Aier's Battle

Lin Lei and Aier met each other's gaze, their eyes sparking with fierce intensity. They could both see the burning desire to fight in the other's eyes. Lin Lei and Aier were both men who loved a good fight.

Aier had once been a trainee knight of the Silver Hand and had studied at Udyr's Paladin Training Academy. Anyone who studied there was among the best of the human race. Although Aier had ultimately failed to make the cut, he was still a highly sought-after figure in Flower Territory.

Lin Lei could smell the Holy Light in the aura Aier unleashed. It brimmed with justice, compassion, and courage. His third eye told him that Aier was a true knight.

Lin Lei admired people like him, so he gave the fight everything he had.

He took the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Glaive from his pack and bent his knees slightly. A tremendous force drove his feet into the ground, and the powerful recoil sent him hurtling toward Aier at full speed.

Lin Lei knew he was weaker than Aier, so he had to seize the initiative. Only by striking first would he have any chance of winning.

Aier stood expressionless on the arena, holding in his right hand a long sword completely unlike the fine steel one he'd wielded before. Its deep blue blade gave off a dark sheen. Just from its appearance, it was clear that this was a formidable weapon.

He also held a black shield in his left hand, about the size of an ordinary round shield. An unknown magical beast was engraved on it. Aier was dressed like a knight from head to toe, ready to both attack and defend.

"Bang!"

A tremendous crash rang out as Aier blocked Lin Lei's Three-Pointed Double-Edged Glaive with his left-hand shield. The force of the impact sent Aier's hair flying, but he stood completely still. Lin Lei's full-power strike seemed to have no effect at all.

"Monster," Lin Lei cursed under his breath.

His first strike had failed, so he leaped back to avoid Aier's counterattack. He also secretly rubbed his numb palm. He'd come off worse in that clash.

Still, he didn't give up. Lin Lei began circling Aier slowly, like a leopard watching its prey as it searched for a weakness.

Aier didn't give Lin Lei much time. While Lin Lei was moving around and looking for an opening, Aier immediately used Charge. A knight could charge even in ground combat without a warhorse; every knight had a powerful physique.

Aier was fast as lightning. Lin Lei didn't have time to dodge, so he could only clash with him head-on again.

After a few exchanges, Lin Lei, who was far weaker than Aier, was driven back again and again.

"Good! Good..."

The soldiers watching below the arena were completely absorbed in the fight. As Aier kept Lin Lei on the back foot and drove him farther and farther back, they cheered excitedly, with the occasional whistle rising above the din.

Among Alice's party, the town mayor Shengdelu was also beginning to doubt Lin Lei's chances. He said frankly to Alice, "It looks like Captain Aier has this one. Lin Lei's been completely overwhelmed. He has no chance of winning.

"We'll have to congratulate Captain Aier later."

Alice shook her head, unconvinced. She remained calm as she explained, "No, Aier's still a long way from winning. Lin Lei has been retreating, but look at his steps. They're still steady, not the least bit disordered. Aier clearly won't be able to take him down anytime soon."

"Oh, is that so?"

Shengdelu didn't look pleased to be contradicted to his face, but he could only laugh to cover his embarrassment. He said no more and continued watching the match with the others.

What happened on the arena didn't match Alice's prediction. A wave of Holy Light sent Lin Lei flying through the air. He lost his grip on his weapon, and it fell to the ground.

"You've lost," Aier said breathlessly from across the arena. Lin Lei had even lost his weapon now, and Aier couldn't believe he could still beat him.

"Lost? No, I haven't lost yet."

Lin Lei struggled to his feet, hunched over, his hands and face covered in dust.

Aier said nothing, only looking at him with confusion as he thought, You're in this state and still won't surrender? Fine. I'll keep beating you until you do.

Just as Aier was about to attack again, he saw Lin Lei mumble something. He was about to ask what Lin Lei had said when a miraculous change came over him.

Lin Lei revealed the eye that had been hidden in his forehead. The moment his extraordinary third eye appeared, everyone around them was stunned.

The soldiers, who had been making a racket, gaped so widely they could have fit a giant pear in their mouths. They fell silent all at once. Even Alice, who had seen plenty in her day, looked astonished, like a cat that had spotted a mouse as big as itself.

The people below the arena were all stunned, but Aier wasn't. He'd frozen for a moment too, but quickly regained his composure. He didn't let his guard down for even an instant in the middle of a fight.

Although he had no idea what Lin Lei's third eye could do or how much damage it might cause, Aier remained calm.

"Heavenly Eye, open!"

