Beggar Cultivation System

"Wow! These… These are amazing!"

"I have never tasted anything like this before!"

"What is this called? Sushi? It's delicious!"

Exclamations echoed in the temporary resting spot of the SlumStreet people. They were holding the food the beggar had brought for them, each of them staring at it as if it were a treasure.

Their faces lit up every time they took a bite. Smiles painted their faces, and their voices of amazement made the scene lively.

Apollo, who was sitting on a rock, watched everything unfold.

"Here you go, Master," Rachel said, handing him a skewer of barbecued meat.

"Thanks," Apollo nodded, taking the stick before casually biting into it. Unlike these people, the beggar was already used to the taste. But after so long, the thought of Earth came back to him because of the food in his hand.

When he ate back in Belthias City, it didn't feel authentic since Filly had used different ingredients. However, by using the System Store, Apollo could finally taste authentic Earth food. He had eaten a few dishes when he first arrived in this world but stopped once he decided to save Alm Points.

"Thank you, Master," Rachel said.

"No worries," Apollo waved his hand. "And I suggest you finish quickly so we can head back."

"I will." Hearing his serious tone, Rachel nodded before taking a bite of her food. Instantly, her face lit up, and her cheeks turned red from how delicious it was. But recalling the seemingly grave situation based on her Master's words, she started eating without caring how she looked.

"That's too fast," Apollo muttered, left speechless as Rachel almost became a blur.

In no time, Rachel finished her food. After taking a sip from a cup, she let out a small burp. Then, realizing what she had just done, her whole face turned as red as the sun. "I'm sorry, Master."

"Didn't I tell you to just be casual with me?" Apollo frowned at his disciple. "I don't bother with small things like that. Anyway, tell the others to hurry up. We need to get going."

"I will, Master!" Rachel quickly shook off her embarrassment before spreading the news that they should hurry up.

Thirty minutes or so later, everyone finally had full stomachs and had gotten plenty of rest.

Apollo tossed the stick to the ground and let out a burp. Then, clapping his hands to get the SlumStreet people's attention, he spoke. "Everyone! It seems like you've had enough rest. We should hit the road soon. Does anyone have any objections?"

At first, Apollo had wanted them to rest for longer, but after noticing the unusually low number of beasts in the area, the bad feeling in his heart worsened with time.

Apollo admitted that although he was already at the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage—and his strength and abilities were far beyond what his cultivation level suggested—he still had to tread carefully when it came to unknown dangers. He was confident if his opponent was weaker than him or if he had a way to escape safely, but the sudden disappearance of monsters was another matter.

Clearly, something big was about to happen. But Apollo wasn't sure how big, so he had to be cautious. If the monsters were acting as he suspected, he needed to figure out whether he could handle it. And if he couldn't, he would have to warn Belthias City as soon as possible.

With enough rest, the SlumStreet people should be good to go.

No one raised their hand to object to his decision. That was expected—after all, he was the reason they had been saved in the first place.

"Okay, good," Apollo nodded at them before turning to Rachel. "Do you know how to get back to Belthias?"

Although confused, Rachel still nodded her head. "I know, Master."

"You will lead them there," Apollo said, and his words shocked all of them.

He had the body of a seven-year-old, and his voice matched his appearance, but no one took him lightly. This made every move and word of his worth reacting to, but what he said truly shocked them.

"W-what do you mean, Master?" Rachel asked, her eyes shaking as she didn't know what to do.

"Like I said, you will lead them there," Apollo repeated. Noticing her expression, he reached out his hand while tiptoeing before patting her head. "Don't worry. As long as you know the way, you guys will arrive there safely."

"D-don't abandon us, Master!" Apollo's other disciples shouted in fear.

"I'm not abandoning anyone, okay?" Apollo said with a sigh, though his words didn't put them at ease. "There's a problem I need to take care of. If I waited for you guys every time, it would be too late. And trust me, no monsters will dare to attack you."

Unless the beasts decided to go back to wherever they came from.

"I trust you!" Rachel said with a serious face. Her shaking eyes had stopped and were now filled with great faith and determination.

Hearing her, Apollo's other disciples shook their heads to get rid of their doubts before following her lead.

"We trust you, Master!"

The SlumStreet people didn't have a choice but to believe his words, as there was nothing they could do at the moment. Some were skeptical, but Apollo didn't care as long as they followed his orders.

The Beggar turned to Rachel with a smile. "You are a good kid. If by any chance you guys encounter a beast, I want you to rip this in half."

Apollo handed her a piece of paper with unknown symbols written on it. It was a simple emergency communication item that had cost him 5 Alm Points in the System Store. Basically, once Rachel destroyed the paper, the beggar would receive an alert that they were in danger. That way, he could return and save them from whatever threat they were facing.

He could have chosen to give her a weapon for protection, but Apollo didn't want to waste any more Alm Points. Besides, if it was their fate to survive and Heaven allowed them to continue their lives, they were going to live—whether he helped them or not. Hopefully, though, lady luck was on their side, and they wouldn't encounter a single beast.

"I will, Master." Rachel held the talisman close to her body. Instantly, she understood what the paper did, and the realization brought a smile to her face. "Thank you, Master, for caring about us."

"It's fate… or maybe not," Apollo said with a shrug of his shoulders as his body started to float. "Anyway, I should get going, and you guys should too. I will see you back in Belthias!"