The bandits were being pecked at by crows, their heart-wrenching screams echoing through the air, stirring feelings of deep sympathy.
Especially when they saw the crows pulling out eyeballs from the bandits' sockets, the horror reached its peak.
Any normal person would find such a scene unbearable and would likely leave.
Zhao Lun and his companions were still normal people; their hearts were not so hardened. Unable to witness such brutality, they averted their gazes after witnessing the punishment.
On the other hand, those who had been rescued felt a sense of immense satisfaction watching the bandits scream as the birds pecked at them. The more the bandits cried out in anguish, the more invigorated the survivors felt. Among them, several women who had suffered the most seemed to feel that their revenge had finally been realized. They released their emotional burdens, crying uncontrollably.
The cries of others also reminded the group of their own painful memories, leading them to shed tears, unwilling to revisit those days of suffering.
These cries, however, inadvertently evoked a sense of pity for the bandits. After all, they were the ones who had inflicted pain on others, and now they were merely receiving a taste of their own medicine.
As for the idea of repaying kindness with kindness, that was not something anyone here advocated. The Lord had instructed his followers to practice an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Zhao Lun distributed the firearms to the rescued individuals, collected the remaining food, and organized the carts, ensuring nothing was left behind. Finally, he set a large fire, engulfing the entire bandit hideout in flames.
Among the rescued were some locals and a few traveling merchants from distant lands. This time, the merchants were particularly unfortunate; they had set out well-prepared but were ambushed by a pack of wolves, scattering their group. When they arrived here, they were captured by the bandits and forced into slavery, laboring under harsh conditions for a mere piece of stale black bread.
As Zhao Lun and his group left, the nearby villagers followed along, eager to return home. The merchants aimed to reach the nearest small town, which aligned with their route.
The few surviving children were cared for by the women, who planned to take them home along the way.
These arrangements fit perfectly into their itinerary and wouldn't delay their journey, so Zhao Lun readily agreed. The gratitude expressed by these people was immense, but Zhao Lun and his group remained indifferent. They had saved them purely by chance and didn't feel the need to get emotionally involved.
With the bandits gone, the path ahead was clear. After a brief rest, they continued their journey.
Although Zhao Lun didn't care for their thanks, the survivors maintained a sense of awe toward him.
What was a clear path for Zhao Lun was still fraught with danger for those who had been rescued. Wild wolves and wild boars could still pose a threat, and the very beasts that had caused them suffering were easily dispatched by Zhao Lun and his companions.
At night, many dangers lurked in the shadows. The survivors believed that without Zhao Lun's group, they might have been fed to the wolves.
During the day, they encountered a deformed creature carrying a large log. Without uttering a word, it attacked them. When their firearms fired at the grotesque figure, it only sparked without any significant effect, failing to deter its advance. Just as it was about to strike, despair settled over them.
At that moment, Nicole appeared, wielding a hammer, and with a single blow, she shattered the creature's log in two, sending it flying.
"Ah!" The onlookers gasped in shock, mouths agape, unable to believe that such a terrifying monster had been defeated so easily.
But the excitement didn't end there. Another slightly plump and attractive woman seemed to take an interest in the creature, stepping forward to confront it. Once it stood up, she engaged in combat with it as well. With a swift whip strike, she lashed out and struck the creature, sending it crashing to the ground.
The onlookers didn't need to be told; they watched as a group of people toyed with the monster. No, they were treating it like a plaything.
Seeing such a fearsome creature being treated that way left everyone in awe of Zhao Lun and his companions. They spoke cautiously, careful not to offend these formidable individuals.
While Zhao Lun and his companions noticed the awe directed at them, they were more curious about the creature's origins. They quickly determined that the deformed beast was a human transformed by some sort of evil influence. Only when the creature died would the evil dissipate, allowing it to revert to its normal human form.
"So this is what a monster is!" Zhao Lun realized, surprised by the situation.
Nicole and the others were also encountering such a phenomenon for the first time, curiously observing the transformation of the deformed creature. Once it perished, the true form revealed before them was that of a naked, deformed man—his features grotesque, teeth sparse and uneven, limbs of varying thickness, and feet of different sizes.
