Xuan looked up to the cultivator in shock. Cultivators weren't a common sight for mortals like him. Plus finding one of them here was even more surprising, considering that cultivators had little to no reason to even come to the forever woods in the first place.
The man got up from his tree branch and jumped down with grace expectant of a cultivator, the dirt beneath his feet not even rising up due to the landing.
"Hah...what a bother."
The unknown Cultivator said. Now that he was away from the treetops and into a more illuminated area, Xuan could more appropriately see his features. Shorter than him at a height of 5'8, His face was calm and peaceful, a warm peachy skin colour and long black hair. His eyes were a shade of purple. He had a metallic shoulder peace on his right shoulder only, with a long flowing Cultivator tunic that was a mix of gold and white. Agewise he looked no older than 20, but Xuan knew he was probably much older. Cultivators didn't age much afterall.
"You...don't interfere!"
One of the bandits shouted before rushing forward and trying to kill the Cultivator. Xuan's mouth nearly dropped. Was that bandit retarded!? Why would he do that!? Didn't he know how strong Cultivators where!?
The unknown Cultivator didn't even bother to look at the bandits way, merely backhanding his face. The simple action contained so much force that the bandit's face literally exploded into fine mist. No organs were scattered as his organs were destroyed in an instant as well. The other 2 remaining regular bandits didn't seem to want to attack him, showing signs of fear.
The Cultivator kept on walking, headed towards the bandit leader. Once close enough he looked up to him with a smirk.
"Leng Fei. I was wondering where you had run off too. Didn't think you had to resort to barbarous actions such as this after the Leng clan was destroyed."
He said with a smirk. The bandit, named Leng Fei's eyes widened. 'How did he-', Leng Fei didn't finish contemplating that thought as he realised something.
"You are-"
"Wei Xianxou."
The cultivator said with an almost maniacle grin. Leng Fei's face twisted with incomprehensible rage as he immediately swung his fist towards Xianxou. The latter chuckled and dodged it. The punch carried with it a shockwave due to its sheer speed, sending a current of air that managed to knock out a tree.
"You've grown stronger Leng Fei! I wonder how you managed to regain your cultivation base after i crippled you personally and destroyed your clan. Could you have perhaps resorted too....**Demonic Cultivation**? You know the righteous sects don't like Demonic Cultivators right? No matter, this time I will finish the job and annihilate you myself."
Leng Fei gritted his teeth as he spoke with rage.
"Don't act so arrogant! I have regained my Cultivation base, we are both at late stage Qi gathering! Don't act so arrogant!"
Leng Fei said as he savagely swung his fist towards Xianxou, his hand flowing orange due to his inner Qi. Xianxou however merely giggled. Moving his hand in a circular arc, Xianxou managed to deflect Leng Fei's attack with just one hand, redirecting it to the side. He then raised a palm covered in Qi, slamming it to the man's chin faster than Xuan could even blink, sending another shockwave.
"Even with late stage Qi gathering you would've been able to live a comfortable mortal life, yet you chose to be in this forest. I wonder what the reason could be...could there be a treasure here? Or maybe something else, oh there are so many possibilities."
Xianxou monologued amidst the fight, however it costed him. The Cultivator had expected Leng Fei to be sent flying by the hit, but didn't. The bandit leader responded in kind by slamming his fist into the Cultivators gut. Xianxou tried blocking it, and he did, but he was sent flying by the force of the blow, slamming into a nearby tree.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!"
Leng Fei screamed. Xuan meanwhile stood aghast seeing the display of power. They exchanged no more than 3 blows and the surrounding trees had already been flattened by the shockwaves of them fighting. Such power was... terrifying.
Xianxou stood up, his body dirty due to the attack but otherwise unharmed.
"Tsk....annoying as ever."
"I can say the same for you Xian-cuck."
"Vulgar as ever as well. No wonder she left you."
That promoted a reaction out of Leng Fei as he screamed in rage, jumping towards XianXuan with an enraged expression.
"DAMN YOU WEI XIANXOU!!!!"
Xuan used this opportunity to quickly grab his supplies and run away as far as possible. If the bandit leader won, his death was almost certain. If the cultivator won, he didn't know what would happen, but Xuan wasn't willing to risk it. He hoped that the duel between the bandit leader and the Cultivator would prove as a good enough distraction.
He was wrong.
