Killing All Bandits And Traitors

As soon as Adrien stepped into his self-dimensional space, he drew in a deep breath.

This was his private world—far from the noise of the outside, a quiet dimension where he could speak clearly with himself and the System.

He called out,

"System, the prices of the pills in your shop are absurd. A high-rank healing or energy-restoring pill costs 1 point—which is equivalent to about 10 middle-grade spirit stones."

He pointed to the price list displayed on the screen and said,

"For the same amount, I could buy at least a hundred local pills in the market. Sure, they're less potent, but a hundred is still a hundred."

The System's voice came, calm and measured—

"Host, you are comparing my pills to the ordinary concoctions of this local world. That is like comparing a medicine made from an angel's blood to a tonic brewed from common herbs."

Adrien narrowed his eyes.

"So you're saying everything you sell is unique?"

"No," the System clarified patiently.

"I am saying that my shop operates on a cosmic scale, not just the economic framework of this realm. The pricing of my items is determined by rarity, purity, efficacy, and universal utility."

The System continued,

"Imagine that in your current world, high-level spirit stones are extremely valuable because they are rare and potent. But as soon as you ascend to higher territories, those stones are considered as common as gravel. The density of energy and the demands there are so great that these stones become trivial."

Adrien listened closely.

"On the other hand," the System went on,

"the pills you find 'expensive' here are effective not only for the Martial Master stage but even up to the Saint Realm."

"That is why," the System concluded,

"you should view them as a long-term investment. They may feel overpriced now, but in the future, when ordinary medicines no longer work on your body, you will understand their true value."

"Think of it this way," the System offered an example,

"If gold is precious in your world, there are planets in the universe where gold sells for less than dust.

But some materials—like 'Star Core Essence' or 'Void Spirit Liquid'—are unknown on Earth, and there they are worth trillions."

"My shop is synchronized with the value of such substances."

Adrien slowly nodded.

He now understood he couldn't judge everything by the standards of this world alone.

"All right," he said at last.

"So from now on, I'll have to think not in local terms, but in a universal perspective when I buy anything."

He ended the conversation with the System and found his thoughts drifting back to that mysterious shadow. He murmured under his breath—

"It said—'Beware… the System.' What did that mean? Should I be wary of the System itself… or something else?"

The question kept echoing in his mind.

After a while, he realized that his knowledge of this world was still painfully limited. He understood that if he truly wanted to advance here, he couldn't rely solely on the System.

"I have to learn, discover, and understand on my own," he resolved.

In his heart, Adrien decided that once he had settled the most pressing matters of the clan, he would set out on a journey—to uncover the true depths of this world.

But before anything else, there was still one critical task remaining—to complete the formal foundation of the Merchant Guild.

Adrien retrieved the thick ledger he had been working on over the past weeks. It contained all his drafts for the Guild's regulations, systems, and structure. There were still many loopholes left to close.

For nearly ten continuous hours, he worked meticulously, cross-referencing and filling every gap. Finally, after reading the entire book one last time, he let out a satisfied breath.

In his mind, the Merchant Guild plan was now almost flawless.

Afterward, Adrien stood up and stepped out of the self-dimensional space.

The moment he emerged, he saw that dusk had fallen—the sun was sinking behind the horizon. He walked straight toward the palace's main hall, where his parents were already present.

Seeing him arrive, Victor asked,

"Son, where have you been? We have been waiting for you ever since we returned."

Adrien replied calmly,

"Father, I was at the training grounds, working on a few plans."

Without wasting any time, he began speaking directly about the bandits and Elder Zhu.

Victor's expression turned grave as he explained,

"I've had them all captured. But as you instructed, I kept them alive. I was waiting for your decision."

Adrien took a slow breath and said,

"Father, it's time to bring this matter to an end. Let's go and confront them."

Victor nodded, and together they left the palace, heading to the fortified compound where the bandits and Elder Zhu were being held.

The place was built like a fortress, guarded on all sides by elite sentries.

As they approached, they saw that Ming Hao and Ming Wei were already present, both standing vigilant watch over the prisoners.

The moment they saw Victor, Ming Hao and Ming Wei stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Victor asked,

"What is the situation?"

Ming Hao responded,

"We interrogated them, but none have opened their mouths."

Adrien, who had been quietly standing behind his father, inspected both men with his Golden Eye.

Status

Name: Ming Hao

Cultivation Realm: Soul Transcendence Stage – 7

Fate Points: 24

Role: Guardian of Victor

Clan Relationship: Loyal

Scope: Grade (B)

Status

Name: Ming Wei

Cultivation Realm: Soul Transcendence Stage – 5

Fate Points: 21 +1

Role: Guardian of Victor

Clan Relationship: Loyal

Scope: Grade (B)

Victor turned to Adrien.

