The Eye of Oblivion

Chapter 9: The Three-Year Pact

Yahan's heart skipped a beat. Just as he attempted to withdraw, it was already too late. In the blink of an eye, a large hand had securely grasped his arm and gently pinched it a few times. He even felt a fleeting chill seep into his body, rapidly probing before retreating. He was startled.

“What strength! The muscles are supple yet not rigid, and what’s even more remarkable is the vibrant vitality contained within. If you were to practice martial arts, the results would be extraordinary. Such innate strength is truly divine! With proper training, you could become the most formidable warrior within a thousand miles. If the Alliance values you, you’ll have access to countless provisions and fine wines. Your tribe will surely enjoy a life of luxury!” The middle-aged man’s face was alight with admiration, his eyes gleaming with an intense fervor as if he had encountered a rare treasure.

Yali was beaming with pride, delighted that his son was proving to be such a source of joy.

After the middle-aged man spoke, he turned and retrieved a steel blade from the wall, approximately fifty to sixty centimeters long. Smiling, he said, “Little one, try lifting this blade and see if you can manage it. It’s made from a material that includes a trace of the planet’s core... ahem... which makes it exceptionally heavy.”

Yahan’s heart raced: “Material from the planet’s core? How could something so advanced exist in this primitive world?”

He found it impossible to believe that this world could surpass Earth's technology.

He hesitated, then reached out to grasp the small blade. Although he had greatly underestimated its weight, as soon as he lifted it, he realized it was completely immovable.

His face reddened, his muscles tensed, and he used all his strength with both hands to barely manage lifting the seemingly inconsequential black knife.

Heavy! It was incredibly heavy.

Holding the knife, his whole body trembled slightly, veins bulging, and his face flushed with effort.

The middle-aged man’s admiration deepened. He exclaimed, “What strength! Far greater than I imagined. At my age, I can’t match such power.” He then turned to Yali and asked, “Brother, if you don’t mind me asking, how old is this boy?”

“He just turned seven. He’s the strongest child in the village. Even eleven or twelve-year-olds would have trouble matching him. Hahaha!” Yali laughed heartily, his pride evident.

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!” The middle-aged man said, repeating the word thrice. He then added, “Such a child would be wasted in a village. A strong lad like him should explore the world. If you trust me, bring him here when he turns ten. We’ll test his strength again. If he passes and is valued by the Alliance, you’ll be well provided for, without needing to risk your life. You might even receive titles and lands, with abundant meat and fine wines.”

“If you agree, I will give you this knife as a gift. What do you say?”

The man, accustomed to the forest and unfamiliar with such matters, was momentarily taken aback. He glanced at the middle-aged man, then at his son, feeling uncertain.

Though Yahan’s curiosity about the world grew, he remained cautious, scrutinizing the middle-aged man’s demeanor.

Given his past encounters with human traffickers and the middle-aged man’s suspicious behavior, Yahan was on high alert. Despite his own increased strength compared to his previous life, he was still vulnerable in this world and could be easily captured by traffickers.

Noticing Yahan's hesitation and wariness, the middle-aged man smiled subtly, went into the back room of the weapons shop, and shortly returned with a silver-white metal plate.

Yahan, intrigued, glanced quickly at the plate, which featured a central round emblem surrounded by radiant lines resembling a sun, with a few strange inscriptions below.

He observed that his father’s doubts vanished instantly upon seeing the plate, replaced by an expression of awe. Just as he was about to speak, the middle-aged man interrupted quietly, “You need only know my identity. Keep it to yourself.”

“Alright, I’ll bring him here when he turns ten. My son is not afraid of any hardship,” Yali said, his face lighting up with joy as he grinned.

Yahan was puzzled as to why a simple metal plate could make the straightforward man so excited about sending his son away.

“Good, remember to bring him here at ten. Also, tell your tribe that their martial techniques need not be taught to him. It would be a waste of such fine material.”

Yali eagerly agreed.

After Yali and his son departed, the middle-aged man returned to the weapon shop, pacing back and forth, murmuring to himself:

“I never expected to encounter such a promising specimen of physical prowess before even beginning training. With proper introduction, he will undoubtedly be highly valued. I wonder how far he will go. Even if his strength doesn’t improve, it will mean I need not remain in this wild land. But there are still three years to wait. I hope the boy will bring even greater surprises.”

On the way back, Yahan could no longer contain his curiosity and asked:

“Father, what is that metal plate?”

Yali, clearly eager to reveal the secret, responded with a mysterious tone, “The man selling weapons is actually a respected priest. Our tribe’s elder also has a similar plate, though it’s black. But don’t mention this to anyone.”

“Priest?” Yahan wondered, as priests were usually elderly and mystical figures in his past experience. This man seemed nothing like that. Perhaps the concept of a priest here was different from that on Earth.

In the town, Yahan and his father had a light meal of dried meat and purchased some salt and other necessities. Clothing, however, was of little concern to those accustomed to wearing animal skins and going barefoot.

After spending just a few hides, Yali secured the remaining ones and set off with the beast cart, as the journey was far from short.

As the beast galloped back, even with such speed, by the time they reached the village, the sun was already setting.