Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan rode the Wind Chaser back along the small path. At the fork in the road, they mounted their mules and headed onto the main official road.
Both were wearing large straw hats along with sun goggles, the wide brims shielding them from prying eyes.
When she didn't see any bodies on the small path, Xi Qingyue knew the townspeople of Liang City had already taken them away. Upon hearing the murmurs of others, she wasn't at all surprised. After all, with so many children lost, the people's anger couldn't be quelled by just one county magistrate's head.
Human traffickers deserved to die, and those corrupt officials who treated children like livestock for their own pleasure deserved to burn in hell.
On the official road, refugees crowded the path as they walked, discussing the events in Liang City as they went.
After listening for a while, Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan sped up. They drew many stares while riding their mules, but without the cart dragging them down, Wind Chaser was fast. Before long, they reached the fork leading to the mountain stronghold.
This road was still a narrow path—one that no one dared to travel.
Xi Weilan looked back at the crowded refugees on the official road, confused. "Big Sister, now that the bandits are dead, why isn't anyone going up there to find food?"
Xi Qingyue smiled and explained, "Lan'er, even though the bandit leader is dead, there are sure to be others in the stronghold. At least a dozen or so, maybe several dozen. Most people wouldn't dare fight the bandits. Everyone has families and can't afford to gamble. Only a few brave souls would take the risk. Besides, plenty of people still don't know the bandits are dead."
At Tianfeng Stronghold, a refined man holding a round fan paced back and forth, growing increasingly uneasy.
"The chief's been gone a whole day now. When is he coming back? Even if he went back to the county office, he should have sent word."
One bandit said with a grin, "Chief Strategist, relax. The whole city of Liang is our chief's turf. They've come back late before. Nothing's wrong."
Another bandit nodded in agreement. "That's right. Xiaoshitou just left the stronghold. He said he'd head into the city to check things out. We'll know by tonight at the latest."
On the narrow path, Xi Qingyue narrowed her eyes when she saw a teenage boy suddenly emerge ahead. She slowed Wind Chaser down. Anyone popping up in a place like this was almost certainly a bandit.
Xiaoshitou was startled to see the mules and the two children on their backs, then quickly felt a surge of excitement. If he could bring them back to the stronghold, he was sure to get a reward.
He put on a friendly face and looked at Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan. "Little sisters, where are you headed?"
Xi Qingyue gave an even sweeter smile and asked innocently, "Big brother, we've been sent by the Liang City magistrate to deliver a message. Are you from Tianfeng Stronghold? Could you lead the way?"
At her words, Xiaoshitou looked disappointed. If they were delivering a message, he couldn't just kill them. But why would the magistrate send children?
"If the magistrate sent you, then follow me. By the way, did Magistrate Chen say when our boss would be back?"
Hearing this, Xi Qingyue replied with a cheerful grin, "Your boss won't be back anytime soon. He told me to come to the stronghold to pass on a message and bring everyone to see him. We'd better hurry."
Though Xiaoshitou found it strange, he didn't suspect the two children. No way would he believe two little kids would dare cause trouble in their stronghold.
Xi Qingyue followed Xiaoshitou into the stronghold, casually asking about how many people were stationed there, like a curious child.
Xiaoshitou was young and chatty, so he talked and laughed with them all the way back.
"Strategist! The boss sent someone with a message!" Xiaoshitou shouted into the stronghold.
As soon as his voice rang out, a dozen burly bandits rushed out, all looking excited.
"Who's the messenger?"
When they saw only two children, the dozen or so bandits left behind stared in shock, wondering if their eyes were playing tricks on them.
Xiaoshitou pointed at Xi Qingyue. "This is who Magistrate Chen sent. She says the boss told her to deliver a message."
The strategist eyed Xi Qingyue warily. "You're here to deliver a message?"
Xi Qingyue nodded. "Yes. He said he's feeling lonely down there and wants you all to join him."
As the words left her mouth, a long sword appeared in her hand, and she leaped down from Wind Chaser.
Before the strategist could react, Xi Qingyue struck him down with a single blow. The other bandits scrambled to grab weapons and fight back.
A bandit wielding a spear lunged at her, but she flicked his weapon aside with her sword and drove the blade straight into his chest. Pulling it free, she swept it to the right and back, slashing another bandit's throat. He collapsed in a heap, eyes wide.
From there, Xi Qingyue fought them at a leisurely pace. She didn't use any supernatural abilities but instead relied on her newly learned sword techniques, using the bandits to practice. Though her swordsmanship couldn't compare to her powers, getting familiar with the moves would make killing with a blade quicker and neater in the future. It had its benefits.
Xi Weilan sat calmly on Wind Chaser, showing no fear. One bandit tried to grab her as a hostage, but before he could close in, Wind Chaser kicked him flying with a front hoof, sending him into a sword blade headfirst.
Xi Weilan patted Wind Chaser's head with a laugh. "Wind Chaser, you're amazing! I'll give you two big bowls of water later."
The mule let out a happy bray and started running around the stronghold with her.
By the time Xi Qingyue had finished killing everyone, Wind Chaser was still joyfully galloping.
She used her water ability to clean the blood from her blade and sheathed her sword.
Then she and Xi Weilan began to explore the stronghold.
The stronghold was large, and the buildings there were even better than the houses in their town. It could easily hold a few hundred people.
Xi Qingyue walked through each courtyard, collecting valuable-looking furniture, ornaments, and jade items. Even pieces she couldn't judge right away, she packed up to examine later.
After clearing out the rooms, she took Xi Weilan to the stronghold's storehouse.
"Wow! So much silver—and food! There's so much here!" Xi Weilan exclaimed.
Xi Qingyue hadn't expected this either. There was no gold, but they found tens of thousands of silver taels, some jewelry, and tens of thousands of catties of grain. These bandits were filthy rich.
In an instant, she swept everything in the storehouse away and returned to where she had killed the bandits.
Looking at the dozen or so bodies before her, Xi Qingyue focused her mind. A gust of wind lifted the corpses and tossed them outside the stronghold gate. Then she set them on fire, burning them clean.
"Big Sister, are we leaving now that we've collected the treasure?"
Xi Qingyue glanced up at the blazing sun and shook her head. "No. We'll stay the night here and set out early tomorrow."
With that, she pulled out her mobile home and placed it in a sunlit spot within the stronghold.
"Big Sister, are we sleeping in the big house tonight?" Xi Weilan ran toward the mobile home, delighted.
Although she had already stayed in space villas, she still loved seeing motorhomes.
Xi Qingyue smiled and nodded, "Yeah, the sunlight is nice. Let it charge up. No one will come here anyway."
As she spoke, she walked toward the motorhome.
She had collected quite a few things over the past couple of days, which had put her in a great mood.
Sitting on the sofa inside the motorhome, she rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "It seems killing corrupt officials and bandits isn't so bad—it's even a great merit. I've decided: I'm going to uphold justice for heaven more often from now on."
