Matthew listened to Piccolo's explanation, and the worry in his heart faded.
At first, he had worried that the boss of this bandit gang at Mute Pass might possess decent strength, perhaps even being a Black Iron Rank Class holder. If that were the case, even if he could handle it, it would have caused quite a bit of trouble.
But now it seemed that the so-called boss, “Black Tooth,” only had a rudimentary understanding of a breathing technique, relying merely on his superior strength to lord it over ordinary people.
To the current Matthew, such an opponent was no different from a stray dog on the street.
But then again, that was only natural. How could a true Class holder end up as a bandit in some mountain ravine?
As far as Matthew knew, once someone stepped into the Black Iron Rank, it meant they had transcended the realm of ordinary people, and the options before them would become much broader.
The safest path was to use their strength to secure a position in a village or town. At the very least, they could become a guard captain, enjoying a luxurious lifestyle akin to a local lord, living a stable and respected life.
If they pursued wealth, large merchant groups were willing to hire Class holders, offering resources and stipends in exchange for their protection or escorting of valuable goods, which yielded an income far more lucrative than highway robbery.
Even if they chose the more free-spirited path of an adventurer, they could still accumulate fame and wealth by taking on quests or embarking on adventures, giving them the chance to reach even higher realms.
Whether in terms of status, money, or growth potential, these legitimate paths were far superior to being a bandit.
With these thoughts in mind, Matthew did not hesitate. He raised his sword and brought it down, cleanly ending the lives of the two men.
Two brief, muffled groans echoed through the valley pass before silence returned, leaving only the thick scent of blood drifting through the air.
After dealing with these two, Matthew's gaze fell back on Scarface. That very calmness made Scarface's heart tighten inexplicably. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet Matthew's eyes, holding his breath as he awaited the next move that would decide his fate.
Matthew did not intend to completely wipe out Scarface and his remaining crew.
For one thing, Scarface had waved to warn him from the cliff earlier, which had objectively helped Matthew.
For another, Scarface's crew deserved quite a bit of credit for these two large carts of supplies. Moreover, judging from the rumors he had heard in the tavern and the fact that Old Joel had been robbed but not killed, Scarface seemed to have some moral boundaries and was not a bloodthirsty killer.
As for sending them to the town to turn themselves in?
Matthew did not consider himself a champion of justice.
Of course, the most important point was that Scarface and his men might still have some utility for him...
“Next,” Matthew said in a calm tone, devoid of any emotion, “tell me about yourself, like where you live...”
“Don't lie to me. You know what will happen if you do.”
Scarface was not stupid; in fact, he was quite clever. He nodded repeatedly!
He then quickly disclosed his real name, family background, household members, and all other details, even mixing in some of his embarrassing stories.
At this moment, Scarface was in a state of absolute, unreserved honesty.
Matthew did not say a word, simply listening quietly.
The wind swept through the valley, carrying a mixed scent of blood and dust. In the silence, time seemed to stretch on indefinitely.
After a moment, Matthew finished listening and said calmly,
“Tell your lackeys to wait in the village. I'll find you if I need anything.”
With that, he ignored Scarface and the others, turning to walk toward Uncle Delank and the fully loaded donkey carts.
He signaled the team to move out. Carrying the captured goods and Old Joel, the group slowly drove away from Mute Pass, leaving Scarface's gang behind in the silent, blood-scented valley.
...
...
Just after noon, a line of four donkey carts moved slowly along the dirt road of Stone Mill Village.
The wheels rolled over the dry dirt road, making a dull creaking sound that blended with the occasional barking of dogs and crowing of roosters in the distance.
Matthew sat on the leading donkey cart, swaying slightly with the vehicle's movement. He looked around. There were indeed very few people on the village road, making it seem rather quiet.
The autumn afternoon sunlight spilled over the houses and dirt walls, making everything look exceptionally peaceful.
He withdrew his gaze, quite content with this. He was never one to enjoy bustling crowds anyway.
However, looking at the excited expressions on the faces of the young men from the neighborhood, he figured that their exploit of slaying the bandits and returning with a full load would soon spread throughout the village.
“Perhaps by then, my prestige will rival the instructor's?” Matthew thought, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Before long, the donkey carts arrived at the instructor's residence. Matthew hopped down nimbly and said to Uncle Delank and the young boys,
“Uncle, go ahead and settle the goods first. I'm going to the instructor's house to ask about something.”
“Could you please leave my share of the goods at my door when you pass by my house?”
Uncle Delank nodded. “No problem. As for the payment for the goods, I'll personally bring it to you in a few days!”
With that, he called out to the others and drove the donkey carts toward the village warehouse.
Matthew nodded as he watched the convoy depart, then turned to walk toward Instructor Calm's familiar stone house.
He raised his hand and knocked gently. Steady footsteps soon sounded from inside. The wooden door creaked open, and Calm's tall figure appeared at the doorway.
“You're back?” Calm's gaze swept over Matthew. Seeing that he looked well and his clothes were dusty but undamaged, he stepped aside. “Come in and talk.”
Matthew walked into the courtyard, and the two sat down at the stone table.
He briefly reported the situation of the Mute Pass trip to Instructor Calm, focusing on the disappearance of the Mute Pass bandits, the slaying of the bandits, and the unexpected harvest of this journey.
Calm frowned slightly after listening and said with some doubt, “Those bandits at Mute Pass have long memorized the faces of the Class holders around Anda Town.”
“Logically speaking, they wouldn't provoke someone they shouldn't, unless... it was an outside Class holder.”
He paused, his gaze lingering on Matthew for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of understanding and approval.
“Still, it doesn't surprise me that you could handle them so cleanly.”
Indeed, Calm was no longer as shocked by Matthew's rapid rise in strength as he had been initially.
From the comprehension and talent Matthew had shown to this solo resolution of the Mute Pass crisis, such performances had gradually become "only natural" to Calm.
As for Matthew selling the plundered goods to the village at cost, Calm was naturally very pleased.
Hearing this, Matthew offered a few humble remarks and took the opportunity to ask the question on his mind:
“Instructor, you are highly experienced. Do you know of any special foods that can replenish energy in the body?”
Calm's eyes flashed with understanding, followed by a look of appreciation.
He knew Matthew had touched the threshold of combat techniques. If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't even have a way to consume the life energy in their body.
“You've hit the nail on the head.”
He nodded, leaning forward slightly.
“Being able to consume the life energy in your body proves that you have indeed touched the threshold of combat techniques. At the very least, you are already trying to circulate and harness that power, rather than relying solely on raw physical strength.”
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