The next month after that went on as usual.
After the beast tide, things gradually return back to normal.
People was excited at first because they have successfully passed the calamity without casualty.
Another reason to be excited about is that they found out that the chief is an expert.
Although Hong didn't spread the chief's story after he told Cloud, but everyone at least knows that the chief is an expert.
After all they all watch for themselves when the chief defeat the bear.
But after two months the hype slowly went down.
Today is about two months after the event.
On this day at noon, at the flat ground outside the village gate, Cloud is standing opposite Hong.
They face each other with their weapons in hand, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
At the village gate, almost every villagers standing there to watch. Even the chief is among them.
Suddenly the two begun to move. They dash toward each other, ready to execute their techniques.
Cloud is holding his short blade that was given by Hong while Hong is using his big sword.
The two clash, short blade against big sword.
But it was only a moment before the momentum of the big sword overwhelm the short blade.
Knowing that he wouldn't be able to win in a clash of strength, Cloud adjust the position of his blade to divert the sword to the side.
Hong isn't going to just let Cloud do that, so he follow up with the next move.
He stop the momentum of the sword and trace the sword back toward Cloud.
But utilizing his speed, Cloud has already move from his previous position which make Hong's sword hit nothing.
In a blink he move behind Hong and attack him from behind in which Hong avoid the attack by dashing forward.
The two then back to facing each other again.
They clash again but nobody manage to gain the upper hand for a long time.
The battle was intense but the two are equally strong.
After some time the two finally stop.
"Indeed, it seems that you have have successfully broke through to stage six." Hong said while putting his sword away.
"Brother Hong seems to have fully recover as well." Cloud answer with a smile.
The two were sparring. Hong asked Cloud if he would help him test if he has fully recovered and Cloud agree.
He didn't expect though that Cloud has already broke through to stage six.
His improvement speed is impressive.
After the beast tide Cloud broke through to stage five in a few days then he keeps training diligently after that and he successfully broke through again recently.
The effects of the beast tide is indeed significant.
Many of the hunters and villagers also improve by leaps and bound.
Even Hong felt like he also on the verge of a break through.
In fact if it wasn't because of his injuries he would've broken through long ago.
But he waited patiently for his injuries to fully heal before going back to training so his improvement is delayed for some time.
It's one of the reason that Cloud manages to catch up to him.
But now that Hong has fully recovered and that he would start his training again, his improvement in the next short while would be immense.
After all he hasn't fully digest his experience in the battle unlike Cloud who has fully digest everything.
That battle with the beasts was quite significant. Even the chief feels like his bottleneck is loosening up a bit.
Though, he is still very far away from a breakthrough.
But if even the chief is affected then the improvement of the others is justifiable.
After all it's normal for people to become stronger after overcoming a crisis.
Now that Hong has fully healed it's time for Cloud to leave the village.
He has already told everyone that he would leave tomorrow.
After the sparring, the chief brings Cloud to his courtyard.
At his house he put a pouch full of coins and his sword on the table, in front of Cloud.
"Your journey to the city would not be easy and I can't send people to help you so I can only give you this to help."
"But with your current strength, you should be able to arrive safely even though it would not be easy."
The chief seems intent on befriending Cloud. He even willing to give his treasured sword away.
Cloud understand that the chief is helping him so he would need to pay him back in the future but he didn't refuse the chief's intention.
Cloud thank the chief and he take the pouch but he doesn't take the sword.
He is not interested in the sword and he doesn't want to owe too much.
He just thank the chief for the money and said that the blade given to him by Hong is enough for him.
After that he leave the chief's courtyard and go back to Hong's
Hong and the hunters are already waiting for him there. They are going to do a farewell party for Cloud.
They start right away as soon as Cloud came.
They are roasting meat and drinking wine while chatting and laughing with each other until night.
The next morning Cloud depart. A lot of people see him off including the chief.