Traveling to Guobei County (Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter)

"If not for the young hero's intervention, my son would surely have perished! Please accept this small token of gratitude, and do not refuse."

Inside the guest hall of the City Lord Manor, Xiao Han took a light sip of tea.

Seated beside Xiao Han was a somewhat plump middle-aged man, none other than the city lord himself.

The city lord waved his hand, and a servant stepped forward bearing a tray. Xiao Han glanced at it and accepted without ceremony. After all, he truly did need currency in this world right now.

Besides, he had genuinely saved the city lord's son's life, so he accepted the money with a clear conscience.

Because the commotion Xiao Han had caused while confronting the fox demons had been too great, guards had quickly arrived on the scene. They mistook Xiao Han for a bandit who had attacked the young city lord and tried to arrest him.

Fortunately, Xiao Han had fed some pills to the young city lord—the youth who had been lying on the ground, his face as pale as paper, barely breathing after having his essence drained by two fox demons in turns, nearly shriveled into a husk.

With the youth's testimony and the two fox corpses that clearly exuded an ominous aura, Xiao Han finally managed to clear his name.

Seeing how easily Xiao Han had saved his son, who had been on the verge of death from essence loss, the city lord realized that his son had encountered a reclusive master and been lucky enough to escape with his life!

For the past few months, there had been incidents where young men and women from various families were drained of their essence blood by unknown demons, turning into dried corpses. It was just his misfortune that his own son had been the one to encounter them.

But a blessing in disguise was that the two fox demons had happened to provoke a highly skilled martial artist and been killed in a single blow.

At this point, the city lord, with a look of disappointment, began scolding the still-shaken youth beside him: "Gang'er, if not for this young hero, you would have been drained dry by those two demons! I've told you time and again to focus your efforts on martial training, but you never listen—spending your days idling in pleasure quarters.

Today, your incorrigible nature nearly cost you your life in this peach blossom calamity. Let's see if you still dare to seduce women of unknown origin after this!"

"Well... it's not entirely my fault, Father."

The youth gave an awkward laugh: "Who could have guessed that mother and daughter pair were actually demons?

This morning, I happened upon them selling themselves to bury their dead husband. I thought they were pitiful, so I bought them and sent them to the City Lord Manor as servants. But the moment we entered the room, they stripped and offered themselves to me.

I couldn't resist—I wanted to taste what a mother-daughter duo was like, so I didn't refuse... Hehe, ow, Father, stop hitting... It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

After giving the youth a few hard knocks, the city lord helplessly clasped his hands toward Xiao Han: "My son is unruly. Please forgive the spectacle, young hero."

"No harm done. As the saying goes: 'A man isn't gallant without a little romance.' I see that the young city lord is somewhat fond of pleasure, but everything he said just now was truthful. City Lord, think back—has the young city lord ever committed acts of bullying women or abusing his power?" Xiao Han replied with a smile, waving his hand.

"He has not. The Li family has upheld its honor for generations—how could I allow him to engage in such tyranny?" the middle-aged city lord said sternly.

"Then that settles it."

Xiao Han shook his head: "Since he neither bullies others nor harms anyone, why care about the opinions of others?"

He just wanted to enjoy himself—what ill intentions could an LSP have?

"Young Hero Xiao speaks wisely!"

The young city lord, though only seventeen, brightened at Xiao Han's words and looked at him as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"Ahem. Gang'er, withdraw. I have matters to discuss with Young Hero Xiao."

The city lord cleared his throat. If his son took such twisted reasoning to heart, it would be disastrous.

"Fine."

Unable to defy his father's orders, Li Gang reluctantly left the hall.

Paying no mind to the father-son exchange, Xiao Han held his teacup and gently blew away the lingering steam.

Then he summoned the system panel—visible only to the clever—and glanced at the side quest displayed on it.

Side Quest: "Demon Extermination"

Quest Hint: Kill one thousand demons, vengeful spirits, or heretical cultivators.

Quest Progress: (2/1000)

Presumably, the two fox demons he had just slain had contributed two-thousandths to the progress bar.

Clink.

Setting down the tea gently, Xiao Han tapped the desktop with his index finger: "City Lord Li, This Humble One has one more request."

"Please, speak freely."

City Lord Li quickly responded.

"I parted ways with a friend many years ago. Before we separated, he told me that if I wished to find him, I could go to Guobei County in Zhejiang. But after three years of secluded cultivation, I emerged to find the world in chaos, and I no longer recognize the way. Does the city lord have a map to Guobei County?" Xiao Han, seeing the city lord's enthusiasm, stated his need directly.

"Guobei County? Zhejiang?"

City Lord Li paused, then shook his head with a wry smile: "Young Hero, the Zhejiang region is a full seven thousand li from Skywater City. Even riding day and night without rest, it would take at least three months to get there!"

"Three months? No way?"

Xiao Han was stunned upon hearing this.

He had known the system might pull some tricks, but he hadn't expected to be teleported to such a remote and godforsaken place!

"Never mind. Three months isn't too long. Since I made a promise to that man, I cannot break it. Would the city lord be willing to fetch the map for me?"

"Of course. Steward."

Clap, clap.

City Lord Li clapped his hands, signaling the old steward beside him to retrieve the map from the storeroom.

In ancient times, obtaining such a map was extremely difficult. It was impossible for City Lord Li to part with such a detailed and exquisite map without some reluctance, but compared to repaying Xiao Han's kindness, it was well worth it.

After all, trading a tattered map to escape the calamity of losing a son—City Lord Li felt he had struck an incredible deal!

"Thank you, City Lord Li."

Xiao Han cupped his hands in gratitude. "Since City Lord Li is so generous, Xiao cannot be remiss in return. Might I ask if any evil spirits have been harming people within a hundred li of Skywater City?"

"Young Hero Xiao means... to exorcise demons for my Skywater City?!"

City Lord Li shot to his feet, stirred with excitement.

"Xiao has sworn a great vow, to cleanse the world of all evil spirits with the three-foot sword in my hand!"

Xiao Han rose, clasping his hands behind his back. An aura of lofty mastery radiated from him, leaving City Lord Li stunned and blinking.

After Xiao Han spoke these words, City Lord Li's face immediately showed admiration. He bowed deeply to Xiao Han, his emotions laid bare.

"Young Hero, so young yet possessing such chivalrous spirit and rare insight—this is far beyond what ordinary men can achieve.

Li may not share your noble resolve for country and people, but at least I can offer you a horse that travels a thousand miles a day, so you need not worry about travel on your path of demon extermination."

"Ah, this..."

Xiao Han scratched the back of his head, feigning reluctance. "How could I accept such kindness?"

"Young Hero, you must accept my goodwill."

City Lord Li bowed again, making Xiao Han a little embarrassed. The latter shook his head, reached into his chest, and pulled out a bottle of Two-Grade Pill, placing it in City Lord Li's hands.

"City Lord Li, I accept your kindness, but I cannot take your horse for nothing. This pill was refined by my master from dozens of precious herbs. If taken at the brink of death, it won't have you bouncing back immediately, but it can at least keep your life hanging by a thread."

"This, this is too precious."

City Lord Li took the pill, at a loss.

"Keep it." Xiao Han nodded with a smile.

"Then Li will not refuse."

City Lord Li stopped his protests. Such a precious spiritual medicine—to say he didn't want it would be a lie. As before, no matter how you looked at it, he had come out ahead today!

Another round of pleasantries followed between host and guest. After Xiao Han exchanged a few more words with City Lord Li, the steward led over a Thousand-Mile Horse, along with the maps Xiao Han needed and the latest rumors of evil spirit sightings.

Xiao Han accepted them, bid farewell to City Lord Li and his family, and set off on his journey of demon extermination. After all, he had only taken down two targets so far—998 more still awaited him!