Bandit Attack

"So, Fiona, what is Malindor City like? Daddy wants to pick up a cultivation technique there."

"Eh? Malindor City is known for the mining of spiritual crystals and weaponsmithing. Daddy plans to be a blacksmith?"

"No, actually. Is there a shop where we can buy cultivation techniques...? Or do we have to join a sect?"

"I don't think so, Daddy. Some techniques sold there are usually the lowest tiers, and it's probably better if you don't even cultivate them either way. It's best if you could cultivate a technique from the royal treasury, back at the palace. Mommy has stored up lots of high-grade techniques."

What a pity... what Fiona said seems reasonable. Those low-grade cultivation techniques won't help me maximize my fighting strength with my cultivation base. I need a technique that's not flashy, easy to learn in a short amount of time, and can allow me to skip realms to fight, to protect Fiona!

"Ah... then we'll wait till we make it there, okay? Fiona must help daddy choose the best ones!"

"Hehe!"

"Hmm, then let's get to the kingdom as soon as possible. Do you have any treasures that will help?"

Fiona shook her head. "No, daddy."

"Could we have rented horses?"

"Horses can't travel up mountains."

"Then... we should have tamed a flying spiritual beast! Even those wolves would be fine!"

"Hmm. Yes... daddy's so stupid, to just think of that now."

I cried inwardly. False accusations! You didn't think of it either, Fiona.... but there's no way I could call my baby girl stupid. I can only take the damage and hope that she doesn't degrade me...

We walked in silence along the dirt road. The sun was now blazing overhead at us, and I stood in front of Fiona to provide some shade.

Hai, this silence is torturing me... make some conversations! Get closer and learn more about her!

"Hehe Fiona, want to hear some jokes?"

"No, not really."

"Well, anyway, if you are considering marriage, consider the following!"

"What?"

"On the one hand, you get to wear a cool ring. On the other hand, you don't."

Fiona's face flickered to the realization before sighing in exasperation. "Daddy... that was no good."

I patted her shoulders. "Really, Fiona. Consider the marriage with the snowy boy. It's too dangerous for you to stay near him when the Azure Frost Kingdom is as elusive and mysterious as it is."

Fiona paused, before remnants of reminiscing danced across her eyes. "I don't think he will hurt me... plus... I think I've met him before, with daddy. And.." She looked behind the trees along the side of the road. "I need strength to protect!"

'Huh? Are there stragglers following us? Hm... yes, it looks like... a group of bandits? Gosh, I didn't even realize... good thing Fiona is wary of her surroundings, else an ambush happens... I also need to get stronger, and fast!'

"I can't believe a little girl and the pushover noticed us... it looks like you two have some skill and money to top it off. Now, hand over that spiritual ring." The man was out, blocking our path. The three other members followed suit, pulling their swords out.

Fiona reached for her dagger. I stepped in front of her.

"Hand it over to me, Fiona."

"But... but."

"No buts. These guys are no weaklings. I have to fight too."

These guys gave me a dangerous feeling, especially the leader. Just by looking, you can tell they're experienced. As much as I hate it, Fiona definitely has to use her ice-cultivation technique, so I borrowed her dagger. I should've bought another one before leaving the city after losing it at the battle with the wolves... god, I am so stupid.

Fiona tossed the dagger over, and I caught it and held a passive stance.

The leader of the bandits snickered. "Hahaha, you want to fight?" He laughed like a maniac before an icy glint flashed in his eyes. "Take everything from them, including their lives."

The bandits charged, swords raised, with greed-filled eyes, staring into that spiritual ring of Fiona's.

"Fiona! Can you take those three?"

"En!" She replied hastily, closing her eyes to cast a spell.

"Good." I stared at the leader, still watching the battle from afar. "I'll deal with him."

Our eyes met, his filled with disdain. His mouth curled with a smirk I wanted to rip off.

I hate that look. My mother looked at me that way. The lawyer. The orphanage director. The teachers, classmates. Even my fellow assassins in the Underworld. The look of scorn at my ragged clothes. The look of contempt at me devouring my lunch.

"Another stomach to feed."

