บท 60: Odd mission
Ancestral Grotto
A group of gu masters followed the winding path that led them to the entrance of a valley. The pine trees towered over them, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
Zhao Min's group had been tracking the bandits for several days when the trail abruptly ended at the entrance of the valley. They searched the surrounding area and questioned the locals on their way, but nobody had seen or heard anything that could help them beyond this point.
The trail ran cold.
Zhao Min frowned, deep in thought.
"It is suspicious to find no clues. This can only mean one thing, they felt the need to cover their tracks this time." - He began, breaking the silence.
"There's nowhere else for them to go. So the bandits must have gone into the valley." - Said Ye Jianhong.
Jin Jue looked at the valley before them with some hesitation.
"But the valley is vast. We could be searching for days and still find nothing." - He said, wringing his hands nervously.
Ye Jianhong scoffed.
"We have no choice. We can't just let them get away." - His prideful demeanor evident in his voice.
Yu Lingxin, eager to contribute, spoke up.
"Maybe we could split up and search different parts of the valley? It will increase our chances of finding them." - She suggested.
Zhao Min considered her idea for a moment before nodding.
"That's a good plan. Ye Jianhong and I will head north. Jin Jue and Yu Lingxin, you two search the southern part of the valley. But before that, we have to stop here." - He instructed.
"Why stop now? We have practically cornered them!" - Ye Jianhong argued as he pointed at the landscape.
"We need to rest, and start the search early in the morning. And if they want to leave this place, they have to come through here. That would be even better, it would also save us some effort." - Clarified Zhao Min.
Their team set up camp and Zhao Min stood watch as the three of them rested.
"This is the only way. I need to rely on myself if I want to be safe." - Zhao Min sighed to himself. He trust his own abilities the best.
Morning came quickly, the group split up, each heading in their designated direction. Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong walked in silence, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of the bandits. After a few hours of searching, they came across a small clearing where they found a discarded piece of cloth that matched the description of the bandits' clothing.
"We're getting closer." - Zhao Min said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice, feeling one step closer to being done with this mission.
They continued to search until the sun began to set. As they regrouped at the entrance of the valley, Jin Jue and Yu Lingxin returned empty-handed.
"We found nothing." - Jin Jue said, looking dejected.
"But we did hear some noises from the north. Maybe that's where the bandits are." - Yu Lingxin added.
Zhao Min nodded, his eyes flickering with cold determination.
"Their camp is at the north-east side. We will use the cover of the night to strike." - He ordered.
As the sun set, the group quickly made their way towards the north-east side of the valley, staying low and hidden in the shadows.
Zhao Min led the way, his steps cautious and calculated. Ye Jianhong followed closely, his hands twitching as if eager for a fight. They made their way through the forest, their senses alert for any sign of the bandits.
As they got closer, they could hear the faint sound of voices and the crackling of a fire. The bandits' camp was just up ahead.
Zhao Min signaled for the group to halt and quickly briefed them on their plan.
"There they are." - Zhao Min said, his voice low and steady. The group had finally found the bandits.
Yu Lingxin peered through the thick foliage and saw the five bandits around the campfire, laughing and talking.
Zhao Min: "Ye Jianhong and I will approach from the front. Jin Jue and Yu Lingxin, you two will circle around and attack from the back if a fight breaks out. We have the element of surprise on our side, so we must use it to our advantage."
The group nodded in agreement, ready to take down the bandits once and for all.
They crept closer to the camp, careful not to make a sound. As they reached the edge of the clearing, they could see the bandits gathered around a fire, their weapons lying beside them.
Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong stepped forward, their gu ready to strike.
"Surrender now and you can live." - Zhao Min ordered, his voice commanding and cold.
The bandits were caught off guard and scrambled to take their position.
"The dogs of the immortals are here!" - One of them shouted in fear.
Their leader, a burly man with a scar on his face, stood up slowly and faced Zhao Min.
"I see, so you are the ones that have been tracking us. So what if you spare us?" - He ridiculed.
"Fight! Our lives are over the moment they hand us over." - He shouted to his group, his eyes blazing with rage.
The three other bandits drew their weapons and charged forward, ready to strike.
But Zhao Min and group were ready for them. Zhao Min flicked his finger and roots emerged from underground trapping two of the bandits instantly in their tight grasp.
"Only mortals?" - Ye Jianhong laughed to himself as his fist sent the bandit flying closest to him.
The burly man opened his eyes wide, the situation changed instantly.
"I'll say it once more. We have orders to capture you. Do not resist." - Zhao Min eyed their leader.
The injured man on the ground grabbed their leaders leg weakly.
"Stop, brother... There's been too much bloodshed." - He forced the words out.
"They are the ones who should stop! We had to save our lives and escaped. Why can't you let us go?" - The burly man questioned with repressed anger in his voice.
Zhao Min reached into his robes and presented a document.
"Arrest warrant for Chi Lao and gang. If that's you, then I don't need any other reason."
"You... Hahaha. You don't know anything! You weren't there to see what I saw..." - Chi Lao trembled in anger.
"Let me tell you then, Willow River city was run over by a beast tide not long ago. The city lord order every officer to fight to the death, but I knew it was hopeless... I- I could only save these few people." - He looked at the others in frustration.
Zhao Min and Ye Jianhong glanced at each other in silence.
"So you are a deserter and not a bandit? That makes no difference to me." - Ye Jianhong sneered.
