On the Road to Guobei County

"If you hadn't stepped in, Young Hero, my son would surely have died! Please accept this small token of my gratitude. I hope you won't refuse."

In the reception hall of the City Lord Manor, Xiao Han took a small sip of tea.

Sitting beside Xiao Han was a slightly plump, middle-aged man. He was none other than the City Lord of this city.

The City Lord waved his hand, and a servant came forward carrying a tray. Xiao Han glanced at it and accepted it without hesitation. After all, he really did need money in this world.

Besides, he had saved the City Lord's son's life. He had every right to accept the reward.

The commotion during Xiao Han's standoff with the Fox Demons had been so loud that guards soon came rushing over. Mistaking Xiao Han for the attacker who had assaulted the Young City Lord, they tried to seize him.

Fortunately, Xiao Han had given some pills to the Young City Lord, who had collapsed on the ground, his face pale as gold leaf and his life hanging by a thread. He was the young man whom two Fox Demons had taken turns draining of his essence, nearly sucking him dry.

With the young man's testimony and the two fox corpses, which clearly emanated an ominous aura, Xiao Han had finally proved his innocence.

Seeing Xiao Han casually bring his son back from the brink after he had been drained nearly to death, how could the City Lord not realize that his son had encountered a hidden master and been lucky enough to escape with his life?

Over the past few months, young men and women from various families had been found drained of their essence and turned into dried corpses by unknown monsters. He never expected his own son to be so unlucky as to run into them.

But the silver lining was that the two Fox Demons had happened to provoke a highly skilled martial artist, and had been killed with a single blow.

At this, the City Lord turned to the boy, who was still shaken, and scolded him in exasperation. "Gang'er, if this Young Hero hadn't stepped in, those two monsters would have sucked you dry! I've told you time and again to focus all your efforts on martial arts, but you never listen. You spend every day hanging around brothels. You haven't changed your ways, and today you nearly died in a love trap. Let's see if you'll still go after strange women with questionable backgrounds!"

"Th-this isn't entirely my fault, Father."

The boy gave an awkward grin. "Who could have guessed that mother and daughter were monsters?

"This morning, I happened to meet them while they were selling themselves to bury their husband. I felt sorry for them, so I bought them and brought them to the City Lord Manor to work as servants. But as soon as we entered the room, they took off their clothes and offered themselves to me.

"I couldn't hold back, so I wanted to see what it was like to enjoy a mother and daughter together. I didn't refuse... Hehe—ow! Father, don't hit me... It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

After giving the boy a few hard knocks, the City Lord turned to Xiao Han and cupped his hands apologetically. "My son is incorrigible. I'm sorry you had to see that, Young Hero."

"Think nothing of it. As the saying goes, 'A young man who isn't flirtatious has wasted his youth.' The Young City Lord may be a little lecherous, but everything he just said was true. Think about it, City Lord: has he ever forced himself on a woman?" Xiao Han said with a smile, waving a hand.

"That he hasn't. My Li Family has always been respectable. I would never let him commit such acts of bullying women," the middle-aged City Lord said solemnly.

"Then there's no problem."

Xiao Han shook his head. "If he hasn't bullied anyone or harmed anyone, why should he care what others think?"

He just wanted to enjoy himself. What harm could a lecherous man possibly mean?

"Young Hero Xiao speaks wisely!"

The Young City Lord was only seventeen, but Xiao Han's words made his eyes light up. He looked at Xiao Han as if he'd found a kindred spirit.

"Cough, cough. Gang'er, you may leave. I still have something to discuss with Young Hero Xiao."

The City Lord gave a light cough. If his son took that kind of sophistry to heart, they'd be in trouble.

"All right."

Unable to disobey his father, Li Gang reluctantly left the reception hall.

Ignoring the exchange between father and son, Xiao Han held his teacup and gently blew away the remaining 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 Details: Kill a thousand monsters, vengeful ghosts, or Demonic Path cultivators.

