8: Chapter 8 Players VS Bandits

This isn't a starting village; this is hell!

It was a slaughterhouse tailor-made for this group of intruders!

Only this single thought remained in Third Li's mind.

The ferocity and saber techniques he took pride in were as fragile as a sheet of paper before these red-eyed, demon-like "beggars."

He would cut one down, and immediately three more would pounce from even more tricky angles—one grabbing his leg, one locking his throat, and another even using teeth to bite his arm!

They didn't care about life or death at all!

"Lunatics! You're all lunatics!" Third Li screamed in terror, waving his single-edged saber wildly, only to have the blade wrapped up by an oncoming banner painted with a giant character for "Filial Piety."

The "Demolition Office Director," his arm muscles bulging, used every ounce of strength to twist and pull, forcibly seizing Third Li's weapon before backhanding him with a heavy, powerful strike of the flagpole right across his face!

"That's for your foul mouth! That's for hitting our Grandpa Li!"

Bang!

Half of Third Li's cheek instantly swelled up high, and teeth mixed with blood foam flew out.

Before he could react, the ground beneath his feet suddenly gave way!

It was the sub-pit of the "Mother-Child Life-Taking Pit" personally guarded by "Infrastructure Maniac," an inconspicuous small trap specifically prepared for a leading target like him.

He only had time to let out a short, sharp scream before half his body sank into it.

In the next second, countless feet, countless sharpened wooden spears, and countless jagged stones rained down on him from all directions.

"For Grandpa Li!"

"Let him know the meaning of a player's wrath!"

"Club him! Don't let him die too fast; let him feel the pain!"

War God Number One was fighting with even more berserk fury. He ignored a bandit's saber slashing his back; a trail of sparks erupted from his simple leather armor as the defense attribute successfully took effect. Though it still hurt intensely, the defense wasn't breached.

He spun back with a vicious straight punch right into the bandit's face, then like a wild bull, he pinned down the immobile Third Li, his fists falling like raindrops.

[System Notification: You have killed a Black Wind Stockade Lackey.]

[System Notification: You have killed a Black Wind Stockade Lackey.]

[System Notification: You have dealt tons of damage to Third Li, the Third Leader of Black Wind Stockade!]

The players used the most primitive, savage, and satisfying methods to pour their pent-up rage onto this unlucky bastard who had lit the fuse.

Third Li's consciousness gradually blurred amidst endless pain and fear. The last things he saw were pairs of eyes flashing with excitement and cruelty, and that high-flying banner of "Filial Piety" that seemed to be mocking him.

[Ding! Family Quest Update: Objective 'Avenge Grandpa Li' has been completed! All participants gain +50 contribution points! The one who landed the final blow, 'War God Number One,' receives an additional +100 contribution points!]

Only when the system notification rang in the minds of all players did the beating of Third Li finally cease.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, over a dozen bandits were slaughtered to the last man by this group of "beggars" who outnumbered them several times over, were unafraid of death, and used the most despicable tactics imaginable.

The air was thick with the heavy scent of blood mixed with the stench of soil and poisonous bee corpses, enough to make one vomit.

"We... we won?" A new player looked at the mess all over the ground, somewhat unable to believe it.

"We won! Hahaha! We won!"

After a brief silence came a mountain-shaking, sea-surging carnival of cheers!

"Infrastructure Maniac is awesome! This trap formation was incredible!"

"Sister Skillful Hands' leather armor is really useful! If it weren't for that just now, I would've lost a kidney!"

"Demolition Office Director, that banner of yours is seriously flashy. Can you get one for me too?"

Just then, a hurried set of footsteps came from the distance, followed by a roar filled with fury and disbelief.

"Third Brother—!"

The voice was like a bucket of ice water, dousing the joy of all the players.

They looked toward the sound and saw torches forming a long dragon below the mountain path, approaching the courtyard at extreme speed.

The leader was a man with a physique as sturdy as an iron tower, holding a cold, glinting fine steel broadsword. His face was full of scarred flesh, and his eyes were as red as blood.

He saw the tragic scene at the courtyard gate and his third brother's mangled corpse.

This man was the First Leader of Black Wind Stockade, Wang Two Tiger!

Gossip Reporter Little Trumpet's breath hitched, and she immediately screamed in the team channel: "It's a BOSS! It's Wang Two Tiger! The main force of Black Wind Stockade is here! Everyone get ready! This is the real battle!"

