Hunting Mountain Bandits

Eagle Beak Ravine, named for the resemblance of the cliffs on either side to an eagle's beak.

In the middle, a dirt road about three zhang wide served as a vital route for local mountain folk and merchant caravans.

At this moment, a group of mountain bandits was slowly approaching the ravine's entrance.

"Halt." Zhang Kui, the Ghost Blade, on horseback, suddenly raised his hand.

The troop stopped as if on cue.

"Second Brother, what's wrong?" Hou San, wielding Twin Halberds, reined in his horse and asked, puzzled.

Zhang Kui narrowed his single eye, scanning the steep cliffs on both sides. "This place... is too perfect for an ambush."

"Second Brother is worrying too much, isn't he?" Hou San scoffed. "Besides our Black Wind Stronghold, who else dares to rob around here? The Gray Wolf Gang is over thirty li away."

"Better safe than sorry," Zhang Kui said in a deep voice. "Sixth Brother, take two men and scout up there."

"Yes!" a scrawny mountain bandit replied. He picked two subordinates and began climbing the left cliff face.

At the cliff top, Lin Er and Lin San lay hidden behind bushes, holding their breath.

"They're suspicious," Lin Er reported via mental link.

"I see them," Lin Mo's voice echoed in the consciousness of all his clones. "Proceed as planned. If they really come up... deal with them on the spot, but don't make too much noise."

"Understood."

Three mountain bandits struggled to climb to the cliff top. As soon as they got their footing, before they could even get a clear view of their surroundings, six figures suddenly sprang from the bushes on either side!

Mouths covered, throats slit, dragged into the undergrowth.

It was done in one smooth motion.

The entire process took less than five seconds, not even a single scream was heard.

[Killed 3 mountain bandits, gained 90 experience points]

Below, Zhang Kui waited for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn. When no one came down, his brow furrowed even tighter.

"Something's wrong," he gripped his Ghost Head Great Saber. "Sixth Brother and the others..."

Before he could finish speaking!

RUMBLE--!

From the cliff tops on both sides, dozens of millstone-sized rocks and thick logs rolled down simultaneously!

"Ambush!" Hou San cried out in alarm, yanking hard on his reins.

The horses, startled, reared up!

The bandit troop instantly fell into chaos!

Rocks and logs smashed into the crowd, crushing five or six bandits on the spot, breaking their bones and tendons, their screams erupting into a cacophony.

"Scatter! Everyone scatter!" Zhang Kui roared, cleaving a falling rock with his saber.

But in the confusion, the orders could no longer be conveyed.

Just then, over thirty figures appeared on the cliff faces on both sides!

They held crude bows – hastily made from branches and vines, with sharpened bamboo poles as arrows.

"Fire!"

Lin Yi's command was relayed simultaneously through the mental link.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh--!

More than thirty bamboo arrows shot out!

Although their aim was poor and their range short, they were numerous, covering a wide area.

Another seven or eight bandits were hit by arrows.

The bamboo arrows themselves had limited lethality, but their tips... were coated in diluted poison blood.

"Ah! My arm!"

"These arrows are poisoned!"

"Help!"

The poisoned bandits watched in horror as their wounds rapidly turned black and festered. The intense pain rendered them incapable of fighting.

"Damn it! It's poison!" Hou San's eyes turned red. "Second Brother, is this the Five Poisons Cult?!"

"No matter who it is, we fight our way out first!" Zhang Kui severed a bamboo arrow aimed at him with his saber and spurred his horse forward.

A few of the remaining able-bodied lackeys followed him, charging forward.

But at the exit ahead, Lin San, with ten men, stood ready.

"Fire!"

Ten crude bamboo bows shot simultaneously!

Though their aim was poor, the distance was short and the coverage wide.

The two lackeys charging ahead fell to arrows, the diluted poison blood smeared on the arrowheads quickly taking effect. Their wounds festered, and they screamed in agony.

"Rats! Die!" The tall, thin leader's eyes turned red as he leaped from his horse.

His Twin Halberds danced, a blur of silver light, deflecting several bamboo arrows aimed at him!

"It's a Professional!" Lin San's pupils contracted. "Scatter! Don't engage him head-on!"

Ten clones quickly dispersed, but the tall, thin leader's movements were incredibly fast, phasing into the crowd like a ghost!

Ching! Ching!

Two halberds thrust out, precisely piercing the chests of two clones!

[Clone Death x2]

Black poison blood sprayed out, a few drops splashing onto the tall, thin leader's hand.

"Hiss—" He gasped, looking at the rapidly blackening and festering skin on his hand. "This blood is poisonous?!"

But what terrified him even more was that the two clones, whose chests had been pierced, didn't fall immediately. Instead, they grinned and grabbed his arms tightly!

"You're asking for death!" The tall, thin leader roared, shaking his arms and forcefully flinging the two clones away.

However, this brief delay allowed the other clones to surround him, and seven or eight blades and spears attacked him simultaneously!

The tall, thin leader's Twin Halberds danced, creating an impenetrable defense that blocked most of the attacks. Still, a few blades cut through his leather armor, leaving shallow wounds on his body.

The wounds weren't deep, but... they were enough.

Black poison blood seeped in through the wounds. The tall, thin leader felt his body going numb, his vision blurring.

"Second Brother! Save me!" he yelled hoarsely.

Behind them, Scarface had his retreat blocked by Lin Xi and his men.

He was even more ruthless than the tall, thin leader. His Ghost Head Great Saber swung in wide arcs, each blow heavy and powerful. Three clones had already been chopped down by him.

[Clone Death x3]

[Clone Heavily Injured x2]

But the clones' poison blood had also splashed onto him. His right palm was already festering down to the bone, and half of his body was becoming numb.

"Third Brother!" Scarface saw the tall, thin leader surrounded and his eyes turned bloodshot. He suddenly pulled a small porcelain bottle from his chest, poured out a red pill, and stuffed it into his mouth.

He swallowed it down.

The next second, his muscles bulged, veins popped, and his eyes were filled with bloodshot capillaries!

"Roar—!"

With a non-human roar, Scarface charged forward like a ferocious tiger. His Ghost Head Great Saber swept out, cutting two blocking clones in half at the waist!