27: Return

Ut, ut.

From a distance, a team of cavalrymen clad in black galloped along the road, stirring up dust in the camp that had just quieted down.

The number of cavalrymen was not large, about twenty to thirty people.

But these few dozen people were all muscular, tall, and the thickness of their arm muscles was nearly twice that of ordinary adult men.

Each of these cavalrymen wore black leather armor with a crimson pattern along the edges, a dark mask, a nine-ring broadsword at their waist, and a longbow and quiver on their back.

Each warhorse under the cavalrymen was over a person's height; like the riders, the horses wore leather armor, their snorts were heavy, their physiques were imposing, and they were extremely agile.

Han Yi and the others were momentarily stunned by the Aura of this team of cavalrymen.

The person at the front of the cavalry team dismounted, cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a muffled voice, "Elder Li."

"Good, good!" Elder Li's mouth curved slightly, revealing a smile, and he turned to Han Yi and the others, saying, "These are the elite Disciples from our Crimson Flame Sect's Inner Sect's Outer Affairs Hall!"

Han Yi glanced at this team of cavalrymen; most of the cavalrymen's values were between "40~55", and the overall strength of the leading person reached '60~75'.

Han Yi had observed carefully before: Lianxue Stage Martial Artists, when unarmed, all had values above 30. This meant that the lowest cultivation base among this group of cavalrymen was also the Refining Blood!

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, "Fortunately, I didn't make the decision to run away just now..."

Currently, Han Yi's value when unarmed is '15~31'. Although his current attack power can barely touch the threshold of the Refining Blood, he is no match for just one of these cavalrymen.

At dawn (5 to 6 AM), the sky gradually lightened.

The Disciples were busy all night; the ox cart was fully repaired, the Qingyan Cattle was also soothed, re-harnessed, and got up pulling the fire crystal stone.

After taking the pills brought by Elder Li, the breathing of the severely injured Disciples also stabilized significantly, and their injuries gradually recovered.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Han Yi sat on the horse, looking around.

Wang Meng, lying on the ox cart, looked bleak. After taking Elder Li's 'Blood Stopping Powder' and 'Red Peony Pill', he had already woken up.

It's just that the injury of his shattered arm will likely be difficult to recover from...

A comminuted fracture of the arm was difficult to fully recover from even in Han Yi's previous life, let alone in this Martial Dao world where medical skills were not particularly developed!

Perhaps High Grade pills like 'Bone Rejoining Paste' and 'Body Healing Pill' could allow Wang Meng's injuries to recover as before, but how could such pills be possessed by a mere guard team Disciple...

As for Zhang Yun, lying on the other side of the ox cart, his face was even paler. Not only was he severely injured, but his teammates Song Zhong and Huo Dahai also lost their lives here. Captain Song Qing himself had run away, and the Fourth Squad had fallen apart. The key was that their carelessness during the night watch allowed the Black Wind Stronghold bandits to successfully launch a sneak attack. He didn't know what kind of punishment they would receive upon returning to the camp.

At the front of the team, Li Feng, the captain of the Ninth Squad, was riding his horse, talking about something with Li Xiong.

Li Xiong was also a member of the Li family and the leader of that team of cavalrymen just now.

Just now, as soon as the sky began to lighten, Elder Li urged everyone to set off. Since he was personally leading the escort, Han Yi and the others didn't need to go to An Yan City anymore.

To prevent any accidents, Elder Li also arranged for Li Xiong and several elite Disciples to escort Han Yi and the group of injured back to the camp.

"What are you thinking about?" Pan Sheng, sitting on Han Yi's other side, teased, "Could it be that you're regretting not seeing Miss Yihong at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Heyue Ward? Don't worry, I'll definitely take you next time I get a chance!"

"Get lost, go yourself if you want. I swear I'm irreconcilable with gambling, prostitution, and drugs," Han Yi, who had come back to his senses, revealed a slight smile. "I was thinking, why did the Black Wind Stronghold bandits attack us without reason?"

"This..." Pan Sheng was speechless for a moment, and after a long pause, he stammered, "Isn't that just how bandits are? Who would know what bandits want to do..."

Monster attacks at the Mining Camp, beast tides, strange bamboo tubes, guard team Disciples being attacked by bandits, internal spies... Han Yi's thoughts turned. Could these seemingly unrelated events be connected?

The forest wind was gentle, birds chirped, the air was peaceful, with only the ox cart's wheels creaking.

As the sun rose higher, casting warm light, they returned to the guard team camp.

At the camp gate, after Li Feng and Li Xiong cupped their hands in farewell, the group prepared to enter the camp.

"What happened?"

"I heard they were attacked by Black Wind Stronghold bandits, several people from the Fourth Squad died..."

"How tragic, it's too tragic. This should be the most tragic fire crystal stone transport mission in recent years..."

After entering the camp, Disciples along the way occasionally let out low gasps as they saw Han Yi and the others looking defeated, dispirited, and dejected as if they had suffered a great loss.

Instructor Lin and the guard team camp steward had received the news early and came out with several Disciples to greet them. Captain Li Feng naturally stepped forward to negotiate.

Everyone was busy for a while. After dealing with the injured and the bodies of the Disciples, they all returned to their respective quarters to rest.

"Hoo, comfortable!"

Han Yi lay on the bed that usually felt a bit hard, but now felt incredibly comfortable and peaceful.

Never mind, even if the sky collapses and the earth splits outside, it has nothing to do with me. Han Yi stopped thinking about the Black Wind Stronghold bandits attacking the guard team and fell into a deep sleep.

After the fire crystal stone is mined, most of it is directly transported back to the Sect within An Yan City. These Ores transported directly back to the Sect are mostly supplied to the Sect's Forging Hall for use, or sold externally.

However, a small number of High Grade fire crystal stone are also transported to secret locations. These High Grade fire crystal stone are usually transported by special personnel sent by the Sect's Dark Affairs Hall, and no one knows where these High Grade Ores are transported.

But this time, although the Black Wind Stronghold bandits' attempt to rob the fire crystal stone Ores escorted by Han Yi and his group was unsuccessful, on the other side, the High Grade fire crystal stone specially escorted by the Sect's Dark Affairs Hall was completely looted. It is said that the chief of the Black Wind Stronghold bandits personally took action, and the scene was horrific!

Of course, Han Yi and the other guard team Disciples also suffered heavy casualties. More than half of the servant Disciples were killed or injured, the steward died, the Fourth Squad was almost completely wiped out except for Song Qing, and everyone in the Ninth Squad was injured except for Han Yi. Especially Wang Meng, after being examined by a Physician specially sent by the Sect, it was determined that there was basically no possibility of recovery. Wang Meng will probably only be able to be a one-armed man for the rest of his life...

This time, the Black Wind Stronghold bandits' attack enraged the entire Crimson Flame Sect, especially among the other three forces that also controlled An Yan City.

Perhaps the previous monster attack on the Mining Camp was just an accident, but this time, the bandits clearly knew the guard team's transport destination, time, and even the High Grade fire crystal stone specially escorted by the Dark Affairs Hall.

Consequently, powerful Elders were questioned, Hall Masters and stewards were searched and arrested, and the Crimson Flame Sect was in chaos.

A few days later, the chaos ended, and the Crimson Flame Sect immediately dispatched an Elder from within the Sect as a special envoy to the guard team camp to announce the Sect's decision.