Chapter 082: Martial Saint?

“Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely inform the other merchants like myself about this!” Merchant Qian exclaimed.

Traveling through Skyreach Mountain not only saves nearly half the travel expenses, but with the threat of mountain bandits eliminated, the cost of hiring mercenaries drops significantly as well. After paying a ten percent toll, merchants could only profit. If Skyreach Mountain truly charges only ten percent of the goods’ value as a toll, many will surely choose this route in the future.

In this way, merchants save money, more choose the Skyreach route, and the mountain itself earns many times more than before—far easier than risking their lives in constant battles for loot. And with Xin Lang, a “Martial Saint,” here, who would dare refuse the toll?

As for Xiahou Cheng, though Xin Lang’s “Vitality Blade” was mostly blocked by his warhorse, the blow still left him seriously wounded. His men carried him off to tend his injuries.

Xiahou Cheng had attendants, but Xin Lang was not so fortunate—there was no one to care for him, and he had to pretend as if nothing was wrong.

Xin Lang’s consciousness slipped into the level-up device. He wanted to take out a bottle of “Huaqilu” to restore his strength, but now that he was the center of attention, there was no chance to take the potion openly.

“What should I do?” he wondered.

After activating the level-up device, Xin Lang noticed his “Golden Silkworm Inner Armor” and “Heavenly Halberd” gloves equipped on his character. Suddenly, an idea struck. He opened his storage compartment, took out a bottle of “Huaqilu,” and, instead of materializing it in the real world, dragged it directly onto his character.

At once, the potion turned into shimmering white light, absorbed by his avatar. Xin Lang felt his strength instantly return to its peak.

“It works!” he thought, delighted.

He had noticed that equipment and weapons could be directly equipped, so he’d tried the same with medicine. To his surprise, it worked—even more effectively than taking it directly.

“From now on, I’ll prepare more life-saving potions in the storage compartment. As long as the supply holds, I’m nearly immortal,” Xin Lang mused.

“Boss, we’ve got a situation here!” Lin San, who was inspecting the goods, suddenly called out.

Xin Lang withdrew his consciousness and returned to reality. “What is it?” he asked.

Lin San replied, “Boss, there are two women in this cart. What should we do?”

“Women!” At the mention, Fatty Gu perked up. He strode over to the cart Lin San indicated, reaching to lift the curtain.

“Get lost!” came a sharp rebuke from within.

With a bang, the lecherous Fatty Gu was sent flying out.

“Serves you right!” Qian Baidu laughed at Fatty Gu’s misfortune. “You pervert, got yourself hurt, didn’t you?”

Fortunately, Fatty Gu wore the “Golden Silkworm Inner Armor” given by Xin Lang, so though the blow was infused with inner strength, he was unharmed. Dusting himself off, he cursed, “Stupid brat, no matter how lustful I am, I’m still better than your obsession with your own sister!”

The curtain was flung aside, and a charming young maid leapt from the carriage, hands on her hips, glaring at Qian Baidu and Fatty Gu. “If either of you dares disrespect my lady, you’ll answer to me!”

Xin Lang sized up the maid—delicate features, fair skin, hair done in twin buns, a fiery little thing. She was young, yet already a fourth-level martial artist.

“If the maid is a fourth-level martial artist, the lady within must have quite the background,” Xin Lang thought.

He turned to Merchant Qian, his face darkening. “What’s this? Why didn’t you mention there were women in the caravan? Did your toll not include their fee?”

“Ah… Boss…” Merchant Qian nearly dropped to his knees in fright. “They aren’t part of our caravan. They forced their way in at the border town since we were all headed to Summer Capital. I simply forgot about them—please, Lord Martial Saint, forgive me!”

Xin Lang approached the cart and addressed the maid, “You have two choices. First, pay the toll, and we’ll let you pass.”

“And the second?” the maid asked stubbornly, chin raised.

“The second…” Xin Lang swept his gaze over his three hundred or so men, grinning. “All my brothers here are men, and men have needs. But I don’t allow them to bully decent women. That’s why we charge every passing woman ten gold coins, so they can spend it elsewhere. But… if you refuse to pay…”

Before he finished, a fair, slender arm reached from inside the carriage, pressing twenty gold coins into the maid’s hand. A melodious voice said, “Qiu Yue, give them the coins.”

“Yes, my lady!” the maid named Qiu Yue reluctantly handed the twenty coins to Xin Lang.

He weighed the coins. “It should be forty.”

“You—!” Qiu Yue protested. “You said ten coins per person! How can you raise the price now?”

Xin Lang smiled. “Because your guards broke my rules, your toll is doubled, just like the merchants.”

The jade-like arm extended once more, this time holding a gold note. Qiu Yue thrust a note worth a hundred gold coins at Xin Lang. “Change! Together with the twenty coins, that makes eighty you owe me.”

Xin Lang chuckled, not taking the note. “Sorry, we only accept gold coins here on Skyreach Mountain.”

“That’s not in your rules!” Qiu Yue fumed.

“It is now.” Xin Lang turned to Merchant Qian. “Spread the word when you return—Skyreach Mountain only accepts coins. Notes aren’t valid here.”

“Uh… yes, yes, of course!” Merchant Qian agreed hurriedly, relieved that he’d brought enough cash this time.

At this moment, a voice from within the cart spoke. “Lord Martial Saint, we truly don’t have that much cash on us. Could you grant us some leeway?”