'WHY ARE THOSE OTHER TWO FUCKERS CHASING AFTER ME!?'
Xuan screamed in his mind. Why!? Their boss was fighting against that Cultivator! Shouldn't they be cheering him on or something!?
Since Xuan was carrying his supplies and due to his ribs being fractured the bandits were quickly catching into him. It was a miracle how he was still conscious let alone running. However at this rate he would be caught. He only has one option. To fight. Abandoning the supplies and running wasn't an option as he would either die due to thirst or get caught anyways due to his wounds.
Xuan quickly abandoned his supply bag, dropping it to the ground. He then picked up a bunch of dirt, acting as if he had fallen down so that the bandits wouldn't notice jt. He thenturned around. The bandits were a bit surprised by the maneuver and braced for an attack, only to be blinded by a bunch of dirt being thrown on their faces.
Using this opportunity Xuan rushed forward and stabbed the bandit closer to him through the chest, the man helpless to defend himself due to the dirt. By this time the other bandit has recovered and attempted a quick thrust towards Xuan. The latter managed to step back just in time to dodge the attack.
Now it was just a 1v1, the bandits had lost their biggest advantage.
"Dishonourable bastard!"
The bandit yelled before launching himself forward. Xuan was surprised. He was a bandit! How the hell could he tell anyone about honour! Besides, in a matter of life and death honour meant jackshit!
The bandit tried to do a horizontal slash at Xuan, however he blocked it and held the bandits blade securely on his sword guard. Guiding the enemies blade with his sword guard, Xuan redirected the sword away from himself and thrusted his sword towards the bandit. The bandit was unable to defend himself due to his sword being locked by Xuan, so he did the only thing reasonable.
Letting go of his blade, the bandit ducked underneath the thrust and rushed towards Xuan, slamming his body into the man with such force that Xuan was sent flying, letting go of his sword.
Using this opportunity, the bandit quickly grabbed both the swords, do that Xuan couldn't use them. Xuan however had gotten up by now, catching the side of his stomach. It hurt.
'Fuck...fuck....no way out now..'
Xuan thought internally as the bandit approached him. The bandit was only using one sword, the other, Xuan's sword, kept to his hip. Using two wasn't necessary and he didn't even know how to use two swords at the same time. The bandit raised his sword to perform a diagonal swing.
Perhaps the bandit had gotten overconfident, or perhaps he underestimated Xuan, but he took a bit too long to do the swing. Xuan used this opportunity to rush forward and grab the man's sword arm and kept it away. Xuan then reared his head back and slammed his forehead onto the bandit's face repeatedly, drawing blood. The bandit finally retaliated by trying to kick Xuan away, but he wasn't going to let go anytime soon.
Using one of his hand, he quickly let go of the bandits sword arm and grabbed the sword, his sword, from the bandits hip. Due to its shorter length he was easily able to draw it, and stabbed the bandit through the chest. The bandit meanwhile also tried a downward suicide vertical stab, but Xuan managed to let go of the sword and jump back at the last instance.
Finally, it was over. Xuan's entire body ached, but there was no time. The bandit leader or the other Cultivator could arrive here any moment, and he wasn't willing to meet them. It was presumptious to think that a Cultivator would chase after a mere mortal like him, but better safe than sorry. So Xuan, after a moment respite, collected his bag of supplies and left, clutching his ribs.
-------
Leng Fei groaned in pain, his face bloody, his body broken. Wei Xianxou wasn't any better, wounds and blood seeping from open wounds. Yet even still, the results were clear. Xianxou had won.
"D-damn you to the nine hells..."
Leng Fei cursed, but the other Cultivator merely chuckled.
"Heh....keep struggling...this is the end got you Leng Fei."
Xianxou said as he prepared to finish off Leng Fei. However the latter merely grinned.
"This ain't over yet Xianxou. I will return, and once I do, you will die."
He said while shakily shaking out a talisman. Xianxou saw this and rushed forward, hoping to kill him but was too late. A bright light erupted from the talisman and in the next instance, Leng Fei was gone.
"Tsk..damn coward. No matter, I will kill him next time. Now where did the other mortals run off too?"
The man sighed.
"Hah...doesn't matter. I need to get to Mount Jingzhou quickly. The Eternal Skyfire sect recruitment will start soon."
He said before going off to the tree tops once more and heading off.