"Son, they refuse to speak. What do you wish to do?"

Adrien's gaze was steady.

"Father, I only wish to speak to them once. After that, they will be executed in front of the people."

Victor looked at him carefully.

"You want to execute them publicly?"

"Yes, Father," Adrien said with calm finality.

"This step is necessary for everything we have planned ahead."

Victor was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well, son. Do as you believe is right."

He then motioned to Ming Hao.

"Come. Let's go to them."

Together, they entered the prison block where the bandits were confined.

The moment the bandit leader saw Victor, Ming Wei, and Ming Hao approaching, he lifted his chin defiantly.

"There's no reason to torment us any longer," he spat. "Just kill us."

Adrien stepped forward, sword in hand.

His eyes blazed with a golden light.

Status

Name: Shoma

Cultivation Realm: Soul Transcendence Stage – 1

Fate Points: 1 (Death imminent)

Role: Grim Cultivator | Agent of the Third Prince of the Fire Force Empire

Clan Relationship: Hostile

Scope: Grade (A)

Adrien looked at the statuses of everyone present, then stepped forward and spoke in a calm, cold voice:

"Shoma—cultivator of the vile Grim Sect and agent of the Third Prince of the Fire Force Empire. Am I correct, Shoma?"

Then, without waiting for a response, he turned his gaze to the rest of the bandits and began listing their names and affiliations one by one. Some were members of the Grim Sect, while others were merely common raiders. Adrien recited each of their details with precise clarity.

When Shoma heard Adrien linking his name directly to the Third Prince, the blood drained from his face.

Adrien continued,

"If there is anything you wish to confess, speak now. Though in truth, I no longer need to question you—

—you've already revealed everything."

Shoma, staring into Adrien's golden eyes, felt a fear far deeper than any Victor had ever inspired in him.

Victor, Ming Hao, and Ming Wei exchanged confused looks, unable to comprehend how Adrien could know so much about these men.

Victor finally asked, his voice low,

"Adrien… Are you saying the Fire Force Empire itself is targeting us? That all of this was their doing?"

Adrien smiled faintly.

"No, Father. Not the empire—only its Third Prince. Is that correct, Shoma?"

Shoma swallowed hard.

"You're very perceptive. I don't know how you discovered it, but yes… you're right. The Third Prince is behind all of this."

Adrien's eyes narrowed.

"And the reason, Shoma?"

Shoma exhaled shakily.

"I don't know the entire reason, but he harbors a personal grudge against you. It has something to do with that girl… The only thing he told us was—"

"Which girl?" Adrien cut in, his voice dangerously quiet.

"Alina," Shoma said hoarsely.

"He wants to make Alina his concubine. But she… she refused him—because of you."

The last word had barely left Shoma's lips when a sword cleaved clean through his neck.

His head toppled from his shoulders in a spray of blood.

Adrien didn't stop. Without hesitation, he poured his Qi into the blade and, in a single sweeping motion, beheaded every bandit in the prison.

Ming Hao and Ming Wei were nearly frozen in shock.

Even Victor could only stare at his son, speechless at the ruthless decisiveness he had just witnessed.

In Adrien's mind, the system's voice echoed serenely:

[SYSTEM: Mission 4 completed. Calculating reward...]

[ Mission – 4 ]

Mission: Kill all the bandits

Capture the bandit groups alive ✅

Annihilate all of them ✅

Reward: Determined by the number of enemies killed

Time limit: 1 month

Status: Complete

Adrien then turned and approached Elder Zhu. He looked him directly in the eye.

"Elder Zhu," he said quietly, "you also serve the Fire Force Empire, don't you?"

The elder said nothing.

Seeing his silence, Adrien's expression hardened.

"Very well. You too can go to hell."

He raised his sword—and in one clean strike, Elder Zhu's head fell to the floor.

Adrien started toward the elder's remaining accomplices, but Victor suddenly stepped in front of him.

With a swift motion, Victor snatched the sword from his son's hands.

"Adrien," he said firmly, "what do you think you're doing?"

Adrien looked around slowly, finally realizing what he had just done.

He took a deep, shaking breath.

"Father… I don't know why… but when I heard Alina's name, I lost control."

Victor lifted a hand to Ming Hao, signaling him silently, then placed the other gently on Adrien's shoulder.

"It's all right, son," he said quietly. "Such moments happen. Come. Let's go home."

As they walked out, Adrien heard the system's voice once more:

[SYSTEM: Mission 2 completed. Remaining rewards dispatched.]

[ Mission – 2 ]

Mission: Discover the traitor among your elders

Capture the traitor alive with evidence ✅

Extract information about all conspiracies ✅

Reward: + System Shop unlocked + 1,000 Shop Coins

Time limit: 1 week

Status: Complete