The Threat of Bandits

Li Tian's eyes narrowed as he approached the group of villagers, sensing the palpable fear in the air. The mention of bandits immediately drew his attention. Bandits were a constant problem in rural areas like this, preying on weak villages without the protection of cultivators or sects. They would pillage, burn, and kill with impunity, knowing that no one would come to the villagers' aid. But if the bandits were bold enough to return, it meant that the village was ripe for the taking and no one had stood up to them yet.

"Bandits?" Li Tian repeated, his voice calm, though his mind was already racing. "How many?"

The villagers looked at him with a mix of pity and fear. To them, he was just a cripple, a useless boy with no power to help, but the situation was dire enough that they were willing to explain.

"A dozen at least," one of the men said, his voice trembling. "They came two weeks ago, demanding tribute, food, money, and supplies. We gave them everything we had, but they're back, saying it wasn't enough."

"They said if we don't give them more this time, they'll…they'll kill us," a woman added, her voice breaking. She clutched a small child to her chest, her knuckles white with fear. "We don't have anything left. They've already taken it all!"

Li Tian's mind raced. He was still too weak to fight, and the ember within him was far from fully ignited. But leaving these people to their fate wasn't an option. He needed time, time to strengthen his body, time to figure out a solution, but time wasn't on their side.

"Where are the bandits now?" he asked, his tone steely. Despite his weakened state, his mind was already calculating the possibilities. He needed more information.

"They're camped in the forest outside the village," the man said. "They sent a messenger this morning, saying they'll come for what's theirs by nightfall."

Nightfall. That gave him only a few hours. Li Tian's body might have been crippled, but his mind was sharp, and if there was one thing he excelled at, it was strategy. Fighting the bandits head-on was impossible in his current state, but that didn't mean he couldn't outwit them.

"What about the village head?" Li Tian asked. "Doesn't he have some way to contact cultivators from the sects?"

The villagers exchanged uncomfortable glances before one of them spoke up. "The village head…he's gone. Left a few days ago. Said he was going to ask for help, but he hasn't come back."

Li Tian clenched his jaw. Typical. The village head had abandoned them to their fate, leaving them to fend for themselves. There was no one else coming, no reinforcements, no cultivators from the nearby sects. It was just them.

And him.

Li Tian's mind raced as he pieced together a plan. He couldn't fight them in a straight battle, but perhaps he didn't have to. There were ways to win without brute strength, and he had faced far worse odds in his past life.

"I need to see their camp," Li Tian said, turning toward the edge of the village. "I'll figure something out."

The villagers stared at him in disbelief, and the man who had been speaking stepped forward. "You? You can't"

Li Tian shot him a cold glare. "I can. Stay here and keep the others calm. I'll be back soon."

Without waiting for a response, he started walking toward the forest. He could feel the weight of their stares on his back, the disbelief and the hopelessness in their eyes. To them, he was still just a cripple, a broken boy with no power to change anything.

But they didn't know who he really was.

As he entered the forest, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of the village faded behind him. Li Tian's senses sharpened, and though his body was weak, his mind was alert. He moved quietly through the underbrush, careful not to make a sound. The bandits were probably confident that no one from the village would dare approach their camp, but that kind of arrogance could be exploited.

After a few minutes of careful movement, he spotted the bandit camp through the trees. A dozen rough-looking men sat around a makeshift fire, laughing and drinking as they shared their spoils. Their weapons were crude, rusty swords, knives, and axes but they were more than enough to terrorize an unarmed village.

Li Tian observed them from a distance, taking in every detail. The leader was easy to spot, a tall, burly man with a scar running down his face. He sat at the head of the camp, barking orders at the others, his posture one of confidence and dominance. The bandits followed his lead without question, meaning he was the key to controlling them.

"If I can neutralize him," Li Tian thought, "the others will scatter."

But how? He didn't have the strength to take them on directly, and even if he tried to ambush the leader, the others would overwhelm him before he could finish the job. He needed a way to level the playing field, to turn their numbers against them.

His eyes scanned the camp, looking for anything he could use. The bandits had piled their stolen goods in a corner, bags of food, clothes, and even a few bottles of what looked like strong alcohol. And then he saw it, small crates of dried herbs and powders. It wasn't much, but it was enough to give him an idea.

"That could work," he thought, his mind racing. "It's risky, but it might be the only chance."

With a plan forming in his mind, Li Tian slowly retreated back into the forest, careful not to draw attention. He needed to gather a few things before nightfall.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon by the time Li Tian returned to the village. He was exhausted, his muscles aching from the physical exertion, but he had everything he needed. Now, it was time to put his plan into action.

