Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 5. Provocation? The Furious Upward Slash!
Early the next morning.
Clutching his growling stomach, Wu You staggered into the nearest town and headed straight for the Adventurers’ Guild.
The guild hall was bustling with noise, filled with adventurers in all kinds of strange outfits coming and going.
Wu You’s clothes, though worn, were clearly made from good material. Combined with his somewhat pale and weary handsome face, he stood out awkwardly among the rough and burly men filling the hall.
He had just squeezed his way to the registration counter when a mocking laugh came from beside him before he could speak.
“Well, well. Look at this. Which little noble brat wandered into the wrong place? This is the Adventurers’ Guild, not a playground for aristocrats.”
A burly man with a scar across his face and a broadsword on his back folded his arms and looked down at Wu You with a mocking grin.
Several companions beside him burst into laughter.
“Exactly. With skin that soft, you might wet your pants if a goblin swings a wooden club at you.”
“Hey kid, what is your class? Do not tell me it is some legendary noble class. Hahaha!”
Wu You frowned but did not intend to respond.
He turned to the receptionist behind the counter and spoke as calmly as possible.
“Hello, I would like to register as an adventurer.”
“E-rank Basic Swordsman.”
He added it openly.
There was no point hiding it.
“Pfft!!!”
The scar-faced man laughed even louder.
“E-rank? And a Basic Swordsman? Did I hear that right? Kid, are you here to entertain us? With that little body of yours, a swordsman? You probably cannot even hold a sword steady!”
More people gathered around to watch the commotion, pointing and whispering.
Wu You took a deep breath and told himself to stay calm.
Enduring small insults now would prevent bigger trouble later.
He was here to make a living, not to fight.
“Please process my registration.”
Ignoring the noise behind him, he spoke to the receptionist.
The young woman behind the counter looked at him with sympathy and was about to proceed.
But the scar-faced man suddenly stepped forward, blocking Wu You from the counter.
“What is the hurry?”
The scar-faced man looked down at Wu You and bared his yellowed teeth in a grin.
“Kid, you do not look convinced. How about sparring with me? Let me show you what a real adventurer looks like.”
Wu You clenched his fists, though his voice remained calm.
“Not interested. Move.”
“Not interested? More like scared!”
The man’s companions began jeering.
“Scar Brother, he is a delicate little noble boy. Of course he would not dare fight you!”
“Exactly. If he kneels and begs for mercy and calls you grandfather, maybe you will spare him!”
The scar-faced man’s grin grew uglier.
“Well, kid? I will not bully you unfairly. We follow the swordsman’s rules. You are a Level One swordsman, and so am I. A duel between equals is perfectly fair.”
“If you lose…”
He chuckled maliciously.
“You do not have to call me grandfather. Just kneel right here in the hall, kowtow three times, and say ‘I was wrong, I am trash.’ Sounds reasonable, right?”
Even more spectators gathered around, clearly eager to watch the disgraced “noble” embarrass himself.
Some whistled.
Some shouted encouragement.
Wu You lowered his head.
His body trembled slightly.
Not from fear, but from the rage burning inside his chest.
He could feel the skills in his mind sensing his emotions.
The sharp intent of [Straight Thrust], the restless energy of [Horizontal Slash], the steady calm of [Block], and the agility of [Quick Step] all quieted for a moment.
A shared anger gathered among them.
Damn it.
When a tiger falls to the plains, even dogs dare bully it!
Did these people really think he was made of clay?!
Just as he was about to lose control and let [Straight Thrust] pierce straight through this bastard’s chest—
【Ding! Your skill “Enhanced Upward Slash” has completed its first long-distance training journey and has returned fully loaded to the host’s skill bar. Detected that the host is currently in the center of a conflict and filled with anger…】
【“Enhanced Upward Slash” instantly reads the situation and bursts into furious rage. I have been outside killing monsters and leveling up just so my host would not have to endure this nonsense? Which blind piece of trash dares bully my host?!】
【“Enhanced Upward Slash” transmits a short but explosive thought: Host! Step aside! Let me handle this! Beat him!!!】
Wu You suddenly felt a familiar yet much stronger sharp power surge into his body.
At the same time, the violent roar of [Enhanced Upward Slash] returned with it.
He was momentarily stunned.
Then an indescribable sense of confidence surged up inside him.
He slowly raised his head.
The frustrated expression he had been forcing down moments ago disappeared instantly.
In its place was a calm expression as if he were looking at a dead man.
There was even a strange smile on his lips.
He looked at the scar-faced man, who was still grinning smugly while waiting for him to kneel and beg for mercy.
Wu You rolled his wrist slightly and spoke leisurely.
“According to swordsman rules, a duel between equals. The loser kneels and kowtows to admit defeat?”
“That is right!”
The scar-faced man sneered.
“What, you little trash? Finally got the courage to agree?”
“Sure.”
Wu You nodded.
His tone was so casual it sounded as if he were discussing what to eat for dinner.
“Let us play.”
He stepped forward.
He drew the ordinary iron sword hanging at his waist.
It was more decorative than practical.
He casually assumed the most basic stance any apprentice swordsman would know.
The Ready Stance.
Sword angled downward toward the ground.
“Come.”
Wu You curled his finger at the scar-faced man.
“I am in a hurry. I am still hungry.”
“You are asking for death!”
The scar-faced man was completely enraged by his contemptuous attitude.
With a furious roar, he drew the broadsword from his back.
A faint white aura of battle energy rose around his body—the mark of a Level One swordsman.
He lunged forward with a standard charge.
The broadsword howled through the air as it swung down toward Wu You’s head.
It was a heavy and powerful strike.
Clearly he intended to knock Wu You flat with a single blow.
Gasps erupted from the surrounding crowd.
Many people were already imagining Wu You being smashed to the ground and coughing blood.
But Wu You did not move at all.
Only when the broadsword was about to reach him did he silently speak in his mind.
“Upward Slash.”
He did not even need to activate it himself.
Inside the skill bar, the icon of [Enhanced Upward Slash], which had just returned with overflowing fury, burst into brilliant light.
In the next instant, Wu You’s wrist seemed guided by an invisible force.
His sword naturally moved upward and forward with a light flick.
A simple upward strike.
There was no flashy battle energy.
No complicated technique.
It was merely the most basic move that any sword apprentice could perform.
“CLANG!!!”
A sharp and piercing sound of metal colliding exploded through the hall.
Before everyone’s stunned eyes, the scar-faced man’s unstoppable downward strike was deflected by Wu You’s effortless upward flick.
Not only that—
The scar-faced man suddenly felt a strange and powerful force surge through his sword.
The impact numbed his hand and nearly made him drop the weapon.
At the same time, his entire body was lifted off the ground like a sack thrown into the air.
He flew backward and upward in a miserable arc.
THUD!
The scar-faced man crashed onto the hard floor several meters away.
His broadsword clattered loudly as it slid across the ground.
The entire hall fell silent.