Chapter 6, Thieves and Robbers

Damn it..." Qifu said in a low voice, his face flushing red and then pale, feeling ashamed. He had always opposed the existence of professional priests, believing that turning prayer to the gods into a transaction was nothing short of blasphemy. However, he never expected that professional priests could fall to such a level.

The paths in the forest are intricate, yet the person seems very familiar with them, winding through the turns as if they were in their own home

The bald man nodded and said, "That works."

The bald man nodded and said, "It is not easy to find you, hehe, hehe"

"You can't be serious, I just need to borrow your horse for a moment." The person on the horse seemed quite wary of the one speaking.

I conduct my affairs fairly," the bald man said, meeting Reis's gaze, "You cut off a pair of ears from my subordinate, and I only require your head in return. Is there anything else you wish to convey?

I made a mistake," he said softly

Reis remained still, his gaze growing darker, his lips pressed tightly together, slightly curling upwards in a somewhat mocking manner

"I don't care who the guy is, just don't put him in front of me," the person said coldly. "How did you get him out?"

"Let him go!" that person said, and Qifu felt a surge of joy in his heart, realizing that he had indeed encountered a good person.

Good swordsmanship, blood began to drip down from the bald man's arm, "Are you Reis Doma?"

Qie Fu's eyes suddenly brightened as the sack was untied, and a strong hand pulled him out. The bright sunlight made Qie Fu squint. Once he adjusted to the light, he could see the person in front of him clearly. The individual was of medium height, dressed in tattered clothes, with a long sword hanging at his waist. His complexion was pale, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together. Standing behind him was a very tall man with messy short hair, his body muscular and clearly built for hard labor. Once he adjusted to the light, he could see the person in front of him clearly. The individual was of medium height, dressed in tattered clothes, with a long sword hanging at his waist. His complexion was pale, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together. Standing behind him was a very tall man with messy short hair, his body muscular and clearly built for hard labor.

"Whom do you intend to kill?" Chekhov asked cautiously

"Excuse me, coming through," said Reis, slowly urging his horse forward, step by step, gradually approaching the bald man. If the bald man did not move aside soon, the horse would collide with him.

There is nothing to discuss, but listen to me, go back, return immediately

"What is so funny? Soon you won't be able to laugh at all." The voice continued, as if it were getting closer.

"Just for this useless fellow, I promise you, let you live a little longer," the bald man said, pointing at the robber groaning on the ground. "We will wait for you here, go ahead." As he spoke, the bald man waved his hand, and all the robbers cleared a path. Reis said nothing, shouted once, and rode his horse forward, with Qifu hurriedly following behind, only then realizing he was already drenched in sweat.

Stolen, simple, this guy is dozing off, I caught him, it's just his bad luck

The bald man laughed heartily and said, "One-on-one? We are not a bunch of foolish knights; hurry up and take action yourself." The guy who had his ear cut off let out a shout and rushed forward eagerly. Before he could get close, there was an exceptionally bright flash, and with a thud, he was sent flying again. The other bandits erupted from their hiding spots and charged forward together. At this moment, Qifu finally saw clearly that they were all wielding extremely short daggers, sharp beyond compare, completely different from the conventional swords used by knights. Qifu also vaguely understood that bandits preferred these easily portable and concealable weapons; compared to the cumbersome longswords of knights, these daggers were more capable of launching a deadly surprise attack. The bandits formed a circle, their rapidly swinging daggers creating glints of cold light in the sunlight, while another beam of light simultaneously appeared, forming a halo that protected Reis, who was surrounded at the core. Under the impact, Qifu also vaguely understood that bandits preferred these easily portable and concealable weapons; compared to the cumbersome longswords of knights, these daggers were more capable of launching a deadly surprise attack. The bandits formed a circle, their rapidly swinging daggers creating glints of cold light in the sunlight, while another beam of light simultaneously appeared, forming a halo that protected Reis, who was surrounded at the core. The collision produced a series of clanging sounds, and Reis let out a loud shout, causing the white sword light to surge, forcing everyone back.