Progress: (2/1000)

The two Fox Demons he had just slain had evidently filled two-thousandths of the progress bar.

Tap.

Xiao Han set down his tea and lightly rapped his index finger on the table. "City Lord Li, I have another favor to ask."

"Please, Young Hero," City Lord Li replied at once.

"I was separated from a friend many years ago. Before we parted, several years back, he told me that if I ever wanted to find him, I could go to Guobei County in Zhejiang. I've spent three years in seclusion, and when I came out, the world was in chaos. I've completely lost my bearings. Do you happen to have a map that could show me the way to Guobei County?" Seeing how welcoming the City Lord was, Xiao Han went straight to the point.

"Guobei County? Zhejiang?"

City Lord Li paused, then shook his head with a wry smile. "Young Hero, Zhejiang is a full seven thousand li from Tianshui City. Even if you rode day and night without stopping, it would take at least three months to get there!"

"Three months? That can't be right!"

Xiao Han was stunned.

He had known the system might make a blunder, but he hadn't expected it to send him somewhere this ridiculously remote!

"Never mind. Three months isn't that long. I made a promise to that person, so I can't break it. Could you have a map brought to me?"

"Of course. Steward!"

Clap, clap!

City Lord Li clapped his hands, sending the old steward to the storeroom to fetch a map.

In ancient times, it was exceptionally difficult to obtain a map like this. City Lord Li couldn't possibly be happy about giving away such a fine, detailed map, but it was worth it to repay Xiao Han's kindness.

After all, a mere map could spare him the pain of losing his son. City Lord Li felt he'd gotten an incredible bargain!

"Thank you, City Lord Li."

Xiao Han cupped his hands in gratitude. "Since you've been so generous, I can't let that go unreturned. Have there been any incidents of Evil Spirits harming people within a hundred li of Tianshui City?"

"Does Young Hero Xiao mean... you'll rid Tianshui City of monsters?!"

City Lord Li sprang to his feet in excitement.

"I have sworn a solemn vow: with the Three-foot Sword in my hand, I'll wipe out every Evil Spirit under heaven!"

Xiao Han stood with his hands clasped behind his back, radiating the imposing air of a master. City Lord Li was so awestruck he could barely think straight.

As soon as Xiao Han finished speaking, City Lord Li's face filled with admiration. He bowed deeply, his sincerity plain to see.

"Young Hero, you're so young, yet you have such a Chivalrous Spirit and such admirable conviction. Few could match you.

"I, Li, may lack your dedication to serving the people, but I can at least provide you with a horse that can travel a thousand li in a day. Then you won't have to worry about getting around as you rid the world of monsters."

"Ah, this..."

Xiao Han scratched the back of his head and pretended to refuse. "How could I accept?"

"Please, Young Hero, you must accept my offer."

City Lord Li bowed again. Xiao Han felt a little embarrassed, so he shook his head and took out a bottle of Two-Grade Pills from inside his robe, placing it in City Lord Li's hands.

"I'll accept your generous offer, City Lord Li, but I can't take your horse without giving you something in return. These pills were refined by my master from dozens of precious medicinal ingredients. If someone takes one when their life is in danger, it may not have them bouncing back immediately, but it can keep them alive."

"Th-this is far too precious."

City Lord Li accepted the pills, at a loss for what to do.

"Take them," Xiao Han said with a smile and a nod.

"Then I, Li, will accept your kindness."

City Lord Li didn't refuse again. Who wouldn't want such precious medicine? As he'd thought, no matter what happened today, he'd made an incredible bargain!

After more pleasant exchanges, Xiao Han chatted with City Lord Li for a while. Then the steward brought over a fine horse that could travel a thousand li in a day, along with the map Xiao Han needed and the latest reports of Evil Spirits appearing nearby.

Xiao Han accepted everything, said goodbye to the City Lord and his family, and set off on his journey to rid the world of monsters. He had only taken down two targets so far. There were still 998 waiting for him!