- All right. Uh-huh. So, Lily, in exchange for your rescue, I need a place to stay and food. And silence about what happened today, but I think that's in your best interest.
- Now help me dump the corpses in the river, I'll tie your blood with me just in case... - Kai said seriously
- Ah...ah...ah. - Looking dumbfounded Lily trembled.
- Hahaha, can't you take a joke? - Laughing, he took the man's body with one hand, he threw it into the river in one motion.
As a master in the Cultivator realm, he had a strength that surpassed any mortal. To them, such a thing seemed like a miracle.
Under Lily's gaze, he threw away the second corpse as well. During his time in the mountains with the brash old man and endless hellish training, Kai had gone a little wild, so to speak. His humor didn't seem funny to Lily for some reason.
- Let's go, shall we? - Staring at the girl, Kai asked.
- Senior, how... how can I address you? - Shyly asked the girl, addressing him as a senior.
- What kind of elder am I to you? I'm actually younger than you. Are you blinded by my brilliant appearance? Hahaha. - Kai joked again.
The two of them were constantly making rude and direct jokes at each other together with Old Mo. This manner of speaking had become a habit of his, one could say this trait was already a part of his character.
- My name is Kai, nice to meet you. - He said and extended his hand to her.
- Lee...Lily. Likewise. - She said, shaking his hand in return.
At that moment she didn't realize what was happening, in front of her stood a very handsome smiling boy of 14 years old, with snow-white hair and azure eyes. But before that he had killed two big men in a few seconds without blinking an eye. And then he asked to visit her. What's going on here?
- So which way is Lily's town?
- That way. - She pointed her finger.
- Hey, does your tavern have meat? I'm really hungry. - Rubbing his stomach, Kai said.
- Uh, no... We sometimes have meat, but only when Boss Lota brings it. He's the leader of the Gray Fang Gang and he's very strong. He's a Warrior! - Lily said with fear.
Here Kai immediately stopped:
- No meat? Shit! - He swore, "Okay, wait here. - When he said that, some black smoke started to come out of his eyes, which surprised Lily very much. He looked somewhere in the forest, and immediately disappeared, leaving the girl alone
- That's right, I forgot my stuff! - She said and ran towards the river to get a basin, quickly picking it up she started walking back to the place where Kai had disappeared from. After a few minutes, she saw this strange guy approaching her, and in his hands three big hares with horns on their heads.
- This is a ferocious beast! Although he is one of the weakest, but he can kill a man in a blink of an eye, only Warriors can catch such beasts! - Lily said in surprise.
- Oh, right, throw them under your things. If you don't have enough meat, they'll get us in trouble. - As if nothing had happened, Kai said.
"You're more likely to get us in trouble..." - She thought, but didn't say it.
- H...okay. - Even though she didn't want to dirty what she had just washed, the meat was many times more expensive than all these things combined. She very carefully, as if holding a treasure put the three carcasses in a basin and covered them with the things on top. After picking up the things they walked towards the town.
As they walked, Lily was silent while Kai kept saying something and joking around. He seemed like a mystery to her, he appeared like the devil out of a snuffbox.
- So what's your town called, you say? You know, I'm not far from here either. Heh-heh.
- Our town doesn't have a special name, we're just a border town west of Lord Flick's domain. We were happy to have a few warriors protecting the Lord's domain from ferocious beasts, but alas... When the former Lord died and his son began to rule, things got much worse... We started to be taxed constantly, having to pay tribute every month. The Warriors started gangs, even some of the new Warriors came here to plunder. All they have to do is give most of the loot to Lord Flick. - Lily said sadly.
- I see, so it wasn't just through those bastards that my village was slaughtered. It's also because of that fucking lord. - Frowning said Kai.
- Oh well, it was in my plans to stay in this region for a while anyway. One more, one less. - Kai said coldly.
Slowly they walked into the city. The whole town was very dirty, only some houses were built of stone, while others were just clay. The roofs were covered with crooked tiles, and the road was just a mess of swamp and cattle dung. Seeing this, Kai poured energy into his legs, and walked so that the mud didn't get on his clothes at all.
Walking through the town, they slowly approached a two-story stone building.
- Wow, so your tavern isn't so bad yet! - Kai praised.
- Of course, our tavern is actually the best in the city, but the city isn't that big... - Said Lily.
When they entered the tavern, there were a lot of people sitting there and having fun.
- Lily! - There was a shout, -Where have you been for so long, I was beginning to worry about you. - Speaking, a fat mustachioed man in a tunic approached.
- Dad, I was attacked by Grey Fang's men, and if it wasn't for this kid, I would have... I would have... I would have..." Lily almost cried.
- Uh, this kid saved you? - Looking at Kai he involuntarily said. He looked at Lily again, hugged her and said:
- Bastards, I hope they get their punishment someday. - He didn't think this guy could kill two healthy men.
- Dad, he... Kai he is, anyway... He asked for a night's lodging and food in exchange for my rescue. And he asked me to cook-" She looked around and lifted the things and showed what was in the basin.
- Did he catch them? - The old man asked dumbfounded.
- Yes! - She nodded her head.
- Listen kid... Sorry for my initial reaction, this old man's eyes are already failing him sometimes. - Scratching the back of his head, the man laughed awkwardly. He understood what those three carcasses meant. And what they meant was that the guy in front of him was a Warrior.
"Where did such a character come from in their backwater?" - He thought to himself.
- It's all right uncle, I'm not a proud guy, and I'm asking you for a favor. Let's do it this way, two carcasses for me and one for you! - Showing two fingers Kai smiled.
- Don't be offended that I take more, I'm still growing, I need to eat a lot! - Seriously said Kai.
- Hahaha! - Laughed the man, he seemed to understand Kai's humor a little, and Lily kept thinking about what was going on here.
- Boy... Kai, please come upstairs, we'll give you one room. Stay as long as you like. We'll bring the food right there, since eating it here will be problematic...'' - The man hinted with a look.
- Okay, I'll be waiting! Thank you for your concern! - After bowing, he went to the stairs.
- Which room is it? - Kai turned around and shouted.
- Right! - The man slapped his forehead.
- The last room down the hall on the right nephew! - Shouted the man, he changed Kai's address to a friendlier and closer one.
This was exactly the kind of character Kai liked. Easy-going people who didn't get ceremonious, trying to honor every formality.
Walking down the hallway, Kai entered a small room that had a bed, a small table, and a window.
"It's been a long time since I've slept on a bed..." - He thought, sitting down on it in the lotus position and began to meditate.