What is the purpose of the sacrificial rites?

"I apologize, I forgot to ask your name," that person said. Chekhov shuddered

Moreover, Reis said, "I have one matter that remains unresolved"

I have said that for such a person, it is not worth it. Soon, his tone softened again

Once again, in a fleeting moment, the bandit took a step back, yet still surrounded Reis. Reis's sword remained sheathed, his hand resting on the hilt, his posture unchanged. However, blood had begun to seep from multiple places, including his left shoulder, left leg, and right side, through the tattered fabric of his clothing.

It was a mistake... The burly man lowered his head in frustration, his face filled with disappointment, but he quickly rolled up his sleeves and said, "It’s alright, I will go get that damned priest."

Stop talking nonsense and release him

Greg is a blacksmith who cannot afford the exorbitant occupational tax, so he can only hide in the deep mountains, mining and forging iron by himself. With the savings he accumulated from years of blacksmithing, he built a small house next to the mine to shield himself from the wind and rain while smelting iron. However, one day, a passing deity inexplicably demolished his house right before his eyes; the house suddenly vanished, leaving not even a single piece of wood behind. The deity offered no explanation and hurried away, leaving Greg in a state of shock. With no other options, Greg sought out the priest of Marif, asking him to pray to the deity and inquire about what had happened. However, the greedy professional priest, seeing an opportunity for profit, repeatedly extorted Greg until he could no longer produce a single copper coin. Then, he carelessly dismissed Greg, claiming that his house was built over a fissure, obstructing the deity's work, and that if he wanted his house back, he would need to pay another sum of money.

"Be honest and do your work as a blacksmith, do not commit crimes for such petty individuals, Greg."

"This sacrificial offering of a thousand blades," said the one who had kidnapped him, causing Qifu to feel a chill run down his spine

"Is that why he would do such terrible things?" Chekhov asked. ... Just thinking about it is frightening; if Gregor had not kidnapped him at that moment, but had instead struck him on the head directly... . ... Chekhov shook his head, feeling truly fortunate.

"I apologize, could you please tell me what exactly is going on?" The neglected Chekhov finally interjected.

The bald man grunted and said, "As long as you acknowledge the debt, we won't ask for much else; we only need your two ears and your nose." Although the bald man's tone was quite calm, his gaze sent shivers down Qifu's spine

Reis, what do you do? Are you a mercenary? I just heard you talking about topics like hiring and firing.

The burly man known as Greg let out a sigh, slowly walking back with his head down, not even glancing back, disappearing into the depths of the forest

At that moment, Qifu felt that the horse had taken a few steps in place, as if a strong hand was holding the reins.

Reis let out a grunt, remaining silent, as he tore a strip of cloth from his garment and deftly tied it around the wound on his right arm

Money can be earned again once it is gone, and a house can be rebuilt once it has disappeared. However, what I detest the most is not the loss of money or a house, but the fact that a greedy priest has forced an honest blacksmith to become a robber or a thief. That priest deserves to be punished in the most severe manner

Yes. A gloomy expression appeared on Reis's face

Release him

However ... ...

"Then go ahead and fire me." Chekhov heard a thud, and the person on the horse was violently yanked down, falling to the ground with a cry of agony. Chekhov felt a rush of satisfaction, sensing that the person had avenged him. However, soon after, Chekhov was also thrown to the ground, producing a dull sound that nearly caused him to lose his breath

"Are you still going to kill someone like this?" Chekhov asked with concern

When Qie Fu saw him, he almost laughed out loud. The man was utterly repulsive, and what was even stranger was that both his nose and ears were missing, making his entire head resemble a bald, large round ball. He glared at Reis with intense hatred, his face already flushed red. Reis took a look at him, first taken aback, then slowly nodded, "Indeed, I am the one who cut off his ears and nose."