The dozens of bandits behind Wang Two Tiger also saw the tragic state of their companions, their eyes nearly splitting with rage. They weren't the rabble Third Li had brought; they were the true elites of Black Wind Stockade.

"Kill! Kill them all for me! Chop these bastards up and feed them to the dogs!" Wang Two Tiger let out a beast-like roar. His massive body exploded with astonishing speed as he took the lead, charging forward like an out-of-control chariot.

"Hold the line! Traps! Quick! Trigger all the traps!" Infrastructure Maniac shouted at the top of his lungs.

Rolling logs thundered down, and poisoned stones smashed like hailstones.

However, Wang Two Tiger simply swung his fine steel broadsword into a whirlwind. With several crisp clangs, the rolling logs were actually split down the middle by him, and the flying stones couldn't even get close!

With light taps of his feet, he used an agility completely unbefitting his size to precisely avoid several large pit traps, crashing headlong into the players' line of defense.

Pshht!

The blade fell as a cold light flashed.

The player at the very front didn't even have time to react before being decapitated by a single strike.

[System Notification: Player 'I Am Fodder I Go First' has died. contribution points required for resurrection: 500. Or consume family resources: 1x Century-old Phoebe Nanmu, 3x Soul-Soothing Grass.]

The high cost of resurrection sent a chill through the hearts of all players.

This BOSS was on a completely different level compared to the previous lackeys!

"Shit! It's the Elite BOSS's AOE skill! [Whirlwind Slash]! Scatter! Don't stand together!" War God Number One roared, charging toward Wang Two Tiger instead of retreating.

He knew someone had to pin down this calamity, or the ranged and support players would be slaughtered to the last man.

"Filial Sons and Virtuous Grandchildren! Charge with me!" The Demolition Office Director hoisted the great banner once again to rally the people.

An even more tragic battle of offense and defense unfolded.

Wang Two Tiger's Black Wind Saber Technique was wide and powerful, each strike carrying a gale that seemed to tear the air.

The simple leather armor the players took pride in was like paper before his fine steel broadsword. One strike resulted in a wound deep enough to see bone.

White lights flashed continuously among the crowd, representing players being sent back to the ancestral hall one by one.

But the players' advantage also manifested vividly at this moment.

They died without a word of complaint, even carrying a hint of excitement.

"Damn, this BOSS's damage is insane! Brothers, I'm heading back to town to resupply first!"

"I recorded it! This move has a 0.5-second recovery frames! Focus fire on that point!"

"Motherfucker, you dare kill me? Just wait, I'll be back as soon as I respawn!"

The price of death was heavy, but death itself could not scare them away.

The Trap-Style Master, Infrastructure Maniac, didn't participate in the frontal battle. He led several lifestyle players in a frenzy of "field construction" at the edge of the battlefield, digging simple trenches and piling up low earthen walls, using everything available to delay the advance of the bandit main force.

Skillful Hands Mending organized several female players to act as field medics. Although they had no healing skills, they could drag heavily wounded players away from the front line and bandage them as quickly as possible. Even if it was just psychological comfort, it greatly boosted morale.

Appearance is Justice also played an unexpected role at this time.

She didn't join the fight but rushed to Grandpa Li's side, using her leather armor—which had been mocked as a "greasy rag"—to shield the unconscious old man. At the same time, she used her maximum volume to give a "spiritual pep talk" in the team channel:

"Brothers! Hold on! Think of the Ancestor's golden coffin! Think of the even cooler outfits in the future! Kill this ugly BOSS, and that saber of his will definitely be worth a lot! And that eyepatch of his is so cool! I want that eyepatch!"

The core of the battlefield remained Wang Two Tiger.

He was like a heartless meat grinder, continuously harvesting the lives of the players.

War God Number One had already died twice, and the cost of resurrection made his eyes twitch, but he was still the first to charge up.

Relying on his tolerance for pain and a streak of ruthlessness, he managed to leave a bone-deep wound on Wang Two Tiger's leg.

But that was all.

Wang Two Tiger spun and kicked, sending him flying. With a collapsed chest, he was on the verge of his third death.

At this critical juncture, the Demolition Office Director, carrying that already tattered "Filial Piety" banner, charged from the side with all his might and thrust the flagpole into Wang Two Tiger's wounded thigh!

