42 Friendship (1/2)

The next month of the trip went without a hitch. No bandits appeared to attack them, and no Fierce Beasts emerged to fight them either.

Li Jian was getting more and more nervous as they came closer and closer to the recruitment camp. Xue Wei was still alive, and the closer they got, the more likely he was to stay alive, which was something that he could not accept.

Xue Wei was aware that something was agitating Li Jian, and he was observing him with vigilance from time to time.

Xue Wei knew that he could not afford to be careless. The woman that had appeared when they were about to leave Tiankong City was indeed not someone he could disregard.

Since not much had happened in a month, the previously nervous and worried youngsters had relaxed significantly and were now talking together while marching.

Strangely enough, neither Luo Zhirou nor Shen Mu came to talk with Xue Wei; it was clear that they were still scared by his display of bloodthirst during the battle with the Sand Snakes and the bandits.

Although he was observed with reverence from some, he was also feared by everyone. They had all been brought up in a safe environment, but now they had seen real fighting for the first time, and they had also understood the difference between them and Xue Wei.

No one was comfortable when comparing themselves to Xue Wei. It was as if he was a real warrior. The kind of expert that they had read about and heard about, the type of warrior that would go on and catch Primordial Beasts.

There was a bit of jealousy in the hearts of some, as they too wished to be as fierce in battle, but most were scared and rightfully so. How could someone who had been trash for so long have such an innate killing intent?

Everyone was puzzled and the rumors that had started spreading about Xue Wei and his killing intent, merged with the imagination of everyone made them all fear that he would take his vengeance because there had been a time they had looked down upon him.

He was without a doubt the strongest expert in the group of youngsters. If he wanted to take revenge, even if he did not kill them, he would at least be able to make their lives a living hell.

This was especially so if Xue Wei went to the Genius Camp. If he was considered a real genius, then their lives would become hard to predict.

”We ought to go and apologize,” someone whispered to his friend, who nodded his head but spread his arms. ”We should,” he agreed, ”but even though we ought to do so, do you want to go and talk with him when you saw him chop down ninth layer Ordinary Warriors as if they were weeds?”

”You think he will take the chance to take revenge?” the first youngster shivered as he thought about it. ”Maybe we should wait for someone else to test the waters. If they survive, we will do the same, but if they get slaughtered, then they can only blame their luck.”

The second friend nodded his head. ”We don't have any other option. Although it might seem less sincere only to try after others have paved the road for us, it is better than risking our lives.”

Unfortunately, it seemed that everyone shared these thoughts; even Shen Mu and Luo Zhirou were uncomfortable about Xue Wei's sudden display of bloodthirst and his combat ability.

Although they knew that Xue Wei was continually increasing his strength, they had not been able to comprehend that he had overtaken them in strength completely.

He had been trash for so long, and although he was no longer trash, he had been lower ranked than them. He had not been able to threaten them, and they had never fought him, resulting in them slightly looking down on him.

Now that he had displayed a power stronger than theirs by a lot, they did not know how to deal with it.

Although Li Jian was Xue Wei's enemy, he was the one who was the most aware of Xue Wei's strength. He had fought against Xue Wei and knew from early on that not only did Xue Wei have abilities that made it hard to counter him, he also had physical strength superior to other cultivators of the same layer.

At the start, Luo Zhirou and Shen Mu had not contacted Xue Wei at the beginning because they had been stunned by how he suddenly was much stronger than what they initially thought. Time just passed and slowly it became more and more awkward.

Finally, Luo Zhirou could not endure it any longer. With a wail, she rushed towards Xue Wei when they were having a break.

”Brother Xue!” she called out. Although her voice was not too loud, every youngster and even many of the guards quieted down and discreetly listened in on the conversation.

”Zhirou, what can I do for you?” Xue Wei asked as if it was just yesterday they had last spoken, and his question made Luo Zhirou both feel calmer but also guilty.

”I'm sorry,” she said while bowing to Xue Wei. ”I did not mean to wait this long before talking to you, but you are horrifying!” she exclaimed as she raised her head.