C5 Blackrock Marauders

As word spread of Yang Rui leading the suppression of Curseguard Village, the power under his command solidified. Those harboring any ulterior motives quickly abandoned their plans and loyally provided for the Yang family, careful not to show any disrespect.

In a similar vein to the Sun family of Rogueforest, other local lords paused their encroachments on Oakenbreak, biding their time for the Yang family to show weakness.

Amidst these developments, Yang Rui found himself with time to spare and resumed his intense training regimen with the aid of Body Tempering Potions. Within a mere week, he had smoothly advanced to the sixth level of Body Tempering, doubling his physical strength to an impressive 3,200 kilograms, rivaling that of a second-rate warrior.

While Yang Rui dedicated himself to his training, a burly man with a scarred face, clad in a black combat suit, made his way to the secluded heart of the Sun family estate in Rogueforest.

"Mr. Sun, you summoned me. What's the matter?" the scarred man asked, settling himself casually in front of Sun Yuqi, the patriarch of the Sun family.

This imposing figure was Wang Liang, the deputy leader of the Blackrock Marauders, one of Brittlecoast's ten most notorious bandit groups, and a formidable second-rate warrior.

"Mr. Wang, I would like the Blackrock Marauders to eliminate Yang Rui of Oakenbreak," Sun Yuqi proposed in a hushed tone.

"Mr. Sun, Yang Rui is the recognized lord of Oakenbreak. If we were to kill him, Brittlecoast would surely send powerful enforcers after our Blackrock Marauders. We cannot afford to take such an action," Wang Liang responded firmly.

Oakenbreak, being under the jurisdiction of Brittlecoast, meant that any attack on its lord by the Blackrock Marauders would be seen as a direct affront to the city's authority. Brittlecoast would undoubtedly retaliate by sending experts to annihilate the bandits and uphold its reputation. With no hesitation, Wang Liang outright refused Sun Yuqi's request.

"Mr. Wang, if you agree to take out Yang Rui, I'm prepared to offer 10,000 gold coins as compensation, along with the Yang family's blackstone mine," Sun Yuqi persisted, sweetening the deal.

"I'll find a way to draw Yang Rui out of Oakenbreak without the need for the Blackrock Marauders to storm the town. This way, even if you succeed in killing Yang Rui, it won't provoke the mighty warriors from Brittlecoast to hunt you down!" Sun Yuqi stated evenly.

"Let's hear your plan!" Wang Liang's eyes sparkled as he spoke with a grin.

Encouraged by Wang Liang's interest, a slight smile appeared on Sun Yuqi's face as he promptly laid out his strategy.

As dusk fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky grew dim.

A group of over a hundred sturdy men clad in black, armed with stainless steel swords, longswords, and spears, made a beeline for the quarry deep within Blackrock Crest.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The men, dressed in their black garb, were spotted by the guards at an outpost near the quarry, who sounded a shrill alarm.

"Charge!" Wang Liang commanded, his voice icy as he gestured decisively upon hearing the guard's alert.

In an instant, the band of over a hundred men, brandishing their stainless steel weapons, let out cries of battle fervor as they surged into the quarry.

These men, all members of the Blackrock Marauders, were seasoned fighters. Even the least among them boasted the strength of a seventh-level warrior. Accustomed to bloodshed and battle-hardened, their collective combat prowess was formidable.

The Yang family guards stationed at the quarry were quickly overpowered in the ensuing clash with the marauders, finding themselves under relentless assault.

Yang Ann, the overseer of the blackstone mine, emerged from his stone dwelling to see his guards struggling. A vicious gleam in his eyes, he hoisted his stainless steel blade and charged directly at the Blackrock Marauders.

A third-rate warrior in the late period of his training, Yang Ann had mastered three meridians and the art of the Blazing Cut, making him a force to be reckoned with. Ordinary warriors of his rank stood little chance against him.

It was Yang Ann's presence that prevented Sun Yuqi and the people of Rogueforest from attacking and overtaking Oakenbreak when Yang Rui's parents passed away.

"Blazing Cut!"

Approaching the Blackrock Marauders, Yang Ann channeled his internal power and executed the Blazing Cut technique. His stainless steel blade sliced through the bandits with lethal precision, cleaving them in half and sending blood spraying, leaving behind a trail of mangled corpses.

In mere moments, over a dozen bandits lay dead by Yang Ann's blade. The remaining thieves, faces stricken with fear, hastily retreated, unwilling to come anywhere near him.

Witnessing the carnage, a sinister gleam flashed in Wang Liang's eyes. With a furious roar, he drew his sharp longsword and charged at Yang Ann.

Clang!

The sound of metal on metal rang out as Wang Liang's longsword clashed with Yang Ann's blade, sending out a shower of sparks. A tremendous force surged through Yang Ann's arm, leaving it numb and causing the stainless steel blade to fly from his grasp.

In an instant, Wang Liang closed the distance, his longsword thrusting forward and piercing Yang Ann's chest. Blood gushed forth as Yang Ann collapsed to the ground, powerless.

As Yang Ann hit the ground, the morale of the Yang family guards crumbled, their will to fight evaporated, and they scattered in retreat.

"He might still be useful. Bandage him up; don't let him die!"

Wang Liang watched the fleeing guards with an unchanging expression. Pointing at Yang Ann with his bloodied longsword, he issued the order impassively before heading deeper into the mine.

"Young Master, there's trouble! The Shadow Mining has been taken over by a group of thieves!"

Yang Hai burst out of the bathhouse, his voice filled with urgency and alarm.

Upon hearing Yang Hai's report, Yang Rui, who was immersed in his medicinal bath, slightly furrowed his brows and calmly responded, "Hai Bo, there's no need for such panic. Head to the study and wait for me; I'll join you shortly."

"Yes, Young Master!"

Reassured by Yang Rui's composed response, the anxiety ebbed from Yang Hai's demeanor. He acknowledged loudly and made his way to the study room.

Shortly after completing his Body Tempering practice, Yang Rui entered the study and took his place at the head of the table with ease. "Hai Bo, give me a rundown of the situation," he commanded.

Yang Hai, reassured by Yang Rui's composed demeanor, relaxed significantly and began his report in a hushed tone. "Young Master, based on what the fleeing guards have reported, this evening, over a hundred formidable thieves clad in black invaded the blackstone mine. They effortlessly overpowered our Yang family's hundred-plus guards and seized control of the mine. The leader of these thieves managed to defeat Yang Ann with a single move, indicating his considerable strength. He's likely a second-rate warrior, which is quite alarming.

Furthermore, this bandit leader sent a message for you. He demands a ransom of ten thousand gold coins to be delivered to the blackstone mine within three days, or else he threatens to kill Yang Ann."

Upon hearing Yang Hai's briefing, Yang Rui instantly realized that these bandits had targeted him specifically. A flash of intensity crossed his eyes as he issued his instructions, "Hai Bo, prepare ten thousand gold coins and muster a hundred of our finest guards. I'll lead them to the blackstone mine tomorrow.

Additionally, I recall we have twenty Shattering Bolts in the Yang family's armory. Retrieve them and select twenty of the most dedicated individuals to assemble an elite crossbow unit."

"Yes, Young Master!" Yang Hai responded with a loud affirmation before swiftly exiting the study.