War affected everyone, especially non-cultivators and mortals, like the ones living in [Shi Zixing Yezi], a small village of the region, their only notorious quality being located right on one of the bigger roads, the upper east tract.

Producing just some low-tier spiritual resources, in this case, the [Shi Zixing Herb], plus a couple of commonly-seen ones such as [Three-strand Grass] and [Fire Spirit Mushroom], the village was small and barely could be considered wealthy. So, without resources, or any significant qi zones, the area around it was of no interest to any powerful organization, city, or sect.

Nonetheless, the village did have a backer, the nearby [Ninety-fifth Breath of the Saint] dojo, a 4th-tier power whose banner hung on the fence-like wall. Yet, since the war started, the village was left to fend alone, with the low-level cultivators of a 4th-tier power barely able to deal with their own troubles. And troubles there were many, as it seemed, as the dojo itself was nearly besieged, dozens of criminals rearing their ugly heads now that the actual powers ruling the territories, the 2nd and 3rd tier vassals of the overlord, stopped their patrols and training outings.

And so, with just a couple of dropouts from low-tier powers, how could a village defend itself, even from a pair of 4th level Warrior Lords? The manner in which they received Bai Qi and Ma Su being the answer, they could hardly do anything but fight to the death, hoping that they would scare or defeat their attackers. Or, at least, die trying.

***

Although it would take some effort from Bai Qi's side, he did manage to convince the aged Warrior Lord of his lack of evil intentions. And while the village had nothing to offer, not even in exchange for remuneration, the village head, Zi Zexian, would offer hospitality as a mean to excuse the discourteous reception, one that not a few cultivators would have taken as a personal offense.

So, after avoiding the clash, Bai Qi and Ma Su would find themselves sitting in one of the village's houses, slightly larger than the rest but equally austere and lacking anything but basic needs.

"I am truly sorry for how I treated guests of our village, but regretfully, we had no other choice." While Bai Qi had already stated not holding anything against the village, Zi Zexian felt the need to apologize officially, as the head should. He didn't lower himself often, but he didn't feel it to be a chore, not to protect the village, and not when the apology was indeed from the bottom of his heart.

"As I said before, there is no need for it. We are cultivators with neither affiliation nor backing, and even if not so, we wouldn't keep something so minor and probably caused by some circumstances against you or your village." Bai Qi's only objective was to get some information about the general state of affairs, but considering the reception, he decided to first probe into the local happenings.

"Before that, esteemed guest, how should I call you?"

"I am sorry for not introducing myself before. My name is Wu Guang." Bai Qi rid himself of the bamboo hat, revealing his face, and as he motioned for Ma Su to do the same, he continued, "And my companion is Lang Su."

Probably there was no need to hide their real names. But before knowing all details, Bai Qi decided to play it safe, especially without having any acquaintances in the northern and eastern [Great Forest] region's area.

Zi Zexian had guessed that the Warrior Lord sitting in front was young, but he was surprised to see just how young Bai Qi was. At some sixteen or seventeen years, a cultivation at the 4th level of the Warrior Lord realm was pretty impressive, especially for an unaffiliated cultivator. As for the youngster companion, Zi Zexian was surprised the same as she revealed her face, as usually such beauties rarely took the road, having all the chances to marry, even into a low standing but established household. But the most surprising part would be for the youngster to be in charge. After all, his older companion didn't speak even once, merely staying behind as if she was a bodyguard.

"I am sorry, I am just surprised to see someone so young and talented not being part of a power." Zi Zexian, just a 1st level Warrior Lord, didn't lie, even if he had spoken to merely break the silence ensuing as he looked at the two cultivators in front.

"There is time and place for everything." Without giving any concrete answer, mystifying his identity a bit more, Bai Qi responded calmly. Then attempting to return the conversation to the topic he was interested in - "Head Zi, what could have probably happened for your village to be in such a state?"

"Bandits, what else?" Zi Zexian's answer was a bit rash, something he excused himself for before actually explaining.

***

"Surprised I not only accepted, but myself suggested helping?" Even without looking at her, Bai Qi knew what Ma Su could be mulling over since they left [Shi Zixing Yezi] after barely a couple of hours at the village head's house.

