Chapter 234: Mountain Bandits, Massacre

"What's going on?"

The group dining in the temple was startled by the commotion outside.

"Boss, why is there a carriage here?" a voice asked from outside.

"Well, it's obvious," replied a rugged voice. "We've got ourselves a juicy lamb staying here. Our luck is incredible; we just finished a big job, and now another opportunity presents itself."

"Alright, boys! We've got work to do. Surround this dilapidated temple and make sure none of the fat sheep escape!"

"Yes!"

Amidst the chorus of acknowledgments, the pitter-patter of footsteps began to circle the temple.

It was clear that a group of people outside was encircling the entire temple.

Before Lu Qing and his companions could react, there was a loud bang, and the remaining half of the front courtyard gate flew into the air, crashing into the courtyard.

"As expected, the juicy lambs are all inside!"

A boisterous laugh accompanied the entrance of over a dozen burly men wielding swords and knives, their bodies exuding a dense aura of bloodlust.

Their leader had long, flowing hair and a gigantic scar on his face that resembled a centipede, giving him a fierce and terrifying appearance.

The men following him wore similarly menacing expressions, their faces harsh and cruel, clearly not ones to be trifled with.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" A rotund middle-aged man, one of the temple's disciples, stood up and demanded an answer.

"Who are we? We're mountain bandits, of course! And what do we want? Why, to rob you, of course!" The centipede-scarred man replied with a smile, his scar contorting in a way that made it seem like the centipede was moving, a truly horrifying sight.

This terrifying display caused the young girl, Xu Ping, to cry out and hide behind her father.

The centipede-scarred bandit's eyes flashed with a violent light at Xu Ping's reaction.

"Mountain bandits? Robbery?" The rotund middle-aged man wore a mocking expression. "Friend, I think you may have made a mistake. Are you sure you want to rob us?"

"Oh? Are you implying that you have some impressive backing?" The centipede-scarred man surveyed Lu Qing's group with interest.

Through his senses, he could tell that while there were martial artists among them, the strongest was only at the Muscle Refinement Realm, posing no real threat.

"Not at all," came the reply. "We're just ordinary travelers, with nothing of value. You've come all this way to rob us, but I'm afraid you've picked the wrong targets."

"Is that so? Well, I'm not so sure. That carriage outside belongs to you, doesn't it? Only the rich or noble can afford such a carriage, and I'm certain they'd have valuables on them.

Besides, even if they don't, there's still this little beauty here. If I were to take her back and make her my thirteenth concubine, that would be quite a delight."

At the mention of taking Xu Ping as a concubine, the rotund middle-aged man's face darkened with anger.

Initially, he had been worried about the other party's numbers and their archers, fearing that a conflict would put them at a disadvantage and potentially injure Chen Dafu and the others.

But now, the bandit leader had the audacity to lay his eyes on his daughter, and he couldn't hold back his fury.

Just as the rotund middle-aged man was about to erupt, Lu Qing spoke up: "What's that hanging at your waist?"

Everyone was taken aback, their gazes turning to the centipede-scarred man's waist.

There hung a bulging cloth bag, with dark red bloodstains seeping through at the bottom.

"You mean this?" The centipede-scarred man untied the bag from his waist. "This is my spoils of war."

As he opened the bag, a bloody head suddenly appeared.

"Ah!"

The shocking sight caused Xu Ping to scream.

Little Yan also let out a cry, burying her head in Lu Qing's embrace.

The old doctor frowned slightly.

As for the others, like the rotund middle-aged man's disciples, they were startled.

"That head..." The rotund middle-aged man's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the head, which, despite being covered in blood, still revealed the face of a rather beautiful young woman.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" The centipede-scarred man smiled proudly.

"This woman, I had my eyes on her. I intended to marry her properly and pay her bride price to make her my thirteenth wife. But when I made my intentions known, she and her father, the town mayor, dared to refuse me.

Left with no choice, I had to bring my brothers down the mountain, slaughter the entire town, and bring her head back.

No woman escapes my grasp, not even in death. I, Wu Tian, always get what I want."

The centipede-scarred man, Wu Tian, gently caressed the cheek of the young woman's head, his face filled with obsession.

Capitulo 7: El aterrador lider bandido

"¿Que esta pasando?"

El grupo que cenaba en el templo se sobresalto por el alboroto del exterior.

"Jefe, ¿por que hay un carruaje aqui?" pregunto una voz desde afuera.

"Bueno, es obvio", respondio una voz ronca. "Tenemos un suculento cordero aqui mismo. Nuestra suerte es increible; acabamos de terminar un trabajo importante y ahora se nos presenta otra oportunidad".

"¡De acuerdo, muchachos! Tenemos trabajo que hacer. Rodeen este templo en ruinas y asegurense de que ninguna de estas ovejas gordas escape".

"¡Si!"

Entre los acentos de reconocimiento, el sonido de los pasos comenzo a rodear el templo.

