Chapter 158

Jeff is a good man.

At least, that was the impression he had given Xia Nan during the many days they had interacted before.

Of course, he possessed the slick cunning of an ordinary commoner in this world; after all, having managed a caravan for years, he had dealt with countless people.

If he were truly as simple and honest as he appeared on the surface, he could never have accumulated such a tailor shop in Niumu by the time he retired in middle age.

Regarding this point, Xia Nan was very clear in his heart.

And as a husband, a father, and even a caravan leader.

Jeff had surely done everything within his power.

For years, he led the caravan through the wilderness outside the city where dangerous monsters and ferocious bandits roamed, exchanging his life and safety for rewards to support his family.

For adventurers who traveled with him back then, like Xia Nan, he was never stingy with subsidies and payments, even helping to open up valuable connections, taking very good care of them.

Therefore, even though the time they had known and spent together was not long, Xia Nan held a good impression of this hardworking middle-aged man.

Under these circumstances, facing such a trivial trouble that he could easily resolve with his current abilities, since he happened to encounter it, he naturally did not mind lending a hand.

Why had he trained so diligently and increased his strength, if not to keep such unpleasant things far away from himself?

He was at least a "Professional" now; if he let these street thugs act arrogantly in front of him again, wouldn't his Professional Level have been raised in vain?

It was just that it was slightly unexpected.

The bald leader among the thugs had decent eyesight, able to see the 【Gravity Control】 he had deliberately used openly.

Having sensed his identity as a Professional, his attitude changed very quickly.

He could be considered a smart person, barely.

That saved him from having to exert more effort.

"May the Goddess of Trade bless you forever!"

"Big brother, we'll leave first; we'll come back to support your business next time!"

Outside the Ge Yu Tailor Shop, the Grey Badger Gang thugs, who usually roamed the streets like vicious demons, were now, under the leadership of the bald burly man, bidding farewell to Jeff and the others.

Each held a roll of colorful fabric in their hands, and compared to the fierce tattoos on their bodies, the contrast revealed a touch of humor.

Then, without waiting for a reply, they turned and left, their footsteps gradually quickening until they disappeared at the end of the street with a jog.

"They are quite sensible."

Xia Nan withdrew his gaze, muttering in his heart.

In his ears was Jeff's high-pitched voice full of gratitude:

"Thank you so much this time, Xia Nan."

"I haven't even had the chance to properly thank you for that last time, and now it's like this again..."

"I don't even know what I should do."

Seeing the other party's rather emotional expression, Xia Nan merely waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for such a display.

"It was just a small favor."

Knowing that was simply his personality, Jeff did not say any more cheesy words of thanks.

Instead, he pulled his daughter "Lilina," who had been hiding behind the counter and secretly watching them, over.

He introduced her seriously and solemnly:

"This is the adventurer I have been telling you about, the one who saved your father's life—'Xia Nan'."

"The reason your father can still stand here safely with you to run the shop is because of him; you..."

"Alright, alright, no need for this, Mr. Jeff." Feeling the sincerity and earnestness in Jeff's words, but being introduced like this in front of him, Xia Nan still felt it was a bit too grand.

But unexpectedly, this young girl named "Lilina" in front of him, with a youthful face showing strong student-like air, obviously having graduated only recently, was thin and frail.

Under Jeff's introduction, the expression on her face changed from the timidity of a moment ago; she straightened her still somewhat pale face and bowed properly to Xia Nan.

"Thank you very much for saving my father, Mr. Xia Nan."

That incredibly serious expression made Xia Nan himself momentarily unsure how to react.

In his heart, he couldn't help but feel that it was no wonder Jeff had previously revealed that he paid expensive tuition every year for his children to study at the academy in Niumu.

That money was indeed not wasted.

When Xia Nan arrived in Niumu, it was already evening.

The tailor shop's business hours were already nearing their end, and after being disturbed by those Grey Badger Gang thugs just now, they might as well close the door and stop receiving customers.

"Thank you."

Standing inside the shop, reaching out to accept the teacup handed to him by Lilina, Xia Nan smiled and nodded, asking Jeff beside him:

"This Grey Badger Gang... what is their background?"

Today, he just happened to pass by and helped Jeff and the others out of the predicament.

After he completes his mission and returns in a while, if the Grey Badger Gang thugs come back to cause trouble, he didn't know how they would deal with it.

"A gang in the West District of Niumu; their territory is quite large, and they have some power."

Hearing the implied meaning in Xia Nan's words, Jeff smiled slightly on his face, his expression showing that he was well-equipped to handle it.

"It's fine, no need to worry."

"Although I am not an adventurer, after running caravans for so many years, I have some small connections."

"This period is just the opening of the shop; there were too many things to handle and I got overwhelmed, so I forgot about this matter. I'll find someone to mention it later, and this matter will be settled."

