Chapter Twenty-Three: This Young Man Is Quite Strong

"Alright, our noble future knights have arrived. Good luck to all of you!" As Hanshuo and Gale were talking, Jeff suddenly shouted.

At the end of Jeff’s call, a group of a dozen or so elegantly dressed knight trainees entered the hall one after another, each carrying an ornate sword. Most of them were young men, though there were a few young women among them. Upon entering, they swept the room with scrutinizing, haughty gazes, carefully examining the various human targets in the hall. The warriors present drew their attention first, for they were much stronger than ordinary people and thus far more valuable for practical combat training. Naturally, they were the focus of the knights’ interest.

Led by Gale, several warriors were quickly singled out. Once both parties had come to terms on price, the warriors were taken to the training grounds, Gale among them. As he left, he looked back at Hanshuo with a tinge of regret.

Among all the human targets, the warriors were the most formidable. They played the greatest role in the knights’ practical training and, as a result, commanded far higher fees than the robust commoners. Once all the warrior targets had been hired away, only commoners remained. Among them, the burliest and most muscular were chosen first.

Each of these men flexed their massive muscles, striking bodybuilder poses with eager grins plastered on their faces as they looked hopefully at the future knights, wishing to be selected for a generous reward.

Hanshuo’s slight build made him entirely unremarkable. Surrounded by these towering, broad-shouldered men, he was completely obscured from view and even less likely to be noticed. As the knight trainees chose their targets and left one after another, Hanshuo grew increasingly anxious.

Three hulking men stood on all sides of him, nearly blocking him from sight entirely; some of the knights probably couldn’t even see him at all. Growing desperate, Hanshuo began to think of ways to make himself more visible.

“Hey, big guy, could you give me a little room?” He smiled amicably, patting the back of the mountain of muscle in front of him—who stood nearly two meters tall, bronzed and thickset, with muscles knotted like the bodybuilders Hanshuo had seen before.

Upon hearing Hanshuo’s words, the man turned, glaring menacingly at him. He flexed his right bicep, making the muscle swell into a small mound, and then sneered in satisfaction before turning away without a word.

Damn, does being big make you so great? Hanshuo sneered inwardly. He placed his left hand on the brute’s lower back and, with a sudden burst of strength, shoved forward.

Staggering, the mountain of a man lurched forward several steps under Hanshuo’s forceful push. The hall was already crowded with such musclebound men, so his sudden collision set off a small chain reaction, causing those around him to stumble and clear a path. In an instant, chaos erupted in front of Hanshuo.

“Damn it, Daniel, are you trying to break the rules?” the other musclemen, jostled by Daniel’s blunder, steadied themselves and barked angrily at him.

“It wasn’t me—it was that kid behind me!” Daniel protested, glaring at Hanshuo with a vicious look. “Kid, are you trying to get yourself killed early?”

Taking advantage of the commotion, Hanshuo slipped out from the crowd, securing a prime spot at the edge of the hall. Hearing Daniel’s threat, Hanshuo only chuckled coldly. He raised his right arm, mimicking Daniel’s bodybuilder pose, flexing his bicep in a show of mock strength and nodding challengingly at Daniel.

Just then, a few more knight trainees entered the hall. They had been about to choose targets from the back, but seeing the commotion, they paused in their selection, watching the scene unfold with interest.

Hanshuo had timed his provocation precisely for this moment, wanting to draw the attention of the new arrivals. With his physique, it was unlikely he would be chosen otherwise. Bragging or merely showing off his body would do little; the quickest way to stand out was to demonstrate overwhelming strength—if he could defeat one of the musclemen here, the knights would see him in a new light.

While Hanshuo’s arrogant provocation amused some, to most it seemed utterly foolish. When Daniel struck that pose, it was intimidating; but for Hanshuo, barely one-seventy tall and slight of build, to act so brazenly amid these giants was nothing short of laughable—a death wish.

