Jin said indignantly: "And how else should I prove myself anyways?! You guys are making a mistake! I'm on your side!" but he was answered by a few chuckles. The same girl told him: "It doesn't matter anymore, now does it? We have already taken out our weapons after all"

That's when Jin realized that they might not even have been doubting him at all. A different possibility did exist. They could be hunting like he had been... As he thought so, he asked them coldly: "You're after my stuff?" and the man answered him with a grin: "Took you long enough"

True. He had three spatial pouch on himself. Even putting aside what was inside, just the value of the three spatial equipment could make a few salivate. It wasn't much per se but to youths and cultivators just starting on the cultivation road, it would net them quite a sum. Or, if they didn't have a spatial equipment yet, make it so they wouldn't have to buy one and spend their cash.

Jin couldn't quite help it though...It's not like he could hide those pouch in his robe or something. They were too bulky for that and would be easy to notice regardless. In the end, it was better to keep them at his waist. Even though it would attract other's greed and foil his plans.

And now he was forced into a 1v3. Even if he had mentally prepared himself about it before he even went up to them...It would still be a tough battle.

As he was trapped in-between the three, he decided to make the first move and rushed at the guy. From there on out, weapons clashed non-stop. Fighting a duel was easy, fighting a 2v1 was doable and fighting a 3v1 possible. However he did count on the youthfulness of the foes. He didn't expect them to be used to fighting in a group like they were.

After many back and forth, the trio was bloodied with the smaller girl having lost an arm. Jin on his end had many cuts but everything was superficial. He had picked them specially because he knew they had no spiritual warriors and would thus be able to overpower them. His shoulder wound did reopen after the flesh teared slightly apart but it was a small price to pay.

He only had to finish them off now. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let it happen so easily. The bigger girl took out a weird gray ball from her pouch and threw it between them before leaving a few words: "We will be back!" It was a smoke bomb and a potent one at that. As soon as it touched the ground, it exploded creating an impressive cloud of smoke. Jin couldn't see shit.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

That's when the trio ran away. Well, they tried to. Jin's mask could see heat. What was the point of a smoke cloud? He ran after them and ended up taking their lives.

Learning from his mistake, he didn't take their pouch even though they had quite a value. Instead he only looted the things inside. Having more than three pouches on himself would really be too much and turn him into a gold lamb in the eyes of just about everyone.

Three was already enough to tempt a few, sure, but there should be some who wouldn't care that much. Some people were greedy for benefits in the present but some could see beyond that and think of potential future benefits. He hoped to meet this kind of people.

But as for now, he had to leave and find a place to tend to his wounds.

Once again he had to burn his shoulder wound to make it stop bleeding. He proceeded to bandage it again. This wound would take some time to heal and be detrimental during future battles but there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't just stop and stay hidden until he healed completely. It would be too late by then...

He bandaged the other numerous cuts he earned from the battle and threw away the robe he had worn, now cut in too many places. He picked one that was blue depicting waves. He considered blue to be a friendly color.

Once done changing, he left in search of another group. He found a few who didn't try to kill him but rejected him politely instead. Those groups didn't want to risk a fight with him nor did they want to associate with him. Either because they were suspicious or because they didn't find any reasons to.

The day ended up with him still alone but no more battles were fought which was already not that bad.

The next morning, he found a duo of monks. It was easy to recognize them as they had the flat monk hats and monk necklace of brown balls. He introduced himself and they did the same. He joined them and it was harmonious. Until they tried to ambush him with a rod hit to the head. That he dodged.

"I thought monks were benevolent?"

The monks nodded and one explained: "We are to our own indeed, benefactor. However we cannot be sure of your belonging to our side and as such, we will be having you die. Not to worry, we will bring back your corpse and if it proves that we were wrong, we will repent"

Jin couldn't help but looked at them with despise. Repent? Do you think a dead man would care if you were to repent?!

In the end, he killed them without much difficulty. Since they both were staff users, he went in with a dual dagger style and closed in on them. He stayed close and made short work of the two with a few stabs. Unfortunately, those monks were poor as hell, not much to loot.

That being said, he liked their hats so he picked one and put it in his pouch before leaving.