Traveling from the eastern part of Qingzhou, where the Xuanling Sect is located, towards the Seven Stars City, one would encounter a hilly area known as Bandit Ridge.
As the name suggests, this is not a pleasant place. Due to the numerous hilltops and complex terrain, a large number of cultivator bandits have gathered here, specializing in robbing passersby and caravans.
Unfortunately, this place is also the necessary route to the southern part of Qingzhou. To bypass it would take several times longer, so most people choose to take the risk and carefully make their way through.
Inside the travel carriage.
Tang Xin and Shui Qiu were staring at each other with wide eyes.
Long journeys are boring, with nothing much to do. Their entry-level travel carriage didn’t have the various entertainment facilities like the supreme luxury version, so apart from daydreaming, they didn’t know what else they could do.
Despite this, Shui Qiu didn’t seem to show any dissatisfaction, just staring at her senior sister without feeling bored at all.
“Let’s play a hand-slapping game,” Tang Xin suggested.
She briefly explained the rules of the game to the blue-eyed girl.
“Place your palm on mine, then concentrate. When I flip my hand to slap the back of your hand, if you can pull away and avoid being touched by me, you win.”
Slap~
Tang Xin gently demonstrated.
“Do you understand?” she said. “Now it’s your turn.”
The young girl nodded vigorously, supporting her senior sister’s hands with her own palms.
Ah, so this is what my senior sister’s palm feels like… Does this count as a successful hand-holding?
The girl’s cheeks couldn’t help but turn a shade of red.
“Start!”
Slap~~
Shui Qiu mimicked her senior sister’s actions and gently tapped the back of her hand.
Tang Xin’s palm remained motionless.
“Really, Senior Sister,” Shui Qiu pouted, “I’m not a child, you don’t have to go easy on me, right?”
“Alright,” Tang Xin nodded, “this time it’s my turn, I’ll be serious.”
She supported the girl’s palms, and then…
Slap——!!!
The crisp sound was so loud that even people outside the carriage could hear it.
“Wuu~~”
Shui Qiu’s back of the hand immediately turned red, and tears began to swirl in her eyes.
Tang Xin’s lips curled up, revealing a sinister smile of a successful scheme.
The trick that took her several hours to come up with should at least lower her favorability a little bit, right?
If it were her, she would definitely stand up and slap the person across from her…
The deceived girl first rubbed the back of her hand to ease the pain, and then, for some reason, a happy smile appeared on her face.
“From childhood to now, apart from my mother, no one has played such a childlike game with me. Senior Sister, you’ve taken my first time…”
【Current Favorability: 99.9999】
“???”
Is this even possible?
Is this a task that a normal person can accomplish?
“It’s my turn now,” Shui Qiu rested for a while and rallied, “Senior Sister, I won’t let you off easily~”
Boom——
The game could not continue, as a sudden explosion, accompanied by violent tremors, came from the front of the caravan. The two hurriedly lifted the curtain of the door to check the situation outside.
Just ahead, not far in front, thick smoke swirled, and a dozen people wearing black masks blocked the convoy’s path.
“This is bad, we’ve run into some tough ones!”
The driver’s face turned ugly.
Before setting off, the convoy was aware that this area was prone to accidents, so they gathered more than ten travel cars before departing from the market.
Usually, small forces wouldn’t easily make a move against such a formation.
Those who live by robbery have their own set of risk controls. Unless driven by sufficient benefits, they wouldn’t engage in actions that could be more costly than rewarding.
Their convoy consisted entirely of entry-level travel cars, which clearly didn’t seem lucrative.
To still be stopped and robbed could only mean one thing… ill intentions!
“Everyone out,” the leader of the bandits said coldly. “Anyone who dares to hide in the cars will bear the consequences!”
These dozen or so black-robed bandits were all at the Foundation Building stage, a force not to be underestimated even outside. Most of those riding in entry-level travel cars were monks at the Qi Refining or early Foundation Building stages, with hardly any ability to resist.
Tang Xin signaled to Su Ling not to act rashly and got out of the car first.
“Respected heroes,” the person in charge of the convoy said with a stiff scalp, “Wve are from Qianlong Carriage Line. This batch is just transporting guests, and there’s nothing of value. You’re welcome to search. But please, do not harm…”
Bang!
Before he could finish, the bandit leader sent him flying with a punch.
“Search!” he ordered his subordinates. “Ignore the men, gather all the female cultivators!”
Tang Xin’s brows furrowed.
They’re not after wealth? Are they targeting people?
【Option generation in progress…】
【Option one: Kill all the bandits.】
【Success probability 50%, reward: the exquisite secret technique “Ten Steps Slash”, failure results in being slain.】
The normal options returned… She actually wished that at times like this, some abnormal options would appear.
【Option Two: Escape with Shui Qiu.】
【Success Rate: 90%, Reward: Golden Core stage spiritual tool, Cloud-Stepping Boots. Failure results in execution. Additionally, even if the escape is successful, there is a 10% chance that Shui Qiu will be seriously injured.】
The options were too normal, somewhat hard to accept…
【Option Three: Conceal your cultivation level and wait for the moment.】
【Success Rate: 100%, Reward: One Pepper Smoke Bomb.】
Concealing one’s cultivation level is a skill that every sect disciple must learn. Although this group of people was not weak, there were no cultivators with particularly high realms, making it very difficult to detect Tang Xin’s true cultivation level.
They lifted the curtains of the carriage one by one, dragging out the people inside. The male cultivators were left aside, while the female cultivators were brought together.
“You,” a cultivator pointed at her and said, “stand with them, hurry up!”
Tang Xin took a slight breath, her hand already moving behind her back.
Leaving by herself, the success rate was still very high, but to take Shui Qiu with her…
After pondering for a moment, she slowly lowered her hand.
“Is there one more inside?”
The bandit lifted the curtain and saw a girl with a fiery figure inside, about to reach out and grab her.
Slap!
Tang Xin used her arm to block him and took Shui Qiu out, then turned her head and said indifferently,
“We will cooperate.”
“Are you done searching?” At this moment, the bandit leader shouted, “Once you’re done, bring them along, let’s hurry back!”
“Hmph, in such a rush…”
The bandit muttered under his breath and turned to herd the other female cultivators.
“Senior Sister?”
Shui Qiu asked in a low voice.
“Pay attention and observe, act when the opportunity arises.”
Tang Xin instructed.
【Main Quest Triggered】
【Choose one of the following main quests】
【”The Rational Villain”: Make contact with the true leader of the bandits, and using your identity, realm, and martial strength, intimidate them to safely lead Shui Qiu out.】
【Quest Reward: One Intimidation Card, which can temporarily intimidate cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage when used.】
【Quest Impact: Leaving the other female cultivators to die will decrease Shui Qiu’s favorability.】
This…
【”The Light of Righteousness”: Eliminate the true leader of the bandits and rescue the female cultivators trapped in the bandit’s lair.】
【Quest Reward: One Courage Card, which can enhance combat abilities based on the level of bravery when used.】
【Quest Impact: Unknown】
“Which one to choose,” Tang Xin’s lips curled into a cold smile, “is there even a need to think about it…”
