After assisting the fallen heavily-armored knight and generously rewarding the elderly gentleman with ten silver coins for his troubles, Weng Ling was taken aback when the septuagenarian simply gave her a disdainful look, donned his armor again, and briskly charged back into the forest.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Weng Ling swiftly caught up and subdued him with a resounding slap, instructing her attendant to bring the elderly man back to the city.
"Cough!"
Night Three cleared his throat, "I can't help but feel that the adventurers you've gathered aren't quite reliable."
Weng Ling fell silent for a moment, sighing deeply.
"After the decline of Lorran City, soldiers are too costly to maintain, let alone attract adventurers. While there are experienced adventurers in the surrounding territories, they are not particularly interested in these bounties. They crave thrilling adventures and splendid equipment. Hence, only those novice adventurers, or those who can't even be considered novices, would be drawn by my notices."
Pausing, Weng Ling added, "Rest assured, I warned them last night not to separate while in the forest. I believe fifty adventurers should not encounter any danger."
Night Three opened his mouth, but ultimately chose not to divulge the strange goblin camp incident to Weng Ling.
Although these adventurers were a bit unsightly, fifty humans were more than enough to handle any small goblin camp.
Despite the vast number of goblins in the forest, they lacked the organization that humans possessed. Their enormous ambitions and base nature led them to establish their own camps if they became slightly stronger.
Even occasional alliances were rare, and such relationships were fragile. As long as these adventurers were cautious and avoided provoking powerful goblin camps, they could eliminate a considerable number of goblins.
"But you'll lose a considerable amount of money. I doubt Lorran City's tax revenue can support this extermination order," Night Three remarked, twirling the silver coin Weng Ling had compensated him with.
A goblin camp usually consisted of ten warriors and a lieutenant, plus twenty to thirty laborers, amounting to around 23 silver in bounty. While it might seem insignificant, Weng Ling had not set an upper limit. If these adventurers were fortunate enough to slay a hundred-man commander, the rewards could be substantial.
Moreover, the crucial question was, did Lorran City truly have enough wealth?
Weng Ling shrugged, "Lorran City's tax revenue is indeed insufficient, but it's alright. As long as I have the money!"
"As more genuine adventurers see the notice, I believe more will come. Once the goblins in this forest are eradicated, the timber trade will compensate for my losses."
Night Three twitched his ears, noticing the faint silver glow emanating from Weng Ling's silver armor. Such high-quality equipment was beyond the reach of an ordinary small lord. Combined with the emblem he had just glimpsed...
"May I offer a suggestion?" Night Three suddenly spoke.
"Go on."
"You know, to prevent those eccentric adventurers from taking shortcuts and only severing goblin hands instead of killing them, it might be necessary to insist that they bring back intact corpses," Night Three solemnly suggested.
"Are there really such people?"
"Of course! I've personally witnessed soldiers at the lower ranks collecting civilian heads to substitute for their lack of military achievements during two territory invasions. Human nature is treacherous!"
"Moreover, bringing back corpses can prevent other goblins from treating these bodies as food. The more abundant the goblin food supply, the more prolific they become."
Weng Ling fell silent for a moment, thinking of the tragic scene that might have occurred in Night Three's territory. She nodded heavily.
"Alright! I'll heed your advice and remind them when I go in."
With that said, Weng Ling slung her giant hammer on her back and prepared to charge into the forest.
"Hey, are you going in too?" Night Three asked from a distance, but Weng Ling had already run far ahead, leaving him with a waving silhouette.
"Master, we're ready to leave," Iron Axe cautiously approached, bowing his head.
Night Three turned around, observing the five of them fully equipped. Even Wind Demon had one arm suspended, following behind. He couldn't help but wonder:
"Leaving? Are you going home?"
"No, Master," Iron Axe explained awkwardly. "We are also going in to slay goblins. Otherwise..."
Night Three suddenly remembered that after saving them yesterday, he had confiscated all their money.
These poor souls, hoping to make money, ended up losing their entire wealth.
"Uh, understood, go ahead!" Night Three waved his hand.
Return the money?
Impossible! He wasn't a philanthropist.
Compared to the lives of five people, a few hundred silver coins were insignificant. He didn't need to explain himself.
"However, I can lend you some weapons if you need them. How about it?" Night Three called them back as they were about to leave, pointing at Old Gu.
On Old Gu's arm, several ordinary long swords were slung.
"Yes, yes, thank you, Master!" Iron Axe and the others expressed their gratitude.
To ensure prompt transportation of goblin corpses, they had left most of their weapons hidden on-site. Now, intending to retrieve their weapons, entering the forest unarmed made them a bit uneasy.
Now, with this benevolent lord lending them weapons, how could they not feel grateful?
After bidding farewell to Iron Axe and his group, the once lively farm suddenly quieted down, with only the sounds of the four goblins tending the fields.
Night Three pondered for a moment, instructing Old Gu and Dong Chen to separate the severed limbs from the pile of Broken Arm Mountain, estimating how much bounty they could earn. Then, he began practicing on his own.
Although his Soul Power was not sufficient to cover tomorrow's maintenance fee at the moment, he wasn't worried. Adventurers would bring back goblin corpses later in the evening, and since Soul Power followed the bodies, even if there were any mishaps, he could venture into the forest at night to slay a few more goblins to make up the difference. After all, those adventurers wouldn't dare to continue their recklessness in the pitch-black night.
Torches?
That might attract numerous hungry goblins.
After a night of the Fused Sword Saint state, Night Three urgently needed to digest the accumulated experience.
As the saying goes, the body also has memory. After repeated actions, the body naturally memorizes them. However, with the enhancement of the brain, this process can be significantly shortened.
Night Three was currently practicing the Wind Riding technique.
While the Moonlight Sword Strike and the Thirteen Wind Blades placed a considerable burden on his body, he had not used them frequently. Consequently, his understanding of the Wind Riding technique was not as profound.
As a skill related to agility, it not only provided support during Night Three's attacks but also enhanced his evasive capabilities. More importantly, it improved his ability to escape when facing overwhelming odds.
Setting up over thirty wooden stakes on a flat path and digging more than ten holes in the ground, Night Three relaxed in place, especially around his ankles. Taking a deep breath, he executed a peculiar footwork and charged toward the array of stakes...