Chapter 623: Archimonde: Who the hell did I offend?

Lin Fan enjoyed listening to others, gleaning what he needed from their wisdom. The Pope before him was quite intelligent, and he wanted to hear his suggestions.

"Our Radiant Church has always upheld justice, spread light, and eradicated evil," the Pope began. "Along Ke Lan's training route, we can arrange for church members to eliminate bandits or evil creatures. Then, church members can impersonate these villains and create some trouble for Ke Lan and her companions."

"As for the opponents, I suggest they be slightly stronger than Ke Lan's group, giving them hope of victory, but not too easily. They should need to exert tremendous effort to succeed."

Lin Fan nodded repeatedly, feeling the suggestion had merit. "This does seem quite good."

The Pope continued, "My other idea involves continuity, keeping Ke Lan and her companions engaged. While resolving immediate troubles, they'll discover clues leading to more dangers, ultimately connected to the final enemy."

Lin Fan looked at the Pope in surprise, impressed by his comprehensive thinking. "Who is this final enemy?" he asked, wondering if the Pope intended to play the role himself.

Seeing Lin Fan's gaze, the Pope waved his hand. "As the Pope of the Radiant Church, such a role isn't suitable for me. I've given it some thought, and the Abyssal Lord Archimonde seems quite fitting."

"Him?"

"Yes, the power of the abyss is considered evil by ordinary people, and this will further ignite Ke Lan's resolve to fight against evil." The Pope assigned the role of punching bag to Archimonde.

Since this was a plot requirement, no matter how strong Archimonde was, he would eventually be defeated. Of course, death was out of the question, but a thorough beating was inevitable.

Archimonde, as an Abyssal Lord, held supreme status. Being bullied like this would damage his dignity. However, it also depended on who was doing the bullying. If Lin Fan's daughter wanted to beat him up, wouldn't he obediently play the hero?

"Alright, that works," Lin Fan agreed.

"As long as you're satisfied," the Pope said. "I'm honored to contribute to Ke Lan's growth."

At that moment, Archimonde was in the abyss, unaware of these developments. His appearance wasn't needed yet; the final enemy only emerged at the very end, to be soundly thrashed.

Morning arrived in the village. Lin Fan woke up and stretched. Last night's discussion with the Pope had been fruitful, revealing ideas he wouldn't have considered himself.

"Good morning, Dad."

"Good morning."

Ke Lan was enjoying the village's tranquility, a rarity in her usual life. Outside, every day brought new challenges, leaving little room for rest. The path to strength was arduous, filled with uncertainty.

Time flew by. Ke Lan's stay in the village was short. She had to return to her companions and continue her training. This brief respite had eased her stress. Being home with her family provided a unique warmth.

Lin Fan watched Ke Lan leave, returning to his solitary life. His days were relatively simple, filled with seemingly monotonous tasks. However, to him, these seemingly boring activities held a special interest.

That day, a group of uninvited guests arrived in the village – a merchant caravan. Several horse-drawn carriages, their contents covered with black cloth, were led by a short, middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache. Expensive jeweled rings adorned his fingers, giving him an air of wealth and authority that belied his stature. He looked like a boss because he was rich.

The villagers, unaccustomed to such a spectacle, were awestruck by these wealthy city folk. Lin Fan observed them, figuring they were resupplying during a long journey. This wasn't unheard of, and it provided some villagers with a small income.

The clang of his hammer filled the air. Suddenly, Lin Fan paused, looking towards the carriages. He sensed a faint cry for help, a desperate plea. He walked towards the carriages, unnoticed. The merchants likely assumed no villager would dare touch their goods.

Lifting a corner of the black cloth, he saw iron cages filled with women with fluffy fox ears. Some were young, others older, all dressed in coarse cloth, their faces etched with exhaustion.

As the cloth lifted, the caged Snow Fox tribe glared at Lin Fan, mistaking him for one of their captors.

"I mean no harm," Lin Fan said.

He then noticed a pregnant Snow Fox woman. If his senses were correct, she was the source of the plea. She must have been praying for help.

Suddenly, an angry shout rang out. "You lowly peasant! Trying to steal something? Do you want to die?" A guard, noticing Lin Fan near the carriage, lashed out with a whip.

The whip struck Lin Fan, but he felt nothing. He glanced at the guard, then, remembering his location, turned and walked away.

The black cloth fell, extinguishing the hope that had flickered in the pregnant Snow Fox woman's eyes. The guard, satisfied by Lin Fan's retreat, muttered curses but didn't pursue him. These Snow Foxes were valuable commodities, fetching high prices as slaves.

"What happened?" the short merchant asked.

"A villager was talking to the slaves."

"Hmph, it's nothing. Just some peasant. Pack up and let's go."

The caravan, ready to depart, left the village. Lin Fan watched them go, saying nothing.

In the forest, the well-guarded caravan traveled unhindered. Ordinary bandits wouldn't dare attack them. The merchant anticipated a handsome profit from selling the Snow Foxes. Their natural beauty made them popular among the wealthy, either as concubines or exotic pets.

Suddenly, a figure blocked their path.

"Who's there?" the merchant frowned. He had anticipated possible trouble, but the lone figure surprised him. Such audacity!

"Isn't that the villager from earlier?" the guard who had whipped Lin Fan recognized him.

Lin Fan approached the caravan. "You seem to be engaging in kidnapping," he said. "This isn't good behavior. Restricting someone's freedom without their consent is against the law." He was applying the laws of Yanhai City to this situation. Had the merchant known, he would have laughed at such an absurd notion.

"Stop right there!" the merchant yelled. When Lin Fan continued, he became furious. "Kill him!" he ordered.

The guards lunged at Lin Fan, but an invisible barrier seemed to erupt, throwing them back unconscious.

The merchant watched in disbelief. By the time Lin Fan reached him, he was still stunned, then fearfully looked up.

"What…what do you want?" he stammered, terrified. "I hold a high position in the city. If you dare touch me…"

Slap!

Before he could finish, Lin Fan's palm landed on his head.

"What I told you earlier was true, but you didn't believe me. Oh well, I don't like forcing others. Your aura is weak; I never bully the weak. Let me see what you've done to determine if I can forgive you," Lin Fan said softly.

The merchant stared, confused. Soon, his expression became vacant. Lin Fan was using a technique learned from a dream, allowing him to see into the merchant's memories.

He sighed and shook his head. "So weak, yet you've committed so many cruel acts. Why do you enjoy tormenting those weaker than yourself?"

He disliked killing, especially the weak. It felt like needless oppression. He raised a finger and flicked the merchant's forehead. An invisible force pierced the merchant's head, and he collapsed, lifeless.

Lin Fan approached the carriages, grabbed the black cloth, and with a single motion, ripped it away. He smiled brightly. "You are all safe now," he announced. "You are free."

The caged Snow Fox women stared, bewildered, unsure of what had just transpired.