"...Yes. Using your own words from before, we do not owe them anything, do we?" Since Bai Qi's healing and breakthrough, she felt as if the one she called master, even if inwardly, had changed. For now, she had no idea what the change actually entailed, and as he offered to explain, Ma Su immediately latched on the opportunity to learn at least something.

"Mmm, we do not. And while it is the correct thing to do, I can't say I would have done it in another setting. But-" Bai Qi stopped moving, expanding his senses around, "The information about the bandits was attractive enough for me to consider it. Not only are their levels ideal for me, but I will be able to get some interesting ingredients."

"The [Shi Zixing Herb] isn't so valuable, so I assume you didn't mean it?"

"You assume well, what interested me were the words about the bandits' sudden increase in strength from one attack to another. And if I am right, I am pretty sure why the village now faces such dire straits and why the [Ninety-fifth Breath of the Saint] dojo is keeping out of it. After all, no matter how bad the situation, I am sure a 4th-tier power would survive without a few Warrior Lords for a couple of days."

"Huh?!" Ma Su knew that Bai Qi was knowledgeable and had wisdom far above any Warrior Lord she had seen in her life, but even she couldn't stop a surprised exclamation from escaping her lips.

[Shi Zixing Herb], while decently rare, was still a pretty low-ranked spirit herb. With most of its uses limited to healing and the effect being lower than herbs more common, there should be no reason for someone to target a village to steal it, was there?

[Crossed Layer Pill], the most common recipe for the [Shi Zixing Herb], was one that Bai Qi had no interest in concocting, its effects being too low - he had only named it to reveal his familiarity with pill making. But there was a reinforced variant called the [Fourth Layer Cross Pill], with the capacity to replenish qi, mind power, soul power, and slightly heal the body. And this latter, Bai Qi would do concoct if able, although in secrecy, as the recipe was seemingly unknown on this plane, or the [Shi Zixing Herb] would be considered far more valuable.

But these healing pills weren't what Bai Qi thought about after hearing of the sudden increase in the cultivation of the bandits from one attack to another. No, what came to his mind was the forbidden [Three Rabid Paths Pill] or a variant of it. A pill that no proper pill maker would concoct, as it was not only dangerous but required a process involving living beings.

***

"Village Head Zi was nearly right about where they could be hiding, and having met him before - I am sure he shared the same information with the village's protectors." With the abandoned farming estate, a relic of the past glory of [Shi Zixing Yezi], below them, with clear signs of being occupied, Bai Qi commented in a low voice.

"Indeed, with the ease to find them, you may be right about the dojo keeping out, but the reasons?" While Ma Su didn't doubt Bai Qi's sagacity and wisdom, she found it hard to accept that a lawful power, a vassal of the [Great Forest Sect], even if of the lowest standing, could have conspired with bandits to create forbidden medicine.

"Well, we will see if I am correct about the reasons after I complete the task given to me, right?" Even if Bai Qi was nearly sure, he decided to avoid ensuring anything, even to Ma Su. In any case, as Bai Qi just said, there was a task, destroying the bandits that had raided [Shi Zixing Yezi] twice.

Bandits that during their second incursion had not only looted but also killed all potential opposition. Especially the pair of retired Warrior Lord cultivators, which had not only lived in the village but also served as its defense force. A couple that previously the bandit's leader, Won, could only fight to a standstill, forcing the village head to pay a tribute by occupying them as the rest of the bandits threatened the non-cultivating villagers.

***

"I will crash in, deal with them. You stand guard, prevent anyone from escaping or sending any message." Standing in the air a mile above the seven building estate, Bai Qi commanded, his hands flashing in a series of complicated seals, half of which Ma Su couldn't identify.

"Are you sure? The one to kill the village defenders, that Won, the first time he had been a 4th level Warrior Lord, but the last time, wasn't he a 6th level one?" Ma Su had seen Bai Qi's prowess firsthand, but that had been before. As for during the last days, as they sparred on his behalf, Ma Su had to contain to a 5th level Warrior Lord cultivation, not the 7th level she would have deemed equal to Bai Qi's cultivation and prowess mix.

"Sparring while getting accustomed to some of the changes is one thing. Don't worry. My prowess never decreased, even if some other things changed." Bai Qi had never gone all out during their spars, but it wasn't because he could not. No, he wanted to find a way to utilize the excess lightning qi in his dantian, the consequence of using liquid essence as his breakthrough catalyst. And he did!

