The fat man raised his foot and kicked the tattered cloth bag the old man was protecting, his tone vicious. “You think this trash is enough to fool me?”
The old man’s voice trembled, defending himself with a sob, “There... there really isn’t any more... I’ve already handed over all of this month’s tribute...”
“All of it?” The fat man sneered, crouching down to snatch the tattered bag away.
He reached inside, rummaged around, and pulled out several black, dirty potatoes, slamming them onto the ground. “This? Are you fucking trying to feed me like a chicken?”
The tall, thin man with no eyebrows beside him chuckled and chimed in, “Flyn, stop wasting your breath on this old geezer. People like him won’t be honest unless you beat it out of them.”
The fat man stood up and raised his foot to stomp on the old man, but at that moment, Bai Xuan stepped forward.
His footsteps carried an inexplicable sense of pressure. As if sensing something, the thugs turned their heads in unison.
When Flyn saw Bai Xuan, he froze for a moment.
The clean white robes, the uniquely shaped staff, and the face that was so clean it looked entirely out of place in this dilapidated area—this was clearly an outsider.
He immediately straightened up, the cruelty on his face replaced by wariness. “Who are you? This is none of your business,” he said in a low voice.
Bai Xuan didn't answer. He simply glanced at the old man huddled by the door and then at the tattered bag in Flyn’s hand, his expression calm and unbothered.
“Get lost!”
The eyebrowless man took a step forward, blocking Flyn. “This is the Grimy Hand Gang’s territory. If you’re smart, you’ll keep your nose out of our business!” his tone was fierce.
Bai Xuan’s gaze fell on the fat man. His status panel clearly displayed the name 【Flyn】. He remained where he stood, not moving an inch.
The eyebrowless man furrowed his brows, his hand creeping toward his lower back where a short blade was tucked. He lowered his voice, his tone full of threat. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“Considering you look like a cleric, turn around and leave now, and we’ll act like we never saw you. Take one more step forward, and I’ll make sure you leave on a stretcher!”
Bai Xuan stepped forward with an expressionless face.
The eyebrowless man’s face twitched. He clearly hadn't expected this man to ignore his threat. The other thin man also hurried forward, and the three of them surrounded Bai Xuan.
“You’re asking for it!” The eyebrowless man was completely enraged, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.
His right hand suddenly drew the short blade from his waist. The blade glinted with a cold, sharp light as he thrust it toward Bai Xuan’s chest with a swift and vicious lunge.
Bai Xuan’s expression didn't change. He shifted his body to the side, the short blade brushing past the hem of his white robes, trailing a gust of wind.
Before the tall man could recover his stance, Bai Xuan’s hand shot out like lightning, accurately gripping the man’s wrist. He applied a slight amount of pressure and then twisted violently in one smooth, decisive motion.
“Crack—!” A crisp sound of bone snapping suddenly rang out, followed by the metallic clang of the short blade hitting the ground. It was exceptionally jarring in the silent slum alley.
The tall man convulsed in pain, opening his mouth to let out a heart-wrenching scream.
But Bai Xuan’s other hand had already clamped onto his throat. His fingertips tightened slightly, lifting the man off the ground and leaving his feet dangling in the air.
“Guh!” The tall man’s hands beat desperately against Bai Xuan’s arm, his feet kicking wildly. His face turned the color of pig liver, his lips turned purple, and his breathing grew increasingly ragged as his eyes filled with extreme terror and despair.
Yet Bai Xuan’s arm remained as steady as a rock. The force in his fingertips continued to increase slowly. His face remained devoid of expression, his gaze icy.
The fat man and the other thin man beside him were completely frozen in place.
Their weapons were raised mid-air, their bodies seemingly turned to ice. The horror on their faces was palpable. No one dared to step forward; they didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.
Bai Xuan watched as the man in his grip kicked a dozen more times. Only when his breathing grew faint and his struggles weakened did Bai Xuan slowly release his grip on the man's throat.
The tall man crashed heavily onto the muddy ground with a dull thud.
He clutched his throat, gasping for air in huge gulps, his face a mess of tears and snot. He was a pathetic sight.
His broken wrist was twisted at a bizarre angle, with blood faintly seeping from the injury.
The agonizing pain caused him to curl into a ball, his body twitching as he let out intermittent wails. He didn't even have the strength to lift his head.
