"Then there's nothing more to say. We'll take her with us. After that, I'll use a carrier pigeon to inform your father," Jason said to Karadi.
"Mhm, we'll do as the young lord says!" Karadi replied respectfully.
After that, Jason went to the city gate and asked the guards to find a horse for Weilian. The group then left Zorn City together and headed toward Sargos.
With the little loli Weilian accompanying them along the way, the originally dull journey became much livelier. Everyone chatted and laughed as they traveled, and before they knew it, it was already noon.
They had already covered nearly half the distance. Jason felt his stomach grow hungry, so he suggested they find a place to eat something and rest for a while before continuing.
Not long after, they spotted a small inn by the main road. The inn looked very shabby—at a glance, it was clearly run by villagers from a nearby settlement, probably hoping to make a bit of small change.
When Jason and the others approached the inn, they could hear loud noise coming from inside. It was obvious that people were drinking and making merry within.
Jason disliked noisy places to begin with, so he didn't go inside. Instead, he sat down at a table outside and called toward the inn, "Is anyone there?"
A man dressed like an inn attendant hurried out upon hearing the shout. He came over to Jason and the others and said in a low voice, "My lord, we're full right now. We're not receiving guests."
"Huh? Not receiving guests?" Jason said in surprise. "We just want to eat something and then leave. It shouldn't trouble you too much."
"There's another inn not far ahead. You honored guests should go there instead," the attendant urged anxiously.
"Well I'll be damned," Jason frowned. "An inn that doesn't want to earn money—now that's a rare sight."
"Hey! You there! What are you doing refusing guests? Go serve these honored guests a few dishes and bring a pot of good wine!"
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a full beard poked his head out from inside the inn. After observing Jason and his group for a moment, he shouted at the attendant.
"Uh, Mister Mati, I—I was trying to drive them away so I could serve you all properly," the attendant said, growing even more flustered.
"Cut the crap! Do what I tell you to do! Now move!" the man called Mati said impatiently.
"Yes, yes! I'll go right away!"
Clearly terrified of Mati, the attendant immediately agreed and ran back into the inn to prepare food and wine for Jason and the others.
As the attendant passed by Mati, Mati quietly threatened him, "If you dare run your mouth again, I'll cut your tongue off."
The attendant trembled in fear and hurried off to prepare the dishes and wine.
After the attendant left, Mati smiled and called out to Jason and the others, "If you don't mind us rough folks, come inside and join us!"
"No need. We still have to hurry on after eating. Sitting here is just fine. Thank you for your kindness," Jason replied.
Seeing the attendant's strange behavior, Jason sensed something was off and immediately rejected Mati's offer.
Mati smiled faintly and turned back to the people beside him, lowering his voice. "Some people just showed up outside. Judging by their clothes, they're rich. They've got several good horses, and even a little beauty—probably not even broken in yet. Later we'll hehe…"
Mati was actually a bandit leader, and today he had brought more than a dozen of his men here to eat without paying.
"Don't you think that attendant was acting really strangely?" Jason whispered to Karadi.
"Mm. And judging by how he spoke to that Mati just now, Mati doesn't seem to be the owner of this place," Karadi replied.
"We need to be careful. I don't think that Mati fellow is anything good," Jason said, watching Mati with vigilance.
Not long after Jason finished speaking, Mati personally brought several small dishes and a pot of wine over, accompanied by a few men who looked crooked and untrustworthy at first glance. They walked straight toward Jason and his group.
Karadi silently tightened his grip on the sword at his waist, ready to fight at any moment.
"Judging by your attire, you don't look like ordinary folk," Mati said as he walked over and sat down unceremoniously beside them.
"And what makes you say we're not ordinary people?" Jason asked calmly. "We're just ordinary merchants."
"Merchants?" Mati laughed loudly. "Well, what a coincidence. We just happen to be wandering heroes who specialize in robbing merchants. That armor on you looks pretty nice—it should fetch a good price. And this little girl isn't bad either. Leave these things, along with your horses, and you can go. We're very righteous people. As long as you leave what I ask for, we won't hurt you."
As he spoke, Mati glanced at Weilian's snow-white thighs and grinned at Jason.
"And what if I don't agree?" Jason said coldly.
There was no way Jason would accept such a demand, so he refused without hesitation.
"Don't agree?" Mati burst out laughing. "Brothers! He says he doesn't agree. What should we do?"
"Then chop his head off and use it as a chamber pot! Hahahaha!" the men behind Mati laughed crudely.
"How dare you!" Karadi shouted as he stood up and drew his sword. "Do you fools know who this is? He is the son of Daun Ryan, King of the Southern Realm! How dare you speak such madness!"
"Heh. Daun Ryan's son?" Mati sneered. "Then I must be his father, Daun Ryan! Hahaha!"
Seeing Karadi draw his sword, Mati also stood up at once, pulling out a crude scimitar. He looked at Karadi with disdain.
Mati's subordinates each drew their own weapons as well, staring fiercely at Karadi.
"Oh? Nice sword you've got there, brother. One look tells me it's forged from good steel. My demands have changed—now your sword has to stay too," Mati said with a grin.
"Arrogant fool! I'll turn you into a dead soul beneath my blade!" Karadi roared.
As he spoke, Karadi directly released his armed nuqi, wrapping it around his sword, and slashed at Mati. Mati immediately leaped backward to dodge.
"A C-rank nuqi master, huh? Not bad!" Mati said with interest. "Let me have a go at you!"
As he spoke, Mati also released his own armed nuqi. Blue nuqi surged out and enveloped his scimitar.
He rushed forward in quick strides and clashed with Karadi, the two instantly locked in fierce combat. Meanwhile, Mati's subordinates charged straight toward Jason and Weilian.
"Hey little girl, are you scared?" one of them leered. "Come on, let big brother protect you!"
...
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Here are a few fan-fic titles that I've recently uploaded on my Patreon:
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(End Chapter)