He found the group of villagers huddled near the center of the village, their faces pale with fear as the shadows grew longer. They looked up as he approached, and one of the men spoke up. "Did you see them? What are we going to do?"

Li Tian nodded, his expression calm. "I saw them. There's a way to deal with the bandits, but I need your help."

The villagers looked at him in confusion. "What do you need?"

"I need alcohol," Li Tian said. "As much as you can gather. Anything that burns."

The villagers exchanged puzzled glances, but they didn't question him. They had nothing else to lose, and Li Tian's calm confidence gave them a sliver of hope. They quickly gathered bottles of wine, oil, and anything else they had that could serve his purpose.

Once he had the supplies, Li Tian worked quickly, coating several pieces of cloth in the alcohol and tying them to small stones. They were crude, but they would serve their purpose. As he worked, he explained the plan to the villagers.

"When the bandits arrive, I'll signal you," he said, handing out the makeshift bombs to a few of the younger men. "You'll throw these into the center of their group. I'll handle the rest."

The villagers looked nervous, but they nodded. They had no other options.

As night fell, the bandits approached, their leader swaggering at the front of the group. They looked confident, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight as they marched toward the village, expecting no resistance.

Li Tian stood at the entrance to the village, his arms crossed as he watched them approach. His heart raced, but his expression remained calm. This was his first real test in this new life, and he couldn't afford to fail.

The bandit leader sneered as he spotted Li Tian. "You again, cripple? I thought you'd learned your lesson last time. What are you going to do, beg us for mercy?"

Li Tian didn't respond, his eyes cold and calculating. He waited until the bandits were close enough, then he gave the signal.

The villagers acted swiftly, hurling the alcohol-soaked rags into the midst of the bandits. A moment later, Li Tian flicked a small spark of the Primordial Ember from his fingers, igniting the cloths in an instant. Flames erupted around the bandits, the fire spreading quickly as the alcohol caught.

The bandits screamed in panic, stumbling over each other as they tried to escape the flames. The leader roared in anger, but his men were already scattering, too frightened to fight back. In the chaos, Li Tian moved swiftly, darting toward the leader.

Though his body was still weak, the sudden confusion gave him the advantage. The bandit leader swung his sword wildly, but Li Tian ducked beneath the strike, delivering a precise blow to the man's knee. The leader stumbled, and Li Tian followed up with a quick strike to the side of his head, knocking him unconscious.

The remaining bandits fled into the night, leaving their fallen leader behind.

Li Tian stood over the unconscious bandit leader, his breathing heavy but controlled. The fire continued to burn around them, casting flickering shadows across the village. He had done it. The bandits were defeated, and the village was safe for now.

But as he looked down at the unconscious man, Li Tian knew this was only the beginning. The world outside the village was vast and dangerous, and if he wanted to survive, he would need to grow stronger, much stronger.

This victory was fleeting. Li Tian's body trembled slightly as the adrenaline began to wear off. He had barely scraped by with the element of surprise, and even though he managed to outsmart the bandits, his physical limitations were glaring. His hands were shaking as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the unconscious leader at his feet.

The villagers, who had been hiding in the shadows, slowly emerged. They hesitated, their eyes wide with disbelief as they took in the sight of the scattered, burned-out remnants of the bandit group. The once-imposing threat had been reduced to cinders and cowards running for their lives.

One of the villagers, an older man with a long beard, stepped forward, his voice trembling. "Y-you… you saved us."

Li Tian looked up, his eyes sharp despite his exhaustion. "For now."

The man glanced at the fallen bandit leader, a mix of fear and awe on his face. "What will you do with him?"

Li Tian stared at the unconscious man for a moment before speaking. "Tie him up. We need to get information from him about his group, how many of them are left, and whether they'll come back for revenge."

The villagers exchanged nervous glances but quickly followed his orders. Within minutes, they had the bandit leader bound tightly with rope and dragged him into one of the nearby huts. Li Tian followed behind, his mind already moving to the next step. This victory might have bought the village some time, but it wouldn't be long before word spread. If the bandits had ties to any larger groups or sects, retaliation could come swiftly.

Once inside the hut, the villagers gathered around, waiting for Li Tian to speak. He glanced around the room. These people were scared, and rightfully so. They had just been reminded how vulnerable they truly were.

"I'll handle the interrogation," Li Tian said, his tone firm. "But after this, we need to start preparing. More bandits could come, and if they do, we need to be ready."

One of the younger men, who had been helping throw the firebombs, stepped forward. "But… what can we do? We're just farmers and merchants. We don't have the strength to fight them off again, and we don't have any cultivators to protect us."