Bai Xuan glanced down at the wailing man on the ground without lingering for a second, then looked up.
His cold gaze fell upon Flyn and the other thin man. There wasn't a trace of warmth in his eyes.
The two felt their skin crawl under his gaze. Their bodies shook uncontrollably, and the knives in their hands fell to the ground as they lost their grip. They didn't even have the courage to bend over and pick them up.
“Y-You... you motherfucker...” Flyn stammered, backing away until his back hit the wall of a dilapidated shack. His voice trembled so much he couldn't even finish a sentence.
Bai Xuan said nothing. He simply began to walk toward him slowly. Every step felt like it was treading on Flyn’s heart, carrying a weight of pressure that made it hard for him to breathe.
Flyn’s legs gave out, and he slid down the wall to the ground, his knife long since discarded.
He held his hands high in front of his chest, pleading piteously, “D-Don’t come any closer! I-I’m just a small fry! It was all orders from above; I didn't dare refuse!”
Bai Xuan stopped in front of him and asked in an icy tone, “Ten days ago, who snatched the old nun’s holy crest?”
Flyn was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected this to be about anything other than the protection money.
He quickly snapped back to his senses and nodded frantically, his words tumbling out so fast they were barely intelligible. “I-It was us! But that thing isn't in my hands anymore! It really isn't!”
“Then whose hands is it in?” Bai Xuan’s tone was level, yet it carried an unquestionable pressure.
“I-It’s with someone else!”
Flyn was sweating profusely, explaining hurriedly, “The stuff we snatched, we gave it to a lame man. He said he could sell it. If you’re looking for it, go find him!”
Bai Xuan watched him silently, his sharp gaze taking in every micro-expression on the man's face.
Seeing that Bai Xuan’s expression hadn't changed, Flyn thought he wasn't believed. His voice grew more urgent, filled with desperation. “Really! I’m not lying to you!”
“The Lame One lives on the west side of the slums. I know where he lives. I’ll take you there! I’ll take you right now!” He spoke with utter sincerity, his eyes pleading, appearing completely cooperative.
But Bai Xuan still saw through his hidden motives. The status panel clearly displayed:
【Flyn Lv.0】
【Status: Terrified, Deceitful】
But Bai Xuan didn't call him out. He simply uttered a single cold word: “Lead.”
Flyn instantly breathed a sigh of relief and scrambled to his feet using the wall for support, his legs still trembling slightly.
He shot a quick look at the eyebrowless man still moaning on the ground, then glanced at the other thin man huddled in the corner.
Flyn swallowed hard and said in a low voice, “F-Follow me.”
As Flyn led the way, he stole glances at Bai Xuan’s expression from the corner of his eye, his heart racing.
He knew the man before him was not to be trifled with and that he couldn't play any tricks. The best way was to tell mostly truths and act completely cooperative to lower the other’s guard.
Once he got this guy in front of the boss, everything would change.
“Look, milord, the people living here are all those with nowhere else to go.”
His tone was sycophantic as he slowed his pace. “Either they’re the families of adventurers who died in battle with no one to look after them, so they ended up here...”
“...or they’re like us, with no skills and no way to survive, just scraping by in a gang.”
He then added with a trace of helplessness, “The nobles don't care about this place at all. As long as no one dies, they won’t even bat an eye.”
Bai Xuan didn't respond once. He simply followed behind with an expressionless face, his footsteps steady and his gaze unwavering.
Flyn’s heart hammered harder, and he couldn't help but speculate.
Just where did this guy come from? He looks so frail, yet his aura is terrifying.
But then he felt relieved. It didn't matter where he came from. Once they reached the boss’s territory, with the boss and the boys there, they could surely take care of this outsider.
With that thought, he unconsciously quickened his pace, wanting to get Bai Xuan to the destination as soon as possible.
Flyn led Bai Xuan through the twisting alleys of the slums. The paths grew narrower and the shacks more dilapidated, and a foul stench hung in the air.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a house that was significantly larger than the surrounding shanties.
This house was made of brick. Although there were several deep cracks in the walls and a corner of the roof had collapsed, it could be considered grand in this desolate slum.
Two thugs holding wooden clubs stood at the entrance. When they saw Flyn bringing a stranger, their eyes instantly turned wary, and their bodies tensed up.
One of the thugs spoke first, his tone questioning. “Who’s this? Why did you bring an outsider here?”
