The strongest one around!

The girl tried to move back, but with her back pressed against the rock, she had nowhere to run to. Feeling despair washing over her, she could only close her eyes while begging for a miracle.

As though answering her prayers, a juvenile voice was heard. "Oi."

She opened her eyes and glanced in the direction of the voice to find a guy roughly her age sitting atop a tree branch, a carefree nature about him.

At first glance, he looked pretty dashing, like a Prince charming that was sorted for by most girls and even his action of coming to her aid was indeed a good thing but a second later and she could not help but frown.

Despite his amazing looks, he was just a cripple. A loser with no magic. Without a second thought, she realized she was foolish to have thought that she was saved.

What now, with added collateral, she had to figure out a way for these barbarians to spare the idiot's life.

"Why did you have to get involved even when you are completely powerless?.. You are just a cripple without magic, there was no need to intervene." She wanted to say those words but did not.

A wicked thought crossed her mind as she pondered about the chances of running away while he distracted them but she was unsure if she would get far.

Thus she could only use this time to recover her magic a bit, enough to make a break for it. Through gritted teeth, she thought. "Just a little time and I can gather enough magic to make a break for it. Buy me a little more time."

***

Meanwhile, as Max sat on the tree branch, his legs swaying every which way while his attitude mirrored that of a person without a care in the world, he had already decided to save the girl.

Not because he was trying to be a hero or anything. He couldn't be bothered over something so grandiose since the men could have been wronged by the girl.

He couldn't be the judge over such matters.

Unfortunately, he had to step in as he sensed a familiar aura from the girl's body. He had to confirm his suspicion with her.

Thus, he could only make his move, hopeful that he wasn't making a mistake.

The barbarians grunted in annoyance as they stared at the lousy one that dared to ruin their happy occasion. "Oi, you there, who are you, and why are you bothering us?"

Max curtly replied. "Ahaha, sorry bout that seniors, but I need to speak with that girl, I don't know if you would be willing to let her go for my sake."

The men exchanged looks with one another. "Are you crazy?... Don't you see we are about to enjoy ourselves?... You can come back after we are done, go away, and don't bother us."

They took Max as a country bumpkin that lived his whole life in the woods so they didn't spare him as much as a second glance as they returned their attention to the girl.

On the other side, the girl cursed inwardly. "Fuck, he couldn't even keep their attention for three minutes. Completely useless."

As the men returned their attention to the girl, Max could not help but speak up again. "I would like to ask the lady something, senior. Would you be willing to give me some face over this matter?"

One of the men turned around in anger as he snorted. "Face?... Who the hell are you to talk about face?.. You'd better scram before I break those legs you are swinging around!"

Max put up a brow. Apparently, His calm demeanor was not at all passing across his words well.

"Ahem, I don't think you understand, seniors. I am saying this for your good. If you insist on harming this girl before I ask what I have in mind. I just might end up hurting you."

The men paused as they slowly turned to Max, their eyes fixated on this daring teen.

The girl looked at him as well and could not help but snort. "He may be a cripple but he is definitely the best when it comes to boasting. Thankfully he is giving me enough time to gather my magic."

Once she had gotten the required amount, she would immediately make a run for it, not even bothering with the boy.

As far as she was concerned, there was no need to help someone you just met. There was no reason to bare the risk.

"Sorry, but you will have to be my getaway card today." Closing her eyes, the girl sort to quicken her cultivation.

The three men standing in front of her turned to one another before simultaneously bursting into laughter.

This cripple in front of them was crazy enough to speak such big words?... This was the greatest joke they had ever heard.

"Oi, third brother, finish up this kid. Don't kill him, just give him a good beating so that after this, he would know when to keep quiet and when to not."

"Understood brother." The stout one amongst the three brothers walked forward, pulling out a cleaver before aiming it at Max. "Tell me, what part of you would you like me to cut first?"

Max was left completely speechless. How could he have known that even now with his high understanding of Ordena, people would still see him as a cripple?

Sighing helplessly, he realized why they were acting this way toward him. If they knew that he was a Daoist-level Sage, they would most likely have taken a step back in good faith.

But now, as the third brother pointed his cleaver at Max, he could not help but prepare to make use of the highest brand of violence.

He had already checked the cultivation of everyone present here and there was one irrefutable thing…

He was the strongest one around!