Chapter 7 : One-on-One
Chapter 7: One-on-One! Devour!
Leo grabbed a handful of fodder and brought it to his nose to sniff—it seemed there was nothing wrong.
Just now, he had heard the horses say that there was a scent in the fodder that made them fearful.
But he could not smell it.
Not bothering with it further, Leo walked into the stable and cleared out all the fodder from the trough.
He fetched a new bundle of grass, chopped it with a guillotine cutter, then mixed in some concentrated feed before pouring it back into the trough.
Leo felt that although he had practiced swordsmanship all day, carrying the fodder was noticeably easier than yesterday. It should be the effect of his Strength increasing by 0.1.
After finishing all this, Leo calmed the horses.
Only then, for Leo’s sake, did the horses begin to eat.
Looking at his panel, after completing this entire process, the Mount Control skill’s experience increased by 2 points.
“Hmph, as expected of a countryside minor lord’s son—quite skilled at raising horses,” Eddie sneered from the side with his arms crossed.
“Scram, scram, get lost!” Arthur kicked straight at Eddie’s backside.
All day long, he had listened to Eddie’s complaints and was already fed up. “Your father is just a border baron, yet you keep going on about the countryside—I’m sick of hearing it!”
Arthur walked past Eddie and came in front of Leo.
Leo watched that kick—brutal and domineering!
As expected of a count’s son.
But as Arthur approached, Leo’s hand unconsciously gripped the Wooden Sword at his waist.
After training all day, his body had already developed an instinctive defensive reaction.
Yet Arthur was smiling playfully. He slung an arm over Leo’s shoulder. “Brother, relax. Let me properly introduce myself—Arthur, from Silver Pine Territory. Thanks for stepping in yesterday.”
Confirming that the other party meant no harm, Leo released his grip on the Wooden Sword.
“Come, come, give us a hand,” Arthur called out to Hogg while seeing Leo busily tending to the horses.
Then he continued, “Didn’t expect you to come back and help today. Since you’re so loyal, I, Arthur, am definitely not someone who repays kindness with ingratitude. Let’s finish up quickly and go relax in Blackstone City.”
“Relax?” Leo looked at Arthur with slight disdain. The more he looked at this big fool, the more he resembled those decadent second-generation nobles. “You mean… a brothel?”
Arthur immediately covered Leo’s mouth. “Don’t talk nonsense! I’ve never been to a place like that. If my father hears this, he’ll break my legs.”
At this moment, Hogg explained, “Arthur means we go to the church dining hall for a meal. The food in the castle is limited, and we’re not even allowed to drink.”
“No.” Leo refused the invitation and continued working.
His plan was to grind Mount Control proficiency here, then go back and rest well—he still had to practice swordsmanship tomorrow.
As for dinner, the maid Natalie had probably already saved his meal.
The town was just outside the castle, but going back and forth would still waste quite a bit of time.
Leo had little interest in such unproductive social activities.
“Hey~ since you’ve started practicing swordsmanship, we can exchange pointers. I may not be good at raising horses, but I’m quite skilled with the sword.” Arthur’s eyes were filled with confidence.
“And I even have a secret recipe to strengthen the body—want to try it?”
Arthur waggled his eyebrows at Leo while picking up a rake to help mix the fodder.
Seeing Leo unmoved, Arthur still refused to give up.
As the eldest son of Count Xilin, he did not want to owe others favors. “Alright, you don’t believe me, huh? Come on, let’s spar.”
Arthur raised the rake in his hand and pointed at the Wooden Sword at Leo’s waist.
Only then did Leo finally stop.
He felt that if he refused, Arthur would just keep pestering him.
That would seriously affect his efficiency in grinding Mount Control experience.
More importantly, after training all day, Leo felt an itch to test his skills.
With the panel’s assistance, he felt that he had improved quite a bit.
Most importantly, he wanted to know his current actual combat level.
“Alright, let’s try.” Leo took off the Wooden Sword strapped to his back.
The two walked outside the stable.
Leo held the Wooden Sword, while Arthur confidently dangled a rake. “Come, let me show you the Xilin Family’s swordsmanship. Make your move.”
Not far away, Hogg and Eddie watched from a distance.
Hogg’s eyes were filled with curiosity.
Eddie, however, had a look of anticipation—waiting to see Leo make a fool of himself.
They had sparred with Arthur before; even together, they could not beat him alone.
So this skinny Leo stood no chance.
Leo looked at Arthur holding the rake casually, standing there as if he did not take him seriously at all.
His grip tightened, and suddenly he moved—aiming at Arthur’s waist with a horizontal Slash.
Arthur’s hand suddenly tightened around the rake.
In the next moment—
Bang!
Arthur easily blocked Leo’s strike.
It was clear that there was still a significant gap in strength between the two.
But Leo did not pause for even a moment—he immediately followed with a second strike.
After taking on the Swordsman class, with Level 1 swordsmanship proficiency, his body had already developed some muscle memory.
Thus, his moves flowed smoothly.
Leo raised both arms high, stepped forward, and brought down the second strike from above Arthur’s head.
Arthur’s eyes shifted—clearly, he had underestimated him.
Leo’s movements were far more practiced than he had expected; he was not a novice.
However, compared to Arthur, Leo’s footwork was still somewhat unrefined.
Arthur sidestepped, easily dodging the downward strike.
But Leo’s offense did not cease—the third strike shot forward like a venomous snake, thrusting toward Arthur’s abdomen.
Arthur had already seen it coming. With a flick of the rake, he stepped back twice, effortlessly neutralizing the attack.
Now standing in front of the trough, Arthur looked at Leo with a grin. “Didn’t expect you to be somewhat capable. Again! But this time, I’m getting serious.”
Arthur’s body lowered slightly, his left foot stepping half a step forward.
His rear hand held the weapon while his front hand extended, curling his fingers slightly at Leo.
This was a very standard opening stance in swordsmanship.
An invitation stance.
Arthur was serious now.
Leo tightened his grip on the Wooden Sword. Just now, Arthur had clearly underestimated him, yet still handled his attacks with ease—almost effortlessly.
There was a clear gap in both swordsmanship and footwork between them.
And Leo had already used up his limited set of moves.
His eyes flickered rapidly.
He noticed that Arthur’s rear foot was already pressed against the trough—he had nowhere to retreat.
As long as this next attack was fast enough, using a feint to break through the first defense,
he might be able to use the terrain to defeat him.
Without realizing it, Leo had already entered a combat state. His mind rapidly analyzed the situation, his entire body ready to attack or defend at any moment.
In the next instant, Leo deliberately glanced at Arthur’s left foot, then closed in from the left, feigning a horizontal Cut from that side.
This was a feint.
“Haha, good move!”
But Arthur clearly saw through it. Having sparred since childhood, such a simple feint was laughable to him.
Leo’s flank was full of openings—he was bound to lose!
Just as Arthur sneered and prepared to shift from defense to offense—
something completely unexpected happened.
At the exact moment Arthur was about to make his move—
a massive, blood-filled mouth stuffed with hay suddenly descended from above, engulfing Arthur’s entire head!