Chapter 17: The Self-Cultivation of the Sea King

"Defeat the target!"

"Do you want to capture Polk’s abilities?"

“Yes.”

Wang Xi responded mentally.

Immediately, two white lights flew out from the body of the guard who had just stood up and entered Wang Xi’s forehead.

“Only two cards for this defeat?”

Wang Xi thought to himself.

He guessed that the ability capture varied from person to person. Some were stronger and possessed more skills, while others were weaker and could only capture fewer abilities.

At the same time, he also basically confirmed his previous suspicion—that simply defeating an opponent yields greater rewards than outright killing.

“Young man, you’ve proven your strength.”

The steward with the hat stepped forward, clapping and smiling.

“On behalf of the Spindle Guild, I’m willing to pay you 20 gold coins as compensation to recruit you as a temporary guard. The agreement ends once the caravan reaches the royal capital. What do you say?”

“Alright.”

Wang Xi smiled in return.

The steward made a gesture, and a guard beside him handed over a small leather pouch about the size of a palm.

“I’m White, the leader of this caravan. Here are 10 gold coins; the remaining half will be paid once we reach the capital.”

“Fine.”

Wang Xi took the pouch and glanced inside.

The tiny gold coins, each about the size of a button, were indeed stacked together—ten in total. He then put it away.

“When do we depart?” he asked.

White’s expression grew slightly serious. He said, “This afternoon.”

So soon?

Wang Xi was surprised but didn’t ask further.

No wonder they offered such a high price for guards; there must be something urgent requiring them to hurry back to the capital, eager to supplement their manpower for the journey.

Just as White was about to introduce the other guards to Wang Xi, a commotion erupted nearby.

Wang Xi turned his head, his gaze sharpening.

He saw the crowd being roughly pushed aside by several fully armored knights, and a noblewoman in a blue velvet gown, her golden hair tied up, was walking gracefully through the center.

“Selah?”

“Guy, finally found you!”

The noblewoman’s face bore slight fatigue; her cold expression was tinged with a trace of annoyance.

“Weren’t you out hunting? Why did you go so far?!”

She approached.

Selah glanced around at the crowd and noticed the Spindle Guild’s men, narrowing her eyes.

“You’re still injured. Don’t overdo it. Come back with me.”

Selah stopped about three meters from Wang Xi, her expression softening, her tone gentle.

Wang Xi glanced at the knights behind her.

“Barto’s Elite Guard Knight Karl (Pale Red/Two Stars)”

“Barto’s Elite Guard Knight Isaac (Pale Red/Two Stars)”

“Barto’s Elite Guard Knight Brick (Pale Red/Two Stars)”

“...”

Wang Xi was somewhat alarmed.

All five knights were uniformly two-star level, clearly the elite guards of Count Barto.

Honestly, he might have had a chance one-on-one, but facing five two-star knights at once, he knew he was no match.

A direct confrontation was too risky!

Wang Xi’s mind raced, contemplating a strategy.

Perhaps because of the commotion, more and more onlookers gathered, pointing and whispering. Even the Buchanan patrol guards had noticed and were heading over.

White frowned, signaling the guard captain Bennett to stop, and watched silently.

Godaril stood frozen, her face filled with tension.

“Selah.”

At that moment, Wang Xi suddenly spoke.

He glanced around, his voice full of energy and determination:

“I will not marry you!”

“Huh?!”

Selah was stunned.

Even the crowd was taken aback, as if only now realizing what was happening…

So it was a young noble’s love affair!

Curiosity and intrigue spread across the faces of the onlookers. Secrets of the noble circle were rarely accessible to them, but now they had to listen intently.

Wang Xi slightly turned his head, his voice becoming low and restrained, filled with deep guilt:

“You shouldn’t have come looking for me, Selah… I no longer have the right to stand before you.”

“...”

Selah’s brows furrowed slightly.

Wang Xi paused briefly, clenching his fist.

His hand then rested on the sword hilt at his waist.

Swish—

Instantly, the knights behind Selah stepped forward, staring daggers at Wang Xi, ready to draw their swords and subdue him.

But Wang Xi ignored them and continued speaking:

“I once swore to protect you with my sword and life, but I failed. I was no match for the Northerners, letting you fall into danger, enduring humiliation and suffering you should never have faced.”

“It was all my incompetence!”

Clang!

Wang Xi drew his long sword with a sorrowful and angry expression.

Almost simultaneously, the Barto elite guard knights drew their swords, shielding Selah.

Selah’s eyes flickered slightly.

She raised her hand to stop the knights, quietly looking at Guy, awaiting what he would say next.

Wang Xi avoided her gaze, his voice trembling with concealed pain:

“I will dissolve the engagement. Your freedom and dignity matter more than my vow.”

“I will leave you all my property and lands in Lundor, as well as my remaining honor. You deserve a better fate, not to be bound by a dying man’s chains.”

