The clash of steel rang through the mountain pass as the bandit leader's blade met the merchant caravan's late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
Sparks flew with each strike, spiritual energy crackling in the air between them.
Just a bit longer, the bandit leader thought, pushing more qi into his sword. Once I finish this bastard, those spirit stones are mine.
His communication token suddenly vibrated against his chest, an urgent pulse that made his concentration waver for a split second.
The merchant cultivator seized the opportunity, forcing him back three steps with a powerful slash.
"Getting distracted, bandit scum?" his opponent sneered, readying another strike.
The bandit leader gritted his teeth, deflecting the blow while quickly withdrawing the token with his free hand.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
Leader! The overseer is coming to kill you! He found out about your foundation pill savings! He's going to silence everyone and blame you for the virgin girls blood! Run!
His eyes widened in shock. That bastard overseer... he knows?
"What's wrong? Lost your nerve?" The merchant cultivator advanced, sensing weakness.
But the bandit leader wasn't listening anymore. His mind raced through the implications, the overseer discovering his carefully hidden wealth, the plan to eliminate him, taking credit for killing the "villain."
Fuck this!
Without warning, he disengaged completely, leaping backward and channeling qi into his legs.
The merchant cultivator lunged forward, but the bandit leader was already running, not toward the caravan, but away from the entire scene.
"Coward! Come back and fight!" The shout faded behind him as he crashed through the underbrush.
His subordinates' voices called out in confusion. "Boss? Boss, where are you going?"
The merchant cultivator laughed mockingly. "Looks like your leader abandoned you! Everyone, help me kill these scum!"
Death screams started echoing through the pass. The bandits cried out desperately, calling for their leader's help, but no response came.
He didn't answer their pleas. Let them figure it out themselves. I need to survive first.
Deep in the forest, the bandit leader finally stopped, his chest heaving as he leaned against a tree.
Sweat poured down his face, mixing with the dirt and blood splattered on his clothes.
He pulled out the token again, hands shaking as he channeled a thread of spiritual energy into it.
"Accountant! What the hell happened? Report!" he barked into the device.
A moment of silence, then the familiar voice crackled through. "Leader! Thank the heavens you escaped!"
"Never mind that! How did the overseer find out? I was so careful with those spirit stones!"
The bandit leader's voice was a mixture of rage and desperation.
The accountant's voice came through, sounding equally distressed. "Leader, I think... I think someone eavesdropped on our conversation. The one we had in the cabin earlier."
The cabin conversation? The bandit leader's mind raced back. That was when he'd confided his plans, the foundation pill at the Jin Shang Hall auction, his savings of nearly thirty thousand spirit stones, everything.
"Who? Who the fuck was it?" His fist slammed against the tree trunk, cracking the bark.
"I don't know for certain, leader," the accountant replied, his voice filled with frustration.
"But I have my suspicions. Whoever it was, they did this for one of two reasons, either for some petty reward from the overseer, or they want to replace you as leader."
The words hit like a physical blow. One of his own men had betrayed him.
Someone he'd trusted, fought alongside, shared plunder with.
"Tell me who!" he roared. "I'll tear them apart with my bare hands!"
"Leader, please calm down and listen," the accountant urged. "I don't know who it is yet. After you left to handle the caravan, I went outside for just a short while."
He continued. "When I came back to the cabin, a figure in black clothing suddenly appeared and kicked me to the ground before I could react."
The bandit leader listened intently, his jaw clenched.
"By the time I got back up, they were gone. I checked everyone, no one was out of place, everyone was where they should be."
The accountant paused. "That's what makes me think it's one of our own, or possibly more than one working together."
More than one? The paranoia crept in like poison. How many of them want me dead?
"So what did you do?" he asked, forcing himself to focus.
"I acted quickly, leader. I quietly removed all the spirit stones, medicines, and valuable goods from the safe."
He added. "Then I left the den without anyone noticing. I'm hiding right now in a safe location."
Despite everything, a surge of gratitude welled up in the bandit leader's chest. "You... you took the stones?"
"Yes, leader. Everything you worked for. I couldn't let that bastard overseer take it all."
At least one person is still loyal, he thought, feeling his throat tighten with emotion.
