Chapter 28: Changing the Future

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A scorching day, the sky a vast expanse of clear blue.
The Spinning Wheel Caravan’s convoy rumbled along a dusty road.
"Mr. White, how much longer until we reach the Royal Capital?"
Wang Xi asked, riding a brown merchant horse alongside the middle-aged steward, who wore a hat and neckerchief.
"Hmm, we should be arriving in Ramirez shortly. We’ll rest there for the night and see if we can recruit some extra hands... From there, it’s about a six or seven-day journey to the Royal Capital."
White smiled at him.
Wang Xi thanked him and fell into thought.
According to the "Retirement Preview" he had seen during his last return, the caravan was destined to be ambushed in the outskirts near the capital.
Following the original trajectory, the caravan would suffer heavy casualties; he would be left severely wounded and crippled, and Godalier would be on the brink of death.
But now, Wang Xi’s strength had improved, and he held a "Solomon Military Laser Pistol Type V" in his possession.
This artificial three-star white card from the Prime World was likely a devastating weapon in this otherworldly setting.
It was, effectively, one of his trump cards.
"I can change that future," Wang Xi whispered to himself.
After a moment, he asked Steward White, "Does the Spinning Wheel Caravan have many enemies in the Royal Capital?"
"Enemies?" White laughed, surprised by the young man's question. "Plenty. The Oak Chamber of Commerce, the Moon Dew Alliance, the Coral Route, the Anvil Brotherhood, the Weavers' Guild... and quite a few court ministers and nobles aren't exactly fond of us."
*Have they done something that infuriates the gods and men alike?*
*They are surrounded by enemies on all sides!* Wang Xi mused silently.
But on second thought, he supposed it was normal. The capital was prosperous and the competition fierce; friction between merchant guilds was expected, and over time, it would naturally infringe upon the interests of the powerful.
Yet, this made it impossible for him to discern the true origins of the group that would ambush them.
Should he persuade White to take a different route?
But how could he explain that?
*I am Merlin reincarnated, and I foresee you face a bloody disaster. If you don't change your route, you're in for a world of hurt?*
*Absurd.* White would likely think he was insane.
What if he just took Godalier and ran?
*That would be spineless!*
They had hired him at a high price; to run away the moment things looked grim would be completely dishonorable.
Wang Xi couldn't stoop that low; he would despise himself, and besides, the situation was not entirely hopeless.
He was confident he could handle it.
*The enemies ambushing the caravan have clearly planned this for a long time. Even if we change our route, we will likely still be attacked.*
Wang Xi reasoned logically.
In his view, it was most likely that every major path leading into the capital was under surveillance.
It was clearly an unavoidable situation.
*I'll just have to break through with brute force.*
Wang Xi rubbed his chin, his eyes calm and collected.
*There’s still some time on the road. I’ll upgrade the body-tempering technique first and boost my strength... and when the time comes, I’ll let those guys experience a little laser shock from the new world.*

...

Night had just fallen.
The Spinning Wheel Caravan arrived safely at the small town of Ramirez. Steward White found an inn and settled everyone in.
After a meal and a proper bath, Wang Xi stayed in his room alone.
Shirtless, he sat cross-legged on the bed and silently activated the "Randall Body-Tempering Technique."
*Thump, thump, thump!*
Invisible lashes struck him; he clenched his fists, gritting his teeth to endure. His body began to sway, his muscles twitching.
Three hours might pass in the blink of an eye during a normal day, but during body-tempering, every second felt like a year. The constant pain combined with the rapid depletion of stamina became a true ordeal.
By the time the full moon hung high, the surroundings were silent.
Wang Xi, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, sat on the bed. This time, he persisted and did not collapse.
Joy bloomed in his eyes.
"Card successfully upgraded!"
"Randall Body-Tempering Technique (Cultivation Card)"

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"Quality: White Two-Star (Upgradable)"
"Experience: 0/200"
After feeding it multiple "fodder cards," and through his own arduous, diligent, and persistent efforts, he had finally leveled up the cultivation card.
Wang Xi felt a surge of heat moving through his body. His stamina, which had felt like an empty fuel tank, was suddenly flooded with a continuous stream of fresh energy.
A sense of overflowing power welled up from within.
He let out a satisfied moan and stretched his arms.
*Crack!*
*Pop, pop, pop!*
His joints and bones seemed reinforced, recalibrating themselves with a series of crisp sounds.
By the moonlight filtering through the window, Wang Xi looked down at his body and couldn't help but be stunned.
Having previously been toned through "hard training," his physique had leaned toward the upper-average, but now that the "Randall Body-Tempering Technique" had upgraded, his muscle definition was much clearer, and he appeared slightly more muscular overall.
The sweat soaking his skin reflected the moonlight, making him look radiant.
He tried clenching his fist and lifting his arm. What did he see?
He saw arms even more toned and perfect than in his previous life—lean and powerful, not overly exaggerated. It wasn't the ruggedness of a bodybuilder, but the refined, internal strength of a martial artist like Bruce Lee.
*Handsome!* Wang Xi gave an objective assessment.
*Strong!*
He felt he could punch a goblin to death right now.
Rip a slime apart.
Kick a sugar doll to pieces.
There was an unexpected bonus, too: he realized his skin, while seemingly smooth, was as tough as oxhide, possessing significant resistance to blunt force.
*This must be the passive effect of the 'Randall Body-Tempering Technique'—pain resistance and durability... In a martial arts world, I’d probably be considered a master of external hard-style training.*
But it would be nonsense to think he could face swords and blades with his bare skin—he would still be cut if hit—but he wouldn't go down easily from mere punches or blunt impacts.
*Accumulate and wait for the breakthrough! My physical fitness has improved, and my stamina is much higher. My overall strength has seen a significant boost!*
Wang Xi summarized, very satisfied.
He wiped off the sweat and, instead of going to sleep, sat on the edge of the bed and continued to conjure azure sugar, becoming increasingly skillful and proficient.
Although it only added 1 point of experience after fiddling for a long time, to upgrade cards, one had to learn to accumulate.
*Without taking small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas.*
Play was play, but Wang Xi was clear-headed; he could not neglect his own efforts just because he had the help of Chaos.
That would only lead to his own ruin.

