C22 A Huge Harvest
Dong, dong, dong...
Karma point +10
+10
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Host level 1, 500 karma points needed to level up, 342 remaining.
Hahahaha, I never expected to rack up 290 karma points in just one night. Not too shabby. It seems that raiding bandits is quite the lucrative line of work. Liu Xiaobao hit the jackpot today. He estimated that each bandit raid was worth 100 karma points, and with two raids today, that's 200 points. He rescued five people from the bandits who had been kidnapped for ransom, but not killed, so that should be 10 points each. However, there was an extra 50 points for one. Could it be because the adorable young girl was nearly violated and I managed to save her just in time? Hence the additional 50 points?
Han Xin and the others found over 400 gold coins, which was a delightful surprise for Liu Xiaobao. Over 400 gold coins, that's the equivalent of more than 40,000 silver taels. It looks like Liu Manor won't have to worry about food or clothing for the foreseeable future.
A Mage seated on the ground expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for leading the rescue. We hail from the Yalas Empire and were accompanying the young lady on her travels when we fell victim to the bandits' poison. May I inquire as to the name and status of our benefactor so that we may properly express our thanks for your life-saving assistance?"
"My name is Liu Xiaobao, leader of the Hearthfire Mercenaries," Liu Xiaobao replied. "Like you, we encountered bandits while passing through this area. Fortunately, we were prepared and managed not only to wipe out the bandits at the mountain's base but also to learn that others had been taken to the mountain top. As a man of compassion, I braved the treacherous climb, faced death, and narrowly avoided falling off a cliff to find this bandit lair. I hope you won't hold it against me for arriving a bit late."
"So you're Liu Xiaobao," Lucy said, clasping Liu Xiaobao's hand. "Warrior Xiaobao, your timing couldn't have been better. We're too grateful to harbor any resentment. How could we possibly blame you? You're incredibly kind. Could you be a divine messenger sent from the heavens to aid us?"
Lucy began, "Xiaobao, allow me to introduce you to these two mages; they are my mentor's servants and both are Level 5 Archmages. Additionally, those two are Golden Knights sent by my father for my protection. Unfortunately, they proved quite ineffective, nearly allowing me to be grievously harmed. You, on the other hand, were remarkable, dispatching the villain in mere moments."
"We failed to protect you adequately, Miss. Please, mete out your punishment," the four said as they knelt before her.
I was astounded. Four Level 5 individuals were humbly awaiting punishment from a young lady. What highborn status did she possess?
"Goodness must be preserved, evil curtailed. Eliminating one evil deed fosters ten good ones; this is our duty," Liu Xiaobao inquired tentatively, "Miss Lucy, might you share your identity with me?"
"Xiaobao, just call me Lucy. You are now a friend, and there's no need for formality between us," she replied warmly.
A mage interjected, "Young Master Liu, Miss Lucy's identity is sensitive information. It suffices to know she is the daughter of a Yalas Empire noble. Also, Miss, please be mindful of your status and remove your hand from Young Master Liu."
Despite the warning, Lucy clung to Liu Xiaobao's hand even more tightly. "No, Xiaobao is a divine gift to me. I ventured out seeking adventure, and the gods have indeed blessed me with a warrior. I must cherish this gift."
It seemed she was living out a princess fantasy, embarking on an adventure to find her ideal warrior. It appeared that in any world, young girls harbor pure hearts, yearning for a hero to rescue them from their darkest moments. Had she truly fallen for me at first sight? Considering her stunning beauty, should I reciprocate her feelings? No, that wouldn't do; my heart belongs to Yueting. Even though Yueting has passed, Tingyue in the capital must be her reincarnation. My duty lies in safeguarding Tingyue.
Withdrawing his arm, Liu Xiaobao approached Han Xin with excitement, lifting two handfuls of gold coins. "Who would've thought these bandits were so affluent? This treasure surpasses the wealth of Liu Manor by a considerable margin."
Han Xin advised, "Young Master, we should descend the mountain. The stench of blood is overwhelming here, making it unsuitable for rest. Once we leave Mount Dawnfire, we'll need to cover a good distance to get clear of this area. There's likely more than one bandit camp in these mountains, so we must make haste."
Liu Xiaobao turned to their companion, "Miss Lucy, please come with us down the mountain."
"Alright," she agreed.
Armed with torches, the large group carefully navigated the treacherous mountain paths in the dark. Walking at night was challenging, and they had to move at a snail's pace. A single misstep could send someone tumbling down the cliffs to their doom.
The raid on the bandits, from ascent to descent, took a mere three hours, with the actual assault resembling more of a slaughter than a battle. The descent alone took over an hour. As the saying goes, "Going up is easy, coming down is hard." Although Liu Xiaobao had lived in Iynanaes in his past life, the 21st century had brought roads to every corner, unlike the perilous slopes of Mount Dawnfire.
Upon their safe return, Deng Yu and Liang Shitai were visibly relieved. Following Deng Yu's orders, Wang Cai's assistant had moved the carriage to a safe distance from the site of the skirmish and disposed of the bodies in a ravine. Leaving corpses scattered on the road was unsettling, to say the least.
Once off the mountain, a mage approached Wang Cai. "You're Wang Cai, correct? On behalf of the Archmage, I request that you transfer ownership of this carriage to my mistress."
"And what price do you offer?" Wang Cai inquired, sensing an opportunity. As a merchant, he was intrigued by the prospect of selling to an Archmage, who was typically quite affluent. This Archmage, in particular, was sure to possess considerable wealth, and Wang Cai was keen to negotiate a profitable deal.
