Lian Li’s horse had been brought from Drunken Dream Island. Although it wasn’t as intelligent as a prized steed like Ice Treader, it was still quite spiritual.
He gently patted the horse’s neck and let it follow Ice Treader. As long as nothing happened to Ice Treader, this horse would be safe.
After settling the horses, the two of them activated their Lightness Skill and flew toward the mountain.
The mountains at night were not quiet; there were the cries of various wild beasts and the chirping of insects.
The two moved through the forest like two agile birds, their feet borrowing strength from branches. The sound of rustling leaves they caused was not obvious on a night like this.
Soon, they spotted the bandit stronghold situated halfway up the mountain.
Lian Li stood on a peak, looking across the ravine at the burning torches outside the stronghold.
The woman had said the stronghold was quite large, but Lian Li felt it wasn’t that big.
It was much smaller than he had imagined. However, compared to those desolate villages, this stronghold was still quite grand; it was just that Lian Li looked down on it.
He had the perspective of the modern world and, being with Yun Huizhou, he was always in contact with high-end figures. This led to a significant difference in perception between him and that woman regarding the size of the stronghold.
It’s nothing more than this.
This thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately shook his head, casting the idea aside.
Such a contemptuous mindset was wrong. Setting aside the modern world, even here, the fact that he could interact with high-end figures and powers was thanks to Yun Huizhou.
If he were venturing out on his own, this stronghold would likely be a troublesome behemoth to him.
Much of his current confidence came from Yun Huizhou, not himself. He had to correct his mindset.
After adjusting his mental state, Lian Li looked at the stronghold opposite him with a slightly serious expression.
He knew that for this bandit suppression, Yun Huizhou likely wouldn’t offer any ideas and would only act as his safeguard. When planning the operation, it was best to plan under the premise that he was alone.
Thus, after a moment of thought, he said to Yun Huizhou, “It’s still early. Looking at the lights over there, they probably haven’t gone to sleep yet. Besides, bandits might not rest that early. We’ll have to wait until at least the latter half of the night for a chance to sneak in and scout the situation.”
Yun Huizhou nodded and said, “I’ll listen to you.”
Lian Li tapped his fingers. If Yun Huizhou were the lead and he was just following along for the bandit suppression, he basically wouldn’t need to consider so much. He could just charge in and go on a slaughtering spree.
But now that he was the lead, he couldn’t be so reckless. After scouting the situation, if it wasn’t suitable for a direct assault, he would need a more detailed plan.
To be cautious, he said another word to Yun Huizhou: “I might not necessarily strike tonight. Can we stay on the mountain for a few more days?”
Yun Huizhou replied, “Just decide based on the situation. Anything is fine with me.”
Seeing that it was still early, the two didn’t stand on the rocks to catch the wind but instead slipped into the woods.
Lian Li had carefully selected the spot; they could see the stronghold’s situation from there, and there were trees to facilitate their concealment. If they prepared to move, Lian Li’s level of Lightness Skill would allow him to cross the ravine and reach the other side directly.
During the Chou hour (1 to 3 AM), the lights in the stronghold opposite them finally dimmed significantly. Lian Li judged that the bandits in the stronghold had begun to rest one after another.
Except for important areas where torches were still kept, other places should have “extinguished their lights.”
Lian Li was in no hurry to act immediately. From his previous observations, he had noticed that the stronghold had night watch teams.
He had to see if there were any changes in the night watch teams after the “lights out.”
After waiting for about another fifteen minutes, he saw faint firelight moving along the outer wall of the stronghold. Under the reflection of the firelight, he vaguely saw the shadows of a team of people.
It was the night watch. After the lights went out, someone at the front of their team would hold a torch for illumination while patrolling.
Lian Li waited until the patrol had passed three times. After roughly estimating the interval between them and seeing the patrol pass from their direction for the fourth time, he said to Yun Huizhou, “Go! Move out!”
With that, he flew toward the bandit stronghold opposite them, and Yun Huizhou immediately followed.
Lian Li was extremely careful. Under his cautious calculations, they successfully entered the stronghold. As soon as he landed, he darted behind a haystack. Yun Huizhou had been paying close attention to his movements and quickly followed suit upon seeing this.
The two hid close together behind the haystack. Lian Li poked his head out from behind the stack to look around, listened carefully to the surrounding movements, and then signaled to Yun Huizhou again.
Continue the operation.
Seeing his sneaky appearance, Yun Huizhou found it somewhat amusing but was also quite gratified in his heart.
This kid was truly quite cautious.
Although the efficiency was a bit slow, being careful was never wrong.
Yun Huizhou did not rush him and truly did as he had said before, completely following Lian Li’s instructions.
If Lian Li told him to move, he moved; if told to stop, he stopped; if told to hide, he hid.
One hour after sneaking into the stronghold, they reached a remote corner where the environment was particularly poor.
Lian Li felt that normally no one would live there, so he wasn’t planning to explore further.
However, just as he wanted to change direction, he suddenly heard a groan of pain.
In the silent stronghold, this sound was especially piercing. He instinctively paused and then looked toward that remote direction.
There was too much clutter over there, and he couldn’t see to the end all at once, so he turned to look at Yun Huizhou again.
He found that Yun Huizhou still had no expression. Sensing that Lian Li was looking at him, he only spared him a glance and then continued to stare at that remote direction.
Although Yun Huizhou didn’t say anything, his action was clearly a hint that there was something going on over there.
Even though this operation was said to be entirely led by Lian Li, when there was truly a situation that Lian Li hadn’t noticed, Yun Huizhou would still provide some hints.
Lian Li wasn’t stubborn; he didn’t feel he had to strictly follow his own ideas. He knew his experience wasn’t rich, and when Yun Huizhou gave an obvious hint, he wouldn’t insist on doing the opposite just to prove himself.
So, in just an instant, Lian Li made the decision to go over and take a look.
As the two approached, the movements over there became clearer.
Lian Li heard several breathing sounds, as well as the sound of straw being moved when someone turned over.
Bypassing the piled-up clutter, he finally saw the scene behind it.
Not far away was a shed that looked specifically designed for raising livestock, but what was being kept in that shed were not animals, but people.
People with barely any clothes on—both men and women. They all looked like young people. Their looks weren’t necessarily stunning, but they all had delicate and fair features.
Seeing this scene, Lian Li’s head buzzed.
