Deterrence

Deterrence

Looking at the bandits lying motionless on the ground, Li Xuan did not hesitate. With a thought, the Burning Heart Seal instantly released scorching heat.

The bandits lying on the ground sprang up as if burned, then exchanged blank looks before simultaneously dropping to their knees before Li Xuan the next second.

"Master, spare us!" they cried painfully as they kowtowed to Li Xuan.

Once the Burning Heart Seal was activated, the searing heat made their backs ache unbearably.

"All right. You were sleeping too soundly, so I merely woke you up. Don't go back to sleep yet. Introduce yourselves first. What are your names? We should get acquainted, since you'll be responsible for my daily needs from now on." Leaning lazily against the carriage, Li Xuan swept his gaze over the people kneeling on the ground and asked in a somewhat chilly voice.

These people were basically vicious criminals. Li Xuan had no need to treat them too well, or they would only push their luck.

Suddenly, one of them raised his head, his gaze toward Li Xuan filled with fawning eagerness.

"Replying to Master, my name is Qian Fugui. I'm a broker in Baifeng City. I only lost some money gambling a few days ago, so I thought I'd pull off a big job to clear my debts. I never expected you, Master, to be so powerful! If there's anything you want to buy or bargain for, you can come to me!" Qian Fugui said with a flattering smile.

Using the Burning Heart Clarifying Spirit Flame to sense him, Li Xuan found no significant fluctuation in Qian Fugui's emotions, proving that he was not lying.

But this man was a gambler. It seemed Li Xuan would need to keep him under strict control.

"All right, move aside," Li Xuan said with a wave of his hand.

He then questioned the remaining four. They were bandits from a nearby mountain, and after receiving news of Li Xuan from Qian Fugui today, they had planned to kill this fat sheep and enjoy themselves.

They had not expected their boss to die miserably, while the four of them were captured and directly made into slaves.

The four were named Wang Er, Liu San, Sun Si, and Feng Wu. The one who had died was their boss, surnamed Li and named Li Da.

"All right. Since that's the case, you'll follow me from now on. I won't pursue your past deeds, and you don't need to worry that I'll act on behalf of heaven. Of course, if you follow me, I won't mistreat you either. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, I'll give you a list. Go to Baifeng City and purchase the items for me. Understood?" Li Xuan said to them with a smile.

"Understood..." they replied shakily.

"Find somewhere to rest. But I suggest you don't consider running away. Once you leave a certain distance from me, the flames will activate automatically. I don't think you'd want to experience that feeling again." Li Xuan shrugged and spoke with an indifferent expression.

Li Xuan was already very sleepy. Being woken in the middle of the night was bad enough; the fact that he had not lost his temper was already quite good.

He returned to the carriage compartment, pulled up the blanket, and quickly fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Li Xuan got up before dawn. Although he had not slept well, his body clock woke him early nonetheless.

After getting up, Li Xuan stepped out of the carriage. The bandits from last night were huddled together, relying on each other's warmth to avoid freezing overnight.

Li Xuan counted them and found that two were missing.

"So there really are stubborn fools. Looks like last night's display wasn't intimidating enough." Li Xuan shook his head helplessly. Sure enough, someone had tried to run.

Li Xuan closed his eyes and sensed the distribution of the Burning Heart Seals. As long as they were within two kilometers of him, he could sense them.

"Found you." Li Xuan opened his eyes with a brilliant smile, then flashed toward the distance.

Two kilometers away from Li Xuan's carriage, he found two corpses burned into charcoal. The bodies still retained the twisted, agonized postures from the moment of death.

Not minding the filth, Li Xuan took out a piece of rag, wrapped the two corpses in it, and carried them back near his campsite.

Bang!

Li Xuan tossed the bundle containing the two corpses onto the ground, waking the others who were still asleep.

"Good morning, Master!" They immediately scrambled up from the ground and knelt before Li Xuan.

"Take a look." Li Xuan pointed at the bundle on the ground.

Still groggy from sleep, Qian Fugui stepped forward and opened the bundle.

The smell of burnt flesh instantly rushed into Qian Fugui's nose. The next second, he was completely awake.

"Th-this... this... these are Wang Er and Feng Wu. They... they were burned to death!" Qian Fugui stammered, pointing at the charred corpses as he spoke to Li Xuan. The other two also widened their eyes, staring at the charcoal-black bodies in disbelief.

"All right. Whenever you want to run in the future, think of these two corpses. This is your breakfast. After you eat, go back to Baifeng City and purchase some more supplies for me. Then we'll be wandering outside for a while." Li Xuan took several Large Rye Breads from the Void Pearl and tossed them to the remaining three.

"Yes, Master!" The three replied to Li Xuan in trembling voices as they knelt on the ground.

But judging by their expressions, they probably had no appetite to eat.

Li Xuan shook his head and returned to the carriage compartment.

Early in the morning, Li Xuan did not want anything too greasy, so he took a cream bun from the Void Pearl and began writing a shopping list while eating.

When Li Xuan had made purchases in Baifeng City yesterday, he had been too busy and had forgotten many things. Now that he remembered them, he still needed to buy more.

More importantly, Li Xuan felt that the wanted notices would reach this area within the next few days. He might have to wander in the wilderness for a while.

Back in the carriage compartment, Li Xuan took out the cream bun and began writing the list while eating.

Very soon, Li Xuan had compiled a long list.

There was room in the carriage for plenty of daily necessities, so Li Xuan indulged in shopping, buying back many things whether they would prove useful or not.

Li Xuan divided the list into three parts, then handed them to the slaves after they had finished their Large Rye Bread, along with some Gold Soul Coins.

"You can try running away, but rest assured, all of you: once you get too far from me, flames will automatically ignite inside your bodies. You can experience what it feels like to be burned alive. Go on." Li Xuan smiled faintly and waved for them to go purchase the supplies.

"Yes, Master." They respectfully replied to Li Xuan, then took the money and began walking toward Baifeng City.

With the deterrence of those two charred corpses from last night, the three of them presumably would not think of running away.

Watching the three walk away, Li Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Now someone could drive his carriage for him, saving him a great deal of effort.

"I can't sit idle either." After saying that, Li Xuan took out the tools for refining Elixirs from his backpack and began refining medicine.

It would take those people at least a day to make the round trip, so they would not be able to travel today. Li Xuan also needed to prepare to leave this place.

Wishing all my esteemed readers a happy weekend. Thank you all for your support. This humble one offers his thanks.

(End of chapter)