Chapter Thirteen: So You Think You’re Impressive?

"What is your business here, and where did you acquire these two wood elf slave girls?" The governor's envoy stood before Sun Li, looking down on him as he questioned.

"I am a merchant from Song, here to conduct business. These two wood elves are my attendants; as for where they came from, I don't believe that's any of your concern. If I recall correctly, it is legal to own wood elf attendants here, isn't it?" Sun Li wiped his mouth as he answered.

Upon hearing this, Su Yun Yun's expression changed; she sensed trouble brewing. Here, in the colonizers’ territory, all hope rested on Sun Li. Sun Li seemed to notice the sisters’ tension and reached out to pat them reassuringly, giving them a look that said, “Leave everything to me.”

"A merchant, are you? Well, that's splendid. Let me be direct: His Excellency the great Governor of Mexico has taken a liking to your two wood elf slaves. Name your price," the envoy said grandly.

"Oh? I'm honored that His Excellency the Governor admires my attendants. Since I am a merchant, I'm always open to buying and selling. As for these two, the price in my mind is one hundred million Madrid gold coins. Don’t think the price is too high—they are absolutely worth it!" Sun Li replied with a broad smile, his gaze flicking to the two beauties at his side to gauge their reactions.

Su Lulu seemed unfazed, as if convinced her brother Sun Li would never abandon her; she was remarkably calm. When did this adorable girl become so clever? Or perhaps she simply hadn't realized the situation yet.

Su Yun Yun, on the other hand, rolled her eyes at Sun Li, as if to say, “At least you have some sense. Do you really think we're worth a hundred million?”

While Sun Li was observing the sisters, the governor’s envoy’s face darkened. "You realize you are dealing with the Governor of Mexico and that this town is within his territory. Consider carefully what price is truly appropriate here. I’ll give you one last chance."

"A merchant never makes a losing deal. Even if you are His Excellency the Governor, you cannot simply take by force. If you want to buy, pay up. If not, then kindly leave," Sun Li replied, his expression calm and unperturbed, as if the envoy's threats meant nothing to him.

“Well, well, looks like we've got a brazen one today. Go call in the guards! I’ll show this young master from Song who truly rules in Mexico!” As soon as he finished, a servant dashed out of the inn.

Moments later, the sound of boots pounding the earth echoed outside. With a bang, the inn's doors were kicked open by a squad of the Governor’s guards. Armed with flintlock muskets and long swords, they stormed in and swiftly surrounded Sun Li’s group. Chaos erupted, and soon the innkeeper and guests were ‘politely’ ushered out—no one wanted to be collateral damage if trouble broke out. In the face of a hundred of the Governor’s elite guards, whatever happened here would be considered a minor incident. The innkeeper dared not protest, and the guests were all too eager to be uninvolved.

Once the inn was completely under the control of the heavily armed guards, the governor's envoy regained his smug confidence. "So, young master from Song, have you reconsidered your price? I believe you know what a ‘reasonable’ offer would be, don’t you?" He chuckled.

Sun Li stood up casually, placed a reassuring hand on the shoulders of the wood elf sisters, and shot them a look to keep calm. With measured steps, he approached the envoy and looked at him with a mocking grin. “A reasonable price? You think you’re in a position to dictate what’s reasonable? Let me show you what a real reasonable price looks like!”

As Sun Li advanced, the alert guards raised their muskets and took aim at him. No one aimed at the wood elf sisters; the soldiers understood these two were considered the Governor’s precious ‘treasures’ and were not to be harmed.

At such close range, would a knight of Sun Li’s caliber give these guards a chance to shoot?

Sun Li raised both hands, and with two flashes of white light, unleashed twin sword beams—one to each side—dispatching the flanking guards in an instant. He called for the elf sisters to get down and assured them he could handle the rest.

His warning was timely. The sudden appearance of a knight left the guards shocked, but their discipline kicked in and they fired instinctively. In the inn’s main hall, bullets flew, riddling walls and tables with holes. If the wood elf sisters hadn’t dropped to the floor in time, the infamous inaccuracy of the flintlocks might have led to a tragic accident.

In this era, the accuracy of smoothbore muskets was a matter of luck: once a bullet left the barrel, its trajectory was wildly unpredictable. You might aim at one man and hit the one standing beside him instead. That’s why, in battle, massed volleys were the only way to compensate for their poor quality.

With his aura shielding him, Sun Li could withstand a few shots at close range. The guards, however, only got one chance to fire. Some, thinking quickly, realized they had no hope of a second shot against a knight-level opponent and bolted for the door, hoping to escape with their lives. Others, hot-blooded and reckless, drew their swords and charged for a desperate melee. Still others, drilled into mindless discipline, began to reload their muskets—an utterly futile gesture in the face of a knight, better to draw a sword and at least try to land a blow.

What followed was a one-sided thrashing as Sun Li, with inhuman speed and strength, backed by radiant sword aura, dealt mercilessly with all who remained. Whether sword-drawing or reloading, every last guard was left sprawled on the ground.

Satisfied that only the terrified, trembling envoy remained standing, Sun Li pushed open the inn’s door. Outside, he found two ranks of guards, muskets leveled at the entrance, waiting to greet him with a hail of lead. Alarmed, Sun Li dove aside, narrowly avoiding most of the volley. Had his reflexes been any slower, the point-blank barrage would have left him gravely wounded, despite his aura shield, which now flickered dangerously—one more round and his fighting strength would be severely compromised.

Battered but unbowed, Sun Li was not about to let these wretches off easily. He hadn't expected the guards, despite suffering heavy casualties, to have the courage to lie in ambush outside. They were truly a pack of fools courting death. With a nimble roll, Sun Li sprang to his feet, sword in hand, and charged at them.