When Lann rode Bopai back to Auridon, the villagers were not as anxious as he had imagined, nor did they suspect he had quit halfway.
He had built trust with the people here, and after solving the case of Meretelli being desecrated by the cannibals, he indeed gained a good reputation in Velen.
The fact that Fergus could be frank with him during the second meeting was the effect of such a reputation.
Bad people might live recklessly, but good people can gain many good friends.
Lann’s goal was to be a good person in this world.
Seeing the villagers’ smiling faces as he returned, he felt he was indeed on the path to his goal.
"Yes, sir, you’re on the right path, but I still advise you, don’t sing while riding..."
Before the intelligent voice in his mind could finish, it was silenced by the owner of the brain.
"Hey, Old Allen. I’m back."
Getting off Bopai, Lann greeted the village elder at the entrance.
"Haha, the hero who protects the Goddess has returned!"
Old Allen puffed on his pipe and approached with a smile, stopping in front of Lann.
"The ’hero who protects the Goddess’?" Lann led Bopai toward the abandoned wooden house, "Are you talking about me? A Demon Hunter?"
Old Allen shook his head indifferently as he followed along.
"Whether you’re a Demon Hunter or not, the Goddess teaches us to spread love and kindness. Previously, we were influenced by rumors and prejudice, but now, if we don’t acknowledge your achievement in capturing the cannibals just because you’re a Demon Hunter, we have no face to call ourselves followers of the Goddess!"
Old Allen’s complexion was quite good, and upon further inquiry, it was learned that the villagers hadn’t been idle while Lann was away.
Following Bernie’s guidance, they’ve started expanding the fishing grounds into the areas Lann had cleared.
Though Lann wasn’t away long, the territory of a group of Water Ghosts was quite large.
In calculation, Auridon’s fishing area had already expanded by nearly one-fifth.
Expansion means more fish, which means more income.
The prospects Lann planned were gradually becoming a reality.
Practical benefits in the pocket are very persuasive.
This made the villagers of the fishing village more fond of the young Demon Hunter.
And now Lann also missed the carefree life in Auridon.
Living a self-sufficient life in this world, although it was only at Gos Velen for a day.
Before that, he was barely fed by Bordeaux, and after it seamlessly transitioned to Auridon’s free board and lodging.
But just that one day made the eighteen-year-old Demon Hunter feel the hardships of life.
Damn, spending money to eat! Every bite feels like eating his own flesh!
Lann is a young man with the traditional Chinese habit of saving.
Chinese people’s desire to save grows stronger during crises.
Ever since Lann came to this world, his sense of crisis has been off the charts.
So every Oren Coin slipping out of his pocket felt like bleeding his heart.
On that night at the Silver Swan Tavern, Lann clutched his money pouch to his chest as he slept.
When he returned to see Old Allen, his eyes were watered.
The old man’s wife’s food wasn’t tasty, and the bed wasn’t comfortable... but it was free food and shelter!
"Hey! Lann, you’re back!"
Walking toward the village tavern, Bernie’s voice came from the window.
He sat by the wooden table, and the bandage on his hand seemed to have been changed several times, waving and lifting his mug without difficulty.
It seemed to have healed well.
Lann waved back at him while holding Bopai’s reins.
"Bernie, are you good to start work tomorrow?"
"Aha! My bones are rusting. See you at the port first thing in the morning."
That settled the plan for tomorrow’s hunt.
Life returned to stability, eating and sleeping at the now more hospitable Old Allen’s house.
Then rising early to enter Lake Fick with Bernie to hunt Water Ghosts.
With the full set of advanced Bear School Armor, Lann could attempt to fight in a more ferocious and efficient way.
A loud "smack" sound!
In the muddy shoals, a hand clad in spiked leather gloves spread wide, slapping directly on a Water Ghost’s skull!
Not only that, amidst the crunching sound of the twisting flesh and bones, the Water Ghost’s wails, the hand holding the skull managed to lift it up!
Then it was thrown forward with great force!
"The damn strength of a bear!"
The Water Ghost’s head deformed like mush in the hand, the Demon Hunter shouted exuberantly.
The jumping attacks of two Water Ghosts in front were completely blocked by the "meat shield" in his hand.
Like a charging chariot, holding the "meat shield" he charged straight ahead.
With his body and armor, weighing almost one hundred and fifty kilograms, he completely overwhelmed the weight of the Water Ghosts.
The three or four Water Ghosts in his path toppled over just by brushing past.
Though far from sending them flying, the power to knock away three or four humanoid creatures could hardly be called normal!
Eventually, the "meat shield" bore down on the Swamp Witch, crashing directly into its wrinkled and warty body.
The Swamp Witch had just burrowed into the muddy ground and reappeared after changing positions.
It didn’t understand how it was faced with an immediate attack right after emerging.
The Swamp Witch’s weight wasn’t light, at least it wasn’t directly sent flying by Lann.
Just a sharp "Eugh", it prepared to use its lengthy arms to get around Lann’s "meat shield" and use its Werewolf-like claws to rip his guts out!
But the "meat shield’s" purpose was already fulfilled as it closed in on the Swamp Witch.
A cold silver flash accompanied the sound of slicing through the air.
The sound chilled the Swamp Witch, even with its limited intelligence!
Without understanding what happened, all it could do was shriek and make its claws faster and fiercer with fear.
Spoke Bernie, watching from outside the battlefield. At the moment, he didn’t even carry a bow. Instead, learning from past experiences, he had borrowed a Velen Longsword from the blacksmith, Ivan.
Standing at a distance, he had a clear view.
"Tsk tsk tsk... this ungodly swordsmanship."
No matter how many times he’d see it, Bernie thought he couldn’t help but marvel at it.
From afar, Lann’s left hand held the head of the "meat shield", slamming it onto the face of the Swamp Witch.
But his right hand loosely gripped his silver sword.
As the Swamp Witch realized and approached with its claws, the silver sword moved with Lann’s shifting weight, tracing an exceptionally smooth arc.
It looked as if Lann was wielding a silver whip!
The whip seemed to be unhindered by flesh or bone.
Like a hot knife through butter, slicing through both the "meat shield" and another creature without a hitch.
Even from afar, Bernie felt a phantom sound of blood flowing upon seeing the gushing spectacle of blood.
The "slash" sound signaled the silver sword cutting through bodies.
The neck and left shoulder of the "meat shield" in Lann’s hand were severed, leaving only the lower jaw of the Swamp Witch due to the height difference.
Bernie reckoned Lann’s sword cut through both cheeks, exiting at the jawbone seams, making such a clean cut.
The remaining fight wasn’t even worth watching anymore; Bernie felt they looked more like "monsters" to the creatures than the other way around.
The scene was too brutal... and too cool!
No man could deny the allure of such wild, skillful violence!
Especially when slaying monsters, it’s even cooler!