A week later.
Yang Tian had used up all five Red Refining Fruits, adding three to their meals and eating two directly.
After eating the Red Refining Fruits, his grandmother looked much healthier, and even her wrinkles seemed softer.
As for Yang Tian, he had truly become a Ninth-Level Squire. He was only a few points of spiritual energy away from the next squire rank.
Yet those few points of spiritual energy might take even longer to gain.
Mo's Smithy!
"Heh, the young boss is here!"
The smithy owner smiled when he saw Yang Tian arrive.
"The week's up. I'm here to collect my order!" Yang Tian nodded, then spoke calmly.
This was merely a transaction.
Then an iron sword three feet long, three inches wide, and two inches thick was brought out.
Clang!
Yang Tian drew the sword. Though it was the most ordinary of weapons, its edge was exceptionally sharp, and it was harder than his Wooden Sword!
Then he slid it back into its sheath.
He picked up his Wooden Sword.
"Thanks, boss!"
Yang Tian cupped his hands briefly in thanks, then took his leave.
Watching the little fellow stride away with the Wooden Sword on his back and the iron sword in hand, looking utterly carefree-
The owner of Mo's Smithy was dumbstruck.
Yang Tian had not entered Mount Odin for a week. His break was almost over, and he needed to work hard to improve himself.
Ordinary training methods no longer seemed suited to him.
Thus, his usual training load was more than five times that of the others.
As a result, the other boys at the Odin Sub-Temple were utterly exhausted!
That was because Balza held him up as an example for them.
At Mount Odin, Yang Tian was just about to head inside.
"Run! There's a wild beast!"
A soft voice suddenly called out urgently.
Yang Tian looked up and saw a black wolf chasing a beautiful child.
The child had fair skin and features so much prettier than most people's that it was hard to tell whether he was a boy or a girl.
"Long Haochen?"
"How did he provoke a black wolf?"
Yang Tian muttered.
But a moment's thought made it seem reasonable. A black wolf hunting for food would eat whatever it found.
Long Haochen had awakened his Child of Light constitution. Eating him could allow it to inherit that constitution, too!
Of course, that depended on whether his father would allow it.
Then Yang Tian drew his iron sword.
The blade was sharp, and some refined iron had been added, so its edge would not curl easily. The smithy owner was an honest man.
"Run over here!" Yang Tian shouted.
Long Haochen glanced at the iron sword in Yang Tian's hand and momentarily froze.
Bring danger to someone else?
That...
In that moment of distraction, the black wolf lunged at Long Haochen.
Seeing Long Haochen knocked down and about to be bitten, Yang Tian could not bear to stand by.
Long Haochen was the protagonist, someone who could turn disaster into good fortune. Their encounter seemed destined, too.
Even without Yang Tian, someone else would have protected Long Haochen.
The instant Long Haochen was knocked down, Yang Tian reached him.
Clang!
The black wolf's teeth struck Yang Tian's iron sword with a faint clang.
Then Yang Tian used Rising Sword, slicing open the corner of the black wolf's mouth.
He dragged Long Haochen free.
Feeling Long Haochen's almost weightless body and soft hand, Yang Tian was stunned. He was practically like a girl!
"Are you all right?" Yang Tian asked.
"I'm fine. Yang Tian, can you handle it?" After being saved by Yang Tian, Long Haochen's fondness for him grew considerably.
"Heh, this is nothing. Even a magical beast wouldn't be a match for me!"
"I didn't expect you to remember my name!"
Yang Tian chuckled.
Feeling that his ability had been questioned, he spoke confidently.
He had killed a Scorpion-Tailed Lizard before, after all.
Motioning for Long Haochen to retreat behind him, Yang Tian gripped his iron sword with both hands and stared into the vicious black wolf's eyes.
Then the boy and the wolf launched their attacks.
Slash!
In the next exchange, Yang Tian severed one of the black wolf's legs with a single stroke.
Then he pressed his advantage, wounding the black wolf with several successive thrusts.
Finally, he drove his sword into its neck, ending its suffering.
Bright red blood stained the ground.
"Looks like I can't stay here too long. I'd better hurry inside."
"Haochen, hurry home!"
After muttering to himself, Yang Tian addressed the stunned Long Haochen beside him.
"Mm... okay. Yang Tian, be careful!"
Long Haochen now knew how strong Yang Tian was, though he did not know why Yang Tian wanted to enter the mountain.
After those few words, Long Haochen left.
Watching Long Haochen's plainly dressed figure recede, Yang Tian shook his head.
He looked toward Mount Odin.
Into the mountain!
Before you continue