32 Assaul (1/2)

Squish! Hartley crushed a bug underfoot as he made his way through the forest accompanied by four other core disciples, they were making their way on foot towards a bandit camp about 20 miles north-west in a thick forest.

The undergrowth had made it a harder trip than it had to be, but Lou Tai had decided to approach off the beaten path, which turned out to be a good decision as they had taken out several bandit scouts patrolling in the vicinity. The bandit prisoner had given a detailed description of the position and defense of the camp, he was then granted a quick merciful death by Lou Tai in return to the complaints of the sadistic Lou Ang who wanted to carry on.

According to the information, the camp was located in a valley between two hills, which would be easily passed if one was unaware of its existence.

It was almost dawn and the dark skies had turned a shade lighter, it would not be long before first light. Lou Tai a fire elemental 3rd layer xiantian made the others stop and gather when they were in sight of the bandit camp.

The hideout was nestled between two gently rolling hills filled with vegetation and stretched towards what seems like a valley down below.

On the flat between the hills was a sizable structure built from wood, it was a sturdy building enough to house many people, behind the sturdy looking building in the front, was another building much smaller and suspiciously this building had no one guarding it and no bandit activity within a hundred meters around it, standing there in isolation, it almost resembled a holy shrine.

The entrance to the hills from both sides were guarded, stationed there were teams of men wearing dark robes blending in the night. The guards to the south were the most attentive they seem to be always on alert while making their rounds.

The others were undisciplined men lounging around joking casually just doing the job for the sake of it.

There were several bruised and battered merchants tied to a thick wooden beam located in a place at the far right of the camp with an abundance of hay and horses tied to wooden poles looking like an improvised open air stable.

The weary merchants had looks of hopelessness and despair as fright and regret were plastered across their faces.

Lou Tai whispered as he gave his final instructions

”I will approach from the south with Qin Li who will protect the merchants and attack from that direction while you three approach from the north where they are more lax, eradicate them all. The majority of these bandits are houtian realm, I can sense a couple xiantians but we should be able to handle it, take care and watch your back, lets head out.”

After Lou Tai and Qin Li left, Lou Ang immediately thought he had just been promoted to leader of the second group, he started to issue orders when he was cut off by Hartley who said ”I'll see you down there,” without even looking at the sadistic bastard, he flashed away from the two towards the guards at the northern entrance.

With a disapproving snort Lou Ang watched Hartley's back disappear then walked towards the entrance of the valley with Lou Rylai, who had a neutral expression...

Hartley slashed out with his silver sword with a wide sweeping horizontal arc from wide-right to wide-left.

Geysers of blood burst into the sky as the heads of a quarter dozen guards dawdling lazily on the northern entrance flew down into the valley, it was about a fifty meter drop to the flat land down below.....