Astral Apostle
chapter-54

“Genius?”

Weiss was very interested and sized up Zhou Jing.

“I…” Zhou Jing had just opened his mouth to say hello.

However, all of a sudden, Weiss lowered his body and disappeared from sight.

In the next moment, Zhou Jing realized that a pair of muscular arms had grabbed his waist from behind. A huge force erupted, wanting to uproot him and throw him out.

He wants to perform a suplex on me? Is this how hunters greet each other?

Zhou Jing subconsciously pressed down on the arms around his waist with both hands. Then, he crossed his legs and took a horse stance. One of his legs was wrapped around Weiss’ feet behind him, preventing him from being lifted up.

The two of them fell into a wrestling position.

Weiss could not help but laugh. “Aiyo, kid, you have guts. How dare you compete in strength with a proper Mutant Beast Hunter like me. You…”

He was halfway through his sentence when his expression changed.

He suddenly realized that with his strength, he could not move Zhou Jing at all!

Although he was not a strength-type, his strength still belonged to the realm of the supernaturals. He should still be able to suppress an ordinary person?!

Zhou Jing held Weiss’s arm tightly and slowly but steadily pried it open from his waist.

As soon as he broke free from the hug, he suddenly let go. His body exploded backward, and his shoulder and back hit Weiss’s chest.

Peng!

Thick muscles collided with a muffled sound.

Weiss staggered back a few steps before he stabilized himself. He grimaced and looked at Zhou Jing in surprise.

Barong had been watching from the side and did not stop him. Only now did he gloat.

“How is it, Weiss? Suffered a loss, didn’t you? Don’t think that Jason is weak just because he doesn’t have the enhancement of Mutant blood. You might not be as strong as him.”

“…What’s with this guy?”

Weiss rubbed his chest as he let out a yelp of surprise.

He had wanted to test the physical fitness of the “genius” that Barong mentioned. It would be best if he knocked him to the ground before encouraging and educating him with words like “the future belongs to your generation.” He did not expect this outcome.

An ordinary person was almost stronger than him!

If such a talented person received the enhancement of the mutant blood, he would be able to catch up to the combat power of those at the second enhancement.

Weiss’s scalp felt numb. Only then did he understand what Barong meant by the term “genius.”

At this moment, Zhou Jing shook his hand and stared at Weiss. “Your way of greeting is quite unique.”

He didn’t really mind. Mutant beast hunters mostly valued martial arts. Although it was a little strange for them to test him the moment they met, it might be a common situation in this primitive world’s hunter culture.

In the past few months, Zhou Jing had already learned to do as the Romans did. He tried his best not to use the concept of the interstellar era to evaluate their style of doing things.

Weiss rubbed his chest muscles and grinned. “Haha, don’t mind me. I just want to see how strong you are to see if you can withstand the enhancement of the mutant blood… It seems like you’re definitely fine. You almost flattened my chest.”

After saying that, he paused and pressed his thumb against his chest.

“I’m Weiss, an old friend of Barong’s. I’m also one of the hunters active around White Plains Town for a long time. Perhaps we can hunt side by side in the future.”

“Maybe.”

Zhou Jing nodded.

Barong raised his chin. “We’ll stay in the city for the next few days. I’ll see you at the Hunter’s Tavern.”

“Alright, then you guys go ahead. I’ll continue selling my prey.”

Weiss nodded and turned back to continue bargaining with the workshop staff.

“Come, let’s go in.”

Barong patted Zhou Jing and walked toward the hunting workshop.

...

The two of them entered the workshop, walking into a large hall. There were mutant beast specimens hanging on the walls and equipment made from different mutant beast materials placed on the shelves.

The job of the hunting workshop was to process the prey submitted by the Mutant Beast Hunters, create the mutant blood potion, and make all kinds of equipment. Then, it would be provided back to the hunters.

According to the laws of the Terra Empire, every town had to have a hunter’s workshop. The empire’s central government would allocate funds, but the lord would also have the responsibility to maintain it and be responsible for a portion of the funds.

The Empire’s most important support for the workshop was actually to provide technicians.

Since not every town could recruit qualified mutant blood pharmacists and craftsmen, thus, the important technicians of the various workshops were trained or deployed by the empire to be assigned to them… In other words, their standards were guaranteed.

Seeing that someone had come, the workshop staff behind the counter immediately walked up and greeted them with a smile.

“Hunters, do you need anything?”

Barong nodded. “I’m Barong from Frostwood Village. I’ve submitted my prey here many times, and have my records here. I plan to use them to exchange for the blood potion.”

Hearing this, the workshop staff asked them to wait for a moment before he went to the inner room to report.

A short while later, a thin man walked out. He was wearing an exquisite robe and seemed to have an extraordinary status.

“Barong, we meet again. I almost can’t remember the last time you visited.” As soon as the thin man saw Barong, he opened his arms and made a welcoming gesture, his tone smiling.

“I was injured some time ago and was recuperating.”

Barong then explained in a low voice to Zhou Jing, saying that the person in front of him was the person in charge of the White Plains Town Hunter Workshop.

“I see.” The person in charge of the workshop nodded. Then, he changed the topic. “You said that you wanted a new blood potion. Are you finally ready to try the second enhancement?”

“It’s not me. It’s to strengthen him.” Barong pointed at Zhou Jing.