Lu Chen rushed into the town, his heart beating violently in his chest. The deserted streets felt like the throat of a giant beast, terrifyingly silent, with only the howling wind echoing in his ears. He slowed his pace, gripped his dagger tightly, and advanced with extreme caution, every step feeling as though he were walking on the edge of a blade.
"Cana! Where are you?" Lu Chen called out in a low voice, but only hollow echoes answered him.
He ran all the way to Cana's shop and found the front doors tightly shut, the panels solidly nailed up with wooden planks. He pounded heavily on the door. "Cana! Open up! It's me, Lu Chen!"
After quite a moment, a rustling sound came from inside, followed by the slow sliding of the bolt. Cana poked her head out, her face pale, her eyes filled with terror.
"Lu Chen, you're finally back! You scared me to death, I thought..." Seeing Lu Chen, Cana grabbed his arm and pulled him into the shop, then quickly shut the door and barricaded it with the wooden boards once again.
"What happened? Why is there not a single person on the street?" Lu Chen looked around. The interior of the shop was dim, and the goods on the shelves were scattered haphazardly, as if the place had just been ransacked.
Cana took a deep breath and said in a lowered voice, "A gang of bandits has appeared near the town lately. They are vicious and cruel, robbing everyone they see, taking whatever they can, and burning down quite a few houses. Everyone in town has gone into hiding."
"Bandits?" Lu Chen frowned. "Why have I never heard of them before?"
"This is the first time I've seen them too. There are many of them, and they all carry weapons. The town guards are no match for them at all." Cana's voice trembled slightly. "They came a few days ago, stole a lot of things, and even injured several people. The mayor has already sent people to a neighboring city to ask for help, but there's no telling when we'll have any news."
"How could this happen..." Lu Chen clenched his fists, an ominous premonition rising in his heart.
"Lu Chen, what are your plans now?" Cana asked worriedly.
"I'm staying here to protect you," Lu Chen said with a resolute gaze.
"No, it's too dangerous for you to stay here. You must leave quickly, go hide in a safe place, and come back after the bandits are gone," Cana said anxiously.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Lu Chen patted Cana's shoulder and comforted her, "You don't need to worry about me, just take care of yourself."
Cana wanted to say more, but seeing Lu Chen's steadfast gaze, she ultimately swallowed her words.
Lu Chen left Cana's shop with his heart full of doubt. These bandits had arrived abruptly, and their targets were too precise; they didn't look like ordinary roving outlaws. Could Sam be pulling strings behind the scenes? He decided to investigate in secret, unaware that he had already walked straight into a carefully laid trap.
Leaving Cana's shop, Lu Chen carried a heavy sense of unease in his heart. The appearance of the bandits was far too suspicious, bearing a strong resemblance to Sam's usual style. He decided to go scout the situation first to see if he could find any clues.
Circumventing a few secluded alleys, Lu Chen came to a tavern in town. This place was a mixed bag of people and made an ideal spot for gathering information. He walked in as casually as possible, ordered a mug of ale, sat down in a corner, and pricked up his ears to carefully listen to the conversations around him.
"Did you hear? Master Sam has made a fortune lately!" a heavily bearded man said in a low voice.
"Really? Where on earth did he get the money?" another thin man asked curiously.
"Where else? From those bandits, of course! I heard Master Sam colluded with those bandits, sending them to rob the wealthy folks, and then he buys the stolen goods from the bandits at a low price, making a profit on the difference," the bearded man said mysteriously.
"So that's how it is! I was wondering how Master Sam suddenly got so rich!" The thin man was enlightened.
Hearing this, Lu Chen already had his answer. It really was Sam behind the scenes! He had deliberately let the bandits run wild near the town to create panic, and then seized the opportunity to swallow up the property of other merchants, ultimately achieving his goal of controlling the entire town.
He set down his mug and quietly slipped out of the tavern. He knew he had to find evidence as soon as possible to expose Sam's conspiracy; otherwise, the entire town would fall into his clutches.
He decided to check the vicinity of Sam's estate first—perhaps he could find some trace of evidence. Taking advantage of the cover of night, he sneaked into Sam's residence, only to unexpectedly find the courtyard at the back brightly lit and bustling with noise.
