Chapter 30 – Lingyun Town

Su Hao turned his head to look at He Qingqing and said with a smile, “It’s nothing, I’m just curious since it’s my first time in the city!”

He Qingqing was startled by her own reaction and immediately turned her face away.

Compared to a few years ago, He Qingqing seemed much more reserved, truly like a young lady. Ever since Su Hao killed the Azure-Eyed Wolf in front of her, she seemed to mature in an instant and never again asked Su Hao to play with her.

But it was also from that time that the relationship between He Qingqing and Su Hao became very strange. It was no longer Su Hao avoiding He Qingqing, but He Qingqing avoiding Su Hao. Whenever they happened to meet, they couldn’t say much before He Qingqing would leave in a hurry.

This puzzled Su Hao for a long time. Could this girl have developed some kind of social anxiety?

In contrast, Little Fatty and Harmony Yuan were not much different. Not long after they set off, they were chattering and asking endless questions.

“Dad! You said you also studied at the Martial Artist Academy? Are you bragging?” Little Fatty looked at his father with suspicion.

Old Li glared fiercely, “Bragging? Your old man never brags! Back in the Academy, I was a prominent figure, who didn’t know Old Li? I’m telling you, back then…”

Little Fatty and He Qingqing listened very attentively, their eyes wide as they looked at Old Li. After listening, Little Fatty was still somewhat unconvinced about his father and muttered, “Dad, it feels like everything you’re saying is fake.”

Old Li said indifferently, “Believe it or not, that’s how your mother caught me back then. Also, when you go to the Academy, you can’t disgrace your old man. If anyone dares to bully us, beat them back hard.”

Little Fatty immediately patted his chest and agreed, “Of course, I won’t disgrace Dad. I will definitely protect Qingqing. If anyone dares to bully us, I’ll beat them. Right, Xiang Wu!”

Su Hao casually replied, “Right, right, right!”

Little Fatty glanced at He Qingqing and said proudly, “Alas, it’s a shame Silly Tao still hasn’t found Blood Qi, otherwise we could have protected Qingqing together.”

Then he turned to He Qingqing and said, “Don’t worry, Qingqing, even if I’m alone, I won’t let you get bullied.”

He Qingqing rolled her eyes, “Do I need your protection?”

Little Fatty didn’t seem embarrassed at all and immediately said, “I’m just stating my position.”

Then he ran to Su Hao’s side and pulled him, saying, “Xiang Wu is so powerful, if we can’t win, we’ll ask Xiang Wu for help.”

He Qingqing asked doubtfully, “We are going to study, why would there be so many bad people specifically bullying others?”

At this moment, Old Li, who was walking behind, suddenly chuckled, “There definitely will be. Otherwise, why would it be called a Martial Artist Academy? It’s to teach you how to fight, hehehe!”

Su Hao glanced at He Qingqing and Little Fatty, secretly feeling troubled. “Does this mean there will be a lot of troublesome things all day long? And I have to take care of these two little guys. Just thinking about it gives me a headache! What should I do? Should I beat all my classmates to tears as soon as I get to school? If I become the school bully, there will be much less trouble, right?”

He Qingqing first frowned, then suddenly thought of something, her eyes gradually becoming firm.

Little Fatty, however, waved his fists very optimistically, “Who am I afraid of when fighting, besides Xiang Wu? I’ll beat anyone who comes. I’m already an Elementary Ordinary Martial Artist, and I’ll soon become an Intermediate Ordinary Martial Artist!”

Then he turned his head and curiously asked Su Hao, “Xiang Wu, what is your current level?”

Just as Little Fatty was asking about Su Hao’s level, He Jianyong, who was walking at the front, immediately perked up his ears.

He was actually very curious about Su Hao’s current level because with his keen Perception, he could faintly perceive a trace of threat from Su Hao, which was not normal, very not normal.

He had never felt this way from a child or teenager. This made him strongly suspect he was overthinking it.

Su Hao chuckled, “This~ I’m not too sure, it’s about right!”

Little Fatty was very unhappy with Su Hao’s perfunctory attitude, so he guessed, “Xiang Wu, could you have already reached the advanced Ordinary Martial Artist level? A few years ago, I heard people say you were about mid-level Ordinary Martial Artist strength, you must have definitely reached advanced Ordinary Martial Artist by now!”

Su Hao chuckled, “Heh, about that, I’m not really sure.”

Little Fatty took Su Hao’s response as agreement and exclaimed in amazement, “Xiang Wu, you’re too amazing! You truly are a genius, I can’t compare at all. I heard that an advanced Ordinary Martial Artist at your age is already among the top geniuses in the Academy. That’s someone who is a priority for cultivation.”

Su Hao praised, “Oh really! Little Fatty, you know so much.”

Little Fatty said proudly, “Of course.”

…

The journey was uneventful; the Ferocious Beast attack that Little Fatty was looking forward to did not occur.

The group hurried along and finally reached their destination that afternoon – Lingyun Town.

“Is this Lingyun Town?” Little Fatty stood under the city gate of Lingyun Town, his mouth agape in exaggeration.

Even He Qingqing exclaimed, “Lingyun Town is so big, the city walls are so high, it’s so magnificent!”

Old Li laughed heartily, “Didn’t expect that, haha! Don’t keep that expression on your faces after we enter the city, or people will say you’re from the countryside and look down on you.”

Seeing this city, even the well-traveled Su Hao was awestruck.

Regardless of the total area Lingyun Town occupied, the city walls alone appeared very grand and imposing. They stretched as far as the eye could see on both sides, at least fifteen stories high. How high is fifteen stories? At least forty to fifty meters, which seemed a bit exaggerated.

A person standing beneath the city wall would appear very small.

Such high city walls did not seem like they were built to stop human attacks, but rather to defend against giant ferocious beasts. So the question arises, what kind of ferocious beasts were so powerful that the residents of this small city had to build city walls so tall and magnificent?

Asking when you don’t know is a good quality of Su Hao’s. He curiously asked, “Uncle Yong, why are the city walls built so high? Is it to defend against some powerful enemy?”

He Qingqing and Little Fatty also looked curious, “Yeah, why are they built so high?”

He Jianyong laughed heartily, “Hahaha, every so often, some powerful Ferocious Beasts pass by our Lingyun Town. This is to prevent them from getting hungry and coming into the city to eat people. Building the city walls higher can block some Ferocious Beasts.”

Su Hao and the others knew what Ferocious Beasts were. Ferocious Beasts were not the same species as ordinary beasts in terms of Thought-power.

The strongest beasts were just some unusually large wild animals, and their strength peaked at the advanced Ordinary Martial Artist level.

But Ferocious Beasts have no upper limit; their appearances are diverse, and their sizes are not fixed. Some are only the size of a fist, while others are as large as a high mountain, making them extremely terrifying.

A single powerful Ferocious Beast could destroy a city with just one strike.

Seeing He Qingqing and Little Fatty tremble in fear at the words “man-eating,” He Jianyong laughed heartily again, “You don’t need to worry. The city is much safer than our Teamount Outpost. Powerful warriors are stationed at the City Wall at all times. Once a Ferocious Beast is spotted approaching, they will be driven away immediately.”

Saying this, he led the way into the city gate, “Let’s go! We’ll enter the city and sign up as soon as possible.”

(End of Chapter)