Chapter Twelve: Blackwater Stronghold

"Sir, there's a stain here on your attire..."

Suddenly, a drastic change in expression appeared on Luo Xiaozhao's face as she pointed to a spot on Lu Li's clothing. Though not conspicuous, it was noticed by the observant Luo Xiaozhao.

Having slain forty-five bandits from the Flying Tiger Stronghold, despite Lu Li's efforts to avoid it, he couldn't escape the traces of blood.

"It's nothing, from someone else."

"Once you return, sir, you should change out of these clothes. Xiaozhao will clean them for you."

Luo Xiaozhao didn't inquire further, just stating her intention.

Upon entering the courtyard, Lu Li performed a magic-like trick, producing a box of rouge and handing it to Luo Xiaozhao.

"As I promised, here's a little gift for you. Finest rouge from Southern Province!"

"Sir is biased!"

Upon Lu Li's return, Xiao Qing had already come out. Seeing Lu Li giving rouge to Xiaozhao, although aware she couldn't compare, she couldn't help muttering.

"Brothels have rouge every day!"

"Sir, Xiao Qing is wrong!"

Startled, Xiao Qing hurriedly knelt down. Uttering such remarks was inviting trouble.

"Prepare hot water; I intend to take a bath!"

While Xiao Qing attended to him, Lu Li couldn't help but think of what he witnessed during the day.

"The bandits around Donglin City are truly vicious. I wish to eliminate more of them, intensifying the ferocity of my deeds!"

Having washed away the dust and blood, Lu Li changed into fresh clothes, though only the ones close to his body.

Xiao Qing quietly watched, head lowered. She couldn't help stealing a few glances. Seeing her expression, Lu Li naturally understood what was on her mind.

"Here, take this! Mother has been taking good care of me these days, so consider this a reward."

Lu Li suddenly threw something, and Xiao Qing caught it—a hairpin. Just like the Southern Province rouge, it was an item obtained from the secret chamber in the Flying Tiger Stronghold.

"Take good care of it. If anything is amiss, I do enjoy the feeling of hitting someone's face with my smooth and tender hand."

Lu Li walked out of the room and practiced his sword outside. After the fierce battle during the day, his Wind Swift Blade Technique had significantly improved. It seemed a breakthrough was imminent.

Yesterday, Lu Li acquired the blade technique, practicing diligently to grasp its basics. Now, it was nearing perfection.

Returning to the room, Xiao Qing had neatly folded clothes waiting at his bedside. The set he wore earlier had already been taken away by Xiao Qing for washing and drying.

"This girl said she wouldn't do such chores. She seems to have clung to these clothes for quite a while. Silly girl, you could have just hugged me directly!"

The next day, a hundred miles outside Donglin City, at the Longhu Beach near Blackwater Stronghold. The distant water fortress was clearly visible as Lu Li alone navigated a small boat directly towards it.

Blackwater Stronghold, built by a gang of river bandits, had stood beside Longhu Beach for over a decade. Nestled in treacherous terrain, the gang committed various crimes, raiding homes and spreading evil. Despite several attempts by the authorities to suppress them, the river bandits would flee at the sight of troops, only to return once the troops departed.

As Lu Li approached in his solitary boat, the river bandits from Blackwater Stronghold had already spotted him. A few boats left the stronghold, quickly surrounding Lu Li.

"Do you know where you are?"

"Blackwater Stronghold! Can't you read the big sign?!"

Lu Li's casual remark enraged the river bandits. Damn, he wasn't following the usual script! Usually, anyone who saw them would be frightened, trembling on their knees begging for mercy. But this guy dared to call them blind!

"Damn, I haven't seen someone so arrogant! Young lad, you really don't know the severity of the situation. Capture him and watch me flay his skin alive!"

Several boats closed in, causing waves. Lu Li's boat seemed about to capsize. These river bandits had some brains; they wanted to overturn Lu Li's boat and capture him once he fell into the water.

"Too bad. If they knew I captained the diving team in college for a few years, almost making it to the national team, they might think twice! Kayaking, dragon boating—I've tried them all. In college, I won the single kayak championship. Do you know what that means?"

Lu Li sighed inwardly. Even if he said it, these river bandits wouldn't understand terms like "diving team captain" or "kayak champion."

Suddenly, Lu Li felt a shift beneath him. His previously rocking boat stabilized, and a sudden surge of water engulfed the surroundings. The bandits' boats, like floating leaves, swayed in the water. All the river bandits were terrified.

At this moment, a thin, long knife had appeared in Lu Li's hand. In a leap, he stepped on the boat's bow, and a flash of the knife beheaded two bandits. Jumping from one boat to another, Lu Li swiftly eliminated the surrounding enemies.

The water turned crimson as the heads and bodies of the fallen bandits floated in the river. The sound of arrows being drawn echoed in the Blackwater Stronghold.

Lu Li stepped on the stern of his boat, which had risen from the water like a platform. The relentless rain of arrows aimed at him couldn't penetrate the metal tip of the arrows stuck in the boat.

"Too bad, gentlemen. They should have known that I, at the Third Realm of Channeling Energy, would have already arrived at the gate."

The might of Lu Li's Third Realm cultivation allowed his boat to rapidly approach the stronghold gate, unaffected by the barrage of arrows.

The archers were too close to each other, and their bows and arrows were useless in such a crowded space. Lu Li arrived at the gate, leaped off the boat, and his slender knife swiftly danced. Two bandits guarding the gate had their heads rolling on the ground.

Now, the water bandits in Blackwater Stronghold finally reacted. They rushed towards Lu Li.

Lu Li descended from the gate, navigating the bamboo-made corridor, slashing his way through the bandits.

The blade's brilliance swept through the area, leaving corpses in its wake. Dealing with these ordinary water bandits was like cutting through vegetables.

Suddenly, a flash of blade light approached Lu Li. The sound of a feathered arrow tearing through the air was swiftly captured by Lu Li.

"Oh, the main act has arrived! Two warriors from Blackwater Stronghold—one at the First Realm of Channeling Energy, and the other at the Second Realm!"