Return to Flower Territory

"Do you feel bored? We are about to open a school in the territory. Why don't you become a water-element mage and help cultivate talent for us?"

"Is that allowed?"

Aierlan replied with pleasant surprise. Although she carried herself more like a man, she was still bound by strict discipline.

"Will it bring any negative influence to the territory?"

"How could it? I am currently short of magic instructors. Don't let the territory's strength fool you; most of our people are warriors and knights. As for mages, they are few and far between. I would be very happy if you could help me."

Lin Lei continued.

As the two spoke, their shadows on the ground stretched longer, and the weather turned slightly chilly.

Concerned for Aierlan's health, Lin Lei sent her back to her room early, after which he began his own cultivation.

During his battle with Furell, Lin Lei had gained a wealth of experience he had previously overlooked. As an opponent of the same rank, Furell was a qualified warrior, and his proficiency with staff-like weapons, in particular, helped accelerate Lin Lei's previously sluggish cultivation.

The Primordial Heaven Thunder Art had reached the Silver rank, granting Lin Lei new insights.

The abilities he had previously obtained from character cards were like duckweed without roots or water without a source; no matter how he utilized them, he could only unleash eighty percent of their power, and recovery was exceptionally slow.

Now that he had cultivated his internal art to the Silver rank, he was confident that his current strength could defeat three of his former selves who lacked the art. The combination of the internal art and the character cards was more than just one plus one; they triggered a marvelous chemical reaction.

Lin Lei estimated that if he continued his practice step-by-step, he could reach the Gold rank in at most three months.

If he encountered other special opportunities or battles, this time would be shortened even further.

Finishing his cultivation, Lin Lei stood up and casually picked at the food on the table.

A strawberry cake, a square mung bean cake, a dish of peanuts, and a plate of drunken shrimp.

These were all made by the Halfling Lin Lei had bought. Following Lin Lei's requirements and hints, the Halfling, already skilled in the culinary arts, quickly figured out the dishes Lin Lei desired.

Because the food at the Lord's Mansion was so delicious, the Halfling became very popular among the servants, and no one looked at them with strange eyes. Allen, after tasting the food at the Lord's Mansion once, often came over to mooch, leaving Lin Lei speechless when he heard the news.

At dawn, Lin Lei rose early and hurried to the warehouse entrance, where Luo Ji and the others had already finished packing the goods.

Most of the beast hides brought back yesterday were somewhat damaged, so as soon as he arrived in the territory, Lin Lei had ordered Luo Ji to tan them to increase their value.

After hiring free men to work for wages, the processing of these goods was only just completed by morning.

"Are the goods ready?"

Lin Lei asked Luo Ji, who was checking the inventory.

"The goods have been inspected; there are over five thousand pieces in total, large and small, with nothing missing."

"Good, then let's set off."

Lin Lei nodded and ordered the team to advance.

"Everyone, check your weapons and equipment. Prepare to move out!"

Luo Ji shouted loudly.

A caravan of modest length set off at a leisurely pace. Lin Lei rode Red Hare at the rear of the procession, with Red Fire following by his side; he had brought both of them along this time.

As soon as Red Fire passed through the gates of Crouching Dragon Ravine, the dog became incredibly active, jumping and darting about along the road, his four paws showing no sign of wanting to rest.

Red Hare, on the other hand, was much better behaved, following the caravan steadily like an honest and obedient child.

"Lord Baron, look, this is what Red Fire brought back in his mouth."

While on the road, Luo Ji hurried over and handed a piece of multicolored cloth to Lin Lei.

Lin Lei understood what Luo Ji meant; he believed they were being targeted by bandits and wanted Lin Lei to make a decision.

Lin Lei pondered for a moment and said, "Continue forward, but tell the soldiers to stay alert and increase security. The territory is counting on this shipment for its development."

"Understood."

Receiving Lin Lei's order, Luo Ji went down the line to alert the soldiers, and the entire caravan became cautious.

Lin Lei no longer drifted off in boredom, instead beginning to observe the surrounding woods. However, even until his eyes grew sore, he could not spot where any bandits were hiding.

It seems I can only meet force with force and water with earth, Lin Lei thought.

Meanwhile, at Mang Mountain Head, a well-organized group of bandits was lying in ambush on both sides of Mang Mountain Canyon. Each of them wore black gloves; they were none other than the dreaded Black Hand Bandit Group.

The Black Hand Bandit Group was a large-scale Silver-rank bandit organization. Unlike small, elite Silver-rank groups, they relied on sheer numbers to reach the Silver level. The entire group had only three leaders at the Silver rank, while the rest were at the Bronze rank.

The chief leader of the Black Hand Bandit Group was nicknamed Throat-Slitter, though within the group, they called him the Black Hand Leader, and the entire organization was named after him.

The second leader was called Faceless, and the third was One-Eye. Both had originally been mercenaries, but greed had taken hold, and after killing a noble, they were wanted by the towns and forced into banditry.

At this moment, One-Eye hurried over to Black Hand and Faceless.

"Big Brother, one of our men is missing."

"What's the situation? Did he run away?"

Black Hand wiped his sword, speaking with indifference.

