C20 Who Opened This Mountain?

After a grueling half-day journey, Wang Cai's caravan finally reached the Azure Dragon River as evening approached. Han Xin, the carriage driver, called out, "Mount Dawnfire should be just across the river. Everyone, stay alert and keep an eye on your surroundings. We can't afford to give these bandits any openings."

Indeed, it was Han Xin at the reins. Throughout the journey, he had been boasting to Wang Cai's shop assistants, who had come to regard him as a decent fellow. Little did they know that once Han Xin had inquired about the route to Hesneas City, he promptly ordered all four assistants off the carriage.

As fighters and commanders, it wouldn't do to have these young assistants riding along—we march on foot. Though we can't all ride in comfort like Liu Xiaobao, taking a turn at driving is certainly within our means. And so, Han Xin and seven others took their places in the carriage, rotating in groups of four to share the driving duties.

Wang Cai, the boss, wasn't concerned with the details; as long as he wasn't expected to disembark and walk, all was well. The four shop assistants, not daring to object in front of the mercenaries, kept their silence.

Leading the way, Han Xin steered Liu Xiaobao's carriage across the river. Revered as the Mother River by the people of Aeseaba, the Azure Dragon River is the mightiest in the land, its source high in the mountains of the Magic Kingdom, flowing directly to the sea and traversing the entirety of Aeseaba.

Wang Cai turned to Liu Xiaobao and voiced his concern, "Guild Leader, perhaps we should consider crossing the mountain tomorrow? Nightfall is near, and traversing the vast expanse of Mount Dawnfire could take a couple of hours. I'm worried about the possibility of a bandit ambush under the cover of darkness."

From outside the carriage, Han Xin interjected, "My young master is pressed for time and can't afford to dally here. We'll make our way through Mount Dawnfire tonight and aim to arrive in Hesneas City by noon tomorrow."

"But what if—"

"There are no 'buts' to consider. They're just a ragtag group of bandits. Surely they're no match for us."

Wang Cai, a mere layman, had no understanding of the prowess of true experts. His concerns dismissed, he could only hope that Liu Xiaobao and the others would keep them safe.

The caravan made its way into Mount Dawnfire, traveling for about half an hour without encountering a soul. The sun's last sliver of light lingered, casting an eerie and foreboding shadow over the landscape.

"Stop, everyone, quick! Use the water and cloth to cover your mouths and noses!" Han Xin called out upon spotting a lavishly adorned carriage concealed in a ditch along the road.

The carriage's hiding place was poorly disguised, and the vehicle itself looked brand new, indicating it had only recently been stashed away. What caught Han Xin's attention most, however, was the peculiar scent in the air. The sudden emergence of this subtle fragrance in the depths of the mountains, coupled with the sight of the hidden opulent carriage, prompted Han Xin to act decisively.

At Han Xin's command, the carriage halted immediately. Sun Lutang leaped to the carriage roof and distributed water skins to the group. Liu Xiaobao and the others, familiar with Han Xin's judgment, drenched cloths in water and covered their noses.

Liu Xiaobao, with his nose covered, handed another damp cloth to Wang Cai, urging, "Quick, cover your nose."

"There's definitely something off with this scent," Han Xin directed. "Turn the carriage around."

"Smart move, but do you think you can escape?" Suddenly, about fifty bandits emerged, blocking the path a hundred meters behind the carriage. Each one wielded a large sword, menacingly eyeing their quarry.

The bandit leader, brandishing his sword, declared, "I am Aztia. This road is mine, and this mountain is under my watch..."

"To get past here, you'll have to go through me!" Shan Xiongxin burst into laughter. "So you're the head of these bandits? I've been using that line for half my life; never thought I'd hear someone else throw it at me."

Shan Xiongxin, a veteran of the greenwood and a respected leader, felt a wave of nostalgia upon finding himself at the mercy of bandits.

Unperturbed by the bandits behind them, the carriage pressed on in reverse. Shan Xiongxin, Sun Lutang, Guo Yunshen, and Deng Yu stood ready to fend off the attackers, while the rest of the group focused on maneuvering the carriage.

The carriage backed up a hundred meters, bringing it just a few meters away from the bandits. Han Xin sniffed the air and, detecting no scent, declared, "All clear, everyone. Prepare for battle. Sun Lutang, Guo Yunshen, and I will safeguard the young master and the caravan. The rest of you, get ready to engage."

Despite the formidable skills of Han Xin, Sun Lutang, and Guo Yunshen, they wisely left the group combat to Shan Xiongxin, Liang Shitai, Deng Yu, Geraint, and Lancelot, who excelled in large-scale battles. The five warriors faced the fifty-odd bandits without a trace of fear.

"Wang Cai, stay put inside the carriage, I'm going to check things out," Liu Xiaobao said. He had never encountered bandits before, and while he was a bit frightened, his curiosity got the better of him, and he stepped out. However, Liu Xiaobao didn't approach them; instead, he and four assistants took cover behind the second carriage to watch the unfolding scene.

Night had fallen, and the bandits' torches cast a glow over the mountainside. The bandit leader bellowed, "You lot are quite vigilant, not succumbing to the Soft Bone Incense like those Mages we nabbed in no time."

Liu Xiaobao was taken aback, not having anticipated that the bandits could use incense to overpower Mages.

From behind Shan Xiongxin and the others, Han Xin challenged the bandits, "What's your plan, you scoundrels? If you value your lives, beat it. Your disheveled appearance is ruining our dinner ambiance."

