Unbeatable! Invincible! Unparalleled!

"T-Thank you! If it weren't for you and your group, I'm afraid that our ending wouldn't have been so well.." the Village Head bowed at Fei Longwei and Wei Shang repeatedly.

The rest of the villagers also expressed their gratitude as well, and some were even crying emotionally.

"We... We only wished that we could've arrive earlier.." Wei Shang replied and felt regretful.

After they had successfully set up their traps and ambush, most of the bandits were killed almost instantaneously. However, the bandit leader along with the more powerful ones had put up quite the struggle and fight to the end, resulting in the battle lasting until the morning.

"Hais!" the Village Head sighed helplessly.

"It's fine.. the fact that we were not completely wiped out in this unfortunate turn of event is already a blessing.." the Village Head then rounded up the remaining survivors.

"So.. half of the men in our village was wiped out and we don't have any security forces left.." the Village Head became even more dejected and remorseful.

Hearing this, Fei Longwei pondered seriously for a moment, "It's no longer safe here without a defense force protecting the village. I suggest that everyone should split up and head to the surrounding villages to take shelter for the time being. At least that way, while some of you might encounter bandits on the way, the others would be able to survive. If you guys stay here, bandits would just come again to take advantage of everyone due to the lack of security." he said.

Although his words were direct, Wei Shang nodded, in agreement to Fei Longwei's suggestion. "That's right. This is only a temporary relocation until the empire dispatch a new security forces for this village."

Immediately, the crowd became rowdy and restless. Some were utterly devastated and there were even those that chose to die protecting the village, or at least what remained after the attack rather than relocating elsewhere.

After all, this was their home, the place where they were born. In fact, if they were to leave now, who would bury their dead relatives from the attack earlier? Were they just have to let them to rot?

"Leaving the village? But what of our stuff?"

"Mother, I'm afraid!"

"We should head to..."

"I disagree! We should not be..."

Pretty soon, the entire village seems to be divided between those who were leaving and those that wanted to stay. Seeing this, the Village Head gritted his teeth. Turning to both Wei Shang and Fei Longwei, he dropped to his knees and prostrated on the ground!

"Eh? Village Head, what are you doing?" the crowd was surprised with this sudden action of his.

"Please, I beseech you! Please protect our village until the new security forces arrive!" the Village Head uttered these words while crying emotionally.

He felt extremely guilty and remorseful over his own weakness as the Village Head. For the first time in his life, he hated himself on how he did not possess the sufficient natural talent to cultivate.

"If only I was strong, I could've at least traded my life for the safety of everyone!" he shouted inwardly while clenching his fist tight, such that his nails was buried deep into the flesh of his hands, making him bleed.

Initially, Fei Longwei was about to reject as he was quite an upfront person. But he was also someone with feelings, affected by his surroundings all the same like everyone else. This was especially the case after he saw the Village Head like that.

This caused him to hesitate. After all, they were in no way at all obligated to protect villages from bandits, and the order from their Lord, Duan Li, was far more important than the request of mere villagers.

Just as he was about to make the tough decision, Cucko suddenly perched itself atop of his head.

"Protect the village at all cost until the new security forces arrive. They will take two days to get there." a voice spoke in his head which caused him to be surprised.

Telepathy?

Wengg!!

At the same time, the communication jade slip on Wei Shang also received similar message. However, the contents sounded more strict than what Fei Longwei got, causing him to sweat profusely.

Looking at each other, they both nodded.

"Very well. Our Lord has given us the permission. We will remain here until the new security forces arrive two days later!" Fei Longwei said.

When the Village Head heard this reply, he was filled with disbelief. "Y-You... agree? Ohh!! Thank you! Thank You!" he then broke into a fit of emotional cry once more to the point that the others had to help him to stand up.

The rest were also overjoyed with their reply. Since they have the capability to wipe out the previous bandits by themselves, it went without saying that they will be safe and future threats would no longer loom over their village!

...

Meanwhile, inside a spacious cave under a certain mountain, a fight between the apex cultivators of the Jiu Empire was about to begin.

"Martial arts battle?" Duan Li thought for a moment before nodding in agreement, "Very well!"

For him, this kind of battle was far less damaging to the environment for people of their level. After all, if Duan Li wanted, just the full might of his Nine Fists Shattering Meteor would destroy the whole mountain along with the surrounding area. In addition, the patriarchs in front of him was no pushover either.

Based on their spiritual Qi aura, although they were weaker than him, this was when one only consider it from such a limited perspective. If one were to view their age, battle experience, coordination, skills, wits and wills, Duan Li could be considered as amatuers in some of these aspects!

This was why there was a saying quoted all the time by those who practiced confucianism;

"Afraid not those who are naturally powerful, but those who are weak, but experienced in winning."

Whooshh!!

All eight patriarchs moved to surround Duan Li from his eight cardinal direction.

"Forgive us old men for ganging up on you. You are not normal after all. We hope that you can understand." the Jiu Patriarch said with his everlasting solemn voice.

Wrrrr!!

Lowering their body and adjusting their center of gravity, each of the patriarchs began to exert strength into their bodily cells and muscles, increasing their physical attributes by innumerable folds!

"Channeling their spiritual Qi into each individual cells to reinforce their internal organs and external body.. sounds simple enough but exceedingly difficult to practice." Duan Li remarked inwardly as he also turned serious, his hands no longer behind his back.

Widening his stance, Duan Li then put up his guard.

"Come."

...

"Brother Shen Murong, why are they going over there? If I am not mistaken, isn't that big hole over there the entrance towards the ancient ruin?" Wang Dong said in impatience after observing for a while.

They had been following the Doulou's expedition party from behind, but as if lost travelers by the desert that didn't even know to read direction, they kep moving in the wrong direction, even when the entrance was so near!

"Hmmm.." Shen Murong cupped his chin. "What do you think Wei Wang?" he turned to ask Wei Shang's little brother by his side.

"I think they might be aware that we are following them. From the looks of it though, they hadn't discovered us yet. This maybe is their attempt to uncover and scout our position." Wei Wang replied by scribbling on the sand.

He arrived at this conjecture as a result of them poisoning the enemy's ration. After all, even the densest of all people would realize that someone was watching them if such a thing happened.

Obviously, the enemy was quite warry this time!

"At this rate, it would be better if we enter first, right?" Wang Dong suggested. He was getting bored observing the Doulou's expedition party for three hours now and was dying for some action.

"Brother Wang Dong, I think that's a good idea! How about you Wei Wang?" Shen Murong smiled with a wide grin while giving a thumbs up.

Wei Wang clutched at his forehead feeling headache dealing with the two brothers in front of him. As an assassin, he was well aware that this was an obvious ploy to lure away the enemy from their hiding spot. However, what they said was also right.

They can't just continue to do nothing and observe, they had orders from Duan Li to gather ancient relics or treasures from ancient ruins in the Red Desert!

Hais!

After Wei Wang nodded, the trio then sneakily moved over to the large hole in the center of some sand dunes before jumping in, unaware that a pair of eyes has been observing them since the beginning.

....