Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Changing the Future

It was a bright, sunny day with a cloudless sky.

The Spinning Wheel Commerce caravan traveled along a dusty road.

"Mr. White, about how much longer until we reach the Royal Capital?"

Riding one of the caravan’s brown horses, Wang Xi pulled up alongside the middle-aged steward leading the group, who wore a hat and scarf. He turned his head to ask.

"Hmm, we should be reaching Ramirez soon. We’ll rest there for the night and see if we can recruit a few more hands... As for the Royal Capital, it’s probably another six or seven days away."

White smiled at him.

Wang Xi thanked him and fell into thought.

According to the "Retirement Preview" he saw the last time he returned, the caravan would be ambushed in the outskirts near the Royal Capital.

If events followed their original course, the caravan would suffer heavy casualties, he himself would be severely wounded and disabled, and Goddalir would be on the brink of death.

But Wang Xi was stronger now, and he had a "Solomon Military Laser Pistol Type V" Card on hand.

This Artificial Three-Star White Card from the Main World was likely a superweapon in this Otherworld!

It was also one of Wang Xi’s trump cards.

’I can change that future.’

Wang Xi thought to himself.

He thought for a moment, then asked Steward White again:

"Does the Spinning Wheel Commerce have any enemies in the Royal Capital?"

"Enemies?" White, not knowing why the young man was asking, couldn’t help but laugh. "Oh, we have plenty. The Oak Commerce, the Moon Dew Trade Alliance, the Coral Route, the Anvil Brotherhood, the Weaving Shuttle Guild... and some court ministers and nobles aren’t too fond of us either."

’What did they do to make everyone hate them?’

’Enemies on all sides!’

Wang Xi complained silently.

But on second thought, it was probably normal. The Royal Capital was prosperous and competition was fierce. It wasn’t surprising for there to be friction between the various commerce guilds, and over time, they would inevitably encroach on the interests of some officials and nobles.

But this way, he couldn’t figure out the origins of the group ambushing the caravan.

’Should I try to convince White to take a different route back to the Royal Capital?’

’But how would I explain it...’

’I, the reincarnation of Merlin, have foreseen a bloody disaster in your future. If you don’t change your route, you’ll be in for a world of hurt?’

’My god, White would probably laugh himself to death.’

’What if I just grab Goddalir and run?’

’What kind of person would that make me?!’

’They paid a high price to hire you, and you just bail at the first sign of trouble? That’s just classless.’

Wang Xi couldn’t do something so shameless; he would despise himself for it. Besides, the situation wasn’t entirely hopeless.

He was confident he could handle it.

’The enemy ambushing the caravan has a premeditated plan; they must be fully prepared. Even if we change routes to the Royal Capital, we’d probably still be attacked.’

Wang Xi reasoned logically.

In his view, it was most likely that ambushes were set up on all the main routes into the Royal Capital.

It was clearly a difficult situation to avoid.

’I’ll have to break through with brute force.’

Wang Xi rubbed his chin, his eyes calm and composed.

’There’s still some time on the road. I’ll focus on the Star Promotion for my Body Refining Technique first and get a power boost... When the time comes, I’ll let those guys experience a little laser shock from the new world.’

...

...

Night had just fallen.

The Spinning Wheel Commerce caravan arrived safely at the small town of Ramirez, where they would be stopping. Steward White found an inn and got everyone settled.

After eating and taking a proper bath, Wang Xi was alone in his room.

Shirtless, he sat cross-legged on the bed and silently activated the "Randall Body Refining Technique".

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Invisible blows instantly rained down on him. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, enduring the assault. His body began to sway, muscles twitching.

Three hours might pass in the blink of an eye normally, but during body refining, every second felt like a year. The constant pain, combined with the rapid drain of his stamina, became an ordeal.

By the time the bright moon hung high in the sky, all was quiet.

On the bed, Wang Xi was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, but this time, he managed to stay upright.

Joy bloomed in his eyes.

"Card has undergone Star Promotion!"

"Randall Body Refining Technique (Technique Card)"

"Quality: White Two Stars (Upgradeable)"

"Experience Points: 0/200"

After feeding it many "Dog Food Cards," and thanks to his own arduous, determined, and persistent efforts, Wang Xi had finally leveled up this Technique Card.

Wang Xi felt a warm current surge through his body. His previously exhausted stamina, like a fuel tank run dry, was suddenly being refilled with a steady stream of new fuel.

A feeling of abundant power welled up within him.

He let out a comfortable groan and stretched his arms.

CRACK!

POP! POP! CRACKLE!

His joints and bones seemed to have been strengthened, realigning themselves with a continuous series of crisp cracks.

In the moonlight streaming through the window, Wang Xi looked down at his body and was stunned.

His physique was already above average thanks to the enhancement from "Hard Training," but now that the "Randall Body Refining Technique" had undergone Star Promotion, the lines of his muscles became even more defined, and they seemed to have swelled slightly.

Sweat soaked his skin, reflecting the moonlight and making it glisten.

When he tried clenching his fist and raising his arm, what did Wang Xi see?

He saw firm arms more perfect than those in his previous life—lean and powerful without being exaggerated. It wasn’t the ruggedness of a bodybuilder, but the contained strength of someone like Bruce Lee.

’Sharp!’

Wang Xi gave an objective assessment.

’Strong!’

He felt like he could kill a goblin with a single punch now.

Tear a Slime apart with his bare hands.

Kick a Little Sugar Man.

There was another pleasant surprise: he noticed that his skin, while seemingly smooth, was actually as tough as cowhide and possessed considerable resistance to blows.

