Meeting Old Acquaintances in a Foreign Land

The next morning, the team broke camp and set off. Skar found the rookie and greeted him with a smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze, kind and amiable, making one... feel a chill down their spine.

Looking at the cheap captain before him, the trembling Zhang Yuan couldn't help but think of the term "smiling tiger."

"Charnem, you've been with our team for quite a while now. What do you think of us?"

"I feel great, like I'm home," someone replied, not understanding.

"That's great! How about you stay with our team?"

Just as Zhang Yuan was about to politely decline, Skar continued, "When you were captain yesterday, you did a pretty good job. How about I let you be the captain? What do you say?"

...Alright, so he was here to put me in my place. Zhang Yuan quickly said humbly, "As a mere newcomer, how could I possibly take on the position of captain? You should find someone more suitable."

Seeing that the other party was sensible, Skar didn't pursue it further. He patted Zhang Yuan's shoulder and turned to continue on his way.

After a brief commotion, the group continued their journey. Three days of long travel later, the Flaming Fist team finally arrived at Beregost again.

Since the mission had temporarily concluded, the Flaming Fist team, not in a rush, decided to rest in town for a day.

Thinking of Aginon made someone feel a little guilty, so he didn't dare to go to The Feldt Inn for fun. Instead, he went to the clothier's shop from last time.

After paying a small sum to have the shop owner's wife change the pink cloak to black, Zhang Yuan finally dared to wear it out. Today, his usually unremarkable self attracted a few glances as he walked down the street.

"What a shame about the beautiful and alluring dancer at The Feldt!" was the thought that crossed his mind.

With a rare day of free time, Zhang Yuan felt it was time to put some ideas into practice.

He walked straight towards the town center and, following a loud and clear voice, found the herald who was diligently reading out an announcement:

"Hello, esteemed sir. We come from Baldur's Gate and would like to ask you a few questions."

The herald, a halfling, was known for his hospitality. "Ah, my polite little gentleman! As long as Old Marka knows it, he won't hide anything from anyone."

"Then, Mr. Marka, could you tell me if there are any powerful mages living near Beregost?"

"Powerful mages? Oh, yes, they are always so mysterious. Their immense power is as astonishing as my Uncle George's expired kimchi jar, except for poor Uncle George himself, who fainted by the jar." The enthusiastic halfling rambled on endlessly. "Yes, I remember! It's to the west. You just need to walk for half a day, and you'll see it. That ancient castle, surrounded by forest and the undead. The mysterious Lord Tylanthyr lives there."

Enduring the halfling's lengthy and incessant chatter, Zhang Yuan finally obtained information about the mage Tylanthyr and quickly made his escape.

For safety reasons, Zhang Yuan, who didn't dare to venture alone through the forest rumored to be inhabited by the undead to find the mage tower, had no choice but to find the dynamic duo.

Bard and Minsc, those two lively fellows, were found at a brawl. The onlookers had made the already small town center even more cramped.

From the edge of the crowd, unaware of what was happening inside, Zhang Yuan spotted Minsc cheering loudly. There was no way he could miss the almost two-meter-tall man. He squeezed through the crowd and patted his back.

"Hey, big guy, what are you watching so intently? Where's Bard?"

Minsc looked back and saw Zhang Yuan. He scratched his head and pointed, "Look, there's Bard."

It was truly a breathtaking sight. Two stout dwarves, like barrels, were wrestling. They didn't use any weapons, just fought bare-handed.

"You punch me, I elbow you." Since they were both thick-skinned dwarves, neither seemed to care. They cursed and swung their fists.

Seeing his lively teammates still so energetic, Zhang Yuan felt reassured and watched the spectacle with the tall man. "Who's the other dwarf? Do they know each other? How did they start fighting?"

Minsc habitually scratched his head and said uncertainly, "I think they know each other. I heard Bard yell, 'You don't deserve to mention Sweet Mead!'"

What the heck? Sweet Mead? Zhang Yuan, who asked the question in his mind, received Minsc's surprised reply, "You don't know? Bard's family surname is Sweet Mead."

Speechless for a moment, Zhang Yuan continued to watch the dwarf wrestling match. However, Zhang Yuan, who was gradually losing patience, couldn't wait any longer. If they delayed further, there wouldn't be enough time to visit the mage tower.

"Bard, stop wasting time here. You two have been fighting all day with no result. I'll treat you and the big guy to a drink!"

"Mage, wait a moment, just a little while. I'll give this traitor of the Sweet Mead family a harsh lesson soon."

"You? Your effeminate fists are not even enough to give me a massage! Bard, your life of ease on the ground has corrupted you!" another dwarf roared.

"Damn you, Kagan! What you've done stinks worse than the droppings of a giant beast. You've defiled our clan emblem. Die for me!"

Kagan? Zhang Yuan suddenly thought of something. Could that dwarf barrel be the strongest warrior teammate he could recruit in the Sword Coast region in the game?

With this thought, Zhang Yuan decisively began to summon his pawns. As he finished the incantation, Tiny, the stone golem, reappeared. "Target: Quarry!"

The sudden appearance of the spell and the stone golem surprised the onlookers. Although they weren't unfamiliar with mages, few had witnessed spellcasting and magical creations firsthand.

The onlookers felt their trip was worthwhile. First, there was the dwarf wrestling match, and then the mage performed a trick of turning people into stone. Great! Well performed! They applauded enthusiastically!

Feeling like a monkey in a circus, Zhang Yuan's face turned red with embarrassment. He didn't say anything, just pointed at the two brawling dwarves and ordered the small stone golem to take action.

Upon receiving the order, the small stone golem went up and hugged both of their shoulders, hanging its entire weight on them. This was a stone golem. Although it was only 1.5 meters tall, the weight of its dense stone made it difficult for the two to move.

Seeing that both had stopped fighting and were glaring at each other across the stone golem, Zhang Yuan quickly stepped forward. "Gentlemen, you are both shield warriors with tough physiques and skilled in defense. Even if you fought for a day, you wouldn't reach a conclusion."

Then, he took out the bottle of medical alcohol disinfectant that had traveled with him from his pocket. He opened the lid, and a strong alcoholic aroma, never before smelled by the common folk of the Prime Material Plane, wafted out. "I am about to head west into the forest to visit Master Tylanthyr and am in need of guards. Whoever performs better between you two will win this bottle of liquor."

Seeing their mage pull out a strange bottle and open it to release an aroma even richer than dwarven spirits, Bard said indignantly, "Tell me, Charnem, you've been carrying such good liquor and kept it from old Bard all this time."

Kagan on the other side was tempted, but as a seasoned warrior, he wasn't easily swayed by such childish tricks. "Forget it. Who knows what those mages have in their heads? If you anger Master Tylanthyr, don't drag me down with you." Saying this, he turned to leave.

"Very good, congratulations, Bard! You have won the competition against that coward. As a reward for your victory, this bottle of liquor belongs to you!"

Someone feigned an award ceremony and solemnly handed over the disinfectant.

However, before the overjoyed Bard could even touch the bottle, an angry roar echoed. "Who is the winner? Say that again!"

It was Kagan, charging forward with bloodshot eyes like a bull, white smoke puffing from his nostrils.