Hawk Point Bandits

It is a peaceful afternoon and two cultivators are having a pleasant conversation inside a lavish residence located on top of a hill.

“May this young master find this residence to his liking.”

“I’m sure the mission says I will help guard your village and others nearby and not stay in some cozy residence.”

“We have sufficient scouts who will do most of the job and we will only disturb this young master when necessary and it would be very improper we don’t take care of our guest.”

Clay looked at the head of the four Elven villages. His name is Laur, a Mid Foundation Establishment cultivator and is currently avoiding his gaze. He just can’t fathom what happened to this village that their head had lost his pride and became a pushover and a bootlicker.

After almost two weeks of travel, he arrived late in the afternoon and spoke with the previous guard and a fellow disciple and was advised of the overall situation of the place.

Some seventy years ago, a group of bandit had formed a hideout at least 100 kilometer north and grew in size that they had started to extort and steal from anyone.

Accordingly, they have seven Core Formation experts within their ranks and they are located close to Gentris border and it is the reason they have become untouchable. The previous guard was very honest that the real reason of their presence is to warn those bandits that these villages have connection to their sect but nevertheless, those bandits still came to collect taxes.

“If this young master has not yet been informed, we have made a deal with the sect to surrender a large chunk of our earnings and part of the deal, …”

“Is it true these bandits will come to collect their taxes and will come to warn me tomorrow?” Clay interrupted. He had already heard everything he needed to know about their situation.

“Our scouts have reported that they will have a Core Formation expert visiting this time.” The worry in Laur’s face cannot be painted.

“Elder has nothing to worry about. I will play my part when they come. If you have nothing else, I wish to rest alone. It had been a tiresome journey.”

Elder Laur slightly bowed then left.

Clay did not anticipate that he will be facing trouble the following day after reaching his destination. He thought that he will be facing enemies on the same level and he is confident he could just scare them away with the amount of Dao that he had long prepared of showing off yet it looks like his plan will fail if it involves a high level cultivator. He did not want to kill them as he intended on taking this mission three consecutive times to earn him enough point to read the 2nd to the 4th part of the Barnachea Blood Arts. He can already tell that there will be an excessive extortion tomorrow and he does not know if his conscience can take it and idly stand in the background.

Clay waited for the night and when the moon was out, he stepped outside the house and activated his wings.

“I’m going out for a stroll.” Clay whispered using his Qi towards Laur who was sitting outside a residence not far from where Clay was staying at.

Back when he lived a normal life at that random human village a few years ago, he did witness how cruel bandits can be.

His method of killing is swift and painless but the atrocities of banditry is almost similar to how goblins keep their prey as incubators of their offsprings. It is cruel and viscous especially for women. He never had any intentions of playing the hero however he just can’t picture himself tomorrow when the bandits will drag away some innocent young women while he stand on the side.

After around ten minutes, Clay spotted a camp and observed from above.

One look and he could already tell that these will be his guests tomorrow. As much as possible, he wants really wants to avoid killing anyone.

(Please, don’t!)

(I said come here!)

*Whack

Clay sympathized as he saw a young Elven woman being dragged away from a cage. Tomorrow, this will be the same scene he will be witnessing when this group of bandits will visit the village assigned to his mission.

Lesser Elven’s anatomy in terms of reproduction is similar to human and the fact that Elves cannot procreate with humans make them even more suitable as playthings and he can’t help but have flashbacks.

“How unlucky.” Clay muttered to himself as deactivated his Qi, closed his eyes and free fall.

Almost half a year ago, he had a dilemma when he did nothing and allowed his party to die in vain and reason he wanted to meet the bandits tonight is to scare them away but it looks like he can’t convince himself to turn around now.

Sometimes he wished he has the same morals as these bandits. Maybe then he can do whatever he wants as well.

When he was ten meters above the ground, Clay opened his eyes and with the burst of his aura, he reactivated his wings and landed on the ground and at the same time, the entire camp had been engulfed with his terrifying power. He already has an idea as to how much Dao Power is needed to disrupt someone’s flow of Qi without killing anyone and with this release of his power, every bandit felt all of their strength sealed except for their leader whom he intentionally paralyzed.

*Argggghhh!

*Argggghhh!

*Argggghhh!

The bandits wanted to warn their leader but all of them dropped to the ground with the sudden invasion of a foreign power within their bodies making them weak and vulnerable. And after two seconds after they fell on their knees, a white tentacle made of Qi wrapped each and every one of them and were forcefully dragged them into one place.

Clay released multiple candle-light fires using his Essence Flame to further illuminate the area where he had gathered everyone. Except for their long haired leader on a pony tail who severely weakened and is lying in front of Clay, everyone tried to get on their feet.

“We are part the Hawk Point Group. If you don’t give us an explanation, we will ravage every settlement…”

*Whsssssk!

Before one of the bandits could finish his sentence, a sharp tentacle made of Qi pierced the man’s head.

*Thud

The bandit fell to the ground and blood started to ooze out scaring everyone.

“Do you think I’m afraid of your little brotherhood?” Clay coldly said as he stood before the bandits.

When Clay got everyone’s attention he shaped his Qi again into a spear then delivered it into the Core Formation bandit who is struggling beside his feet.

*Whsssssk!

The leader of the bandit twitched and did not make a sound as it died.

“There! I just killed your leader.” There was no emotion on Clay’s face after killing the most powerful cultivator of their group.

“Please, young master. We’ll become your most loyal subject.”

“Me too. Let me become your slave, young master.”

“Your strength knows no bounds. I will follow young master to the ends of the world.”

“Me too. I will become your most loyal subject.”

There were at least 40 bandits in front of Clay and seeing their leader peacefully executed, everyone started kneeling accompanied by their attempts to ingratiate themselves.

Clay was unmoved as he observed everyone kneeling with their forehead on the ground. “I will allow you to follow me if you have a map to reveal your hideout?”

As soon as Clay finished talking, one of the bandits took out at scroll from his spatial ring. “If this revered master is in need of a map of our hideout, I hope this map will be of help for this young master’s plan. That spot marked with red is our current home.”

Clay extended his aura and grabbed the piece of paper and observed it and after a few moments of silence, he grabbed one of the bandits on the right using his Qi tentacles.

“Please spare me master. I will become your most loyal slave if you let me live.” There is only fear on the face of the bandit as he was grabbed and forced to stand before Clay.

“Do you want to be my right hand?” Clay asked the bandit.

“Yes, master. I will become your most loyal slave. I will do everything for master….”

“Good. Good. Is the red mark on this map your hideout?” Clay showed the map towards the hysterical bandit.

“Yes, master. That is correct, master. That is indeed our… “

*Whsssssk!

Before the bandit could speak more, Clay already delivered a fatal blow to the guys head surprising everyone.

*Thud

When the bandit fell to the ground, Clay materialized more Qi tentacles and shaped them all into a sharp spear and punctured everyone’s head.

*Whsssssk!

*Whsssssk!

*Whsssssk!

Clay extended his aura and searched everyone’s spatial ring then allocated one ring to store everyone’s corpse. And after ensure there was no one nearby, he went to free the Elven women in captivity. Earlier when he spread his Qi, he forcefully made them unconscious to not allow any witnesses.

Sometimes Clay wished he is a demonic cultivator so he can learn how to search someone’s memory via their souls. Killing is already leaving a bad taste in his mouth and hearing these bandits’ attempt to sweet talk to influence and appeal to pity is even more irritating.

After cleaning the area, he activated his wings again and flew towards the direction of the red mark indicated on the map earlier.