’This must be the special effect of the "Randall Body Refining Technique"—resistance to pain and damage... In a Martial Arts World, I’d probably be considered a master of Horizontal External Training.’

But trying to tank swords and blades with his bare body was just bullshit. He’d still get hacked to death if he tried. At most, he could take some punches, kicks, and blunt impacts, toughing it out without going down so easily.

’A breakthrough from gradual accumulation! My physical fitness has improved by a notch, my stamina is more abundant, and my overall strength has seen a huge boost!’

Wang Xi summarized his gains and was very satisfied.

He dried his sweat but didn’t rush to sleep. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed and began to continuously materialize the azure Sugar Coating, becoming more and more proficient and deft with it.

Even though fiddling with it for ages only granted 1 Experience point, if he wanted his Card to undergo Star Promotion, he had to learn to accumulate.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; great rivers and seas are formed from tiny streams.

Fun and games were one thing, but Wang Xi knew deep down that he couldn’t neglect his own efforts just because he had Kaos’s help.

That would only end up hurting him.

...

...

Time passed quietly.

Six days flew by in a flash.

The Spinning Wheel Commerce caravan had been rushing along these past few days. Whenever Wang Xi had free time, he would secretly practice with his cards. The Experience gained wasn’t much, but it added up over time.

Perhaps because they were approaching the Royal Capital, the dust-covered travelers all secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Being a traveling merchant wasn’t easy; they had to brave the elements, constantly be on guard against bandits and wild beasts, and even terrifying Demons.

Now, they could finally get some proper rest.

The caravan crested a steep slope and saw a magnificent cluster of buildings in the distance. A river, high walls, towering spires, fluttering flags...

"Just a little further!"

Steward White, riding a gray horse, shouted to the group with a smile on his weary face.

"We’ll reach the Royal Capital today!"

The guards exchanged glances and all began to smile.

Only Wang Xi didn’t smile.

It wasn’t that he was being antisocial or putting on a cool act; it was because he knew the ambush was about to happen.

Goddalir, sitting in the carriage, looked at the black-haired young man. Noticing his expressionless face, the smile that had been forming on her lips slowly faded.

She wanted to speak but hesitated.

In the end, she lowered her head, dejected.

"Goddalir."

Suddenly, she heard her name. Looking up, she saw Gai slowing his horse to come alongside the carriage.

This familiar childhood friend whispered to her:

"I have a bad feeling... If something unexpected happens in a bit, don’t come out. Just hide in the carriage."

"Huh?" Goddalir looked confused.

She didn’t know why Gai would say that, but seeing his serious expression, she obediently nodded.

At the same time, Gai’s concern once again slowly salvaged her heart from where it had sunk to the bottom of the sea.

It was like a drowning person breaking the surface, finally able to breathe.

Goddalir lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling with emotion.

Wang Xi, however, paid the girl no more mind and rode onward.

He had spoken up to warn Goddalir purely because of the girl’s trust in him, and because he didn’t want her to be harmed as she was in the future he had foreseen.

The caravan traveled on for a while longer.

Unlike the other relaxed members of the caravan, Wang Xi concentrated his attention, constantly observing their surroundings.

The sun was just right, and the sound of cicadas buzzed from the woods on both sides of the dusty road.

A hot wind brushed against his face, yet it carried a trace of coolness.

The vegetation and trees rustled.

Wang Xi sat on his saddle and closed his eyes.

—"Listen to Heartbeat"—

THUMP-THUMP, THUMP-THUMP...

In the darkness, twelve red lines pulsed one after another.

Those were the heartbeats of the people in the caravan.

Steward White, Goddalir, the two guards temporarily recruited in Ramirez, Bennett, and the rest of the original crew.

But soon, Wang Xi suddenly heard unfamiliar heartbeats.

They were in the woods twenty meters ahead and to the right.

His brow furrowed slightly.

THUMP-THUMP, THUMP-THUMP...

More and more heartbeats!

The pulsing red lines in the darkness resembled a network of scarlet veins!

"Stop!"

Wang Xi’s eyes snapped open as he roared.

HEE-EE-EE—

Beside him, Steward White pulled the reins to halt his horse. He gestured to Bennett and the others. The group stopped, turning to look at Wang Xi in confusion.

Wang Xi took the Crossbow from his shoulder, drew the string, loaded an arrow, and aimed it toward the woods.

"Ambush!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, he pulled the trigger.

WHOOSH!

The Crossbow Arrow shot out in a straight line.

Immediately, a bloodcurdling scream was heard.

"Aargh!"

The expressions of the caravan members changed.

’There really is an ambush!’

"Protect Lord White and the cargo! Prepare for battle!"

Bennett reacted instantly. With a command, he dismounted, drew the Armed Longsword from his waist, and took two steps forward.

Just as the guards sprang into action, a sudden clamor arose from the woods, and a dense volley of arrows flew toward the caravan.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!!

In an instant, two merchant guards were struck by arrows and fell. The horses neighed in fright, and the scene descended into chaos.

With a blank expression, Wang Xi swung his longsword. CLANG! CLANG! He parried the incoming arrows, deflecting them away.

In his line of sight, a section of the forest suddenly distorted and wavered, then was lifted away like a canvas.

Twenty to thirty figures were revealed behind it.

They were almost all clad in armor, gleaming brightly in the sun. Half of them were bent over, using their feet to span their crossbows and reload.

The three men in the lead were tall and burly.

They were covered head-to-toe in black heavy armor, topped with Dog-Faced Helmets. A single horizontal slit was the only opening on their pointed visors.

"’Finger Association’ Iron Finger Knight. Ruer (Red/Two Stars)"

"..."

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