Upon these words, the bandits exchanged uneasy glances. Witnessing the gruesome methods employed by this enchantress in her killings left them unsettled. Not only was her martial prowess unconventional and ruthless, but she also wielded poison.
At this moment, some comrades still clung to a thread of life, their bodies convulsing on the ground, blood oozing from every orifice, foaming at the mouth, caught in a state between life and death.
Facing such dreadful fates, camaraderie among the bandits quickly deteriorated. Without delay, they singled out the second-in-command.
"Lady, this bald man orchestrated everything. I recall his ruthlessness that night."
"And him."
"And this one."
"What nonsense are you spouting? I had nothing to do with it. Those two classes met their end in the boss's chamber."
"Quit your lies. It was you; the boss didn't favour women, only men perished in his chamber."
With a single remark, Cendrarsa incited turmoil among these wretches, revelling in their discord like a twisted spectator.
Beneath the black veil, Cendrarsa's laughter was tinged with a madness that gleamed in her eyes.
"Since you cannot provide clarity, then let all face the blade..." Her laughter echoed in the air.
Meanwhile, Zagonnas found himself in a dilemma within the storeroom. Instead of a single chest of gold, there were eight large boxes filled not only with gold but also a mountain of provisions.
Surveying the scene, regret crept into Zagonnas's mind. Killing the bandit in a single stroke seemed like a missed opportunity now. As for the blood-soaked treasures, he resolved to return them all to the nearby villages oppressed by these bandits for years.
Covering the compartments containing gold, Zagonnas's attention was piqued by a string of gold bells in the final box. The length of the bells seemed perfect for his lady's ankle. Recalling Cendrarsa's silver anklet from a previous life, he imagined his lady's delight in the tinkling sound.
Unconsciously swallowing, Zagonnas tucked the bells away. Securely locking the storeroom, he headed towards the stronghold's entrance, the tang of blood thick in the air, prompting him to ready himself for a potential confrontation, a blade in hand.
Emerging from a narrow alley, Zagonnas stumbled upon a gruesome scene. A slender figure in nocturnal garb was castrating a bandit with a rusted, blunt knife.
Glancing around, he witnessed the entire village awash in blood, the remaining bandits sprawled in agony.
At that moment, Cendrarsa, consumed by her bloodlust, sensed someone approaching and let out a soft, seductive chuckle.
"Another straggler? Shall you do it yourself or shall I?"
Upon spotting Zagonnas, Cendrarsa's eyes met his. Despite his black attire and concealed face, a single glance was all it took for her to recognize him. Although only revealing his eyes, Zagonnas too identified Cendrarsa instantly.
As they stood amidst the scent of blood in the village, an awkward silence enveloped them, both cloaked, affording each other some semblance of anonymity.
"Who are you?" Cendrarsa spoke, her tone assertive.
"I'm just an ordinary man who heard of the atrocities committed by the Black Wind Stronghold and decided to intervene..."
"So, noble warrior, you slew the chieftain?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Ah, what a coincidence. So did I."
As tensions mounted in the winter-bound mountains, Cendrarsa broke into a cold sweat, discarding the blunt knife in her hand and taking a step back.
"It's late. Let's part ways here, noble warrior."
"Very well. Farewell."
With a nod, Cendrarsa turned away, her mind racing with anxiety. Despite her initial resolve to avoid encountering her husband in the stronghold, the frenzy of combat had clouded her judgment, leading to this unexpected reunion.
As her thoughts spiralled, her focus wavered. A misstep caused her to trip over a bandit's corpse, nearly taking a tumble.
Observing her from behind, Zagonnas extended a hand to assist, but the noble lady steadied herself.
"A slip, just lost my footing," explained Cendrarsa awkwardly without turning, before swiftly employing lightness skills to vanish into the night.
Watching her silhouette dissolve into the darkness, Zagonnas heaved a sigh. They say a wife knows her husband best in this world; even if half her face were concealed, recognition should be instinctual, especially when she's no ordinary woman.
Fortunately, it seemed she had not unveiled his identity, nor did she seem aware of his true persona as Zagonnas.
Thankfully, her ignorance proved a relief. Delaying his return to the village, Zagonnas began the grim task of clearing the corpses littering the stronghold. Presenting such a hellish scene to the villagers upon their arrival would surely induce shock.
Yet, with each body moved, Zagonnas grew increasingly uneasy. The Black Wind Stronghold, once home to a hundred or so souls, now lay decimated, save for a lone large yellow dog.
Truly, Cendrarsa lived up to her reputation as the foremost enchantress of the Miao region, her brutality unforgiving.
After a night of burying the deceased, by the time Zagonnas descended from the mountain and returned to the village, dawn had already broken. Discarding his black attire, he slipped back into his grey-white robe, securing his hair with a wooden hairpin before stepping into the morning light.
Deprived of sleep and exhausted from burying the dead, even with Zagonnas's robust constitution, he appeared worn. Astonishment rippled through the villagers upon his return, swiftly spreading the news that Mr. Luo had returned from the bandit's lair.
Despite the villagers doubting his survival, if not his return in desperate straits, a surprising turn awaited them.
Emerging from a hut, Cendrarsa rushed forward and embraced Zagonnas.
"Husband, you've returned."