Chapter 11: Whirling Sands and Flying Stones, Unleashing the Power of Skills

Su Yi remembered the martial arts dramas he watched as a child, where the bandits’ approach was always the same: a noisy mob brandishing swords and knives, blocking the path and reciting lines like, “This road is mine, this tree I planted; if you wish to pass, pay the toll.” Never did he expect that the robbers he encountered today would disregard the script entirely, lying in ambush beside the mountain path and firing cold arrows at unsuspecting travelers. Had he not prepared thoroughly this time, he might have already met his end right there.

The bandits drew closer, and Su Yi’s mind raced. He was unscathed, and if he chose to retreat, relying on the dense forest and his explosive speed, he was confident he could shake off his pursuers. If he stayed, he would have to fight.

Su Yi surveyed his opponents: ten in total, four with bows and six wielding knives. These bandits were cautious; even after seeing him hit by an arrow, their bows remained taut, ready to fire. If he were to make a sudden dash, he would surely be met by their deadly arrows.

Having spent several days practicing archery in the shooting hall, Su Yi had gained considerable knowledge. Bows, though traditional and less powerful or swift than firearms, were not to be underestimated. Ancient strongbows could propel arrows at speeds exceeding a hundred meters per second, and this was a world where martial arts defied reason. Su Yi dared not assume he could evade their arrows, nor trust his life entirely to his protective clothing.

Still, the protective suit was a considerable advantage. Even more, he possessed a trump card far less reasonable than theirs: the “Whirling Sand and Stones” skill.

Over the past days, Su Yi had mastered the control of this ability. Though it lacked direct lethality, it was a superb auxiliary skill, and the environment around him was perfect for its use. Based on his previous practice, he could maintain the skill for over half a minute while retaining enough energy to adapt as needed. If he seized the moment and caught the bandits off guard, he might well turn the tables. Should things go awry, he could still make a swift retreat.

Do it! Su Yi resolved fiercely, treating this as a real combat trial.

The bandits’ fan-shaped encirclement closed in, less than a meter from the grass where Su Yi lay hidden. One approached with a long knife, poking forward to part the grass and check if the arrowed man was dead or alive.

At that instant, a sudden change occurred.

A gust of foul wind swept from behind. The bandits glanced back, seeing nothing but a sudden mountain breeze swirling leaves and dust, settling in their hair and collars, leaving them all dirtied and disheveled.

A false alarm—everyone relaxed, some bandits unconsciously lowering their bows, their formation loosening.

Then, another upheaval!

A violent, unnatural wind erupted, stirring centuries-old fallen branches and leaves into a chaotic maelstrom. Like a net cast from all sides, it enveloped the bandits, the whirling debris blinding their eyes, and the roaring wind drowning out their comrades’ cries.

Seizing the moment, Su Yi sprang from his hiding place. He grabbed the nearest knife-wielding bandit’s wrist, twisted it to snatch the blade, then swept his leg in a powerful kick to the man’s neck, sending him flying into the undergrowth, silent and limp.

With blade in hand, Su Yi plunged into the fray. His protective suit made him fearless of the bandits’ wild slashing in their blindness; screams echoed as he struck.

There were clever men among the bandits. Amid the chaos, several scattered and fled. After Su Yi acted, he could no longer precisely control the swirling leaves to obscure moving targets; as the distance grew, it became impossible to dispatch them all quickly.

When the Whirling Sand and Stones skill ended, Su Yi had felled six men. Only two remained, knives in hand, facing him from afar, their faces pale and fearful.

“Are you man or monster? Was that strange wind your doing?” they shouted at Su Yi, terror in their voices.

Had they not seen that Su Yi’s skills were not far above their own, the two would have already fled.

Su Yi had no intention of replying. The bandits’ courage was spent; speaking would only ruin his air of mystery. He raised his bloodied blade and charged.

Already fearful, the bandits saw him advancing in silence. The unknown and the threat of death shattered their resolve—they turned and fled in panic.

Cunning as ever, the two plunged into the forest, escaping in different directions. Su Yi would not let them get away. He had already picked up a fallen bow and arrows, and fired two shots at one of the bandits. The first arrow struck a tree, the second embedded itself in the man’s thigh, sending him tumbling to the ground.

The other had gained some distance. Under the cover of the woods, Su Yi could only pursue with his knife. The forest was dense, but Su Yi never let the bandit slip from his sight. Although the bandit knew the terrain well, Su Yi finally caught up.

Realizing he could not escape, the bandit, his ferocity awakened, turned to fight. After exchanging blows, Su Yi gained a clear sense of their strength: their speed and power were about the same as the average patrolman of Redstone Town in Sonam’s world.

Relying on his overwhelming strength, Su Yi struck, knocking the opponent’s knife away and kicking him hard, sending the bandit crashing into a tree, stars swirling before his eyes. The bandit screamed as Su Yi strode forward and severed both his Achilles tendons.

Dragging the bandit back like a dead dog, Su Yi tossed him to the ground. He glanced at the pool of dark red blood; the other bandit was tough, managing to stagger over a hundred meters despite an arrow piercing through his thigh, but Su Yi caught him as well.

Faced with two bandits begging for mercy, Su Yi grabbed one and dragged him a short distance away, throwing him to the ground. He traced the bloodied blade over the rough cloth of the man’s clothes.

“Tell me who you are. If you answer honestly and satisfy me, I might spare your life.”

Su Yi had already formed his plan while pursuing the two. It would have been easy to annihilate the bandit group that nearly killed him, but doing so would erase any clues and force him to continue his journey blindly.

These bandits who ambushed him likely had a fixed base in the mountains, and those who attacked him might not have all come out—there could be others lurking elsewhere. It was better to leave a survivor, learn the situation, and decide his next move.