"What happened to him?" they wondered, eager to understand the story behind this deceased monster.
"He was a normal person infected by some evil force, becoming addicted to its power, unable to break free, and ultimately losing himself, transforming into this state," Zhao Lun explained.
This conclusion was drawn from examining the corpse and the dissipating energy around it, using his mind's interface to analyze and deduce the outcome.
"So, don't lose yourselves in the pursuit of power. Understand that uncontrolled power can harm both others and yourself." Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Lun took a moment to lecture them.
"Boss, you've said that many times already. We understand," they replied, slightly annoyed by his frequent admonishments.
"Good! Just make sure to follow Mulan's teachings and don't aim for the unattainable dream of becoming knights. It's too far out of reach for you! Besides, Mulan's guidance is more practical!" Zhao Lun advised.
During their travels, aside from Angela, Maria, and Penelope, Nicole and Monica had expressed dreams of becoming knights and had attempted to pursue that goal.
Zhao Lun knew they would never succeed, so he decided to take this moment to encourage them to abandon such unrealistic ambitions.
"Got it!" the two women genuinely acknowledged.
This experience left the followers of Zhao Lun in awe, and they continued on their journey with increased respect until they reached their destination—Nikola City.
Zhao Lun deployed a silent aerial drone to scan the entire city and relay the information back to him.
Based on the data received, his mind's interface analyzed the details he needed.
Nikola City was established by the Nikola family and had been around for three centuries. This city had grown from a village to a town, then evolved into a city. It was quite large, boasting the charm of a metropolitan area, and its architecture rivaled that of Europe's historic buildings.
Some structures resembled palaces, resplendent and eye-catching, while others, slightly less impressive, also occupied a considerable portion of the city.
The remainder consisted of ordinary buildings, which took up half the city's space, while the last part comprised the poorest areas, filled with dirt, chaos, and a population that accounted for three-quarters of the city's inhabitants.
The most striking impression of this area was its overcrowding. Many houses were makeshift shelters, tightly packed together, occupying every possible space. A newcomer would find it nearly impossible to navigate through the area due to the sheer density.
Even before entering, they could smell a myriad of unpleasant odors wafting from within, enough to deter those who valued cleanliness.
The law enforcement here was lax, with nearly all the city's thugs and troublemakers congregated, making extortion, robbery, assault, and even murder everyday occurrences. The local authorities rarely intervened unless absolutely necessary, and even then, they would only issue warnings and not pursue matters too deeply.
Understanding this situation, Zhao Lun steered clear of this area and headed straight to the affluent district, where he chose a luxurious inn to stay.
The wealthy district stood in stark contrast to the impoverished area, oozing prosperity.
While the slums were cramped, limiting movement, and filled with darkness, dampness, and filth, this area was spacious, with each household enjoying a degree of privacy, basking in sunlight, adorned with flowers and potted plants.
The streets were wide enough for ten carts to travel side by side, and patrolling officers monitored the area, ready to intervene if anyone attempted to cause trouble. If they spotted anyone engaging in actions that marred the city's appearance, they would undoubtedly intervene.
Upon their arrival, the patrolling officers cleared a path for them and recommended the best inns in the area.
The best inn offered exclusive courtyard accommodations, albeit at a steep price—hundreds of times more than the inn they had stayed at previously. However, the quality matched the cost.
The innkeeper treated them with great respect and even called in the owner to welcome them personally.
The owner escorted their cart and, in a gentlemanly manner, led the way, attending to their needs.
The courtyard was pleasant, looking cozy, with tasteful decorations. The artwork and furnishings left a good impression.
Once the owner departed, the ladies couldn't help but curiously ask Zhao Lun, "Boss, why are these people so attentive? It feels a bit unnecessary, doesn't it?"
They could tell that the staff's and the owner's respect was sincere, without a hint of insincerity.
They were curious about what had led them to treat Zhao Lun this way. Seeing Zhao Lun calmly accept the owner's sincere hospitality, they knew he must understand the reason behind it. (To be continued.)