Inside a simple village hut, Bai Yunfei sat cross-legged on the bed, restoring the soul force consumed in the recent battle. His mind replayed the chaotic events.
The bandits' corpses had been left to the villagers. Several villagers, including the Village Head, bore serious injuries, but thankfully, no one had died.
When the youth, Xiao Feng, regained his senses and realized he had slaughtered every bandit lying on the ground, he had vomited for over ten minutes. Bai Yunfei himself felt a chill seeing the leader's mangled corpse.
Yet, the boy showed no remorse for killing them. After emptying his stomach, his gaze remained cold and detached as he stared at the bodies. Bai Yunfei saw it clearly: the hatred festering within him was unimaginable.
The boy's name was Li Chengfeng. He had once lived in a small village near Blackwood Mountain. Bandits had stormed it – burning, killing, looting. They had strung him up, forcing him to watch as his family was murdered one by one. His sister had been violated before being killed. They spared him, leaving him to drown in endless agony.
Half a year ago, he arrived in this village. Falling in love with Ling'er had slowly pulled him from the shadows, allowing him to start anew. But today's events had nearly shattered him again. Consumed by hatred and madness, he had slaughtered every bandit Bai Yunfei had incapacitated.
Hearing the villagers recount his past, Bai Yunfei felt a profound pang of sympathy. No wonder the villagers, though initially terrified of Xiao Feng, hadn't reacted with horror afterward. Those bandits deserved no pity. Every one of them had likely destroyed countless lives and happy families.
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A knock interrupted Bai Yunfei's thoughts. "Come in," he called, looking up.
The figure entering stirred a complex emotion within him. "You sought me out. What is it?" Bai Yunfei asked, his tone flat.
The young man stood at the doorway. He was roughly Bai Yunfei's age and height. Shoulder-length hair, which might have looked elegant, was disheveled. A handsome face was etched with deep sorrow, eyes shadowed by an unyielding hatred. His injuries left him pale and drawn – Li Chengfeng.
"Honored Bai," Li Chengfeng began, his voice tight. "The bandit you captured… he woke up. We questioned him. They are from the Heimu Stronghold on Blackwood Mountain. Twenty-three more are camped in a small grove west of the village. If they learn what happened here… they will attack. The Village Head sent me to ask… what should we do?"
Bai Yunfei stiffened. More of them? Twenty-three? He hadn't anticipated this.
"What of their strength?" Bai Yunfei asked after a moment.
"The man spoke of a Hall Master Zhong among them," Li Chengfeng replied, a flicker of fear crossing his face. "A Soul Adept… at the late-stage Soul Disciple level…"
"You know of Soul Adepts?" Bai Yunfei noted his obvious dread.
"I do," Li Chengfeng confirmed, hatred flaring anew in his eyes. "The Heimu Stronghold's leader is said to be a Soul Adept at the mid-stage Soul Warrior level – strength enough to lift cauldrons and shatter stone, to tear tigers and wolves apart bare-handed. The deputy leader is at the late-stage Soul Expert level. He commands four Hall Masters, all Soul Adepts. Hall Master Zhong outside the village… he is one of them." His voice thickened with venom. "And Hall Master Zhong… he was the one who led the raid that destroyed my old village! He took everything from me!"
Bai Yunfei absorbed this silently. A mere bandit stronghold wields such power? He felt a chill. Good thing I didn't charge in blindly earlier. I must be cautious even against small groups in the future. Are Soul Adepts truly this common?
And a Hall Master lurks nearby. Late-stage Soul Disciple… Bai Yunfei assessed himself. Equal to my own level. Pure combat skill? Bai Yunfei doubted he could win. Their experience was worlds apart. But… I have my enhanced equipment. Victory is only decided in the fight.
"Honored Bai," Li Chengfeng pressed, urgency cracking his voice, "you… you are a Soul Adept too, aren't you? Can you… can you handle the bandits outside?" The fate of the entire village rested on this mysterious youth. Li Chengfeng couldn't bear the thought of those inhuman monsters storming in. I cannot lose everything again.
Bai Yunfei met his gaze but didn't answer immediately. His eyes flickered, weighing a decision.
"Do you wish to avenge them with your own hands?" Bai Yunfei's voice was low, deliberate. "Do you wish to protect what is precious to you… with your own strength?"
"What?" Li Chengfeng was stunned by the question after the long silence. Then his whole body trembled. Hope, disbelief, desperate longing warred on his face. "You mean…?"
Bai Yunfei nodded. "Your soul force has awakened. I can impart to you a cultivation art. Make you a true Soul Adept."
THUD!
Li Chengfeng dropped to his knees, forehead aiming for the floor in a kowtow.
He only got halfway down. Bai Yunfei moved like lightning, appearing before him, hands catching his shoulders, preventing the prostration.
"I do not intend to take you as a disciple," Bai Yunfei stated firmly. "No bows are necessary. I do not deserve them. I offer the art because… your strength may be needed for the fight ahead." He paused, his gaze distant. "And… I understand some of what you feel. Consider this… incidental aid."
