Chapter 61 - 60: Stupid Highway Robbers

Chapter 61: Chapter 60: Stupid Highway Robbers

Smiling Tiger raised his hand and beckoned. Black Bear silently stepped closer.

"From now on, you will follow this young master. You are his man."

Black Bear didn’t ask a single question, only giving a heavy nod. Then, he dropped to one knee and lowered his head before Lu Jing’an. It was an utterly unreserved posture of submission, the crown of his stiff, coarse hair nearly touching the tips of Lu Jing’an’s boots.

Chen Xuan reminded him softly from the side, "Young Master, this is the Barbarian Race’s rite of submission. You only need to stroke the top of his head three times."

Lu Jing’an reached out as instructed, his palm touching the prickly short hair.

Once, twice, three times.

With every stroke, Black Bear’s shoulders and back sank a fraction lower, like a mountain slowly settling into the earth.

"Master." Black Bear’s voice hummed from deep within his chest, coarse like the grinding of sand and stone.

Lu Jing’an nodded. "Rise."

"Yes."

Black Bear stood up and silently retreated a half-step behind Lu Jing’an, like a shadow that had suddenly sprung erect. ℯℯ𝑙.

Watching this scene, a ripple of emotion finally stirred in Smiling Tiger’s heart. Although he had always treated Black Bear like a dog, if you kept a dog long enough, you would occasionally develop some semblance of attachment to it. Seeing his own dog follow someone else now, that awkward sense of loss actually stung a little.

But ultimately, it couldn’t outweigh the practicality of three thousand silver coins. What kind of dog was worth that price? Not to mention it was a dog... that was almost dried up.

Smiling Tiger had kept some things hidden. Black Bear’s strength had been forcefully drawn out using the Barbarian Race’s Secret Skill. It damaged his very foundation and cut his lifespan short. Furthermore, Smiling Tiger had used him ruthlessly over the years, practically sucking his marrow dry. That body was already like an oil lamp with a leaking bottom, only burning fiercely because of the last remaining drops of oil. Without a Medical Cultivator to carefully nurse him back to health, he would last a year or two at most before completely collapsing into a cripple.

Naturally, Smiling Tiger didn’t believe that this generous young master would go seeking medical help for a bought beast of burden, let alone go to a Medical Cultivator. The fees of a Medical Cultivator were not cheap, and curing Black Bear would be even more expensive. As for returning the goods? It was a deal where the silver and goods have been paid; he never acknowledged refunds.

"Master, it seems there are no tougher fighters left here today. Let’s head back," Lu Jing’an said, turning to Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan nodded. "Alright."

Lu Jing’an looked at Smiling Tiger again. The joy at the corners of the man’s mouth could hardly be suppressed.

"If you get any more capable fighters here in the future, remember to inform me." He handed over a slip of paper. "This is my phone number."

Smiling Tiger hastily took it with both hands, bowing in a fawning arc. "Rest assured, Young Master. The moment a formidable one arrives, I’ll notify you immediately!"

Lu Jing’an tilted his head and glanced at Black Bear. "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

Black Bear nodded. "I do."

"Prepare a horse he can ride," Lu Jing’an ordered Smiling Tiger.

"Right away!"

Before long, a thick-boned, sturdy-limbed brown horse was led over.

"How much?" Lu Jing’an asked.

Smiling Tiger waved his hands repeatedly. "This horse is a gift to you! I only hope that Young Master... can treat this brother of mine well."

Lu Jing’an chuckled lightly upon hearing this, his eyes carrying the clear comprehension of someone who saw through people’s hearts. "You’re just afraid I’ll come back to return him to you."

Having been hit right on the mark, Smiling Tiger hastily forced a smile and denied it. Lu Jing’an said no more. He raised his whip and spurred his horse forward.

With Chen Xuan riding by his side and Black Bear following silently behind, the three of them set out on the dirt road back. As the horses trotted along, Lu Jing’an asked, "Master, what exactly are the origins of the Barbarian Race?"

Chen Xuan explained, "In ancient times, with the Central Plains as the boundary, the foreign lands in all four directions were called Barbarians. The people born there were the Barbarian Race. However, that’s ancient history; such classifications are no longer popular nowadays."

Lu Jing’an pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you think Doctor Cui can cure him?"

