22: Goblin Raid

Yang Lie stood at the front of the team, hand on his sword hilt, his gaze fixed on the hillside ahead.

Shen Xiaochuan walked over and asked in a low voice, "What did you find?"

"There is movement 500 meters away, more than one person, it looks like they are dragging someone," Yang Lie responded in a low voice.

Shen Xiaochuan immediately raised his hand to signal the team to stop. He took a Scouting Spirit Talisman from his backpack, activated it, and threw it forward. The talisman instantly transformed into a bird and flew into the sky.

A moment later, an image appeared in his mind—on the hillside, a group of green-skinned monsters were escorting several girls as they moved westward.

One of the girls was pressed to the ground, her mouth gagged, and she could only struggle desperately.

Ling Feng hurried over, his brows locked in a frown: "Main God, it's Goblins kidnapping people, the situation is not good."

Shen Xiaochuan's eyes darkened: "How many?"

"More than twenty. The leader is holding a bone axe and wearing leather armor," Ling Feng replied after observing carefully.

The System prompt immediately appeared:

【Triggered D-rank Mission: Maiden and the Beast】

【Mission Content: Rescue the kidnapped human maidens (0/3)】

【Reward: faith points + 500, random Elementary skill book × 1】

"Accept," Shen Xiaochuan chose to accept without hesitation.

He activated the scanning function and quickly locked onto the Goblin leader.

【Target: Goblin leader】

【combat power: 88】

【Talent: None】

【Equipment: Inferior bone axe, crude leather armor】

Shen Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief. This combat power was not even as high as his ordinary soldiers.

"Ling Feng."

He turned his head and ordered, "Take thirty men to flank from the left and cut off their retreat. Stay hidden and wait for my signal."

"Understood," Ling Feng nodded and immediately led his team out.

Yang Lie drew his waist saber, the blade glinting slightly, and said coldly: "Main God, I can move in now."

Shen Xiaochuan waved his hand: "Everyone, prepare! Saving the girls is the priority, do not harm them!"

The team moved quickly toward the hillside.

When they were two hundred meters away, the Goblins sensed something unusual.

A Goblin jumped onto a rock and let out a sharp screech. The rest of the monsters immediately grabbed their weapons and surrounded the girls.

Shen Xiaochuan no longer hid his tracks and charged out first, with fifty soldiers following close behind.

"Kill!"

Yang Lie took the lead, cutting down an oncoming Goblin with a single slash. The monster fell to the ground before it could even scream.

The Goblin formation was immediately thrown into chaos.

Two of them tried to flee westward but were intercepted by Ling Feng's team and killed within a few moves.

The rest huddled together, protecting their leader.

The Goblin leader roared, grabbed the nearest blonde girl with a ferocious face, and pulled her in front of him as a human shield.

"Don't come over!"

He roared, "Otherwise I will kill her!"

Shen Xiaochuan stopped.

The girl's face was covered in tear stains, her lips pale, and her body trembling slightly. But she did not cry out, biting her lip and remaining silent.

"Put her down," Shen Xiaochuan said in a deep voice.

"Get lost! Otherwise I will slit her throat!"

The Goblin yanked her hard, and a red mark instantly appeared on the girl's neck.

Shen Xiaochuan's gaze shifted, looking at Yang Lie.

Yang Lie nodded slightly and quietly moved one step to the right.

At the same time, Ling Feng had also completed the flanking maneuver.

Suddenly, Shen Xiaochuan threw a lightning-element combat saber, aiming straight at the Goblin's face.

The Goblin lowered its head to dodge, turning sideways while holding the girl.

In that split second, Yang Lie burst forward, slashing at the arm holding the axe.

The bone axe fell to the ground.

The girl was flung away and fell heavily to the ground.

Ling Feng immediately rushed forward and pulled her away.

The Goblin lunged at Yang Lie empty-handed.

The two tangled in a fight.

