Chapter 108 - Tavern Brawl (2/2)

'If we want to eat with big brother in public, these accidents will always happen. We don't want to cause you much trouble.' The two little divine beasts said promptly. Their tone was slightly sad.

'So? If anyone has problems, then I have no problem punching them to silence him. You are my little sisters, and you have the right to eat with me anywhere. And if they continue to harass us, then I will take their punishment to the next level.'

Hei's tone was calm but firm. He knew that most humans wouldn't like to eat at the same table where spirit beasts ate. For some reason, they were convinced that they were superior beings and that all the others had to eat on the ground because they were inferior creatures.

For this reason, Hei would forgive the looks of contempt of others, and if someone scolded him directly, he would send him away, be it with words or force. But if they continued to annoy him and insult his little sisters, he would give up every human etiquette and would settle that annoying human once and for all.

Thanks to the words of their big brother, Ye and Xing returned to be lively and started eating and drinking without worries. The other customers occasionally cast looks of contempt or curiosity but dared not do anything more.

In that atmosphere, Hei and his family finished the breakfast they ordered. Their stomachs were full and gave a pleasant warm sensation.

Since they had met their needs, Hei moved on to what he had planned from the beginning. He called the innkeeper and asked him a question.

”Do you know of any pirate crew who are looking for new members?”

Listening to Hei's words, the innkeeper in the tavern widened his eyes. He never imagined that the young man would ask him such a question. However, he composed himself immediately afterward. He had heard of some stories of children of important families who became bored and wanted to go on an adventure. Of course, many of them ended up making a bad end, but with the strength that had released the boy, the innkeeper believed that there would be no problems as long as he didn't offend the big shots of piracy.

”Yes, I know them. But it isn't a piece of information that I can reveal for free to the first person who passes by. I hope you can understand me.” The innkeeper rubbed his hands to emphasize the difficult position he was in.

Hei quickly understood and pulled out of one of his space rings, the spirit core of the manta ray he had preserved.

”How about a first-level spirit core? The strength of the spirit beast was comparable to a sixth stage spirit apprentice. Consider it as payment for food and drink and the disturbance created as well.”

Hearing the words spirit core and sixth stage, the innkeeper's mouth went dry. It was the first time that he had been offered such a sum. If the boy could come up with such a thing without batting an eye, then it meant that his background was exceptional.

The spirit core attracted the attention of all the others present who carefully observed the exchange between Hei and the innkeeper. As an implicit law among seafarers, touching tavern owners was prohibited, and offenders were severely punished with death. However, it wasn't forbidden to attack other people inside the tavern.

Although that gesture ended up attracting the attention of the entire tavern, Hei wasn't worried. In truth, it was what he wanted. If he wanted to make a name for himself as a pirate quickly, then he had to put himself in the spotlight. Only in that way could he captured the interest of one of the other three Pirate Generals. Besides, it was also a kind of training. Being in a dangerous situation continually would push him, Lian, Ye, and Xing to fully exploit their potential and let them advance faster.

Just as the innkeeper was about to receive the spirit core and preparing to reveal the information, the tavern's doors opened. A group of eight entered. In front of the group, there was the drunk man from before.

”Here he is, brothers. It was that brat that struck me!” The man pointed vehemently towards where Hei was. There was a mocking grin on his face as he imagined how badly the brat would be reduced.

”Trash. You got beat up by a brat. If you weren't our brother, we would have kicked you in the ass.” What looked like the head of the group spoke reproachful words to his partner before turning to Hei. He quickly noticed the spirit core he was holding, and his instincts told him that it wasn't a spirit core of a weak spirit beast.

”Hey, brat. I heard you dared to teach my little brother a lesson. Normally I would have left you half-dead, but today I feel magnanimous. Give me the spirit core you are holding, and I will consider it solved.”

The voice of the group leader sounded overbearing and authoritarian, dictating absurd conditions. Hei ignored him and sent a spirit message to the innkeeper.

'I will pass for my information tonight. For now, keep the core; it should be enough to cover the damage.'

”Damage?” The innkeeper looked confused as he took the spirit core. But then he immediately discovered what Hei meant.

In the next instant, Hei and Lian moved quickly against the group of eight. Ye and Xing were instead hidden in their big brother's clothes by Hei's orders. He didn't want to show their strength in front of so many witnesses.

Bang!

Two bodies from the group of eight flew and fell with a thump. The rest of the group looked shocked at the two youths in front of them and angrily activated their spirit power. Afterward, they rushed against those two brats who had dared to attack their companions.

But it wasn't just the drunken man's companions who moved. The other people in the tavern also turned against Hei and Lian. They had seen that the young boy was wealthy enough to pull out a spirit core without batting an eyelid. Since they had the numerical advantage, they slashed against the two youths despite them having a higher cultivation.

Hei and Lian weren't intimidated, and they responded blow for blow. None of their enemies were using attacks based on elemental laws. Only a few were in the sixth stage and probably hadn't yet finished their elemental conversion and formed their spirit seed. So, even though they were surrounded, they weren't in any kind of imminent danger.

Crush! Peng! Crack!

The sound of breaking chairs and tables was ringing across the tavern. The floor had already been littered with bodies. They weren't dead but only unconscious.

Hei was using Snake Hair and had grabbed the ankles of two martial artists and was swinging them in the air to crash them into other people. Lian was also adopting a similar attack method, using her two silk ribbons. The coalition of people couldn't do anything against the fury of the two young martial artists. It wasn't only the difference in cultivation, but it was, above all, the gap in techniques, weapons quality, and battle awareness. Hei and Lian would certainly not lose against petty criminals like these.

But although none of them were using elemental techniques, the fight ended up attracting the attention of city guards. Sensing the arrival of a large number of people, Ye and Xing immediately reported the situation to their big brother.

Hei then turned to the innkeeper again, hidden behind his counter.

'Remember, I will come tonight. Do your job, and you will be rewarded properly.'

Then, making his way through the crowd of people, Hei led Lian and his sisters out of the tavern. After that, they started running out of the city, relying on the two little divine beasts to avoid the guards.

Even if they would stay here for a short time, it was better to avoid a conflict with the local authorities. Besides, Hei had given enough proof of his strength. Now it depended on the innkeeper's greed for wanting a better profit than what he had already received.