Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 107: Foolish Wilderness Dogs

Li Wei retracted his gaze from the covered wagon and looked around. He saw wooden stalls erected in several comparatively high places, filled with a messy assortment of goods—ranging from freshly dead fish and rotten shrimp to shoddy farming tools, cloth, cheese, and dried fish. It was actually quite abundant.

Although the wooden stalls were crude, without exception they all hung guild emblems. This indicated they had backing and had paid protection fees; not just anyone could set up a stall here.

For instance, the farmers who could only stand in the puddles of sewage had no choice but to obediently hold their roosters or lead their goats, waiting for customers to approach.

First, Li Wei spent a few copper coins to buy some simple food. He ate as if nobody else was around, because he was on the verge of starving to death.

Once he was mostly full, he began to stroll around. In the end, he actually found a certain kind of salted fish at a stall. This thing was no different from Table Salt.

However, the value of this item should be very high, because the stall owner specifically used a wooden bucket to hold it. The quantity inside wasn't large, and some even looked yellowish, clearly on the verge of spoiling.

But even so, when Li Wei stepped forward to ask for the price, the stall owner—reeking entirely of stinking fish—didn't offer a second word before quoting a high price of two silver coins for one salted fish, with a limit of two per customer.

When he was wandering around the neighboring stalls just now, he had clearly heard that a lively, bouncing large rooster was also only two silver coins.

So, should he grind some Kakh City Reputation?

This thought popped up in Li Wei's mind, but he quickly killed it. He didn't want to kill another two-star blood wolf; the last time was purely luck.Moreover, grinding Kakh City Reputation had no benefits. Ultimately, it would just lead to their uncle and nephew reuniting, staging a good drama of hating and killing the ones you love!

Forget it!

Next, he spent four silver coins and bought two salted fish.

This was saved for himself to eat, because salted fish couldn't be used for Task Settlement. However, what gave him a headache was that not a single stall in this market sold Table Salt.

Did he have to go to a shop to buy it?

Were there specialized shops that sold salt solely?

There should be, Li Wei pondered. Immediately leaving the market, he headed toward that row of stone houses in the west district. His luck was pretty good; Kakh City indeed had a salt shop, and he was also able to enter and make a purchase. However, the Lord's notice was posted at the entrance of the salt shop, and a shop assistant was reading the contents of the notice aloud. According to the instant translation, it was a daily limit of 50 grams per person!

Additionally, holding more than 500 grams would count as being an illicit salt peddler. Once caught, one would be sentenced to 30 lashes, which would increase multiplicatively. Holding up to five kilograms meant death by hanging!

Fuck!

This bastard of a cheap, crazy uncle was truly ruthless enough!

Without another word, Li Wei immediately left.

Five kilograms of Table Salt! Conventional methods definitely wouldn't work.

So, after walking circle after circle, Li Wei ultimately sought out that caravan boss. This was a well-dressed middle-aged man with a beautiful mustache. At this moment, he was sitting on a chair, overlooking the entire market with a very enjoyable expression.

Li Wei estimated that everyone going in and out of this market couldn't escape this guy's eyes, including himself.

This wasn't like in novels or on TV where throwing on a tattered Cloak would let you do whatever you pleased without restrictions.

However, Li Wei still pretended to go watch the performance on the covered wagon for a while first, only then casually walking over. Yes, this was how novices acted.

It was a method born of having no alternative. Rather than being seen through as a novice, it was better to pretend to be a novice himself.

Because even he himself didn't know how to disguise as a veteran.

"Young man, why don't you go find some fun?"

That boss asked with a smile. He spoke a tongue-twisting, rolling language with a very heavy accent that was vastly different from the Tax Collector at the city gate.

But Li Wei immediately understood. Without a doubt, the instant translation was awesome.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief and didn't rush to speak. Somewhat unskillfully, he put on a seasoned smile, appearing profound and unfathomable.

"Oh, sir, I'm not overly interested in those goods. Perhaps you, sir, can bring me some surprises."

Li Wei pretended to reach into his chest. After pulling his hand out, the shadow of a Standard Gold Coin flashed by in his hand. He had to prove he had sufficient purchasing power.

"Oh? Young man, then what is it that you wish to buy?"

The middle-aged boss opposite him wasn't blinded by the gold coin; he still wore that same smile.

"Salt. I want one kilogram."

Li Wei braced his courage and softly uttered a number. He didn't dare to state straight out that he wanted five kilograms; that would be too horrifying.

Sure enough, the caravan boss raised an eyebrow. His formerly languid gaze instantly turned sharp. After scrutinizing Li Wei for a moment, he began to chuckle coldly.

"Young man, you're asking for a bit too much. If word of this gets out, you'll be treated as an illicit salt peddler, arrested, and hung on the gallows. And I am a kindhearted person. I don't want you to be hanged. So, could you tell me what you intend to do by purchasing so much Table Salt?"

Li Wei, however, already had a speech prepared.

"Sir, as you can see, I am not just a Bounty Hunter, I am also a Demon Hunter. Salt might just be something to eat for you, but for me, it is a necessary item for hunting Witches and their abominable magic beasts! Without salt, I cannot resist the terrifying dark magic of Witches."

"Demon Hunter?"

The caravan boss was clearly taken aback, seemingly never having heard of this term. However, he ought to have known Li Wei's identity and the ferocious wolf head he had brought with him not long ago.

Thus, after deliberating for a moment, he extended two fingers.

"Two gold coins. I can sell it to you!"

Two gold coins? Damn it, that's fucking extortionate!