He crept closer, hid behind a large tree, and looked in through the window. He saw Sam sitting at a table, chatting and laughing cheerfully with several fierce-looking men. The table was piled high with gold, silver, jewels, and various rare antiques, evidently plundered from the robbed merchants.
"My brothers, thanks to your help this time, I've been able to obtain all of this so smoothly." Sam raised his wine cup to the men and said, "As long as we keep cooperating, the wealth of the entire town will be ours for the taking!"
"Master Sam, you're too polite! Working for you gets us good food and drink, which is far better than going out to rob people on our own!" a burly man with a scar across his face said flatteringly.
"Hahaha, good! As long as you follow me loyally, I guarantee you'll all live good lives!" Sam laughed heartily.
Seeing this, Lu Chen's heart burned with fury. He could no longer hold back, and with a sudden shove, he pushed open the window and vaulted into the room.
"Sam! Your conspiracy is exposed!" Lu Chen roared.
Seeing Lu Chen appear out of nowhere, Sam was startled for a split second before an insidious smile spread across his face.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Lu Chen." He slowly stood up, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "It seems you've already found out about my plan, but so what? Do you really think you can stop me?"
Lu Chen's abrupt appearance was undoubtedly like a stone thrown into Sam's banquet. The previously noisy room fell instantly silent, and those fierce-looking thugs all stood up, glaring at Lu Chen with ill intent. The scar-faced man reacted first; he drew the curved blade from his waist, pointed it at Lu Chen, and sneered, "Kid, who do you think you are? Daring to run in here and cause trouble—have you grown tired of living?"
Lu Chen ignored the scar-faced man's threat. He walked straight up to the table, picked up a gold cup—one he had seen not long ago in Cana's shop, carved with delicate patterns that instantly marked it as immensely valuable. He tossed the gold cup down in front of Sam and said coldly, "Do you have any explanation for this, Sam?"
Unflustered, Sam picked up the gold cup and examined it closely, as if what was carved upon it wasn't a pattern, but Lu Chen's fate. He said leisurely, "This is merely a gift, Lu Chen. Why must you fly into such a rage?"
"A gift? You robbed the merchants of the entire town, and now you're telling me this is a gift?" Lu Chen laughed out of sheer anger. "Do you take everyone else for fools?"
Sam put down the gold cup, the smile fading from his face as his gaze turned sharp. "It seems you have no intention of leaving here alive today."
Before his voice had even faded, the thugs swarmed forward, brandishing their weapons and charging at Lu Chen. Although Lu Chen was agile, two fists are no match for four hands, especially against such overwhelming numbers, and he quickly found himself at a disadvantage.
Right at that moment, an idea flashed through Lu Chen's mind. Seizing his chance, he kicked over the table and, using the overturned furniture as cover, broke through the encirclement and bolted toward the door without looking back.
"Don't let him get away! After him!" Sam roared.
The thugs immediately gave chase. Lu Chen dodged left and right through the narrow corridor, running for his life; he knew that once caught, he would face certain death.
He burst out of the residence and, sheltered by the night, threaded his way through the complex web of streets. The thugs pursued him relentlessly, their curses and footsteps echoing behind him like a pack of fierce hounds hunting their prey.
Lu Chen's strength was gradually failing, but he knew he could not stop. He had to shake off the pursuit as soon as possible and find someone who could help him expose Sam's crimes.
He remembered Cana mentioning once that on the eastern side of the town there was a dense forest; its complex terrain made it an ideal place to hide from pursuers. Gritting his teeth, he sprinted desperately toward the east.
At last, he caught sight of the edge of the woods. He plunged straight into the dense forest, weaving through the thick brush. The thugs rushed up to the edge of the woods, but didn't dare to venture in rashly, left with no choice but to watch helplessly as Lu Chen vanished into the darkness.
Lu Chen collapsed in exhaustion beneath a large tree, gasping heavily for breath. He knew he was temporarily safe, but his heart felt no relief, for he knew this was only the beginning. To save the town, he had to find a greater power to fight against Sam and his allies.
Just then, a crisp burst of laughter drifted from not far away. The sound was as melodious as a nightingale's, yet carried a hint of flippancy, appearing exceptionally jarring in the quiet night. Lu Chen's heart gave a jolt. Who was it? Who would appear out here at a time like this?