008: The Ambush

As Arthur expected priorly, a couple of the gatekeepers followed him when he passed the main street of Sparrow City.

However, those gatekeepers didn't dare to attack out in the open area, Arthur quickly became aware that they wanted to attack him after he redeem the reward from the Mercenaries Guild commission.

"Huh? You want to rob me in the middle of the day? Like hell I would allow that from you !"

Arthur changed his direction and went to the dark alley in the slum area, Soonly, the gate guards caught up with Arthur and followed him with stealthy moves.

"What is he doing in this slum?" asked the guards with a face full of blotches to his friend.

"Who cares? He is choosing his own grave by coming to this slum! Those beggars are gonna attack that guy as soon as he enters their territory!" answered the burly guard.

"Damn right! Let's follow him closely!"

A bunch of beggars who sat against the wall stood up quickly when Arthur was closing in.

A beggar with messy and curly hair like a bird's nest stood before Arthur and he said, "What brings you here, young master? Hehehe"

Arthur was surrounded by the other beggars after they got a sign command from their leader.

"Run from here if you still want to live for another day." Arthur said in a cold tone.

His gaze were very intimidating, let alone his murderous eyes that can only be owned by someone who has killed countless people.

The beggar with curly and messy hair was taken aback when his eyes met with Arthur's 'This guy is bad news! I never seen someone with such murderous and intense bloodlust! Even the Beggars' Union Leader is nothing compared to him!'

"Run!" Arthur threatened them once again, this time he used a small amount of his Yang Qi that oozed out till it made a jet-black aura around his body.

They were frightened by witnessing Arthur's terrifying gaze and fled like dogs with tails between their feet.

"At least they are smart enough to save their own life and didn't dare to mess with a cultivator since those beggars are just mere fodders in this land of cultivators." Arthur spoke to himself.

Thus, he got off from his warhorse and turned back towards the two guards hiding on the alley's junction.

"I know y'all have been following me, come out and let's play a game!" Arthur shouted at the two guards.

With that said, those two guards canceled their stealth and came out with their swords brandished on each hand.

"You have the guts to come to this town with a priced beast like that in public!" said the guard with face full of blotches 

"Yeah? So people like you could plunder me? Just because I am a newcomer in this city? Huh! Shameless fools!"

The burly guard was impatient and wanted to seize Arthur's belongings "Tsk! Enough talking and let's get the jobs done!"

"It's time to eat, Xiaoqing!"

As Arthur called his beloved new beast, the white snake emerged from the shadow below his feet. Billowing the two guards with its massive body, the latters then utterly terrified upon witnessing the huge One Fanged Viper that only lived deep in the wilderness.

"Holy shit! This guy is a beastmaster! Run! RUN!"

The two guards ran and peed themselves. But Xiaoqing, who had been holding back hunger, immediately wrapped her tail around them and devoured both of their heads in one gulp.

Blood spurted like a fountain from the necks of the two of them and made everything drenched in blood.

"Xiaoqing, eat their bodies, I don't want any traces to be left behind!"

The snake shook its head and instead threw the headless body into the trash heap in the corner of the alley. Even Xiaoqing herself was unwilling to eat the body of a person of equal value to trash.

Arthur scratched his head, he himself also understood a little because the One Fanged Viper was also very picky about food in the wild.

Eating a person's body full of impurity will also greatly affect Xiaoqing's future growth.

"Well, whatever. After all they are just lowly guards. I also have no intention of staying in this city. Come on Xiaoqing, we have business in the Mercenaries Guild, return to my domain."

The snake squirmed merrily and returned to the portal like a child who had just bought a snack by its parent.

When Arthur just got on the horse, a notification from the system appeared before his eyes.

[One Fanged Viper just absorbed 2 Uncommon Beast Core!]

[One Fanged Viper received 2 Beast Points!]

Arthur was so shocked that he almost fell off the horse's saddle. "Wait a minute! Is a human head or rather a human brain categorized as a beast core by the system?! This didn't happen in my previous life!"

"Hehehe! If this is true and not just an ordinary glitch, hehe! Looks like I'll be staying on the outskirts of the city for a while. Xiaoqing, I guarantee you will be happy!"

The white snake squirmed happily within the spiritual domain.

"Alright, then! Time to redeem this bounty! Move! Guan Ning! Guan Yu!" Arthur said while pulling the reins of his horse.

It didn't take long for Arthur to find the Mercenaries Guild building. The three-story building is very striking with the ornaments of two iron bull horns perched on both ends of the roof.

Then, the front gate opened wide and many people walked in and out of the building. Above the gate, the inscription <Sparrow City's Mercenaries Guild> was majestically engraved with gold plated engravings.

"Woah! Even though it's a small town, it's a pretty big building! Huh, I'm sure this person named Liu Bu is a sly fox!"

"Hey you! Get out of there, don't get in the way!" rebuke two guild guards

Arthur was slightly shocked and stepped aside, he pretended to smile stupidly and nodded.

"Did you come here to exchange the bounty?" asked one guard with a spear in his right hand.

"Yes, as you can see, I came here on behalf of someone to deliver the Black Iron Claw Beast." Arthur said with a hint of deceit and pointed at the Lion Beast carcass.

"Can you show me the paper?"

Arthur pretended to be a fool and looked for a piece of commission paper. "Yes, yes, yes this! I was also told by my servants to go directly to Lord Liu Bu, I have something to tell him directly!"

The guard rubbed his chin, he didn't receive a memo from his master, Liu Bu that someone would come with the Black Iron Claw Lion Beast, he was a little suspicious of Arthur.

"What is your employer's name?" asked the guard.

"He didn't tell me his name either, I just delivered, got the money and then came back. That's all, because it's my policy as a transporter!"

The guard then shrugged his shoulders 'Ah whatever, I don't get paid enough to question everyone who comes!'

"Alright, just come in and head to the receptionist table. Ask them nicely and they will get you through Lord Liu Bu."

"Thank you!"

A moment later, a young boy that seems to be the stable hand of the establishment approached him, offering his service to park the horses to the stable for him.

"Let me take care of your horses and your prey to the butcher while you are doing your business, sir!" The young boy was enthusiastic seeing the two stallions that Arthur brought with him. One small copper coin for each horses he tended for from the house were enough to made the boy so happy.

Arthur dismounted from his horse and gave the horses' reins to the boy. But before he do that, he looked the boy in the eyes, to judge whether he was trustworthy or not. Arthur saw a glimpse of his childhood in the boy, which he doesn't really proud of.

"If there's anything to my horses-"

"No sir! Nothing will happen to your horses and your belongings! In the name of the Holy Light, I shall protect them with my life!" The young boy cut Arthur's words before he finished.

Arthur gazed into the young boy's eyes once again and made the latter shivered a bit. However, those eyes were unwavered by Arthur's intimidating gaze.

'This kid has more courage than those idiot adults that I've met. Not bad...' Arthur spoke inwardly. "Alright, here's the rein. Do your job diligently."

"Yes, sir!"