Kaizen glanced around and noticed a few faint traces.
His elder brother had clearly taken his request for safety to heart, assigning people to watch over him.
Of course, to not encroach on his privacy, they always stayed far enough. That meant there wasn't a problem even if he used cultivation skills.
Anyway, one could only sense the usage of cultivation skills if they were close enough. At higher ranks, there were plenty of artifacts discovered or invented which could mask this fluctuation as well.
The people protecting him were far enough that his privacy wouldn't be threatened, and they were close enough that they could swiftly rescue him if something went wrong.
He had noticed hints of their presence the entire way, which meant he could potentially lure the middle aged man toward them.
However, after seeing that I was looking at a group of exhibitionists, they seemed to have spread out further. It might take some time for me to reach them.
By now, he could see that the middle aged man was indeed heading for him, and not Alice. The man wore a white mask that covered his entire face except for two holes for his eyes.
To not make him suspicious, I'll have to fight him while shifting the location, or at least drag out the fight so that my protectors can sense something wrong.
Kaizen gripped his sword tightly, and mentally spoke.
System2, allot all the spare experience to Cultivation class immediately once I give the signal.
[Would it kill you to properly call me out at least when you need my help?]
Kaizen had no time to reply as the middle aged man was already upon him, stabbing a dagger straight to his chest.
Sensing no cultivation skills, he didn't deploy any either, and parried skillfully with his sword.
However, upon first contact with his enemy, a wave of information appeared in his mind.
//Basic Information//
[Name: Wallace Inga]
[Race: Human]
[Titles: None]
[Bloodline: None]
//Class//
[Main Class: Cultivator]
[Tier one - Rank one]
//Status effects//
[Poisoned]
//Attributes//
[STR: 110]
[DEX: 90]
[CON: 100]
[INT: 85]
//Skills//
[Fierce Stab]
Before the second exchange even began, Kaizen had already processed all of it.
Wow, so the system can even do this huh? Why didn't you show any information when I was battling the monsters? Also, where are the Charisma and Luck attributes?
As he blocked the second attack, the system's reply arrived. He didn't mind diverting his attention now that he knew his enemy was a weak chicken.
He also didn't want to lure this person to his protectors anymore. He could handle him alone.
[The system can only display information on intelligent entities who the host has fought with. The previous monsters and ghosts don't fit this requirement.]
[Charisma and Luck are special attributes, only with the help of special props can the System examine them.]
So that's how it is.
Even while defending, Kaizen stayed wary of the man's cultivation skill, Fierce Stab.
The reason this guy kept stabbing nonstop was obvious. He wanted to slip that cultivation skill in between normal attacks, hoping to catch Kaizen off guard.
Kaizen chuckled, handling the middle aged man with ease as he asked.
"Why are you after me? I don't seem to know you. Nor have I offended anyone."
The man narrowed his eyes at how easily his target was defending him. Wasn't he supposed to be a kid who woke up from a lifelong coma just recently?
Why was he not flailing around helplessly?
"You don't need to know."
Kaizen's expression shifted.
"Is that so? Then you're of no use to me."
Kaizen's sword suddenly sped up, slipping past the dagger and slashing at his enemy's neck.
The middle aged man had already felt something wrong. Heeding his instincts, he dodged sideways.
A moment later, Kaizen's sword swept through the air with explosive force. Because of the dodge, it missed the neck and slashed into the man's shoulder instead.
Suppressing a scream, the man grabbed something from his robe and crushed it.
Kaizen glanced at the arm that fell to the ground only for a brief second before he pumped Qi into his legs and dashed after him.
That item he crushed seemed to be an escape treasure which had increased his speed.
However, due to the sheer difference in stats, coupled with how he couldn't use Qi as finely as Kaizen to strengthen his legs, he couldn't outrun Kaizen.
As the distance was slowly closing, Kaizen shouted, his thoughts beginning to spiral in every damn direction.
"Why don't you take off your mask? No use hiding your identity when you're going to die."
As there was no response from the assassin, he shouted again.
"Is your reproductive equipment small? Is that why you're wearing a mask?"
This visibly shook the running posture of the man as he replied back.
"How is that even connected?"
Kaizen grew excited, as if he had just solved a cosmic mystery. He explained.
"See, you deflected my question. It means you have a small pp."
The middle aged man was annoyed as he ran. Was something wrong with the fifth prince? Or did he find the wrong target? Else why was he so strong already?
He still replied as he escaped. The exit of the Lyren forest was not far away. It would be difficult for Kaizen to chase him in a public area.
"Fucker, you have a small one. Get lost now."
Kaizen's eyes shone as he challenged.
"Is that so? Come, let's compare."
By this point, Kaizen had closed enough distance that the man could clearly hear the sound of him unbuckling his belt.
He roared inwardly. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!
Right in that moment of emotional collapse, he failed to dodge an armored person who crashed heavily into him.
The newcomer delivered a brutal uppercut at his jaw, instantly knocking him out.
The newcomer was one of the people assigned to protect the fifth prince under the order of the fourth prince.
He was also the same person who had carried Kaizen home.
And now he had arrived just in time to witness this nonsense.
He gave Kaizen one look. A long, heavy look. The kind that asked the universe why it had cursed him with this job.
Then he began tying up the unconscious assassin.
When Kaizen snapped out his derailed thoughts, he instantly took in the situation before him.
Thankfully, I only unbuckled my belt.
Without a single word, he fixed his attire and followed his protector back into the Lyren forest.
A profound silence hung in the air.