“Well, kid, since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish!” Daniel, rather than flying into a rage at Hanshuo’s taunt, actually burst out laughing. His arm, thicker than Hanshuo’s thigh, swung down toward Hanshuo’s head in a mighty grab.

Such scuffles were common among the human targets, each trying to attract the wealthy knights’ attention. Daniel, seeing Hanshuo’s provocation, welcomed the opportunity to prove his ferocity in front of the knights. With this chance handed to him, he was more delighted than angry.

Yet, most musclemen were simple-minded. He hadn’t paused to consider just how much strength it would take for someone of Hanshuo’s build to shove him out of the crowd with such force.

Jeff, who was in charge of registering names, saw Daniel reach for Hanshuo and, worried, called out, “Daniel, he’s one of our academy’s servants—you can’t seriously hurt him!”

“I won’t!” Daniel replied with a grin, his hand already lunging for Hanshuo.

Some of the other human targets, as well as a few compassionate knight trainees, couldn’t bear to watch. A few young female knights gasped in alarm.

Just as Daniel’s massive hand was about to grab Hanshuo’s head, Hanshuo darted aside with sudden agility, slipping easily out of harm’s way. Daniel’s hand snatched only empty air.

Hanshuo chuckled mockingly and, with a flourish, flexed his left bicep in the same manner, pointing at it with his right hand and nodding at Daniel—making it perfectly clear without words: “See? I’m strong!”

“My, this kid is bold!”

“That’s outright provocation!”

“Ha! Amusing fellow!”

Exclamations of surprise rippled through both the human targets and the knight trainees. Seeing Hanshuo not only evade capture but double down with his showy display, their interest was well and truly piqued. Even those knights who’d been negotiating prices put their discussions on hold to watch.

“Kid, you dare humiliate me? I won’t let you off today!” Daniel, incensed as though he’d been stabbed by a raging bull, flushed red with fury. With the knights watching—his golden geese—Hanshuo’s blatant mockery ignited his wrath completely. Judging by his expression, Jeff’s warning was already forgotten.

Daniel’s gaze blazed as he clenched his right fist, swinging at Hanshuo with full force—no longer trying to grab him, but to deal him a crushing blow.

Given the disparity in their size and strength, onlookers could see the difference at once. This punch was in another league from before; Daniel was truly enraged. If Hanshuo were struck, he’d be lucky to escape with his life.

Those who had been concerned for Hanshuo grew even more anxious.

As Daniel’s fist hurtled toward him, Hanshuo twisted on his heel, deftly dodging the blow. Daniel, missing his target, staggered forward, nearly bowling over several nearby men, who recoiled in alarm to avoid getting caught in the fray.

Hanshuo, meanwhile, brought both arms up in a circle before his chest, fists facing upward, knuckles touching, chest thrust forward with a disdainful smirk. Once more, he struck a bodybuilder’s pose, flaunting his chest, biceps, and triceps in open challenge.

A chorus of astonished cries erupted from the crowd. The knight trainees, who had initially watched in amusement, now regarded Hanshuo with newfound respect. Dodging once could be luck; but for Hanshuo to evade Daniel’s enraged, full-force attack as well proved his skill was no accident.

As the crowd buzzed with surprise, Daniel, wild-eyed and furious, charged Hanshuo again, swinging with both hands in an attempt to pummel him flat.

Yet, miracle after miracle followed. Hanshuo darted and weaved like a slippery fish, his speed astonishing, evading every one of Daniel’s attacks. He even found time to strike a new, extravagant pose each time—never repeating himself, always taunting.

Hanshuo’s performance was pure, unadulterated provocation—flamboyant and brash.

“Wow, he’s amazing! He hasn’t repeated a single pose—I’ve never seen anything like it!” one young female knight exclaimed.

“This kid is something else!” a male knight echoed.

“Daniel’s in trouble now!” another burly muscleman exclaimed.

The hall erupted in a frenzy of excited voices.