...

Time passed quietly.
Six days flew by.
During these days, the Spinning Wheel Caravan had been on the move. Wang Xi practiced his cards whenever he had the chance; the experience gained wasn't much, but it added up over time.
Perhaps because they were nearing the capital, the weary travelers secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Running a caravan was not easy—sleeping in the wilderness, constantly guarding against bandits, wild beasts, and even terrifying monsters.
Now, they would finally get a good rest.
The convoy climbed over a steep hill, and from afar, they caught a glimpse of a magnificent complex of buildings. Rivers, high walls, towering spires, fluttering flags...
"Push a little harder!"
Steward White, riding a grey horse, wore a weary smile and called out to the group.
"We’ll reach the Royal Capital today!"
The guards exchanged looks and laughed.
Only Wang Xi did not laugh.
It wasn't that he was antisocial or playing it cool; it was because he knew the ambush was imminent.
Godalier, sitting in the carriage, looked at the black-haired youth. Noticing his expressionless face, the smile that had been on her lips slowly faded.
She wanted to speak but hesitated.
Finally, she lowered her head in sorrow.
"Godalier."
Suddenly, she heard a voice. She looked up to see Gaius (Wang Xi) slowing his horse as he approached the carriage.
Her familiar childhood friend whispered to her:
"I have a bad feeling... if something happens shortly, don't come out. Stay inside the carriage."
"Huh?" Godalier looked confused.

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She didn't know why Gaius would say that, but seeing his serious expression, she nodded obediently.
At the same time, Gaius’s renewed concern lifted her spirits, which had been sinking into the abyss.
Like a drowning person surfacing for air, she was finally able to breathe.
Godalier lowered her gaze, her long lashes trembling with emotion.
Wang Xi, however, did not pay further attention to the girl and rode his horse forward.
The only reason he had warned Godalier was her trust in him and his desire to prevent her from being harmed as he had foreseen.
The convoy traveled a bit further.
Unlike the others in the caravan who remained relaxed, Wang Xi was focused, constantly observing the surrounding environment.
The sun was high, and cicadas chirped in the woods on both sides of the dusty road.
A hot breeze brushed his face, but it carried a hint of coolness.
The vegetation and trees rustled.
Wang Xi sat in his saddle and closed his eyes.
—"Listen to Heartbeats"
*Thump-thump, thump-thump...*
In the darkness, twelve red lines pulsed in succession.
Those were the heartbeats of the caravan members.
Steward White, Godalier, the two guards recruited temporarily in Ramirez, Bennett, and the original crew.
But suddenly.
Wang Xi heard a strange heartbeat.
It was coming from the woods twenty meters ahead on the right.
He frowned.
*Thump-thump, thump-thump...*
There were more and more heartbeats!
The red lines pulsing in the darkness were like a scarlet web!
"Stop!"
Wang Xi opened his eyes and roared.
*Hee-haw!*
Steward White pulled the reins and stopped his horse, signaling Bennett and the others. The group halted, casting confused glances at Wang Xi.
Wang Xi took his hunting crossbow from his shoulder, pulled the string, loaded a bolt, and aimed it toward the woods.
"Ambush!"
Before the words left his lips, he pulled the trigger.
*Whoosh!*
The bolt flew straight.
A scream followed immediately.
"Ah!"
The expressions of the caravan members shifted.
*There really was an ambush!*
"Protect Steward White and the cargo! Prepare for battle!"
Bennett reacted quickly; he leaped off his horse at the command and drew the sword at his waist, stepping forward.
Just as the guards moved into position, a chaotic commotion erupted in the woods, followed by a dense volley of arrows flying toward the convoy.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!*
In an instant, two guards were struck and fell to the ground; horses neighed in terror, and the scene descended into chaos.
Wang Xi waved his sword with an expressionless face, parrying the incoming arrows with a series of metallic clangs.
Within his sight, a section of the forest suddenly distorted and shimmered before being "pulled away" like a canvas.
Behind it, twenty or thirty figures were revealed.
They were almost all armored, gleaming brightly in the sunlight. Half of them were bent over, stepping on their crossbows to reload.
The three leaders were tall and burly.
They were fully covered in heavy black armor, topped with dog-faced helmets, with only a horizontal slit in the pointed visors.
"Iron-Finger Knight of the 'Finger Society' - Ruhl (Red/Two-Star)"
"..."