When the Boy Rode a Bamboo Horse, Green Plums Brewed Wine (Part Six)

Out of all the names his master suggested, Beanie still felt his own name sounded best. He was pretty sure Left Shore only mocked him out of jealousy over his cool name...

"It must be that. Good thing I didn’t fall for it. If I’d really switched to 'Right Shore,' I’d have lost out big time." To make his point, Beanie nodded vigorously, convinced he was absolutely brilliant.

Beanie stopped worrying about his name and started feeling proud of it. Whenever he saw Left Shore, he’d act all arrogant, hands on his hips, snorting at him: 'Nice try, kid. You want to fool Lord Bean? You’re still too green.'

Left Shore had already seen how clueless Beanie could be, so he didn’t bother arguing. What mattered now was beating Beanie in the upcoming match!

As for the punishment afterwards?

With those Seven Old Monsters doting on Beanie, escaping punishment was impossible, but Left Shore could at least minimize it. However those old monsters decided to punish him didn’t matter—he’d make sure to pay Beanie back double in the end!

In terms of raw strength, Left Shore still wasn’t a match for Beanie. Beanie was lazy, sure, but after all these years of training, he was still way stronger than Left Shore, who hadn’t even been here six months. But...

If brute force won’t work, then I’ll use my brains!

With Beanie’s natural lack of common sense, Left Shore didn’t think beating him would be hard at all. That 'number one assassin in the Alliance' title Beanie flaunted? Who knew how much of it was just hype...

Left Shore had been training hard these past few days. Occasionally, he’d run into Beanie, who’d always stare wide-eyed whenever he saw Left Shore practicing, and then...

That's it. End of story!

Want Beanie to keep Aaron company while he trains? Not a chance.

Who is Beanie? He's the number one expert! For him, beating Aaron is just a flick of the wrist. Why would he need to practice? Training is for kids...

Beanie originally wanted to head to the kitchen, grab a chicken, then sit off to the side gnawing on drumsticks while watching Aaron train...

Just imagining that scene, Beanie felt it was perfect. Only... he never got the chance.

Ten times he tried for the kitchen, eight times he couldn't find it, wandering outside until dark before finally making his way home. The other two times, he actually found the kitchen and got his roast chicken, but by the time he returned, Aaron was long asleep.

Years later, whenever Beanie talked about this, he couldn't help but tear up: Those days were rough, truly! Just thinking about it makes him want to cry!

But...

Even so, Aaron never felt sorry for him. He'd just call Beanie: "Idiot!"

Beanie: Kids who can't find their way really can't catch a break!

Beanie's hopeless sense of direction is already an open secret in the Assassin Alliance. Aaron knows he still can't beat Beanie head-on, so he shamelessly takes advantage of that flaw...

Three months—long if you say so, short if you say so. Three months is enough for Aaron to recover his strength, and enough to find the perfect spot!

If he beats Beanie too harshly, those old monsters in the Assassin Alliance would never let him off. But...

What if Beanie gets himself hurt?

Aaron's little face is all tense, his dark eyes showing not a hint of a smile...

Soon enough, three months passed. Aaron challenged Beanie to a 'duel' in the grove outside the Assassin Alliance. Beanie, always carefree, didn't think getting lost was a big deal and agreed without hesitation.

If Aaron wanted to fight Beanie, he definitely wouldn't let Beanie get lost this time. Aaron very kindly led Beanie right to the dueling spot.

Aaron picked a small patch of grass—no trees or rocks within ten meters, the grass long, the ground soft. Even if you fell, it wouldn't hurt much...

Beanie looked around, made sure there were no traps or mechanisms, then struck a fighting pose. "Last time you got lucky, but today, this young master will make you beg for mercy!"

Beanie was still hung up on losing to Aaron last time—it broke his undefeated streak!

"Don't go tattling if you lose." Aaron wasn't polite either—he stepped forward, dropped into a solid horse stance.

Aaron knew his edge was a stable base, while Beanie's was fierce moves, so...

He stood his ground, waiting for Beanie to attack first. Beanie had no patience—if Aaron didn't move, Beanie would definitely make the first move...

Just as Aaron predicted, Beanie waited a moment, saw Aaron wasn't making a move, then scowled and charged, swinging a fist straight at Aaron's stomach...

Aaron blocked Beanie's blow, but Beanie wasn't bothered and kept on attacking...

When it came to martial arts, Aaron really wasn't Beanie's match. At first, Aaron took the brunt—Beanie landed several hits to his body and face. Seeing himself ahead, Beanie got even cockier and eased up a bit.

They're both in the same line of work; Beanie just wanted to be number one, never to kill anyone. He knew how hard to hit. Aaron noticed this, and thought to himself, 'This kid's not bad—I won't make things too hard for him...'

Beanie was so caught up in the thrill of beating Aaron, he didn't notice Aaron's sneaky little trick. By the time he realized, it was too late...

"Ah—!" Beanie shrieked. He'd stepped right on the trap, and Aaron dragged him more than ten meters across the ground, then strung him up in a tree...

"You cheater!" Beanie yelled, his left foot caught in a rope, the whole of him dangling upside-down from the tree.

Wuwuwu... He hadn't seen any traps—how could one suddenly appear ten meters away? This made no sense at all.

"Let me down! I want a life-and-death duel with you!" Beanie kept struggling, but Aaron ignored him. He tied the rope to the tree, then used a pebble to fray it halfway. "In an hour, the rope will break. Just wait patiently."

Aaron figured he was already being merciful—only because Beanie had hit him lightly just now.

"You—you let me down! You little sneak! If you want something, fight me fair and square. Using tricks—what kind of hero are you?" Beanie was furious, his face red as a tomato, flailing his fists in the air while dangling from the tree.

"Winner's king, loser's dirt. Hasn't your master taught you that?" Aaron gave Beanie a scornful look. "Just stay put. You'll be down in an hour."

Whether Beanie could find his way home after an hour—that wasn't Aaron's problem. This grove was part of the Assassin Alliance's territory, no wild beasts here, so even if Beanie spent the night, he'd be perfectly safe...

Right now, Aaron wasn't yet that ruthless top assassin—he still had a kind heart.

After sorting out Beanie, Aaron took a nap in the grove. About an hour later, he headed back to the Assassin Alliance's training ground and went straight to find those old monsters...