Chapter Eight: A Quick-Witted Heist (Version 0.2)

"Kyle, how much farther do we have to go?" Yu Fu asked, breathless, though his face was free of sweat. "When you went to fetch food and, well, test it for poison, how far did you actually run?"

"It was only a moment," Kyle replied with a smile.

"Then why are we walking so far now and still haven’t arrived?" Zhao Qingzhi, still a child, complained, her waist aching and legs sore.

"Because I didn’t take this path," Kyle answered coolly.

Wu Yue, leading the group, stopped abruptly.

A red halo rose beneath Kyle's feet, slowly enveloping the other three.

"Courage!" Kyle murmured, drawing his sword and pointing it skyward. The halo transformed into runes, each appearing on their bodies.

"Strength!"

"Speed!"

It was as if they'd taken a mighty tonic: their bodies brimmed with power, a gentle breeze lifting their steps.

"In the name of Sky Knight Kyle! Blessing!"

Kyle charged ahead. Blocking vines, trees, wild beasts—wolves, tigers, foxes, squirrels—were all cleaved and scattered.

"What happened to cherishing life? What about protecting plants and animals?" Wu Yue sighed, though his heart was eased somewhat by his summoned knight.

Beyond was the main road. A procession of a hundred carriages with numerous attendants snaked swiftly along the official highway, rivaling the speed of modern cars. The carriages and banners were emblazoned with clouds and waves—the insignia of the Eight Directions Pavilion from Shadow City. Wu Yue rejoiced inwardly at his luck.

"What should we do now? I doubt they'll let us join them," Yu Fu said. "Xue Xiaoyu told me these merchant convoys hate strangers joining. Makes sense, really."

"I actually think it's fine. We’re moving so fast," Zhao Qingzhi said, looking at Kyle in confusion. She loved the feeling of racing like the wind.

Kyle coughed a few times, shaking sweat from his brow.

"Don’t worry. Let’s wait a bit and see if we can borrow a carriage."

"You act as if they’ll just lend you one," Zhao Qingzhi scoffed, glancing at Wu Yue. She really preferred the exhilarating rush to riding in a carriage.

"Listen, little girl. Running at that speed is overtaxing your muscle elasticity. If you overdo it, you might end up bowlegged," Wu Yue said carelessly, convinced he was amusing most of the time.

Kyle nodded in agreement. "It’s true." As a knight, honesty was essential, but dignity ranked higher. Kyle was a pure knight, with no past or memory, guided only by the spirit of knighthood deep within. Who could say if that was a blessing?

Zhou Li was the martial escort for this Eight Directions Pavilion convoy. With his cultivation at the Binding Spirit stage, he was more than enough to deter petty thieves. The cargo was valuable mostly due to its quantity, not the sort to attract truly powerful cultivators.

Yet, since setting out today, Zhou Li’s right eyelid had been twitching incessantly. He felt something was off. Riding at the front, his mount was a Longjaw Horse, famed for its ferocity and rare as a spiritual beast. But now, even the horse was snorting uneasily. Zhou Li glanced back at one of the carriages and was reassured.

“With the Second Miss here, what could go wrong?” Zhou Li exhaled deeply, maintaining a calm facade. As leader, he couldn’t show any hint of anxiety.

“Damn it, what’s there to fear? I’ve traveled all over—seen it all,” Zhou Li silently encouraged himself.

"Keep a close eye on the carriages! Don't bump anything turning! Once we round that bend, you’ll see the Chu River—hurry up, today we must cross!" Zhou Li shouted, his unease growing heavier.

The road twisted ahead.

Zhou Li spotted seven figures barring the way. Relief washed over him, only to be replaced by dread. The unknown was terrifying, but the known could be even worse.

Only seven, yet they blocked the road completely.

"Roar!" The leader, mounted atop a massive tiger, let out a thunderous cry. The other riders’ beasts followed, howling and snarling.

The Eight Directions Pavilion’s transport beasts, usually docile and easy to control, whimpered and collapsed in succession. Even Zhou Li’s Longjaw Horse growled in terror. Zhou Li’s face darkened. These visitors meant trouble. Fortunately, the Pavilion’s staff, though flustered, did not panic.

"You must be Zhou Li?" The leader leaped forward astride his tiger, speaking calmly and authoritatively.

Years of experience told Zhou Li this was a young man—truly young. All seven wore masks, each radiating an imposing aura.

"I asked you a question."

Zhou Li stared coldly at the man, answering with measured dignity, "Yes, I am Zhou Li. Who are you?"

"My identity is irrelevant," the man replied, raising a short halberd. "Leave the cargo and let the others go. As for you—end your own life."

Zhou Li burst out laughing in fury. “If you want my head, come and take it!”

"A cultivator of the Binding Spirit stage, debasing yourself as a mere escort. Shameful for practitioners like us."

"Uncle Zhou is a retainer of the Hai family, sharing our honor and disgrace. The cargo can be yours, but you mustn’t insult our people," a clear voice rang out from one of the carriages.

"Second Miss," Zhou Li took a deep breath, resolve blazing in his eyes.

"A fine scene—dying for the sake of your confidant. No wonder your elder sister wishes you gone," the tiger rider laughed.

"So you’re sent by the eldest miss," Zhou Li said in a low voice.

"Hah! She’s nothing. She couldn’t order me if she tried," the tiger rider sneered. "As for who I am, you’ll know soon enough—when you’re dead."

"This is your last chance. Leave the cargo. You stay. And the Second Miss doesn’t go anywhere."

"Now, Sixth Brother, clear out the rats."

At his words, a rider astride a cheetah leapt into the air, cheetah bounding toward the dense woods beside the road.

"Kill!" Zhou Li struck first, his figure shifting, targeting the tiger rider.

"Pathetic—you think you can fight me up close?" The tiger rider raised a hand. The five behind him and their beasts roared in unison.

Thunderous cries shook the earth and sky, visible shockwaves rippling outward.

Zhou Li never reached the tiger rider; blood streamed from his ears. The merchant convoy behind was thrown into chaos, people and beasts tumbling.

The tiger rider slapped his mount, which lunged at Zhou Li.