C18 Why Am I so Weak?

Elder Mu stroked his waist-length beard, now flecked with spots of blood, and declared, "Lin Sanjin, you're the biggest bandit leader around here, aren't you? If you don't fancy being thrashed into submission, I suggest you retreat swiftly."

At his words, a wave of demoralization swept through the bandits, with murmurs of dissent arising among them. The mere presence of a Divine Dao cultivator held such an intimidating sway.

It was common knowledge that even the feeblest Divine Dao cultivator could effortlessly overpower a martial arts cultivator of the same rank. Considering that most of these bandits were merely brawlers with no formal martial arts training, how could they stand a chance against an Eighth Grade Divine Dao cultivator?

Their leader had already been gravely wounded—what hope did they have?

Lin Sanjin had risen to the top of the bandit hierarchy not just through sheer brutality but also because he was a martial arts cultivator himself. Although only at the Ninth Grade, his prowess was unmatched within the bandit ranks.

With eyes narrowed to mere slits, Lin Sanjin sneered, "Impressive threats for a man on his last legs, old man. You can barely muster a bluff!"

"This old man has slain my comrades; he's a ferocious one. But I've ascertained something crucial: the Muscle Weakening Powder he ingested has sapped all but a fraction of his strength! And at his age, how vigorous can his Qi and blood possibly be?" Lin Sanjin's gaze swept over the crowd as he bellowed, "Brothers, after all our exertions, will you just walk away? Kill him, avenge our fallen, and untold riches will be ours for generations!"

"Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

Galvanized by Lin Sanjin's rallying cry, the surviving bandits brandished their weapons and surged forward in a charge.

The earth itself vibrated with the resonance of their steeds' hooves. Elder Mu dipped his head slightly, and in a blink, he was enveloped in a whirlwind, shooting like an arrow released from its bow into the midst of the charging bandits, sending men and horses tumbling.

As the remaining bandits closed in around Elder Mu, a cloud of dust and smoke obscured the scene from view.

"Let's go!" Mu Yinhua tugged at the dazed Lee Yu and whispered urgently.

"But... shouldn't we help Elder Mu?" Lee Yu asked, bewildered by the unfolding chaos.

"Grandpa doesn't have much time left," Mu Yinhua said, her eyes brimming with tears. "They've poisoned some of the food. Grandpa can only buy us a little time!"

Lee Yu fell silent, then Ergou grabbed his arm, and they both fled toward the back.

Upon Mu Yinhua's signal, the others scattered and ran in all directions.

"Don't let them get away!" Lin Sanjin, who had been monitoring the situation closely, commanded. At his order, several bandits broke off from surrounding Elder Mu and pursued the fleeing villagers.

"We'll be safe if we make it to the mountains. The Scaled Horse can't follow us there. We might just survive," Ergou gasped, running as fast as he could, the landscape blurring past them.

"Elder Mu came specifically to save me, didn't he?" Lee Yu asked, looking at Mu Yinhua with eyes reddened by emotion.

If escape was the only option, why had Elder Mu and the others come here after driving back the bandits elsewhere? If the goal was to save the villagers caught here, wouldn't the best strategy have been to comply with Lee Jin's demands, to trade themselves for safety?

So there was only one conclusion: Elder Mu's primary purpose was to save him.

Mu Yinhua nodded, brushing away a tear that traced her cheek.

Lee Yu exhaled deeply and murmured, "Elder Mu, I will avenge you."

Screams echoed intermittently in the distance, clearly the other villagers being discovered by the bandits.

Each cry of anguish pierced Lee Yu's heart. He knew that the once tranquil Stone Village was suffering because of him; the bandit's massacre was a consequence of his presence.

His fists clenched so tightly that he didn't even notice the blood drawn from his own palms.

"They're right behind us!" Mu Yinhua called out. "Ergou, take Lee Yu and go. I'll hold them off."

Ergou, in mid-stride, halted. He gave a simple, genuine smile and grasped Mu Yinhua's hand. "No, I should be the one. You have the Sixth Grade bloodline. If you're the one to escape with Yu, you're the one who can seek vengeance."

"Move it! No more hesitating!" Mu Yinhua was still reluctant, but Ergou's loud rebuke and forceful push spurred her into action.

"Be careful!"

Mu Yinhua cast a lingering glance at Ergou before hoisting Lee Yu onto her shoulder and sprinting toward the mountains.

A sharp "swoosh" of an arrow sliced through the air.

"Damn it, no arrows! What if you hit the Thunder Bloodline?" one bandit barked.

"It's fine, that arrow barely missed!" another bandit chuckled, yet he lowered his bow, "First, let's deal with this obstacle."

Ergou eyed the two menacing bandits atop their Scaled Horses, took a deep breath, grabbed a wooden stick from the ground, and stood ready in the center of the road.

Meanwhile, Lee Yu ventured a question.

"Do you know... that what happened in the village is because of me?"

"Grandfather used to say, 'An innocent man bears no sin, but he who carries a gem is guilty,'" Mu Yinhua's voice was heavy and slightly raspy, "You've done nothing wrong. Neither has Stone Village. The fault lies in our weakness."

"Strength is everything," Lee Yu murmured to himself. The Otherworld wasn't as wonderful as he had imagined. Without strength, he realized he might only scrape by, let alone make his mark on this world.

As they conversed, they reached the fringe of the forest. Without hesitation, Mu Yinhua plunged into the thick woods.

Silence enveloped the forest, time stretching on indefinitely.

"Go on without me. I can find my own way out," Lee Yu said with a hoarse voice, knowing the bandits had likely already overtaken Ergou. Even without the Scaled Horses, two unencumbered men could easily catch up.

Especially since Mu Yinhua's pace had inexplicably slowed down considerably.

Lee Yu's own speed might even match hers now.

"Is that true?" Mu Yinhua suddenly collapsed, and Lee Yu, unprepared for the fall, was thrown several meters away.

Ignoring the sharp pain racking his body, Lee Yu moved to help her, only to see the arrow deeply embedded in Mu Yinhua's back.

"Cough, cough. If you really have a way out, then you must live on and avenge us," Mu Yinhua implored, her eyes brimming with defiance as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

"This..." Lee Yu stared at the arrow embedded in Mu Yinhua's back, his hands and feet frozen in panic. The arrowhead had plunged deep into her flesh, and he felt utterly helpless, able only to clutch her hand.

Had the bandits fired just once before they left the village? Was that the shot?

Lee Yu gazed at Mu Yinhua, who was gripping his hand, and his heart quivered. He struggled to find his voice.

"Run."

In the thick of the forest, Mu Yinhua's unsupported arm thudded to the ground.

"They've really gone." Relief washed over Mu Yinhua as she watched Lee Yu vanish from sight. She could feel her body's warmth ebbing away, a coldness creeping over her like a shroud.

"I can't stand this, being so powerless." Her voice was a whisper of defiance against the encroaching shadows.

As darkness threatened to engulf her, a silhouette suddenly filled Mu Yinhua's vision, holding back the night.