Xia Nan nodded silently, not doubting that the other party was telling a lie.

After all, when Jeff was in River Valley Town, he was known as an old good man and had friendships with many seasoned adventurers.

If one had to say it, his first meeting with the evil Sheriff "Ingram," who had contributed the 【Light-Bather】 specialization for him, was arranged by Jeff.

Even though in the end, he was nailed to the tree trunk by him.

"If you were coming to Niumu, why didn't you write and say so in advance? It's so rushed now, and I haven't prepared anything."

Hearing the other speak thus, Xia Nan indeed recalled that on the night Jeff announced his retirement, he had told him to seek him out if he ever went to Niumu.

However, he was not the type to repay kindness with demands; even if he remembered, he would most likely not actively ask the other to do anything for him.

He simply smiled and said casually:

"I haven't rested for long myself either. The Association just issued a mission, the timing is quite tight, and I contacted the caravan on the very same day."

Understanding the importance of the matter, Jeff did not ask about the specific content of the mission; he merely patted his own chest toward him.

"If there is anywhere an old cripple like me can be of use, just speak up."

"Although I am lame in one leg and may not be of much use in combat, there are still quite a few people who recognize this old face of mine."

Upon hearing this, Xia Nan took a sip of tea, and some thoughts arose in his heart.

"Nothing else, really."

"Mainly, since I am new here and not very familiar with Niumu, I haven't even found a place to stay yet."

"I don't know if you have any recommended inns; a higher price doesn't matter, as long as the environment is decent and the food is a bit better."

Hearing Xia Nan finish speaking, a smile of boundless enthusiasm immediately appeared on Jeff's face.

He stepped forward, grabbed his shoulder, and laughed:

"Why stay at an inn? Since you've come to Niumu so rarely, do you think I'd let you spend money on lodging?"

"Listen to your older brother and stay at my place. We happen to have a few empty rooms; it's quiet at night for sleeping, far better than those noisy inns, and you can even taste your sister-in-law's cooking."

Although he had paid a huge sum of five hundred Gold Coins for custom equipment, severely draining Xia Nan's small treasury, he had no intention of saving money on food and lodging during the mission.

Even less would he be greedy for such a bargain.

Just as he was about to refuse, he saw a happy expression appear on Jeff's face, mixed with some show-off, as he warmly urged him to stay:

"Your sister-in-law used to work as a helper in the kitchens of inns in those big cities down south. Not to mention anything else, cabbage stew, salted herring porridge, Cream Mushroom Soup, and the like are far more delicious than what those cooks in Niumu Cheng make!"

As if extracting a keyword, Xia Nan's eyebrows couldn't help but lift.

"Oh?"

At the same time, on the other side.

On the gradually narrowing and dirty street.

"Boss, that guy really seems a bit problematic, right?"

A thug with a youthful face and a tattoo on his neck reached his right hand backward to touch his own back, looking completely puzzled.

He remembered that just now, he had been standing perfectly fine at the entrance of the tailor shop, and seeing that black-haired youth dressed as an Adventurer approach, he had even thought of reaching out to block him.

But unexpectedly, as soon as his hand had extended halfway, a strange suction force suddenly came from behind.

It was as if someone hidden somewhere was pulling his body hard.

If it hadn't been for the doorframe nearby that he happened to grab while stumbling backward, he would have fallen flat on his face.

Thinking back to it now, while it was strange, he couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed.

But the moment his words fell, the bald, burly man beside him slapped the back of his head hard.

"Shut up!"

He barked in a harsh, low voice.

At the same time, he glanced back furtively like a thief with a guilty conscience; seeing the street empty and devoid of people, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"How many times have I told you these past few months not to deal with those crazy Adventurers, especially those whose equipment alone looks like it could buy your little life? If you see them, just walk away; don't even exchange a glance."

"Otherwise, a hothead like you might not even know how you died!"

Hearing the burly man speak thus, the young thug beside him couldn't help but scratch his head, his expression confused.

"I've seen quite a few Adventurers in inns before; they seemed fine. Do we really need to be this careful?"

The only response he received was two cold snickers from the burly man.

Adventurers were something Xia Nan, who had lived in River Valley Town since the beginning of his transmigration, was already accustomed to; there was nothing special about them.

But for other regions of this world, especially towns far from areas where mana gathers and where monsters rarely appear, their frequency of appearance was far less than in River Valley Town.

If you weren't lucky, sometimes you could sit by the roadside for half a day and still not necessarily encounter a single obviously dressed Adventurer.

And because they themselves possessed equipment, weapons, and even combat techniques, their strength far exceeded that of ordinary commoners.

If the one you offended was a "part-time" Adventurer who worked normally during the day and only went to River Valley Town to earn extra money on Hunting Day, that would be manageable.

But if you ran into a veteran Adventurer who did nothing but eat, sleep, and kill monsters, had already become detached from normal Human society, whose values had changed, and whose psychology had even gradually begun to develop problems...

Then the speed at which the other chopped off your head would not be much slower than killing a Goblin.

It had long become a bodily instinct; they wouldn't even hesitate for a moment.

In the eyes of the bald, burly man, the black-haired youth who had just entered the tailor shop undoubtedly belonged to the latter category.

His overly youthful appearance gave a deceptive impression of a novice, but the equipment on his body, which was clearly high-quality at a glance and likely totaled three digits in Gold Coins, combined with the cold aura resulting from long-term, high-frequency combat and slaughter...

... was enough to make people step back in fear.

And the true reason he disregarded his dignity and instantly changed his attitude like a circus clown...

... was that when the other entered the door, his two underlings on both sides, as if struck by some invisible impact, had fallen backward simultaneously without warning.

This had already gone beyond his impression and understanding of ordinary Adventurers.

"Damn, don't tell me I ran into a Professional..."

"Just collecting protection money, and I'm truly damn lucky!"

A look of extreme gloom appeared on the burly man's face; he planned to find a Church tonight to pray, to see if he had picked up something when passing by the graveyard a few days ago.

"Boss, then... are we still going to collect from that tailor shop in the future?"

"Collect my ass!"

Another slap landed, and the burly man roared.

"Stay away from that place from now on, did you hear me!?"

"If you cause trouble and drag me into it... not one of you will escape!"

Setting aside that obvious professional who clearly knew the shop owner, just the lame old man himself, judging by his earlier performance, did not seem like an ordinary person running a shop honestly.

If it were truly as the other party claimed, being friends with the "Stubborn Donkey" of the 【Iron Barrel Toad】, then all that would be needed later was to send someone over to tell the boss of our Grey Badger Gang.

We would never be able to collect protection fees there again.

If troublemakers showed up, we might even have to help keep an eye on things.

"Look at this mess, damn it!"

Unable to hold back, he cursed again; the bald, burly man felt a stifling rage he could not vent.

"Tonight, you call two guys you can trust, go to..."

He turned his head, wanting to say something to the lackey beside him.

But at the corner ahead, a figure suddenly appeared.

Head hanging low, walking like a zombie without looking at the path, the person crashed directly into the bald man's chest.

Staggering back several steps, he only managed to steady himself again with the help of his lackeys.

"Damn, are your eyes blind? Can't you see people?"

The bald man bared his teeth, rubbing his chest while cursing under his breath, his gaze fixed ahead.

What appeared in his line of sight was a young man with a youthful face.

He stood motionless in a daze, holding a bundle tightly in both hands, head bowed, eyes vacant as he stared at the ground.

His lips moved, as if muttering something.

His eyes shifted slightly, his gaze sweeping rapidly over the young Adventurer before him.

Cheap armor with no signs of use, a brand-new Single-handed Sword at his waist, the bundle clutched to his chest...

A deep greed flashed in the bald man's eyes.

He raised a hand silently to signal, and the lackeys beside him immediately surrounded the target.

Grinning, he licked his dry lips.

He drew a Dagger flashing with cold light from behind his waist.

"Kid, you..."

Whether he had truly picked up something in the graveyard or not, things once again took an unexpected turn.

The bald man had only spoken two words of his threat.

That young man with the dazed eyes stepped forward to meet him.

What made him feel panic and fear was that, at this very moment, he too had suddenly lost control of his body.

He could only watch helplessly as the other approached, closing in on his body.

"Sss."

His right arm trembled as the handle of the Dagger transmitted the sluggish sensation of a blade piercing flesh.

Bang—

The young Adventurer fell backward onto the ground, a pool of scarlet blood spreading rapidly beneath him.

The surface of the Dagger in his hand was already covered in fresh blood.

"Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!"

The instant he regained control of his body, the burly man felt a chill shoot from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head, making every hair on his body stand on end.

Ignoring the confused expressions of the lackeys on both sides, he turned and sprinted away in the opposite direction.

The bulging veins on his neck and his red, moist eyes revealed just how terrified and panicked the bald man was at that moment.

Not knowing the details, seeing their boss react so suddenly, the lackeys could only follow with confusion, moving quickly.

Only a few brief seconds passed.

On the dilapidated street, only a stiff corpse, growing colder by the moment, remained.

He still held his bundle in his arms, a corner of a grey-black Wooden Statue faintly visible inside.

Two curved horns winding upward and vanishing at the tips seemed to spread and proliferate within those natural, intricate patterns, melting into the depths of the dim twilight.

Who knows how much time passed.

Until the only dim light in the air faded completely, and the starlight on the sky began to appear.

A thin, small figure walked wearily along the road nearby.

The light was dim, making it impossible to see his specific features.

Only faintly visible was that, under his emaciated, stick-thin arm, he seemed to be carrying a thick stack of newspapers.

(End of this chapter)