author note; the boy from prologue and young devil haven't appeared yet. Events taking place now are slightly before the body the boy takes over dies so don't worry if Fang Shi isn't the least bit arrogant. The story is not about him, but the boy. Haven't thought of a name yet for the boy and it doesn't seem too necessary at this point since he'll take the name of the body he possesses. Also, it's not like I don't have names for people or something so don't think that while you read this chapter. The bandit leader definitely has a name. Definitely. These few chapters are used to familiarize yourself with the universe and maybe introduce some backstory so you're not just dropped into the body.

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The grizzled face of the largest bandit twisted into a evil smile. Even from such a distance the putrid odor of the bandit leader's sweat made Fang Shi take a step back surprising him that it could reach him from so far.

"Your money or your life what's more important trash?"

Fang Shi was shocked. How could someone that smelled like that call him trash? He almost said this, but held his tongue as he did not want to lower himself to the bandit's level.

"Perhaps big brother wouldn't mind moving away and letting me pass? I don't have any money and am going to the town to find work."

Fang Shi was an honest person and refused to lie, so he couldn't help praising his quick thinking. It wasn't exactly untrue either since he would work very hard at being a good husband and prince.

"Hahaha. Good good. Younger brother if you're looking for work then you can join us. You've gone through the mountains so you've probably already fought several bandits. The fact that you're still alive means you have some strength."

"As you've said I have already fought several bandits whom were all defeated on the way here."

Fang Shi again basked in his own brilliance. By telling the bandits he had already fought and won it would cause them to be cautious.

"I cannot however join you as my fiance is waiting for me in the city and her father has already given me a job."

"Younger brother already has a job? Amazing! I'm worried though perhaps your job isn't going to pay as much as you would earn working with us?"

"No problem there big bro, my father-in-law to be is a wealthy merchant and-"

Fang Shi's face froze, but it was too late to take the words back. He had taken pride in his previous words for being so clever causing him to relax. He also had wanted to take pride in his new fiance and her father. He made a note to himself to meditate later on how shameful and dangerous pride can be.

Not too dangerous now though as he didn't fear the bandits. He could easily tell they were weaker than he was, but had merely wanted to avoid bloodshed.

'At least I learned the lesson now and not later!' Fang Shi thought to himself.

He was so relaxed he even had enough time to reflect on the fact that he had so easily lied despite having sworn himself to a life of honesty. He justified it because he saw it as though he was sacrificing a small part of himself in order to protect the one he loved...loved? Fang Shi's face loosened at that thought. He hadn't thought his feelings were that deep, but now he realized how much that beautiful girl had affected him. Rather than worry he was falling too hard, he was filled with joy.

The bandit leader made a short and hidden signal while approaching and others carefully moved into position to block Fang Shi's path of retreat.

"Very good then. You say your father-in-law is a merchant and that his daughter loves you enough to marry you despite not having money?"

The bandit was proud of his strength, but even more proud of his intelligence and rightly so. He couldn't have survived long this close to the city without being smart and had quickly realized that the merchant's daughter must truly care about her penny-less fiance if her father was willing to do so much for him.

With a grin bordering on lecherous the bandit continued, "Surely then your father-in-law will be willing to help your big brother out right? After all it's very dangerous in these woods and you need protection otherwise you might not make it to the safety of the city."

Fang Shi immediately realized the bandit's plot. In fact, he had come to the conclusion before the bandit had which is why his face had frozen. Knowing now that bloodshed was unavoidable Fang Shi no longer decided to play their game.

"Enough. I can see this is going no where let us begin. Though I am curious what makes you so different than the bandit's I've fought before."

The smile faded and a look of disdain replaced it. "This big bro of yours has special methods." (author note; no not pills!)

Drawing his sword the bandit leader slashed out horizontally causing a sword beam to fly in a crescent shape straight towards Fang Shi's legs. He didn't want to kill him only wound him enough to capture him and collect ransom.

"Take him alive boys! HAHAHAH"

The bandits had already surrounded Fang Shi, but he didn't appear worried at all.

Putting his right fist in front of his face, so that the back of his hand was shown toward the bandit's incoming attack, a symbol of a crown appeared on his skin as though it was a glowing tattoo. The fist emitted a ki wave that ripped the incoming blade ki apart.

The other bandits froze seeing this. None of them could use ki only their leader had practiced cultivating and the distance between a normal fighter and a cultivator was like comparing the heavens and the earth.

"Oh you have some ability huh? You're still trash. I am the strongest bandit in all these mountains. You're not even worthy enough to know my name!!!"

The nameless bandit leader shouted as he attacked twice more causing two separate horizontal ki slashes; this time filled with killing intent; having apparently already forgotten his plan to capture his hostage alive.

Fang Shi wasn't worried though and instead jumped forward twisting his body to slide between the two incoming attacks.

The bandits couldn't believe their eyes; no one had avoided the twin ki slashes before, some had blocked it sure but avoid it like that? Never! They weren't worried though because their leader still hadn't used his trump card. His specialty attack was twice as strong as the previous attacks and he had even named the attack after himself.

"YOU DARE! Then lets see if you can survive this attack of mine!"

The bandit leader shouted and ki filled his blade. He slashed out twice, this time though the second blade slash was faster than the first and they quickly combined into one power slash. The trees shook with the force of the attack and the bandits close to their leader fell to the ground with amazement on their face. They never thought they would see his famous bandit attack that was known throughout all the mountain range for it's strength. There wasn't a bandit within a hundred miles that didn't know it's name.

Fang Shi was impressed that such a back-of-the-woods nobody nameless bandit leader could produce an attack of this power. He was really curious if the bandit had learned the move or made it himself and what the attack was called.

He struck out his fist and it collided with the blade slash instantly causing a huge explosion killing bandits that had stayed too close and had been hoping to see their boss's famous well-known-to-all attack cut Fang Shi into pieces.

The smoke cleared and Fang Shi was gone.

"HAHAHA! Of course the great I would win. No one has ever beaten me before and no one has ever survived my world renowned attack!"

A new recruit was incredibly impressed and, as he had just joined didn't know the name of this attack, couldn't help but ask;

"w-w-w-wow! What was that?"

The leader heard him and was more than pleased to answer.

"Haha that's an attack that I made myself I call it th-"

"LEFT FIST OF THE EMPEROR; CRUSHING MIGHT."

The leader looked confused. "No that's not it..."

A ki fist fell from the heavens and smashed the bandit leader into pulp. Fang Shi was curious, but not that curious.

One or two chapters more and we'll get the devil+boy. I'll hopefully have it ready by the end of the day. Also, don't get attached to "Fang Shi" bless his heart he's just not MC material.