In less than an hour, the wagon crossed the valley and neared the cliff.
Inside, the air became tense by the fact that Demonic Spirit Sealing Scroll existed to this date and Master Ping has kept the scroll back at his treasury.
The atmosphere inside the wagon was thick with unease, a silent weight pressing down on everyone aboard. Even the slightest creak of wood or shift of a seat seemed magnified in the confined space, echoing off the walls and stirring anxiety.
Every passenger's senses were sharpened, their eyes darting to every shadow that flickered across the wagon's interior and every movement beyond the curtains. The faint rustle of fabric or a nervous intake of breath felt like a threat in itself.
Master Ping's heart pounded steadily, yet beneath that calm rhythm, a storm of anticipation and concern brewed. He was well aware that the scroll's significance could draw attention from both ordinary thieves and those skilled in the mystical arts.
Mei Chen sat tensely, muscles coiled like a spring, her hands clenched intermittently, she could tell the significance of the scroll.
Zheng, as ever, was still, a contrast to the others, but the slight twitch of his robe and the glint of his eyes betrayed a heightened awareness. The wagon felt suspended in a fragile moment, as though time itself had slowed to allow every heartbeat, every whisper of wind, every tremor of the valley to announce the coming storm.
Each person understood that one misstep could spell disaster—not just for themselves, but for the priceless artifact in their care. The air seemed to thrum with the unspoken promise that they would all unite together, if and when the scroll broke.
The curtain moved rhythmically as the wagon roared through the valley. Even seated, their bodies never truly rested, and the constant rumble of the wooden wheels and hoofbeats were all they heard from outside.
Then—
The horses screamed.
And they stopped at the turn near the cliff.
Master Ping circulated his qi to stabilize himself, and Mei Chen planted her hand on the seat to reduce the impact of the sudden, sharp stop.Meanwhile, Zheng hardly moved at all—only his robes fluttered, but his body remained firm in his seat.
Before them stood a dozen men in black clad.
"Bandits!" the lead escort called out.
From the front, a tall man with a scar on his face stepped forward, his robe dangling behind him, exposing a huge sword suspended at his hip. His qi was heavy with killing intent.
"We don't want to hurt you," he said coldly. "Hand over all your valuables and we'll spare your lives."
The lead escort did not answer.Rather, spiritual energy began to circulate around him as he slowly drew his sword.
The air became dense.
Without warning, the lead escort dashed at the tall man.
Even before the two leaders clashed swords, arrows began to fly in both directions, and a few men dropped to their knees. The arrows that flew toward the wagon were instantly deflected by the two guards guarding it.
Then the leaders' swords met.
Their strength matched each other, and so did their skills. Their swords collided with a sharp crack, and their qi barely overwhelmed each other's.
Following their leader, the men charged at one another. Clashes of swords and the cries of men echoed throughout the cliff. Blood wetted the dust on the road, and men began to fall one after another on both sides.
"Is it worth dying for someone?" the leader of the bandits sneered.
The lead escort remained steady.
"I don't mind dying fulfilling my duty."
The lead escort stepped forward, released his full cultivation, and began to gain the upper hand over his opponent.
"You bandits will never understand honor."
A surge of spiritual energy burst outward from the bandit, forcing the lead escort several steps backward. His eyes fumed with rage, and his qi spiraled violently around him.
"Honor! Humph… Honor!" the bandit charged rapidly at the lead escort. "What the fuck did honor give me?"
"NOTHING!"
"IT GIVES YOU NOTHING!"
"BUT IT WILL TAKE EVERYTHING FROM YOU."
The leader of the bandits slashed at the lead escort with overwhelming strength. Though every slash was parried away, damage was done to the lead escort.
After an intense fight, the lead escort finally dropped to one knee.
Around them, the fight intensified—screams roared through the sky, and the number of men who fell in the fight increased. The quiet road suddenly became a battlefield.
"Haah… Haah… I told you… bandits like you will never understand honor."
The lead escort gripped his sword for support. Summoning all his remaining strength, he charged for a final strike. However, the bandit escaped his attack with only a slight cut on his cheek.
"An honest man like you will either die fighting for others or get betrayed by the one you protect." The bandit leader went for a final attack.
The men around them froze for a second. The escorts rushed to help their leader, but they were stopped by other bandits. The fight began to turn in favor of the bandits as the lead escort was about to lose.
Amidst the chaotic battlefield, the lead bandit slowly and deliberately stepped toward the lead escort.
"You are strong," he said quietly. "I'd like you to join us."
The lead escort lay on the ground, barely able to move. He gave a weak, defiant laugh. "Hah… I'd rather die than join you."
"If you value your pride more than your life," the bandit said coldly, "then I'll grant your wish."
The bandit leader lifted his sword and gathered spiritual energy around it. The air around the blade flickered, and the strike was measured.
The sword descended—
A flash of light cut through the chaos.
The escorts stood there, their eyes widened, jaws dropped, and their bodies instinctively rushed toward their leader.
When the dust settled, no figure remained standing—only a jade box spinning on the ground.