Fairy Tail: This Healing Mage's hits hurt so much!

After fulfilling the king's request, Riyao didn't take returning to the guild to heart at all.

The bustling city of Crocus, the capital of a hundred flowers, had long been tempting him, so he decided to leisurely stroll through the streets and alleys with his heavy gold coins in his pocket.

The flower shops along the street exuded a refreshing fragrance, and colorful petals were swept across the stone pavement by the wind. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, laughter, and the aroma of food created a lively scene that dazzled him.

While Riyao remains unhurried, some are as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

The street corner barbecue stalls are shrouded in smoke, and the sizzling meat skewers are coated with spices and glistening with oil.

Riyao found a small stool and sat down, holding two skewers of lean and fatty roasted mutton in his hand and a roasted chicken wing in his mouth. His cheeks were bulging, and he was eating with a satisfied expression, completely unaware of the oil stains on the corners of his mouth.

I had just finished eating a skewer of grilled meat when I suddenly heard an anxious shout from behind me.

"Mr. Riyao! Are you Mr. Riyao?"

Riyao chewed on a meat skewer, then twisted his neck without turning his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a young man in coarse cloth clothes, about twenty years old, with sweat beading on his forehead and a flustered expression. He looked completely unfamiliar.

The young man ran up to him in a few steps, stopped with a "thump," and bowed deeply like a shrimp, his voice filled with undisguised urgency and sincerity.

"It really is Mr. Riyao! Thank you! Please, please help me!"

Riyao was gnawing on the bone of a roasted chicken wing when he heard this, he paused, his cheeks still bulging as he chewed, swallowing the meat indistinctly.

He casually wiped the oil from the corner of his mouth, his eyes instantly becoming wary and determined, and he uttered two words crisply and decisively.

"I have no money."

The young man was stunned for a moment, then quickly straightened up and waved his hand, his tone becoming even more urgent.

"Ah! No, no! Sir, you've misunderstood! I didn't come here to borrow money!"

He rubbed his hands together, sweat trickling down his face.

I heard you were in the capital, so I specifically asked around and came here, hoping you could help my elderly family member!

"Oh—it's for healing."

Riyao drew out his words, his brows relaxed, and he took another bite of the grilled chicken wing, seemingly nonchalant.

"Why don't you just post a commission at the Magic Guild? It's much easier to follow the proper procedures."

"It's too late!"

The young man's voice trembled with anxiety as he took half a step forward.

"The elderly person suddenly fell ill and fell into a coma. The situation was extremely urgent; there was simply no time to issue a request for assistance!"

Riyao slowed his chewing, the anxiety in the young man's eyes genuine. He finished the last bite of the chicken wing, tossed the bone into the plate beside him, and wiped his mouth.

"If it's an emergency, you should see a general practitioner. There's no need to specifically come to me, is there?"

"We've searched! We've consulted all the best doctors in town!"

The young man's voice was tinged with despair, his hands clenched tightly together, his knuckles turning white.

"They all said they were helpless, that they had no other choice! Then they heard you were in the capital, the most powerful healing mage, so they rushed over to try their luck, and they actually found you!"

Riyao narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the young man's anxious and earnest face. Seeing that he was covered in sweat and looked flustered, he didn't seem to be lying.

He dusted off the crumbs from his hands, stood up, and put on a smug look that said, "There's really nothing I can do about it." He puffed out his chest and said, "Fine, fine, what can I do? I'm a compassionate and helpful living bodhisattva!" He waved his hand and said, "Let's go, lead the way, don't waste time."

The young man's face instantly lit up with ecstasy, his eyes blazing like flames, and he bowed repeatedly.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, Mr. Riyao! You are truly our family's savior!"

"Oh, right."

Riyao had just taken two steps when he suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.

"I haven't asked yet, what's your name?"

"Ah! My apologies, my apologies!"

The young man quickly replied, his tone filled with gratitude for surviving such a close call.

"My name is Aris El, sir, you can just call me Aris!"

"Aris, right? Okay, hurry up and go, don't keep the old man waiting."

Riyao waved his hand, grabbed two skewers of grilled lamb kidneys packaged on the stall, and followed the young man into the depths of the alley while munching on them. His pace was leisurely, and he didn't seem to care about the "emergency situation" at all.

Ares quickly agreed and turned to lead the way. The ecstasy in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister glint. He secretly clenched his fists behind his back.

Great! This kid is indeed greedy and easily fooled! Does he really think he's some kind of living saint who's come to save lives?

Once we take him to the abandoned mill outside the city, my brothers will be waiting. We'll first disable his magic, then force him to hand over the reward from the king and that magic book. Hehe, working with the adults of the Dark Guild this time will bring plenty of benefits!

He deliberately slowed his pace, pretending to be mindful of Riyao's eating speed, while maintaining his respectful tone.

"Sir, please eat slowly. It's not far, just in a village not far outside the city. My elderly relative has difficulty moving around, so we really can't bring him into the city."

Riyao chewed on a lamb kidney, his eyes casually sweeping over the surrounding streets. The road was getting more and more remote, and the once bustling shops were gradually decreasing, replaced by low houses and quiet alleys. The aroma of food in the wind had also faded, replaced by the smell of dust.

A thought flashed through his mind: Interesting. This direction isn't towards the residential area at all. Outside the city? It's probably not some "village," but an ambush, right?

Aris's acting was pretty good. His anxious look just now almost fooled me. It's just that the tension in his eyes was too deliberate. It didn't look like he was worried about an old man. It looked more like he was worried that I would run away.

He deliberately slowed his pace, munching on the kebabs and speaking indistinctly.

"Hey, your place is pretty remote. You were living perfectly fine in the city, why did you move to the outskirts?"

Aris's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned around to cover it up.

"Ah... the countryside is quiet, the elderly like it. We're almost there, just past that bridge."

He cursed inwardly: Why does this kid talk so much? Let's get to the mill quickly, don't cause any more trouble! When we make our move, let the brother who is good at binding magic go first. This kid is a healing mage, his attack power shouldn't be strong, we can definitely take him down in one fell swoop!

Riyao grinned, swallowed the last bite of his kebab, and patted the oil off his hands.

"It's nothing, I just said we're almost there, let's go."

He was secretly overjoyed. This kid's panicking! It seems the people lying in ambush are nearby. Perfect, let me see just how capable you really are. Don't disappoint me!

As soon as the two stepped onto the stone bridge, a dark shadow was huddled among the dense foliage of an old locust tree on the side of the bridge, almost blending into the shadow.

Those eyes were sharp as an eagle's, fixed on Riyao's back, their pupils churning with intense hatred, while a cold, sinister smile slowly curved at the corners of his mouth.

The shadowy figure sneered inwardly: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. You think you're the hunter, but little do you know you've already become someone else's prey. I will avenge my brother myself. Once you and Aris's gang of bastards are both severely weakened, that will be your death!"