Duncan watched the exchange with guarded eyes. He knew that the man was using him as an example to teach the child a very important lesson. However, he didn't feel glad.
Instead, he only felt a deep chill in his bones.
Right now, the child didn't know how to mobilize his power. But, when he does, it will be Duncan's turn to be careful. And Duncan was sure that the child will begin to adapt quickly to the man's advice.
But, what worried him the most was the amount of hate the child would feel for him when he was done with this mission. He should have known better. He should have listened to the receptionist's advice and not taken this mission.
He was sure that the man wouldn't even lift a finger if the child decided to avenge him once the mission ended. It made him wonder how stupid he had been to think that this would be easy money to swallow.
Soon, the so-called spar resumed.
Duncan immediately began to only dodge the attacks the child sent his way, fearing the consequences of laying a hand on the child. However, the man stopped the spar immediately and warned Duncan to fight properly or face his displeasure.
With no other recourse, Duncan began to fight the child properly. One couldn't even call that a fight as the child was sent back tumbling repeatedly. Even Duncan winced at the amount of beating the child took.
However, Duncan had to give it to the child.
The child never rested. He stood up every time ready to go. Soon, the child fell into a defensive state trying to avoid injuries.
It worked well for Duncan.
He attacked the child relentlessly and caused the child to guard arduously. While he didn't use his full strength, he did use his full speed to his advantage. As time progressed, the child soon became fatigued.
"We will end this spar for today. From tomorrow, you will start to spar with this man for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. You will go back and reflect on your mistakes," the man ordered ending the spar.
Duncan's mind blanked. He had been planning to make a run for it once the spar ended. He never expected the man to issue such an order. Regardless, he decided to leave this place once and for all, before making an escape.
But, man proposes, heaven disposes.
"Wang Chen, lead this young man to a room in guest quarters. Take care of his need. For the foreseeable future, he will be a guest in our compound," the man ordered to the guard causing Duncan's plans to collapse.
"My lord," Duncan couldn't help but say as heard the order, "I need to return to the inn tonight, my lord. If not, the innkeeper would throw my stuff away. I will be back tomorrow."
And he would be a fool to do that.
Duncan planned to leave the city the moment he collected his valuables. If not for the sword Granny Jiao had given him, he would leave the city directly without even going to his inn.
"No need," the man said domineeringly, "You will stay here for the foreseeable future. You don't think I will allow a mercenary to go out and wag his tongue about beating my kid, do you?"
"My lord, I will do no such thing. I have a few valuables present in my room, my lord. I will bring them with me tomorrow and stay here until Young Master's training is complete," Duncan told as sincerely as he could.
"Wang Chen, get his stuff from the inn and send it to his room," the man said nonchalantly. "You don't have any other concerns now, do you?"
Duncan could only mutely shake his head by now.
"Don't look at me like that. I will pay you the amount mentioned in the mission after sending the cut for the Mercenary Association tomorrow. And from tomorrow, I will pay double the amount. You will not be wronged helping my son."
Duncan now had absolutely nothing to refute with. He could only meekly nod and accept his fate. Maybe the man wouldn't kill him off by the time the sparring was over with.
He could only blame himself for being too greedy now. If he had been a little smart about things, he would have never taken such a job.
Duncan was once more shepherded into a lavish room under the guard Wang Chen's careful eyes. He knew that there was no way for him to escape now. So, he gritted his teeth and endured.
The room looked rich and even had a bed that was so soft that Duncan felt as if he was floating on clouds. Never in a million years had he dreamed of occupying such a vast room to himself.
But, none of this brought joy to Duncan. He was essentially a prisoner now and he knew that the chance of him ending up dead by the time this mission was over was high.
For the first time in his life, Duncan felt like he was a puppet dancing under the string of others. It was very uncomfortable for him.
Even when he had been a poor, malnourished miner in his town, he hadn't felt this way. While what he could do with his situation had been limited, he had never felt as if there was no other choice for him.
But now, he felt that he had no choice. He was entirely powerless in the face of a powerful cultivation clan like the Wang clan. He could do nothing but what they told him to do.
Even his life and death weren't in his hands.
Whether the Wang clan would let him live after the training was done was entirely up to them. Even if he had only done as asked, he didn't think the young child would be able to understand that.
And with a simple order, the child could kill him!
When Duncan thought about this, he felt a completely new feeling occupying his heart. As the feeling began to persist, Duncan realized that the world around him had somehow lost its luster.
The lights looked dimmer, the breeze felt desolate, the sounds he heard were muffled, and even what he felt with his senses seemed muddled. Duncan didn't really understand why the world suddenly felt lackluster.
However, he felt completely powerless for the first time in his life. And something within him was completely against such a feeling. He didn't like it one bit. But, he could do nothing about it either.
These complex feelings brought a gloomy atmosphere into his life for the first time.
*****
Meanwhile…
Twenty miles northwest of Starmist City…
A youth with extraordinary temperament was looking in the direction Grasslands was located. His clothing was elegant, his face was refined, and the atmosphere around him looked tranquil.
His back was firm, but none could see that from his posture as he appeared to be a gentle refined man, sporting an elegant smile. If one looked at him from afar, one would feel entirely refreshed.
However, if one were to look into his eyes, one could see a bloodthirsty gleam present in there. That bloodthirsty aura was hidden deep inside the calm appearance the youth had.
His name was Liu Kong – the Holy Son of Seven Clouds Sect that was located in the neighboring kingdom.
Just then, a dark shadow flashed and a figure clothed entirely in black, from head to toe, materialized behind him.
"Holy Son," the figure addressed him respectfully.
"Report," Liu Kong's tone was gentle in accordance with his appearance.
"Our information suggests that there is a high possibility that what you seek might be what really caused the commotion in the Grasslands two months ago, Holy Son," the figure reported.
"However, since none of the experts who ventured inside the Grasslands were able to make it back alive due to the Level 7 beast's rampage, we can't be entirely sure."
Silence ensued the statement. The figure shifted a little uncomfortably as Liu Kong contemplated the information for a while.
"Hmmm, it looks like I should head there personally," Liu Kong murmured after a few minutes.
"But…" the figure said hesitantly.
"Hmmm," Liu Kong turned his head to look at the figure.
The figure lowered his head hastily.
"Forgive me, Holy Son," the figure said hurriedly, "with Level 7 beast guarding the area, it might be really unwise to go there. Moreover, our informants from Nebula City have brought news that the Third Prince has been planning something in regards to the same."
"There have been experts stationed all over the boundary of Grasslands. Even the Heavenly Wolf General, Heavenly Dog General, and Great Bear General have been sent out. This time, there is a high chance that his actions may target you, Holy Son. We are afraid that your movements may have been leaked."
Silence once more engulfed the area as Liu Kong stood there pondering the information for a few moments.
"Ha ha ha," Liu Kong began laughing uproariously all of a sudden causing the tranquil atmosphere present to shatter into million pieces.