Chev fell silent for a moment, gathered his courage, and said: "I do not believe."

"Pack your things and stay at my place for now, hurry up." Seeing the strong man remain still, his voice rose again, "Greg, are you not going to listen to me?"

The forest had disappeared, and they turned onto a wide road. Ahead, the landscape gradually opened up, and the tall spire of the sacrificial altar in Marif could be faintly seen.

"Don't, don't..." the person on horseback hurriedly said, "I hired you, don't do anything foolish"

Good swordsmanship," the bald man said coldly, "if you come again, you will not be able to stop it.

"In the city ahead," Reis pointed to the walls of Marif and said, "I am going to kill a man. Once I am done, I will return immediately, and I will not go back on my word."

Chiev Koran can be described as well-informed and knowledgeable, standing out among the great priests. Unlike others who prefer to stay at home, he travels extensively and has encountered many dangers. However, with his exceptional wisdom and extraordinary courage, he often turns misfortune into fortune. To this end, Chiev even wrote a small booklet teaching unarmed individuals how to deal with highway robbers, how to use bonfires to fend off fierce beasts, how to use magic to hypnotize dragons, and various wilderness survival skills. This booklet greatly enhanced Chiev Koran's reputation and became an essential travel guide. However, Chiev did not anticipate being trapped in a sack, a rather novel method of kidnapping. Lying on horseback is entirely different from riding; Chiev was jolted to the point of nearly vomiting, suffering immensely. In the darkness, he struggled to discern the direction, as if he were getting further away from Marif. The undulating terrain indicated that they were galloping through the wilderness.

Qiwawa cried out, hoping that the person across from him could save him

What is wrong?" Chekhov asked gently, sensing that something was amiss

At that moment, a group of fully armed soldiers surged out from the city gate, holding long spears as they approached. Leading them was a plump middle-aged man dressed in a purple robe. Upon seeing Reis and Qifu, he was first taken aback, then filled with joy, and quickly exclaimed: "Heavens! It's him, it's him, it's the High Priest! He is unharmed, what a blessing!" Qifu recognized him as the professional priest of Marif. Before he could react, suddenly, Reis let out a loud shout, and Ma sprang to his feet, then charged towards the group of soldiers like lightning.

"You have no right to demand so much," the bald man said coldly

Chev said nothing, turned over and dismounted, standing on the ground. Those who do not venture outside will not know this; when walking in the wild, one can often judge a person's danger level at a glance based on their attire: if the person encountered is clad in shiny armor, draped in a bright cloak, with colorful feathers adorning their helmet and wielding a gleaming sword, they are most likely a naive young man who has never been outside, certainly a pretty face but of no real use; conversely, it is often those who dress simply, carelessly wrapped in dirty cloaks, and lacking even a hat, who are the most dangerous. They do not need extravagant clothing, nor do they have time to polish their armor and swords; a hat adorned with splendid feathers is merely a good target... They deeply understand the principles of survival, and beneath their unremarkable appearance lies a hidden threat; in their empty hands, a deadly weapon may appear at any moment. Based on Chev's experience, he knew he had encountered robbers.

The encirclement shrank again, and the duration was prolonged. Amidst the sounds of clashing swords, there was a faint, piercing sound of sharp blades piercing flesh. Suddenly, a bandit stumbled out of the circle, pressing his hand against his chest, his face contorted in a terrifying grimace, blood oozing between his fingers. The bald man waved his hand, signaling the attack to cease. Qifu noticed that Reis was already covered in blood, his clothes torn into strips, and the armor beneath was cracked. Suddenly, a bandit stumbled out of the circle, pressing his hand against his chest, his face contorted in a terrifying grimace, blood oozing between his fingers. The bald man waved his hand, signaling the attack to cease. Qifu noticed that Reis was already covered in blood, his clothes torn into strips, and the armor beneath was cracked.