Era evidente que un grupo de personas afuera estaba rodeando todo el templo.

Antes de que Lu Qing y sus companeros pudieran reaccionar, hubo un fuerte estruendo, y la mitad restante de la puerta del patio delantero volo por los aires, estrellandose en el patio.

"Como se esperaba, las ovejas jugosas estan todas adentro".

Una carcajada acompanaba la entrada de mas de una docena de hombres corpulentos armados con espadas y cuchillos, sus cuerpos irradiaban una densa aura de sed de sangre.

Su lider tenia el cabello largo y una gigantesca cicatriz en la cara que se parecia a una centipede, dandole una apariencia feroz y aterradora.

Los hombres que lo seguian tenian expresiones similares amenazantes, sus rostros severos y crueles, claramente no eran personas con las que se debia jugar.

"¿Quienes son ustedes y que es lo que quieren?" Un hombre de mediana edad y de rostro redondo, uno de los discipulos del templo, se levanto y exigio una respuesta.

"¿Quienes somos? Somos bandidos de la montana, por supuesto. ¿Y que queremos? ¿Por que, para robarles, por supuesto!" El hombre con la cicatriz de centipode respondio con una sonrisa, su cicatriz contorsionandose de una manera que hacia que pareciera que la centipode se moviera, un espectaculo verdaderamente aterrador.

Esta aterradora exhibicion hizo que la joven Xu Ping gritara y se escondiera detras de su padre.

Los ojos del bandido con la cicatriz de centipode se iluminaron con una luz violenta ante la reaccion de Xu Ping.

"Bandidos de montana, ¿robo?" El hombre de mediana edad y de rostro redondo llevaba una expresion burlona. "Amigo, creo que te has equivocado. ¿Estas seguro de que quieres robarnos?"

"Oh, ¿estas insinuando que tienes algun respaldo impresionante?" El hombre con la cicatriz de centipode examino con interes al grupo de Lu Qing.

A traves de sus sentidos, podia decir que, si bien habia artistas marciales entre ellos, el mas fuerte solo estaba en el Reino de Refinamiento Muscular, lo que no representaba una verdadera amenaza.

"Para nada", fue la respuesta. "Solo somos viajeros ordinarios, sin nada de valor. Han venido todo este camino para robarnos, pero me temo que han elegido los blancos equivocados".

"¿Es asi? Bueno, no estoy tan seguro. Ese carruaje afuera es suyo, ¿verdad? Solo los ricos o los nobles pueden permitirse un carruaje asi, y estoy seguro de que tienen objetos de valor.

Ademas, incluso si no es asi, todavia esta esta pequena belleza aqui. Si la llevara de regreso y la convirtiera en mi decimotercera concubina, seria un verdadero placer".

Al mencionar la posibilidad de tomar a Xu Ping como concubina, el rostro del hombre de mediana edad y de rostro redondo se oscurecio de ira.

Inicialmente, estaba preocupado por el numero de personas del otro grupo y sus arqueros, temiendo que un conflicto los pusiera en desventaja y posiblemente hiriera a Chen Dafu y a los demas.

Pero ahora, el lider bandido se atrevio a poner sus ojos en su hija, y no pudo contener su furia.

Justo cuando el hombre de mediana edad y de rostro redondo estaba a punto de estallar, Lu Qing hablo: "¿Que es eso que cuelga de tu cintura?"

Todos se sorprendieron, y sus miradas se volvieron hacia la bolsa colgante de la cintura del hombre con la cicatriz de centipode.

Ahi colgaba una bolsa abultada, con manchas de sangre oscura que se filtraban por la parte inferior.

"¿Te refieres a esto?" El hombre con la cicatriz de centipode desato la bolsa de su cintura. "Estos son mis botines de guerra".

Al abrir la bolsa, repentinamente aparecio una cabeza ensangrentada.

"Ah!"

La impactante vision hizo que Xu Ping gritara.

Little Yan tambien solto un grito, enterrando su cabeza en el abrazo de Lu Qing.

El viejo doctor fruncio ligeramente el ceno.

Por su parte, el hombre de mediana edad y de rostro redondo y sus discipulos se sobresaltaron.

"Esa cabeza..." Los ojos del hombre de mediana edad y de rostro redondo se abrieron de par en par al ver la cabeza, que, a pesar de estar cubierta de sangre, aun revelaba el rostro de una joven bastante hermosa.

"¿Hermosa, verdad?" El hombre con la cicatriz de centipode sonrio con orgullo.

"Esta mujer, yo la tenia en la mira. Tenia la intencion de casarme con ella adecuadamente y pagar su dote para hacerla mi decimotercera esposa. Pero cuando hice mis intenciones conocidas, ella y su padre, el alcalde del pueblo, se atrevieron a rechazarme.

No me quedo mas remedio que llevar a mis hermanos por la montana, masacrar a todo el pueblo y traer su cabeza de regreso.