Aztia, the bandit leader, howled back, "If you've got any sense, hand over all your valuables and give yourselves up. We'll tie you up and take you as hostages up the mountain. Otherwise, our blades won't be so forgiving."

"Why waste words? Let's go!" Shan Xiongxin, spear in hand, thrust it through Aztia's chest, showing no mercy to those who sought to harm others.

After Aztia was slain, the bandits grew frenzied, howling as they surged toward the carriage.

Following Shan Xiongxin's spear thrust, the remaining four warriors readied themselves for combat. The five of them quickly became locked in a fierce battle with the oncoming bandits.

Han Xin, Sun Lutang, and Guo Yunshen stood their ground in front of the carriage, fending off any bandits that slipped through. Those not impaled by Han Xin's swift blade were disarmed by Sun Lutang and Guo Yunshen, who then broke their attackers' necks with lethal precision.

The quintet at the forefront of the fray was ferocious, seasoned by countless battles. Facing these lesser foes, they easily took on scores of bandits single-handedly. Shan Xiongxin's spearwork, though not renowned, was honed through relentless combat, allowing him to execute stabs, thrusts, slashes, wraps, circles, blocks, grabs, throws, pokes, flicks, and flourishes with deadly spontaneity, turning him into a nightmare for his enemies on the battlefield.

Liang Shitai's twin hammers were equally formidable. Initially cumbersome, they became unpredictable in his skilled hands, denying the bandits any chance to close in. With every swing, Liang Shitai sent bandits flying, their insides fatally ruptured.

Deng Yu, though not a military commander, had weathered countless battles throughout his life, surviving over a hundred assassination attempts. Handling these average bandits was child's play for him. Once he commandeered a bandit's broadsword, he wielded it with a commanding presence.

The brothers of the Knights of the Round Table, once key figures in battles alongside the Son of God, now wielded their two-handed swords with such prowess that the bandits dared not confront them.

The once formidable bandits were now being beaten back, their armor discarded in disarray. Within minutes, half of them had been vanquished. Terrified, they hadn't anticipated crossing paths with such formidable adversaries.

When the first bandit dropped his blade and knelt to plead for mercy, the rest followed suit, discarding their weapons and kneeling in submission, praying that the relentless warriors before them would spare their lives.

Let the bandits go? You must be kidding! Was that bandit a saint? How many innocent lives had he taken? Even the honorable Shan Xiongxin wouldn't claim he's never done wrong.

The killing hadn't stopped, and the bandits' pleas for mercy were utterly ineffective. Liu Xiaobao and Wang Cai watched in horror. Wang Cai and his fellow merchants and workers were petrified by the carnage. Liu Xiaobao was even more out of his depth. In his past life, he was nothing more than a model student and a homebody, who had only fantasized about being an invincible hero. But witnessing such a one-sided slaughter nearly made him sick to his stomach.

Seeing Shan Xiongxin claim the souls of the dead, with their chests and necks still gushing blood, and Liang Shitai's relentless hammering leaving none unscathed, some even with their heads shattered, was enough to make Liu Xiaobao's heart quiver with disgust and fear.

Liu Xiaobao cried out, "Stop, stop killing, just stop!"

Han Xin inquired, "Young Master, why this change of heart? Surely you don't intend to release these malevolent bandits? Didn't you hear what their leader said? Mages have been captured and taken to the mountains just before our arrival."

Liu Xiaobao demanded, "Stop! Are you not heeding my command?"

With Liu Xiaobao's firm stance, Shan Xiongxin and the others ceased their actions. The bandits knelt on the ground, too frightened to move, murmuring, "Thank you, young master, thank you."

Reflecting on Han Xin's earlier words, Liu Xiaobao knew the bandits were hardened criminals. If released, they would undoubtedly return to their wicked ways. He instructed Shan Xiongxin and the others, "Sever the tendons of the remaining bandits, but leave them their lives."

Following Liu Xiaobao's orders, they disabled the bandits' hands. Liu Xiaobao declared, "I've spared your lives. Now that you're incapable of wielding weapons, you've lost the means to be bandits. Now go, and don't let me see you again."

"Thank you, Young Master, for sparing us! Thank you for your mercy!" The bandits, realizing they had been granted a reprieve by Liu Xiaobao, quickly prepared to make their escape.

"Wait, if anyone lays a hand on me, they're dead!" Han Xin suddenly remembered something and seized an unfortunate bandit. "Where have you taken the Mage you captured?"

The bandit pleaded, "He's in our stronghold atop the mountain. Please, have mercy on me—I swear I'll give up banditry for good."

"I have another question: are there any formidable fighters in your stronghold? How many are you in total?"

"Yes, our leader was once a mercenary, a Level 5 Bronze Knight, who fled to Mount Dawnfire. The Soft Bone Fragrance we used in an attempt to subdue you was brought by him. It's potent enough to bewitch even a Level 5 Golden Knight or a Level 5 Archmage. There are over twenty of us in the stronghold, including five Knight apprentices."

"Interesting. How long does the effect of this Soft Bone Fragrance last?"

"One hour. We released it only after we saw you walk into our trap."

Han Xin commanded, "Do one last thing for us, and I'll spare your lives. Lead us up the mountain to your stronghold."

"Please, have mercy! If the chief sees me guiding you there, he won't let me live."

"Refuse to guide us, and you'll meet your end right here, right now."

Faced with Han Xin's menacing ultimatum, the bandit quickly capitulated.