Roadside Ambush

After registering at the city guard station, Luo Yi led his younger sister out of the county town.

He glanced toward the agreed meeting spots and saw four hunters who had arrived earlier, sitting on the ground.

The two walked over and chatted with the hunters. In less than a quarter of an hour, Wang Meng, Chen Liu, and the remaining hunters came out of the city one after another.

Seeing everyone was present, Wang Meng repeated the morning's warnings and led the group toward the town.

Walking along the Official Road to Dongsheng Town, Luo Yi sensed something off.

After they left the county town, two men had been tailing them. As they traveled farther, not only did the pair not leave, but more people gathered to join them, causing the group behind to grow larger.

Something's wrong. Everyone, watch my hand signals and move when I do.

With that, Wang Meng shouted at the crowd behind them: "Which road's brothers are you from?"

"I'm Wang Meng of Dongsheng Town. My brothers and I have urgent business. Could you good men do us a favor and let us pass? Wang Meng will surely repay you handsomely."

No sooner had Wang Meng finished than the leading One-Eyed Youth behind them sneered: "Wang Meng, Chen Meng, Zhang Meng, tough guy—never heard of any of you."

"Today, my brothers are out to make a fortune. You want us to let everyone off? We're here to rob, not to show mercy."

"Either you hand over everything valuable on you, or my brothers chop off your heads and fish it out from your corpses."

With that, the man waved his hand, and another twenty or so people emerged from the surrounding bushes.

Knowing this wouldn't end peacefully, Wang Meng's face darkened as he made a signal to attack.

The hunters, already prepared, drew their bows and loosed arrows at the surrounding bandits.

Seeing they dared to resist, the leading One-Eyed Youth shouted: "Brothers, hold nothing back. Kill them first, then talk."

With that, the One-Eyed Youth charged at them, leading the way.

Shielding Luo Xi behind him, Luo Yi drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and shot at the approaching bandits. The sharp whistle of arrows cutting through the air rang out.

With Luo Yi's current strength and archery skill, every arrow he loosed claimed a bandit's life.

The leading One-Eyed Youth's eyes blazed with ferocity at the sight.

He glanced at the men behind him and quickened his pace toward Luo Yi.

As the One-Eyed Youth rushed at him, Luo Yi slung his Hunting Bow over his back and drew the Chopping Knife at his waist.

Just as he was about to charge the One-Eyed Youth—

Worried Luo Yi might not be a match for the One-Eyed Youth, Wang Meng stepped forward to block him.

"Looking for death."

With that, the two clashed.

"Skin Refining Martial Artist." The moment they exchanged blows, they each recognized the other's realm.

As the fight dragged on, Wang Meng sensed something unusual.

The One-Eyed Youth's techniques were none other than the Pojun Saber, a style taught exclusively within the Great Qi army.

He recalled what his younger brother had told him a few days ago.

Qingzhou, neighboring Yunzhou, had been overrun by the Rebel Army a few days prior. A large number of Qingzhou garrison troops had fled to Yunzhou and Youzhou, turning to banditry.

Qingzhou Deserters?

Hearing this, the One-Eyed Youth's eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly steadied himself.

He shouted to his men: "Brothers, this is the Official Road. Someone could spot us any minute. Finish this fast."

Luo Yi cut down a bandit with one swing of his blade, watching the hunters take wound after wound and Wang Meng locked in a stalemate.

If I don't act now, none of the hunters will survive. With that thought, Luo Yi decided to stop holding back.

Putting all his strength into a single blow, he cleaved an oncoming bandit clean in two.

"Ahh!" The other bandits were startled by the sight.

Since fleeing to Yunzhou, they had never encountered anyone so ruthless. The surrounding bandits, intimidated, began backing away.

Skin Refining Martial Artist? Seeing his man split in two with one strike, the One-Eyed Youth guessed the attacker was at least a Skin Refining Realm martial artist.

He shouted toward the bushes behind him: "Mister Li, if you don't act now, I'm pulling my brothers out."

Cursing the One-Eyed Youth inwardly, Mister Li, hidden behind a mound of earth, looked at the tall man beside him.

"Zhao Si, go deal with that Luo Yi. The rest of you, carry me out first."

"Yes!" Zhao Si burst out from behind the mound and charged at Luo Yi.

Picking up the Dao dropped by the bandit he'd killed, Luo Yi swung it at Zhao Si's head.

Their blades clashed. The immense impact from the hilts sent Zhao Si stumbling back three steps, his arm trembling uncontrollably.

Feeling the force from his opponent's weapon, Luo Yi knew he could handle it easily. This guy's at the same realm as me—at most a Skin Refining Entry.

With a loud shout, he charged again, blade flashing like a tiger descending the mountain.

Zhao Si relied on his combat experience to barely fend off Luo Yi's assault.

As the fight dragged on, Zhao Si's arm went numb. He knew if this continued, he'd be done for today. He started looking for a chance to flee.

A cold gleam flashed before his eyes, and he hurriedly raised his blade to block.

A clang of refined iron rang out as the longsword in Zhao Si's hands snapped in two.

Because Zhao Si's blade had blocked the strike, the blow didn't sever his head—it only cleaved off his entire right arm and shoulder.

Zhao Si collapsed to the ground, breathing out more than in, spitting bloody froth as the light gradually faded from his eyes.

The One-Eyed Youth, still locked in combat with Wang Meng, sensed the tide turning against him.

He flung a handful of lime into the air. "Retreat!"

The bandits, already scared out of their wits, turned and fled at their leader's command to withdraw.

By the time the dust settled, not a single bandit remained in sight.

As expected of soldiers who survived Qingzhou after it fell to the Rebel Army—their escape skills were truly top-notch.

Hearing Wang Meng's remark, Luo Yi asked, "Uncle Wang, Qingzhou Deserters? Aren't these men bandits?"

Wang Meng shared what he knew with Luo Yi, then looked at the wounded group and said, "No telling if these deserters have Reinforcements. We'd better hurry back to town first."

He turned Zhao Si's body over, found a few pieces of silver—better than nothing.

After the group looted whatever valuables remained on the corpses, they headed toward Dongsheng Town.

On the way back, Wang Meng walked up beside Luo Yi.

"Xiao Yi, have you entered the Skin Refining Realm?"

Luo Yi thought about Wang Meng's character, then nodded.

"I barely crossed into the Skin Refining Realm a few days ago."

Though he'd suspected as much, Wang Meng was still stunned by Luo Yi's confirmation.

A sixteen-year-old Skin Refining Martial Artist.

Even in Yunlu County, among those young masters and misses raised in silk and fed Tonic Medicine like meals, few reached the Skin Refining Realm at sixteen.

After they left, the One-Eyed Youth found Mister Li, who was being carried by others.

He pressed his blade against Mister Li's neck.

"Didn't you say they only had one Skin Refining Martial Artist? Why was there another?"

"The one who struck was just a weak little bookkeeper before. I have no idea how he became a Skin Refining Martial Artist."

"One hundred taels in Funeral Expenses for every brother who died. Otherwise, I'll go back and collect your whole family's corpses."

Hearing the One-Eyed Youth's outrageous demand, Mister Li glanced at the sky, then smiled eerily. "Fine. But I don't have that much cash on me. You'll have to come home with me to get it."