Basil spent the remaining two weeks battling bears. After defeating them, he would eat with his teacher, go hunting outside the cave, then return just as the bears had healed to continue his training. His skills improved greatly, and “Deep Dark Valley” became like his second home. He roamed freely without fear, quickly dispatching any beasts he encountered along the way.

Finally, his training period here ended, and it was time for him to return to the outside world, see his mother, breathe fresh air, enjoy the sunlight, and gaze at the stars at night as he once did.

Standing outside the valley with his teacher, Basil said, "Alright, Master, I’m off. And as you told me, I’ll be taking the next week off to rest."

Basil set off on his journey back home after bidding his teacher farewell.

When he opened the door, his mother’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight of her only son returning safely. She ran to embrace him. Basil’s eyes held a gentle look as his mother said, "Thank goodness you’re safe," to which he replied, "I’m home, Mother."

Basil sat with his mother and eagerly recounted his adventures, talking about the creatures he’d encountered without mentioning the more dangerous ones. His mother listened with a smile on her face.

After breakfast with his mother, Basil headed out to the marketplace. It had been a long time since he last visited, though he never went there often due to encountering Anmar’s personal guards, which annoyed him because they always managed to do something foolish.

Whisper, whisper, whisper

As soon as Basil entered the market, a group of boys began whispering among themselves. Though he noticed them, he ignored it and continued browsing, observing the bustling atmosphere. He spotted an elderly vendor he recognized and approached him.

Standing before the old carrot seller, Basil said, "How have you been, Grandpa Ali? Still selling those great carrots as always?"

The old man lifted his head, exclaiming loudly, "Oh, isn’t it Basil? How’ve you been, lad? Haven’t seen you around these parts in months."

Basil chuckled, rubbing his head. "Ah, I’ve just been busy lately, so I haven’t had time to come by."

Ali smirked, "Busy at the library, were you? Ha-ha-ha!"

Basil laughed, "Ha-ha-ha, Grandpa, you make it sound like I’m a bookworm. Anyway, got any good carrots today?"

Grandpa Ali nodded. "Yes, this year’s crop was excellent. Got some sweet, juicy ones just the way you like."

"Awesome, as expected from Grandpa Ali. I’ll take some, please."

As Basil took a bag of carrots and was about to leave, Grandpa Ali said, "Basil, be careful of those boys. They’ve been circling this place every day looking for you."

Basil reassured him, "Ah, don’t worry, Grandpa. Isn’t that just the usual thing?" He left and visited several other shops. Everyone in the market seemed to know him, and although he didn’t have the popularity of Anmar, he still had his own admirers. He was disliked by some of the boys but drew the attention of many young girls, with his crimson hair, proud red eyes, and handsome face, which enchanted girls wherever he went. He treated people who respected him well but wasn’t afraid to stand up to those who insulted him or his loved ones.

As he left the market, he heard a commotion in the distance and turned back to see what was happening. When he got closer, he saw a scene that made him frown and clench his fists.

A man was gripping Grandpa Ali by the neck, shouting at him, while several others insulted the old man from behind. "Speak up, old geezer!" demanded the man holding Grandpa Ali. "We warned you before, didn’t we? We told you if you saw that brat to tell us right away. Did you think we were joking?"

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Basil dropped his belongings and approached the group.

Whisper, whisper, whisper

"It’s Basil!" “Oh no, he’s here!” "If they see him, he’s in trouble." "It would be lucky if that was all.”

Basil called out to the group, "You scum over there." Everyone turned to see who was speaking. "Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? Threatening an old man like him?"

When Anmar’s personal guards saw their sworn enemy, they all smirked. The man released Grandpa Ali and approached Basil, saying, "Well, well, you came right to us. We searched for you night and day, but you were nowhere to be found. But here you are, waltzing up on your own. You’re a real fool, you brat."

The guards all laughed, praising their leader, a boy who looked around fifteen. "Ha-ha-ha, go easy on him, Captain Othman. Consider his bravery in coming here to face us after hiding like a rat all this time."

