Haoyue Swamp was not located near Haoyue City, but rather within a modest forest, which was also named Haoyue Forest due to its geography.
Bai Xi and Long Haochen arrived quickly, as the two ten-year-olds had childishly competed to see who would get there first. Neither wanted to lose, and their chase was remarkably swift.
“Let’s stop for a moment and eat something to replenish our energy.”
Just after entering Haoyue Forest, before reaching the swamp, Bai Xi suddenly called for a halt.
“Alright.”
Long Haochen complied with Bai Xi unconditionally.
The two skillfully gathered materials from their surroundings, catching a rabbit and picking some perilla and other plants for seasoning. They then lit a fire and began roasting the rabbit.
“How long do you think it’ll take?”
Long Haochen flipped the rabbit over and asked quietly.
“Right when we’re eating the rabbit.”
Taking in a deep breath of the roasted meat’s aroma, Bai Xi gave a definitive answer.
“Then they’re going to have a miserable death, disturbing your meal.”
The two weren’t discussing when the rabbit would be ready, but rather when the two people following them would emerge and launch an attack.
They both agreed it would happen during their meal.
And indeed, just as the rabbit was freshly roasted and divided into two halves, ready to be bitten into, the annoying sound of footsteps rang out, accompanied by extremely arrogant laughter.
“Haha, let’s see who can protect you this time.”
“You two little bastards are bold. Just after offending someone, you dare to act alone.”
“Watch how I teach you a lesson.”
“Mister, do you have some misunderstanding about acting alone? There are two of us.”
Bai Xi responded to the two burly men who had finally appeared before them while munching on the roasted rabbit.
These two were none other than the brothers of the bearded man they had killed earlier in front of the Adventurers’ Guild.
They had immediately demanded retribution for his life, but Li Xin, who arrived shortly after, drove them away.
However, they hadn’t gone far. Upon noticing that Li Xin had parted ways with Bai Xi and Long Haochen, they followed.
Bai Xi and Long Haochen had long since detected their clumsy tracking but hadn’t exposed them, wanting to see when they would make their move.
“Sharp-tongued, even at death’s door you still have time to eat. Afraid you’ll become hungry ghosts on your way, huh?”
The malice in the burly men’s eyes was almost palpable as they raised their weapons and charged.
“We won’t become hungry ghosts, but you might.”
Bai Xi stood up, continuing to munch on the roasted rabbit with one hand while drawing a heavy sword with the other. He stirred the still-burning embers and flung them toward the men.
One of the men swung his heavy sword, while the other blocked with a shield. The sparks didn’t harm them.
However, Bai Xi’s sword had already reached them as they dodged the sparks. Though the heavy sword lacked an edge, with enough force, it could be faster than a sharpened blade.
The two burly men were unable to withstand Bai Xi’s simple swing and were forced back two steps, their sword-wielding hands numb from the impact.
“Xi Xi is right. Let’s make you hungry ghosts instead.”
Adhering to the principle of not wasting food, Long Haochen, having just finished his share of rabbit meat, charged at the two men with a sword in both hands.
The two burly men’s strengths were at the second rank, eighth level, and third rank, second level respectively, both higher than Long Haochen’s.
However, Long Haochen could easily compensate for the gap in Spiritual Power with his agile movements, rich combat experience, and superior skills.
The siblings each dealt with one opponent, and before long, they defeated two men who appeared far stronger than them.
“Please let us go, just let us go like we’re nothing.”
“Don’t kill us, we were just joking earlier.”
“As long as you spare us, we’ll give you whatever you want. From now on, we’re yours—we’ll serve you like cattle or horses to repay your mercy today.”
Seeing they were about to lose, the two men began pleading for mercy.
If it were ordinary people, they might have softened at such tearful pleas.
But Bai Xi only thought, “Those who can bend and stretch, with a resilient mindset, are bound to become great threats. They cannot be spared.”
With that, she struck one of them with her sword, ending his life.
Seeing this, the other man immediately grew defiant.
“I didn’t beg for mercy—those were all my elder brother’s words.” “I have many good brothers. If you dare kill me, they will surely avenge us.”
The weaker of the two, trying his best to appear fearless, shouted at Bai Xi.
“Showing no remorse, stubborn and unyielding, intolerable to heaven’s justice—they must be executed.”
With those words, another fatal strike followed.
The two slain men: ?
Are you serious? Either way, we’re dead. Why say so much? Just kill us directly.
You almost made us think we could survive.
Giving us hope only to plunge us into despair?
“We’ve actually killed three people in a single day. This trip has truly been eventful!”
Looking at the two freshly made corpses before them, Long Haochen remarked with some emotion.
Before today, they had only slain some low-level magical beasts and had never killed a person.
But after killing so many magical beasts, taking a human life felt almost natural.
Perhaps it was because these three were, in their eyes, worse than beasts.
“Xi Xi, what are you…”
Watching Bai Xi suddenly crouch down and rummage through the corpses, Long Haochen couldn’t understand what she was doing.
“Chen Chen, have you heard of looting the dead?”
Bai Xi stopped her actions and looked up at Long Haochen.
Long Haochen shook his head blankly.
“If you kill but don’t loot, you’re just doing the work for others. Since we defeated them, their belongings are our spoils. If we don’t take them, someone else will. Even a mosquito’s worth is still meat. People like them are bound to have some valuables on them.”
With that, Bai Xi had already retrieved a money pouch.
Opening it, she found thirty gold coins and a third-tier magical beast crystal core, which could also be exchanged for a decent sum.
Thus, Long Haochen was also tempted and began searching the other corpse, successfully obtaining a similar amount of wealth—likely the result of an even split.
“Actually, if we don’t mind the trouble, or if I knew how to forge weapons, we could also salvage their gear. It’s all money!”
Bai Xi gazed at the three heavy swords and a shield on the ground, sighing with a hint of regret.
“Uh, that’s probably unnecessary.”
He knew Bai Xi had a miserly streak, but he hadn’t realized it was this extreme. Long Haochen suddenly felt a bit of pressure—how much would he have to earn to satisfy a miser’s desires?
“Then I’ll listen to you. It’s just right to leave some sweet rewards for those who come later.”
Bai Xi indicated that she was also giving Long Haochen some face.
The two continued walking toward the swamp deep in the forest.