Elder Hao's face darkened at their words, his previously amused gaze turning icy.
"So… now even bandits have grown bolder since I retired," he muttered.
He slowly rose to his feet, his frail-looking body swaying slightly with the movement. But there was no fear in his eyes. only fury.
"You little mongrels dare threaten me for some beast cores?" he said coldly. "Fine. Come and take them... if you can."
The leader of the group scoffed. "Big talk for an old dog." He raised his saber. "Kill them both. No need to hold back."
The moment those words fell, the bandits lunged forward, their sabers gleaming with a cold edge.
Igaris calmly stepped forward in front of the carriage, cracking his knuckles.
"Leave them to me, Elder Hao," he said without looking back. "I could use them for warm-up."
The old man raised an eyebrow but didn't object. He wanted to see how deep this boy's strength went.
"Kill the cocky brat!"