"Yes," Chen Xuan answered with certainty. "His foundation is damaged, but he is not beyond saving. It’s just that the price won’t be small; it will require many precious medicinal ingredients."

"As long as it can be solved with money, it’s fine," Lu Jing’an said in a calm tone.

What Smiling Tiger could see, he naturally could as well. The reason he was still willing to pay a high price was because he saw the immense potential in Black Bear’s bones. The previous fight seemed easily won, but Lu Jing’an knew very well—this Black Bear’s foundation and physique were only half as strong as his own body, which was enhanced by his entries. And compared to ordinary Martial Artists of the same level, Lu Jing’an was more than just two or three times stronger.

This Barbarian was definitely a piece of rough iron worth polishing.

After traveling for about twenty minutes, they approached a narrow, crisscrossing forest road.

Chen Xuan suddenly lowered his voice. "Young Master, there’s movement ahead."

Lu Jing’an’s expression remained unchanged. "It’s fine. Keep going as usual."

He had actually heard the movement as well. Furthermore, he had used [Cause and Effect Following Sound] to see through the ambush completely. He could even hear their breathing behind the leaves and the soft clinking of metal. Seven people, seven guns. The highest among them was only at the Qi Blood Third Transformation. This wasn’t Smiling Tiger’s doing; they were just wild bandits who had gotten greedy at the sight of wealth.

Following his order, Chen Xuan lightly squeezed his horse’s flanks, moving a half-step ahead to shield Lu Jing’an.

BANG!

A sharp gunshot pierced the silence, startling the three horses into rearing and neighing! The three men were all highly agile and quickly brought their mounts under control.

The gunshot was a signal. Seven masked riders charged out from the woods on both sides of the road. With three in the front and four in the back, they formed a pincer attack. The four men in the back had already raised their rifles, taking aim.

The lead bandit cupped his fists toward Lu Jing’an, deliberately roughing up his voice. "Gentlemen, we only seek wealth, not lives. Leave your horses and silver coins, and you may pass peacefully."

Lu Jing’an, however, smiled. "Since you are all Martial Artists, don’t you find it shameful to block the road with Voiders’ guns? Aren’t you throwing away the face of martial practitioners?"

An armed bandit in the back immediately cursed, "Cut the fucking crap! Guns are king! Keep blabbering and I’ll blast—"

BANG!

Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Jing’an raised his hand and fired a shot! The bullet tore through the air, striking the man square between the eyes.

Thanks to the enhancement of his entries and his status as a Martial Cultivator, plus his unlimited bullets, Lu Jing’an’s marksmanship had long reached a hundred percent accuracy. Almost at the exact same moment, Chen Xuan drew twin handguns from under his saddle with lightning speed, aiming them left and right at the enemy formation!

The bandits clearly hadn’t expected their targets to not only be armed, but also to draw their weapons with such speed and precision. Their formation instantly fell into slight disarray.

BANG!

With another gunshot, Chen Xuan pulled his trigger. Another man on the opposite side fell from his horse.

Seeing the duo’s god-like marksmanship, the remaining five noticeably panicked. The leader’s voice trembled. "Wait... Sir, sir, you are right! We are Martial Artists, how can we use Voiders’ gadgets? Why don’t we... why don’t we toss our guns and decide the winner with our fists and feet?"

Lu Jing’an’s lips curled up slightly. "Fine. I’ll count to three, and we all throw our guns."

The bandit leader was overjoyed. "Good! Good!"

"One."

"Two."

"Three!"

As the final number fell, Lu Jing’an and the five opponents tossed their guns onto the ground simultaneously.

The bandits had just breathed a sigh of relief when Lu Jing’an suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as frost.

"Master."

Chen Xuan didn’t reply; only his hands moved abruptly! The twin guns bloomed with continuous bursts of fire in his palms, pouring out seven bullets like a torrential rain! The five bandits fell to the ground one after another.

The bandit leader, who was at the Qi Blood Third Transformation, managed to hold on for a split second longer. He forcefully endured two shots and let out a roar, lunging a half-step forward before a third bullet finally pierced his chest.

As he collapsed, his finger pointed shakily at Lu Jing’an, his eyes filled with disbelief and rage. "You... you don’t speak of honor or trust..."