With a shout, the third eye that had been tightly shut sprang open. Four rays shot out in quick succession, each dealing damage equivalent to a Silver Rank One attack.

Aier raised his shield in front of himself, intending to withstand the barrage. But after his long battle with Lin Lei, his reaction speed had slowed. He failed to defend in time, and all four rapid beams struck him.

Aier went flying and landed outside the arena, unconscious.

After releasing the beams, Lin Lei saw Aier collapse and passed out too, overcome by exhaustion. With no more mana to sustain it, his exposed Heavenly Eye disappeared once again.

Through the haze, Lin Lei thought he heard someone say something beside his ear, but he was simply too exhausted to make out a word.

"Where am I?"

The next day, Lin Lei jolted awake and looked around. He tried to recall what had happened.

"I came to the Lord's Mansion... then I fought Captain Aier, and after I used Heavenly Eye, I passed out."

It didn't take him long to remember everything that had happened the day before. He looked down at the fine fabric he was wearing, so different from his own rough linen clothes.

"This is the town hall. Where's my Ah Huang? Ah Huang, Ah Huang..."

Lin Lei hurriedly put on the clothes lying nearby, picked up the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Glaive someone had retrieved and left by the bed, and put it back in his pack. Ignoring the soreness all over his body from overexertion, he headed outside.

"Woof..."

A bark came from farther away and drew closer. Soon, a large yellow dog trotted in from outside, wagging its tail and rubbing against Lin Lei's trouser leg. Who else could it be but Ah Huang?

Lin Lei smiled and was about to crouch down to have a proper chat with Ah Huang when the town mayor, Shengdelu, came in from outside with several servants, beaming.

"Now that you're awake, Mr. Lin Lei, I'll return the things I was holding for you."

As he spoke, Shengdelu took a bag full of gold coins and a white token engraved with flowers from someone beside him. He solemnly handed both to Lin Lei.

"What are these?"

Lin Lei looked at what Shengdelu had given him, puzzled. For a moment, he'd forgotten the bet he'd made with Miss Alice the day before.

Shengdelu knew Lin Lei was about to go from a low-ranking freeman to a Centurion responsible for a hundred lives. The Centurion rank in Flower Territory was equal to his own civil post, but in those times, a military rank far outranked a civilian one of the same level. So Shengdelu patiently explained.

"This is the money Miss Alice offered for your magical beast, along with the Centurion's token she promised you. You can take it to Miss Alice and become a Centurion in Flower Territory."

"Where's Miss Alice?"

Lin Lei was a little confused. Surely they should have given these to him in person.

"Miss Alice still has other towns to inspect. She couldn't stay in Wheat Town for long. She treated Aier a little last night, then hurried off in the middle of the night to the next town, Soybean Town.

"Still, Miss Alice said she thinks highly of you and is looking forward to having you in Flower Territory. Someone like you shouldn't be a farmer."

Shengdelu answered all of Lin Lei's questions without the slightest impatience, like an encyclopedia.

"I see..."

Lin Lei suddenly felt a little disappointed. He'd met the young and beautiful Alice fewer than four times, but he had still found himself drawn to her.

What am I thinking?

Lin Lei pushed aside the unrealistic thought that had suddenly come to him and gave a wry smile.

Shengdelu watched him with a smile, not interrupting his train of thought.

A while later, Lin Lei realized he'd been standing there like an idiot for quite some time. He apologized repeatedly to Shengdelu, then took his money bag and token and walked out of the town hall.

As Lin Lei left the town hall, its open doors closed firmly behind him, and a bustling crowd came into view once more.

As Lin Lei walked along, everyone kept their distance. Not one person dared come near him.

"What happened? Does everyone know I killed the Earth Demon Bear? How did word spread so fast overnight?"

Lin Lei lowered his head without thinking and looked at his outfit. He was wearing an Ivory White Snow-Rolled Gauze Robe on top, Honey-Colored Gold-Thread Jade River Silk Trousers below, and Quiet Red White Rabbit Boots on his feet. Just from his appearance, he was clearly no commoner anyone could afford to bump into.

When Lin Lei had left the town hall, he'd forgotten to ask who had left the clothes for him. Had they come from Miss Alice or Mayor Shengdelu?

Lin Lei stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "The mayor's clothes aren't as nice as mine. It probably wasn't him. Miss Alice must have given them to me."

"Lin Lei, is that you?"

As Lin Lei lowered his head, lost in thought, a hushed voice came from the crowd nearby. He looked toward the sound and spotted a boy from his village, Shaqima.

Lin Lei waved him over.