Chapter 46 Facing the Army of Bandits

Little did anyone know that with the aid of his system cheat, Gu Feng could see through Zhu Genghua’s inner thoughts with remarkable clarity.

Gu Feng, brimming with confidence and speaking in a calm voice, addressed Zhu Genghua, “As long as you can handle the other bandits of Thousand Peaks, just leave their spirit master to me.”

Zhu Genghua was utterly stunned. “What?” He stared at Gu Feng in disbelief, doubting his own ears and even suspecting he might be hallucinating.

A spirit master did not merely possess abundant spiritual power; their level was far superior, capable of unleashing true might and soaring freely through the skies. Spirit practitioners, with their limited power, dared not fly at will. For one of them to kill a spirit master—even a peak practitioner—would require a prodigy of heaven-defying talent armed with secret arts and divine skills.

So when Gu Feng claimed he could handle the spirit master, Zhu Genghua was understandably shocked.

He took a deep breath, gazing at Gu Feng with grave seriousness. “Will the expert backing you make a move?”

Everyone believed Gu Feng had a formidable protector, at least a spirit master, behind him. Otherwise, how could he be so sure of himself?

But having never met this mysterious figure, Zhu Genghua could not be certain. As a town lord, he must consider every possibility—one wrong move could doom his entire town. He could not afford carelessness.

He turned to Gu Feng. “Might I ask if your esteemed expert could show himself?”

Gu Feng knew well that a town lord was not easily fooled. Feigning nonchalance, he replied, “As you please. If you trust me, within a month there will be no more bandits in Thousand Peaks. If not, it doesn’t matter—I’ll simply pat the dust off and leave.”

He played the rogue, making it clear he wasn’t from Senyuan Town. Whether they believed him or not was their business. If the bandits came, he could always just walk away.

Everyone frowned at Gu Feng’s attitude, finding him insufferable, though there was nothing they could do about it. It was a most vexing feeling.

Zhu Genghua had no other choice. If Gu Feng left, it would be Senyuan Town that faced the wrath of Thousand Peaks.

His options were clear: either take a gamble with Gu Feng or face the consequences alone. In any case, it was too late to call for reinforcements.

He pondered for a long while, then said, “Are you certain you can deal with their spirit master?”

Hearing the tone, Gu Feng knew he had him. He smiled faintly, “I am absolutely certain. There’s no need to worry about their spirit master.”

Zhu Genghua looked at Gu Feng’s younger sister. “This must be your sister. During the battle with Thousand Peaks, perhaps it would be wise to settle her at the Town Lord’s Manor for her safety.”

Gu Feng understood immediately—Zhu Genghua did not entirely trust him and was using his sister as leverage.

But this worked perfectly for Gu Feng.

After his self-detonation, his sister’s safety was his greatest concern. If she was secured within the Town Lord’s Manor, he would be most at ease.

Still, to be extra cautious, he turned to Liang Zi. “Liang Zi, with my sister staying at the manor, perhaps you could go along and look after her?”

Liang Zi, a warrior, would make him even more reassured. Blushing, and under the curious and bemused gazes of her family, Liang Zi nodded.

She did not quite understand why she listened to Gu Feng so readily—perhaps not realizing this was simply what it meant to like someone.

Just as everyone thought the matter settled, the town’s military messenger burst into the Liang household in a panic, dropped to one knee, and breathlessly reported to Zhu Genghua, “My lord! An army of bandits is attacking Senyuan Town!”

“What!” Zhu Genghua cried in alarm, his face ashen—he had never expected the bandits to strike so swiftly.

Yet, as befitted a town lord, his reaction was quick. He immediately gave orders: “Notify all family forces—assemble at the city walls and prepare to defend against the bandit army!”

The others’ expressions changed as well. Their estimation of the bandits rose—such rapid mobilization and attack was scarcely inferior to a regular army.

The bandit army this time was formidable: their strongest was a ninth-level spirit practitioner, plus one of the eighth level, and twenty more below the seventh, totaling twenty-two spirit practitioners.

Such a force was indeed powerful, for Senyuan Town’s only comparable defenders were the Town Lord Zhu Genghua, himself an eighth-level spirit practitioner, a resident elder of the ninth level, and eight other spirit practitioners.

Clearly, this wave of bandits from Thousand Peaks was targeting the Town Lord’s Manor.

Gu Feng’s eyes lit up. If he could annihilate these bandits, Thousand Peaks’ strength would be cut by half, making the task of conquering them vastly easier.

Unable to contain his excitement, Gu Feng declared, “Excellent! We must wipe them out completely. After this, the bandits of Thousand Peaks will be no more!”

Hearing Gu Feng’s impassioned words, all eyes turned to him in confusion. Where did this young man find such courage? Or was the power supporting him truly that formidable?

To Zhu Genghua, however, the more confident Gu Feng seemed, the more at ease he felt.

He addressed Gu Feng, “In that case, young hero, why not join us in wiping out these bandits?”

Without hesitation, Gu Feng agreed. For him, this was all valuable experience.

Thus, every Liang family warrior of fifth level or higher followed to assemble on the city walls.

Upon reaching the battlements, Gu Feng gazed out at the dense mass of bandits below. The system tallied them at 11,205.

Looking at the sea of enemies, Gu Feng remarked casually, “Over twelve thousand men—not bad. I hope they won’t disappoint me.”

At his words, those on the wall who didn’t know Gu Feng all turned to look at him. Faced with such numbers and power, they were gravely concerned, yet this young man, not much beyond a boy, was so supremely confident. Who was he?

Zhu Genghua asked, “Then how do you suggest we best deal with them?”

Gu Feng smiled, stepped forward to the edge of the wall, and, from his lofty vantage, declared, “Take the initiative—annihilate them all.”

He added, “Of course, their top experts will be up to you, my lord. Especially that ninth-level spirit practitioner in black robes—he seems particularly suspicious. Be careful if you must fight him.”

The bandit army, seeing their opponents not only unafraid but chatting at leisure, were incensed.

At their head was a burly eighth-level spirit practitioner astride a fierce tiger. He bellowed toward Gu Feng, “You bastards of Senyuan Town, come out and die!”

Gu Feng looked at the brute, annoyed by the insult, and retorted, “Who are you calling a bastard?”

The spirit practitioner, thick-headed, blurted out, “You, you brat!”

Gu Feng laughed heartily, “So you’re calling yourself a bastard, then.”

The bandit leader finally caught on, flushed with anger, leapt into the air to face Gu Feng, and roared, “You’re courting death!”