Kapitel 15: Kill them all, not a single one!
The realization hit the bandits like a tidal wave, sending shivers down their spines. The atmosphere in the cottage shifted from a drunken revelry to a palpable fear.
"The head of the family... is dead?" one of the bandits stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Panic spread through the ranks like wildfire. The once boisterous laughter and raucous shouts had been replaced by a heavy silence, punctuated only by the sound of Yang Yuan's lifeless body hitting the ground.
The bandits exchanged frantic glances, their bravado evaporating in the face of the overwhelming reality. Without their leader, who could stand against this formidable young warrior?
Gu Xuan, standing over Yang Yuan's fallen form, felt a surge of satisfaction. He had swiftly dealt with the only significant threat in the cottage, and now the remaining bandits were ripe for the picking.
He glanced around, assessing the situation. The bandits were clearly in disarray, their confidence shattered. Many were looking for an escape route, while others were frozen in fear.
"Anyone else want to challenge me?" Gu Xuan called out, his voice echoing through the cottage. "Or will you surrender now and spare yourselves further suffering?"
The bandits hesitated, glancing at one another, their resolve crumbling. They had heard tales of the Holy Land's disciples—stories of their strength and unyielding nature. Faced with the reality of their situation, the thought of fighting back seemed increasingly foolish.
One of the older bandits, his face lined with worry, stepped forward, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "We... we don't want any trouble! We were just following orders. If you spare us, we can tell you everything you want to know about Heifeng Village!"
Gu Xuan's expression softened slightly, recognizing the fear in the man's eyes. "Very well," he said, lowering his sword but keeping it ready. "Speak quickly. What do you know about the operations here? And where can I find the treasures you've plundered?"
The bandit nodded vigorously, relief flooding his features. "We've been raiding nearby villages and caravans for years, collecting spiritual stones and other valuables. Most of it is stored in a hidden chamber deeper in the cottage. I can take you there!"
Gu Xuan considered the offer. It was a chance to gather more resources, which would be beneficial for his journey ahead. "Lead the way," he commanded.
The bandit quickly gestured for the others to follow, and they cautiously moved deeper into the cottage, wary of any sudden movements from Gu Xuan. As they walked, the remaining bandits whispered among themselves, their fear still palpable.
Upon reaching a heavy wooden door, the bandit paused. "This is it," he said, his voice trembling. "Inside is where we keep our loot."
Gu Xuan stepped forward, pushing the door open with a swift motion. Inside, he was greeted by the sight of piles of stolen goods—spiritual stones, weapons, and various treasures glittered under the dim light.
"Gather everything," Gu Xuan instructed the bandits. "And if you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to finish what I started."
The bandits nodded, scrambling to comply. They began collecting the treasures, their previous bravado replaced by a desperate need to appease their captor.
As Gu Xuan watched them work, he felt a sense of accomplishment. Not only had he dealt with the immediate threat, but he was also gaining valuable resources that would aid him in his quest.
Once the bandits had finished gathering the loot, Gu Xuan turned to them. "You've made the right choice today. I suggest you leave this place and never return to banditry. Otherwise, next time, I won't be so merciful."
With that, he allowed them to flee, knowing that their fear would likely deter them from returning to a life of crime. As the last of the bandits scurried away, Gu Xuan surveyed the treasures before him, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face.
This was just the beginning, and with each step he took, he felt himself moving closer to his ultimate goal. The Hunyuan Dao tire awaited him, and he would stop at nothing to claim it.
Everyone couldn't help but shudder.
And only at that moment did they realize that Gu Xuan had already set his sights on them.
"He's coming!"
"Escape, escape!"
"Run for your life!"
"Please, don't kill me!"
The bandits were in disarray, like headless flies. Some fled for their lives while others knelt down and begged for mercy.
But no matter what, Gu Xuan simply fell upon them with his sword.
After a moment, the bandits lay dead or wounded, leaving only one survivor.
His strength was probably at the eighth level of the Body Forging Realm, which should place him among the mid-tier bandits, specifically spared by Gu Xuan.
"Senior, spare my life! Senior, spare my life!"
"Don't kill me, don't kill me!"
The bandit was completely terrified, kneeling on the ground and pleading for mercy.
"Tell me, where are the treasures in the stockade?" Gu Xuan asked coldly.
"Just where the master lives, there's a cellar where all the treasures are... I said, please don't kill me!"
The thief revealed everything he knew in one breath, then continued to kowtow and beg for mercy.
Gu Xuan ignored him and ended his life with a punch.
Immediately, he made his way to the residence of the master of the cottage and soon found the cellar inside.
Upon entering, he saw several boxes carefully placed on the shelves.
Gu Xuan opened them one by one.
Two of the boxes contained spirit stones, totaling more than 5,000 pieces, which were presumably the spirit stones they had looted.
The last small box contained two martial arts manuals.
One was called "Black Wind Palm" and the other "Running Tiger Fist," both of which were of low quality at the yellow level, making them not particularly valuable.
Gu Xuan pouted and placed everything into his storage bag.
After inspecting the area and finding nothing else of interest, he turned to leave.
"The task has been completed, and the idle people have been dealt with. The next step is to search for opportunities!"
"According to the description of the opportunity seen from Lin Feng, it is the Primordial Dao Embryo found in a cave somewhere in this cottage. Unfortunately, there is no detailed location marked; otherwise, it would be much easier to find!"
Gu Xuan murmured.
This was a mountainous region, very continuous, with high peaks and dense forests nearby, and there were even many fierce beasts.
Finding a hidden burrow here was not a simple task.
But no matter how difficult it was, he had to search for it!
"I'll be busy next time!"
Gu Xuan took a deep breath and immediately headed to the mountain behind the cottage to begin his search.
...
Just when Gu Xuan was searching, Lin Feng was at the Hall of Rewards in the Holy Land.
After resting in the cave for two days, Lin Feng returned, ready to accept a task and head down the mountain to practice.
He searched carefully but couldn't find a suitable task.
Either he was required to station somewhere or go collect items, all tasks that took a long time and offered little opportunity for real training.
"Deacon Zhou, are there no killing missions that suit me right now?" Lin Feng asked, a bit unwilling.
"There are none left," Deacon Zhou replied, shaking his head. "There was one just a couple of days ago, but unfortunately, it was accepted... Why don't you look at other tasks first?"
"Alright then, thank you, Deacon Zhou!" Lin Feng said, a bit disappointed.
After continuing to browse, he finally chose a mission to collect spiritual herbs in a mountain range.
Then, he walked out of the Hall of Rewards.
For some reason, the moment he stepped outside, he felt a sudden irritability in his heart, as if something extremely important had just slipped away from him.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein