After working at Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop until the sun was about to set into the horizon and it was time for dinner, Qian Jin still didn’t finish forging all the [Refined Iron] everyone needed. After all, the amount of [Refined Iron] the whole adventurer team needed was a lot. Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop was about to close for the day, so Qian Jin could only continue tomorrow.
Qian Jin left the shop and jogged back to the academy. He was in a very good mood since he had an energy stone in his leather bag.
Oakland Academy was peaceful as usual in the sunset. However, there was one more person here than usual.
Qian Jin raised his arm and greeted Instructor Rodriguez who was walking around the academy’s gate. “Instructor, what a coincidence. Are you just taking a casual walk?”
“Coincidence?” Rodriguez was so mad that his head was about explode. He was waiting here for hours. “What coincidence? I’m waiting for you! Do you still remember what you said this morning?”
“What did I say?” Qian Jin was confused. He then tapped his forehead as he shouted, “DAMN! Look at my memory. Seems like I have a duel to attend to…”
Rodriguez sighed as he shook his head. Other students treated the rankings like the most important thing in their lives, but why did his favorite student treat the rankings like dirt?
“Kid, it’s not one duel, but rather two!” Rodriguez pointed at Qian Jin with his index and middle finger as he corrected Qian Jin. “Two duels! Why did you come back so late? Do you think you can keep these two duels a secret?”
Qian Jin shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t plan to keep this a secret at all; otherwise, he would not have told Rollin, the greedy merchant, anything this morning.
“I have to tell you, Qian Jin.” Rodriguez patted Qian Jin’s shoulder as he said earnestly, “Kid, you shouldn’t treat such things with no care. You probably don’t know this. Little Rollin sold the information of these two duels to the Managing Director Caeller for three gold coins. Caeller talked to me and said that he would give you an opportunity to take a re-test depending on the outcome of these two duels. If you win, it will mean that you have the strength to take a re-test. If you lose, you won’t be able to take a re-test anymore, and your location in the Warrior Energy Concentration Array would…”
“Warrior Energy Concentration Array?” Qian Jin’s relaxed face suddenly tensed up. For the last couple of days, his strength had been increasing at an unimaginable rate; the Warrior Energy Concentration Array was the most important thing on his mind right now. “Instructor, say no more. I will go and finish that duel right now.”
“Two duels…” Rodriguez corrected Qian Jin again as he followed after him. “There are two duels! Oh right, where did you go today? Why did you come back to late?”
“I have a part-time job. Instructor, you know my situation,” Qian Jin scratched his head as he said helplessly. “Yeah, when I was working today, I met someone strange. I think his name is Fabreidis or something. He seems like a powerful warrior, and he told me to go to his house tomorrow. He knew that students like myself are busy most of the time; I don’t have time to go…”
“What?” Rodriguez screamed as if he was a cat and someone stepped on his tail. His eyes opened wide like a tiger as he chased up to Qian Jin. He placed his hand on Qian Jin’s shoulder and started to shake him forcefully, “What did you say? Who?”
“Fabreidis?” Qian Jin looked at Rodriguez suspiciously: “Instructor, do you know him?” Qian Jin asked.
“You said you’re busy?” Rodriguez cut Qian Jin off. “You don’t have time to go? No! You have to go! You have to go tomorrow! I will go to the principal and get the excused for your absence for tomorrow’s classes; even the Managing Director can’t say anything!”
“Instructor, you really know him?” Qian Jin was surprised. Although he knew Fabreidis was a powerful warrior, he didn’t expect Rodriiguez to be this excited. It looked like if he didn’t go to Fabreidis’ place tomorrow, Rodriguez would chase after him with a blade and force him to go.
“I know him, but he doesn’t know me!” Rodriguez said snappily. “Fabreidis! The number one warrior in Oakland. He is the strongest person at Oakland as well! Number one! Number one! Do you understand?”
“Number one?” Qian Jin’s eyebrows rose as he said, “The guardian of Oakland City?”
“What do you think?” Rodriguez stared at Qian Jin. “Of course!”
Qian Jin nodded in relief. Now he knew why Franklin and Lucas were so sincere towards Fabreidis. After all, he was the guardian of Oakland.
Guardian! It was one of the most glorified titles out there!
The word Guardian was created to address the most powerful warriors and mages who led the humans and fought against the demons. As time passed, this word was used in a more general context. Almost every city had guardians; these guardians were the most powerful individuals in the given city. Slowly, wealthy and powerful families also named the most powerful individuals in their families as Family Guardians.
Being named as a Guardian wasn’t just an honorable title. It also gave them great responsibilities and privileges.
Fabreidis was currently the Guardian of Oakland City. Unless someone even more powerful could defeat him and take his place, even the mayor of the city had to pay the proper respect to him and his honor.
Rodriguez was not pleased with Qian Jin’s careless attitude. He swung his fists in front of Qian Jin as he said, “Kid, having the Guardian of the city provide you with guidance is a very precious opportunity! Many people couldn’t get this opportunity even if they were willing pay a big price! If you don’t go there tomorrow, I will…”
Qian Jin raised both of his hands in the air obediently and surrendered. He wasn’t afraid of an ass-kicking; he was touched by Rodriguez’s caring attitude. Even if he could defeat Rodriguez in a battle, he would still surrender. Rodriguez was his instructor and treated him very well.
“Instructor, can I go and kick those two challengers’ asses now?”
“Kick their asses?” Rodriguez smacked Qian Jin on the head. “Kid, pay more attention. They are your opponents. If you underestimate them…”
“I know, I know, instructor.” Qian Jin kept his hands in the air and walked forward in a surrendering pose. “As a warrior, I shouldn’t underestimate any opponent.”
Rodriguez wrapped his arms around his chest in satisfaction. That was more like it; that was his favorite student.
The sun finally disappeared from the sky.
The little forest at the back of the academy was now only illuminated by the moonlight. The silver moonlight shined on the ground, and a few torches were burning on the empty space in the little forest, making crackling noises.
Two warriors in tight warrior suits were standing under the torches waiting impatiently. Both of them were frowning as they walked around; people around them were able to sense their strong grievances and resentment.