Robbers

Li Changqing had asked the villagers for information, but news rarely reached this village.

All he had learned was that Zhao Family Village lay within the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom, one of the kingdoms under the Heaven Dou Empire, and that the nearest city was Balkov City.

As for major events on the continent or the precise timeline, the villagers knew nothing. They did not even know the current year of the Douluo Calendar.

Knowing the year would not have helped anyway. Li Changqing remembered only a few major events on Douluo Continent, and he could not recall exactly when they had happened.

Night fell as Li Changqing left Zhao Family Village.

He had chosen to leave at night because he did not want too many people to notice him and cause unnecessary trouble.

He was not worried about danger after dark. Apart from wild animals, there was nothing dangerous around this remote mountain village. He was confident he could handle them; any beast that came for him would merely add to his dinner.

Li Changqing stood at the village entrance. The stone marker he had split in two ten months ago had long since been replaced. The new one bore the words "Zhao Family Village."

He looked back one last time at the little village behind him, his first stop on Douluo Continent. Then he turned and strode off in the direction he had been given.

As for Zhao Family Village, he would probably never return.

His destination was Balkov City, the closest city to Zhao Family Village. There, he could find out how to reach the Star Dou Great Forest and obtain a Soul Ring for his Sword Martial Soul.

The Soul Hunting Forest was managed by Spirit Hall. With no identification, no money, and no connections, he had no way to get in. That left the Star Dou Great Forest.

Moonlight fell across the winding path as Li Changqing walked and pondered.

He was trying to think of a way to make money. Without it, a person could scarcely take a step in any world—unless, of course, he was strong enough.

The eastern horizon gradually turned pale as a fish's belly. The sun rose.

Ten months of training had made Li Changqing sturdy. With Soul Power to bolster him, the journey was not particularly tiring.

The sun climbed higher, and the day grew hot.

Li Changqing came to a secluded stretch of path lined with wild grass and shrubs he could not name.

Just then, three dark figures sprang out of the grass beside the road and blocked his way.

Li Changqing raised an eyebrow. He could guess what they wanted: to rob him.

What surprised him was that anyone would lie in wait in this desolate place to rob a plainly dressed child.

He was not afraid. If anything, he was a little excited. He had just been wondering where to find money, and now someone had delivered himself to his door.

Anyone who robbed travelers in such a poor backwater—and picked a child like him as a target—probably was not very strong. They would make good practice and might even provide some starting funds.

There were three robbers. Their leader was a burly man nearly two meters tall, with the back of a tiger, the waist of a bear, and muscle all over. His bare upper body was covered in scars, the most striking a vicious slash running from his forehead to his chin.

He was glaring fiercely at Li Changqing.

Behind Scarface stood two tall, skinny men with shifty eyes. Neither looked like an honest man.

"Boss, are we really going to rob this kid?" The skinny man on the left leaned close to Scarface and spoke in a low voice, sounding uncertain. "Look at his clothes. That rough-spun outfit says he came from some poor village. I doubt he has even one Copper Soul Coin on him."

"You don't know shit!" Scarface said with a grin. "So what if he has no money? Look at that smooth skin and pretty face. The nobles in the city love boys like him. We catch him and sell him to them, and we'll get a fine price!"

The skinny man on the right lit up and hurried to flatter him. "Boss, you're a genius! I've heard some noble lords are especially fond of pretty little boys like this and pay even more for them. Why don't we start snatching kids like him? It's quicker money than robbery, and safer too!"

The two underlings snickered lewdly, their eyes roaming over Li Changqing without restraint, as though they were appraising merchandise.

Li Changqing felt a wave of revulsion.

Selling him to nobles was bad enough. Selling him to those perverted noble lords made his scalp crawl. He had no intention of being the one on the bottom.

Scarface wore a lewd expression too. He licked his lips. "You're right. I've been wanting to find out for myself why those noble lords prefer little boys like this to women."

"Ah! Hahahaha!"

The three laughed without restraint, their voices echoing through the area.

Li Changqing had no desire to waste words on them. His gaze turned cold.

At a thought, light flashed in his right palm, and his somewhat worn Sword Martial Soul appeared.

Gripping the sword, Li Changqing pointed its tip at the space between Scarface's brows. "I don't have time to play robber with you. Hand over every coin you have, and I might spare your miserable lives."

The three froze. Then they saw the battered sword in his hand and doubled over laughing, as if they had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Hahahaha! Boss, did I hear that right? This little brat wants to rob us?"

"Right! Look at that rusty old sword. I bet it's worse than a woodcutter's blade!"

Scarface laughed until his stomach hurt. He wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, then his gaze turned vicious.

Soul Power stirred around him. A faint white ring rose from beneath his feet and slowly revolved around him. At the same time, a sharp kitchen knife appeared in his hand.

The kitchen knife was clearly Scarface's Martial Soul, and the white ring was a Ten-Year Soul Ring.

Li Changqing studied them closely. This was the first time he had seen someone else's Martial Soul and Soul Ring, and he was curious.

Seeing Li Changqing stare at his Soul Ring, Scarface assumed the boy was scared out of his wits.

Scarface brandished his kitchen knife smugly. "See that, kid? This is a real Soul Master! I'm a genuine One-Ring Soul Master. You don't even have a Soul Ring, and that Martial Soul of yours is a Trash Martial Soul. You dare threaten me?!"

He bared his yellow teeth. "Better give up quietly, and you'll save yourself a beating. I don't know my own strength. If you fight back and I damage you, you'll fetch a lot less when I sell you."

The two underlings behind Scarface borrowed his ferocity like foxes wearing a tiger's skin. They waved their daggers and shouted along.

"That's right! Our boss is a genuine Soul Master!"

"If you know what's good for you, get on your knees and surrender!"