Chapter 18: Tyrant Nature
A few days later, Mingdou Mountain Range, Star Luo Empire.
This place lies at the border between the two great empires, and by crossing it one can enter the territory of the Sun-Moon Empire.
On a main road, a merchant convoy heading toward the Sun-Moon Empire was slowly advancing.
"I really don't understand why we hired a useless guy who doesn't even have soul power."
Inside a carriage in the middle of the convoy, a young girl glanced through the window toward the last carriage and spoke with dissatisfaction.
Her name was Su Lianyue, the only daughter of the merchant leader Su Laoye. She had been spoiled since childhood and had extremely high standards.
The "useless guy" she referred to was the guard hired by the convoy for ten gold soul coins—Jiang Li.
Ever since she learned that Jiang Li had no soul power, Su Lianyue had never given him a good face.
In her eyes, all guards should be soul masters with strong soul power and powerful martial souls.
Unlike Jiang Li, who had no soul power fluctuations at all and spent his days either leaning on the carriage axle basking in the sun or closing his eyes in rest—completely like a freeloader.
"Lianyue, don't be rude."
Su Laoye's voice came from inside the carriage. "Since Mr. Jiang Li dared to accept the escort job, he must have some ability."
"Ability? Father, you're too kind-hearted!" Su Lianyue pouted. "Look at him—he probably can't even beat a Soul Master with a ten-year soul ring. If danger really comes, he'll be the first to run!"
Su Laoye sighed helplessly and said no more.
It wasn't that he hadn't doubted it, but Jiang Li's eyes were too calm—so calm that they inexplicably made him wary.
The convoy continued forward, and by midday they crossed into the Sun-Moon Empire's territory.
Because this region lay at the border of the two empires, broken weapon fragments could occasionally be seen among the roadside weeds, clearly showing it was not a peaceful place.
As night fell, the convoy set up camp by a river.
The bonfire crackled as guards took turns on watch, while Su Lianyue continued complaining about Jiang Li to her maid.
She deliberately raised her voice, as if wanting the last carriage to hear.
"Do you think he's stupid? Instead of living an easy life, he comes to this place where death is everywhere. He probably doesn't even know how he'll die!"
No response came.
Jiang Li's carriage remained silent, as if empty.
Su Lianyue stomped her foot in anger and returned to her luxurious carriage.
The night deepened. The mountain wind howled, bringing a chill.
Suddenly, rapid hoofbeats shattered the silence, followed by rough shouting. Dozens of black shadows rushed out from the forest, blades glinting coldly under the moonlight.
"Leave all valuables behind, or—"
"Die!"
Bandits.
All were vicious, led by a one-eyed man with five-ring soul power, wielding a large saber that struck down two guards in an instant.
The convoy fell into chaos. Su Laoye's face turned pale, and Su Lianyue screamed in terror, trembling inside the carriage.
The guards fought desperately, but the bandits were clearly experienced, working in coordination with strength far beyond ordinary robbers.
In just moments, more than half the guards were already lying in pools of blood.
The one-eyed leader laughed wildly and rushed toward Su Laoye's carriage. "Take the girl and all the treasure!"
Su Lianyue trembled, tears streaming down her face. In that moment, the first person she thought of was the "useless man" she had been insulting all along.
Where was he? Had he already run away?
She couldn't help but look toward the last carriage.
Under the moonlight, Jiang Li still leaned against the carriage axle with his eyes closed.
He did not even open his eyes as screams, cries, and clashing weapons filled the night.
At that moment, the one-eyed bandit also noticed him and grinned. "There's one more who's not afraid of death! Kid, come die!"
His savage laughter echoed through the night.
Su Lianyue's heart nearly jumped out of her chest.
Just as the bloodstained blade was about to tear through the carriage curtain, she rushed out as if grabbing the last lifeline.
Cold wind mixed with the smell of blood hit her face. She stumbled to Jiang Li's carriage.
Her delicate dress was torn by stones, her face still streaked with tears, yet her arrogance remained.
"Jiang Li! Get up!"
Her voice trembled with fear, but she forced herself to shout louder, pointing at the burning chaos behind her and at her trembling father.
"My father hired you—you must protect us! Stop those bandits immediately and escort us away! If we reach Mingdu safely, I'll double your pay—no, ten times!"
Even the bandits paused slightly at those words.
The one-eyed leader burst out laughing. "Hahaha! This girl's lost her mind! She's counting on a powerless trash to save her?"
Su Lianyue ignored them completely, staring fixedly at Jiang Li. Seeing that he still had his eyes closed, she grew even more furious and kicked the carriage axle.
"Trash! Did you hear me? If you don't get up now, I'll have my father tear you into pieces!"
Finally, Jiang Li's eyelids moved.
When his eyes opened, there was no emotion—only a bottomless coldness that made Su Lianyue's heart skip a beat.
He slowly sat up, fingers brushing lightly over the folds of his sleeve, and spoke softly.
"You think you are worthy?"
Just six words, yet they carried suffocating pressure.
Su Lianyue froze, then screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "How dare you speak to me like that! My father is Su Hongyuan! Believe it or not, I'll make sure you don't see tomorrow's sun!"
Jiang Li's lips curved into a mocking smile.
He stood up slowly. Even without soul power, his presence made the air feel still.
"But I think the chances of you seeing tomorrow's sun are lower than mine."
Completely enraged, Su Lianyue raised her hand to slap him.
"You ungrateful trash—"
She never finished.
Because Jiang Li moved.
No one saw how he did it. In a blur, he was already in front of her, his fingers gripping her slender neck.
A cold sensation spread through her body. Su Lianyue's pupils dilated instantly, arrogance and fear freezing together on her face.
She tried to speak, but no sound came out, only helpless struggles.
Jiang Li's expression did not change at all, as if he was simply crushing an annoying insect.
He didn't even look at her, instead turning his gaze toward Su Laoye in the carriage.
"Your daughter has some behavioral issues. I'll help you fix that."
The next moment, his hand tightened slightly.
A faint "crack" echoed clearly through the battlefield.
Su Lianyue's body stiffened. Her limbs fell limp. Her eyes, filled with hatred and disbelief, froze forever.
Jiang Li released his hand, and her body fell to the ground with a dull thud.
He brushed off nonexistent dust from his hands and looked at the stunned one-eyed bandit and the frozen robbers, his smile growing colder.
"Damn it… she's my daughter!"
Su Laoye screamed in despair.
Hearing this, Jiang Li fully revealed his true nature, grinning.
"Don't rush. You'll be joining her soon."
He stepped forward.
The one-eyed bandit swallowed hard, cold sweat soaking his back.
For some reason, his instincts screamed at him to run far away from this man.
"Am… am I going to die too?"