right and behind, but the woman vanished before their weapons could reach her.
“Behind you!” the guard on the right shouted in panic.
The woman reappeared behind the last guard, her delicate hand gripping his neck. With a swift motion, she disarmed him and pinned him to the ground.
“Who sent you?” she asked softly.
The guard she held refused to speak, his face resolute.
The woman smiled and tossed him into the air. With a flick of her finger, a sharp, translucent nail sliced through his abdomen, spilling his entrails onto the ground.
“What about you? Will you talk?” she asked, turning to the last guard.
He, too, remained silent, closing his eyes in defiance.
“Brave. I admire that. You can go,” the woman said, releasing him.
The guard sneered and, without hesitation, slammed his palm into his own head, ending his life.
“Tsk, tsk. So cautious. Pity I can’t follow you back to your hideout,” the woman murmured, though she didn’t seem particularly bothered.
She turned to leave but paused, glancing back at the five corpses. “Ah, I almost forgot. Can’t leave you lying around. If that fool finds out I’ve killed again, he might get upset. What a hassle.”
With a graceful movement, she swept her foot across the ground, causing a mound of earth to rise and launch the bodies into the air. A long, pale purple ribbon shot out from her sleeve, wrapping around the corpses. She leapt onto a tree branch, the bodies trailing behind her, and disappeared into the night.
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When the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window, Han Ming bolted upright in bed with a shout.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Kulo rushed into the room, an apron tied around her waist and a long spoon in her hand. She had been cooking breakfast when she heard Han Ming’s cry.
Seeing Kulo enter, Han Ming let out another yelp and quickly pulled the blanket over himself, covering half his face. “Why am I naked? What did you do to me?”
Kulo burst out laughing. “I thought something was wrong. You were drunk last night, so I undressed you.”
Han Ming looked horrified. “Why did you undress me? Did I… did I do anything to you?”
“To clean you up! You were covered in vomit. Don’t worry, you didn’t do anything to me.”
Han Ming breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”
“But…” Kulo’s eyes gleamed mischievously as she leaned closer. “I did do some things to you.”
“What!? What did you do to me?” Han Ming clutched the blanket tighter, his face a mix of shock and anger.
Kulo laughed heartily. “Everything and anything.”
She stared boldly at Han Ming, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction.
“Oh no…!” Han Ming groaned, throwing his head back. “My first time… gone just like that.”
Kulo couldn’t contain her laughter at Han Ming’s dramatic reaction. “Oh, you fool! I’m just messing with you. Get up already, it’s morning. Breakfast is ready!”
She reached out and pinched Han Ming’s arm through the blanket, laughing as he flinched away. With a final chuckle, she left the room, leaving Han Ming to recover from his embarrassment.