The Archmage replied, "I cannot offer you any money at this moment, as the bandits have taken all we had. But once we reach the capital, I will await you at the Mercenary Alliance. Just mention Miss Lucy's name there, and you will receive a generous reward."
"I apologize, but as a businessman, I cannot engage in a transaction without trust. How can I be sure you're not deceiving me? Moreover, I just left the capital this morning and am headed to Hesneas City next. I won't be back to the capital until next month, and I doubt you'll still be there," Wang Cai's refusal left the Archmage with no grounds for argument.
Despite the Archmage's repeated attempts at persuasion, Wang Cai steadfastly refused to sell the carriage. With a heavy heart, the Archmage returned to Lucy, "It looks like we'll have to make our way to the capital on foot."
"Why head to the capital? I want to join Xiaobao on his brave escort mission and then return to the capital with him," Lucy had learned of Liu Xiaobao's mission and was eager to learn more about him.
Left with no other option, the Archmage and the Golden Knight acquiesced to Lucy's wishes. The Archmage was beginning to resent Liu Xiaobao, despite the fact that he and his Hearthfire mercenaries had saved their lives. The closeness developing between the young lady and Liu Xiaobao was troubling.
Lucy and Liu Xiaobao squeezed into the carriage, which was quite cramped with three people inside. After two more hours of night travel, the caravan finally emerged from Mount Dawnfire.
Upon finding a clear area, the caravan set up camp. Wang Cai's assistants unloaded the food and camping gear from the carriage roof and erected three tents. Initially intended for Wang Cai and his team, two of the tents were now claimed by Lucy and Liu Xiaobao, much to the dismay of the four assistants who lamented, "Aren't you supposed to be mercenaries? Weren't we the ones hiring you? How come we're sleeping outside while you get the tents?"
Liu Xiaobao had some men gather firewood to start a bonfire, and everyone gathered around it, sharing laughter and stories.
Han Xin approached a Golden Knight and remarked, "The formidable presence you two Golden Knights emitted while we were on the move was impressive. We encountered no bandits along the way, which must be credited to you both."
"That's correct. Most people wouldn't dare confront us once they sense our presence," the Golden Knight confirmed.
"Yet, I was surprised that you encountered bandits who resorted to poison, and you were caught off guard," Han Xin observed, noting that even these formidable warriors could be vulnerable to the unexpected dangers of the road.
Wang Cai's provisions consisted of dry rations and jerky, which, when mixed with plain water, were barely enough to satiate hunger but tough to swallow. However, seasoned veterans like Shan Xiongxin and Liang Shitai had ventured deep into the forest and soon returned with a wild boar standing over a meter tall. Once prepared, everyone enjoyed the succulent taste of roasted wild boar.
Lucy inquired, "Xiaobao, who is the one who roasted the wild boar? It's absolutely delicious."
"That would be Sun Lutang," Liu Xiaobao informed her. "Before he joined me, he traveled extensively, honing not only his martial skills but also picking up this barbecuing technique."
"Is Warrior Sun Lutang's martial prowess that impressive?" Lucy's question caught the attention of two Golden Knights.
"Do you want to see for yourself?" Liu Xiaobao proposed.
"Yes, please!"
One of the Golden Knights stepped forward. "Warrior Sun, would you honor me with a demonstration of your skills? The young lady here is quite intrigued by your reputed abilities."
Sun Lutang was no fool; he was merely at Level 2, while the Golden Knight was a formidable Level 5. "I'm afraid that won't be possible. Your Level 5 strength is beyond our league."
"I will restrain my power to Level 2 and refrain from using my genuine energy," the Golden Knight assured.
"Well, if that's the case, let's see whether the martial arts of your world are more formidable than those of ours," Sun Lutang declared, rising to accept the challenge.
Lucy asked, "Xiaobao, what does Warrior Sun mean by 'your world' and 'ours'? Are you truly emissaries of the gods?"
Liu Xiaobao explained, "Sun Lutang is referring to the differences between the Western Yalas Empire and our Eastern Aeseaba Dynasty. He's never been abroad and is somewhat lacking in worldly experience."
"Oh, I see," Lucy responded with understanding.
Sun Lutang, revered as the preeminent master of recent times and known as the Omnipotent Hand, was adept in a variety of skills including internal strength, agility, unarmed combat, and the use of concealed weapons. He had delved into numerous martial arts disciplines, such as Xingyi Quan and Baguazhang. His own master, Guo Yunshen, never ceased to admire Sun Lutang's martial prowess.
In contrast, the Golden Knight's proficiency in martial arts was lacking, with a heavy emphasis on speed and strength but little variation. Such predictability in technique allowed Sun Lutang to easily exploit weaknesses. Within a few exchanges, the Golden Knight was defeated and lay on the ground.
The martial arts of this world were too simplistic, primarily based on the integration with weapons and dependent on the wielder's physical prowess. Such limitations greatly hindered the depth of development in martial arts. In a world ruled by magic and genuine energy, the emphasis was on personal advancement, with individuals focusing on enhancing their own power rather than mastering the intricacies of martial arts.
Mages, on the other hand, were far more astute. With their formidable mental strength, it was commonly said that Mages were no fools in this world. They reveled in the study of spells, facing a myriad of incantations that were overwhelmingly diverse and often unique to individual Mages. This gave Mages a significant edge; at the same level, a single Mage could take on a multitude of Knights.
The martial arts demonstrated by Sun Lutang left Lucy and her four companions in awe. They had never before witnessed such incredibly versatile and enchanting martial arts.
