Chapter 117
Southern Earth Kingdom. A newly built arena.
The midday sun was particularly scorching today. The residents of the southernmost province, seated on simple stone benches, were not exactly comfortable. Had they been indoors, they would have long since been overwhelmed by the stifling aroma of hundreds of sweating bodies. Fortunately, the event was held outdoors, and a gentle, cool breeze offered some relief. One could envy the resourceful individuals who had prepared gallons of a local beverage, similar to kvass. The drink, called *kisu* here, was also made from grain and had the same thirst-quenching effect. Kisu vendors were in high demand today, and they silently thanked the young lord who had organized the event.
"You've traveled through many provinces—surely you know this wealthy young man. Can you tell us anything interesting about him?" one man asked another sitting beside him. His gaze kept drifting to the two beautiful women accompanying the young man. In his mind, he had already labeled Yo as the spoiled offspring of a wealthy capital family, someone who, in his opinion, had achieved nothing on his own.
"Never heard of him," the second man shrugged. He, too, was curious about the origins of this individual, whose influence spanned the entire Earth Kingdom. As far as he knew, this was far from the first tournament of its kind. Each time, the rulers themselves or their trusted aides had participated personally.
It wasn't just this pair who found the figure intriguing. Some had already pieced together the vast sums this family of four spent in every province. Logically, Yo was either the illegitimate son of Lao, the new King, or a bastard of the previous King, Kuei...
The crowd's attention wasn't solely on the mysterious and wealthy family seated on the elevated platform. Many were engrossed in the various competitions, where people of all ages and genders—elders, girls, boys, men, and women—showcased their mastery of combat or physical prowess. It was all quite fascinating, enough to keep them sweating under the relentless sun.
*
Yo. Same place, same time.
Several months had passed since we began our journey across the country. We had visited most of the provinces, but unfortunately, I hadn't found the unique individuals I was seeking. Yes, there were weapon masters rivaling Piandao, and people with physical anomalies like June. There was even a man I called Mr. Fantastic—he seemed to have no bones, his body bending at impossible angles into bizarre shapes. It was all fascinating and educational, but without life energy, it held no real value for me.