The bandit stronghold was now silent, the thick scent of blood wafting through the air. Many bandits lay dead on the ground. Orion began storing the bandit bodies one by one in the storage ring and started checking and exploring the stronghold. As the sun started to rise, brightening the surroundings, Orion checked all the buildings, stored the bandit bodies, and took any valuables. It inspected wooden boxes, shelves, carts, jars, and more.

In the biggest wooden building where the bandit boss resided, Orion discovered an underground tunnel. Curious, Orion entered to check and found a stone door with inscriptions on it. Orion had a good grasp of inscriptions and, after checking the inscriptions, concluded that it was used to control the opening and closing of the stone door.

Orion also determined that it could decipher the inscriptions, but rather than taking the time to do so, Orion retrieved the chainsaw-Qi sword and slashed at the door, cutting it into several pieces until it crumbled. The thick stone door, strengthened by inscriptions, couldn't withstand the chainsaw-Qi sword, which easily cut through it. The inscriptions on the stone door briefly lit up in an attempt to resist the sword's attack before dimming and failing.

Orion then entered the room and checked inside, finding many valuables: coins, spirit stones, various kinds of pills, Spirit Beast body parts, scrolls, and books. Orion cleaned up everything, storing it all away, and then left to check the other buildings.

In one of the wooden houses, Orion discovered a hole in the ground with a wooden stairway leading down. Orion went inside to check and found an underground secret tunnel. Using the LED spotlight on its face behind the glass, Orion ventured further, but the tunnel seemed long and continuous. Orion concluded that it was an escape tunnel and decided to deal with it later, then returned to the surface.

After cleaning up the stronghold, Orion returned to the cave to release the hostages. It controlled the drones to fly further and check for any escaped bandits, just in case some had fled through the secret tunnel. An energy barrier enveloped Orion, making it disappear from view as it entered the dimly lit cave. Orion threw the keys to one of the cells, startling the hostages who were woken from their sleep.

"The bandits have been killed. Use the keys to escape and also open the other cells," Orion's voice echoed, but the hostages couldn't see anyone. Orion used a disguised voice and remained hidden by an energy barrier. One of them held the keys but was unsure. They peeked to check the situation and saw that the usual bandit guards were not there.

After a moment of hesitation and worry, they slowly opened their cell and carefully checked for any bandits. They feared the ruthless bandits who wouldn't hesitate to kill. Quietly, they opened the other cells, and all the hostages, still rather afraid, began to leave the cave. The sun had already risen a little, making it brighter. They worriedly checked for bandits but found none and slowly exited the cave.

"No need to be scared. The bandits are all dead. Quickly leave this place. Follow the small road, and after reaching the main road, head east to the nearest village," Orion's voice instructed again, unseen. Some hostages immediately thanked their hidden savior, some knelt to express their gratitude, and others cried tears of joy.

"There are many horses and carriages. Use them to leave," Orion added from atop a wooden house, still hidden by the energy barrier.

Some of the hostages began preparing to leave, taking horses and carriages. Some even checked the wooden houses, taking anything they could before leaving the bandit stronghold. They started to leave, one by one or in groups, hurrying in fear that more bandits might come.

Amid the commotion, a group of four girls stood out. At the front was a beautiful girl with a somber expression, followed by three other girls. The girl in the lead saw a sword on the ground, picked it up, and was about to slash her own neck. The other three girls tried to stop her but failed as the sword neared her neck.

"Miss?! Don't!" the girls cried out.

Clank.

A knife flew through the air, knocking the sword from the girl's hand just before she could harm herself. The other three girls then approached her.

"Miss, please calm yourself."

"Miss, please don't do this. If you die, what will happen to us?"

"Miss, the late master wouldn't want you to end your life."

The girl fell to her knees, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. The other three girls knelt beside her, crying together.

"What are you doing? Why would you do that?" a voice could be heard. Orion remained hidden, watching the drama unfold. It was Orion who threw the knife to stop the girl from killing herself.

"I am already defiled by those animals, and my family was killed by them. Why must I live?" the girl cried. The other three girls also sobbed as they huddled together, a pitiful sight.

She came from a successful merchant family from a village. They decided to relocate to Fengxian City, bringing everything with them. Alas, they were attacked by bandits. Most in their caravan were killed, including her family. The bandits took turns defiling her and her three maids, then held them captive, intending to sell them as slaves. She lost hope and saw no reason to continue living in this harsh and cruel world.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"I already killed the bandits and avenged your family and you. There's no need to look back at the past. It's better to live. With death, everything ends, but as long as there is life, there is still hope. Who knows, maybe there is still opportunity and happiness waiting for you, and a better future."

"Senior, my name is Zhang Yueru. Thank you very much for saving us and killing the bandits. I owe you a debt of gratitude, but now I have nowhere to go and don't know what to do. I lost everything," Zhang Yueru said.

Orion was silent, unsure of what to say as the girls continued crying.

"Senior, are you willing to take us with you? We will do anything for you and dedicate our lives to repaying your help. We have no place to return to. Please take us, senior; otherwise, it’s better for me to die," Zhang Yueru pleaded.

She thought that Orion was a high-level cultivator because he easily destroyed the bandits and remained hidden, only revealing his voice. To her, Orion's ability to conceal himself and the ethereal quality of his voice signified a high-level cultivator, so she addressed him as "senior".

