Chapter 12: Storming the Cloudwater Stronghold

“You saw the magic I performed just now. If you dare deceive me, I’ll rip your soul from your body and seal it inside my artifact, condemning you to eternal damnation,” Su Yi continued, his voice cold and threatening.

“Have mercy, Master Daoist! Please, spare my life! I’ll tell you everything I know!” Mistaking Su Yi for one of those legendary sorcerers from rural tales, the bandit was seized by terror of the unknown, and immediately spilled all he knew, answering every question without reservation.

It turned out that these bandits hailed from a place called Watercloud Stronghold deep within Mount Tu. There had originally been seventeen of them, led by a chieftain considered a third-rate expert in the martial world, with the rest having basic martial training. They survived by plundering the mountains. That was until five days ago, when a gravely wounded martial artist with both legs severed at the knees broke into their stronghold. In a display of ruthless violence, he killed the former chieftain and three trusted followers to assert his dominance, then coerced the remaining thirteen bandits into submission, becoming the new chieftain of Watercloud Stronghold.

After assuming command, the new leader secluded himself in a stone cave within the stronghold, rarely emerging and treating the other bandits with haughty authority. With the exception of having his meals delivered daily, he spent nearly all his time in isolation, healing his injuries.

Perhaps because of his wounds, the new chieftain was ill-tempered and cruel. Not long ago, two bandits made a minor mistake and were punished with a brutal palm strike laced with poison, shattering their ribs and breaking their limbs. Their agonized cries lasted a full day and night before they finally died, blood streaming from every orifice.

The remaining bandits, understandably, feared the new chief as one might fear a venomous snake. On the day he took power, he forced every bandit to swallow a pill he provided. Rumor had it that without the antidote, death was inevitable when the time came.

Thus, even if they wished to escape, the bandits had no way out. They could only serve their new master in trembling fear, treading on thin ice at every step.

A classic villain of the demonic path, Su Yi thought to himself.

At present, there were only eleven bandits left in Watercloud Stronghold apart from the new chieftain: ten had taken part in today’s ambush, while the last one was stationed as a lookout on the path leading to the stronghold.

Su Yi moved on to interrogate another bandit, and under similar threats, received the same detailed confession. Cross-referencing the two accounts, he confirmed the information’s accuracy.

Having learned the current situation in Watercloud Stronghold, Su Yi pondered briefly. Judging by the intelligence, today was indeed a suitable day to mete out justice.

Decision made, Su Yi glanced at the two bandits lying a dozen meters apart. With a swift thrust, his blade pierced the chest of the one sitting on the ground.

Witnessing his companion’s grisly fate, the other bandit cried out in terror. Su Yi strode over and said coldly, “How dare you try to deceive me! I’ll make sure your soul suffers for this.”

“Spare me, Master Daoist, please! Every word I spoke is true, I swear!” The bandit, terrified out of his wits, kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead caked with blood and soil.

“Since you’ve been honest, I’ll spare your life for now. Take me to Watercloud Stronghold.”

After quickly disposing of the bodies, Su Yi selected a suitable longbow from the weapons left behind. Like an eagle seizing a chick, he hoisted the bandit and set off toward the stronghold, following his directions.

They passed through dense forests and crossed streams, following a narrow, winding path until they reached its end. Before them, a staircase of green stone twisted up the slope; they were not far from Watercloud Stronghold now.

“Master Daoist, that’s where the lookout is hiding—just as I told you before,” the bandit said, pointing ahead.

Su Yi’s keen eyes could only make out a few massive natural boulders piled atop one another, with a sprawling banyan tree above, its aerial roots clinging to the cracks. The dense shade concealed any sign of a person—a perfect spot for a sentry.

“Well done,” Su Yi said, having already extracted all the necessary information during their journey. He set the bandit down and patted his shoulder. Just as a hint of relief appeared on the man’s face, Su Yi slit his throat.

“Be a good man in your next life,” Su Yi spat, then crouched and slipped into the undergrowth, silently circling behind.

As he neared the boulders, Su Yi stilled his breath and listened. Soon, he caught the faint sounds of breathing and someone shifting. Locating the source, Su Yi crept up behind the lookout and, before the man could react, pressed a blade to his throat.

“Don’t move, or you die.”

“Turn around—slowly.”

Feeling the cold, gleaming blade at his neck, the bandit dared not resist. He lowered his voice, trembling. “Spare me, good sir!”

Turning slowly, the bandit saw before him a man in exquisite clothes of unknown make, his face hidden behind an extraordinarily strange mask.

“No need to fear. I’ve come for your new chieftain. That demon has committed countless atrocities and deserves death. He managed to escape me once, but today, I’ll make sure he meets his end with no grave to receive him,” Su Yi said coolly, noticing the bandit wanted to speak.

“Rest easy. I already know from your fellows that you’re all under his control thanks to those pills. That old devil always relies on such underhanded tricks—I’m well aware. If you do as I say and lure him out of his cave, I’ll deal with him myself, give you all the antidote, and let you go free. Provided you haven’t sunk too deep into evil, you’ll be released to live honest lives.”

“Thank you, sir—no, thank you, great hero, for sparing us. I’ll do exactly as you say. When I get down the mountain, I’ll turn over a new leaf,” the bandit said, knowing he had no choice.

“Very well, let’s head up to the stronghold.”

Su Yi stripped the bandit of his signal arrow, tossed it aside, and pressed his blade to the man’s waist, marching him forward.

Watercloud Stronghold was perched atop a mountain, set against a backdrop of jagged stone—a naturally defensible position. The entrance, made of rough-hewn logs, opened onto a square about an acre across, surrounded by simple wooden huts. At the innermost part stood a stone cave, its door tightly shut.

Su Yi circled the stronghold, carefully surveying every detail and mentally rehearsing his escape plan in case things went awry.

He reached one side of the stronghold, where a cliff dropped away. Here, a thick hemp rope was tied to a concealed boulder, trailing down the cliff face. If not for his earlier interrogation, Su Yi would never have discovered this escape route.

He severed the rope with his blade, then turned to the bandit. “Go and lure him out, as I instructed.”