“I’ve lost the qualification to be your fiancé and the courage to face you.”

“Go! Selah!”

Wang Xi suddenly shouted.

“Go pursue your own future… As for me, I will spend the rest of my life wandering and atoning!”

With that, he raised his hand and slashed his palm sharply.

Selah and Godaril’s pupils contracted.

The crowd gasped.

Shh—

Wang Xi’s sword sliced through, blood spurting from his palm.

His eye twitched slightly, yet he maintained that self-mocking and sorrowful expression.

Clang!

The blood-stained sword dropped to the ground.

“Guy!”

Godaril rushed out of the crowd, supporting Wang Xi.

Her face filled with pain as she cradled his bleeding palm. Then she looked up, glaring fiercely at the noblewoman and the armored knights.

“Selah Crawford! Are you trying to kill Guy? He’s suffered enough pain and torment!”

Godaril didn’t understand where her courage came from, but with tears in her eyes, she scolded the count’s daughter.

Perhaps it was buried jealousy, concern for Guy at this moment, or an unbreakable yearning for the future.

“I…”

Selah opened her mouth, her eyes still confused.

The surrounding whispers grew louder.

Harsh voices about Lundor, Count Barto, and the Crawford family made the elite knights scowl deeply, their brows furrowing.

Selah looked at the young man leaning weakly against the peasant girl, his palm bleeding and his spirit seemingly broken. Her once firm conviction began to waver.

Especially after Guy’s words.

They stirred complex emotions and chaotic thoughts within her.

Memories of past moments, fondness, and admiration flashed rapidly in her mind.

“Miss, Lord Barto said…”

At that moment, a square-faced, stubbled armored knight approached, whispering.

Selah immediately raised her hand, signaling him to stop. The knight hesitated but finally withdrew silently.

“Guy, are you sure about this?” Selah took a deep breath, her gaze complicated.

Guy silently picked up his sword, turned his head away, refusing to look at the noblewoman, as if that was his answer.

Supported by Godaril, he slowly walked to steward White.

“Is the previous agreement still valid?”

He asked the steward in a low voice.

White glanced at the noblewoman and the armored knights not far off. As the steward of a major guild in the capital, he wasn’t particularly impressed by the nobles in this remote area, nor did he show much reverence.

He only cared about whether this important cargo could be delivered safely and quickly to the capital.

“Of course it is.”

White withdrew his gaze and smiled at the youth.

Wang Xi breathed a silent sigh of relief and added, “Can I bring someone else along? I’m willing to forgo the remaining half of the payment.”

“You want to bring this girl with you?”

White looked at Godaril, who was supporting the youth.

The girl looked nervous but felt reassured and touched hearing the conversation between Guy and the steward.

“Yes.”

Wang Xi nodded.

White looked at the two with interest, as if imagining a scandalous love triangle defying social norms.

“You remind me of my younger self.”

The steward smiled wryly and sighed.

“But I lacked your courage and ability and left behind many regrets... Young man, you’re a worthy noble knight. I agree to let you bring this girl along. The 10 gold coins will still be paid to you upon arrival.”

“Thank you.”

Wang Xi said.

“Bennett, go help him bandage that wound. We wait until noon, and whether or not we recruit more guards, we leave.”

White turned to the guard captain.

The latter nodded and led Wang Xi toward the caravan’s wagon.

Supported by Godaril, Wang Xi followed closely, sword in hand, weaving through the crowd.

Selah pursed her lips but didn’t stop them, stepping aside with her knights.

They brushed past each other.

“I’m leaving, Selah. Take good care of yourself.”

Wang Xi whispered softly.

His voice was like a gentle breeze brushing past the golden-haired noblewoman’s ear, making her shiver.

Selah stood stunned, lost in thought. When she looked up with complicated eyes, her fiancé’s figure had already disappeared into the distance.

...

“Ah!”

Wang Xi bit back a scream of pain.

“Ouch, ouch!!”

Inside the dust-filled caravan, Godaril carefully inspected the youth’s wound. When she accidentally touched a sore spot, fresh blood seeped out.

“Sorry, Guy, I didn’t mean to.”

The girl hurriedly apologized, cupping her hands and blowing gently.

“It’s okay.”

Wang Xi smiled faintly.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally freed from Selah and her knights, he left Buchanan with the caravan and officially set off.

Thanks to his flamboyant acting skills as a retired sea king, he successfully avoided a costly and risky fight. Though he made a small sacrifice, it was worth it.

Looking back, the only regret was that he had swung his sword too hard, causing a deep wound on his left palm that wouldn’t heal quickly.

Fortunately, he was right-handed, so it wouldn’t affect his fighting much. He estimated he could still wield about seventy to eighty percent of his strength.

Handling some highway bandits wouldn’t be a problem, especially since he wasn’t the only guard.

“White said it’s about a twenty-day journey to the capital… I should entrust everything for now and return to the main world.”