C21 The Stronghold Saved People

After releasing the bandits with severed tendons, the road was in disarray, permeated with the thick stench of blood. Torches discarded by the bandits littered the area. Had Liu Xiaobao's men not extinguished the surplus torches, Mount Dawnfire might have faced a wildfire.

Dong, dong.

Karma point +100

Host level 1, 500 karma points needed to level up, 152 karma points remaining.

"Why did my karma points just increase?" Liu Xiaobao wondered, but then it dawned on him, "Could wiping out those wicked bandits have boosted my karma points? If that's the case, would my karma points keep soaring if I took down more bandits?"

Setting those thoughts aside, there were still over twenty individuals in the mountain stronghold, including a Level 3 Bronze Knight and five knight apprentices. Liu Xiaobao resolved to lead his men up the mountain to free the captured Mages.

Preparing for a mountain assault on the bandits meant being thoroughly equipped. Han Xin left Deng Yu and Liang Shitai to guard the caravan, while the others set out to vanquish the bandits and save the captives. With Level 3 adversaries on the mountain, it was the moment for Sun Lutang and Guo Yunshen, the martial arts grandmasters, to shine. These grandmasters were far superior in single combat than Shan Xiongxin and other war generals who were only versed in battle tactics, making them ideal for confronting formidable foes.

Seven people, along with one unfortunate captive bandit, made their way up the mountain, torches in hand. The challenge of rooting out bandits was evident. Guided by the bandits, Liu Xiaobao's group had navigated through four caves and scaled cliffs five times. Many routes were barely discernible, mere fissures in the mountain walls, impassable for anyone of larger girth.

After about half an hour on this treacherous path, Liu Xiaobao and his companions reached a relatively flat summit. The mountaintop was ablaze with light, revealing a wooden stockade village built against the mountainside.

Atop the mountain stood a watchtower, where a bandit kept watch through the night. The gate was firmly closed, and the sound of laughter echoed from within, likely celebrating the day's successful hunt.

As Liu Xiaobao and his companions neared the stronghold, they doused their torches. Han Xin had already extracted all the details about the stronghold from the prisoners: the layout of the cells, the guards' positions, and the location of the armory. The bandits had revealed to Han Xin that since their leader had seized control a year ago, they'd been capturing people on sight, snatching several groups each month, with a preference for nobility. After taking captives, they'd inform the families, demanding a ransom to be left on the road. To keep the stronghold's location secret, the captives were blindfolded.

One must admit, these bandits had a cunning plan. They'd venture out a few times a month, making a fortune and relishing their wild mountain existence. The presence of Bone Chilling Fragrance only added to their security.

In the dead of night, Liu Xiaobao and his group set the captured bandits free and stealthily advanced on the stronghold. The wooden walls posed no challenge to the Black Iron Knights, who smashed through the gate with ease. Han Xin, with his keen reflexes, swiftly thrust his longsword at the guard in the watchtower, while the others dispersed to take down the bandits. Though they were ostensibly working together, each was confident in their own abilities, and Han Xin trusted in their collective strength.

Han Xin, Liu Xiaobao, Sun Lutang, and Guo Yunshen refrained from joining the fray, as they had a more formidable target: the chief of the stronghold, a formidable Level 3 Bronze Knight.

Shan Xiongxin and the Knights of The Round Table unleashed havoc within the stronghold, slaying without mercy. Their rampage sent waves of terror through the stronghold, alerting everyone within.

In the chief's quarters, a beautiful young woman, her hands bound and a cloth over her nose, spoke softly, "Your stronghold is doomed. Surely it is the work of fearless warriors come to our rescue. Just listen to the wails outside; your people are in agony."

"Damn it, who betrayed me? How did someone manage to find this place? Could it be that bastard Aztia?" The mountain stronghold's chief taunted the beautiful young woman he had bound, "You just wait here. Once I've taken care of the intruders, you'll see what I do with you."

"You vile fiend, divine retribution is upon you."

The chief didn't have the fierce and unkempt appearance of a typical bandit; rather, he was a middle-aged man with a dignified and proper demeanor. He retrieved a pouch of Soft Bone Incense from a cabinet in the room and stepped out, longsword in hand.

As he exited, the chief saw four individuals approaching him. Surprisingly, one was just a youth, and another was even carrying a wooden basin. Yet, the chief was not intimidated; he was confident that his own strength surpassed theirs, and with the element of surprise from his Soft Bone Incense, he was sure he could dispatch them easily.

Liu Xiaobao, observing a bandit who didn't quite fit the part, asked courteously, "Uncle, are you the chief here?"

"Indeed, I am the chief. People on the streets know me as..."

His introduction was cut short by Han Xin, "If you're the chief, then we've come to the right place. I've heard you've captured quite a few people this year. Impressive, it seems like a lucrative business, unlike us, earning just a few gold coins per Mercenary Mission."

"What's your point, brother? Are you aiming to take our place?" The chief, hearing screams in the distance, questioned the four, "It looks like you're not leaving us any way out, so I can't be blamed for what happens next."

Before the chief could act, Guo Yunshen, having filled a wooden basin with oil from the kitchen, doused him with it. Han Xin had previously inquired about the kitchen's location from captured bandits, and upon entering the stronghold, the group had swiftly located the kitchen and filled the basin with oil.

Sniffing the scent on himself, the chief inquired, "Is this oil?"