Captain Othman laughed, agreeing, "Ha-ha, you’re right." Turning to Basil, he added, "Before we discipline you, answer me first: why show up now after hiding for so long?"

Basil glared at Othman and replied, "Answer you? Did you forget to say, ‘Please, sir,’ scum? Have you already forgotten what happened a year ago? Need another lesson?”

Othman’s face darkened, and he lunged at Basil in anger. "Don’t get too full of yourself, you little brat." He clenched his fist, aiming it at Basil, who didn’t flinch. Thinking his enemy was scared, Othman was stunned when his punch was halted by just two of Basil’s fingers.

Basil stopped Othman’s fist with his right hand, his voice calm but sharp. "You really are scum. Didn’t I tell you it’s ‘Please, sir’? Not ‘brat’. Looks like you need another lesson." With a small flick of his fingers, he pushed Othman back, making him stumble.

Terrified, Othman stammered, "Attack him! Silence him, quickly!"

Yaaaaah!

The guards charged at Basil all at once. As Othman watched, he laughed. "Ha-ha! This is what you get, Basil. You could have walked away with a few bruises if you’d just surrendered! Ha-ha!" His laugh slowly faded as he watched the scene, stammering, "Wh-what? What’s going on? Finish him off already!"

Pant, pant, pant

One of them gasped, "We’re trying, Captain, but none of our hits land. It’s like they pass right through him."

Basil dodged their blows effortlessly, hardly even breaking a sweat. He was so fast that the guards believed their punches were phasing through him. Calmly avoiding their attacks, he began to knock down anyone who got too close. Soon, only five remained, breathing heavily with their hands on their knees, when they heard Basil’s voice.

"Do you want to continue? If you do, this time I won’t hold back, and I can’t guarantee you’ll walk away unscathed."

Fear flickered in their eyes. "As if we’d surrender to you, brat!" shouted Othman as he rose, joining the remaining guards. "Surround him from all sides. Give him no way out!"

The six surrounded Basil, and Othman sneered, "Let’s see if your tricks work now, brat. Attack!"

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud

All five guards dropped to the ground as they charged, while Basil held Othman by the neck. With a stern tone, he said, "Listen closely, scum. I won’t be so merciful from now on. If you harm anyone close to me again or plot against me, you won’t walk away intact. From now on, don’t follow me around. I have no time to waste with you. Understood?"

Othman nodded, trembling. Basil lowered him, saying, "Now, gather your gang and apologize to Grandpa Ali. If I sense even a hint of reluctance in your apology, know that you’ll be crawling home."

Othman, quaking on the ground, replied, "Understood, sir."

Basil smirked. "Oh, you remembered your manners. Now get moving."

Othman picked himself up, woke the unconscious guards, and led his stunned group to bow before Grandpa Ali. They all said, "We apologize for our insults and poor behavior. We’ll be more respectful from now on."

Grandpa Ali was shocked, as were the gathered townsfolk who had heard Basil had encountered the guards and expected things to go badly for him. But they were astounded by what they saw instead: a twelve-year-old boy had single-handedly disciplined a gang of around thirty men and made them apologize.

"Now, get lost. I don’t want to see any of you here again."

Basil’s words made the guards’ faces darken with shame and anger as they hurried away, heads hung low in embarrassment. The villagers laughed and gossiped as they watched, realizing the guards were not liked by anyone.

Basil turned to Grandpa Ali, offering a hand to help him up. "Are you alright, Grandpa? Why didn’t you tell me they’d been bothering you because of me?"

Grandpa Ali, still taken aback, had kept it from Basil to avoid causing him trouble, but now he realized he’d underestimated the young man. Standing up, he said, "Thank you, Basil."

"Don’t thank me, Grandpa," Basil replied. "You’re like family to me. If anyone hurts you, they’ll pay. But next time, tell me, alright? And don’t worry, I’ll teach them a lesson they’ll never forget."

The crowd, unable to contain themselves, praised Basil. "That boy is something special!"