Bear School Astartes

Lann did not act rashly; he waited until the rangers behind him had gathered before speaking.

"The bandits charging out of the forest towards the Longquan Riverbank is abnormal."

Kotaro and the others were still catching their breath; the forest was difficult to navigate, especially in the exaggeratedly hilly terrain of Iwami Country.

The rangers crouched low, following Lann's words to observe the bandits twenty meters away.

Their number was around forty. They looked almost like farming peasants, bare-chested and bare-legged.

Only their upper bodies were covered by large chest plates picked up from who knows which battlefield, with dirty loincloths hanging out.

The weapons were a mixed lot: samurai swords, spears, two-handed axes, longbows...

Originally, Lann was confident he could take them all down alone, but the subsequent discovery was why he needed the Ranger Group to catch up.

"Boats?!"

Kotaro tried to keep his voice down, exclaiming.

The astonishment in his eyes mirrored that of the other rangers.

The Longquan River was not a calm flow; the extreme terrain of Iwami Country made it impossible to have a peaceful river.

Crossing it on a large scale wouldn't be easy.

The Hirata Family's defensive strategy included one measure: seizing boats and gathering them on the Hirata Manor side.

Yet, here and now, the noisy bandits by the riverbank were pulling out several boats from the well-hidden piles of weeds and reeds!

The appearance of these boats now meant more than just some bandits benefiting from a few autumn raids.

There was an insider within Hirata Manor!

An insider of considerable status!

So much so that, for the past period, no one was sure whether Hirata Manor's strategies to defend against external enemies were sound!

The rangers and Kotaro were not naïve; they displayed shocked expressions, fearing not the bandits but the fate of Hirata Manor.

Lann could take out all these bandits on land, but if they set sail on the Longquan River, the currents were exceptional.

Thus, manpower was needed.

"You're quite good with a bow, Kotaro."

Lann tilted his chin toward the short foot soldier.

"I'll charge out shortly, and you need to first take down someone left by the boat and try to injure a few."

"The rest of you, just hold your ground by the boats this time and don't let them pass; that'll be a success."

The rangers turned, looking around at each other.

In their eyes, suspicion flickered.

Judging by the leader's intent... was he going to charge alone into the formation of forty bandits?!

Such acts were common during the Warring States era but mostly appeared among renowned generals, an experience unfamiliar to these rangers and foot soldiers.

However, Lann's authority displayed over the past few days had its effect; despite hesitation, his subordinates nodded in agreement.

Each of them grasped their spear shafts and sword handles, readying for battle.

Kotaro took down the longbow he was carrying, nocking an arrow on the string.

He swallowed nervously; frankly, it was his first time fighting.

The initial encounter with Lann was merely a reflex of guarding faith and attacking the enemy.

And while he felt a dry itch in his throat due to excessive tension, he prepared to turn to Lann to confirm the moment to act.

But then...

A subtly low "swoosh" sound!

An imposing figure had already charged past them from behind, carrying the wind.

The rangers and Xiaocilang slightly froze under this gentle breeze. It felt... as if a fierce tiger had brushed past!

The bandits outside the forest continued their noisy chatter.

They had been waiting a long time for this day.

Though recently, for some reason, they had been receiving money and food without leaving home.

It was indeed satisfying, but missing out on the steps of descending the mountain to pillage and kill left many of them feeling stifled.

Today, however, their leader informed them that not only could they descend to pillage but also approach the places they usually dared not go—

Hirata Manor!

To reach out their hands there!

Knowing they had backing behind them, the bandits couldn't help but be overjoyed.

At that moment, as they loudly celebrated, venting pent-up frustration with yells and chants, they began following their leader's instructions, lifting boats from their hiding spots and setting them in the Longquan River.

When the lookout bandit saw a large figure rushing out of the forest, he momentarily spaced out.

After all, who in their right mind would willingly seek trouble with over forty people by themselves?

Even as Lann had taken two steps out, a bandit still casually spoke to a nearby companion.

"Hey, what's that big guy up to?"

"Who cares? He's carrying a sword and dressed rather... swoosh!"

Their conversation lasted barely three seconds, but before they could finish.

A slash of bright silver flashed between their necks!

A head flew into the air, while another bandit, due to his position, had the right side of his neck sliced open by the sweeping Lady of the Lake's Sword.

It was only then that the dirt mixed with grass roots settled on the ground, ten meters away, where Lann had accelerated again after charging out!

Neither of them had a chance to make a sound; their bodies lost the ability to produce any.

Among the forty bandits, a few watching in this direction stood slack-jawed.

But before they could react, an arrow sliced through the air, "thunk," piercing into a bandit's rear shoulder who was maneuvering the boat!

Lann's brow slightly furrowed—Kotaro was late in acting.

But... it didn't really matter.

The bandit hit by the arrow jolted violently and abruptly due to the pain.

His armor pinched the arrow shaft slightly, causing the iron tip to twist within the flesh.

Then, under even sharper pain, he cried out loudly.

"Ah!!!"

The sound was a hysterical wail of agony.

But Lann appeared indifferent to such scenes of tragedy, considering not long ago, a boy likely had this same expression.

"Enemy attack! Enemy... ah!"

The bright silver blade sliced diagonally through the bandit's Japanese chest armor—abdominal armor—from below.

This kind of armor was often used by lower-tier warriors, worn by the bandit after stripping it off.

The scarcity of iron meant the armor had limited metal construction, making it light but also... thin!

During the upward slash, the sword's blade consistently pierced through the bandit's back.

After the upward slash concluded, the bandit's upper body was cleaved diagonally!

'A clean sever, bringing the previously restless atmosphere to a halt.

The one responsible for this mood lightly flicked the blood off his wrist.

The chilling cat eyes showed no emotion.

"You sure love shouting when you fight."

The blood flicked off, and he gripped the sword's handle again.

"Lacks aesthetic... somewhat bothersome!"