Chapter 172 – Ways of the Wild (IV)

Chapter 172

Ways of the Wild (IV)

The inside of the barracks was actually much better than the somewhat rundown exterior–the central hall housed six wooden tables, each with long benches at the sides with some kind of fur as cushioning. Additionally, columns holding up the upper floor each had either a torch or a lantern lit up, making it rather bright.

Beyond the tables, pressed into the central chimney that swept through the entire building, was a massive hearth–arched, wide, and tall. The crackling of the fire could be heard as soon as we entered the building, as could the immediate change in the temperature be felt.

We went from fairly chilly to almost wanting to take off my robes with how hot it got.

And it was beautiful.

If only I could take a nice little nap by the fireplace… ah, how beautiful that would be.

“Capt’n,” Zhu led us over to the one table that wasn’t empty. There were four people there in total–three men and a woman.

The man they called ‘Captain’ was obvious immediately–he was the tallest and the oldest one, with a bear pelt hung over his wide shoulders, his rather hairy chest fully exposed, and a beard covering half his face as though a mask.

“Who are they, Big Fatty?” the woman asked, appearing curious. She looked to be the youngest, though that wasn’t saying much; if her hair ever had any color, it has long since lost it, having turned as white as snow. Wrinkles covered her face, and even seated, I could tell she was hunched.

“Newcomers,” Zhu replied. “Passin’ through, they say.”

“Brave little urchins.”

“Or stupid, eh?”

“Ha ha ha.”

“Suppose you’ll want a room.” Capt’n–dammit, Captain–spoke up, immediately silencing everyone. His voice was rather… dreary.

“We can pay,” I said.

“No need. Plenty of empty rooms to be found. Take ’em to the old Izah’s.”

… Izah? That’s… a strange name.

“Yes, Capt’n.”

“Right–you folk spot anything unusual on the way up?” the captain asked.

“No, nothing unusual,” I said. “Just the gray rock and the howling of the animals.”

“Hm. How long are ye’ staying?”

“Just a day or two,” I said. “We can chip in with some food.”

“Much appreciated.”

Though the conversation is going, there’s just something… off about the man.

I can’t really pin it to anything specific–it’s like that gut feeling that you get when meeting someone for the first time, and though they seem nice and cordial and all that jazz, there’s just something about them that sets off all your alarms and has your brain screaming at you, ‘RUN BITCH, RUN!’

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

It’s not to the point where I want to run, but it is to the point that I’m reminded of a nifty tool that I’ve neglected for a long while–since there’s been nobody to use it on… the eyes.

[–Creator’s Eyes used]

[Target: ???]

[…]

[Anomaly detected]

[Spend 150 CP to view the info?]

… do I have a choice?

I don’t, right? Thus, I spent 150 points to see what ungodly thing I’ve just met…

[150 CP used]

[…]

[Target: ??? — Thrall]

[Age: Unknown]

[Talent: Unknown]

[Cultivation Realm: Peak Inner World (Temporary / False / Forced)]

[Cultivation Method: None]

[Cultivation Arts: None]

[…]

[Traits]