Duke Minghuo? Might as Well Wipe Him Out While We're Here

The Train gave a low hiss as it slowly stopped at the mouth of the valley.

"What a strange place. The road's so easy to travel, but there isn't a single merchant caravan."

Jiang Hao stretched, pushed open the door, and jumped down. The mountain wind brought an earthy, pungent smell, and the stillness all around felt eerie.

"Hoe Bro, Training Bro, go see why this village is so quiet."

Owl Bro circulated his Soul Power, and Beans flew out of his sleeve and quickly climbed into the sky.

Jiang Hao stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the area. Mountains surrounded the place, leaving only two narrow passages through.

It was a natural valley that would be easy to defend and hard to attack.

By rights, terrain like this should have made for a prosperous, peaceful settlement. So why did the place look as dead as a graveyard now?

Before long, hurried hoofbeats and the sharp cracks of a whip broke the valley's silence.

"There's a convoy coming. Looks like they're driving prisoners ahead of them."

Owl Bro's voice came from above. "They don't look like regular troops. Should we get out of the way?"

Before he finished speaking, a rough shout exploded like thunder. "You lot up ahead! Hands on your heads and squat down!"

A huge, powerfully built man cracked his riding whip and urged his horse toward the Train.

His greedy gaze stuck to the strangely shaped Train, undisguised covetousness gleaming in his eyes.

If I offer Duke Minghuo a Soul Tool no one's ever seen before, how big a reward will I get?

Inside the carriage, Yan Shaozhe sat drinking tea, his eyes lowered as he quietly listened to what was happening outside.

Jiang Hao and Owl Bro stepped to the front of the