Once ready, Han Yu retrieved his horse from the stable, tossed another silver to the boy, and rode out of Harrow Edge Town.
He did not go directly toward the mountain path.
Instead, after riding for several minutes, he veered off into the forest. He guided the horse toward a dense cluster of trees and tied it to a sturdy branch. The horse snorted quietly as Han Yu patted its neck.
"Stay here," he murmured. "You will be safe."
Han Yu leaped upward, grabbing a branch and settling into the canopy. He crouched on a sturdy limb and scanned the forest with his spirit sense. The clearing where he had left the horse was empty.
But Han Yu was not looking there.
He was looking for anyone following him.
He suspected soone might try. Rumors spread fast in towns like this. People vanished. Travelers were ambushed. It was common knowledge that the mont soone left the safe borders of town, they were fair ga for bandits lurking in the forest.
So he waited.
Five minutes passed.Ten minutes.Half an hour.
Just when Han Yu was about to climb down, his spirit sense tingled.
Several presences were approaching.
He sharpened his focus. Around six n moved through the forest, heading along the road. They wore mismatched fur pelts and rough clothing. So carried rusty spears and worn machetes. One dragged a sack over his shoulder.
Their expressions were annoyed and frustrated.
Han Yu recognized the scent of this kind of group a mile away.
Bandits.
They walked in a loose formation, grumbling to each other.
"Where did that fat sheep go?" one said while kicking a tree root.
"He disappeared too quickly," another replied. "We watched him leave the gates. He could not have gone far."
"Maybe he had help. Maybe he noticed us." A third man scratched his beard. "Dammit, that is the second one this week."
The leader spat on the ground and cursed. "If we cannot find soone soon, Boss Hu will tan our hides."
Han Yu smirked.
So the rumors were true...
Travelers disappearing shortly after leaving the town was no coincidence. These n were clearly part of the cause. Judging by their accents and gear, they were probably locals pretending to be bandits. Perhaps even hired by soone inside the town.
Han Yu watched them pass beneath his tree, entirely unaware of the silent predator crouching above them.
His smile deepened.
"Perfect warm up."
Han Yu watched the bandits from the branches above them, his expression calm, almost bored. The six n wandered below, grumbling, kicking stones, and complaining about their bad luck. They had no idea a predator crouched above their heads.
He waited until they passed directly under his perch.
Then he slipped off the tree silently and landed behind them without making a sound. His foot touched the ground like a feather brushing snow.
A few ters away, a twig snapped beneath his boot.
The bandits flinched violently and turned around.
Before any of them could speak, a wave of grey Surprise emotion surged from their bodies and flowed into Han Yu. He felt it swirl within him, like a cold breeze turning into a spark of warmth. Then, as soon as the bandits saw he was just a lone traveler, the surprise shifted into red anger.
One of them snarled and spat. "So it’s you... just one skinny brat. You scared the piss out of us."
Another stepped forward with a sneer. "Good. Saved us ti. Hand over all your money, your storage pouch, those fancy robes, and we might let you leave with all your limbs intact."
Han Yu laughed. The sound echoed between the trees, neither loud nor soft, but carrying a chill that made the bandits hesitate.
"The ones who will be paying," Han Yu said slowly, "are all of you."
He smiled.
"With your lives."
The n bristled in anger.
"Big words for soone alone," one said.
"Kill him," the leader barked. "I do not have patience for idiots."
Han Yu tilted his head and chuckled again. "You are truly blind. Not even checking the cultivation of the man you want to rob. But do not worry. It will be the last mistake you ever make."
He released his cultivation base.
A wave of Core Condensation realm pressure burst outward, slamming into the bandits like a falling boulder. The trees around them rustled violently. The ground trembled.
The bandits froze in terror.
More grey Surprise energy surged into Han Yu, far stronger than before. Then a tide of violet Fear washed over him, feeding into his core like a nourishing broth.
Their legs shook. A few nearly dropped their weapons.
"You... you... Core Condensation realm?" one stamred. "Impossible. You look too young."
Han Yu shrugged. "Should have checked first."
The leader tried to rally them. "Run!"
"No," Han Yu whispered.
He disappeared.
In the next instant, he was behind one of the bandits. His hand pierced through the man’s back, exiting through the chest with a spray of blood. The bandit collapsed before he understood he was dead.
The second bandit swung a machete wildly, screaming. Han Yu caught his wrist, twisted it until the bone broke, then ramd his knee into the man’s sternum. The ribcage cracked and the man fell limp.
Two more tried to flee. Han Yu flicked his fingers and sent two Soul Needles into their necks. The n froze mid ran, their bodies collapsing like puppets with cut strings.
The fifth attempted to beg for rcy.
Han Yu grabbed him by the hair and slamd his head into a tree trunk so hard it cracked. Blood sprayed downward as the man slid lifelessly to the roots.
Only one remained, still trying to crawl away.
Han Yu walked toward him and stepped on his spine. The man cried out. Han Yu pressed harder, and the sound ended with a sharp crack.
Violet Fear poured into Han Yu like a waterfall.
All six bandits were dead in less than a minute.
Han Yu felt almost refreshed.
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