Radiant Era - Chapter 22

Chapter 22 – Tavern

Snow swirled in the air late at night. The whistling cold wind originating from the Odin Ice Origin came and madly rolled around. Snowflakes that were nearly the size of a fist fell one after another from a high altitude. Dozens of thick, accumulated snow randomly made a sound.

Thin rays of red light could be seen around the edges of the thick black clouds in the sky. Every time this strange ray of light appeared, the people of the West Continent knew that the genuine midwinter was around the corner, heralding the arrival of three grueling months. It was said that the red light in the sky was the blood and fire resulting from a battle between a heretical god worshipped in Odin Ice Origin and the various gods that the people of the continent believed in.

The northwest corner of the business district was located in the southern part of Borali City, a place less than one kilometer away from Borali University City. In this place was a small, brightly lit tavern filled with a hubbub of noises. The night life had just begun.

The tavern’s front gate could only fit two or three people entering at the same time.  In front of the gate hung a signboard showing a gorgeously dressed woman reclining on a large and rusty battle sword. The signboard, which was made of black iron and wood,  swayed randomly with the wind, occasionally bumping against the wall and producing a dull thud.

This was the Sword and Pretty Ladies Tavern, the place Borali Army Academy students loved to  spend their free time the most.

Past the tavern’s front gate and through a narrow and small alley, was a small square that could hold dozens of twin-reined carriages. A row of quaint two-storied buildings stood on the north side; two were inns, while one was where the tavern did business.

The owner of the tavern, Dajian Qiao, was a middle-aged man. A muscle on the left side of his face was split open cleanly by a sword, making half of his face resemble a human skull. He was a veteran who had survived through the devastating war. This tavern was handed down from his ancestors. After taking this tavern from his father’s hand, the small tavern became the base for these Army Academy students with the help from some old connections. Business also grew day by day.

Behind the modest bar, Dajian Qiao, whose big hands had once held a heavy sword that had crazily hacked at both beasts and men all those years ago, held a rag as he diligently cleaned a large wine cup. Several maids stood behind the bar, laughing and teasing the messily clothed Army Academy students in front of them. Although their faces were only about average, their figures were extremely sexy.

In spite of the Army Academy’s code of conduct, these students were here tipsily seeking pleasure and making merry late at night. There were many among them who were members of the Knights of the Round Table. Their group leader, Dark Horse Hao Si, was personally overseeing the tavern at the moment. They were also indifferent towards military discipline.

A corner of the tavern was very quiet. Dark Horse Hao Si, who had a large Herculean stature, was casually sitting at a round table. By his side sat several core members of the Knights of the Round Table. Charlie Rabbit, who was famous for his cowardice, was also present at the round table. It was very obvious however, that Charlie Rabbit’s position wasn’t high, as no one spared him a second glance.

Dark Horse Hao Si swallowed the strongly burning alcoholic drink in big mouthfuls. The alcohol made his blood crazily surge and his eyes become bloodshot.

Descended from a viscount family with outstanding military services, Dark Horse Hao Si, whose father was a famous general in the military department, was flourishing greatly with lofty sentiments. Tonight, exactly tonight, he would defeat the Ironfist Brotherhood that had been clashing with him for three years in one fell swoop.

Three years ago, the Knights of the Round Table was Borali University City’s biggest student group. All of Borali University City students were enshrouded in the shadow of the Knights of the Round Table. Back then, Dark Horse Hao Si had netted an income of nearly a hundred gold coins per month, merely from blackmailing the cowardly and wealthy students.

At that time, Dark Horse Hao Si had just entered the Army Academy to study. He had just taken over the leadership of the Knights of the Round Table from the hands of a graduating senior brother of his.

A net income of a hundred gold coins per month belonging entirely to Dark Horse Hao Si allowed him to go through several months of happy life indulging in sensual pleasures. Even now, Dark Horse Hao Si still remembered the experiences of that short time, as well as  the free and unfettered use of a hundred gold coins. This was indeed a huge sum of money. Just like in his early youth, having an income of a hundred gold coins per month meant that he could eat whatever he wanted to eat, drink whatever he wanted to drink, and also have his choice of those daughters of rich families to entertain him.

However, those good old days abruptly ended after a student faction called the Ironfist Brotherhood suddenly rose to prominence.

The Ironfist Brotherhood, with Lin Qi as its leader, was sinister and cunning with its plots and schemes emerging in an endless stream. The unlimited pride and arrogance of the Knights of the Round Table were completely eliminated within a short three months. Moreover, other student factions also took advantage of this opportunity to boldly come forward. Nowadays, the Knights of the Round Table was no longer the only ‘grand occasion’ in Borali University City like all those years ago.

Predictably, Dark Horse Hao Si’s monthly income went from a hundred gold coins to being unable to make ends meet.

Bitter and deep-seated hatred, extraordinary shame and humiliation! Dark Horse Hao Si had imagined countless times, that he could personally make Lin Qi kneel and beg for forgiveness, thereby unifying Borali University City anew. But Lin Qi was so crafty, so cunning. His scheming skills were absolutely not something Dark Horse Hao Si could contend against. For three years, Dark Horse Hao Si had suffered losses time and time again, was fooled time and time again, and yet, Lin Qi’s Ironfist Brotherhood actually continued to expand.  

Luckily, today they caught Wei Ke!

As one of the core members of the Ironfist Brotherhood, Lin Qi couldn’t ignore Wei Ke’s fate!

Heavily slamming the wine cup on the table, Dark Horse Hao Si shouted loudly, “Today, in this exact place, I want Lin Qi to kneel and beg for forgiveness!”

Nearly a hundred members of the Knights of the Round Table inside the tavern raised their wine cups at the same time, letting loose a loud and hearty laugh. They raised one clamor after another. They wanted the Ironfist Brotherhood to be thoroughly routed, to make Borali University City once more return to the glorious regime of the Knights of the Round Table, and to make the gold, silver, and copper coins of the students enter their pockets like flowing water.

Dark Horse Hao Si burped in satisfaction, then strongly patted Charlie Rabbit’s shoulder and contentedly praised him, “Charlie, you did very well this time, not losing any of the Army Academy’s face! You know, we are the army, they are just a group of rogues; we can certainly defeat them!”

This was the pride of the Knights of the Round Table; as all of their members were Army Academy students, they boasted that they were the regular army.

As for Lin Qi’s Ironfist Brotherhood? Their ten core members were all students of various universities. The several hundred outer members were hired thugs to run errands; in fact, they were ruffians and rogues that Lin Qi fooled around with.

Just as Dark Horse Hao Si’s speech was starting to thoroughly insult Lin Qi and the others, the shadows outside the tavern flickered. A group of unknown individuals were approaching the tavern.

Several low and deep groans could be heard outside the tavern. Several servants who were looking after the horses were hit from behind and lost consciousness.