The caravan quickly noticed that Wang Anfeng disappeared again, but they didn't take it too seriously. They even abandoned a few exhausted horses and some heavy cargo, willing to travel light for a swift departure from this place. Ma Yu leaned against the carriage, watching the scenery gradually retreat. His heart was still pounding wildly. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and murmured: "That is the Great Wilderness Stronghold." "Old Sun, old Sun, you can't blame me." "This can't be blamed on me." "That is the Great Wilderness Stronghold..." His words were filled with deep fear, as if every word was saturated with terror and worry. The three words "Great Wilderness Stronghold" clung to his shoulders like childhood nightmares, constantly amplifying his panic, wishing the carriage could move faster, suppressing even the guilt of abandoning old friends. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ N0veI.Fiɾe.net In some ways, the danger of the Great Wilderness Stronghold far exceeded that of the desert bandits. In general, it's hard to encounter people from this stronghold, but once you do, there are no survivors. Once, a famous merchant who declared 'fearless' ended up as a pile of flesh sent back to his home three months later. It was said he was killed thirty miles from the State City, his head sent back unaltered, causing the old lady to faint on the spot, and their vast business collapsed. Ma Yu's hand trembled. He wasn't afraid of dying, but he feared dying in agony. The entire caravan quickly distanced itself under the oppressive atmosphere. 'Great Wilderness Stronghold, led by a Sixth Rank Martial Artist, originally a Military Family officer. Discontent with superiors, he killed in rage and fled over a thousand miles. By chance, he survived and now roams the Northwest Great Desert plains.' 'Location is unsteady, unable to eradicate, possibly connected to outside forces. If news arises, eliminate swiftly.' Wang Anfeng recalled the intelligence Jiu Zizai shared from the Ministry of Punishment. He looked up at a nearby mountain, its vegetation sparse, with hints of buildings visible. Beneath him, the thin horse seemed to sense the killing intent, a bit excited, its front hooves constantly stamping the ground. The traces left by the other party hadn't been erased by the rough Northwest winds. He had cultivated the Pupil Skill since childhood, allowing him to closely follow the trail to this point. Wang Anfeng squinted his eyes, urged his mount forward, the thin horse cooperating like never before, its breathing slightly heavy. On the mountainside of the Great Wilderness Stronghold, two brawny, fierce-looking martial artists stood idly. The man on the left played with his Tiger Head Saber, yawned, and said: "The second-in-command went down today, seems to have caught a rather nice-looking woman..." In envy, he responded: "Not just nice-looking, she's like a fairy." "Who, around here in the Northwest, would run out into the wind and sand every day? The ones we've seen before were sturdier than me, women are rare even in years, you didn't see how that kid Lao Zhao nearly drooled, got whipped by the second-in-command, and cried for half a day on the ground..." The man on the left grumbled: "So what if she's nice? Women have nothing to do with us anymore..." "Gone, all gone, back then we said we'd share the hardships and blessings..." The bandit opposite was about to scold when he suddenly heard a clear sound, made a light 'eh', and inclined his ear to listen, gradually identifying what it was, his eyes lighting up slightly. It was the sound of hoofbeats. Clip-clop, clip-clop... Clear hoofbeats, a fine horse! The two bandits, long frustrated by a lack of achievements, unable to rise, exchanged a glance. A fierce look crossed their faces as they each gripped their sabers, watched the direction of the narrow mountain path, and with the approach of the hoofbeats, saw a figure emerge. The man on the right's eyes flashed with a ruthless light, shouting: "Who dares come to our Great Wilderness Stronghold? Tired of living?" "Hey, soft and tender, it'll be hard for you to want to die!" Wang Anfeng lifted his gaze to the mountain stronghold above, his expression cold. His right hand moved, the Mo Blade in his hand rose, whipping up a storm-like wave, and slashed down heavily. The blade light gathered, and both men fell. Beneath him, the thin horse showed the speed and fierceness befitting a fine steed, like a scarlet streak up the mountain path, cutting down anything in its way with a single stroke. Sun Xiaoyan hugged her knees with both arms, sitting curled up in a small corner, her dark eyes devoid of past joy and happiness, only filled with sorrow and fear. Her father sat half-raised nearby, his upper body bare, lashed with wounds, her mother likewise battered, her mother having scratched her face with a hairpin, only to be whipped by the fierce man. Her body trembled like a fallen leaf. It was before, it's now, why does everyone bully us? Tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes. In this small, foul-smelling cell sat a burly attendant. Footsteps approached outside, then a scrawny man entered, exchanged words with the attendant, and walked towards her. The scrawny man's face broke into an unstoppable smile, approaching. Sun Xiaoyan hugged her knees tightly. She dared not look up, dared not lift her head, her mind blank, the delicate wings of the butterfly hairpin at her temple quivered slightly, as the slightly short man stood before her, his mouth letting out an eerie laugh, reaching out his right hand to grab her wrist.