Reis Doma... Chev murmured softly, having no particular impression of the surname Doma. It seemed that a long time ago, there was someone named Doma who fell to his death in a collapsed tomb... He wondered if this Doma was an ancestor of the same lineage

Do you not believe? Do you think that with the protection of the gods, the sacrifices are enveloped in a halo of sanctity? Are these sacrifices inherently of a corpulent and gluttonous appearance? No, it is because too much ill-gotten wealth has filled their greedy bellies

I... the person behind me smiled slightly, "I am a thorough robber, but I am not forced into it; I was born to be a robber"

"He cheated me out of my money," the kidnapper shouted indignantly. Cheated out of money? Qi Fu was taken aback. Who have I ever cheated out of money?

The man scrutinized Chekhov once more and revealed an apologetic smile: "I should be the one to apologize; I am sorry for having startled you," he said, leading the horse. "Please allow me to escort you back."

Qie Fu saw Lei Si gritting his teeth, cold sweat continuously oozing from his face, clearly indicating that he was seriously injured, which startled him. "Are you alright?"

The person's tone suddenly changed, becoming very agitated

"Looking for me?" Reis furrowed his brow slightly, as if in some pain; it seemed that he had also sustained an injury from the previous blow

"Go on, quickly," Reis said softly, his gaze fixed on a tall, bald man, who was also sizing up Reis.

Enough!" that person suddenly shouted, startling the strong man into taking a step back

"Reis, I refuse to be deceived like this..." Before the person could finish speaking, there was a loud bang, followed by a cry of pain, and then silence ensued

I... uh... Chekhov... Chekhov prayed that the person would never have seen the booklet he had written. Fortunately, he did not have any particular reaction to that name

The bald man pulled someone over from the side and said, "Do you know him?"

Could you be more specific? The sacrificial rites... how did they deceive people out of money, and then... demolished the houses?

"Reis, Reis Doma," the man said simply

Chev decided it was best to follow his own advice. He was stuffed into a sack and mindlessly kidnapped, not knowing the way, so he jumped onto a horse's back. This time, his treatment improved; at least he was sitting on the horse's back rather than having his stomach pressed against the horse's rear.

Reis glanced at Chiv and said, "Let him go, he has nothing to do with this."

"Hey, the weather is nice." The bald man smiled at Reis and said, his hands tucked into the tattered sleeves, neck drawn in, appearing somewhat fragile. The others were scattered along the road; although disorganized, they had effectively blocked the path, making it impossible to proceed. Reis turned back to look, and two more people had appeared behind him, casually leaning against a tree trunk, idly playing with twigs.

If a person has swindled you out of all your money and then demolished your only place of refuge, would you not call that enmity? Although his face is unseen, one can sense his emotions

The bald man grinned and reached out to grab the horse's reins. Suddenly, Qifu felt a flash before his eyes, as if a lightning bolt had struck, bright and blinding. Then he heard a loud bang, which made his ears ring. The horse neighed and reared up on its front legs, while the bald man had already taken a step back, covering his arm and sneering incessantly. Looking at Reis, he noticed a cut in the fabric under his armpit, revealing the tight armor beneath. The two men separated in an instant, too fast for Qifu to discern who had suffered the loss.

The person riding the horse chuckled lightly, merely letting out a few dry laughs before stopping

Suddenly, with a wave of his hand, the bald man caused the surrounding circle to shrink abruptly. Then, amidst a flurry of sounds, the circle expanded suddenly and came to a swift halt. This time, Reis's posture changed; his right hand hung limply, blood dripping steadily down, while he switched to grasping the hilt of the sword with his left hand.

Chiev fell silent; fortunately, he appeared relatively thin. However, as a high priest, he could not afford to remain uninformed.

I am already homeless," the burly man said indignantly, "It is all the damned sacrifices' fault!

