Shen Shou focused his gaze as the bandit leader approached. Circulating his Qi to the limit, he lunged forward like an enraged elephant. His fat body looked like a small moving mountain.
The bandit leader raised his hand, and a blood red Qi hand materialized in the air. Not wanting to appear weak, Shen Shou countered with his own palm seal.
Their collision produced a deafening roar. The shockwave created a vacuum as rain and wind were blown away in an instant. Shen Shou staggered back fourteen steps before stabilizing himself, his heart filled with shock and dread.
"He has the same cultivation base as me, being at the Initial stage but the difference in power is huge. I'm not his match." Shen Shou thought inwardly in panic. "Moreover the red Qi is giving me the chill, it's very dangerous."
Just one exchange was enough to determine who was superior.
By the time Shen Shou caught his breath, the bandit leader was already above him, descending with another strike.
Shen Shou quickly evaded his fat body, barely avoiding it. He didn't dare to meet the enemy head on.
"What should i do….damn it.." Glancing below through the corner of his eyes, his heart was bleeding. His Shen family cultivators and the mercenaries were barely able to hold on. Some area was breached, goods were damaged and burned.
Several bandits were already rampaging inside the caravan, slaughtering servants and looting without restraint.
One of the bandit noticed a big trunk made of special wood. The carvings on it were exquisite which drew his attention. He slashed down a nearby servant, cleaving him in half, then approached the trunk with curiosity.
The trunk lock was open so he casually opened it. The content inside made him froze for a moment. There wasn't any precious ore, jade materials or crystals but a young girl was crouching inside, fear written across her delicate face. Her features were extremely beautiful and extraordinary. It was evident she wasn't one of the servant but from higher class.
"Don't… don't come closer…" she stammered, trying to run. The bandit grabbed her by the neck, lifting her like a chicken, his gaze sweeping lecherously over her trembling figure.
"You scoundrel! Let go of the young miss!" A voice cried out.
The bandit turned his head and saw a woman in plain green clothe dashing toward him with a knife. He didn't move at all and let the knife stab him. A dull sound echoed while the woman in green bounced back, falling on the ground.
"Kekeke, just a mortal…" He sneered. Standing in-front of the woman he raised his leg, wanting to stomp her to death.
The woman wanted to move but her body was paralysed.
"Stop! Don't kill her…" The beautiful girl instantly shouted. "Please…. Don't…" Her voice trembled as she pleaded.
The bandit paused, then laughed maniacally then viciously stomping down. A splat sound echoed as fresh blood and bones splattered all over.
Without another glance, he tossed the girl into a corner and sealed her movement with a flick of Qi.
A little servant boy saw all of this while he was hiding in a corner. He knew the girl and remembered how she had given him good food to eat. Light flickered within his bright eyes.
"Oh? More rats hiding…" Another bandit jeered, kicking aside debris. His lustful gaze swept over the terrified female servants which caused them to shiver. Then suddenly he saw a young man in white robe sitting crossed leg, faint Qi fluctuation could be detected.
Seeing Li Shenrong in meditation as if sleeping, the bandit felt anger. They were rampaging through the forest yet this boy was pretending to be so calm. He felt the urge to torture him.
With a swish sound, he arrived infront of Li Shenrong and made a grabbing motion.
At that moment Li Shenrong suddenly opened his eyes. When their eyes met, the bandit felt the world coming to a standstill. He wanted to move but couldn't as if time has slowed down. Feeling like a drowning man stuck in a quagmire caused him to suffocate. All of this happened within a split second. Regaining his senses the bandit felt a little wet as he looked down, then came extreme rage and shame.
Li Shenrong stood up, his eyes were cold and emotionless.
The bandit brandished his machete and lunged forward, his face twisted in viciousness.
Li Shenrong didn't even give him a second glance as he slapped down. Blood splashed , dying the ground red. Within the heavy rain, the blood and bones were instantly washed away.
The violent wind brushed past Li Shenrong's face, making his hair flutter wildly. His white robe was soaking wet as he strode forward. Behind him, the group of servants were still in daze.
Currently, Shen Shou's whole body drenched in blood, he was severely wounded. The blood red Qi rampaged inside his body, causing the injuries to deteriorate faster.
He wanted to run away several times but was blocked so he could only fight to the death.
Then a sudden sharp scream reached his ears.
"Lin'er!?" Shen Shou's heart trembled violently. His eyes darted toward the sound, and his pupils shrank. A young girl was fleeing through the battlefield, pursued by several bandits. It was more like the bandits were playing with her.
The defensive line had collapsed entirely. The guards and mercenaries were in disarray, fighting desperately for their own lives. Some threw down their weapons and fled, they didn't want to lose their lives over some money. This caused the hope of everyone to dampen further below.
"Lin'er…!" Shen Shou wanted to rush to her side, but the bandit leader gave him no chance to breathe. The man's oppressive aura loomed over him like a mountain.
A sudden searing pain tore through his right arm. Shen Shou screamed as blood gushed out, his arm was severed cleanly by the enemy's blade. Just a moment of carelessness caused Shen Shou to lose an arm. He was a merchant, not a warrior. Though his talent wasn't bad, his heart had always been set on trade and profit, not life and death combat. Now, that weakness was fatal.
"Lin'er… hang in there," He muttered as he stared at the girl below. "Uncle will rescue you soon…"
Gathering the last of his strength, Shen Shou's face twisted in anger. "I'll fight to the death with you!" he roared and charged forward like a rolling mountain.
Shen Lin ran around in panic as her heart thumped in fear and the soaked hair clung to her pale beautiful face. The wet ground caused her steps to become sluggish, and her vision was getting narrower because of rain.
The dead bodies of the guards and bandits were scattered on the ground as she carefully avoided them. She accidentally stepped on a corpse, stumbled and fell. The corpse had two long sword impaled into its eyes.
"Little girl, run…. I want to see how far you can run off to…kekeke…" A cruel, raspy voice rang out from behind her.
Her heart jolted in fear. Acting on pure instinct, she grabbed one of the swords embedded in the corpse and pulled with all her might.
"If you come closer, I'll… I'll kill you!" She cried, her voice trembling like a frightened bird. The howling wind and rolling thunder almost drowned out her words, but her eyes burned with desperate resolve. A certain feeling started to sprout within her heart.