Valt, hearing the sound, felt his entire body tremble. He was afraid. The person who shouted was so strong that it made the sound echo like that.
"Felix," he murmured, thinking about what that chicken had done. But he didn't blame it. It had saved him. Letting out a sigh to calm his racing heart, he began to think about what to do.
'This person isn't going to kill me just because I took a little meat, right?' he thought, and soon panic set in. 'What if they ask for money?' His heart began to race again.
"I don't have any, I'm very poor..." He fell into a crisis. Not just about the current situation, but if he managed to get through this without problems, what would happen next?
Because of the feedback, he deduced that this hunger problem was caused by a lack of energy, lost in the time spent cultivating. The first time he used his ability, he went four days without eating anything.
This was very bad, especially for the future, when his need for energy would increase even more. Valt had no idea what to do, but he knew he wouldn't stop. Since he had sold everything to buy a cultivation method, he was someone who didn't give up. If it was hard, he would choose the hardest path. That was his mindset.
Feeling a crisis of thoughts, he took a deep breath to calm himself. He needed to resolve his current problem.
Without further turbulent thoughts, he grabbed Felix, who was sleeping on the ground, and ran back home. He wasn't crazy enough to stay in that place.
While running through the bushes, pushing himself to the limit, a figure appeared in front of him, like a red shadow.
Startled, Valt lost his balance, dropped the chicken, and stumbled, falling face-first to the ground. He let out a muffled scream, lifting his head with difficulty. His nose was bleeding, and there seemed to be at least one broken bone.
Looking up, he saw a woman with red hair and light blue eyes, dressed in elegant clothes: a white blouse with red details, black pants, and a coat with a red-bladed sword perfectly sheathed.
In her hand, she held a chicken that was struggling to break free.
Seeing Felix fighting, Valt placed his hands on the ground and, using all his strength, stood up. Blood dripped from his face.
"I'm sorry for the theft. I'll make it up to you," he said seriously, looking at the woman. But how could he do that? He didn't know, but he couldn't let her take Felix.
"Make it up to me?" The woman glared at him coldly, and the atmosphere seemed to freeze. "You better keep that promise. As an advance, I'll use this chicken as a meal, which was stolen from me," she said, turning to leave. But a hand grabbed her arm.
"Let go of that chicken," Valt said. He knew he was wrong, but he couldn't let her take it. It was his only chance to change his life.
"I'll repay you with better meat than the one I stole... I promise. But this chicken has to stay," he said calmly, with a hint of fear. If he kept going, he might die at the hands of that woman. But he couldn't run away.
The woman, hearing him, became even colder. A slight murderous intent appeared in her eyes. A thief really wanted to talk? As a noble, taught from childhood in various etiquettes, she began to lose patience.
Putting strength into her arm, she threw Valt to the ground again. Squatting in front of him, she asked coldly, "Who do you think you are?"
Valt, feeling even more pain beyond his fractured nose, lifted his face. "I am a beast master," he smiled and shouted: "Felix, now!"
The chicken, hearing the signal, used its Lunar Qi and shot into the sky. It could fly quickly, leaving the woman's sight.
Seeing it in the sky, Valt's smile widened. In that moment of desperation, Felix learned to use Moon Qi. Even though it was little, it was enough to escape.
"Do whatever you want with me, miss. It doesn't matter anymore. This situation is my fault. I accept any punishment," he said, relaxing. His biggest concern was the bird, who had started all this to save him.
The woman, surprised by the whole situation, hadn't expected a chicken to use Qi. Shifting her gaze to the smiling boy, she felt irritated. Her desire to strangle him until he begged for forgiveness was strong. Controlling herself, she asked: "What's your name?"
"Valt Agons."
"Why did you steal my dinner?"
"For energy, miss. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have stolen. I have honor."
She didn't believe it. "Why did you run, then? If you have honor, face things head-on, like a man!"
Valt didn't respond. He just felt his face burn with shame. "Money... I didn't have any to pay for the meat. That's why I ran," he laughed awkwardly.
A heavy silence lingered in the air for a few seconds. The only sound was their breathing and the distant song of nature.
The woman sighed, withdrawing her murderous intent. She had no more interest in harming that beggar.
"You said you're a beast master. Why didn't you enroll in an academy? Your life would be much better."
"I don't want to," Valt replied firmly. "My goal is to explore the world. I don't want to be tied to any academy, especially the Pendragon Dynasty, which forces its members to serve the nation. I want to be a free man, without restrictions, walking the world."
The woman, hearing this, looked at Valt lying there for a few seconds. That little thief was a bit too much of a dreamer... She let an unconscious smile play on her lips and said:
"Then, what do you think? You're practically a beggar. How will you grow in cultivation? Without resources, you'll stagnate."
"Yes, you're right," Valt nodded. His situation was a clear example: without food, he would die of hunger. "You seem to be a noble. Do you have any advice?" he asked, feeling a bit curious about her response.
"Well, I know several ways," she said, looking at Valt provocatively. "But... why would I tell you?"
Valt didn't answer immediately. He just kept widening his smile and said: "Because I made you smile. You seem very serious." He joked, but ended up receiving a punch in the stomach.
Puff!
Valt spat out some blood and, feeling suffocated, looked at the woman, who stood up.
"Since you're so bold, kid, and seem not to be afraid of anything with your jokes... The Hunter Academy, located in the Hero City of the Immortal Spear, is opening its doors. It doesn't belong to the Pendragon Dynasty, but to the Human Empire."
After saying this, she disappeared, leaving those words for the young man with black hair and blue eyes. He closed his eyes and smiled.
"This nameless woman is interesting... Hunter Academy? Sorry, but I won't show up. My goal is the Exploration Division, which will open in a year..."