Flyn stood at the front, forcing himself to look calm.
As he spoke, he kept signaling the two thugs with his eyes. “He’s looking for the Lame One. I’m bringing him here to find someone.”
The two thugs seemed to understand Flyn’s hint. After exchanging a glance, they didn't ask further and silently moved aside. One of them turned and ran into the house, clearly going to report the arrival.
Then, Flyn led Bai Xuan inside. The interior was cluttered with junk piled everywhere, and it was empty of people.
Shortly after they stood there, the door was slammed open, and a bald man with an open shirt walked out. He was followed by seven or eight lackeys holding various weapons, all of them looking fierce and aggressive.
The bald man had a blade of grass in his mouth. He squinted as he looked Bai Xuan up and down.
His gaze lingered on Bai Xuan’s white robes and the staff in his hand, and a swaggering smile slowly spread across his face.
“Looking for the Lame One?” He sneered, then turned to glare at Flyn, his tone full of rage. “Are you fucking insane? You dare bring an outsider to my territory?”
Flyn trembled in fear and quickly backed away, hiding behind Bai Xuan. He kept his head down, not daring to breathe, let alone defend himself.
The bald man let out a cold laugh and took a step forward, his aura of violence growing stronger.
His lackeys followed suit, subtly forming a circle and surrounding Bai Xuan in the middle, looking menacing.
“Just you?” The bald man scanned Bai Xuan with a look of utter disdain.
After his gaze circled the white robes and the staff once more, he turned back to his lackeys and burst into laughter.
“Look at this, boys! A frail Healer dares to come to our Grimy Hand Gang to demand someone? He clearly doesn't know his place!”
The lackeys immediately joined in the laughter. Their jarring jeers echoed in the small room, filled with mockery and provocation.
Bai Xuan remained indifferent. His voice was still calm and level, as if he hadn't heard the mocking laughter. He spoke directly, “Where is the old nun’s holy crest?”
The bald man was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Bai Xuan to be so calm. Then, he laughed even harder.
He turned back and pointed at Bai Xuan, inciting his lackeys. “Did you hear that? This kid actually dares to ask us for something! I’m going to die laughing!”
The laughter grew louder. The lackeys were doubled over with mirth, their eyes full of mockery and playful cruelty as they looked at Bai Xuan.
The bald man stopped laughing and took another step forward, standing almost chest-to-chest with Bai Xuan.
He was half a head shorter than Bai Xuan, but he deliberately tilted his chin up, striking an overbearing pose as he stared intently into Bai Xuan’s eyes.
“I said, do you fucking know where you are?”
He lowered his voice, his tone full of threat. “Outside, since you look like a cleric, I might give you some face.”
“But here, on my turf, I call the shots! A tiny little Healer like you dares to come here and act tough, demanding things?”
Bai Xuan didn't respond to his threat. Instead, he slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Flyn, who was hiding behind him.
When Flyn met Bai Xuan’s icy gaze, the color drained from his face. His expression froze, and even his breathing became cautious.
“Wh... What are you going to do?” He was so terrified his voice shook, only managing to get those few words out.
Before he could finish, Bai Xuan raised his staff and lightly tapped Flyn on the head.
He didn't use much force; after all, he didn't want Flyn’s blood to stain his white robes.
In his eyes, it was a very light blow.
But Flyn felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. His head jerked to the side, and his body slumped to the ground, instantly becoming still. He was clearly no longer breathing.
The mocking laughter around them stopped abruptly. The cramped space fell into a deathly silence.
The lackeys who had been laughing just a moment ago had their smiles frozen on their faces, the mockery replaced by horror.
Someone was so startled they dropped their knife on the ground, the sharp clang ringing out in the silence.
The bald man’s expression also changed instantly. He stared fixedly at Flyn’s corpse on the ground, then snapped his head up to look at Bai Xuan. For the first time, the arrogance in his eyes vanished, replaced by a deep wariness.
“You... you actually dared to kill my man in my house?” His voice trembled slightly, and the threat in his tone wavered.
Just as he finished speaking, a thug suddenly rushed out with bloodshot eyes, screaming, “Flyn!”
He raised his knife with both hands and slashed at Bai Xuan, clearly enraged by Flyn’s death.
Bai Xuan sighed softly. His face remained calm, and he didn't even look at the charging thug.
He swept his staff out in a casual arc.
Rate on N.U.
