Upon returning to the caravan, Jie Ning found that it had also been attacked by bandits. The caravan guards were putting up a difficult resistance.
Clearly, their attack on Jie Ning had been a diversion to lure the tiger from the mountain. Unfortunately, they had underestimated his strength.
Without hesitation, Jie Ning instantly joined the battle.
Fortunately, aside from the archer who had attacked Jie Ning earlier and possessed seventh-rank strength, the strongest of the remaining bandits was merely an ordinary Fifth-Rank Warrior.
Like cutting through melons and vegetables, Jie Ning slaughtered them all. Aside from a small number of bandits who saw the situation turning against them and fled early, the rest became corpses strewn across the ground.
Jie Ning stood amid the pile of bodies, his eyes somewhat unfocused as he clearly pondered something.
The caravan leader did not dare disturb him. He directed everyone to rest where they were and clean up the battlefield.
After a while, Jie Ning came back to his senses.
Only then did the caravan leader cautiously approach and respectfully ask, "My lord, may we set off?"
Jie Ning suppressed the joy in his heart. "Mm, then let's continue on our way."
Only then did the caravan leader breathe a sigh of relief. After all, every day of delay meant a huge loss to him, yet he did not dare offend a powerful warrior.
The rest of the journey went much more smoothly. That very day, the group successfully arrived at the border between the two duchies.
Jie Ning continued walking at his usual pace. When he had killed that attacker, there had been an instant when he merged with the earth and appeared at the man's side as though he had teleported. Unfortunately, afterward, it seemed that something was still missing. He was unable to smoothly merge with the earth as he had then.
However, with both feet touching the ground, Jie Ning was not discouraged in the slightest. I can feel that sensation becoming clearer and clearer—the feeling of being one with the earth.
However, it seems that what limits me is not a lack of understanding. It is more like my own physical capabilities cannot support it.
After discovering that the reason he could not easily use Terrain Teleportation was his own strength, Jie Ning let out a breath.
Once he knew the cause, there would be a way to solve it. Based on how it felt now, if I become a Saint Realm warrior, using it will pose no difficulty at all.
No rush. At my current rate of progress, I should be able to enter the Saint Realm within two years. Feeling the battle qi within his body, Jie Ning was brimming with confidence.
However, he also found himself looking forward even more to becoming a Saint Realm warrior.
"Lord Jie Ning, my father asked me to bring you this meat soup." That night, after the caravan made camp, a blonde girl held out a bowl of meat soup and looked at Jie Ning with admiration.
Jie Ning nodded and accepted the soup. "Musha, thank the caravan leader for me." Musha was the daughter of this small caravan's leader.
Seeing how calm Jie Ning was, Musha blushed and bit her lip. She hesitated in place for a while before gathering her courage. "Lord Jie Ning, may I ask if you have someone you like?"
Looking at Musha's nervous expression, Jie Ning shook his head, set down the meat soup, and flicked her forehead with one finger.
"Mmgh~" Musha covered her little head.
Jie Ning said helplessly, "How old are you? What nonsense are you thinking about?"
Musha was somewhat unconvinced. "I'm already fifteen. My mother already had me when she was my age."
"Lord Jie Ning, just tell me, okay?" As she spoke, Musha bashfully began acting spoiled again.
Jie Ning could not help laughing. He could only explain helplessly, "Little Musha, then you're going to be disappointed. I'm going to Kading City this time to meet my fiancée."
Although he had yet to meet the earl's daughter, Jie Ning did not mind using her to put an end to an underage girl's premature romantic feelings.
"Ah, Lord Jie Ning already has a fiancée..." Musha's expression visibly darkened.
Watching Musha leave with a dejected figure, Jie Ning could only sigh at how great his charm truly was.
Whether in his own territory or traveling abroad, there were always so many young girls whose hearts fluttered for him.
After sighing for a while, Jie Ning finished his dinner along with the meat soup.
The caravan leader, Kane, walked over and apologetically said to Jie Ning, "I'm sorry, Lord Jie Ning. I've spoiled Musha too much. Please do not take offense at her rudeness."
Naturally, Jie Ning did not care about such a matter. He waved his hand. "It's nothing, just the innocent thoughts of a child."
"However, there's something I'd like to ask."
Kane respectfully replied, "Please ask, my lord."
"You don't need to be so stiff. I just wanted to ask how much longer it will take to reach Kading City," Jie Ning said.
Kane relaxed slightly, though he still answered respectfully, "From our current location, it will take approximately another month to reach Kading City."
"A month? Then there's plenty of time." Jie Ning had originally agreed with Maki on six months, and only three months had passed so far.
"Then I'll trouble you. Go attend to your work."
"Then I won't disturb your rest, my lord."
One month later, the caravan arrived at Kading City.
Jie Ning bid the caravan farewell. "All right, my task is complete. Let's part ways here."
"Very well, my lord." Kane responded, then took out a bag of gold coins. "My lord, this is the remaining payment."
Jie Ning accepted the gold coins and weighed them in his hand in surprise. Seeing Kane's nervous expression, he understood.
He opened the money bag, counted out a portion, then tossed the bag back to Kane.
Kane caught it in a fluster. "My lord..."
Jie Ning merely smiled indifferently. "What you owe is what you owe."
With that, he turned and walked toward the city.
The caravan members remained where they were, exchanging bewildered looks.
After a while.
"Lord Jie Ning will definitely become an extraordinary figure in the future." Looking at the money bag in his hand, Kane could not help sighing.
Musha wrinkled her nose. "Hmph, Lord Jie Ning already is an extraordinary figure."
At this moment, after entering the city, the extraordinary figure everyone had been talking about, Jie Ning, looked around and suddenly found himself at a loss.
He had arrived in Kading City two months early. His uncle was probably still on the road, so what was he supposed to do with these extra two months?
"Hmm?" Just as Jie Ning hesitated, he suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind.
Thinking it was a thief, Jie Ning turned around, only to find a familiar face before him.
"Uncle Maki?" Jie Ning looked at Maki in surprise. Why had he also arrived in Kading City two months early?
"Why are you in Kading City?"
The corners of Maki's lips lifted with a hint of pride. "I've come to Kading City more times than I can count. Since you chose to travel with a caravan, there are only so many routes they could take. I only had to make a rough guess to know when you would arrive."
Jie Ning suddenly understood.
"I only had to calculate the timing and come here." Maki was quite happy to show off a little before his genius nephew. "I specifically arranged for people to watch the city gate. While you and the caravan were at the gate, someone had already informed me that you had arrived."
"Come on, follow me somewhere and tidy up your appearance properly." As he spoke, Maki glanced disdainfully at Jie Ning's rather rough attire.
"Okay." Jie Ning obediently nodded. He also knew that he looked rather unkempt at the moment.
"Count Lewis is extremely curious about you. He told me long ago that once you arrived, I was to bring you to meet him."
"I happened to invite the count to dinner tonight. You should come as well."
"Okay, Uncle."
Before you continue