In the forest, two groups stood facing each other, the air buzzing with tension.
The caravan leader, gathering his courage, spoke:
"Heh-heh, good sirs, would you, out of respect for an old man, let us pass?"
Noticing impatience on the bandit leader's face, he hastily added:
"Of course, since you've come all this way, our caravan won't leave you empty-handed."
"As the elder, I'm willing to give a tenth of our cargo to forge a friendship."
Though the elder was nervous, he felt no despair. He knew that bandits followed their own rules.
They usually hunted for loot, not for blood. If you were agreeable and paid a ransom, you could pass without losses.
He who knows the times is a hero!
But if the bandits didn't have a clear advantage, the elder wouldn't have bothered with pleasantries.
Hearing his yielding words, the bandit leader burst into laughter:
"You understand who you're talking to! In the old days, perhaps we would have become friends."
"But now is a special time. Our chieftain has given the order: we're taking everything!"
The elder was taken aback:
"What special time?"
The leader, to his surprise, replied:
"We're not afraid to reveal it: recently, a traitor appeared in our gang."
"Two brothers stole Yang Yuan pills from the chieftain—a whole dozen!"
"After such a loss, the chieftain is furious, so you'll have to make a sacrifice."
Mu Zi, hearing this, understood everything. Now it was clear why her spoils last time were so great: those two from Earth Yuan had stolen the treasures of the Yellow Dragon Lair.
"Is this misfortune connected to me too?" she thought.
If those two traitors hadn't been killed by her, perhaps the Yellow Dragon Lair would have retrieved its Yang Yuan pills, and today's attack wouldn't have happened.
"Nothing comes for free!" Mu Zi sighed.
In this world, every risk has its reward, and everything you take will sooner or later have to be returned.
Except, perhaps, for children of destiny.
Hearing the bandits' arrogant demands, the elder's face flushed with anger.
"You're breaking the rules!" he blurted out.
The bandits burst into laughter. Their leader smirked:
"Are you lecturing me about rules?"
"What rules? In this land, we, the Yellow Dragon Lair, are the rules!"
His words were drowned out by the clamor and jeers of the bandits. The scene devolved into chaos, permeated with menace.
"It seems we won't part in peace," Mu Lingsha sighed.
The bandits had no intention of letting them go. All that remained was to fight to the death.
But the enemies had five Earth Yuan masters, while they had only two. The chances of escape were negligible.
"Today, we might die," Lingsha whispered with despair.
She had just turned eighteen!
But, looking at Mu Zi beside her, her eyes reddened with determination.
"No, I must save my little sister!"
Thoughts swirled in her mind, and an unyielding resolve ignited in her gaze.
Meanwhile, the bandits lost patience. Their leader roared, and a cold order cut through the silence.
The bandits, like hungry wolves, charged at the surrounded caravan. Blades gleamed with an icy sheen, and their fury seemed ready to cut through everything in their path.
The mid-stage Earth Yuan leader went straight for the elder. The elder, cornered, had to engage in a furious battle.
The remaining four Earth Yuan masters cast malicious glances at Mu Lingsha.
"Girl, don't resist! Four against one—you won't stand a chance!" one of them thundered.
Under the gaze of the four fierce thugs, Mu Lingsha's face paled, but remembering Mu Zi, she forced herself to appear calm.
"Little sister is a genius, but still at the Body Tempering realm. Her strength is roughly equal to mine."
"Four against two—no chance. It's better if I lead the enemies away, giving her a chance to escape."
"Yes, her movement techniques are good, she'll definitely get away!"
The decision was made. Lingsha took a deep breath, determination ablaze in her eyes.
But just as she took a step, someone firmly gripped the hem of her dress.
Turning around, she saw Mu Zi shaking her head.
"Sister, don't do anything foolish!" she pleaded.
The younger sister's gaze, full of concern, illuminated Lingsha's mind like lightning. Memories flashed before her eyes: the small shadow always following her, clumsily braiding her hair, carefully helping her bathe, teaching her martial arts for the first time.
The fear in Lingsha's heart dissipated, replaced by warmth. She gently freed herself from Mu Zi's grip and, with quiet calmness in her eyes, stepped towards the enemies.
"Little sister, I'll lead them away. Run as soon as you get a chance," she whispered.
"And live, no matter what!"
As Mu Lingsha slowly moved forward, the four bandits scoffed:
"Why not just surrender? Maybe then you'll avoid unnecessary suffering."
Suddenly, Lingsha pulled out a Greenwood Bow from her back, aimed, and shot an arrow. One of the men skillfully dodged, but the arrow was too fast and left a bloody streak on his cheek.
"If you're brave enough, follow me! I'll show you the power of the Greenwood Arrows!" she shouted defiantly and dashed towards the forest.
The enraged wounded bandit roared at his comrades:
"I'll make that girl regret she was ever born!"
With those words, he rushed after her.
The remaining three exchanged glances. One asked:
"Should we chase?"
Another's eyes, examining Lingsha's figure in her tight leather skirt, burned with lust:
"Of course, we'll chase! That girl will be fun!"
The other two, catching the hint, smirked with a vile cunning.
Their wild, piercing laughter echoed through the forest, and they, without hesitation, rushed in pursuit.
The branches of mighty trees swayed in the wind, rustling like a mournful melody. Fallen leaves crunched underfoot, as if seeing the girl off on her last journey.
"Sister, why?" Mu Zi murmured, watching the scene with a heavy heart.
In the face of hopelessness, Mu Lingsha led the enemies away, leaving Mu Zi a chance to escape.
She left, perhaps with a firm resolve to die, ready for the most tragic outcome.
"How can I repay such a sacrifice?" Mu Zi sighed.
Her gaze instantly sharpened like a blade. Looking coldly at the backs of the four Earth Yuan masters, she saw them already dead.
"The scenery of this forest is good. Perfect for your grave!"
With a light, cold sigh, Mu Zi vanished from the spot.
What do you think Mu Zi will do to the bandits who pursued her sister?