Chapter 994  Wanji Vs Arthur

A hushed tension settled over the dimly lit tent as Arthur felt the weight of every warrior"s gaze upon him. Each figure exuded a threatening aura, their eyes fixed on the uninvited guest who dared to infiltrate their clandestine gathering. It was evident why no one had questioned him earlier; this group exuded unshakable confidence.

With a faint smile, Arthur confessed, "I have no gold to offer, and I have no intention of joining your ranks. I already belong to another group."

The Chief turned, his expression stern but not hostile. "Then we must ask you to depart. We"re not barbarians; we won"t kill you for stumbling upon our base. Leave as you came."

However, doubts lingered among the warriors, one of them voicing his concerns without meeting Arthur"s eyes. "What if he"s working for Xeloria? We know the city wants us dead for claiming their resources. How can we be certain this man is not a spy?"

Arthur"s response was calm and measured, "You need not worry about my intentions. Had I harbored malice, this camp would have been no more the moment I discovered it. That alone should speak for my ident.i.ty. Why would I spy on something I could easily crush?"

An uneasy silence filled the tent as all eyes fixed upon Arthur. His words, though logical, inadvertently insulted those present. The tension only escalated when the tall, scarred man, his hair unkempt, stood up, ready to confront Arthur.

"I cannot let such words slide," he declared, reaching for his sword. "You are going to regret those words, boy."

"Doubt it," Arthur retorted, freezing the entire tent in place. Unfazed, he faced the raging aura of his opponent, who seemed ready to tear the very fabric of the tent apart.

"Chief, please stop him!" urged Elinor with a frown, her concern for the guest she had brought evident. But Arthur remained composed, and the Chief showed no signs of intervening. "He is nothing but a child!"

"Calling him a child is absurd," the Chief said, grinning at Arthur. "That man is a monster in human skin. Ever since he entered the tent, I sensed something unsettling. Now, I want to see where his confidence truly stems from."

Elinor watched anxiously as the man drew his sword. In contrast, Arthur calmly turned and walked out of the tent. The crowd puzzled over his actions until they realized he was waiting for the man to follow.

With a command from the Chief, the tent walls were rolled up to reveal the unfolding spectacle. Arthur stood outside, his black robes fluttering in the wind, ready to face his adversary head-on.

Arthur spoke, a hint of challenge in his voice, "How about we make a wager? If you defeat me, I will join your group. But if I win, you help me find my friends and allow me to stay here. What do you say?"

"We have no use for a loser," the man snapped, stepping out of the tent. "Why would we need you if you can"t prove yourself capable?"

"I understand," Arthur countered, a touch of mischief in his tone. "In that case, I"m willing to offer anything else. I"ll even relinquish all my possessions and let you choose one. Sounds fair, doesn"t it? Oh, and I won"t use my hands."

The provocation hit its mark, and the man"s rage swelled, veins pulsating on his forehead. With his fiery wrath on full display, he locked eyes with Arthur, as if he could devour him whole. The crowd held its breath, eager to witness the outcome of this electrifying showdown.

With his hands still bound, Arthur flashed a daring smile, goading the formidable warrior, Wanji, into action. In an instant, Wanji lunged forward with blinding speed, leaving the onlookers in awe of his prowess. Elinor, unable to contain her concern, raised her bow, ready to intervene.

"Elinor, that kid"s sealing his fate!" Haldor attempted to dissuade her, well aware of Wanji"s indomitable strength. "Wanji is one of the camp"s strongest fighters. We can"t afford to provoke him after all those insults!"

Undeterred, Elinor"s rage burned hot. "This isn"t a duel—it"s an execution! Wanji has been reigning in this tower for a decade, and his strength is unmatched. How can this boy even think of challenging him?"

Haldor knew she spoke the truth, but he felt helpless to stop Arthur from carelessly risking his life. As Wanji"s figure blurred into an unseen blur, hurtling toward Arthur, the boy remained motionless. Astonishingly, instead of dodging, Arthur raised his leg to intercept the incoming blade. ????????.???

The giant sword was sent flying high into the air, spinning gracefully after being wrenched from its owner"s grasp. Wanji appeared bewildered, unable to comprehend how he had been disarmed. In the next instant, Arthur"s leg connected with Wanji"s stomach.

