Li Wei feels the exhaustion settling into his bones. He decides that the best course of action is to sleep off the aches and fatigue, leaving Lu Huan to deal with the aftermath of his breakthrough and any other matters that arise. He lies down on the mat, letting his body sink into the softness, his eyes closing as sleep overtakes him.
The night passes peacefully, the deep rest allowing his body to recover. When Li Wei wakes, the aches have dulled, replaced by a sense of renewed energy. He stretches, feeling the strength in his limbs and the clarity in his mind. Rising from the mat, he glances around the room, now clean and orderly thanks to Lu Huan's efforts.
Dressed and ready, Li Wei decides to take a stroll around the village. He steps outside, the morning air cool and refreshing against his skin. Lu Huan follows closely behind, silent but attentive. They walk through the village, the dirt paths winding between modest houses and small gardens.
The village is quiet in the early morning. Few villagers are up and about, their movements slow as they begin their daily routines. Li Wei observes everything carefully, noting the details of village life. The simplicity of it stands in stark contrast to the complexity of his cultivation and the challenges he faces.
He walks past a small market where a few stalls are beginning to open. The smell of fresh produce and baked goods fills the air. Villagers greet each other with nods and quiet conversations. Li Wei moves through the market without engaging, his mind focused on his thoughts.
As they continue their stroll, Li Wei reflects on his progress and the path ahead. The breakthrough to the 9th level of Qi Condensation is a significant milestone, but he knows he cannot afford to be complacent. Foundational Establishment is within his reach, but it will require continued effort.
Lu Huan remains a few steps behind.
The path takes them to the edge of the village, where fields stretch out, dotted with workers tending to their crops. The morning sun rises higher, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Li Wei stands for a moment, taking in the scene, allowing himself a brief respite before turning back towards the village centre.
As they walk back, Li Wei's mind sharpens with plans and strategies.
Returning to his quarters, Li Wei feels the renewed determination solidify within him. The rest has done its work, and now it is time to move forward.
Li Wei lies down, hoping for a few more hours of rest. His body relaxes, the mat providing a brief respite. Suddenly, bells and shouts pierce the silence, jolting him awake. He sits up, alert and tense. The noise grows louder, urgent.
He rushes into the other room. Dao Feng and Lin Yue arrive moments later, their expressions mirroring his confusion and concern. Lin Yue's voice cuts through the noise, sharp and demanding. "What are the mortals clamouring about?"
Without waiting for a response, they head outside. The scene is chaotic. Villagers and guards rush about, their faces etched with fear and urgency. The bells continue to ring, a constant, piercing sound.
Men dart between houses, others grabbing weapons. A group of guards rushed forward, their movements hurried and disorganised.
Two young men carry a wounded guard towards a makeshift triage area, his leg bleeding profusely.
Li Wei takes in the scene, assessing the situation. He notices a group of villagers arguing with a guard, their gestures frantic. The guard tries to maintain order, shouting commands that are barely heard over the din.
A guard approaches them, dropping to one knee in front of the three immortals. "Immortal masters, the magistrate begs your help. The bandits are attacking. They've never done this before; they usually just pester the merchants leaving, but now they've lost their minds."
Li Wei listens intently, noting the fear in the guard's voice. He exchanges a glance with Dao Feng and Lin Yue.
Li Wei looks at Dao Feng and Lin Yue. The village is property of the Bone Ash Sect, so they cannot ignore the disturbance.
"Let's go see what's happening," Dao Feng says.
The guard leads Li Wei, Dao Feng, and Lin Yue to the northern edge of the village. They see guards hurling stones from the walls, trying to fend off the bandits scaling them. The bandits are relentless, climbing with crude grappling hooks and ladders.
Dao Feng assesses the situation quickly. "Pick these idiots off. We need to take different sections of the wall," he commands.
Li Wei nods and moves to the left side of the wall.
Li Wei is surprised by the scale of the attack. Around fifty bandits swarm, some scaling the walls with ladders, posing a serious threat to the village.
Li Wei's eyes narrow as he assesses the situation. He uses Bone Shot, aiming at the men climbing the ladders. The projectiles shoot from his fingertips with deadly precision, tearing through flesh and bone. The first bandit's chest explodes in a burst of blood, and he falls, taking others with him. Li Wei methodically continues, each shot targeting the bandits' chests, avoiding the smaller, more difficult heads.
Blood splatters across the walls, and screams fill the air as bodies collapse, lifeless. Torsos are punctured. The bandits on the ladders are quickly dispatched, leaving a heap of corpses at the base of the wall.
With the immediate threat neutralised, Li Wei shifts his focus to the remaining attackers. He moves along the wall, firing Bone Shots at those below. Each hit results in a spray of blood, the force of the impact often tearing through the bandits entirely.
Dao Feng and Lin Yue also use Bone Shot, their shards of bone striking down bandits efficiently. The projectiles tear through the attackers. The relentless assault from the trio decimates the bandits, forcing them to retreat. The village defences hold, but the ground is littered with bodies, and the walls are stained with blood. Li Wei, Dao Feng, and Lin Yue stand ready, ensuring the threat is fully neutralised.
Li Wei, Dao Feng, and Lin Yue continue their assault, using Bone Shot to fire shards of bone at the bandits. The bandits, realising their situation is untenable, begin to flee. Dao Feng shouts to a guard, "Run them down!" A party of guards immediately goes beyond the walls to give chase.
Li Wei fires off a few more bone shots at the retreating bandits, each shard finding its mark with deadly precision. Blood splatters as the projectiles hit, causing the bandits to stumble and fall. The fleeing bandits scramble in panic, their formation breaking apart.
Inside the walls, a few bandits lie dead, having climbed over before being cut down. Several guards also lie motionless, their blood mingling with that of the intruders. The majority of the dead, however, are outside the walls, victims of immortal techniques.
The air is thick with the smell of blood and sweat. The villagers who were hiding came out slowly, surveying the damage. Guards move among the fallen, checking for survivors and securing the area.
Li Wei, his breathing steady, eyes scanning the horizon as the last of the bandits disappear from view. He watches as the guard party chases them into the distance, their figures growing smaller.
The village slowly returns to a state of uneasy calm. The immediate threat is gone, but the damage remains. Villagers begin to clean up, removing the bodies and tending to the wounded.
The magistrate approaches, his steps hesitant. "Thank you, immortal masters. You are most magnanimous," he says, his voice trembling with gratitude.
Dao Feng's hand strikes out, slapping the magistrate across the face. The sharp sound echoes, and the guards nearby look embarrassed for him. "Where were you?" Dao Feng demands, his tone icy. "Probably hiding. What is the point of you if you can't handle a few bandits?"