Calculating Cultivation

There was a horn in the distance as the caravan came to a halt for a third time. I had thought it was over at the first battle, but apparently word didn’t spread fast enough, or the different bandit groups just didn’t believe what had happened.

In the last two battles there were only four deaths and seven serious injuries, where the soldiers had to stay on the carts. Our overall combat strength had not decreased. This was definitely not worth that cultivation scroll. Trader Wei and Shao were silent as I let out a sigh. They both knew I did not like fighting, even more so when it would be a massacre.

There was no point in putting things off. I got out of the carriage just as the soldier in charge of the caravan came over. He had a grim look on his face, more so than the last two times. “Honored Cultivator Yuan Zhou, they have arrayed themselves just beyond that bend in the road.”

I followed the soldier around the bend in the road and immediately saw the problem. These people had built a wooden fort directly where the road was, between two steep hills. Looking at the number of bandits, there had to be at least 4,000 this time. This was starting to get a bit ridiculous. The second battle had only been about 2,000 people and they broke quickly after I had rushed into their lines.

It appeared they had raced ahead to join up with another bandit group. If these people weren’t poor farmers the vast majority of the time, I wouldn’t have believed it would be possible to get such numbers. These weren’t full time bandits, they were poor people who were desperate to change their fate. I saw women and children among the bandits on top of the wood walls and towers that had been built.

I drew my sword and advanced forwards. I could see the look of fear on their faces from under the brim of my hat. A cold gust of wind blew through the pass and there was utter stillness except for my continued advance. A man jumped down off the wall, wearing a martial robe. He was carrying a metal sword as well. But that wasn’t the most surprising thing. I could detect traces of energy within him. It was another cultivator. He began to advance towards me.

Perhaps I would get answers sooner than I had anticipated. I came to a stop a good distance away as the soldiers from the caravan assembled behind me. The other cultivator stopped as well. Based on the amount of energy he had, he would be in the Foundation Establishment stage at best, but the energy was melded in with his body incredibly well.

“I am Cultivator Yuan Zhou of the Heavenly Alliance. You cannot win,” I calmly said. I could see the fear in the man in front of me. He clearly knew he was outclassed.

“I am the Free Cultivator Han, not sworn to any sect. I cannot allow your caravan to pass,” he replied.