This Is the Third Lesson I Teach You!

The exile argued, "We can't worry about all that! If we don't steal, we'll starve here before the Tacet Discord tide even arrives!"

Lu Li shook his head. "Like I just said, you could easily..."

Before he could finish, the exile who had shouted for everyone to flee suddenly cursed:

"Why waste your breath on them!"

The moment those words left his mouth, he whipped the weapon from his waist. A cold gleam sliced through the air, straight toward Yangyang.

A Piao cried out, "Watch out!"

She was about to draw her blade and strike back.

But Lu Li, who had kept his guard up the whole time, reacted faster.

His body seemed to become one with Mingyu, his movements fluid and swift.

"Blood Shadow Follows Form!" he shouted in a low voice.

Mingyu slid from his waist, carrying a surge of blood energy as it hurtled toward the attacking exile like a bolt of red lightning.

Blood Shadow Follows Form was the signature move of the First-Level Blood Blade Technique. As Lu Li's level rose, he would be able to master more powerful Blood Blade Technique skills.

The essence of this skill lay in speed. Though it sacrificed a little power, it was undoubtedly the best counter to a sudden attack like this.

Lu Li's blade swept like a raging storm, tracing a blood-red afterimage through the air.

The afterimages stretched with each movement of his blade, creating a bewildering visual effect that made his attacks difficult to follow.

Clang!

A clear metallic clash rang out as their weapons met. The fierce blade intent struck like a gale, numbing the web of the exile's hand until he could barely hold his weapon.

Before he could recover, Lu Li's next move appeared like a phantom, too fast for the eye to follow.

In the next instant, a vivid flower of blood bloomed on the exile's chest. His body slowly toppled backward, his vision filled with blood-red disbelief.

Behind him, Lu Li elegantly twirled his blade, flicking every drop of blood from Mingyu onto the ground.

He did not dare look back. After all, this was his first time killing someone.

But since the man had dared turn his blade on one of his companions, Lu Li would have let himself down if he had done nothing in return.

The fight had ended almost in the blink of an eye.

Everyone stared at the scene in stunned silence.

"So... Master is this strong!" Jianxin gazed at Lu Li, her eyes shining.

Lu Li had already displayed a few unusual abilities, such as manifesting an Echo outside his body.

Still, Jianxin had thought his generosity surpassed his strength. Now, her opinion of him had changed.

A Piao's right hand was still on her sword hilt, the blade undrawn, yet the battle was already over.

She smiled faintly, studying Lu Li's back with a hint of relief, as though seeing him for the first time.

Yangyang, who had narrowly escaped the attack, pressed her lips together, her thoughts unreadable.

"Thank you..." Yangyang said.

"No need."

Lu Li turned an icy gaze on the other exiles, who had collapsed onto the ground.

They had been unable to react from the start. Only now, at the sight of their attacking companion's corpse, did they snap out of their daze.

One timid exile clutched his head with both hands and pleaded in terror, "Don't kill me... don't kill me..."

[Ding! Choices triggered!]

[Option one: Kill all the exiles. Reward: Increase Blood Blade Technique by one level.]

[Option two: Let all the exiles go. Reward: 100,000 Shell Credits.]

[Option three: Hand the exiles over to the Midnight Rangers. Reward: One Adaptive Outfit.]

"Judging by your clothes and your fighting skills, you aren't ordinary civilians, are you?" Yangyang questioned them, all gentleness gone from her face.

She had not been certain when she first saw them. After all, they were not wearing the masks most exiles always wore; only their clothing looked similar.

But after that man's attack, Yangyang was almost certain they were exiles.

Lu Li had also learned about exiles along the way. They were much like the bandits of ancient times in his previous life, constantly looting and plundering.

In short, hardly any of them were decent people.

An older exile explained in a panic, "Who says we're not ordinary civilians? We are! It's just... we only became exiles recently."

He continued, "We originally left the city to avoid being arrested by the Patrol Commandants. Who could have known the fighting in the north would get so serious so quickly?"

"We hadn't even gotten to know everyone in the camp before our boss's resources were drained dry. We thought it over and decided we might as well return to the city..."

Another timid exile chimed in, "We really did run short of food and money halfway there. That's when we started thinking about stealing."

"If we hadn't found the military camp deserted, we wouldn't have dared steal the army's parts."

"By the way, could you give us some money for the journey? Look how many of us there are, and now several of us are injured..."

A Piao frowned and told Lu Li, "Don't give them anything."

No matter how many explanations they offered, theft was theft. They could not expect to talk their way out of it.

Lu Li gave a disbelieving laugh. "You stole from the army and even tried to kill an innocent person. It's already an act of great mercy that I haven't killed you all."

Then he instructed Yangyang, "Yangyang, take these people to the Midnight Rangers with A Piao. Explain what happened and let them handle it."

He felt comfortable having Yangyang and A Piao escort them. After all, A Piao was powerful enough to keep the exiles from escaping.

If he sent Jianxin, she might go soft on them again...

Yangyang and A Piao nodded in agreement.

"You may be spared death, but you won't escape punishment. Take them away." Lu Li's voice was utterly cold.

The exiles pulled long faces and sighed. Being handed over to the Midnight Rangers would certainly end badly for them, since it was the army's property they had stolen.

Still, they could no longer muster any thought of escape. The corpse of their strongest fighter was still lying right there.

The exiles left all the stolen parts behind, and Yangyang and A Piao led them away, one in front and one behind.

They should be back before long. After all, they had not traveled far since leaving the Midnight Rangers' camp.

Jianxin stepped up to Lu Li. "I think..."

Lu Li raised a hand to stop her. He knew she was feeling guilty again.

"Jianxin," Lu Li said earnestly, "'Helping a troubled world and caring for its suffering people' is all well and good. But some people don't deserve to be called human."

"Think about it. If these people had actually succeeded, what would have happened to the soldiers fighting on the front lines?"

Jianxin sighed. "I have learned from your guidance..."

Seeing how dejected she looked, Lu Li comforted her. "There's nothing wrong with your kindness, but you should show it to the right people. As you walk through this world, you need eyes that can distinguish good from evil, right from wrong. This is the third lesson I teach you!"

"Yes, Master." Jianxin cupped her hands in salute, her gaze growing firmer.

[Ding! Option three completed! Reward obtained: Adaptive Outfit.]