109: Chapter 109 Snatching People and Hunting Grounds? Confiscated Directly

Yellow sand whipped against the guards' armor along with withered leaves, creating a soft rustling sound. Lin Zhe's group had been traveling for the better part of a day since leaving Red Leaf City. The desolate land flanking the official road gradually gave way to dense oak forests. Crimson solid-wood fencing stretched for miles along the road, topped with family crests carved with golden wolf heads. This marked the private hunting grounds of the Zhou Family, an old aristocratic house of the Empire. On ordinary days, even commoners approaching would be beaten, let alone those attempting to pass on the adjacent road.

"Whoa—"

The sound of hoofbeats emerged from the hunting grounds. Over a dozen attendants in fine silks, mounted on tall horses, escorted a young man clad in gold-embroidered brocade robes. The man held a half-empty wine jug in one hand and a gaudily dressed woman in a pink skirt in the other, his face brimming with arrogant malice. This was Zhou Mingxuan, the legitimate son of the Zhou Family, infamous for his bullying, womanizing, and utter lack of scruples.

He had originally come to the hunting grounds with his men to hunt third-tier magic wolves. Just as he emerged from the woods, his eyes fell upon Ling Xi walking beside Lin Zhe. Her silver-white hair swayed gently in the breeze, and her light brown deer-like eyes were as clear as mountain spring water. Even dressed in the simplest white gown, she was ten times more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen. Zhou Mingxuan's eyes went wide. With a *clang*, he dropped his wine jug to the ground, practically drooling.

"Well, well, where did this elven beauty come from? What a stunner!" Zhou Mingxuan stroked his chin with a lecherous grin. Pointing at Ling Xi, he ordered his attendants, "Go on, seize that beauty for me! She'll be my thirteenth concubine. You won't be short on rewards!"

He then cast a sidelong glance at Lin Zhe's party, his face full of disdain as he spat. "Also, this official road encroaches on our Zhou Family's hunting grounds. Anyone wanting to pass must pay a toll of one thousand copper coins per person. Otherwise, no one leaves today. You'll all be food for my magic wolves!"

"Awooo—!"

The attendants immediately blew a sharp whistle. Over a dozen third-tier magic wolves, each the size of a small calf, burst from the forest. Their jet-black fur glistened, their sharp fangs stained with bloody froth. Snarling and baring their teeth, they lunged toward the guard squad, the foul wind from their charge stinging faces.

The guards instantly flared with anger, their hands moving to draw their blades and charge the wolves. But Qing Yu, walking at the front, her face turning cold, raised her +8 Poison-Tipped Longbow. Recently enhanced with a Shadow Crystal Core for added dark damage and buffed by Ling Xi's Natural Divine Power, the bowstring was drawn into a full moon. The arrowhead shimmered with intertwined light green and dark blue hues, its speed so great it left only an afterimage.

*Swish—!*

The sound of the arrow cutting through the air was piercingly sharp. The arrow wasn't aimed at the wolves at all—it flew straight for Zhou Mingxuan's knee!

*Thud!*

The arrow pierced directly through Zhou Mingxuan's kneecap. The tremendous force sent him flying half a meter backward before *thumping* into the crimson fence behind him. Blood instantly dyed his brocade robes red, streaming down his leg.

"Ah—! My leg!" Zhou Mingxuan let out a pig-like squeal of agony, writhing in pain. Cold sweat poured down his forehead; he didn't even have the strength to curse.

The wolves, mid-lunge, instantly halted. They whimpered and crouched on the spot, not daring to move, not even heeding their master's command. The dozen attendants were also stunned, rooted to the ground. None had expected this seemingly ordinary group of travelers to dare publicly shoot and injure the Zhou Family's legitimate son.

Qing Yu lowered her bow, her voice cold as ice carrying far. "Dare to disrespect Lady Ling Xi? You're seeking death."

Ling Xi frowned, the faint green glow of Natural Divine Power that had gathered at her fingertips dissipating as she withdrew her hand. She cast a faint, indifferent glance at Zhou Mingxuan pinned to the fence and said nothing. Standing beside Lin Zhe, Xing Jianwan sneered, her grip on her staff loosening slightly. "A clownish buffoon."

Lin Zhe leaned against his horse, not even bothering to lift his eyelids throughout the entire incident, as if he had merely swatted away a bothersome mosquito. His finger twitched slightly, and a faint golden wave of Power of Rules instantly swept across the entire Empire.

*Hum—!*

The next second, two glaring red, top-priority announcements simultaneously popped up in the vision of every online player across the entire server, remaining visible for a full fifteen seconds before fading:

[Server-wide Announcement: Zhou Mingxuan, legitimate son of the imperial aristocratic Zhou Family, has been found guilty of maliciously harassing a dependent of Luofeng Village and unleashing beasts to harm others, with irrefutable evidence. The following penalties are hereby imposed: 1. The entire Zhou Family is permanently banned from accessing all Novice Areas across the server and permanently stripped of eligibility to participate in the Elf Secret Realm and all official events. 2. All private hunting grounds under the Zhou Family name are confiscated effective immediately and converted into public monster-spawning zones. Magic wolf respawn rates within these grounds are increased by 30%, all monster drop rates are increased by 10%, and all players may freely enter to farm monsters.]

As soon as the announcement faded, the solo players passing by nearby exploded!

"Holy crap? The Zhou Family's private hunting grounds got confiscated? Last time I sneaked in to farm some wolves, they broke my leg. Now it's public? With a 10% drop rate increase?"

"Third-tier magic wolves! Before, only nobles could farm those. The magic cores and pelts they drop are essential materials for mid-tier armor, going for five hundred copper a piece on the market! Jackpot! Jackpot!"

Players went wild, calling their friends. In less than half an hour, the entrance to the hunting grounds was crowded with hundreds of armed solo players, whooping and hollering as they charged into the woods. In under ten minutes, someone rushed out holding a blue-grade bracer they had just looted, brandishing it while spamming the world channel: "Folks! I just killed one magic wolf and it dropped a blue! Boss Lin Zhe is the GOAT! From now on, anyone who badmouths Boss Lin Zhe gets a taste of my blade first!"

The world channel was instantly flooded. Tens of millions of messages piled up, all thanking Lin Zhe or mocking Zhou Mingxuan for getting his due: "That lecher Zhou Mingxuan snatched several commoner girls before. Last time, he even forced a newbie player to delete their account and quit! Serves him right he finally got what was coming!" "I'm on my way to the hunting grounds right now! Thanks, Boss, for the welfare for us solo players!"

Meanwhile, Zhou Mingxuan had passed out from the pain. His terrified attendants, souls nearly fleeing their bodies, hurriedly sent word to the Zhou Family head. Half an hour later, the Zhou Family head arrived with several hundred private soldiers, seething with rage, intending to tear Lin Zhe's party limb from limb to avenge his son. However, upon reaching the roadside, he spotted the soldiers among the guards wearing the distinctive black iron armor of the Royal Guards and Qing Yu's coldly gleaming longbow. Recalling the recent incident where Red Leaf City's mayor, Li Biao, was escorted back to Holy Light City and his entire family's assets were seized, his legs instantly turned to jelly.

How could he dare mention revenge now? He hastily dismounted, scurried over to Lin Zhe, and with a *thump*, bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, his waist bent so low it nearly touched the ground, not daring to lift his head. "Master Lin Zhe, it is my failure in disciplining my son that has offended you. I will certainly discipline him properly upon my return! I beg for your forgiveness!"

He didn't dare utter a single word about the confiscated hunting grounds, nor speak with even a hint of defiance. With a wave of his hand, he had his attendants pry Zhou Mingxuan from the fence and carry him away, slinking off in disgrace. They came and went just as quickly, without making even a ripple.

The surrounding players roared with laughter, hurling rotten vegetables at the retreating backs of the Zhou Family, the scene buzzing with excitement.

Lin Zhe hadn't glanced at him the entire time. He uttered a single, indifferent word: "Move."

The party continued along the official road toward Holy Light City. Behind them echoed the cheers of players farming monsters in the hunting grounds, the very wind carrying the joy of players finding rare materials. Lin Zhe, riding his white horse, lightly tapped the saddle with his finger. His Rule Perception spread out for thousands of miles, clearly sensing several malicious auras stirring in the direction of Holy Light City. Clearly, the stubborn Remnants of the Three Clans were lying in wait for his arrival.

The corner of his mouth lifted in an extremely faint, cold smile. He paid it no mind.

If clownish buffoons were eager to deliver themselves to his doorstep, he would accept them all.