"Exactly, meet your end!" Han Xin declared, tossing a torch onto the chief.

"You're despicable!" the chief exclaimed, deflecting the torch with his longsword. But Guo Yunshen and Sun Lutang were already launching their assault on him.

While the chief was distracted, the two assailants struck his waist with full force, causing him excruciating kidney pain. The chief let out a wretched scream, "You're all too despicable! Four against one, and you still resort to such underhanded tactics to throw me off."

The wounded chief scattered a pouch of cartilage powder, but Han Xin was ready for it. With a flourish of his sleeves, he dispersed the powder, declaring, "Your men have already spilled the beans about this cartilage powder. Your cohorts who descended the mountain are done for. And soon, your entire stronghold will fall to us. Stop resisting and meet your end with dignity."

"Do you really think you four, with your Level 2 strength, stand a chance?" the chief retorted, brandishing his sword which now glowed with white genuine energy. It was clear that a Level 3 Bronze Knight had some tricks up his sleeve.

Sun Lutang and Guo Yunshen swiftly backed away to avoid injury. Han Xin picked up a torch and instructed Guo Yunshen and Sun Lutang to do the same. They advanced with their torches, knowing that if the chief caught fire, he would pose no further threat.

Han Xin's strategy was cunning indeed. It's often the clever ones who resort to such sly methods, and in this case, it was effective.

The chief was on high alert, never anticipating such treachery from his adversaries, who appeared honorable but harbored such deceit.

"He's ablaze! Don't let him extinguish the flames," Han Xin commanded as he watched the chief catch fire. He directed his companions to keep the chief occupied.

The chief was inwardly cursing his fate, flames engulfing his body with no chance to snuff them out. Any attempt to do so would leave him vulnerable to the trio's fiery assault.

The chief's screams echoed as he was consumed by fire, transforming into a human inferno.

Liu Xiaobao had been observing the entire ordeal, as per Han Xin's orders. They couldn't possibly let the young master engage with such a foe; the young master should only face enemies two levels below him.

"You remain as unscrupulous as ever, Han Xin," Liu Xiaobao remarked with a hint of admiration. "I like it. Everyone should take note. This is how you fight: with brains over brawn, to prevent any mishaps."

Liu Xiaobao's words left Guo Yunshen and Sun Lutang shaking their heads in dismay. Such underhanded tactics were not befitting of honorable men.

"You despicable curs, I'll take you all down with me!" the chief roared as he lunged at the crowd. Resigned to his fate, he figured it was worth trying to take someone with him.

The crowd wasn't about to let the chief succeed. They nimbly dodged his desperate attacks, refusing to let him get close. Already weakened from a previous sneak attack and now scorched by flames, the chief had lost all the prowess of a Bronze Knight. His screams echoed as he was consumed by fire, reduced to nothing but char.

Tragically, the chief met his end at the hands of Han Xin's cunning plot without even revealing his name.

Meanwhile, the clash between Shan Xiongxin and the Knights of the Round Table had come to a close. Geraint and Lancelot approached Liu Xiaobao, escorting four captives. "Young Master, we have apprehended two Mages and two Knights," they reported.

"Are there any others who were captured?" Liu Xiaobao inquired.

"No," came the reply.

"All the bandits have been neutralized; their tendons severed," Shan Xiongxin explained.

This was by Liu Xiaobao's command; he preferred to avoid killing when possible. Even bandits, after all, had lives worth sparing.

"We should check the chief's room. It likely contains the lion's share of the loot amassed by the stronghold over the past year," Liu Xiaobao mused, a hint of excitement in his voice. They had turned to mercenary work out of necessity, as funds at Liu Manor were running low. But now, with the stronghold defeated, its wealth was theirs for the taking.

Upon opening the door, Liu Xiaobao was greeted by the sight of a beautiful young woman bound and helpless. With her radiant smile and captivating eyes, she left him momentarily speechless.

"Are you the brave warrior come to rescue me?" she asked gently.

"Yes, I am here to save you," Liu Xiaobao affirmed, quickly moving to her side and freeing her from her bonds. "What's this cloth on your nose?"

"It's a poison the villain used to sap my strength. Just a whiff of its scent left me powerless," she explained, removing the cloth and embracing Liu Xiaobao with gratitude. "Thank you, my brave savior. My name is Lucy."

Liu Xiaobao hadn't anticipated the young woman's forthright display of gratitude. "Please, Miss Lucy, refrain from such behavior. We in Aeseaba are quite reserved."

"Apologies, warrior, but what is your name?" Lucy released Liu Xiaobao and took a seat at the edge of the bed, as if waiting for instruction.

Liu Xiaobao responded, "Let's discuss that later. Han Xin, come in and collect the spoils of war."

Han Xin and his companions had initially been reluctant to interrupt Liu Xiaobao's encounter with the lady, but upon being summoned by their young master, they knew it was time to attend to their duties.

The group of six entered the room to commence their search for valuables. Geraint and Lancelot laid the two Mages and two Knights on the floor and joined in the search.

One of the Mages caught sight of Lucy and inquired with concern, "Miss, I hope you haven't been mistreated?"

Lucy's gaze settled on Liu Xiaobao as she replied, "I'm unharmed, thanks to this brave warrior who timely drew the scoundrel away from the room." Her eyes lingered on him, a hint of unspoken thoughts flickering behind them.