Even at death's door, facing a foundation establishment cultivator's wrath, this man protected my interests.
"Good... good work," he managed, his voice rough. "What should I do now?"
"Don't come to the city!" the accountant warned urgently. "That bitch overseer has definitely sent people to watch the gates and our common hideouts."
He continued firmly. "You need to stay in the mountains, keep moving, and stay in touch with me through the token."
The bandit leader nodded, even though the other couldn't see him. "Alright. But I can't stay out here forever. I need supplies."
"I know, leader. I'll send someone tomorrow, someone trustworthy, with food, water, and whatever else you need."
The accountant added carefully. "But it might be delayed I also went into hiding, because that overseer will definitely come after me if he can't find you."
"Be careful," the bandit leader said, surprised by the genuine concern in his own voice. "Don't take unnecessary risks."
"Don't worry about me, leader. I can handle myself. You just focus on surviving."
He concluded. "I'll contact you later once I've arranged everything on my end."
"Okay. Be safe, brother."
The token went silent, leaving the bandit leader alone in the darkening forest.
He looked up at the canopy above, watching the last rays of sunlight filter through the leaves.
Thirty thousand spirit stones. Five years of work. And now I'm hiding like a rat while that demon bastard tries to kill me.
He clenched his fists. But I'll survive this. And when I do, I'll make everyone who betrayed me pay.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room in the city, I sat cross-legged on the floor, the accountant's communication token resting beside me.
A satisfied smile played across my lips.
That went better than expected, I thought. The bandit leader trusts "his accountant" completely now. Emotional manipulation works wonders.
Then the black communication token, the one the overseer had given the accountant, suddenly vibrated.
I picked it up, channeling spiritual energy to read the message.
Why didn't you give the goods to the man I sent to the gambling den? Where are you? My servant said you and that muscle-headed leader weren't there.
I scrolled through the previous messages the real accountant had sent, studying the tone and manner of speech.
Then, carefully, I began crafting my reply.
Lord, the leader tried to kill me! After I discovered he'd saved almost thirty thousand spirit stones, he attacked me. He wants to buy the foundation pill at the Jin Shang Hall auction next month.
I paused, considering the next part carefully.
Worse, he plans to expose your cultivation with virgin girl's blood to the sect and ask for discipleship in exchange!
I continued typing. You should be careful, lord. He already knows I'm your spy. I barely managed to escape using the emergency talisman you gave me, but I had to leave the goods behind in the cabin.
I added the finishing touch. He's probably taken everything and gone into hiding. I've sent some of my men to search the places he might hide. I'll report to you after healing my wounds. Sorry for disappointing you, lord.
I sent the message and waited. The response came almost immediately.
Where are you right now?
Then another message, filled with curses and demands for my location.
I ignored them all, a cold smile spreading across my face.
Let him search. Let him waste his energy and resources.
But then a thought struck me, one born from reading countless novels in my past life.
Cultivators with spiritual sense have spirit mark techniques. If I were him, I'd definitely use tracking arts to find the token's location.
My eyes widened. Shit! I need to move. Now!
I quickly summoned my large spirit storage bag from my inventory.
With practiced efficiency, I transferred all the valuables I have and both communication tokens into it, then stored the entire bag back into my inventory system.
The tokens can't be tracked if they're in a separate dimensional space.
Emerging back into the crowded street, I mixed seamlessly with the flow of people.
Then I felt it, a sudden pressure in the air that made my skin prickle.
Looking up, I saw a figure riding a sword through the sky, moving with the unmistakable grace of a foundation establishment cultivator.
His spiritual sense swept across the area like an invisible wave, scanning everything below.
I held my breath, keeping my own spiritual energy completely suppressed with the farmer's robe.
The cultivator passed directly overhead, his attention focused on the area where I'd been moments before.
Hah! I exhaled slowly once he'd moved on. Thank god for all those cultivation novels I read. That knowledge just saved my life.
I allowed myself a moment of satisfaction. The overseer was searching the city and surrounding areas, desperately looking for his "spy."
Meanwhile, the bandit leader was hiding deep in the mountains, terrified of the foundation cultivator hunting him.
Both of them waiting for messages that will never come. Both of them played like puppets on strings.
But I wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.