Published: March 12, 2025
CHAPTER 335: Clever Maneuver
Zhao Hai looked at the situation and let out a sigh of relief, saying, “It seems these people have been lying in ambush on the mountain since early morning, just waiting for a fat sheep to pounce on. But do we really look that much like fat sheep?”
Xu Wanying, along with Mu Tou and Shi Tou, chuckled at Zhao Hai’s words. Xu Wanying smiled and replied, “We don’t, but Ryan does.”
This left Zhao Hai momentarily stunned. “Why? If anything, it should be us that resembles fat sheep. We only have a few people but two carts, while Ryan, no matter how you look at it, has nearly a hundred guards!”
Xu Wanying smiled slightly and explained, “All merchants traversing the Lifeline know that if they don’t have absolute confidence, they wouldn’t venture out without guards. We only have two carts and appear to have no protection. To those mercenaries, people like us either seem like fools or have powerful experts inside. If we had an expert here, they would only be seeking death by approaching us. On the contrary, Ryan has nearly a hundred guards, which is quite a number for her few carts. The combat capability of those guards is easily recognizable to the mercenaries, who would see them as better prey compared to us, whose strength they can’t determine.”
Zhao Hai laughed and said, “I didn’t expect it to be this way, but they are right. Just you alone is enough to deter them; attacking us would be courting death.”
Xu Wanying smiled faintly. To be honest, he felt quite pleased with this ability of his. On the continent, when it comes to the phrase “one man against a thousand, Xu Wanying” — it is indeed a renowned title.
At that moment, the tent flap stirred, and Shun Yi’s figure appeared inside. He whispered to Zhao Hai, “Young master, I’ve notified Jili. They are already prepared, but it doesn’t look too optimistic.”
Zhao Hai thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go out. It’s better if we don’t fight this battle; otherwise, we’ll attract too many people.”
Shun Yi acknowledged this and opened the tent flap. Mu Tou and Shi Tou stepped out first, followed by Zhao Hai, with Xu Wanying trailing last.
As they exited the tent, Zhao Hai waved his staff, summoning a fireball with a diameter of one meter atop it. He then directed the fireball to rise into the air, illuminating their small camp.
The mercenaries clearly didn’t expect Zhao Hai to make such a sudden move. As they stood there, unsure of what to do, Zhao Hai calmly said, “Friends, there’s no need to hide. Send someone responsible to talk.”
The mercenaries stirred, and soon a burly bearded mercenary emerged from the crowd. He glanced at Zhao Hai, then at the fireball. It was clear that he was a seasoned mercenary with keen insight. Upon seeing the fireball unleashed by Zhao Hai, he realized that Zhao Hai was a seventh-level mage. A seventh-level Fire Mage was indeed a nightmare for these small mercenaries.
The burly man stepped forward and bowed to Zhao Hai, saying, “We didn’t know you were here, sir. Please forgive us; we’ll leave immediately and wouldn’t dare disturb your rest.”
Zhao Hai smiled slightly and said, “Good, you’re quite reasonable. It’s not easy for you to come out at night. Wan Ying, take out a thousand gold coins and treat these brothers to a drink.”
Although Xu Wanying didn’t quite understand Zhao Hai’s intentions, he still turned and entered the tent. Inside, a bag of gold coins had already been prepared, containing exactly one thousand gold coins. Xu Wanying took the bag and stepped up to the burly man, placing the coins on the ground.
However, the burly man looked at Xu Wanying and couldn’t help but ask, “Are you the legendary Xu Wanying, one man against a thousand?”
Xu Wanying frowned slightly, as he didn’t recall knowing this person, and he responded in a deep voice, “Do you know me?”
Upon hearing Xu Wanying acknowledge his identity, the burly man’s face displayed a look of panic. “So it truly is Mr. Wanying. Please forgive us; we didn’t intend to disturb you this time.”