Chapter 61: The Bandit's Plight

Since bidding farewell to Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan had left Wutan City nearly a week ago.

Following Yao Chen's planned route, Xiao Yan's destination was the eastern part of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, where he would undergo training for about half a year.

Currently, on Xiao Yan's back, he carried an immensely large black mysterious iron, resembling a giant sword but without any sharpness.

Heavy Black Ruler, that was the name of this black mysterious iron. It was the weapon Yao Chen had given to Xiao Yan after he left Wutan City.

Forged from an extraterrestrial meteorite, it was incredibly heavy and had the effect of suppressing Dou Qi, making it the perfect choice for constantly honing Xiao Yan's skills.

Under normal circumstances, when a martial artist first carried such an item, they would find it extremely difficult to even walk.

However, considering Xiao Yan's physical fitness, it was likely that carrying this thing wouldn't require much effort at all.

Indeed, he didn't even need both hands. Xiao Yan could swing Heavy Black Ruler back and forth with just one hand, and he wouldn't feel overly tired.

However, the suppression effect on Dou Qi was indeed present. Following Yao Chen's advice, when Xiao Yan carried the Heavy Black Ruler, he attached at least half of his Dou Qi to it, thereby enhancing the honing effect of Heavy Black Ruler.

Compared to the life-and-death training he had undergone in the Xiao Clan, this training method of suppressing Dou Qi for an extended period of time was already quite relaxed for Xiao Yan.

In contrast to this issue, during this week of walking, Xiao Yan had encountered a rather frustrating situation.

There were too many bandits blocking his way...

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the three burly men with scar on their faces. Their laughter was quite malicious. They were all six-star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level), not particularly strong, but more than capable of robbing ordinary people.

And this was already the third group of bandits Xiao Yan had encountered within this week.

(Well... how should I put it...) Yao Chen in the ring also felt quite helpless. (Xiao Yan, your probability of encountering bandits seems to be quite high, huh?)

"Sigh..." Xiao Yan let out a soft sigh and glanced at the three men. He solemnly said, "Listen, you guys are at least 6 Star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level). You could easily find work as mercenaries. Why resort to robbing innocent travelers?"

"Hmph! Little brat, you're talking so easily!" the bald leader spat out and stared fiercely at Xiao Yan. "Being a mercenary requires risking one's life, and the returns are not stable. On the other hand, robbing ordinary people not only brings in quick money but is also safe. Why shouldn't we do it?"

"..."

Xiao Yan fell silent.

The responses from the three groups of bandits he had encountered were exactly the same.

They are all cowards who cherished their lives and feared death, wanting to reap rewards without facing any danger, they directed their strength against those who couldn't resist—the ordinary people.

Truly disgusting.

However, even when faced with such people, Xiao Yan's initial thought wasn't to directly attack and kill them.

If he were to resort to such methods, he would be no different from those who believed in the law of the jungle.

Such actions would not only fail to make others abhor the law of the jungle but would actually gain more recognition.

"Can you stop? Robbery is wrong. If you want money, you should earn it through legitimate means, not by using force to seize the fruits of others' labor," Xiao Yan looked at the three men and calmly admonished.

But the three men completely ignored Xiao Yan's words. They pointed their machetes at him and spoke harshly.

"Quit babbling! A weakling should act like a weakling! Hand over your money obediently!"

The response from the three men was exactly as Xiao Yan had anticipated, considering the two groups of bandits he had encountered before had reacted similarly.

"Indeed, it seems that reasoning won't work with these kinds of people..."

Xiao Yan sighed deeply with a hint of disappointment.

Encountering these three groups of bandits within the past week made him realize something profound.

People who have been influenced by the concept of the law of the jungle since birth will not listen to reason.

Especially in situations where they face weaker individuals than themselves, the words of the weak are like the cacophony of monkeys to them, and rules are considered meaningless.

Indeed, compared to adhering to the right path and advocating righteousness, it was much more troublesome.

"It seems there is no other choice. I have to resort to the same final method as before."

Xiao Yan clenched his fist, unwillingness evident in his eyes.

If possible, he really didn't want to use force to resolve such problems.

Upon seeing Xiao Yan preparing for a fight, the three men first looked puzzled, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! You, a 2 Star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level), think you can resist three 6 Star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level) like us?"

"We were considering sparing your life out of kindness, but since you want to resist, then blame yourself~"

"Remember to have a better memory in your next life. Weaklings should obediently lie on the ground and just flatter us!"

Listening to the undisguised mockery from the three bandits, their words dripping with the phrase "the law of the jungle," Xiao Yan's expression grew colder and colder. Deep inside, he felt an immense sense of relief.

"Fortunately, I came out to experience the world..."

Xiao Yan's words were icy and indifferent as he stared at the three men.

"Otherwise, I would have never known that there are so many people in this world who are beyond redemption."

"Huh? What did you say, punk?"

The bald bandit furrowed his brow, his neck stiff as he stared at Xiao Yan with a puzzled expression, not understanding what the little brat was talking about.

But the next moment, he understood.

In his field of vision, Xiao Yan, who was five meters away, disappeared in an instant, and his companions on either side were instantly sent flying.

Before the bald bandit could process what was happening, a hand tightly gripped his neck, forcefully pinning him to the ground. In the next moment, the bald bandit's view was filled with Xiao Yan's extremely cold face.

Whether it was his imagination or not, the struggling bald bandit, finding it difficult to breathe with his neck being squeezed, seemed to see a faint, incredibly intimidating black aura emanating from behind Xiao Yan.

And all of this happened in an instant.

A 2 Star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level)?

This is a 2 Star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level)???

The bald bandit's mind was completely blank.

A 2 Star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level) subdued three 6 Star Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level)s in an instant? Are you kidding me?!

Just as he began to suspect if he was dreaming, he saw the hand still gripping his neck, while the other hand clenched into a fist raised high. A crimson light flashed in Xiao Yan's black eyes.

In that moment, a chill swept through the bald bandit's entire body.

He knew deep down what that crimson light meant.

It was an unabashed, bone-chilling aura of killing intent.

Fear instantly filled the bald bandit's heart.

Why?

Why did this brat possess such a level of killing intent? This level of killing intent is even greater than what I've seen in many high-ranking Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level)!

What kind of monster is this brat?!!

"I- I surrender- I was wrong-"

The bald bandit, struggling to speak with his neck being squeezed, begged for mercy with great difficulty. Every word he uttered made his throat ache intensely, but his instinct for survival urged him to plead!

If he didn't beg for mercy now, he would lose his life!!!

However, Xiao Yan's gaze turned even colder, and the words he spoke next plunged the bald bandit's heart into an icy abyss.

"It's already... too late."

Immediately after, in the bald bandit's rapidly constricting pupils, Xiao Yan's fist grew larger and larger.

Then, in the depths of the jungle, a scream of unimaginable despair rang out, lingering for a long time without subsiding.

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