Bai Yunfei flicked his wrist. A dull grey scroll materialized in his hand. He offered it to Li Chengfeng. "You can feel a unique power within you now, yes? That is soul force. Channel it into this scroll. It will teach you the Soul Cultivation Art and the Flesh Manipulation Art for the Soul Disciple realm." His tone turned pragmatic. "I need this scroll back. Return it to me tomorrow."
Seeing Li Chengfeng's fervent expression, Bai Yunfei added, "Have the villagers pile the bandits' bodies at the village entrance. It should… deter them for tonight. If you can grasp some of the art by dawn… together, we might stand a chance against them." His voice hardened. "But if they attack tonight… I fight alone."
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The moon hung high, stars glittering coldly. The campfires in the small grove were dying embers. Hall Master Zhong stared into the fading flames, his face grim.
"That Tang Gui… still not back?" he muttered darkly. "Has… something gone wrong?"
Hoofbeats approached. A scout he'd sent out earlier returned. Hall Master Zhong looked up, instantly alert. The rider's face was a mask of terror. Before Zhong could speak, the man gasped out, still mounted, voice trembling uncontrollably:
"Dead! Tang Gui… they're all dead!"
His shout jolted the entire camp awake. Men scrambled from their bedrolls, crowding around.
The scout took a shuddering breath. "At the village entrance… Tang Gui and his men… their bodies are piled there! All… all slain!"
Shock rippled through the group.
"What?! All thirteen dead?"
"You must be mistaken! Tang Gui wasn't weak! No commoner could best him!"
"Just a small village? How could they kill them all?!"
"Brothers! Arm yourselves! Let's ride to that village! If it's true, we slaughter them for Tang Gui!"
"Hold! There might be an expert there…"
"ENOUGH!" Hall Master Zhong's roar cut through the clamor, his face thunderous. Silence crashed down instantly.
He fixed his gaze on the scout. "You're certain it was their bodies? Anything else?"
"It was them, Hall Master," the scout stammered. "I… I feared a trap. Didn't get too close. Rode straight back to report."
Zhong fell silent, expressionless, deep in thought. Slaughtering thirteen men, including Tang Gui… no weakling could do that. Likely… a Soul Adept. Why display the bodies? To provoke us? Lure us into an ambush? Or… to intimidate us? Make us hesitate?
After a long moment, he scanned the tense faces. "We don't know this terrain. Night attack favors defenders. We rest. At first light… we ride into that village!" His voice turned icy. "Those who provoke the Heimu Stronghold… will see their village burn and their people die!"
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Uncertain when the bandits might strike, Bai Yunfei didn't sleep. He sat on the bed cultivating, senses extended, alert to the night. Missing a night or two of sleep was inconsequential now.
Twenty-three vicious bandits. A Hall Master at the late-stage Soul Disciple level. Alone, I stand no chance. His hope rested on Li Chengfeng. Can he grasp the basics of soul force and flesh manipulation in one night? If so… two Soul Adepts, working together… we might win!
A thought stirred within him. He drew a +9 Dagger from his spatial ring. Can't afford to expend much soul force… but another enhanced weapon would tip the scales. Just one try.
"Enhance."
"Enhancement successful."
"Equipment Tier: Common."
"Enhancement Level: +10."
"Attack Power: 22."
"Additional Attack Power: 27."
"+10 Bonus Effect: 2% chance to reduce target's speed on hit. Duration: 10 seconds."
"Enhancement Cost: 15 Soul Points."
"Success!" Elation surged through Bai Yunfei. Speed reduction… a useful effect.
He took a steadying breath, the dagger cool in his hand. "Then… prepare for your true first battle!"
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As the first grey light of dawn touched the sky, Bai Yunfei summoned Li Chengfeng, who had cultivated through the night. The youth looked invigorated, the previous day's trauma masked by focused energy.
"How did your cultivation go?" Bai Yunfei asked.
Li Chengfeng handed the scroll back with deep respect. "The Soul Cultivation Art and the first layer of Flesh Manipulation are committed to memory. A night's cultivation healed my wounds, solidified my foundation at the early-stage Soul Disciple realm." He walked to a nearby rock the size of a washbasin. His right fist clenched, muscles visibly swelling beneath the skin. He drove it down. CRACK! The rock shattered into fragments. He picked up an egg-sized piece, squeezed hard, and let fine stone dust sift through his fingers.
Bai Yunfei was genuinely impressed. To master the first stage of body control to this extent overnight, while healing… unexpected.
"Good," Bai Yunfei acknowledged. "Ordinary bandits are no match for you now. You lack experience, but with that speed and strength…" He retrieved a few items from his ring – sturdy leather vambraces and a plain but well-balanced short sword. "Take these. They should help against the rest."
He looked towards the western path. "They didn't attack last night. Dawn is breaking. They will come soon." He laid out his plan swiftly, precisely, detailing positioning, signals, and their respective targets. Finally, he placed a firm hand on Li Chengfeng's shoulder, his expression grave.
"The safety of this village… rests on how well we fight together."
He met Li Chengfeng's determined gaze, a spark of shared resolve passing between them.
"Now… let's give this battle everything we have!"