Son of a bitch profiteer!

Li Wei was dumbfounded. At the salt shop on West Street, one kilogram of salt was only equivalent to four silver coins. Here, the price was directly more than doubled.

However, who could blame the caravan boss for being able to sell more? Li Wei had no time to waste here, much less time to grind some Kakh City Reputation. He was absolutely certain that if he had farmed enough reputation, this matter would instead be very easily resolved.

Fuck it, none of it mattered. As long as this task was completed, he would inevitably be the Head of Household next month.

He could earn it all back in the future.

"What if I want five kilograms?" Li Wei softly asked again.

If he could buy it all at once, he would turn his head and leave without a moment's delay.

"Impossible, that's too much. In truth, there is no ready-made salt for you in my convoy. I will also have to find ways to acquire it through other channels. One kilogram a day is already the maximum amount. You must know, due to well-known reasons, the caravans heading to Kakh City are becoming fewer and fewer. To stabilize public sentiment, the Lord has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward the illicit peddling of Table Salt. It's a good thing you found me. Had it been someone else, you would have already been arrested right now, whipped sixty times, and made a public spectacle of!"

"However, if you agree, I can find a way to get you one kilogram of salt every day."

So that was it. After listening to the caravan boss's reasons, Li Wei's head swelled as large as a bucket. The Plague truly would sever trade routes. Thus, encountering this during extraordinary times left him completely helpless.

After thinking about it, Li Wei eventually gritted his teeth, took out two gold coins, and handed them over.

The caravan boss quietly tucked them away. He shot a look at a neighboring caravan worker. The latter immediately led Li Wei into the covered wagon. Several minutes later, under the cover of a few generous and wealthy young ladies, he obtained one kilogram of Table Salt and popped out from the other side.

The unaware men outside were still mocking him for finishing so quickly.

Fuck!

Subsequently, he strolled around the market, bought some more loose food, and then left the market. He went to report to the Tax Collector and departed Kakh City under the guise of hunting wild dogs.

It wasn't until he exited the city that Li Wei thoroughly breathed a sigh of relief. The caravan boss was fairly trustworthy; otherwise, if he had turned around and reported him, it would have been all over.

However, that guy was indeed shady enough. The Table Salt was clearly hidden in the hidden compartment of the covered wagon, yet he insisted on saying he could only purchase one kilogram per day.

"I can't carry Table Salt into the city on my back. After buying it each day, I must transport it outside the city immediately. Therefore, I need to find a place to hide it. This way, even if I'm caught once, it will at most be 60 lashes instead of death by hanging."

Li Wei thought with a bitter smile. He figured that caravan boss wouldn't sell it all at once for this exact reason.

So where to hide it?

At this point, the first place Li Wei thought of was that Abandoned Farmstead. There were many uncollapsed thatched houses there. Digging a hole in one of them and wrapping the Table Salt with a rainproof tent might perhaps be feasible?

Especially using the pretense of hunting wild dogs. Otherwise, entering and leaving the city every day would inevitably arouse the suspicions of those with ulterior motives.

"Alright! Then that's what we'll do."

Li Wei didn't take those wild dogs seriously. After walking out of the militiamen's patrol area, he took out the Two-Star Composite Bow, nocked it, drew a hardwood arrow, and shot it straight at a wildly barking wild dog.

Even if this wild dog was very clever and tried to dodge, it couldn't alter its outcome. The hardwood arrow directly blew out one of its dog eyes.

Too simple!

[You shot and killed a Kakh City wild dog. You gained 5 hunting experience points. By severing the dog head and submitting it to the Tax Collector, you will receive 1 Standard Copper Coin. Collecting ten dog heads will grant you one Kakh City Reputation point.]

This seems quite good?

Just as Li Wei was thinking this, the next moment, the wild dogs in the wilderness suddenly began to bark wildly en masse. The barking rose and fell continuously, and they frantically started to dart back and forth randomly, as erratic as if their fathers had died.

Then, packs of wild dogs came running from a distance, barking endlessly at Li Wei, as if showing their support. However, once Li Wei drew a hardwood arrow, these wild dogs immediately turned and fled, running incredibly fast!

Running seventy or eighty meters in one breath, they turned their heads and continued to bark madly.

When Li Wei chased, they ran.

When Li Wei didn't chase and walked toward the Farmstead, several dozen wild dogs trailed behind him, howling and barking provocatively.

Under normal circumstances, Li Wei wouldn't be worried. However, he was out here to bury Table Salt! If he didn't resolve this gang of damned tailing dogs, how was he going to bury it?

The key was that they were incredibly cunning.

The moment Li Wei turned his head, without saying a word, they immediately turned and ran, even fleeing over a hundred meters away. Thus, even with Li Wei being exceedingly confident in the Two-Star Composite Bow, he could do absolutely nothing!

Fine!

Now he knew why this gang of wild dogs was so arrogant.

Li Wei was almost laughing from anger. Alright, tailing him, was it? If they were capable, they could keep tailing him forever.

Immediately, he strode forward with sweeping steps, heading straight for the Abandoned Farmstead.

And those several dozen wild dogs trailed behind him howling, acting just like foolish wilderness dogs!

Pursing him all the way to the Abandoned Farmstead like this, these wild dogs still refused to give up, continuing to bark wildly and track his movements.

Now this was just great. He originally intended to bury it in the Abandoned Farmstead, but now he had to change locations.

Fine, then bring it on! Keep going!

Taking large strides, Li Wei purposefully marched straight for the mountainous area, moving faster as he went. He was going to exhaust these damn mutts to death!