Do You Really Dare to Charge In?

"Crash~"

The sound of the stronghold gates shattering instantly alerted the bandits inside.

Zu Hao strode ahead, using his telekinesis to probe for and avoid traps. With a casual flick of his hand, two Black-Iron Short Blades detached from the Three-Edged Sword and flew out, killing more than a dozen nearby night watchmen.

Lights came on one after another in the stronghold's buildings, and the entire place gradually stirred into commotion.

"What happened?"

"Could the government troops have attacked?"

In the central courtyard, a tall, scar-faced man in black strode out.

A long saber hung at his waist, and his gaze was fierce and vicious. He was none other than Tian Bu'er, chief of Black Mountain Stronghold.

He gathered the remaining bandits and scanned the surroundings. Seeing his men sprawled in pools of blood nearby, his gaze finally settled on Zu Hao, his expression darkening.

"Who are you, sir? Why have you broken into Black Mountain Stronghold at night and killed my brothers?"

Tian Bu'er clasped his fists as he spoke, his tone cautious but laced with anger.

Zu Hao said nothing. He raised his right hand slightly, and the Black-Iron Short Blades once again tore through the air!

A flash of cold light streaked past, and several bandits who had been preparing to shoot arrows from the shadows fell from the rooftops.

After circling through the air, the Black-Iron Short Blades returned to the Three-Edged Sword, looking remarkably mystical.

"Forty-three left."

Zu Hao spoke as calmly as though he were counting wild fruit, his icy gaze fixed on Tian Bu'er.

Tian Bu'er's pupils constricted sharply.

This man's methods were bizarre. He had started killing without saying much at all. Clearly, he intended to wipe them out completely!

"This bastard's tough! Brothers, get him together! Kill him and you'll be richly rewarded! As for the little girls behind him, do whatever you want with them!"

Tian Bu'er roared furiously, drawing his saber, yet he did not attack at once. Instead, he had his men test the waters.

The surrounding bandits immediately erupted into a clamor, raising their sabers, spears, and clubs as they surged toward Zu Hao like a tidal wave.

A few of the more clever ones, however, quietly fled toward the rear.

"Sigh, you really dare to charge in?"

Zu Hao chuckled. With a clear sword cry, the Three-Edged Sword shot forth!

The bandit charging at the front only felt a chill in his chest. Looking down, he saw a bloody hole appear there. Before he could even feel the pain, the Three-Edged Sword had already pierced through his body and bored through the chest of a second man!

The two short blades separated from the sword body and spun toward both sides, cutting down their targets.

The sword light never stopped, tracing three graceful arcs through the air. Wherever its cold gleam flashed, more than a dozen throats sprayed blood in an instant, their owners collapsing dead!

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

The Three-Edged Sword spun through the air like a living thing, darting back and forth wherever Zu Hao willed it. Wherever the sword light passed, someone fell in response.

In less than ten breaths, over thirty people lay dead on the ground, while another dozen or so had their wrist and ankle tendons severed!

Tian Bu'er watched with his heart pounding in terror.

These subordinates of his were all hardened men who lived by the blade. When they joined forces against an enemy, they could even put up a fight against a second-rate martial artist.

Yet before this mysterious young man's Sword Telekinesis, they were as helpless as straw dummies!

"Whoosh—squelch!"

Amid his horror, the last two bandits trying to flee had their ankle tendons cut by the short blades as well, falling to the ground and howling in agony.

Tian Bu'er had not run far before the three blades blocked off his retreat. Knowing he was no match, he threw down his saber. His knees went weak, and with a thud, he dropped to the ground. Looking at Zu Hao, he trembled as he said, "Hero, spare my life! I will offer up all the gold, silver, and treasures in the stronghold. I only ask—"

"Squelch!"

Before he could finish, the Three-Edged Sword slit his throat and flew back to hover motionlessly before Zu Hao.

"Fool. Once I kill you, everything in the stronghold will still be mine."

Zu Hao spoke indifferently as he guided the Three-Edged Sword into a nearby water vat to wash away the blood, then found a cloth and carefully wiped it clean.

Zu Hao looked around at the bandits who had lost the ability to move and casually beckoned.

