This situation was what led to the appearance of these bandits. And if Fang Ming's prediction was correct, the situation would not lead to a truce, but would only develop in a worse direction.
"Everyone."
Fang Ming spoke.
"What do you want?"
Fang Ming could have acted tough, and he should have – these people's combat power was too low to threaten Fang Ming, who had opened six spirit meridians and possessed the strength of the mid-Dao Foundation stage.
However, in order to test the malice of this world, whether it would push things in a bad direction,
Fang Ming chose to test it.
And this simple question, as expected, drew laughter from these bandits.
"Hahaha! Seeing us all here, don't you know who we are?"
"We are the Bandit Gang! We're here to rob!"
"Now hand over your goods!"
The leader of the bandits spoke.
"Boss, not only do we want the goods, but we also want to kill these two!"
A bandit below suggested.
"Good idea! Old Six, that's what we'll do!"
The bandit leader quickly adopted the suggestion.
Clearly, he felt the suggestion was very appropriate.
"Wait! Hold on!"
Fang Ming quickly called out, "How about these goods as payment for our lives?"
A thoughtful glint flashed in Fang Ming's eyes.
He was testing whether the malice of this world would lead to the worst possible outcome.
When Yan Deye heard Fang Ming's words, he was also very confused.
How could it be? The young man who had killed over a dozen constables without batting an eye before, upon encountering this bandit gang, didn't attack in anger and display his might, eliminating these bandits.
Instead, he proposed leaving the goods as payment for their lives?
This approach did not align with the persona he had previously established!
Yan Deye was extremely bewildered at this moment. He felt that the youth, who had previously shown a ruthless nature, was acting differently now.
However, Yan Deye abided by the rule of not asking too many questions and did not press further.
He pulled the arrow from his right shoulder, stopping the bleeding, and then remained still.
He quietly watched the situation unfold.
The bandit gang's reaction was indeed as Fang Ming had predicted.
The leader of the bandits heard this and laughed heartily again.
"Payment for our lives? You want to hand over the goods to us and earn the right to live?"
"That sounds good, but..."
"I can kill you all and still get the wealth, get the goods."
"Why should you willingly offer them to gain a life?"
"Can't we just take them ourselves?"
In the bandits' view, asking this question was like asking a fool.
What was this talk of "payment for lives" was ridiculous; they could just rob them here and get the money – the money, in the bandits' eyes, already belonged to them.
Why should they spare their lives?
"Oh... is that what you think?"
Fang Ming spoke slowly.
"Are you really sure you want to take my life?"
"You know, my family is not to be trifled with."
"But once the experts from my family arrive, you will have nowhere to run but death."
"If you let me go now and hand over the money, it will be a win-win situation for everyone."
"You bandits get the money, and we two get to live."
"But if you push things too far."
"We may lose our lives, but under my family's retaliation, you won't fare well either, will you?"
"Knowing when to stop is the right way."
Fang Ming was testing the malice of the world in another way.
As soon as these words were spoken, they stirred the bandit leader's heart.
Yes, the person driving the carriage beside him was just a groom, likely a servant, no need to pay attention.
But this young man, whom he hadn't looked at closely before, now that he did, was dressed in extremely luxurious clothing, clearly indicating wealth and high status.
He was likely a young master from one of the noble families of the Yuán Tiān Kingdom...
Now, if he were to kill him, it would be easy, but what if it provoked retaliation?
The bandit leader's expression clearly showed he was contemplating how to resolve the situation.
This indicated he was wavering.
Fang Ming immediately saw this situation.
He thought to himself, "The malice of the world seems not to be irresistible."
"Heaven's will ultimately falls upon the hearts of men."
However, although the bandit leader's intention to kill had wavered.
He suddenly changed his mind.
No matter how powerful his background, no matter how wealthy and noble, what if he killed him here directly, and no one would know?
Conversely, if he let him go, the more powerful his family background became upon his return, the more likely it was to provoke a backlash.
Then, he himself would end up in a miserable state.
This person was trying to trick him.
Despite his current meekness, he would likely retaliate immediately upon returning, wouldn't he?
This person must not be allowed to live!
With this realization, the bandit leader signaled to his subordinates.
His subordinates had been with him for many years, acting together multiple times. Upon seeing the signal, they immediately understood the bandit leader's intention.
This was clearly an order to kill the young man.
The subordinate was decisive and acted without delay. The moment he received the order, he instantly moved.
A dagger appeared in his hand. This dagger was no ordinary item; it was a piece of equipment that had been enchanted eight times and reinforced seven times by a blacksmith. It was very effective for surprise attacks and sudden assaults.
The subordinate had used this dagger to assassinate many people before.
Now, he thrust the dagger towards Fang Ming.
Just as he had achieved success before, he believed he would achieve it this time as well.
This young man, he thought, clearly lacked experience in the martial world. A surprise attack from an unsuspecting position would surely take his life.
This was what the subordinate thought.
However, he was wrong.
Fang Ming had already seen through his trick.
This subordinate was following the path of a rogue class, using the rogue class's exclusive skills and a finely crafted dagger to assassinate.
Many individuals with strong spellcasting abilities and long-range attacks, but weak close-combat capabilities, such as archers or mages, would be vulnerable to such a sudden assassination.
However, Fang Ming was a cultivator.
Cultivators did not lack the weakness of a fragile body. Among those cultivators who did not practice body refinement and relied purely on spiritual energy, their physical bodies could not withstand the magical attacks of their opponents. Compared to their magical abilities, their physical bodies were indeed a weakness.