Ninguna mujer escapa de mi agarre, ni siquiera en la muerte. Yo, Wu Tian, siempre consigo lo que quiero".

El hombre con la cicatriz de centipode, Wu Tian, acaricio suavemente la mejilla de la cabeza de la joven, su rostro lleno de obsesion.

(Fin del Capitulo)



"Lu Qing said indifferently,

"You little brat, are you crazy?"

The centipede-scarred man looked at Lu Qing with disbelief.

He could sense that Lu Qing's words were not empty threats; he truly didn't care if he ordered the archers to shoot.

With this, the centipede-scarred man was in a bind.

If he really gave the order, he himself would undoubtedly die.

While he was ruthless, he wasn't insane to the point of disregarding his own life.

"It seems you're the one who's scared."

Seeing the hesitation on the centipede-scarred man's face, Lu Qing chuckled, "You scumbags are always like this. When you're harming others, you act high and mighty, as if you're truly powerful and formidable.

But when you truly face death, your courage is smaller than a mouse's. It's really pointless."

Hearing Lu Qing's insultingly harsh words, the centipede-scarred man's face turned grim.

However, he was now at the mercy of Lu Qing, and he didn't dare to act out.

"What do you want from me to let you go?"

The centipede-scarred man asked coldly.

He still held on to hope. At the moment, there were children, elders, and low-cultivation girls in the courtyard, and his men had taken up every high-ground sniping spot.

As long as Lu Qing and his companions still had concerns, he still had a chance.

What the centipede-scarred man didn't expect was that when he said this, Lu Qing sighed.

"Forget it, since you don't dare to give the order, I'll help you out."

"Wait!"

The centipede-scarred man's heart sank, and he anxiously shouted.

However, it was of no use.

Lu Qing extended his finger and lightly tapped his forehead. The centipede-scarred man's body trembled, his pupils began to dissipate, and his vital energy slowly dissipated.

"Boss!"

Seeing that their leader's vital energy had vanished, all the mountain bandits were greatly startled.

No one expected that Lu Qing would take his life at this moment, killing their boss.

Even the rotund middle-aged man and his disciples were completely stunned.

"Shoot! Shoot now! Kill them all, leave none alive!"

At this moment, one of the mountain bandit leaders finally reacted and frantically shouted.

The mountain bandits occupying the high ground immediately snapped out of their stupor and drew their bows, ready to shoot at Lu Qing and his group.

"Not good!"

The rotund middle-aged man's heart sank, and he rushed forward, wanting to take the initiative.

But before he could even reach them, he heard a series of whooshing sounds. The mountain bandits on the surrounding walls and roof cried out in dismay, falling down one after another like dumplings into a pot.

"Master Ma, Zi'an, kill them all, leave no survivors."

"Yes, Young Master!"

Ma Gu and Wei Zi'an had been itching to join the fight. Hearing Lu Qing's order, they immediately looked excited and rushed towards the remaining dozen or so mountain bandits in the courtyard.

"Take this!"

Ma Gu's cultivation was higher than Wei Zi'an's. He took the lead and arrived in front of the mountain bandit with the strongest vital energy, who was holding a long knife. Ma Gu's battle knife chopped down.

That mountain bandit's heart was filled with terror. He had just witnessed how his boss was no match for Lu Qing's single strike.

In panic, he could only instinctively raise his knife to block.

"Crack!"

The battle knife in Ma Gu's hand was extraordinary. It was a thousand-refined treasure knife that Lu Qing had forged for him during these two years.

The long knife in the mountain bandit's hand could only be considered a few dozen refines at most. How could it withstand Ma Gu's thunderous chop?

Without a doubt, it was cut through like tofu, and both the man and his knife were split in half.

Boom! Boom!

After Ma Gu took down one mountain bandit, Wei Zi'an's long stick followed up.

His stick technique was continuous, like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair. He struck out with two consecutive blows, each landing on the chests of two mountain bandits.

Stick techniques were all about using momentum to overpower the opponent.

Under the powerful impact, the two mountain bandits' chests immediately caved in, and they were sent flying backward, crashing through the surrounding wall and falling onto the rubble, seemingly beyond salvation.

With two strikes, Wei Zi'an had taken down two mountain bandits. Without hesitation, he swept his stick horizontally, using a 'Sweep a Thousand Troops' technique towards the remaining mountain bandits.

"My dear disciple, don't kill them all, leave some for your master!"

Seeing this, Master Ma was startled and immediately rushed forward, afraid that if he was slower, his disciple would take all the heads.

On the other side, seeing Master Ma and his disciple unleashing their killing moves, the two of them alone were enough to make the ten-odd fierce mountain bandits cry out in dismay and flee for their lives.

The rotund middle-aged man and his disciples were all dumbfounded, their eyes wide and speechless as they witnessed this scene.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end