98 Completing the mission and returning to the clan. (2/2)
”We should just open the blockades and crush the bandits head-on with our overwhelming strength. Please open the blockade!”
The four other disciples that were getting antsy mimicked Kang Xia's sentence, not willing to just wait around. This was their last chance to show their cultivation and might, they weren't content with just waiting here without showing-off. Li Yang cast a sideways glance at the five disciples, but he didn't really bother with them or their proposal, shaking his head.
”No need. Throw some more flames into the cave to increase the density of the smoke.”
The two disciples responsible for filling the caves with flames nodded their heads, using the small holes in the blockade to throw more flames into the caves. There were a few shrieking sounds coming from beyond the blockade so it seemed like a few bandits had been hit by the flames and were currently being roasted. The five disciples grew a bit antsier, Kang Xia seemingly getting an idea as he spoke out in a righteous voice.
”We are representing the Yuan clan in this mission, to protect the pride and reputation of the Yuan clan, we should face these bandits in battle and show our superiority by crushing them!”
Before the start of the second trial, Elder Su had reminded them that they were representing the Yuan clan in these missions so they had to do their best to not tarnish the reputation of the clan. It seemed like Kang Xia wanted to use this fact to force Li Yang to follow his proposal, giving him a chance to show off in front of Elder Su and Elder Mujin. But what a shame, Li Yang simply gave a cold snort and cast a disdainful sideways glance at Kang Xia.
”If protecting the pride and reputation of the clan means that we must start needless fights and risk our lives in a secluded location like this where there isn't even a single witness, then it's better to throw away that pride.”
No one other than the people here would ever know how this mission had been completed, so what did it matter how they completed the mission? Besides, the Yuan clan was too large for something like this to tarnish its reputation. On the contrary, people might even praise the Yuan clan for coming up with a clever and safe way of dealing with the bandits if they were to find out about this.
Kang Xia's mouth twitched slightly as he swept the surrounding disciples and the two elders with a quick gaze, looking for others to support him. But other than the four that were already supporting him, the others didn't even bother with him, they were agreeing with Li Yang. Kang Xia should realize that the best option was to relent, but he was too caught up with trying to show off, so he decided to open his mouth to protest some more.
”You must think of the clan's pride at all times, even if no one is looking. You have to open that blockade so that we can crush the opponents head on. If you won't do it, then for the pride and glory of the grand Yuan clan, I will have to do it.”
He mentioned the pride and glory of the Yuan clan in an attempt to make himself look to be the righteous one, the one who was correct. But at this point, even Elder Su and Elder Mujin were rolling their eyes at him. Kang Xia was already expecting Li Yang to reject him, so he had already started working on another counterargument while he was still talking. Sadly, he didn't understand how Li Yang acted and thought.
The moment Kang Xia finished his righteous words, the loud rumbling of thunder rang out, Li Yang vanishing from his previous spot. He arrived in front of Kang Xia, his gaze cold and his body wrapped in glimmering lightning. His arm shot forward, his right hand clamping down on Kang Xia's throat like a vice, lifting him up from the ground. Kang Xia struggled to free himself, but lightning and ice flooded into his body, dulling his movements and strength to a point where he couldn't even resist. He hadn't been prepared for Li Yang to attack, so he hadn't even put up any defenses.
The others turned to look at the spectacle, Li Yang looking at Kang Xia and the four other disciples who had mimicked his sentiment with a cold gaze. He clenched his fist slightly, his fingers starting to dig into Kang Xia's throat and drawing a few drops of blood as he spoke.
”If you bring up that stupid idea of yours one more time, if you threaten to open that blockade one more time, or if you try to bring up the fucking pride of the clan one more time, I will consider it not only insubordination but also an attempt to hinder the completion of this mission, and then I will act accordingly.”
Li Yang would not allow this Kang Xia or his little cronies to mess up this mission, he would not let them mess up his chance to become an inner disciple. The resources he would receive after becoming an inner disciple would allow him to greatly increase his strength before the competition where he would meet up with Fang Ying again, so he was quite unwilling to give up on them.
Kang Xia tried to look at Elder Su and Elder Mujin for help, but neither of them moved to help him. Li Yang was the leader of this mission, so Kang Xia's actions could indeed be seen as insubordination and an attempt to hinder the progress of the mission. Of course, they would not allow Li Yang to kill Kang Xia, but a bit of punishment was fine.
In the end, Kang Xia could only give several nods of his head, showing that he understood that he had overstepped his bounds and could only relent. Li Yang let go of his throat and let him fall to the ground, coughing heavily and gasping for breath. Li Yang then turned to the other disciples, giving an order in such a calm voice that the previous threat had seemed like nothing but an illusion.
”More fire.”
The disciples in charge of the fire nodded their head and threw more fire into the caves, no one else daring to even mention removing the blockades and facing the bandits in a head-on battle. With more and more fire being thrown into the caves, more and more smoke started to gather within the mountain, the sounds of shouting and coughing slowly dying out.
Seven hours after they started throwing fire into the caves, the inside of the mountain had turned completely silent. Li Yang had everyone wait for another hour before he finally allowed them to remove the blockades and check if any bandits had survived. They blew away the smoke with some wind, starting to go through the caves one by one, checking up on all the bandits.
But there were no bandits left alive, all of them having choked on the thick smoke and suffocating to death, the caves of this mountain truly becoming their burial grounds. They picked up any interspatial rings and other items that might be valuable, picking up the bandit bodies so that they could serve as food for the Demonic beasts that the Yuan clan reared.
Once they finished this, Elder Mujin and Elder Su announced the successful completion of the mission, bringing all the disciples back to the clan to announce who among them would become an inner disciple and what rewards they would receive.