Chapter Thirty-One: Treasure Hunting in Willow Wood Village
Li Ju gazed at the bandit elites, pondering deeply, when a sudden inspiration struck him.
“What nonsense! With my current martial prowess, why should I hesitate to storm a mere bandit stronghold?”
True to his thought, Li Ju acted at once. With a flicker, he launched himself directly at the group of bandit elites.
“Who goes there!”
The bandits guarding the gate had only a momentary glimpse before a man appeared among them as if from nowhere. Instantly alarmed, they shouted questions at Li Ju, demanding his identity. One quick-witted bandit, recognizing Li Ju’s extraordinary skills, swiftly produced a red firecracker, intending to ignite its fuse.
Ghost Bat Claw!
Bang!
Li Ju’s palm struck deep into the iron armor. Though the force of his blow didn’t pierce the armor outright, the internal shock was enough to kill the bandit holding the firecracker on the spot.
“We’re under attack!”
The remaining bandits, seeing Li Ju’s power to dent iron with a single strike, realized they were no match for him. They raised their voices in panic, hoping to draw the attention of other bandits within Willow Wood Stronghold.
“One minute.”
Li Ju took a deep breath, circulating the Ghost Bat Technique at full speed. His body became a shadow, weaving ceaselessly among the bandits.
Splatter!
Blood sprayed in every direction. Though these elite bandits of Willow Wood Stronghold were nightmares to ordinary merchants, under Li Ju’s hands, they were nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter.
With the fall of his last palm, the final bandit collapsed.
“Whew…”
After eliminating all the bandits, Li Ju wasted no time. He strode directly to the iron gate of the treasury, gathered his strength, and punched the massive lock.
Bang!
The lock warped but remained steadfast, securing the treasury behind the iron door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of blows followed. With a muffled crash, the iron lock finally dropped from the door.
“The treasury…”
Li Ju pushed open the treasury, intending to take only enough gold and jewels to support his family’s life in Tianmen County.
“Gold first…”
---
As the treasury door swung open, Li Ju finally witnessed the true state of Willow Wood Stronghold’s vault.
“Where’s the gold…?”
Staring at the empty room, with nothing but a few battered wooden boxes huddled in the cave’s corners—no rats, nothing—Li Ju was dumbstruck.
Disbelieving, he walked to the boxes, opened them, and searched carefully, finding only a handful of copper coins at the bottom of one.
Not even enough to pay the entrance fee for a single person into Tianmen County.
“Brothers, that guy stole all our treasures from Willow Wood Stronghold!”
Just as Li Ju was about to tear up the treasury floor, a group of bandits, drawn by the commotion, burst into the vault brandishing a variety of weapons.
Initially intimidated by the sight of their slain elite comrades outside, the bandits became wild with rage upon seeing the empty treasury. Their eyes turned red with fury, overcoming their fear of martial masters as they charged madly at Li Ju.
The bandits of Willow Wood Stronghold, fearful their blood-earned money would be stolen or lost for any reason, all kept their fortunes in what they believed to be the safest place—the treasury.
Thus, the contents of Willow Wood Stronghold’s vault were actually the collective savings of these bandits—their hard-earned wealth. That’s why these cunning bandits rushed over the moment they heard something had happened to the treasury.
Now, seeing it empty and their savings gone, they went berserk. They had spent years risking their lives for this fortune, and now it was gone in an instant—it was as if their very lives had been taken.
Li Ju watched the furious bandits charging at him, the corner of his mouth twitching. He seemed to have become the scapegoat…
Bang!
“Someone has raided the treasury! This is outrageous… How dare they sully the name of Willow Wood Stronghold!”
The chief of Willow Wood Stronghold, upon hearing of the raid, slapped the table and stood up in agitation, nearly misspeaking in his excitement.
“Summon the second and third chiefs. Bring men and surround the thief who dared steal from our treasury!”
“If we don’t handle this today, the reputation of Willow Wood’s thirty-six bandit lords will be trampled!”
The chief grew more agitated as he paced around the table.
“By the way, has the fourth chief returned?”
Suddenly remembering, he asked the bandit before him.
“The fourth chief hasn’t returned since leading a raid yesterday.”
The bandit replied.
“Never takes care of proper business,” the chief muttered, shaking his head, assuming his younger brother was enjoying himself outside and reluctant to return.
“Never mind, I’ll deal with this thief myself.”
---
The chief circled the table several more times, unable to contain his agitation, finally deciding to personally ensure nothing went wrong.
“Take me to—”
Bang!
The wooden wall of the room splintered as a blood-soaked figure burst in from outside.
“What—”
Before the chief could finish his sentence, his hair stood on end, pupils contracted, and he raised both arms to defend his chest.
Bang!
Spurt!
The chief coughed up blood, his face filled with terror as he stared at the figure whose clothes were drenched in crimson.
Escape!
The chief flung several round balls from his sleeve and ran without a backward glance.
To be struck so hard as to vomit blood—such overwhelming power was beyond his ability to resist. Though his opponent was of the same external martial realm, even among martial masters, there were levels!
Hiss…
Smoke billowed rapidly from the balls, filling the room before Li Ju could react.
Li Ju pushed off with force, leaping out of the room to the rooftop, watching the chief flee into the distance, and chased after him.
“Spare my life, hero! If you let me live, I’ll give you a thousand taels of silver!”
The chief pleaded as he ran, but his feet never slowed.
Li Ju kicked a stone, throwing the chief’s steps into disorder. Seizing the opportunity, Li Ju caught up and struck him in the back with a palm.
Spurt!
The chief’s corpse collapsed limply.
“Now I can finally search this Willow Wood Stronghold for treasure in peace.”
Li Ju planted his foot on the chief’s corpse, his gaze sweeping across Willow Wood Mountain.
At this moment, aside from those who escaped in the chaos, every bandit of Willow Wood Stronghold had been slaughtered by his hand.