Chapter 516: Chapter 263: Humanity, Desire, and the Bottom Line
Over forty goblins, along with an adult Earth Goblin.
In most cases, for low-level adventurers who have yet to gain a Professional Level, they are formidable enemies that can’t be defeated by force.
The goblins, with their numbers that almost fill the forest gaps and their reckless ferocity, coupled with the Earth Goblin’s command, are enough to tear apart a well-equipped ordinary adventurer team.
Even Xia Nan, who long ago had not yet advanced but had already mastered [Teeth Hunting], rarely willingly ventured deep into goblin nests with clear Earth Goblin leaders and many traps while earning extra money and practicing Battle Skill in the Mist Forest.
But now, the situation has changed.
On one hand, although there are many goblins, the terrain is not a cramped, skill-limiting underground nest.
Instead, it’s a flat woodland with no rock walls to impede movement.
While the dense trees might be troublesome, compared to the goblin nest, the battle environment is undoubtedly much better.
On the other hand, and most critically, Xia Nan’s combat ability has skyrocketed since becoming a lv2 professional.
Pure strength suppression.
With 8 points of Strength and 10 points of agility, without sufficient comparisons, he doesn’t know which level his physical fitness stands among normal professionals.
But for those thin-armed, legged, ugly goblins, Xia Nan can now literally "tear them apart."
Yes, tear apart.
He had already tested this on the way here, proving it was very easy.
He doesn’t even need to use special body parts like bone joints, just grabbing both shoulders, or directly going for the chest and abdomen.
With just slight force, accompanied by the gushing, splattering stench of blood, the familiar, pleasant sound of flesh tearing would echo in his ears again.
Those twig-like arms swinging ridiculous wooden sticks appeared in slow motion, countless times slowed down in his eyes.
As long as he paid a bit of attention, not a scratch would be left on his armor.
The vast chasm of strength difference, until reaching astronomical numbers for qualitative change, renders the goblins’ numbers meaningless to Xia Nan.
Given this premise, if added with the now lv5 "Master" level [Teeth Hunting], it is even more devastating.
Take the recent battle as an example.
With keen Perception detecting the approximate enemy numbers and identifying Elite Individuals, Xia Nan, in his first attack—executing [Teeth Hunting] to mow through the goblin crowd, decapitating the Earth Goblin.
The specialty [Night Mother’s Gaze] was passively triggered, completely shattering the remaining green skins’ mental will on the field.
None dared swing a stick at him, only screaming and fleeing under utter Fear.
Turning the fight into an undisputed massacre.
Given Xia Nan’s character, he could not possibly allow any goblins to escape under his watch.
The iron-gray sword light flickered continuously under the night sky, resolving a catastrophe that could have consigned Grey Valley Village to history, leaving hundreds of civilians homeless.
...
...
Deep into the night.
In the center of Grey Valley Village, inside a wooden hut as simple as the surrounding houses.
Two Longswords leaned crossed against the wall.
Xia Nan sat on a creaky wooden chair, a basket of barley bread, several portions of smoked meat, a roasted, crispy-skinned bird, steaming porridge with cracked eggs, a large chunk of yellow white cheese, and some fresh green vegetables laid out on the table before him.
Although he regretted that there wasn’t the type of dish he loved, he knew that this was already the highest-standard hospitality the village could offer their guests.
He didn’t show the slightest dissatisfaction, just eating one bite at a time, replenishing the energy lost during days of walking in the woods.
Following the general conduct of adventurers in this world, having saved Grey Valley Village from its original doom, helping solve the goblins’ siege,
Xia Nan could completely demand a high payment from the villagers, or like countless stories he’d heard in taverns, possibly even domineer over the village.
In fact, the elderly but robust and particularly spirited village chief "Clapam" had prepared for this.
After Xia Nan killed the last goblin in front of everyone, Clapam, while leading villagers to express sincere gratitude, very actively offered to provide him with a reward.
The figure mentioned by the other party, even Xia Nan, who, apart from the original memories, didn’t know much about this world, could clearly understand was probably a significant expense.
The reason, on one hand, was genuinely heartfelt gratitude for his help, and on the other, hoping to demonstrate the village’s stance with monetary reward, wishing Xia Nan wouldn’t bully the villagers too harshly later.
Knowing that if he accepted the money, Grey Valley Village would struggle through winters for years to come.
Out of the normal moral values formed under good education from a previous life, and his substantial wealth, Xia Nan refused this reward, which was insignificant to him but could be a heavy burden to the honest villagers.
Moreover, he honestly didn’t lack money at the moment.
Just the escort mission’s reward drastically increased his fortune by 630 Gold.