Creeeak…
All eyes turned as Wu Zhe stepped inside, his body soaked in blood, the head of the man-eating bear held in hand. The foul stench of blood filled the hall, causing hunters to instinctively step aside, all covering their noses.
He walked straight to the counter and dropped the bears head onto the receptionist's desk.
"Here."
The young woman behind the desk froze, her eyes wide.
"You… you actually killed it in less than an hour?!"
"Mhm" Wu Zhe said with a nod.
"T-that's incredible sir Huang! Here's your reward." She quickly handed over a pouch of coins.
Wu Zhe opened it and counted aloud. "Ninety gold…?" He tilted his head. "What's with the extra ten?"
"Ah, that's your joining bonus for initiation."
"I see—" He stopped mid-sentence as the foul stench reached his nose. Glancing around, he noticed everyone covering theirs.
"Um… actually, Mr. Huang," she said hesitantly, "we just received a new mission, an escort request. The young lady of the Jue family is planning an expedition to the Blighted Wilds and then returning to Xiongwei. The mission requires protecting and escorting her for the entirety of the journey."
She paused, reading something before continuing.
"It says here the reward is about two hundred gold per hunter. Several have already signed up, but since the guild doesn't want to risk damaging relations with the Jue family, we plan to send only our best. With you slaying this beast, you've already proven yourself… so would you be willing to take this mission? Of course, it's up to you, Sir Huang, please feel free to take your time to think it through."
Wu Zhe's eyes narrowed. "When?"
"In the next three days."
"Three days, huh?" His brows raised slightly.
"Yes."
"I see… I'll think about it."
"Understood! Please just speak to me if you wish to join."
"Understood. Ah, and the bear head? I'd like to sell it."
"Understood. Wait here a minute, Mr. Wu Zhe," she said, going to the back and coming back with a second pouch.
"Here's fitheen gold sir Huang."
Wu Zhe took it, gave a nod, and left. He climbed onto his horse and made his way back to the Golden Lantern.
As he entered, Wu Zhe immediately noticed the tense atmosphere. The diners looked awkward, the receptionist appeared scared out of his mind, and at a nearby table sat several armed men surrounding a boy in luxurious clothing. Cooks bustled around him, attending to his needs.
Beside the boy was Little Xue, seemingly hugging him, though Wu Zhe noticed the boy's hands brushing against her inappropriately.
As the door opened, all eyes turned to Wu Zhe. The boy noticed him and shouted,
"What're you looking at?"
Wu Zhe remained silent, his gaze focused on Little Xue, watching the tears streaming down her face as she remained clung to the boy.
"Oi, shithead!" the boy shouted, throwing a plate of food towards Wu Zhe.
"I asked, what're you looking at?"
"Nothing but vermin..."
"Huh? The hell did you just call me?" he asked, tilting his head.
Little Xue's expression went from fear to shock as Wu Zhe spoke. Her tears stopped instantly, and she cried out,
"Sir Huang! Today's not a time to be in the tavern! Please, come—"
Before she could finish speaking, the boy shoved her aside, sending her to the ground.
"Oi, bitch! Shut up! Can't you see I'm talking?" he yelled.
The cooks and everyone nearby watched in silence, doing nothing.
Wu Zhe's gaze settled on the boy. As he felt it, the boy's body shivered, feeling an unsettling feeling of dread as Wu Zhe eyed him.
"Someone teach this fucker some manners!" the boy shouted.
"Understood, sir!" The several men rushed out, drawing their swords and charging at Wu Zhe.
As several of the men surged forward, with their swords raised, their faces were all full of arrogance.
Not once did Wu Zhe break eye contact with the boy. Even as the men drew closer, his gaze remained fixed on him. Just as they were about to strike, he swung lazily and in an instant, all of the men's arms were completely dismembered.
Their swords and limbs clattered to the floor as their screams filled the tavern, blood constantly pouring down from their dismembered arms.
The room fell utterly silent, every eye fixed in shock at Wu Zhe's absolute brutality. Even the boy froze, Little Xue scrambled to her feet, hands trembling as she backed away.
Wu Zhe's gaze was still fixed on the boy. "Do you consider yourself untouchable?" he asked.
The boy's face turned into fear. "W-who are you?!"
"No one of importance," Wu Zhe replied, his voice soft.
The armed men continued screaming the pain of losing their arms felt unbearable. The boy's earlier arrogance faltered, replaced by the crushing realization that he had provoked someone far beyond his ability to provoke.
Wu Zhe slowly walked toward him. The boy felt an immense sense of danger as he approached.
"Stop! Don't hurt me! My brother's a cultivator! H-He'l—" the boy shouted, hoping to scare Wu Zhe.
But it didn't work. Wu Zhe continued walking toward him, eventually standing over him like. The boy couldn't even meet his eyes, staring down at his table.
"Apologize," Wu Zhe said.
The boy shifted around awkwardly. Wu Zhe suddenly struck him, sending him collapsing to the ground.
Little Xue cried out, "Sir Huang! Please, stop this!"
Wu Zhe ignored her, his eyes locked on the boy.
Time seemed to slow for the boy. The tavern shrank around him, the people there seemed to pale in comparison to Wu Zhe, who now looked like a giant standing above him.
The boy's voice cracked as he tried to speak. "I—I'm sorry!"
Wu Zhe stared at him, with an expressionless face. Then he placed both hands on the boy's cheeks, lifting his head so their eyes met.
The boy looked up at Wu Zhe, confusion flickering across his face, unsure as to why he was being touched.
Then, suddenly, Wu Zhe's thumbs lifted and began pressing into the boy's eye sockets.
"AHHH!" the boy screamed, clawing at Wu Zhe's arms, trying to pull them away, but Wu Zhe arms didnt budge.
Wu Zhe strength was too overwhelming.
"STOP! MERCY!"
The boy struggled frantically as the pressure increased, until a popping sound from the boy was heard.
Wu Zhe released his hold on the boy. As he did the boy collapsed, his eyes bled as he desperately tried to cover them, the pain of his eye sockets being pushed to his head and rupture made it unbearable.
Wu Zhe walked past everyone in the tavern, and began climbing the stairs.
The entire tavern watched in horror at the brutality before them.
As Wu Zhe was walking he suddenly stopped and asked a question.