The Other Side of A Cultivation Story

The following morning, they immediately ate breakfast and proceeded to set off to Jiang City.

There are two routes from hereon going to the city. The first one, which is the much safer one is to travel first to a small town in the north called Han Valley. But it would mean an additional day would be spent for the travel.

The other one, which is the much faster route is to go straight Jiang City via a forested area which is said to be the bandits' territory.

Shu Wei originally planned to passed by Han Valley. But seeing how his son and the black tiger progresses in their fights, he can't simply miss this opportunity. So he decided that the 3 of them pass through the forest.

***************

While on their way, Shandian mentally conversed with Qai about an imminent danger. Qai then quickly conveyed his father what the tiger sensed.

Shu Wei stretched his sage sense and felt a group of expert cultivators near the area. They decided to look around to see whatever there is.

Few meters away from their original track, they saw travelling bandits with a caged carriage. There are several children, around 7 years of age and below, chained inside the cage that was hauled by a tamed earth stage demonic bull.

They didn't want to meddle with the affairs of the bandit but the father and son can't simply closed their eyes and walk off.

Seeing those children, they knew those bandits are selling them off as slaves.

But just before the father and son, prepare their attacks, they were surprised to see Shandian charged forth without hesitation and immediately activating its skill.

Qai then instantly released arrows after arrows to support his vanguard. The lightning stun effect slowed down the bandits movements.

'Swooosh,' 'Swooosh.'

'Roaaar.'

Then Shu Wei followed suit with his sage-strengthened Earthquake Kick.

'Vagrooooom.'

A frightening crack was hastily crawling on the ground forming a straight line. Then,

'Bang.'

"A sage!" shouted one of the bandits. And all of them started to panic. But the captain was resolved to hold down his fort.

"Attack!" the heaven stage expert captain of the bandits yelled.

The bandits knew they were no match against a sage but they can't just leave their prized slaves behind.

***************

It only took Shu Wei and Qai with his tiger less than an hour to finish off all the bandits. There were about a dozen of them.

After Shu Wei released the children, they checked their conditions. Most of the children are about 5 years of age with two of them at 8. The two 8-year old children are a pair of a boy and a girl--and they said they are fraternal twins.

The little girl whose name is Bing has awaken her fire affinity while the boy whose name is Jing has awaken a rare element of poison. But both of them have yet to start any cultivation.

They said they were orphans and are supposed to go to Jiang City to try their luck and see if any clan are willing to invest in their cultivation. It was during their travel that the bandits found them.

As for the rest of the children, their stories differ. Only one thing is certain--they were caught and are doomed to be forever slaves had it not for the timely arrival of Shu Wei and Qai.

"Father, why not take Bing and Jing with us back home," Qai suddenly suggested. "With Bing as Sister-in-law's apprentice, I'm sure Sister-in-law would appreciate an extra hand."

The twin brightened their eyes in response to what they're hearing.

"As for Jing, we can develop some assassin skills for his cultivation path," Qai went on with his suggestion. "He can be like a personal guard of the 'Patriarch'!"

Shu Wei knew what Qai was thinking. It was part of his little dream.

Qai then walked near the captain's dead body and stoop down. He then grabbed the captain's right hand and shamelessly took of the spatial ring. It was a low grade one.

He threw the ring to his father and said, "there might be some valuables in it.. at least some coins.. let's buy some skills for them."

Shu Wei simply nodded and sighed. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know if his son is shamelessly genius or stupidly smart.

And after settling the conditions of the rest of the children, they decided to bring them to the city and endorse them to authorities.