ATAPOW Chapter 12
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Chapter 12: You’re very ballsy, huh?
“Well said.” A calm and heavy voice sounded out. However, one couldn’t detect any trace of praise within the solitary yet orderly applause.
Ji Bai turned his head and shifted his gaze to another area. It was unknown when the person had appeared, but there was a middle-aged man standing, he was casually dressed in linen clothes.
It was a familiar voice, and a face he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Teacher Manda! Y-You’re here!” The short-haired knight, as well as the other knight who was still conscious, were relieved as they had found their backer so suddenly. Their white and bloodless complexion immediately filled with excitement, they didn’t have the slightest degree of fear as they moved past the ‘Ultraman’ ahead of them. They stumbled and crawled their way to a place beside the middle-aged man.
They clearly knew in their hearts that as long as they were under this man’s nose, they would absolutely not suffer any hardship. This teacher of theirs would never watch the students under his wing get beat up by an outsider.
Indeed, Ji Bai hadn’t shown any interest to obstruct the two knights that had fled past him. He was sizing up the calm middle-aged man dressed in simple clothing. Looking through the small holes in the seams of his lightbulb eyes, a sudden trace of realization hit him as a sorrowful nostalgia appeared in his eyes.
‘Long time no see, Manda.’
This middle-aged man named Manda in front of Ji Bai’s eyes is his student. Or, to be exact, now his ex-student. The specific time he had entered the Chivalric Order of Radiant Knights was roughly before Ji Bai had gained success and recognition. Back then, he was just a decrepit uncle muddled with hatred, having lost both his wife and children to war.
Manda, also called the ‘Holy Flame Knight’. This nickname was due to his ability to manifest a pressurized flame that could be applied to his sword, which was used to dish out an increasingly significant amount of damage to demons. As the flame was golden in color, he was given the knighthood title of ‘Holy Flame’.
With all things considered, he joined Ji Bai’s followers considerably late. Even though the age gap between Ji Bai and him was extremely big, it didn’t obstruct their communication in the least. As of today, the legacy of Manda the knight had etched its mark throughout the Sacred Martial Society. Ji Bai was the one that had witnessed his growth and transformation in every bit of the way.
Even though he had met an acquaintance, Ji Bai wasn’t afraid that his identity would be exposed. After all, his body was currently inside the costume and there was a big difference between his present voice and the usual. As long as Ji Bai was cautious in his movements, he was certain he wouldn’t get found out.
“Teacher Manda! You, you have to seek justice for us! We were just carrying out our usual official duties! And this suspicious guy suddenly jumped out of nowhere and obstructed us. Not only did he verbally insult us, he even injured two of our companions! T-Take a look…”
While the short-haired knight’s combat and overall capabilities fell short from the norm, his acting and bootlicking skills were absolutely flawless. This was evident from the speed where his expression fluctuated as well as the sniveling tears on his face. He resembled a person that had nursed a long-standing grudge and made people feel as if he had gone through a huge deal of injustice. This evaluation excluded his speech; if you included it, then he wonderfully and meticulously warped it to mask up a portion of the truth. The whole act was skillfully executed that it was unlikely that this was his first rodeo.
‘Tsk, tsk, tsk. The Oscar Academy award owes you a statuette, brother.’
With such perfect acting skills, Ji Bai couldn’t understand why he became a knight. Wouldn’t a glamorous actor be a better choice if he wished to angle for fame?
“I already know. All of you step down for now.” Manda nodded his head. He shifted his eyes towards the shop owner that had an absent look on his face, then towards the pig-tailed knight, then onto Cullen that had fainted in a corner. Once this was done, he gradually laid his eyes on the ‘Ultraman’ who was arrogantly standing outside of the restaurant.
“I think you owe me an explanation, youngster.” Manda narrowed his grey eyes. His posture was like a hissing cobra; it was like he was accumulating power and waiting for an opportune time to strike, people dared not to meet his eyes.
“Oh? An explanation?” Ji Bai, who was now carrying the longsword over his shoulder, was stupefied. “Ol—… Uncle, haven’t you been peeping like a voyeur and watching the play ever since the conflict began? Do you really not have a f*king clue how the whole incident happened?”
Manda narrowed his pupils. In an instant, the wariness and astonishment in his eyes intensified.
‘This person has exceptional observation skills. I mustn’t underestimate him.’
“Impudent! Do you not know who this guy is? He is one of the valiant generals under the Radiant Knight, the Holy Flame Knight! You’d better watch your words!” Before Manda could speak, the short-haired knight began to growl arrogantly. This caused Ji Bai to unconsciously recall an adage: ‘a dog’s menace is based on its master’s status’.
“Did I say it’s your turn to speak? Do you believe I won’t make you eat poop right here and now if you continue to blabber?” The corner of Ji Bai’s mouth drew back as it formed a smile, he raised the sword in his hand.
“You…” The face of the short-haired knight turned red from embarrassment, but no longer dared to utter another word.
“It’s just as you described, youngster. The way they have handled this matter is indeed inappropriate. When we return, I will have them memorize the entire knight creed by heart within three days.” Manda said unhurriedly while keeping a close watch on Ji Bai’s figure.
‘Ol‘ Manda… He truly hasn’t changed a bit and is still protective of his students. Before I even managed to get a word in, he had already made the first move and resolved the situation by giving his knights lenient sentences.’
Ji Bai smiled helplessly. The assessment he had of Manda was that he was an upright man and yet was still extremely susceptible to acting on impulse. That also meant that he was of limited use in certain special missions… It doesn’t matter now anyway. After all, he wasn’t the Radiant Knight anymore. Why must he meddle and bother about these things? Ji Bai would only help them out if he happened to come across them in trouble. He wasn’t planning to stick his nose into the internal affairs of the chivalric order any more.
Just when Ji Bai turned around to leave after throwing the sword away, a voice behind him called him out.
“Youngster, I think we should go back to the main topic. Like I have said so earlier, this esteemed humble self of mine is the one in charge of rewarding and punishing the people within the chivalric order. However, isn’t it pretty inexplicable to just silently leave after you injured two of my probation knights?”
“Hm? What are you trying to say? Does this mean you’re going to pick up on where they left off?” Ji Bai put on a cold smile and turned around once more. He then began to size his ex-student up.
“That’s an overstatement. This esteemed humble self wants nothing but to seek justice for his students, that’s all.” Manda coldly said, his tone was neither arrogant nor humble.
‘Good, good! Very good Ol’ Manda. It’s just been a year since we last met and you think you’ve already learned everything huh? Is your former teacher nothing in your eyes now?