Are You Worthy?

The distance from Holy Soul Village to Notting City was not far. On foot, it would only take half a day.

However, Yang Ming was traveling by carriage, which would cut the time down considerably.

In theory, at the carriage's speed, they could reach Notting City in just two hours.

Of course, nothing was absolute. Theory was only theory because reality was always full of unforeseen changes.

When Old Jack saw a band of more than forty bandits blocking the road ahead of the carriage, his heart skipped a beat. This is bad.

The bandits wore green hoods and red scarves that concealed their faces completely, leaving only their shifty eyes exposed. Each wore half armor and held a broad chopping saber, its blade gleaming brightly.

The bandits had set up caltrops on the road. Those sharp spikes could easily pierce the belly of the old nag, so Old Jack did not dare force his way through.

Without hesitation, Old Jack quickly turned the horse around, intending to leave.

However, the bandits had already spotted Old Jack from afar. How could they let a fat sheep that had fallen into their hands get away?

"Hyah! Hyah! Hyah..."

A burst of hoofbeats approached as more than forty bandits rode over on fine horses.

The horses beneath the bandits were not old nags meant for pulling carriages, but fine steeds built for speed.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the bandits had caught up and overtaken them.

With no other choice, Old Jack gripped the reins and gave them a hard tug, bringing the carriage to a stop.

The forty-odd bandits closed in, surrounding the carriage from all sides.

The bandit leader pointed his saber at Old Jack and said arrogantly:

"I planted this tree, and I opened this road. If you want to pass through here, first pay the toll."

This was Old Jack's first time encountering bandits.

Logically speaking, although Notting City was close to the border of the Heaven Dou Empire, it was not a major city with much profit to be made. There should not have been any bandits here.

But seeing that the bandits' arms were thicker than his thighs, Old Jack suppressed his doubts. Afraid that they might harm Yang Ming and Tang San, he hurriedly took a money pouch from his pocket. It contained Yang Ming's tuition and meal expenses, along with some loose change for daily necessities.

"Good sirs, is this money enough?"

"You old man, at least you know what's good for you."

The bandit leader took the money pouch, weighed it in his palm, and nodded in satisfaction.

Just as Old Jack thought the bandit leader was about to let them pass, the man spoke again:

"Who's inside the carriage? Let me have a look."

Old Jack's expression tightened. He waved his hands anxiously, his face full of misery.

"Good sir, there's no one in the carriage."

"No one, really?"

"Really, really!"

Old Jack nodded like a pecking chicken, terrified that something might go wrong.

The bandit leader suddenly gave a vicious grin, shoved Old Jack aside, and lifted the carriage curtain, revealing Yang Ming and Tang San sitting opposite each other inside.

"You filthy old man, you're not very honest, are you? Aren't there two living people in here? You dared tell me there was no one? Do you take me for blind, or do you take me for a fool?"

The bandit leader yanked Old Jack off the carriage and kicked him to the ground. He planted a large foot on Old Jack's chest, looked down at his aged face, and slapped his cheek with the flat of his blade as he sneered:

"I've changed my mind, old man. Those two children in your carriage are quite good-looking. If I sell them to some noble lords with special tastes, I might make a fortune. So you can leave, but the two children have to stay."

The instant the flat of the saber struck his face, Old Jack felt the chilling cold of the chopping blade and went pale with terror, afraid that this desperado would bring it down on him.

But when he heard that the bandit leader intended to sell Yang Ming—and sell him to nobles with such peculiar tastes—Old Jack did not know where he found the strength. He suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around the bandit leader's leg and pleaded humbly, "Good sir, don't you want money? I still have some at home. Tell me how much you want, and I'll give you all of it! Even if you want the money I saved for my coffin, take it all. As long as you spare these two children, I'll do anything you ask. I can even serve you like an ox or a horse."

The bandit leader tried several times to pull his leg free from Old Jack's grasp, but Old Jack's arms were like the roots of an ancient tree—powerful and tightly wound around him. No matter how hard the bandit leader struggled, he could not break free.

"Fine. You filthy old man, you actually dare bargain with me? Do you not even know how the word 'death' is written?"

The bandit leader snorted coldly and sneered:

"Didn't you say you'd do anything? Then come on. Kneel down, crawl under my crotch, and call me Grandpa three times. If you make me happy enough, perhaps I'll change my mind and let you and those two children in the carriage go."

A man had gold beneath his knees!

The bandit leader's words were simply trampling on Old Jack's dignity as a man!

Any normal man would feel anger at this!

Old Jack was overcome with fury, his face flushed red with rage.

But when he looked at the two children in the carriage, especially Yang Ming—though adopted, Old Jack had always treated him as his own grandson.

Yang Ming's talent was so outstanding, and his future was so promising. He had boundless potential and should not, could not, perish here!

I've lived long enough. So what if I throw away this old face? As long as Yang Ming achieves something in the future and makes a name for himself, that will be enough.

With that thought, Old Jack pressed his lips together and clenched his teeth so hard that his jaw muscles bulged, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. His knees were about to hit the ground.

At that moment, Yang Ming's furious shout rang out:

"Wait!"

Seeing Yang Ming leap out of the carriage with his spear in hand, Old Jack panicked, his eyes reddening as he cried anxiously:

"You little rascal, can't you see how dangerous this is? Why did you come down?"

Though his tone was stern, every word was filled with concern for Yang Ming.

"Grandpa." Yang Ming helped Old Jack to his feet, then glared coldly at the bandits around them. His voice gradually turned icy. "If I have to sacrifice your dignity in exchange for my own life, then what meaning is there in me staying alive?"

"Yang Ming is right!"

Tang San also jumped down from the carriage and stood shoulder to shoulder with Yang Ming.

"You two..."

Seeing the two half-grown children protecting him behind them, tears blurred Old Jack's clouded eyes, and his voice choked several times.

He was proud of the children, yet also regretted his own helplessness.

"Heh."

Watching the close grandfather-grandson bond between Yang Ming and Old Jack, the bandit leader sneered. He pointed his chopping saber at Yang Ming, then stuck out his tongue beneath the red scarf and licked his dry, cracked lips.

"Insignificant little brat, do you think that toy spear in your hand can do anything to us?"

"Are you worthy?"