Das entered the room casually, expecting a simple job interview where he would be asked about his personal details. However, his expectations were shattered the moment he stepped inside.
Sitting before him was an old man, his presence exuding a profound aura, and standing beside him was a muscular man with golden-yellow eyes, an intense expression on his face. But what made Das freeze for a moment was the hostility in their gazes. They looked at him like hungry wolves sizing up their next meal.
At first glance, Das understood that this was not going to be a mere interview; a fight was about to take place. The air was thick with tension, and an unmistakable sense of danger enveloped the room.
While everyone watched Das with mild curiosity, one person's reaction stood out—Nivedita. Her eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back as if she had seen a ghost.
"Wait? How did you come up here?" Nivedita cried out in surprise.
Das was momentarily taken aback by her sudden outburst. However, the moment he saw her face clearly, recognition dawned upon him. She was the same lady who had almost run him over with her flashy Lamborghini outside the supermarket. Back then, he had mocked her for her reckless driving before casually walking away. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to meet her again in such a place.
"My lady, do you know this criminal fellow?" the yellow-eyed man asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"Yes, I know him," Nivedita snapped, crossing her arms. "While I was driving, this idiot walked in front of my car and then had the audacity to curse me for his own mistake. He even dared to mock me! Elder, please teach this bastard a lesson." Nivedita spoke with an angry glare.
"There is no need to soil your hands, Elder. I shall deal with him. Please allow me the honor of teaching this arrogant fool a lesson." Yellow Tiger asked in excited tone.
The old monk considered for a moment before nodding. "Very well, but do not disappoint me."
The yellow-eyed man cracked his knuckles and picked up his small stone statue, gripping it tightly. He smirked, eager for battle.
Meanwhile, Das turned toward the secretary and asked, his tone laced with irritation, "Would you care to explain what's going on here? I came here for a job, not to fight brainless idiots."
The old monk and the yellow-eyed man tensed at his disrespectful words, their auras flaring up. However, before they could react, the secretary stepped forward and explained, "This is the selection process for the personal security guard of Princess Maya. To prove your strength and ability to protect her, you must defeat the elder in combat."
Das let out a long sigh and turned his gaze towards the old monk. "So, I just need to beat this old man, and the job is mine?"
"Yes," Nivedita confirmed before the secretary could respond. A chuckle escaped her lips, mocking the very idea. "If you can truly defeat the elder, I'll personally hand you the job. No questions asked."
Das smiled in joy. "Sounds fair."
"Hey, brat!" The yellow-eyed man sneered. "If you want to fight the elder, you have to go through me first."
Das rolled his sleeves up, stepping into the center of the room with a confident grin. "Fine by me."
As both sides prepared for battle, Princess Maya—seated on the wheelchair at the corner, put all her efforts and moved her chair by touching the nob with her little finger, her eyes fixed on Das. Unlike the others, who looked at him with either disdain or curiosity, she seemed intrigued. She had recognized him—the same man who had saved her and her grandfather the previous night from a mob attack.
Das locked eyes with the yellow-eyed man, analyzing him. He knew that this man, whoever he was, could not defeat him in direct physical combat. Das was waiting for tricks—hidden weapons, unexpected techniques—but before he could anticipate anything, the yellow-eyed man activated his internal energy.
A sudden surge of power erupted from him as he held the stone statue tightly.
"Boom!"
An invisible force struck Das, pushing him back three steps. But instead of a pained or angered expression, a delighted smile spread across his face.
Das was surprised, recognizing the familiar energy emanating from his opponent. It was similar to the power he had encountered before—specifically, the energy of the witch on War God Mountain [Mohini]. However, there was a stark difference in their strengths. While the witch's attack had felt like a car slamming into him, this man's attack was nothing more than a child's punch.
The yellow-eyed man and the others were equally shocked. Any normal person would have been smashed against the wall, yet Das had only taken three steps back.
"What? You can't move now?" The yellow-eyed man taunted, unaware of the real situation.
Das smirked and casually walked forward, pushing through the oppressive energy like it was nothing more than a light breeze.
Gasps echoed throughout the room. A normal human should not have been able to move through a cultivator's energy field so effortlessly!
Before the yellow-eyed man could react, Das raised his hand and—
"Phat!"
A loud, resounding slap echoed through the hall as the yellow-eyed man was sent flying, crashing into the far corner. Blood spurted from his mouth as he struggled to get up, his face swollen from the impact.
Nivedita and the secretary were dumbfounded. The casual slap from Das had caused more damage than the old monk's strongest strikes.
The old monk narrowed his eyes. Unlike the others, he quickly grasped the situation. He thought, Das was a body cultivator. And not just any body cultivator, but one with strength equivalent to a Class 10 cultivator!
Realizing the vast gap between them, the old monk let out a deep breath and bowed slightly. "I apologize for my earlier behavior." Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, never once looking back.
Nivedita tried to call the monk, but there was no response.
Das turned toward Nivedita and asked with a smile, "So… am I selected? When do I start?"
Nivedita looked like she wanted to slap herself. After a long moment of glaring at him, she finally sighed in resignation and gave a reluctant nod.
And just like that, Vikram Das had secured his job as the personal guard of Princess Maya.