Ambush Outside the Imperial Capital

Kelly saw Matthews radiating the aura of a seventh-rank warrior and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

Matthews saw the warriors surrounding them with caution and then looked at Kelly. He knew this was not the time to dwell on such matters; his current strength was not enough to thoroughly investigate that incident.

After all, although the emperor of the empire was not a Saint-level expert, this was the headquarters of the Divine Beast Sect. This meant there were many Saint-level experts here, and ninth-rank warriors were gathered in abundance.

As a seventh-rank warrior, he still could not stir up much trouble, and any slave-trading force that could exist here safely must certainly have even more powerful warriors guarding it.

"What do you mean by this?"

Seeing the slave-trading force's warriors closing in, Kelly walked in front of Matthews and said to them, "I am from the Berna Family. It was just my friend who accidentally released his Battle Qi."

Matthews also stepped forward, patted Kelly on the shoulder, and gave her a reassuring look. He then smiled at the slave trader and said, "I just had a moment of insight and let my energy leak out."

"Hahaha, no worries. So it's Miss Kelly of the Berna Family and her friend!"

A person in charge walked over with a grin and signaled for the warriors to put away their weapons!

"May I ask what brings Miss Kelly here this time?"

Seeing that the person in charge ignored him, Matthews was not annoyed and said with a smile, "I originally intended to select a few slaves, but since I just had a moment of insight, I am in a hurry to go back and consolidate my realm. I will come again next time."

After Matthews finished speaking, he pulled Kelly away. Once Matthews had left, the person in charge ordered his subordinate nearby, "Go and check the background of the person accompanying the young lady of the Berna Family."

After they left the slave shop, Kelly asked seriously, "What was really going on with you just now?"

Matthews looked at her earnest expression, sighed, and said, "When I came to the Divine Beast Empire, I was drugged and sold to this slave-trading force. I only escaped their clutches after being rescued by someone!"

"I see!"

Seeing that Kelly did not ask any further, Matthews said nothing more.

"I'm a bit tired today, so I'll head back first!"

"Alright!"

After parting ways with Kelly, Matthews did not have time to carefully observe the change in her expression. His mind was now entirely focused on finding the mercenary group or slave traders who had taken him away back then.

Mia took the portrait Matthews had drawn for her, along with some of his other sketches, to her school. She showed them to her close friends, and unable to resist the temptation, she sent these drawings to the Imperial Capital Art Gallery for an exhibition.

The reputation of the artist Matthews began to spread widely without his own knowledge. Currently, Matthews had no influence in the Imperial Capital, so naturally, he could not find any information about these slave-trading forces.

One day, while Matthews was in the courtyard absorbing Battle Qi, he saw Mia run in excitedly. With a mysterious look on her face, she said to Matthews, "Big brother, guess what I brought you?"

"You're at school, what could you possibly bring me?"

With a look of showing off a treasure, Mia handed a gold card to Matthews with both hands.

"Big brother, guess how much money is in here?"

Matthews asked in confusion, "Did you earn money?"

"No, I sold your paintings. Fifty thousand gold coins!"

"That was a portrait I drew for you! How could you bear to sell it? You're breaking your brother's heart!"

As Matthews spoke, he reached out to grab the gold card, but Mia quickly tucked it away. She then added, "No, I used some other paintings to sell."

"No, shouldn't that money be given to me even more?"

"Absolutely not!"

Mia then recounted how she had sent Matthews' paintings to the Imperial Capital Art Gallery through her roommate, and how the gallery eventually valued Matthews' unique art. She then had the gallery auction off his paintings!

"Don't do this next time!"

Mia looked at her brother in disbelief and asked, "Why! Isn't it good to be famous and have money?"

Matthews sighed inwardly. The little girl was only in her teens, the age when vanity is at its peak; at this age, people always like to compare themselves to others. Her roommates might have plenty of things to boast about, while she only had a brother who was decent enough.

Matthews patted her head and said, "Keep the gold coins and spend them. This age is the best time for cultivation. I don't want you to waste too much energy on other things."

"But, I'm one of the top students in our academy!"

Matthews shook his head and continued, "Magic isn't something to be compared like that; rankings are useless. Strength is the foundation!"

"But—"

"There are no 'buts.' Think about the bitter days we had by the river! I'm going out to cultivate for a while; don't slack off on your training."

Seeing Mia fall silent, Matthews said nothing more. He admitted to himself that he had been slacking off on his training lately, so he planned to go to the riverbank where he had met Asolun last time to undergo some trials.

"Let's go, Asolun!"

"Understood, Boss!"

Asolun darted out from the shade of the trees in the courtyard and habitually coiled around Matthews' arm. Previously, when Matthews was on dates, he had left Asolun at home, considering that girls might not like snake-like Magic Beasts.

He arrived at the spot where he often met with Kelly, but after waiting for a long time without seeing her, Matthews left a secret note informing her that he was leaving the city to cultivate for a while.

Just as Matthews left through the city gate, the person in charge of the slave shop received a report from his subordinate: "Boss, the target has left the city."

"Understood!"

Matthews left the Imperial Capital and traveled along the road. After sensing for a moment, Asolun said, "Boss, someone is following us."

Matthews activated his electromagnetic wave perception and clearly sensed the two warriors following them. What was going on? He hadn't offended anyone in the Imperial Capital, so why would someone be following them now?

Ten miles away from the Imperial Capital, the two seventh-rank warriors suddenly accelerated and caught up to Matthews.

Matthews glanced at their badges and immediately understood the reason. These two were clearly men from the slave traders; other than revealing his Battle Qi in their shop a while back, he had not shown any other hostility.

"What is the meaning of this!"

"Kid, you shouldn't have shown hostility on our turf!"

Matthews frowned and asked, "This is the Imperial Capital!"

The warrior beside him said impatiently, "Why waste breath on him? Let's kill him quickly so we can go back and report."

As he spoke, he raised his blade and charged forward, and Matthews drew his own blade to tangle with him. The other warrior did not choose to stand by and watch, instead raising his spear to charge over as well. Just as Matthews used Youying to parry the first warrior's slash, the second warrior's spear thrust toward him!