"Are you sure you want to go with me?" Orion asked.

"Yes, senior, please," Zhang Yueru replied, kneeling. The other three girls followed suit, kneeling toward the wooden house where the voice originated.

"Following me is filled with danger and risk," Orion warned.

"It doesn’t matter. If you ask me to die, then I am willing to die for you. Please take me with you, senior," Zhang Yueru begged, willing to do anything her benefactor asked, even if it cost her life. If not, she would end her life.

"Senior, please take us too. We will do anything for you. We are also willing to die for you," the other three girls begged.

"Hmm... very well," Orion agreed.

Two young men who had been watching from the side immediately kneeled down.

"Senior, please take me too."

"Senior, I am also willing to follow you. Please take me, senior," they pleaded.

Orion was surprised that more people wanted to follow.

"Why do you also want to follow me?" Orion asked.

"Senior, if you are taking our young miss, please also take us with you. We are willing to do anything for you. We also have no place to go," one of the young men said.

"Senior, I am the same," the other young man added.

"Senior, both of their families worked for my family. During the bandit attack, their families were also killed. Senior, can you also take them?" Zhang Yueru requested.

"Very well," Orion said.

"Thank you, senior," Zhang Yueru, her maids, and the young men replied in unison and bowed.

Several hostages approached. The leader cupped his hands and bowed towards Orion's direction, expressing thanks. The hostages behind him followed suit; they were the guards from various caravans left alive by the bandits to be sold as slaves. Unlike the other hostages who immediately ran away, prioritizing their own safety, these people showed gratitude and honor.

Now in the bandit stronghold, only about half of the hostages remain: the group of caravan guards, those that Orion decided to take, and the rest are children—about 18 of them. The kids are huddled together, appearing wary and scared, with some crying. The children had been captured by the bandits, who had killed their families.

The adults discussed how to deal with the kids. Some had distant family members, but they were in other places, and no one wanted to take responsibility for delivering them home. One of the caravan guards suggested bringing the kids to an orphanage in Fengxian City. They discussed this for a while but found no best solution.

Then Orion decided to intervene. Orion would employ the caravan guards to deliver some of the kids to their families or relatives. As for the rest, Zhang Yueru pleaded with Orion to also take the kids, arguing that while the orphanage would provide food and shelter, their future would be limited.

Following someone like Orion could offer them better opportunities. Orion then gave the kids a choice: go to the orphanage in Fengxian or follow it, Orion already taking Zhang Yueru and her followers, so no problem taking more.

Ultimately, it was up to the kids to choose, and they decided to follow Orion.

Well, they could be put to some use, Orion thought internally, as Orion indeed needed manpower to execute many of its plans. So, Orion decided to help the kids and took them, hoping they would help Orion in the future, but if not, then that would be fine as well.

Orion gave money to the caravan guards, who took eight kids and left with horse carriages, thanking Orion once again before they departed.

Orion then instructed Zhang Yueru to prepare a horse carriage and leave, also carry supplies, and follow the directions given. While they prepared, Orion returned to the secret tunnel. Lacking time and interest to explore the tunnel deeply, Orion couldn't risk any bandits hiding within.

Several bandits had already exited from underground holes around the hill, and Orion controlled the drones to drop explosives on them and killed them. Orion retrieved two large terracotta jars, one filled with venom from a scorpion Spirit Beast and the other with venom from a snake Spirit Beast. During research about venom and poison, Orion discovered that each venom was dangerous on its own, but when combined, they reacted violently and created a deadly, dark gas.

Orion planned to flood the tunnel with this poisonous gas. Orion placed the jars close together, with a large firecracker between them, then attached a long fuse to the firecracker. After lighting the fuse, Orion left the hole, dug around it, and collapsed it to prevent the gas from escaping. Shortly after, the firecracker exploded, breaking the jars and causing the venoms to mix. The reaction created a dark gas that immediately flooded the tunnel system.

Zhang Yueru had finished preparations and immediately left the bandit stronghold with ten kids on the carriage. The two young men steered the horse carriage, while Zhang Yueru and her three maids huddled with the kids. Orion watched the carriage leave but did not follow. Instead, it retrieved all the bandit bodies outside the stronghold, observing the situation via the drones camera above.

From the secret holes and exit tunnels, dark gas emerged, and several more bandits ran out before collapsing and convulsing on the ground, eventually stopping their movement. Orion then collected those bodies as well. After ensuring all bandit bodies were stored, Orion left to catch up with Zhang Yueru's carriage.

Meanwhile, Orion left one drone behind to monitor the bandit stronghold for a while, ensuring no more survivors were left. Once confident, Orion controlled the drone to leave the bandit stronghold.

As Orion followed Zhang Yueru's carriage secretly about 50 meters away, Orion simultaneously contacted Liu Jin in Fengxian City via radio to arrange for various items.

In Orion's workroom within the mansion in Fengxian City, Liu Jin knelt and respectfully said, "Understood, Mr. Orion. I will prepare right away."

Liu Jin could hear Orion's voice but couldn't see him, suspecting it was some kind of artifact used for communication. Deciding not to dwell on it, Liu Jin immediately left to gather the wide array of items requested by Orion.