Four long sabers appeared before Zhang Wuji, Zhou Zhiruo, Yin Li, and Yang Buhui.

"These people are bandits who murder and plunder. They deserve to die. I will not always be by your side to protect you. People must rely on themselves, and it is time for you to see some blood."

"Do it. Each of you kill at least two. Finish early so we can go back and sleep."

"Yin Li, show Zhiruo and the others how it's done."

"Okay, Brother Zu."

Unlike Zhang Wuji and the others, Yin Li had followed Golden Flower Granny and had long since seen bloodshed, so she was braver.

She picked up a long saber and stepped forward, killing two men without hesitation. Her movements were clean and decisive.

Then Zu Hao looked at Zhang Wuji. "Go on. If you travel the martial world, you will have to cross this threshold sooner or later."

"Mm."

Zhang Wuji nodded, picked up a long saber, and walked over. But when it came time to strike, he hesitated again.

He gathered his courage and swung, but missed the mark. Instead, the bandit howled in pain and cursed endlessly.

"You little bastard! If you're going to do it, do it cleanly! It hurts like hell! Fuck your mother—"

Hearing the bandit insult his mother, Zhang Wuji's temper flared. He raised his saber and struck again, killing the man.

He then killed the second one.

Afterward, Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Buhui stepped forward in turn as well.

Once it was over, both of them retched repeatedly, clearly uncomfortable with what they had done.

Zu Hao casually killed the remaining bandits.

The night wind swept across the empty stronghold grounds, carrying a few ashes and the stench of blood.

The torches still burning where they had been embedded in walls and pillars occasionally crackled softly, casting shifting light and shadow over his face.

To be safe, Zu Hao used his telekinesis to inspect the corpses scattered across the ground one by one. After confirming there were no mistakes, he still had Zhang Wuji and the others deliver another blow to each corpse's vital points.

Only then did he throw the bodies one by one into several nearby wooden houses.

After confirming that no bandits remained, Zu Hao led the four children, now tempered by this experience, to search the stronghold.

His immense telekinesis spread silently like spilled mercury, meticulously sensing every corner of the stronghold.

Wherever his telekinesis reached, he could clearly detect the rustling of insects, the flicker of sparks, and even the faint breathing from cages in the distance.

Before long, Zu Hao discovered around thirteen women imprisoned behind the stronghold. Most were dressed in rags and weak with exhaustion, undoubtedly unfortunate souls who had been abducted.

When the women inside saw strangers approaching, they immediately trembled in fear, crowding together like startled sparrows, their eyes filled with terror.

Zu Hao stopped several steps away, swept his gaze across their frightened faces, and said gently, "The bandits of Black Mountain Stronghold, including Chief Tian Bu'er, have all been killed by me. You are free."

As soon as he finished speaking, he swung the Three-Edged Sword and severed the iron chain on the door.

The wooden door creaked open, but the women still shrank back, their eyes vacant.

Zu Hao did not urge them. He simply stood quietly to one side.

After a long while, one of the older women asked tremblingly, "Benefactor... is what you said true?"

"The corpses are in those houses over there."

Zu Hao pointed into the distance. "If you do not believe me, you may go and see for yourselves."

A few bolder women supported one another as they went over. When they returned a moment later, tears streamed down their faces. They dropped to their knees with a thud. "Thank you, benefactor, for avenging us!"

Zu Hao sidestepped their bows and said, "There is no need for this. Find some lamp oil and burn the corpses, lest they breed disease."

Only then did the women pull themselves together and do as he said.

Once the flames soared into the sky, Zu Hao brought them to where the bandits had hidden their silver.

There were several dozen taels of gold, several thousand taels of silver, several chests of copper coins, as well as some antiques, paintings, and calligraphy.

Zu Hao had plenty of gold in his storage space and had little interest in it. He let Zhang Wuji, Zhou Zhiruo, Yin Li, and Yang Buhui take some gold and silver for spending money, then told the women, "Each of you may take some of these ill-gotten gains and make a living for yourselves."

There were simply too many suffering people in this world. Zu Hao could not possibly take care of them all, and this was all he could do.

After dividing the silver, Zu Hao led Zhang Wuji and the others down the mountain that very night.

By the time they returned to the small town, it was already the fourth watch, and the inn lights were dim.