Chapter 47: Cruel pragmatism

"Stop running!" The Bandit Captain bellowed, smashing his long axe against Dai Meifen's sword. "Turn back and fight, or I'll skin all of you!!"

The Bandit Captain's, now former, underlings shared some glances at their boss surrounded by Ku Lo and others before fleeing deeper into the thick oak forest.

"Cowards!" Ku Lo too roared at the figures vanishing into the dense undergrowth and treetops. The cry being somewhat hypocritical as he wouldn't follow these bandits to the forest.

Alongside many others, he ridiculed the fleeing bandits from the safety of the road before turning around to encircle the Bandit Captain abandoned to die alone.

I should get some friends so this will never happen to me, he reflected, seeing the hint of desperation in the Bandit Captain's slanted eyes searching for a way out. To die like this isn't a good way to go.

"If you talk, we'll let you live." Meifen backed away enough for the man to have a breather yet not to act.