*Sizzle* *Sizzle*

Lightning sparks emerged from every pore of Bai Qi, covering him with a coat of pure lightning element qi. Still, his hands continued moving, creating seal after seal, making Ma Su's eyes widen in surprise.

*Rumble* *Rumble*

In response to the spell seals and the enormous amount of mind power Bai Qi released, the sky above darkened and rumbled as if a storm was about to begin.

*Swoosh*

Then, Bai Qi's left hand suddenly rose above his head, fingers clenched in the elementary restraint seal - [Hold].

Ma Su never doubted that a genius like Bai Qi would be proficient in mind power as he was in everything else. Yet, she couldn't have expected that his mind was far above hers. The sheer pressure of the prepared but held-back spell made her feel danger!

{I feel five, but there should be seven bandits, at least. There are also runes around the main building below. So, as there is time to prepare, I will use spells. Utilize the benefit of being undiscovered to destroy defenses and diminish the opposition before the fight.} Bai Qi shared his current thoughts, not caring to explain, sure that Ma Su would be able to complete them.

And Ma Su did so indeed, even if she went for the martial explanation, in place of what Bai Qi actually had as reason, his lack of lightning element skills or even techniques.

Won looked around the messy, smoke-filled room. Yet another raid, and once again, successful as never. In the five years since the head monks kicked him from the [Layered Tower], Won had committed a good share of crimes while keeping on the run. Even so, the monks and the disciples of the [Ninety-fifth breath] were always on his tail, and he kept alive only because he never crossed the line, always avoiding risks and actual raids.

But everything had changed since the dojo elders approached him with an offer, and now, he led six men, and there was no one attempting to hunt them down!

"Eat and drink. Tomorrow we have another raid to make!" While his cultivation was far above his subordinates, at least now, Won still felt unsure. And so, felt as if saying something to cement his leadership, and so went with the most uncomplicated path of all, "We are to get a couple of people for the scholar's lab, but [Lu Dong River] settlements have a lot of women, so why not bring some more, for us to spend time here?!"

"Whoo! Boss knows us well!"

"And booze, let us free them of all of it!"

Five men shouted, but the one Won hoped to hear agreement from remained silent.

Won coldly thought as he looked over the man sitting slightly apart from the others, barely drinking. Do Tai, the only one of the bandits who Won had fought and lost against before.

Won cared nothing about the stealing, looting, or even killing he had agreed to, different from Do Tai, who, more often than not, asked the others to refrain from wanton killing. As Won didn't feel anything about what he was doing, he similarly felt nothing about keeping all the pills for himself, not sharing any.

***

Won had no idea why such an idea suddenly appeared in his head or why he felt as if danger was imminent.

And maybe he would have been able to understand the source or react in some way if he had had the time. After all, even without the pills, he did reach the decent level of a 3rd level Warrior Lord by sheer effort and in the impoverished, resource-wise, [Layered Tower] monastery. Regretfully for him, there were no maybe.

*CRASH* *BOOM* *CRASH* *CRASH*

With no warning, no hint of how, the rowdy bandit gathering, along with the main building of the [She Lu] farming estate, burst under the assault of lightning.

*BOOM* *CRASH* *SPLATTER* *BOOM* *SPLATTER*

The smell of alcohol, smoke, and food replaced by the stench of blood, burning meat, and death. The merriment now turned into shouting of panic, pain, and anger.

The disaster-like assault would stop only after an entire breath, thought for the remaining five men, from which only Won and Do Tai had been lucky or skillful enough to avoid being wounded - it appeared to go for far longer.

***

Raising from the rubble, Won's mind threw at him the same questions. But, this time, they were responded to by a calm, young voice coming from the middle of the destruction.

"The [Shi Zixing Yezi] village sends its regards." Dust, rubble, and the remaining sparks cleared with a wave of aura. And a young man dressed in gray-colored robes and a conical hat spoke up. Then, without any more words, the man launched forwards, his body covered by purple and crimson sparks as if a miniature thunderstorm raged inside the qi-cloak of his.

While Won had not expected anything of this, he was still a martial path cultivator, and his first instinct had been to ascertain the hostile arrival cultivation. Finding it at the 4th level of the Warrior Lord realm, he didn't hold back, rushing forwards, roaring, "KILL YOU!"