"Roar—!"

Wang Two Tiger roared in pain and backhanded his saber, sending the Demolition Office Director and his banner flying.

An opening!

This momentary pause was the chance the players had traded their lives for!

"Now! Throwing team! Hit his eyes with the lime powder!"

"Ranged! All ranged! Aim for his head!"

"Melee! Everyone who's not dead, get on him! Grab him! Lock him! Bite him! Don't let him raise that saber!"

Dozens of players swarmed up like sharks smelling blood.

The already prepared lime powder, chili water, and even mud balls some players had scrambled to make in a moment of desperation were all thrown at Wang Two Tiger's face.

Caught off guard, Wang Two Tiger's eyes were blinded by the lime, his vision instantly blurring. The intense pain made him wave his broadsword wildly, but he lost his aim.

"Ahhh! My eyes!"

The players took this opportunity to fully employ their "unorthodox" hooligan tactics.

Several people clung to his legs, refusing to let go no matter how he struggled.

Several others jumped onto his back, using daggers and teeth to attack the back of his neck.

Even more people threw everything they could find at his head.

It was a completely disorganized, chaotic, yet surprisingly efficient beating.

Wang Two Tiger, the Black Wind Stockade Leader whose name struck terror for miles around, was now like a giant bear caught in a spiderweb, possessing immense strength but being gnawed into immobility by countless ants.

His health was dropping rapidly.

He could feel his life force draining away. The shock and frustration in his heart even surpassed his physical pain.

Just what kind of monsters are these?

!

"Die!"

Accompanied by a roar, the resurrected War God Number One exchanged all his contribution points for a strength buff. He leapt high, gripping a crudely made iron sword with both hands, and thrust it with all his might into Wang Two Tiger's back, right through the heart!

Pshhh—

The iron sword pierced through the heart.

Wang Two Tiger's massive body stiffened. He looked down in disbelief at the sword tip protruding from his chest, his eyes filled with unwillingness and confusion.

He had roamed the forests for over a decade and killed countless people, never imagining he would die in such a humiliating way at the hands of a group of "beggars."

[Ding!]

A crisp and pleasant system notification echoed in the minds of all surviving players.

[Congratulations! You have successfully killed the Boss: Black Wind Stockade Leader Wang Two Tiger!]

[You have paid a heavy price, but you have defended the family's dignity with courage and wisdom! The Ancestor is very satisfied with your heroic performance!]

[Family Quest 'Defend the Home' has been completed! All participants gain +300 contribution points! Family Reputation +100!]

As Wang Two Tiger's body crashed to the ground, a brilliant golden light shot into the sky, more dazzling than any previous kill.

As the light dissipated, two items lay quietly beside his corpse.

One was a tattered, thread-bound book with four large characters written in a bold, sweeping style on the cover—[Black Wind Saber Technique].

The other was a broadsword forged entirely of fine steel, its blade glinting with a grim coldness under the torchlight.

[Item Looted: Black Wind Saber Technique (Incomplete Scroll)]

[Item Looted: fine steel broadsword (Blue Fine Quality)]

The entire battlefield was dead silent for three seconds.

Then, a cheer louder than any before erupted!

"It dropped! It dropped! A blue item dropped!"

"Holy crap! There's also a skill book! It's a saber technique!"

"We're rich! We're rich, brothers!"

The surviving players, ignoring their wounds and exhaustion, swarmed forward and surrounded the loot, their eyes shining with a wolf-like green light.

Appearance is Justice pushed through the crowd and carefully picked up the blood-stained one-eyed eyepatch from Wang Two Tiger's face, treating it like a precious treasure.

"Fashion! It's a fashion piece!" she screamed with excitement.

Inside the ancestral hall, Lu Bei could clearly feel an unprecedented, almost tangible surge of Incense Faith Power flowing into his soul body like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

This power was pure, burning hot, and filled with the joy of victory, the determination to protect, and the hope for the future.

Under the washing of this power, his illusory soul body solidified significantly at a pace visible to the naked eye.

He "watched" those "Filial Sons and Virtuous Grandchildren" outside the ancestral hall, who were arguing until their faces were red over the distribution of loot yet were overflowing with the joy of survival, and a satisfied curve formed on his lips.

The gatekeeper BOSS of the starting village has been successfully taken down.

Next, it's time to... demolish some houses.