Chapter 40

As a bandit organization with a delicate positioning, the "base camp" of Black Bamboo Stronghold is also quite crude.

At this very moment, the six leaders at the Martial Artist realm are sitting in the main hall, engaged in a heated argument—

"Big Brother, it's just dealing with one Martial Artist, yet we have to mobilize everyone. I think that fat pig has truly had his heart blinded by lard!"

The one who said this was a sturdy bandit sitting at the head of the left side.

Regarding these words, the burly bandit sitting in the main seat merely shook his head and sighed: "Do not speak such reckless nonsense; do we even have a choice?"

Listening to the argument between the two, a bandit who looked like a scholar and sat at the head of the right side pondered for a long time before asking:

"Even if that Martial Artist grew three heads and six arms, sending Liangzi and the other two would have been enough—Big Brother, why do you think the Sun Family would go to such great lengths to deal with a single Martial Artist?

"Could it be... that person holds some leverage over the Sun Family? Tell me, should we secretly send some trusted men to investigate the truth behind this?"

Hearing this, the First Leader shook his head repeatedly and said in a deep voice: "Even if we found out, so what? Even if we curse Sun Min behind his back, it's just for the sake of venting.

"He is also a Martial Master; if you try to provoke him, the worst he'll do is wipe us out and support another dirty glove to take our place!"

Hearing this, the Third Leader sitting at the head of the left side was displeased and shouted: "What is there to fear? Big Brother, you are also a peak Martial Artist.

"As long as you work hard, perhaps one day you will become a Martial Master, and we won't have to suffer this indignity or do these beastly things like killing entire families anymore!"

Regarding this, the First Leader shook his head helplessly and said:

"Well said, but the path of martial cultivation is incredibly difficult, and breaking through to the Martial Master realm requires experiencing the pain of Broken Bone Rebirth; one wrong move and you end up without a whole corpse...

"I am the only peak Martial Artist in the stronghold; with me here, the Sun Family still doesn't dare to go too far. If I die, you will have no chance of ever turning things around."

Hearing this helpless confession, the other five leaders fell into silence—

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Amidst this silence, the sound of clapping was piercingly loud.

Feng Zi, covered in blood, walked out from the shadows beneath the door frame, clapping his hands with an expressionless face.

The moment they heard the clapping, the six Martial Artists present subconsciously tensed their muscles and jumped up:

Before Feng Zi took the initiative to reveal his tracks, not a single person present had sensed his existence!

"What a good bandit leader who cares for his subordinates; if someone who didn't know better heard this, they might think this was some righteous rebel organization."

Watching the bandits before him subconsciously draw their weapons, with one leader even trying to signal, Feng Zi ignored it and spoke calmly.

"Who are you?" the First Leader asked, gripping his Pudao tightly and feigning composure—

The strength Feng Zi displayed was only that of a Great Accomplishment Martial Artist, but as someone who had spent years licking blood off blades, he absolutely did not believe he was just an ordinary Martial Artist!

Hearing this "silly question," Feng Zi couldn't help but laugh, tilted his head, and said:

"This is truly the height of absurdity. Sun Min ordered you to set an ambush here specifically to deal with me. I have come in person, yet you don't even know your own target?"

Just as he spoke, a blinding red firework exploded behind him.

Feeling the bandits from all over the mountain rushing toward this place, Feng Zi did not care, merely tightening his grip on his precious bow and saying indifferently:

"Good, I was just looking to wipe you all out in one go, which saves me from having to chase down the remnants all over the mountains."

Hearing him so candidly reveal his identity, the bandits present naturally understood who Feng Zi was.

The leading First Leader pointed his Pudao at Feng Zi and demanded sharply:

"You are... Cun Xin? Shouldn't you be struggling in Daishan County? Where are my brothers?"

A stupid question, asking what he already knew.

But since the other bandits still needed time to arrive at the scene, Feng Zi played along and answered coldly:

"You have three good subordinates; they were making excuses for your evil deeds right up until their deaths. Their loyalty is truly commendable.

"Of course, you need not worry about being separated by life and death; I will send you down to reunite with them tonight."

Feng Zi's answer could not have been clearer—he had not only dealt with the bandits who appeared in Daishan County but had also arrived here within two hours.

Such a fast travel speed confirmed from another angle that he was absolutely not an ordinary Martial Artist!

"Since you already know the cause and effect, you should also understand that we are merely hired hands; the primary culprit is the Sun Family."

Although the First Leader said this, he also understood that since Feng Zi had come knocking with such murderous intent, it meant this matter could never be resolved peacefully.

And while their boss was stalling for time, the remaining five Martial Artists scattered, silently surrounding Feng Zi.

Of course, this was also with his tacit permission.

Seeing that the bandits of the Black Wind Stronghold had all arrived, Feng Zi spoke slowly, mocking them:

"Then what do you want? To sit and watch me destroy the Sun Family, and then let you continue to gather in the mountains and live at ease?

"Or perhaps go a step further, transform into the rulers of Daishan County, and whip the villagers with hands stained with their blood?"

At this point, the mockery on his face was fully revealed: "Rest assured, I will ensure not one of you is left behind when you reunite underground.

"Of course, your path to the afterlife will not be lonely; it won't be long before the entire Sun Family accompanies you on your way!"

"Since Cun Xin says it like that, does it mean there is no room for negotiation?" Hearing this, the First Leader understood in his heart that verbal arguments were now meaningless.

The man gritted his teeth and shouted: "Brothers, no matter how strong he is, he is only a Martial Artist. Attack together!"

Bandits, by nature, do not care for any "martial arts morality":

Since the First Leader had given the order, the bandits swarmed forward, thrusting their weapons toward Feng Zi all at once.

The result... naturally, nothing happened.

Everyone only felt a gust of wind filled with the smell of blood blow past, and Feng Zi's figure vanished without a trace.

Only three "whoosh" sounds of air being pierced were heard, and the three bandits furthest away didn't even have time to let out a cry before they fell to the ground.

And in the hearts of those three, each was pierced through by a sharp arrow!

"Tell me, is this how you act as bandits?" The next moment, Feng Zi's voice came from the rafters of the main hall.

The bandits looked toward the sound and saw him sitting on the rafters, bored, even unable to stop himself from yawning:

"What do you usually do? Besides robbing houses and plundering, do you not train at all? As soon as you encounter a tricky enemy, you are no different from soft-legged shrimp!"

Seeing this, the six Martial Artists all wore solemn expressions—this clearly could not be the strength of an ordinary Martial Artist!

Seemingly having sensed the thoughts in their hearts, Feng Zi merely tossed out a single sentence indifferently:

"What a bunch of straw bags; I have been using the strength of a Great Accomplishment Martial Artist until now."

The Chief was incomparably shocked in his heart, exerted force fiercely under his feet, and the whole person leaped up, then hacked the Pudao in his hand toward him!

As a matter of course, Feng Zi's figure disappeared once again.

Swish, swish, swish—

There were three more sounds of breaking through the air, and three more bandits fell to the ground in response, losing their breath.