"Principal, I don't want to waste my time teaching him. His grades are poor, his personality is unreasonable, and even he is poor! This student won't make it anywhere in life. Get his parents to sign the dropout form."

"What a wuss. Using pity points to gain favor from the boss even though you're part of the Underworld, buddy. You aren't special. And now you want to leave?"

I hate it. I hate my scrawny frame. I hate my 'inferior' presence. I hate being at the lowest of lows, sharing my food with dogs, being treated no less than an object of pity, laced with derision.

That's right. I have nothing in their eyes.

I am not a pushover! I screamed in my mind as I blocked a chill-inducing sword stroke with a loud clang. The bandit leader then sped up his strike into a flurry of silver.

"Not bad for a cockroach. Tenacious as f*ck."

His taunts and jeers all went over my head. I kept getting distracted by Fiona's battle and the cries of agony coming from over there.

"You. Ant. Pay attention to our battle." The bandit leader growled as he backed off.

I joined him, catching my breath. Cultivators of higher realms truly are hard to deal with. Their attacks are so fast I can barely keep up, even with my ESP like senses. I'm on a knife's edge.

He took his time and acknowledged me. "Not bad for a Qi Foundation Realm servant, you're keeping up. But," he paused. "This is where it ends for you and your master's life."

My hair tingled with a tremendous sense of danger.

The bandit leader raised his sword, which was now glowing green.

"DAMN! HE WILL AIM FOR FIONA!" I cursed in my mind. That's what my sixth sense is telling me, and it's never wrong. My survival till now has depended on it, and it has never let me down!

But it can't tell me that the bandits know techniques as well!

"Howling Gale!" The bandit leader yelled as a brilliant slash of green flew out of his sword, and as expected, missed me.

Fiona! Oh god!

The three bandits suddenly jumped at her from three directions, swords raised, albeit with sluggish movements.

Fiona closed her eyes and prepared a spell. No, not now! It's a trap!

I threw my dagger with full force at the bandit to her left and yelled, "Fiona, don't! Move left as fast as you can!"

Please, please trust me! Don't hesitate! Move on, else this will be bad!

Schlick.

A spatter of blood burst like a red fountain.

No. No, god please no! Don't tell me it's Fiona's!

My vision cleared, and I saw Fiona get up from the ground, coughing. Beside it lay a bandit riddled with ice needles, a bandit on the ground with a dagger on his back, and a bandit standing with horror written on his face. His body, bleeding profusely, split into two, left behind because of the slash from his leader.

"C-capt...n," he mumbled hoarsely, before collapsing.

I walked over and yanked the dagger out of the bandit's back. It was drizzling with blood, with bits of flesh on its edges.

But I didn't care.

They almost killed Fiona.

...

They almost killed Fiona.

They almost killed Fiona.

They almost killed Fiona.

My mind went blank, and my body went uncontrolled, in a lazy haze.

I dashed to the leader like a madman in a kamikaze attack. Catching him off guard, I disappeared behind him, and instead of attacking him directly, I flicked the hilt of his sword, knocking it off his hand.

Clank.

The sword fell to the ground, and I held the bandit leader at knife-point.

His face was full of disbelief. "This... this movement is not of the Qi Foundation Realm... who are you?"

I looked at Fiona, who was sitting on the ground.

"I am her father."

I didn't know what came over me. My movements were uncontrolled but ridiculously fast and precise. My mind and sight turned into a haze of black, screaming the words 'protect, protect, protect.'

"How touching. A loving father-daughter duo, who haven't properly started their cultivation yet to end us bandits." The bandit leader let out a cynical laugh. "Except, I won't be dying today."

He reached under his shirt and pulled out three papers and threw them at the ground.

'Fuck, that's not good!'

"Daddy, RUN!"

BAM!

A shattering explosion followed by a swooping sound, and the bandit leader's laughter.

I hugged Fiona's cold, seemingly frail body.

"3rd grade Explosion Talisman, a barrier talisman, and a teleportation talisman." She whispered, her voice losing depth and her face losing emotion.

"It's all right... Fiona. It's all right. Daddy is here, alive and well. He's hugging you... can't you feel the warmth?" I murmured to her ears, trying to coax her trembling self.