The atmosphere on the training ground was quite different from usual. A large number of returning soldiers were conducting their daily training here. The places where Unas and Darian usually stayed were occupied. Neither of them wanted to cause trouble, so they had to find a secluded corner where no one was around.
The two men didn't want trouble, but trouble came knocking on their door. Soon, several soldiers in red robes approached, the bald, burly man at the head shouting menacingly, "Hey! This is our training ground, please leave!"
Drain his blood! This is clearly a free training area!
Each army has its own training area. These Beifeng soldiers didn't go to their own territory, but instead came here. Their intention to cause trouble was too obvious.
"It's always first come, first served here. You're the ones who should leave!" Unas decided to make the situation clear first.
"Kid, this place belonged to us when the North Maple Legion moved into the Monastery. You weren't even fully grown back then!" the bald, burly man sneered, his lackeys behind him bursting into laughter in support.
This was utterly unreasonable. According to him, the entire Monastery belonged to the North Maple Legion. Unas glanced at Darian, the blond youth intending to intimidate him with his status and position. "I am Darion Mograine, currently serving in the Inquisition. Your actions have violated..."
"Haha," the bald, burly man's unrestrained laughter interrupted him, his eyes filled with contempt. "So you're the young master of the Ashbringer. How rare. Lord Darian isn't under your genius sister's skirt? The training grounds aren't a safe place."
"Damn it!" Darian was instantly enraged, gripping his training sword tightly, ready to pounce.
The bald man's words struck a nerve with Darian. His father had protected him too well, not taking him to the battlefield. He only did odd jobs under his sister. To outsiders, he was indeed Whitemane's lackey, a coward hiding under his father and brother's wings.
Unas quickly grabbed Darian's arm. This group of people were there to provoke and cause trouble; if they took the initiative to attack, they would fall into their trap.
With the Firekiss Fire Ring in hand, Unas wasn't afraid of these people at all, but if he couldn't control the fight, burning a few to death would cause a lot of trouble.
Back down and leave? If word gets out, he'll be finished, and his reputation as a demon-slaying hero will be severely tarnished. It seems that intimidation is the best approach.
He was just about to take out the Firekiss to show off when the short man next to the bald giant suddenly pointed at him with a shocked look. "Are you the hero who killed Bessarius? Unas the Holy-favored?"
Dude, your acting is absolutely terrible, it's truly appalling.
It turned out that this group of people already knew their identities and were after them. The reason was simple: as long as General Abbendis released the word of his dissatisfaction with Unas-Lawugade, his lackeys would come looking for trouble for Unas without his direct orders.
This was just a preliminary test. If Unas backed down or got beaten up, rumors that he was unworthy of the title of Demon Slayer would immediately spread like wildfire. Even if he successfully sent these people away, that would be to be expected.
The bald, burly man was too lazy to act anymore. "Anyone capable of slaying the Dreadlord must be a powerful warrior. We'd love to spar with you, sir."
He led seven or eight soldiers to surround him. They didn't use any real weapons, only wooden training weapons. Essentially, they just wanted to gang up on Unas, who was said to have terrible martial arts skills, and humiliate him.
Unas and Darian were surrounded back-to-back, desperately trying to block the Northern Maple soldiers' probing attacks.
It would seem dishonorable to fight them with Firekiss; it would be more honorable to defeat them fair and square with wooden swords.
Unas was hesitating when two familiar voices suddenly rang out from his side and behind him:
"Want to fight? Count me in."
"Count me in too."
He hurriedly turned around, and two familiar figures appeared in the crowd. Erigor and Korfax had come together. Unas had never felt these two faces so familiar.
The arrival of the two men instantly reversed the situation. Korfax knocked a soldier to the ground with two punches, and Erigor lashed out with his riding whip, sending two men staggering. The encirclement of the Beifeng soldiers was broken in an instant, and the four men joined together, after which it was a one-sided beating.
The renowned Paladin showed no mercy; Korfax's blows landed squarely, while Erigor's whip cracked relentlessly. Unas and Darian also seized the opportunity to beat the fallen foe.
Ignoring the attacks from others, the group first joined forces to knock down the bald, burly man who was at the forefront. Darian then took advantage of the situation and pinned him to the ground. This guy had been too sarcastic, and his hatred level had accumulated too high. Darian had almost turned his bald head into the Tathagata Buddha.
With the bald man down, the others were easier to deal with, but these guys were all tough and none of them begged for mercy. Unas and Darian were tired from fighting and their anger had subsided. Seeing that they were all tough guys, they didn't bully them too much.
Moreover, more and more members of the North Maple Legion are joining the crowd watching the fight. If the fighting continues, some people will inevitably get caught up in the chaos of seeing their own people being bullied, which could lead to a large-scale brawl.
The men stopped fighting, cursed a few times, and let them go. The bald, burly man, covered in bumps, tried to taunt them as he left, but was quickly pulled away by his men.
The two Paladins and two aspiring Paladins who remained on the field looked at the bruises on their faces and burst into laughter in unison.
Those in the crowd who supported the Argent Dawn cheered loudly, while those who supported the North Maple Legion could only curse silently, resenting their own people for being so weak.
The guards at the training ground wouldn't bother with such small-scale fights. How can soldiers fight without a bit of guts? These kinds of minor skirmishes are commonplace.
Only after the fight was over did a man who looked like a captain run over, give the four men a few warnings, and then lead the guards to disperse the onlookers.
Having won the fight, all four suffered minor injuries, but these injuries didn't even require Holy Light; they could be healed quickly simply by circulating the Holy Power within their bodies. This was one of the advantages of being Paladin —their self-healing ability would become stronger as their Holy Power increased.
"It's so satisfying to have the chance to beat these red devils! We're in such a good mood today, how about we go for a drink? It's on me." Erigor waved his riding crop enthusiastically, seemingly not yet satisfied.
"What tavern is open so early in the morning? How did you even come up with that idea?" Unas helplessly to the drunkard, inwardly grateful for their help, but outwardly remarking, "You came at the worst possible time, stealing all the limelight from me and Darian."
Erigor glanced at him sideways, his face full of disdain. "If we hadn't come, you'd be the ones getting beaten up on the ground. That bald guy is no pushover."
"Thank you for helping us out of that predicament." Darian was much more polite, bowing slightly to express his gratitude.
Korfax patted him on the shoulder, "Be careful these next few days. Those guys got what they deserved, they'll definitely try to get revenge. Try not to act alone."
"Darian is alright, no one dares to really do anything to him," Erigor said seriously to Unas, his smile fading. "But Unas, you're a different story. Abbendis's dissatisfaction with you has spread throughout the entire Monastery. You'd better take a detour when you see anyone from the North Maple Legion."
Unas gave a wry smile. If what Erigor said was true, then he wouldn't need to move. The North Maple Legion was everywhere in the Monastery, on all sides.