Chapter 12: Horse Bandits

The sky gradually darkened, and the caravan members gathered the wagons together, leaving at least three people to guard them, and the fodder for feeding the horses could not be left behind.

Then they started a fire to cook, and the overseer specifically separated Tie Li's food from that of the others.

After it was prepared, it was delivered into the carriage.

A large meat steak, a big bowl of rice, plus a small plate of dried fruit.

After everyone ate and drank their fill, they began to rest, and the night watch was split into two groups—one handling the first half of the night, the other the second half.

Tie Li did not need to stand watch; if danger arose, someone would inform him.

Yet he could not fall asleep carefree, having to stay alert at all times, especially at night.

As a Soul Master, Tie Li's physical strength was certainly superior to that of ordinary people.

In the quiet night, even the faintest sounds could be caught by Tie Li.

For example, a distant horse‑trotting sound reached him now, very faint, perhaps several li away, yet Tie Li truly heard it.

Stepping out of the carriage, Tie Li's expression grew solemn as he stared toward the source of the horse‑trotting.

"Soul Master Great Sir, is something happening?"

"A group of people on horseback is approaching us," Tie Li said.

The sound grew clearer, and Tie Li could even gauge their numbers from it.

Seventeen horses—if one rider per horse, that's seventeen people.

Hearing this, the overseer immediately shouted to awaken the sleeping folk, who hurriedly drew long swords from the wagons.

Out on the road, how could they not have brought a backup weapon?

As they drew nearer, the caravan members all heard the sound of hooves striking the ground.

"Bad, horse bandits!" the overseer said, his face grim as he glanced at Tie Li beside him— their reliance.

"Hahaha, big brother, there's a big fish."

"With so much cargo, we can fetch a good price."

"I wonder if there are any women to play with, hehe."

Tie Li's gaze swept over the horse bandits, matching his own assessment—seventeen men.

The bald leader, a hulking man, bared his upper body; a fierce slash scar ran from his cheek down to his abdomen, adding a ferocious air.

"Leave the wagons, hand over your money, and for the sake of your Wind‑Snow Trading Company's reputation, I can spare your lives." The bald man slung the great horse‑blade over his shoulder, his face full of contempt; he didn't think this caravan dared to fight him.

Seeing the bandits' stance, the caravan folk instinctively looked to the overseer, whose gaze was fixed entirely on Tie Li.

Tie Li could sense the soul power fluctuations on the bald man's body, yet among these horse bandits, he was the only Soul Master.

The caravan's strongmen were among the better ordinary fighters; it was uncertain whether they could handle the remaining bandits.

"Caravan overseer, if I can hold off the big man, can you deal with the remaining bandits?" Tie Li approached the overseer and asked quietly.

Upon hearing Tie Li's words, the caravan overseer was certain: if Tie Li was willing to act, they had a chance; his greatest worry was that this young Soul Master might buckle under pressure and retreat.

"Can!"

Receiving the affirmative reply, Tie Li prepared for battle.

Seizing the moment before the bald man could react, Tie Li suddenly surged, summoning his Forge Hammer Martial Soul, targeting the leader directly.

"Move!"

The caravan overseer instantly drew his great sword, and the caravan folk, upon the command, surged forward en masse, none retreating.

They were a team; their coordination and trust in each other were assured.

The bald man was momentarily stunned, then, once he recovered, he immediately showed a raging expression.

"I gave you a chance; now you're digging your own graves."

The bald man's rugged frame grew massive, his height spiking to two meters, his body covered in layers of thick brown fur.

Two white Soul Rings floated beneath him.

He was a double‑Ring Great Soul Master, his Soul Power Level higher than Tie Li's.

Tie Li's eyes showed only a brief hesitation, not fear of the opponent's strength.

His own was a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, its added attributes far surpassing the opponent's; the only advantage the other had was Soul Power Level.

In contrast, the bald man's eyes held an inescapable shock.

The two ten‑year Soul Rings beneath him began to shine white.

Strength amplification!

Defense amplification!

The ten‑year Soul Rings granted him only a five percent attribute boost.

He swung the great horse‑blade forcefully, producing a harsh clash with the Forging Hammer.

"Szi‑hā!"

The bald man's martial soul was a bear, with outstanding strength and defense, but Tie Li, empowered by a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, was not inferior to him in raw power.

With their strengths equal, the quality of their weapons became crucial.

The blade's edge was chipped, a small crack spreading outward from the flaw across the sword.

The arc from the Forging Hammer was blocked by the thick fur.

"Bang!"

Unable to withstand the combined force, the great horse‑blade shattered completely, turning into dozens of fragments.

The bald man without hesitation discarded the blade's hilt, and a pair of bear paws lunged from both sides toward Tie Li's head.

Tie Li crouched down, evading the attack while landing on the ground, and swung his Forging Hammer at the horse's foreleg.

The horse let out a mournful cry; losing support from its foreleg, its body toppled forward, flinging the bald man on its back outward.

For a moment the bald man lost control of his body, his pigeon‑egg‑sized pupils suddenly dilating as the incoming hammer aimed directly at his face.

Boom—

Buzz—

A powerful strike landed successfully; in that instant, the hammer emitted ultra‑high‑frequency vibrations that cracked his skull, and the hollow ears spurted white fluid.

Seeing the bald big man gruesomely killed under Tie Li's iron hammer, the remaining horse bandits lost their formation and immediately turned their horses to flee.

But the strong men in the caravan were skilled; they couldn't pass up such an opportunity and were the first to slash at the bandits' horses.

Tie Li crouched down and rummaged inside the big man's clothing.

His face lit up with joy; indeed he felt it—ancient sayings do not deceive.

He pulled out three money bags, each packed with many coins, heavy to the touch.

He slipped them into his chest without a hint of emotion, and the caravan members had almost finished the battle, but unfortunately a few horse bandits still fought to the death to escape.

The horse master, having just witnessed Tie Li "rummaging the corpse," called his subordinates to search the horse bandits' bodies.

Tie Li returned to the carriage, intending to inspect the loot, but the horse master came over carrying a dozen or so money bags.

"Soul Master Great Sir, thank you this time; these money bags were taken from the horse bandits."

So adept at handling things? He was even too embarrassed to ask, and it was brought right before him.

But Tie Li was not a selfish eater; he took all the Gold Soul Coins from the dozen money bags and let the rest be distributed to everyone.

In fact, the Gold Soul Coins in those bags added up to fewer than five; most were Silver Soul Coins and Copper Soul Coins.

After this incident, the caravan members developed considerable goodwill toward the young Soul Master.

Tie Li was delighted, for this haul was huge; the Gold Soul Coins obtained from the horse bandits totaled forty‑seven, along with thirty‑one Silver Soul Coins.

(End of chapter)