Chapter 151: Lying in Wait

Chapter 151: Lying in Wait

The village elders and villagers watched the grim bonfire as the corpses of the bandits turned to ash, a symbolic cleansing of the horrors that had plagued their homes. Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue took their leave and settled in the village elder's home, where a modest meal awaited them. Grateful eyes surrounded the two warriors.

The Village's Plight

The village elder began recounting the story of the Ma Shan Bandit Gang, his voice thick with frustration and sorrow.

"Seven years ago, these bandits appeared in Ma Shan. At first, they only robbed the wealthy, sparing us common folk. But in recent years, they've grown crueler, pillaging food, abducting women, and killing indiscriminately. We pooled what little wealth we had to request aid from the Tianyun Academy. And now, finally, you've come."

The room fell silent as the villagers looked to Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue with hope in their eyes.

Mu Feng's expression hardened. "Rest assured. We'll put an end to this menace and restore peace to your lives."

The villagers bowed deeply, murmuring their thanks.

A Plan of Cunning

After the meal, Bai Ziyue asked, "Brother Feng, the bandit leader Ma Li is at least a Condensed Qi Tier Two cultivator. What's your plan for taking him down?"

Mu Feng's eyes gleamed. "We won't fight them head-on. Their numbers and strength are too great. We'll rely on strategy."

"Strategy? What kind of strategy?" Bai Ziyue's curiosity was piqued.

Mu Feng glanced at the two captured bandits tied to posts outside the elder's home. A sly smile crossed his face. "I have an idea."

Approaching the prisoners, Mu Feng addressed them with icy authority. "Do you want to live or die?"

The two bandits immediately nodded frantically. "We want to live! Spare us, sir!"

"Good," Mu Feng said. With a flash of light, two black pills appeared in his palm. "Take these."

"What… what are these?" one of the bandits asked hesitantly, eyeing the dark pills with suspicion.

"Stop asking questions and eat them. Otherwise, I'll kill you right here," Mu Feng snapped, his voice cold and brimming with menace.

Terrified, the two bandits swallowed the pills. Their faces twisted in disgust as the bitter taste spread through their mouths.

Mu Feng smirked. "That was Deadly Gutbreaker, a poison that will dissolve your intestines in three days unless I give you the antidote."

The bandits turned pale and gagged, but Bai Ziyue delivered swift kicks to their stomachs to stop them from attempting to vomit the pills.

"Behave, and you'll get the antidote," Mu Feng said coolly. "Betray me, and you'll die in agony."

The bandits nodded fervently, fear etched into their faces.

Setting the Trap

The next morning, Mu Feng, Bai Ziyue, and the two coerced bandits made their way toward Ma Shan. They stopped at a narrow, 200-meter gorge along the route, where Mu Feng's plan began to take shape.

"This is perfect," Mu Feng muttered, surveying the terrain. He distributed Fire Rune Talismans to Bai Ziyue, and the two began planting them strategically along the canyon walls.

Over thirty talismans were hidden amidst the rocky terrain. Their fiery magic, dormant for now, would unleash devastation when activated. Additionally, Mu Feng laid down two large arrays at either end of the canyon, camouflaging them beneath layers of dirt and stone.

The preparations took nearly an hour, leaving Mu Feng visibly fatigued but satisfied. "It's done," he announced. "Now, you two know what to do. Go back to your boss and lure him here. Remember, no tricks, or the poison will finish you off."

The bandits hurriedly agreed, riding off toward Ma Shan with visible terror.

The Bandits Mobilize

The two bandits reached Ma Shan by late morning. Passing through the wooden barricades at the mountain's base, they were met by the gang's sentries.

"Well, look who's back! Where are the others?" one guard asked.

"Big news! We need to report to the boss!" one of the bandits exclaimed, his voice a mix of urgency and fear.

They rushed into the stronghold, heading straight for the great hall. Inside, Ma Li, the gang's towering leader, lounged on his fur-covered chair, a girl in his lap and a goblet in his hand.

"Boss! We have a problem!" one bandit blurted, dropping to his knees.

Ma Li frowned, setting down his drink. "What kind of problem?"

"Last night, we were ambushed at Little Li Village by another gang. They took everything! Zhang Ye sent us to call for reinforcements."

"Another gang?!" Ma Li's anger flared. He shoved the girl off his lap and stood, towering over the kneeling bandits. "Who dares encroach on my territory?"

"It must be newcomers, boss," one of Ma Li's lieutenants suggested. "This time of year, wandering bandits often appear."

"Regardless of who they are, they'll regret crossing me. Round up a hundred men. We're heading out."

With a roar of approval, the hall emptied as the bandits armed themselves. Soon, over a hundred riders gathered at the base of Ma Shan, their weapons gleaming and their eyes alight with bloodlust. Following the two coerced bandits, the horde galloped toward the canyon.

Waiting in Ambush

From their vantage point atop the canyon walls, Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue heard the distant thunder of hooves. As the sound grew louder, Mu Feng grinned and whispered, "They're coming."

Bai Ziyue tensed, gripping his sword tightly. "I hope this works, Brother Feng."

"Trust me. Once they enter the kill zone, they're finished," Mu Feng replied confidently.

The two remained hidden, their trap set and their resolve firm. The bandits were galloping headlong into their doom.