Chapter 5
You're Ruthless, I'm Even More Ruthless
Outside the west gate of Gumu City, the streets were slightly more lively than those inside the city.
In a relatively open space, it resembled a temporary market.
Many weary adventurers, covered in blood and wounds, gathered here.
Some were packing their belongings, while others set up small stalls on the spot.
"Flamingweed picked today, 2 gold coins per plant! Useful for lighting and alchemy, and even cheaper if you buy in bulk!"
"Anyone buying wolf fangs? Level 12 Berserker fangs, top quality. Name your price, don't hesitate!"
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way! My brother's leg has been scratched by poison ivy, and he needs an antidote!"
……
Shouts and the groans of the wounded mingled together.
Not far away, several soldiers in standard armor stood by with their arms crossed, watching coldly.
Lin Mo didn't linger and headed straight out of the city, going against the flow of people.
His actions immediately attracted a lot of attention.
"Huh? Out of town alone in the middle of the night?"
"Judging by his aura, he's probably not even level 10, right? Is he courting death?"
"This newbie must be desperate for money; who knows, we might see him again tomorrow?"
"Goodbye? You mean what he looks like when he turns into stray dog poop, hahaha?"
……
Hearing the murmurs, Lin Mo ignored them.
Their steps did not falter in the slightest.
However, he had just stepped out of the city gate.
A figure suddenly darted out from the side and blocked his way.
The man, with a pointed face and ill-fitting leather armor, approached with a fawning smile: "Hey, young man, you look unfamiliar. Out of town alone in the middle of the night? Want a map? A precise map of the forest's outskirts, marking low-level monster spawn points and several safe water sources. Only 10 gold coins, no cheating!"
Lin Mo frowned.
He does need the map, but 10 gold coins represent more than half of his current funds.
This price is outrageous!
He coldly declined, saying, "No need."
As soon as Lin Mo finished speaking, the smile on the man's face vanished instantly.
It became somber and serious.
He took a step closer and lowered his voice: "Young man, I think... you need it."
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed: "What do you mean?"
The commotion attracted the attention of other adventurers in the open area, who whispered among themselves, "It's Layton, messing with the newbies again."
"That kid's unlucky. He's been targeted by Layton. He'll be lucky to escape with his life."
"Yeah, I got robbed too when I first came here, damn it..."
Shh, keep your voice down, don't get yourself into trouble.
……
Listening to the surrounding discussions, Lin Mo understood.
He narrowed his eyes, looking at Layton: "Robbing at the city gate? Aren't you afraid of the guards?"
He gestured with his eyes to the soldiers not far away.
Layton scoffed, as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. He pointed to his feet: "Idiot, look closely, we're already outside the city! Even if I kill you here, the guards will just come to collect the body; they have nothing to do with me making a fortune!"
Lin Mo nodded, his face expressionless, but he gripped the black sword tightly.
"I see, outside the city... there's no protection, then I understand."
Seeing that he had given in, Layton proudly raised his chin: "Now that you understand, stop dawdling and hurry up and give me the money..."
Before he could finish speaking, a dark light suddenly flashed before his eyes!
While he was speaking, Lin Mo swung his sword.
This sword strike came without any warning.
The jet-black blade was like a venomous snake emerging from its hole.
It sliced through Layton's throat with perfect precision!
Layton's smug expression froze instantly, turning into utter shock and bewilderment.
He felt a chill on his neck and instinctively covered it with his hand.
Warm liquid was gushing out, blocking his trachea.
"Uh...you...you..."
He made a futile hoarse sound, his finger trembling as he pointed at Lin Mo.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
In a normal battle, he was confident he could dodge that attack.
But he never expected that this rookie would be so ruthless and decisive!
In the rush, he could only take a half step back, and his throat was still slit open.
At this moment, Lin Mo's eyes were cold. Without saying a word, he exerted force with his wrist again, and the black sword slashed horizontally with even greater power!
puff!
A head, spraying a jet of blood, shot into the sky!
Layton's headless body swayed and then fell heavily to the ground.
[Slay a level 10 adventurer]
[Gain Experience Points]
[Absorb soul energy, all attributes +2]
A faint but clear sense of power flowed through my body once again.
At the same time, he could feel a slight, satisfied tremor emanating from the black sword in his hand.
quiet--
The adventurers, who had just been chattering away, fell into a deathly silence.
All the adventurers and soldiers who witnessed this scene were stunned.
Ignoring the shocked gazes, Lin Mo crouched down and quickly began searching Layton's body.
They found a money bag containing about twenty-five or twenty-six gold coins, as well as a blueprint, which must be the map Layton was referring to.
Lin Mo put the money pouch away without even glancing around.
Carrying the still-dripping black sword, he turned and strode into the deeper darkness outside the city.
Only a group of shocked adventurers remained in the city.
"Holy shit, Layton's been killed?"
It's unclear who spoke first, but then the sound of discussion from the crowd could be heard again.
"Instant kill?! Two sword strikes! Just two! The first strike to the throat, the second strike... directly chopped off the head?!"
"Are you kidding me! Layton may be disgusting, but he's already level 10!"
"Did you even see him make a move? I just saw a flash of black light, and Layton was gone!"
……
Even the city gate guards who had been maintaining order with their arms crossed and expressions blank could no longer hold back.
A younger guard's voice was somewhat hoarse: "Captain, should we... intervene? After all, they're dying at the city gate..."
The guard, referred to as the captain, glanced at Lin Mo's departing figure and said in a deep voice, "Fighting outside the city is not within our scope of duty. Layton has kicked a hornet's nest... Don't cause trouble."