Chapter 49: No Survivors

The employment department of the Lofty Cloud Pavilion was divided into four teams: A, B, C, and D.

Qiuyun had hired Team C, which consisted of one Dou Grand Master and nine Dou Masters.

Although Team C had been established for a short time, they had undergone the necessary training.

Therefore, when surrounded by bandits, Tieshi and his team did not panic but instead protected Qiuyun and her four companions.

After all, their mission was to escort them safely to the imperial capital. If their safety were compromised, it would tarnish the reputation of the Lofty Cloud Pavilion.

Who would dare to hire the Lofty Cloud Pavilion for escort services in the future?

Having traveled extensively, Qiuyun had seen her share of grand scenes and did not panic too much. She dismounted from her horse and calmly said, "Gentlemen, let's talk this over. If it's money you want, I understand the rules. Here's a token of my respect. I hope you'll give us some face and let us and our convoy pass."

Qiuyun took out a pre-prepared package from her Storage Ring, which had some weight to it, and tossed it over.

The bandit leader was a burly man wielding a nine-ringed broadsword, his face twisted in a menacing expression.

He caught the package, weighed it in his hand, and found it substantial, but he remained silent, instead scanning Qiuyun's group.

His gaze then greedily lingered on the Storage Rings in their hands. "You expect all of you to pass with just this? Even if I agreed, my brothers here wouldn't."

"Not a chance," the bandits behind him echoed.

"Besides, what's your face worth?" the leader said greedily.

Qiuyun's expression darkened, and her right hand moved toward the whip hanging at her waist.

"Boss, this is an escort mission by the Lofty Cloud Pavilion. I hope you'll consider the Pavilion's reputation and let us pass," Tieshi stepped forward, his tone carrying a hint of firmness, unlike Qiuyun's.

Hearing this, the leader's expression changed. He had clearly heard of the Lofty Cloud Pavilion. After all, several cities around the northeastern border were within the Pavilion's sphere of influence.

But he wasn't intimidated by the Pavilion's reputation. He had been in this line of work for many years, relying on his boldness.

He had even robbed government transport teams, let alone the Lofty Cloud Pavilion.

It was just a bit more troublesome.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed the leader's eyes, and without further ado, he swung his nine-ringed broadsword at Tieshi.

The leader could tell that Tieshi was the head of this escort team, and the aura emanating from him was the strongest.

His cultivation level should be the same as his own, at the Dou Grand Master level.

Seeing their leader take the first move, the hundred or so bandits surrounding the convoy simultaneously charged at the dozen or so people in the encirclement.

Qiuyun and the others quickly responded.

Qiuyun and Tieshi's group were all at least Dou Masters, giving them an overall higher level of strength.

Although the bandits outnumbered them, most were mere cannon fodder, with some even below the level of Dou Practitioners.

After a brief skirmish, nearly half of the bandits were dead or injured.

Seeing that only the cannon fodder had died while his trusted men were still alive, the leader remained unperturbed. There were fewer people to share the spoils with.

As for such cannon fodder, he could easily recruit more as long as he had money.

In the fight with Tieshi, the leader had the upper hand.

The nine-ringed broadsword struck Tieshi's back with a loud clang, sparks flying as the blade met the resistance of the chains, preventing it from cutting deep into the flesh.

"With my four-star Dou Grand Master cultivation, how could you, a mere two-star, possibly match me?" the leader sneered.

Tieshi reached behind his back, touching the blood from his wound, his expression grave. He glanced around at the situation; after a prolonged battle, their side was gradually losing the upper hand.

"Cover the employer, retreat!"

At Tieshi's command, the surviving members of Team Bing abandoned the carriages and moved closer to Qiuyun and her group, covering them as they swiftly retreated into the dense forest beside the official road.

Tieshi himself stomped the ground, his body transforming into a shadow as he followed closely.

"Trying to run? You underestimate me too much."

The Leader placed two fingers to his lips and whistled.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

As Tieshi and his group retreated into the forest, a loud rustling sound suddenly erupted from the woods. Countless arrows, gleaming with a cold light and carrying fierce momentum, rained down in a blanket of destruction.

In this indiscriminate hail of arrows, two members of Qiuyun's group and three from Team Bing fell into pools of blood.

In the center of the official road, the group that had just retreated was forced to huddle together once more.

At this moment, from the depths of the dense forest surrounding the official road, over a hundred bandits emerged, wielding repeating crossbows. The two leaders among them were both Dou Grand Masters.

This crossbow team was the Leader's elite force.

And his confidence.

"Old Three, didn't you complain that your wife couldn't bear children?" The Leader pointed his large blade at Qiuyun. "This girl will surely bear you many. I, as your elder brother, give her to you."

"Thank you, Boss." The one called Old Three was a thin, young man among the two Dou Grand Masters who had just emerged. He glanced at Qiuyun, looking quite satisfied.

The Leader nodded. "As for the others, follow the old rule—leave no survivors."

As the Leader's words fell, the two Dou Grand Masters who had just emerged led the charge, hacking and slashing forward.

However, just as they advanced, a thunderous boom echoed.

A silver lightning pillar descended from the heavens, striking the thin young man at the forefront with a fierce impact.

In an instant, the once lively man was reduced to a charred corpse.

"You dare touch my people from the Lofty Cloud Pavilion? How bold."

In the sky above, dozens of black shadows suddenly appeared.

The shadows gathered together, even blocking out a portion of the sunlight.

As they descended to hover above the group, the black shadows swooped down.

Now, they could clearly see that these were dozens of Flying Magical Beasts. Except for the leading beast, which carried a man and a woman, the rest were ridden by men clad in black robes.

"It's the Grand Pavilion Master!" Tieshi exclaimed. He had once met Chen Mo when he went to discuss matters with Sha Luo.

"The Grand Pavilion Master," who had already drawn a dagger from his Storage Ring, intending to slit his throat if captured, Qiuyun was stunned. Then, as if seeing a savior, she quickly sheathed the dagger and cheered along with the members of Team Bing.

The sudden turn of events made the Leader's eyes red with fury. The man who had just died was not only his subordinate but also his younger brother.

He didn't let hatred cloud his judgment; otherwise, he wouldn't have dominated Black Banner Mountain for so many years. Seeing the situation reverse and the legendary Grand Pavilion Master appearing before him, he raised his arm and shouted, "Retreat!"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, he tapped the ground with his toes, leaped onto his horse, and swiftly darted toward a dense forest.

"Leave no survivors."

Chen Mo issued the command, his Devil's Wings unfurling behind him as he pursued the fleeing Leader.