Chapter 30: Lingyun Town
Su Hao turned his head and glanced at He Qingqing, smiling, "It's nothing, it's just my first time entering a city, so I'm a bit curious!"
He Qingqing was startled by her own reaction and immediately turned her face away.
Compared to a few years ago, He Qingqing seemed more introverted, truly resembling a grown girl. Ever since Su Hao killed the Blue-eyed Suburban Wolf in front of her, she seemed to mature in an instant and never mentioned playing with Su Hao again.
But since then, the relationship between He Qingqing and Su Hao had become very strange. It wasn't Su Hao avoiding He Qingqing anymore, but rather He Qingqing avoiding Su Hao. Even if they happened to meet, they couldn't say much before He Qingqing hurriedly left.
This puzzled Su Hao for a long time. Could this girl have some kind of autism?
On the other hand, Xiao Pang hadn't changed much. Shortly after setting off, he was still babbling non-stop, asking questions endlessly.
"Dad! You said you also studied at the Warrior Academy? Are you bragging?" Xiao Pang looked at his father skeptically.
Old Li glared fiercely, "Bragging? Your father never brags! Your father was a prominent figure in the academy back then. Who doesn't know Li? Let me tell you, back then..."
Xiao Pang and He Qingqing listened attentively, their eyes wide open as they looked at Old Li. After listening, Xiao Pang still had some doubts about his father and muttered, "Dad, why does it feel like everything you said is fake?"
Old Li shrugged, "Believe it or not, I caught your mother's attention like that back then. And you, kid, when you go to the academy, don't embarrass your father. If anyone dares to bully us, beat them back hard."
Xiao Pang immediately patted his chest and promised, "Of course, I won't embarrass Dad. I will definitely protect Qingqing. If anyone dares to bully us, I'll beat them. Right, Xiangwu?"
Su Hao casually replied, "Right, right, right!"
Xiao Pang glanced at He Qingqing and immediately proudly said, "Ah, too bad Shatao still hasn't found his qi. Otherwise, we could protect Qingqing together."
Then he turned to He Qingqing and said, "Qingqing, don't worry. Even if I'm alone, I won't let anyone bully you."
He Qingqing rolled her eyes and said, "Do I need your protection?"
Xiao Pang didn't seem embarrassed at all and immediately said, "This is just stating my position."
Then he ran to Su Hao's side and grabbed his arm, saying, "Xiangwu is so powerful. If we can't beat someone, we can ask Xiangwu for help."
He Qingqing was puzzled, "We're going to study. Why would there be so many bad people specifically bullying others?"
At that moment, Old Li, who was walking behind them, suddenly chuckled, "There will definitely be. Otherwise, why would it be called the Warrior Academy? It's there to teach you how to fight, hehehe!"
Su Hao glanced at He Qingqing and Xiao Pang, feeling a headache coming on. "So, does that mean there will be a bunch of nonsense every day? And I have to take care of these two little troublemakers. Just thinking about it gives me a headache! What should I do? Should I make everyone cry once we get to school? If I become the school bully, there will be less trouble, right?"
He Qingqing first frowned, then suddenly thought of something and her eyes gradually became determined.
Xiao Pang, on the other hand, waved his fist optimistically, "Besides Xiangwu, who else should I fear in a fight? I'll beat anyone who comes at me. I'm already a Low-Level Ordinary Warrior, and soon I'll become a Mid-Level Ordinary Warrior!"
Then he turned to Su Hao curiously and asked, "Xiangwu, what level are you now?"
Just as Xiao Pang asked about Su Hao's level, He Jianyong, who was walking at the front, suddenly pricked up his ears.
He was actually very curious about Su Hao's current level because with his keen perception, he could vaguely sense a hint of threat from Su Hao, which was abnormal, very abnormal.
He had never felt this kind of feeling from a child or teenager before. It made him doubt himself.
Su Hao chuckled, "Um... I'm not too sure, maybe around that level."
Xiao Pang, dissatisfied with Su Hao's indifferent attitude, speculated, "Xiangwu, you wouldn't already be a High-Level Ordinary Warrior, right? A few years ago, people said you were almost at the level of a Mid-Level Ordinary Warrior, so you must have reached the level of a High-Level Ordinary Warrior by now!"
Su Hao chuckled, "Hehe, maybe. I'm not really sure."
Xiao Pang took Su Hao's vague response as agreement and exclaimed, "Xiangwu, you're amazing! You're truly a genius. I can't compare to you at all. I heard that at your age, being a High-Level Ordinary Warrior already makes you the top genius in the academy. You're one of the key individuals they focus on."
Su Hao praised, "Really? Xiao Pang, you know so much."
Xiao Pang proudly said, "Of course."
...
The journey went smoothly without any surprises. The segment where Xiao Pang expected attacks from ferocious beasts never happened.
The group hurried along and finally arrived at their destination in the afternoon—Lingyun Town.
"This is Lingyun Town?" Xiao Pang stood beneath the city gate, his mouth wide open in exaggeration.
Even He Qingqing couldn't help but exclaim, "Lingyun Town is so big, the city walls are so high, it's magnificent!"
Old Li laughed heartily, "Didn't expect that, huh? Haha! After entering the city, don't keep that expression, or else people will know you're from the countryside and look down on you."
When Su Hao saw the city, even with his broad knowledge, he was impressed.
Setting aside the size of Lingyun Town, just looking at the city walls, they appeared incredibly grand and towering. They extended as far as the eye could see on both sides, and the height was at least equivalent to fifteen floors, which was about forty to fifty meters—quite extravagant.
A person standing beneath the city wall appeared extremely small.
These high city walls didn't seem to be built to defend against human attacks but rather to defend against giant beasts. So the question was, what kind of powerful beasts were worth the townsfolk building such tall and magnificent walls?
Curiosity was one of Su Hao's good qualities, so he couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Yong, why are the walls built so high? Is it to resist powerful enemies?"
He Qingqing and Xiao Pang were also curious, "Yeah, why are they so high?"
He Jianyong laughed heartily, "Hahaha, every now and then, some powerful ferocious beasts pass by our Lingyun Town. The walls are built high to prevent them from entering the city when they get hungry."
Su Hao and
the others knew what ferocious beasts were. They were not the same as ordinary wild animals.
The strongest wild animals were just large beasts with massive bodies, and their strength was limited to the level of a High-Level Ordinary Warrior.
But there was no limit to ferocious beasts. They came in various forms and sizes. Some were as small as a fist, while others were as tall as mountains, extremely terrifying.
A powerful ferocious beast could destroy a city with just one strike.
Seeing He Qingqing and Xiao Pang tremble in fear at the mention of "eating people," He Jianyong laughed again, "Don't worry. The city is much safer than our Chashan Outpost. There are powerful warriors guarding the city walls at all times. Once they detect any ferocious beasts approaching, they will drive them away immediately."
After speaking, he took the lead and entered the city gate, saying, "Let's go! We're entering the city and signing up as soon as possible."
(translated by begs)