Within the Black Hand Bandit Group, Black Hand is an absolute dictator. Anyone who dares to leave the group without permission is hunted down by him until they are dead.

Those who announce their departure to his face are killed on the spot, their corpses tossed into the wilderness to rot.

"He didn't get far. Let me go kill him."

Faceless, standing to the side with a cold expression, speaks up. As a leader, he also has a responsibility to execute those who leave without authorization.

"It's not that, Second Brother. Fragments of clothing were found at his last known location. I suspect someone killed him, and then the beasts in the forest ate him."

"Oh."

Black Hand's reaction is indifferent, as if it weren't his own subordinate who had died.

"No, Boss, I'm worried that the scouts sent by the caravan we've been tracking discovered our man and killed him."

"Impossible. The scouts I sent reported that no one from the caravan has left the formation; they are heading straight for our Mang Mountain in plain sight."

Faceless, standing to the side, interrupts One-Eye's speculation directly.

One-Eye is left speechless. At this moment, Black Hand pretends to be heartbroken.

"Then it must have been a magical beast that killed my brother. If this big deal weren't so imminent, I would definitely go and avenge him."

"Yes, yes, the Great Leader has always treated his brothers as his own. That beast truly deserves to die."

One-Eye cooperates perfectly, picking up where Black Hand left off and chiming in.

Faceless, meanwhile, watches coldly from the sidelines, keeping to himself. Black Hand and One-Eye have grown accustomed to this behavior and pay him no mind, continuing their cat-crying-over-the-mouse charade.

"By the way, to kill a Bronze-rank warrior without a sound, it must be at least a Silver-rank magical beast, right?"

Black Hand suddenly shifts the topic.

For a bandit group, magical beasts are also an important source of income.

"Someone's coming."

Black Hand cuts off what One-Eye was about to say, sheathes his sword, and stares at the figures appearing on the horizon. It is the caravan where Lin Lei is located.

"Three large wagons. Good, it really is a big fish. That woman actually gave me some good news this time."

Black Hand lies on the hillside, muttering to himself.

"But the person behind them doesn't look like someone to mess with."

"Boss, do we attack? The caravan is about to pass through the canyon."

Black Hand, still weighing the pros and cons, grits his teeth and says, "Attack. We can't let meat that's already at our mouths go uneaten. Everyone, wait until the caravan reaches the middle of the canyon. When you hear my command, charge down together."

"Right now, attack!"

Black Hand leads the others as they rush out from their hiding place, many of them firing arrows while charging down.

"How bold. A bunch of petty thieves actually dare to rob me? Today, I'll show you what it means to be a one-man army."

Lin Lei says viciously. He spotted them the moment they appeared. He spurs Red Hare and charges at Black Hand and his men alone.

"Good!"

Lin Lei, riding Red Hare like a tank, cuts down five or six Bronze-rank bandits without a single one lasting a round against his blade.

Luo Ji, who had been guarding the wagons, sees this and cannot help but shout, boosting the morale of the entire caravan.

"Whoosh!"

Black Hand also realizes that Lin Lei is a formidable figure and quietly fires an arrow at him.

Although Lin Lei, who is reaping lives like cutting vegetables, has most of his attention on the surrounding enemies, the power of the Silver-rank Black Hand's arrow is too weak. Lin Lei catches it in one hand and tosses it to the ground in a gesture of provocation.

"Ahhh!"

Black Hand has never suffered such an insult. He immediately yells at Faceless and One-Eye.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, let's attack together! So what if he's Gold-rank? It's not like we haven't killed one before."

Black Hand wields a sword, Faceless holds a dagger, and One-Eye carries a war hammer. The three of them approach from three directions, hoping to stage a reenactment of three heroes fighting Lu Bu.

Unfortunately, Black Hand lacks the supreme strength and camaraderie of those heroes, and Lin Lei possesses power far exceeding the three of them combined.

The moment they engage, the losing position of Black Hand and his men becomes apparent. If not for their years of combat experience, they might have been routed in a single blow.

Of course, the current situation is extremely unfavorable for Black Hand and the others. Lin Lei's experience is growing rapidly, and he is increasingly able to reach their kill threshold.

"Boss, I'm taking my leave first!"

One-Eye, who had been professing his loyalty all along, turns and flees the moment things look grim, abandoning Black Hand and Faceless.

"Fool. The faster you run, the faster you die."

Black Hand curses under his breath. Turning one's back to Lin Lei is nothing but suicide.

"Rip."

The Green Dragon Crescent Blade slices directly across One-Eye's waist, turning one man into two, his intestines and viscera spilling all over the ground.

"Damn it."

Black Hand was also preparing to grease his soles, intending to slip away the moment Lin Lei went after One-Eye. He had predicted that One-Eye would die, but he never imagined it would happen so quickly, as simple and straightforward as slaughtering a pig.

"I surrender! I can tell you where my treasure is hidden. There's a lot of money at my stash..."

"Snap."

Lin Lei had no interest in listening to his nonsense and ended the blood-stained villain with a single strike.

"Your turn."

Lin Lei walked up to Faceless. Seeing him expressionless and without a shred of fear, he suddenly became interested. He lowered the blade he had raised and took a rope from his body to bind him.