The afternoon was slowly fading as the group of villagers continued along the dirt road. The carts' wheels creaked softly, and the donkeys, though tired, kept going without complaint. It had been a peaceful day, filled with laughter, old Gao Min's stories, and the youthful excitement of approaching the city by the lake.
Long Tian walked beside the front cart, his axe slung over his back, eyes alert to the woods that grew thicker as they advanced. A strange unease crept down his spine, as if the wind carried a warning. His instincts, sharpened from living in the wild, rarely failed him.
Just a few hours from the city, they reached a narrow bend flanked by dense trees when six figures emerged from the underbrush. They wore dark clothes, some with scraps of rusty armor and knives at their belts. One of them, the tallest, had a scar running across his face and held a curved sword. The others carried clubs, long knives, and makeshift spears.
"Well, well," said the scarred man with a twisted smile. "Looks like today's our lucky day. What do you have in those carts, villagers?"
The group stopped immediately. Gao Min raised a hand, signaling the younger ones to stay calm. Long Tian stepped forward, eyes locked on the bandits.
"We don't want trouble," Gao Min said. "We're just traders. Let us pass and there won't be any need for violence."
"Oh, we don't want violence," mocked another bandit, shorter and armed with a crude spear. "We just want what you're carrying. Hand it over and you can walk away alive."
"No," Long Tian interrupted firmly, already gripping the handle of his axe. "We won't give you anything."
A tense silence followed. The scarred man looked at him with surprise and amusement.
"And who do you think you are to say that? The hero of the village?"
"I'm no hero," Long Tian replied. "But I won't let you rob us."
Without another word, the first bandit charged, sword raised high. Long Tian reacted instantly, drawing his axe with impressive speed. Steel clashed against steel in a burst of sparks. The impact jolted them both, but Long Tian pivoted, swinging sideways to strike the bandit in the ribs, knocking him to the ground with a cry of pain.
The other bandits rushed in as they saw their companion fall. Gao Min and the younger villagers, armed with sticks and small knives, tried to defend themselves, but it was clear they were not fighters. Long Tian became a whirlwind in the chaos. His axe cut through the air with power and precision. He blocked a spear, dodged a knife, and countered with a slash that tore into his enemy's arm.
One of the bandits managed to stab him in the left shoulder, causing Long Tian to grunt in pain. But instead of retreating, his eyes turned colder. He grabbed the attacker by the neck and slammed him into a tree, knocking him out. The pain burned, but the invigorating potion still coursing through his veins gave him the strength to continue.
Screams echoed around them. The villagers fought desperately. Mei managed to knock one bandit out by smashing a rock on his head, while Qiang helped Luo defend the second cart.
Long Tian now faced the scarred leader, who had recovered and stared at him with fury.
"Damn peasant… I'll kill you."
They clashed. The curved sword struck again and again against the reinforced handle of the axe. Each blow was more brutal than the last. Finally, Long Tian found an opening and buried the blade of his axe into the bandit's side, bringing him to his knees.
Seeing their leader wounded and three of their companions down, the remaining bandits began to back away. One of them shouted:
"He's not worth it! Retreat!"
And just like that, they vanished into the trees, leaving behind the injured.
The group stood in silence. The ground was stained with blood, and the villagers breathed heavily, some nursing light wounds. Long Tian dropped to his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder. Though the pain was sharp, he had won. He had defended his companions. And that victory was proof he was moving in the right direction.
After the fight, the villagers gathered around Long Tian. His shoulder was still bleeding, but he stood firm. Mei, her hands trembling but determined, tore part of her tunic to make an improvised bandage. Meanwhile, Gao Min helped him sit on a nearby rock and carefully examined the wound.
"It's not deep, but we need to stop the bleeding," the elder said, cleaning the wound with water from his canteen.
With his arm bandaged and breathing steady, Long Tian nodded. "We can continue. We're almost there."
The group, tired and battered, gathered what they could from the bandit leader's corpse: a few coins, a decent dagger, and a pouch with dried meat and hard bread. Then, they reloaded the carts and resumed their journey. Silence reigned for a while, broken only by the creaking of wheels and the slow steps of the donkeys.
The sun was starting to set when, after crossing a hill, they saw it: the city.
Tall stone walls rose in the distance, surrounding the buildings like a fortress. From afar, they could see watchtowers and flags waving high above. A line of travelers, merchants, and adventurers waited in front of the large gate, guarded by soldiers in gleaming armor.
A murmur of excitement spread among the young villagers. For many, it was their first time seeing a real city.
"There it is," said Gao Min with a smile. "Lianhua, the city by the lake."