Li Tian's eyes narrowed slightly. "There's more than one way to defend a village. Strength is important, yes, but so is knowledge. We can fortify the village, set traps, and use the land to our advantage. We won't fight them head-on; we'll outsmart them."

The villagers looked uncertain but nodded. They didn't have any better options.

With a sigh, Li Tian turned his attention to the bandit leader, who was beginning to stir. The man groaned, his face contorted in pain as he slowly regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes and realized he was tied up, his expression darkened.

"You think this changes anything, boy?" the bandit leader snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. "You might've won tonight, but my brothers will come for you. You and this village will burn."

Li Tian crouched down in front of him, his eyes cold. "Your brothers won't get the chance if you don't tell me everything I need to know. How many of you are there? Who are you working for?"

The bandit leader sneered. "Like hell I'll tell you anything. You've got guts, cripple, I'll give you that. But guts don't mean much when you're dead."

Li Tian's eyes darkened. "I don't have time for this."

Without warning, he flicked a small ember from his fingertips, letting it land on the bandit leader's exposed arm. The man screamed in pain as the fire seared his skin, though Li Tian made sure it wasn't enough to cause serious injury. Just enough to make him talk.

"You've felt the fire," Li Tian said, his voice calm but with an edge of menace. "Now, imagine that flame consuming you from the inside out. I can make that happen. Or you can tell me what I want to know, and this will end quickly."

The bandit leader's face contorted with a mix of anger and fear. For a moment, it looked like he would try to resist again, but when Li Tian flicked another ember onto his skin, the man broke.

"Alright, alright!" he spat, his voice hoarse. "I'll talk!"

Li Tian leaned back slightly, giving him room to breathe. "Good. Now start talking."

The bandit leader glared at him but began to speak. "We're a small group, just twelve of us left now. We used to be more, but some of the others got caught by sect patrols. We don't work for anyone; we just raid villages for supplies. This area's been easy pickings for months."

Li Tian listened carefully, weighing the man's words. If the bandits didn't have ties to a larger group, that was a good sign. It meant that the village wasn't in immediate danger of a larger force coming to wipe them out. But that didn't mean they were safe.

"Why come back?" Li Tian asked. "You already raided this village once. What made you return so soon?"

The bandit leader hesitated, glancing at the villagers. "We didn't have a choice. The sects have been cracking down on bandit groups lately, and we needed more supplies fast. This village was the closest one we knew wouldn't be able to defend itself."

Li Tian's eyes narrowed. "The sects are cracking down?"

The bandit leader nodded. "Yeah. Word is, there's some sort of new alliance forming between a few of the big sects. They're trying to get rid of smaller threats like us. We've been on the run for weeks."

That was interesting. If the sects were forming an alliance, it could have broader implications for the region. Alliances between powerful sects usually meant conflict was on the horizon, and if that was the case, small villages like this one could easily get caught in the crossfire.

"Are there more bandits nearby?" Li Tian asked. "Any other groups we should be worried about?"

The bandit leader shook his head. "Not that I know of. Most of the others have been wiped out or driven off. We're all that's left in this area."

Li Tian nodded, standing up and stepping away from the man. The bandit leader might have been telling the truth, but Li Tian knew better than to trust a desperate criminal. He'd keep his guard up.

"Take him to the edge of the village," Li Tian instructed the villagers. "Tie him to a tree and leave him there. Let him think about his choices."

The villagers hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, dragging the bandit leader out of the hut. Li Tian stood in silence for a moment, deep in thought. The situation was more complicated than he had anticipated. If the sects were forming alliances and cracking down on bandit groups, it meant the region was becoming more unstable. And instability meant danger for everyone.

He couldn't stay here forever. He needed to get stronger, to reignite the flames within him fully. The ember of the Primordial Flame was still just a flicker inside him, and he had barely scratched the surface of its potential. If he wanted to protect himself and those around him, he needed to cultivate. But for now, there were more immediate concerns.

Li Tian stepped outside the hut, his eyes scanning the village. The villagers were already hard at work, gathering supplies and repairing the damage from the bandits' last raid. They were still afraid, but there was a spark of hope in their movements now. They had seen what Li Tian could do, and they believed that he might be able to protect them.

But Li Tian knew better. This victory had been a fluke, a result of careful planning and luck. He wasn't strong enough yet, not by a long shot. But he would get there. He had to.

As the night deepened, Li Tian stood at the edge of the village, staring out into the dark forest. Somewhere out there, more threats lurked, bandits, sects, cultivators with power far beyond his own. But he wasn't afraid. He had faced death before, and he had come back stronger.

This time would be no different.

His journey was just beginning.