Chapter 87: Frost Throat

The moment the Barbarian appeared at the tavern door, Xia Nan immediately lowered his head and ate, doing his best to diminish his own presence.

After all, the Midsummer Night Bonfire Ritual earlier had left far too deep an impression of the man on him.

That condensed aura, forged from a perfect unity of body and mind, was just like the hunched old man he had once encountered on the outskirts of Kalanfur.

Definitely not an ordinary Professional.

Compared to the feeling the Rogue "Wood," who had already taken up the class, gave him — and Wood was the half-elf's former guard.

He even suspected these two had already touched that legendary tier known as "Transcendence," the realm of high-tier Professionals.

With his own humble strength — he hadn't even obtained a Professional Level yet — if he accidentally offended the man, or if the man turned out to be some chaotic-evil lunatic who did whatever he pleased…

He probably wouldn't even know which way to run.

To be safe, it was best to keep his distance.

But what he hadn't expected was that the Barbarian who entered the tavern seemed to be looking for him specifically.

Xia Nan kept his head down, appearing to focus intently on ladling out vegetable soup, while in truth pricking up his ears and carefully watching the surroundings from the corners of his eyes.

He only felt that towering figure wrapped in pale wolf-hide, accompanied by slow, deliberate footsteps, drawing closer and closer to him with every step.

As the shadow fell over him, he could even hear the man's long, powerful breaths.

"You're Xia Nan?"

The Common Tongue, thick with a Beijing accent, seemed to drift in from a blizzard's howling wind, muffled and indistinct.

Surprise flared in his heart — he couldn't fathom how the man knew the name of a nobody like him.

The sudden shift in events sent countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

Organizing his words in his head, Xia Nan instinctively set down his spoon and raised his head.

Before he could get a word out, he felt the Barbarian's gaze — almost tangible — sweep over his jet-black hair, his eyes, and the iron-gray Zhan Shou Chang Jian strapped to his back.

Identity confirmed.

A faint clink of the Bone Tooth Necklace reached his ears.

When he looked again, the Barbarian had already sat down directly across the table.

"Haian, remember?"

Arms thick as saplings resting on the tabletop, the man turned his body sideways, his gaze surveying the tavern's interior.

Haian?

Xia Nan naturally knew the half-elf's name. The reason he had been staying in Xiao Zhen all this time, not going out to take quests for money, was to wait for the combat-skill instructor the half-elf was arranging for him — but…

He couldn't help but freeze, realization dawning on him at once.

Could it be…

In a cautious tone, he tentatively asked:

"In his letter he mentioned you wouldn't be passing through River Valley Town until at least next month."

"Something came up. Moved up the schedule."

The Barbarian shot him a glance and replied offhandedly.

Just as he thought!

Though he didn't know exactly what had happened, the Professional the half-elf had found for him had arrived in River Valley Town nearly a month early.

The reason the man could recognize him at a glance was probably because Haian had previously described his identifying features to him:

Adventurer's dress, black hair and black eyes, sharp features, young, iron-gray two-handed sword…

All things considered, he really wasn't hard to pick out.

For a moment, Xia Nan even felt a secret thrill of excitement rising in his chest.

He had assumed the instructor Haian had arranged for him would be an ordinary Professional, like Wood.

He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise.

"What a good man!"

"If I ever get the chance to go to Niumu in the future, I'll probably have to pay him a special visit."

Xia Nan reflected inwardly on the half-elf's generosity.

At the same time, his eyes filled with anticipation as he looked at the Barbarian across the table.

He had meant to exchange a few pleasantries, but the moment he opened his mouth — before any sound could come out —

the man had used those few seconds to thoroughly sweep the entire tavern with his gaze.

Then he turned back and got straight to the point:

"【Frilan Thrust】, 【Broken Blade Parry】, 【Zhongdunjiji】, 【Iron Wall Sweep】."

"Which one do you want to learn?"

It took Xia Nan two seconds sitting in his chair to realize the man was asking him which combat skill he wished to learn.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

His very first thought was naturally, "I want them all!"

Of course, that was just a thought.

They weren't related, they owed each other nothing —

this Barbarian, who seemed to be a high-tier Professional, had only taken on the commission from the half-elf Haian to teach him combat skills as a casual favor while passing through River Valley Town.

If he rashly made an impertinent request, it would only displease the man, and goodness knows what might happen.

Behave yourself, don't get cocky, and master the combat skill.

Complete two-thirds of the prerequisites for obtaining a Professional Level.

That was what he ought to be doing right now.

His mind spun rapidly, recalling the names the Barbarian had just spoken, carefully analyzing the type of each combat skill:

【Freeland Thrust】, most likely belongs to some kind of thrusting-type combat technique, suited to weapons like spears and rapiers.

But considering he has already maxed out 【Whirling Slash】, even if he picked up a random tree branch by the road, he could wield it with ease.

The impact isn't significant; it can be set aside as a backup option.

【Broken Blade Parry】, from the name alone one can tell it belongs to a defensive-type move.

Probably similar to that "Parry-Uppercut" book he bought from the general store earlier, but whether it has a counterattack effect is unknown.

His combat style hasn't taken shape yet, and he has no clear sense of how to position himself in the future.

Whether defense or offense, as long as it's a genuine combat technique, Xia Nan is largely open-minded about the vast majority of them.

Worth learning.

【Zhongdunjiji】, the name is equally simple and clear.

If this were half a month ago, without suitable equipment, he probably wouldn't have considered it.

But now that he has the overpowered "Snake Scale Arm Shield," it can even be upgraded into magical gear in the future.

Preparing a shield-bash-type combat technique in advance isn't out of the question.

As for the last one, 【Iron Wall Spin】……

Xia Nan couldn't quite gauge it.

Just looking at the last two characters, the move's effect might overlap with his own 【Whirling Slash】.

But the "Iron Wall" tacked on in front seems like some kind of defensive combat technique.

Right now, if he really had to pick the one most suited to his combat habits from among the four techniques, perhaps……

Brow furrowed, lost in thought, he absently stirred the wooden spoon through the mushroom soup he had taken a few sips of.

After deliberating for a long while, Xia Nan still couldn't make a decision.

He couldn't help but look up at the expressionless Barbarian in front of him and asked in a low voice:

"Could you briefly introduce them, or for a newcomer like me, which one do you think is more suitable?"

Eyes deep and dark blue like an icy lake reflected the black-haired youth with twin swords on his back ahead.

Silence.

Just as Xia Nan was wondering whether he had inadvertently offended the other party.

The Barbarian suddenly rose.

"Tomorrow at dawn, outside the tavern. Bring your gear."

The doubts in his heart seemed frozen in his throat by the cold aura emanating from the other.

Watching the Barbarian walk toward the main door, his figure about to leave.

Xia Nan only managed to hastily ask one question:

"What should I call you?"

"Fugang."

"Fugang Shuanghou."

(End of this chapter)