The Goblin had immense strength and punched Yang Lie in the chest. Yang Lie stepped back half a step, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

But he steadied himself and immediately counterattacked—kneeing the opponent's abdomen hard, followed by a horizontal slash that cut its thigh.

The Goblin staggered back and turned to flee.

Shen Xiaochuan had already arrived.

He drew his blade, leaped up, and slashed down.

The blade cut through from shoulder to waist, splitting the Goblin in two on the spot, its head rolling several meters away.

The surroundings suddenly went quiet.

The remaining Goblins saw their leader die and fled in all directions.

Ling Feng led the pursuit, and none escaped.

The battle ended.

Shen Xiaochuan walked toward the girls.

They were huddled together, shivering all over, no one daring to look up.

"It's okay now."

He said, "You are safe."

No one responded.

A moment later, the blonde girl slowly stood up. Her clothes were tattered and her face was injured, but her eyes were clear.

She hurried over to an injured soldier, knelt down, and placed her palm on his chest.

A soft white light lit up, the wound stopped bleeding, and his breathing gradually stabilized.

The System prompt appeared:

【Detected C-rank Talent: Light of Healing】

Shen Xiaochuan looked at her: "What is your name?"

The girl withdrew her hand: "Anna."

"I am a Believer of the Goddess of Light."

"How were you captured?"

"The village was destroyed by demons."

Anna's voice was soft but clear, "The church organized an evacuation, but we were attacked on the way, and the group was scattered. We fled into the mountains and were discovered by the Goblins."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded.

He said to Yang Lie: "Check the surroundings and screen for any ambushes."

"Yes," Yang Lie took the order and led people to search.

Ling Feng walked over and reported in a low voice: "Three soldiers sacrificed, seven injured, all have been handled properly."

Shen Xiaochuan gave a grunt: "What is on the Goblins?"

"The weapons are all very poor, only the leader's bone axe is slightly better. There is also an old leather bag containing a few copper coins."

"Bring it back to Skydome City and register it into the inventory."

He looked at Anna: "Can you walk?"

Anna nodded: "Yes."

"Then come back with us."

"Where to?"

"My Divine Kingdom."

Anna looked at him, a trace of hesitation flashing in her eyes, mixed with a glimmer of hope, and she asked softly: "Will you take us in?"

Shen Xiaochuan watched her: "I won't kill you for now. Whether you can stay depends on yourselves."

Anna lowered her head, her fingertips gently rubbing her palms, feeling a faint sense of unease in her heart.

Ling Feng finished clearing the battlefield and walked over carrying the bone axe: "Main God, everything has been handled."

Shen Xiaochuan looked up at the sky. The setting sun was hanging low in the west, and twilight was approaching.

"Prepare to return."

He said, "Before we leave, burn the corpses."

"Yes!"

The group sprang into action, bringing hay and firewood, stacking the Goblin corpses together, and setting them on fire.

Black smoke rose in curls.

Shen Xiaochuan stood by the fire, staring at the leaping flames.

Anna approached and asked softly: "Why did you save us?"

"Mission requirement."

"But you could have just ignored it."

"But I didn't."

Anna was silent for a moment, then said: "I can heal, consider it repayment."

"I am not short of people who can heal."

"But I can help you save on potion consumption."

Shen Xiaochuan glanced at her: "Do you know how many faith points my potions are worth?"

"I don't know."

Anna said calmly, "But I know that the more people who survive, the stronger your Divine Kingdom will be."

Shen Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes.

This woman is not simple.

Just as he was about to speak, Yang Lie walked over.

"Main God, new footprints were found on the west side, at least five people, heading toward the valley."

Shen Xiaochuan's eyes turned cold: "Not Goblins?"

"The footprints are larger, the pace is orderly, it looks like they have been trained."

Anna's expression changed suddenly: "Impossible... that team should have gone south."

Shen Xiaochuan stared at her: "The team you mentioned, who are they?"