Where Were the Bandits Hiding?

After checking Niu Feng's attributes.

Qin Shujian turned to the other mountain bandits—or rather, the outlaws, as they should now be called.

Apart from the change in their status.

The outlaws' cultivation levels remained unchanged.

They had not immediately advanced to Martial Entry Third Level upon joining the Liangshan Stronghold.

Seeing this.

Qin Shujian was not particularly surprised.

He had received the relevant information when he subdued Mingai Mountain.

Only those who belonged to a power before its advancement could benefit when that power advanced.

Those who joined afterward would not enjoy such preferential treatment.

However.

Since the Liangshan Stronghold was a first-tier power.

As long as these new outlaws' cultivation did not exceed Martial Entry Third Level, dying at the hands of players would no longer cause their cultivation levels to drop.

Afterward.

Niu Feng instructed several former leaders of Mingai Mountain to take care of the remaining matters, then invited Qin Shujian straight into the meeting hall.

The meeting hall was not large.

Still, it was a step above the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness where Wu Sheng had once resided.

Once inside, Niu Feng tactfully took a lower seat.

He left his former seat of honor to Qin Shujian.

Qin Shujian settled into the tiger-hide chair, and its comfortable feel immediately made him nod inwardly.

His seat at the Liangshan Stronghold had padding too.

But that was merely an ordinary animal hide, a cut below this tiger hide.

Perhaps I should improve my living conditions too.

The thought sprang into Qin Shujian's mind out of nowhere.

But no sooner had it appeared than he suppressed it.

Right now.

It was not the time to think about such things.

Only with a full belly and a warm bed could a man think about... that.

Qin Shujian felt he could not even eat a meal in peace right now. How could he spare the time to consider anything else?

"How much do you know about the Cloud River Stronghold and Chaotic Gold Mountain?" After sitting down, Qin Shujian looked at the deferential Niu Feng and asked.

Niu Feng paused at the question, then immediately replied, "S-Stronghold Master, the Cloud River Stronghold is about as powerful as Mingai Mountain. Its chief is named Xu Yuanming, and his cultivation is also around Martial Entry Fifth Level. He specializes in the Cloud-Piercing Sword Technique.

"Chaotic Gold Mountain is somewhat stronger than either of our two groups. Its chief is named Zeng Hong. Publicly, he is known as a Martial Entry Fifth Level expert, and he specializes in the Hundred Battles Saber Technique.

"But I have always suspected that Zeng Hong's strength is not so simple.

"Some have speculated that he might already have broken past Martial Entry Fifth Level."

Qin Shujian had only asked a simple question.

Yet Niu Feng immediately sold out the other two groups completely.

He felt no guilt whatsoever about it.

Although they were all mountain bandits from the Rubble Forest, they had never gotten along. Friction and clashes often broke out among the three groups, and only their mutual wariness of one another's strength had kept them from fighting in earnest.

Now that he had joined the Liangshan Stronghold, Niu Feng considered himself completely removed from the Rubble Forest's camp.

Whenever he thought about how his Mingai Mountain had simply ceased to exist.

While the other two groups still hoped to carry on freely, resentment welled up inside him.

Niu Feng knew very well.

With the unfathomable strength of the Liangshan Stronghold Master before him, even Zeng Hong would be no match.

As long as the Liangshan Stronghold intended to move against the other two groups.

Neither the Cloud River Stronghold nor Chaotic Gold Mountain would have any chance of escape.

Qin Shujian could not be bothered to guess at Niu Feng's little schemes.

Still, as one of the Rubble Forest's three major bandit powers, it was only natural that Mingai Mountain had a thorough understanding of the other two.

"If we were to make a move, which power do you think we should start with?"

Just as I thought!

At those words, Niu Feng exclaimed inwardly.

After a brief moment of consideration, he said, "In my opinion, it would be better to move against the Cloud River Stronghold."

He adapted quickly to his change in status.

As he spoke, he naturally assumed the role of a subordinate.

Qin Shujian asked curiously, "Why do you say that?"

"The Cloud River Stronghold is closest to Mingai Mountain, and it is weaker, so taking it would be relatively easy.

"Besides, Xu Yuanming is a meticulous man. If we move against Chaotic Gold Mountain first and he notices something amiss, he might abandon his base and retreat ahead of time.

"As I see it, Stronghold Master, you intend to bring the Cloud River Stronghold under your control.

"If Xu Yuanming escapes, that would not be good for you either."

At this point.

Niu Feng continued, "Zeng Hong, on the other hand, is quite arrogant. Even if we conquer the Cloud River Stronghold, he may not flee without a fight. Besides, if we move fast enough, Chaotic Gold Mountain might not even receive word."

"Mm."

Qin Shujian nodded slightly.

As expected of Mingai Mountain's chief, Niu Feng's knowledge of the other two powers far surpassed anything the Liangshan Stronghold possessed.

Even if Zheng Fang and the others were sent to investigate, they would not be able to uncover details such as their leaders' personalities.

"Gather Mingai Mountain's outlaws and accompany me to the Cloud River Stronghold."

"Yes!"

Niu Feng nodded in acknowledgment.

He immediately passed down the order.

"This is Mingai Mountain."

Liu Qinghong surveyed the towering mountain and dense forest before him. The quest's guidance had also stopped here.

Zhang Quan asked, "Do we fight our way straight up?"

"Be careful. Don't alert too many bandits, or we might get surrounded." After reminding them, Liu Qinghong took the lead and headed up the mountain along the narrow path.

The other players followed closely behind.

Although they had earlier seemed to think little of ordinary mountain bandits.

Now that they had actually arrived, they could not help feeling tense.

There was no helping it.

The game was far too realistic.

Looking at the dense forest around them, they worried that a few bandits might suddenly leap out from the side.

And yet—

"Where exactly are these bandits hiding?"

After walking for over ten minutes, Liu Qingqing grew impatient, puffing out her baby-soft cheeks.

All this time.

There had been nothing but trees.

The narrow path before them seemed endless.

Never mind a bandit—they had not even seen a bandit's shadow.

"Quiet!" Liu Qinghong snapped under his breath.

Liu Qingqing gave him an aggrieved look, but did not complain again.

Afterward, Liu Qinghong seemed to feel he had been a little harsh, and spoke quietly to the others as well. "The mountains are high and the forest is dense here. We don't know the terrain, so there's no guarantee we won't encounter other dangers.

"This path has clearly seen regular foot traffic. It should lead straight to the bandits' den. It shouldn't take much longer."

Once he finished speaking.

The group fell silent again.

After roughly another five minutes of walking.

Liu Qinghong and the others stopped.

Before them lay several trees snapped through the middle, the marks suggesting that something had smashed into them.

Beside them were the scattered, shattered remains of a lookout post.

Although there was not a single corpse in sight.

The scene before them clearly told them that a battle had taken place here.