Reis nodded slightly, the longsword still sheathed, his hand resting firmly on the hilt. Qifu noticed that his fingers were exceptionally long and strong

This fool ... ... always makes me worry ... ..." The person looked up at the sky and murmured, somewhat helplessly

"What is this thing?" that person asked

"Kill him, kill him!" The people around began to clamor, immediately surrounding Reis.

"Let's go." The man also jumped onto the horse's back, sitting behind Qifu. With a shout, the strong steed began to trot along the path they had come.

Greg wanted to reclaim his money, but he was beaten by the minions of the sacrifice and was driven out of Marif. For several days, he simply stared blankly at the empty ground

"What the hell, this is not a sacrifice!" shouted the tall man in astonishment, as if he had encountered a monster. Another person crossed his arms over his chest, squinting as he looked up and down at Qifu, revealing a look of surprise.

The horse ran farther and farther away, and Qifu's heart grew increasingly anxious. It seemed that they had already entered the arid plains of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Qifu could hear the howling sound of the wind, as if he were in a dense forest. At that moment, the horse let out a high-pitched neigh, suddenly raising its front legs. In an instant, Qifu thought he was going to fall off and let out a terrified cry. However, the person on the horse tightly held him down, while the other hand tightened the reins. The horse finally stopped running, breathing heavily, and stood still. At that moment, the horse let out a high-pitched neigh, suddenly raising its front legs. In an instant, Qifu thought he was going to fall off and let out a terrified cry. However, the person on the horse tightly held him down, while the other hand tightened the reins. The horse finally stopped running, breathing heavily, and stood still.

What did you say! The kidnapper jumped up

"I guessed it, that despicable thief." Chekhov heard someone speaking from across the way; the voice was quite unfriendly, tinged with a bit of anger, yet it was remarkably clear, suggesting that the speaker was relatively young

To everyone's surprise, the bald man actually nodded in agreement. "Boss, no, don't let him go!" The robbers surrounded the bald man, clamoring. The robber lying on the ground clutched the bald man's leg, his voice hoarse as he said, "Boss, kill him, kill him... avenge me... I'm about to die... how unlucky I am, why am I so unlucky..." The bald man looked down at him, suddenly kicked him away, and cursed, "Fool! Crying like a baby over such a small wound. If it weren't for the fact that the other party showed mercy, you would have been full of holes by now." It turned out that Reis had not been ruthless; he had merely struck his chest, and the tip of the sword had immediately turned back, no longer stabbing down. The robber leader's gaze was piercing, and he saw everything clearly.

They walked slowly forward, and could already see the walls of Marif, but Reis reined in the horse and stopped. By the roadside leading to Marif, a few people stood in small groups, all dressed in tattered gray robes, some even barefoot, gathered together discussing something. Qif felt Reis's body suddenly stiffen, and the hand holding the reins tightened. Reis was about to turn the horse around, but those few people noticed them, turned their heads, and stopped talking. Qif felt Reis's body suddenly stiffen, and the hand holding the reins tightened. Reis was about to turn the horse around, but those few people noticed them, turned their heads, and stopped talking. Reis stood still, his hand resting on the long sword at his waist

Yes

"Why do you have a grudge against the sacrifices?" Qifu asked cautiously

"It's nothing," Reis said, his face pale, "I won't die from this little injury."

Qie Fu felt a chill running down his back; fortunately, he did not reveal his identity, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable

"In a one-on-one match, you are no match for me," Reis said, his eyes fixed on the bald man. "Do you dare?"

Chev was once again taken aback, rendered speechless. Today's experience was indeed strange; a blacksmith had kidnapped him, while an eccentric bandit escorted him back. Truly...

Chiev struggled, letting out intermittent cries, but all he received in response were a few more blows to his backside. Chiev felt it was better not to act recklessly; as a high priest, being wrapped up in a filthy sack and having his backside beaten was certainly not a very honorable situation.

"Borrow? Is there anyone who borrows like you? I detest others touching my belongings, and you are no exception."