"Is that how it's going to be? You two juniors dare to disrespect me like this? Come, I'll give you a lesson in humility!" - Chi Lao roared.
Rank three aura burst out!
"Watch out!" - Shouted Zhao Min as he stepped on a thick root an retreated quickly.
Ye Jianhong was hit by Chi Lao's attack. He coughed up a mouthful of blood before activating his healing gu.
"That's more like it! Come, face me!" - He activated his killer move right away.
Ye Jianhong turned into a twelve feet giant tree-man!
"You can't escape now!" - He shouted.
Chi Lao was taken by surprise. He had not expected such strength from these two juniors. But he was still confident as a rank three gu master.
Ye Jianhong charged ahead fearlessly and opened his basin-size hands to grab Chi Lao.
Chi Lao could easily dodge the slow giant, but that would leave his injured brother in the giant's way. Chi Lao activated his gu worms and an earthen crust appeared on his skin.
Defensive gu - Dry Earth Shell!
The Dry Earth Shell was a defensive gu that strengthened the skin and made it as hard as rocks. It was a perfect counter against physical attacks.
The giant stammered as its momentum was blocked. Ye Jianhong was actually slowly forced back!
But Zhao Min was ready to attack as well. A pair of thick roots emerged below Chi Lao and wrapped around his legs and arms tightly.
But Chi Lao was still not completely immobilized.
"Now!" - Zhao Min shouted and activated his gu worms.
The roots tightened their grip around Chi Lao further, almost crushing him. But Zhao Min's essence was dropping steadily as Chi Lao struggled.
Suddenly a sizable wave crashed forward from behind Chi Lao!
"A sneak attack?! How despicable!" - Cursed Chi Lao. He could not dodge now even if he wanted to.
The wave arrived like a hammer of justice and smashed against Chi Lao.
Yu Lingxin and Jin Jue had arrived!
Chi Lao's Dry Earth Shell got soaked by the water, it turned to soft mud now.
"Oh no!" - Chi Lao realized, he became defenseless.
But Ye Jianhongs's grip also slipped on the mud and his wooden body was carried away by the wave just as the other bodies on the ground.
Chi Lao saw his window of opportunity and activated his movement gu to slip away.
"Brother, I promise to come back for yo-"
Phantom steps!
Phantom Strike gu!
Carve Wood gu!
Jin Ju burst forth from under the water and struck Chi Lao on his back.
"Ahh, no! My aperture!" - Chi Lao grabbed his abdomen in pain.
Another batch of roots wrapped around him tightly, leaving only his head exposed.
"Well done, everyone." - Zhao Min praised briefly.
Next he turned to Chi Lao.
"Submit." - There was no room for negotiation in his voice.
"Release the others first." - He tried to bargain.
Zhao Min: "I can't do that, they are all wanted criminals. However, I can assure you that they will be treated fairly. Now hand over your gu."
Chi Lao: "Hmph, I have no choice then... I'm sorry, everyone."
At the next moment, Chi Lao bit off his own tongue!
"What?"
"Stop it, don't let him suicide!"
"He's loosing too much blood, quickly heal him!"
"My gu only works on myself..."
The four of them watched on as Chi Lao's face drained of color.
"Damn, we failed again!" - Ye Jianhong punched a basin sized crater in the ground.
"We have the rest of them, that's still something." - Yu Lingxin consoled.
Zhao Min released the roots and Chi Lao's body collapsed to the ground.
Jin Ju turned it on its back to check the aperture for spoils.
Zhao Min: "Anything left?"
But Jin Ju shook his head.
"All his gu worms self-destructed."
"Alright, Jianhong, you pick up those three and we head back."
"What about that one?" - Ye Jianhong pointed at the heavily injured man.
Zhao Min: "He won't make it back to the capital. So leave him."
"Shouldn't we at least put him out of his misery?" - Asked Jin Ju.
"Do as you wish." - Zhao Min shrugged indifferently.
Jin Ju swallowed his saliva as he stood over the injured man, hesitating.
"Need some help?" - Ye Jianhong stopped by with three people on his shoulders.
"Look, this is how it's done." - He raised his huge feet and stepped on the man's upper half.
The man opened his eyes in fright as he felt the pressure.
"Huaaah--"
His muffled scream suddenly ended.
Pop!
Ye Jianhong: "Aw, shit. Now I got brain matter between my toes."
Ye Jianhong tried to shake it off from his feet as he couldn't reach down with the three captives on him.
"Stop the nonsense, and come." - Came the order from the visibly annoyed Zhao Min.
Yu Lingxin came up to Jin Ju, who looked unwell.
"It's alright. You just need to get used to it, because people die every day. We are lucky today it wasn't us."
Jin Ju nodded silently.
They were making their way back, when Ye Jianhong stopped suddenly.
"This whole mission is strange, don't you think so as well?" - He asked Zhao Min beside him.
"You just realized it?" - Zhao Min continued his steps as he replied.
"They tasked us to track down a group of bandits. They weren't bandits. They tasked us to capture a rank three gu master alive. Defeating him was already the best scenario, we couldn't have safely brought him back." - Zhao Min continued.
"And he also gave up very quickly. That's also strange." - Added Ye Jianhong.
Zhao Min stopped as well, he looked up at Ye Jianhong's towering figure.
"How did I miss this? We need to go back!"
* * * * *
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