Chapter 14: **Charges for Blocking Doors? Su Yu Takes Action!**
The piece of [Wild Boar] was dropped during the battle against the [Black Wild Boar], fought together by Vanishing Cream, his daughter, and the five-member team led by Dongshanjian.
Not knowing whether NPCs in *Evolution* could be bribed, Vanishing Cream decided to give it a shot, since he had the [Wild Boar] in hand. When they showed it to the woodcutter, his eyes immediately lit up.
The size of the [Wild Boar] was no joke—more than what he could earn from chopping wood all day. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he accepted the wild boar with a feigned casualness.
"Ahem," the woodcutter said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'll tell you something... but you can't let anyone else know."
"Absolutely!" Vanishing Cream and his daughter leaned in, nodding eagerly.
"It was an adventurer named 'Nemesis," the woodcutter revealed with a knowing look.
Moments later, a voice filled with bitter resentment echoed from the woods. "Nemesis! I won't forget this!"
Meanwhile, Su Yu was heading back to the Novice Village. Out of nowhere, a shiver ran down his spine.
"Strange," Su Yu muttered to himself. "Did I forget to turn off the air conditioner in my apartment? Gotta remember to check before I grab dinner."
Shrugging it off, he continued walking.
When Su Yu reached the village entrance, he noticed a large crowd of players, blocking the path. Two groups were locked in a heated argument, faces red with anger.
On the village side of the standoff, a soldier stood at the front, decked out in multiple pieces of gear. Surrounded by nearly a hundred people, he puffed out his chest and declared loudly:
"Everyone, show some respect for the Zhantian Guild! Our guild leader has their eye on a skill scroll at the merchant's station, but we're a bit short on funds. We need donations from everyone passing through."
He smiled arrogantly before adding, "Don't worry, once the Zhantian Guild has more money, we'll pay back twice what we collected today. We always keep our word!"
Su Yu glanced at the soldier's name and was stunned. He recognized it—[True Red-Eyed Black Dragon]. In his previous life, this guy had been a key figure in the Emperor's Blood Guild, and a well-known big shot.
*Why is he here? And pretending to be with the Zhantian Guild?* Su Yu mused, but instead of stepping forward, he decided to hang back and observe.
The players on the outside of the village were furious:
"Why should we pay you if you don't have enough money?!"
"Yeah! Our money doesn't grow on trees!"
"Blocking the entrance to collect a fee? You've got some nerve!"
"I used to think Zhantian was a respectable guild. Guess I was wrong!"
Tempers flared as the players outside denounced the actions of the supposed Zhantian members.
True Red-Eyed Black Dragon stood his ground, smug and unbothered. "If you don't cough up the money, none of you are getting through. We've already knocked a few troublemakers offline—wanna try your luck?"
Behind him, members of the Emperor's Blood Guild echoed his sentiment, some already inside the village:
"Come on, everyone, calm down! It's just 1 psionic coin. Better to pay than get kicked offline, right?"
"Exactly. Spend a little now, avoid a big hassle later."
"And after all, isn't Zhantian the top guild? Show some respect."
Their words began to sway some of the crowd, who murmured in agreement. After all, losing 1 psionic coin wasn't the end of the world, and no one wanted to be forced offline for thirty minutes. But not everyone was convinced.
"Like hell we'll pay! Just because you're a big guild doesn't mean you get to push us around!"
"We deal with enough crap at work and at home—do we really need it in the game too?"
"Yeah! Let's fight back! I bet we can take 'em!"
"We outnumber them—let's go!"
Spurred on by their frustration, several players brandished their weapons and charged at True Red-Eyed Black Dragon and his gang.
The red-eyed warrior laughed coldly. "Tch. Fools." He waved to his team, "Take down the leaders first!"
"Understood!"
The Emperor's Blood members sprang into action, and the skirmish erupted into chaos.
Most of the players were only level 1 or 2, with only a single skill to their name. The fight was messy, and white lights flashed as players were knocked out one by one, signaling their deaths.
Su Yu watched from the sidelines, seeing the fight unfold just as he had expected. Despite the larger numbers on the ordinary players' side, they were disorganized and lacked coordination.
Meanwhile, the Emperor's Blood members had the advantage, supported by better gear and coordination. They swiftly took control of the fight, targeting key players first.
As soon as the lead players fell, the remaining crowd faltered. Some began hesitating, unwilling to risk more deaths, while others debated whether to just pay up and avoid more trouble.
On the other hand, the Emperor's Blood members had no such reservations. They fought without fear, knowing they had a paycheck waiting, and were more than willing to charge headfirst into the fray. Their higher levels, better equipment, and teamwork soon began to crush the resistance.
The tide of the battle had clearly turned. True Red-Eyed Black Dragon smirked, his confidence soaring. "You rabble are no match for us! Last chance—pay up and leave, or die like the rest!"
His threat caused even more hesitation among the players. A few archers and mages stopped attacking, lowering their weapons.
But then, Su Yu stepped forward.
He had been waiting for a chance to deal with the Zhantian Guild for a while, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. These thugs from Emperor's Blood pretending to be Zhantian? He didn't care about them at all.
Stepping into the open, Su Yu raised his staff and cast a spell, his voice sharp with mock anger: "Zhantian Guild, you've gone too far! You think being a big guild gives you the right to bully everyone? One day, you'll be everyone's enemy!"
True Red-Eyed Black Dragon sneered, sizing him up. "Hah! Look at you, a nameless mage. What do you think you—"
*Crack!*
Before he could finish, Su Yu's [Lightning Arrow] shot straight into his chest.
*125!*
The damage number flashed above his head, and True Red-Eyed Black Dragon's health bar hit zero. With a look of disbelief, his body vanished in a flash of white light.
The battlefield fell silent.
The Emperor's Blood members and the nearby players all stared, wide-eyed.
*125 damage?!*
A level 2 warrior, taken out in one hit?
Everyone turned to Su Yu, their faces a mix of shock and awe.