Boom! The ground trembled as the forceful kick struck, shattering the earth beneath them. Wanji was sent hurtling through the air, unable to offer even a hint of resistance. His body crashed into a nearby pole, obliterating it, before rolling across the ground for tens of meters, finally coming to a halt by a roaring bonfire.

Silence engulfed the camp. Everyone was too stunned to draw a breath. There stood Arthur, his hands still bound, casually dusting off his hands and lowering his leg. Not a bead of sweat adorned his face, as if he had dispatched Wanji without exerting any effort.

"…impossible," Haldor murmured, his face drained of color, while releasing his wife from his grasp. Elinor, torn between concern for Wanji and awe for Arthur"s power, couldn"t decide whom to aid. Wanji remained unconscious, felled by a single blow. "Is he... a demon?"

"Even demons shouldn"t possess such power," the Chief remarked, his brow furrowed. "We may have invited an anomaly into our midst and inadvertently challenged him."

Without waiting for the shock to subside, the Chief rose from his seat, his cane thumping on the muddy ground as he made his way to Arthur. He stood before the enigmatic boy.

"Was there ever a chance he could have defeated you?"

"None," Arthur replied, his expression unchanged. "I hope he won"t seek revenge after this, for my mercy would be limited."

"In the Huntsmen Clan, strength reigns supreme," the Chief said, offering his hand to Arthur. "You have proven yourself mightier than any of us. It would be an honor to a.s.sist you. Please, consider this place your home while we search for your companions."

Arthur saw through the Chief"s intentions—he could be a formidable guardian, protecting their base from adversaries. Nonetheless, Arthur welcomed the arrangement, for he needed their aid in finding his friends.

The two men shook hands, and the Chief directed his men to tend to the fallen Wanji. Arthur was led away by Elinor and Haldor toward one of the larger tents in the camp. Throughout the journey, Haldor couldn"t help stealing glances at the enigmatic youth, while Elinor lavished him with newfound respect.

"You youngsters are full of surprises!" Elinor exclaimed, gazing at Arthur with admiration. "Have you been in this tower your whole life? No one else could possess such strength!"

Arthur"s enigmatic past only fueled the clansmen"s curiosity, but he remained tight-lipped, unwilling to share any information. Elinor and Haldor led him to a s.p.a.cious tent where he could stay while they searched for his missing companions. Before they departed, they asked him to describe his friends, so the clan could aid in the search. Arthur complied with their request before they left him to his solitude.

Inside the tent, Arthur surveyed his new living quarters, which were surprisingly s.p.a.cious compared to the confines of his own room. While he understood that his presence might entangle him in the clan"s affairs, he preferred this arrangement to aimlessly wandering through the vast forest without a clue.

After a few minutes of contemplation, a young woman, wearing a mask that concealed most of her features, entered the tent with a meal in hand. She said nothing, silently placing the food on the table and taking a seat opposite him.

Confused by her presence, Arthur inquired, "Can I help you?" The woman"s only response was to stare at him intently from behind her mask, her vivid green eyes almost otherworldly in their appearance. "Did the Chief send you?" he probed further.

The woman nodded, and Arthur let out a resigned sigh. He sat down at the table and began to eat the delicious meal, appreciating the gesture despite not particularly liking the food. He couldn"t help but wish Roderick, the best chef he knew, had accompanied him on this journey.

Throughout the meal, he sensed the woman"s unrelenting gaze fixed upon him. He expected her to leave once he finished eating, but instead, she got up and moved to a different corner of the tent. Through a parted curtain, the sound of running water filled the air.

"Is this another seduction attempt like before?" Arthur asked with a weary tone, the situation feeling eerily familiar. However, his a.s.sumptions were quickly proven wrong when the woman emerged from behind the curtain, returning to her seat. Arthur realized she had prepared a bath for him, an offer he had no reason to decline.

Arthur went into the bathroom and took off his clothes. As he soaked in the warm water, Arthur couldn"t shake the feeling that this encounter was far from ordinary. Yet, he knew that in this mysterious realm, he had to stay vigilant and guarded at all times. The Huntsmen Clan was a place where strength was respected, but they were still people who spent their entire lives in this wretched place.