RISE OF THE MARTIAL GOD

"You… you…"

"Weren't you poisoned?"

Anthony chuckled and slashed the neck of the one who was about to strip Xinglan.

"Poisoned? Do you have the ability to do so? Before me, such petty tricks are useless."

The one closest to Miao Miao immediately rushed to grab her. Anthony flicked his fingers and a stone hit the assailant's arm, preventing him from reaching her. His scream resounded in the forest, the spot affected by the stone had turned red and there were visible signs of bone damage.

"You want to take her hostage, eh? You're truly daft." Anthony stood up at this point, and they immediately moved away, stepping back in horror, as if they saw a demon.

He smiled wickedly and flicked his fingers, and needles flew out, catching an acupoint on their necks.

"That's right, stay like that, frozen like a tree. You should guard us for the night since you were daft enough to show up."

The looks of horror on the men's faces were a spectacle to behold.

"Don't bother, you won't be able to move a muscle without my permission, you're stuck here with me, unless I decide otherwise."

Anthony walked to the dead counterpart bent over Xinglan and grabbed him, hurling him away. He searched him for treasures and finally brought out a money pouch and a storage ring.

He grinned widely, nodding his head in approval.

"This is what a robber's treasure trove should look like, filled with the good things of life."

He repeated the process on those alive but frozen at a spot. Their eyes were wet with tears as they watched him rob them, without them being able to retaliate or even move a bit.

Once he was certain that he had removed everything of value from them, he placed them on the blanket and sat down to organize them.

"I didn't know it was so easy to make money till I came here. Hahahahaha."

******

A loud scream woke everyone up the next morning. Miao Miao had turned, only to see a man hanging above her. On turning around, she saw the lines of black clothed assassins surrounding them, all in varying postures.

Anthony yawned and looked at her, finally getting out of cultivation.

"What's wrong? Why are you making so much noise?"

The shaky Miao Miao pointed at the frozen assassins, covering her eyes.

"Oh that? They're probably more terrified than you are. After all, I might decide to flay their skin for breakfast."

The other two woke up at that moment. Xinglan blinked slowly as streaks of sunlight fell on her face. She swiped a palm on her neck and found sticky red substance on it, she gasped and sat up only to find her feet chained. Her heart began to beat erratically, and she was filled with terror as she looked around to see where she was, fearing the worst.

She gasped as her eyes met with the assassins, she raised her hand instinctively to block the sword raised above her. But the slash never fell. Xinglan looked again, and noticed that the assassins were frozen in that posture, just like statues.

She punched Tong Tong who was still sleeping peacefully by her side.

"What?" She muttered lazily and threw one of her legs up, which caught Anthony squarely on the chin.

"You little piece of…" His nose flared in anger and he pushed her leg away, and stood up. He grabbed one of the assassins and suspended him over Tong Tong who opened her eyes slowly.

She blinked at first, unable to decide if she was dreaming or hallucinating. She frowned deeply and swiped a hand over her face but the assassin didn't move. Tong Tong pinched herself and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.

Anthony was barely holding back his laughter at this point at her comical actions. She opened her eyes and took another peek. That was when she let out a loud ear piercing scream. Her hand flailed wildly as she tried to fight the assassin away.

Anthony made the assassin drop on her, making her scream even louder. She kicked the assassin away and quickly scrambled to her feet.

As for Miao Miao, she was hugging Anthony tightly, hiding behind him, her heart pounding against his back. Xinglan was still on the floor trying to undo the chains tying her feet.

Tong Tong saw Anthony and sighed in relief. She quickly rushed to him and grabbed his arm, while he grinned from ear to ear.

"Mmm, I know you love me so much, but you don't need to make it so obvious. Mauling me like this… Even though I'm not complaining, you should spare me some dignity and not rape me in broad daylight."

None of the girls paid him any attention as he talked nonsense. Their eyes never left the men in black, even as they squeezed him tightly. Xinglan finally undid the chains and equally rushed to them.

"Young master, what's going on? What are those things?" She whispered fearfully, looking at the men.

"Oh, those people? They are assasins that wanted to rob my herbs, rape you girls and sell you to the slave market. As for me, they were going to kill me while I slept. They're truly hilarious, don't you think?" Anthony asked loudly as he watched them.

Xinglan clenched her fists, blaming herself.

"I detected sleeping powder on my body. That must be the reason I didn't wake up when they struck. Despicable."

Tong Tong frowned and looked at Anthony.

"They used sleeping powder? How come you remained awake? Don't you sleep too?"

Anthony began to laugh, his shoulders shaking.

"Sleep? In this kind of environment? That's equivalent to asking for death."

The girls looked down, avoiding his eyes, feeling embarrassed that they slept all through the commotion.

"You don't have to feel embarrassed. Women were not made for a tough life, you deserve to be pampered. I don't expect you to stay awake with me. Now, let's finish up here."

"What do you need me to do?" Xinglan asked, looking at him.

Anthony smiled mischievously.

"Not just you, Tong Tong and Miao Miao too. But, can you do it?"

They immediately nodded.

"As long as it's young master's orders, we will do anything."

"Very well then, kill them."

His words not only stunned the weak two, even Xinglan went speechless.

"Excuse me?"

"I have been teaching you how to cultivate, alongside battle techniques. These assassins here have been frozen from getting their acupoints hit. If you still can't kill men that are unable to move or defend themselves, that would be the height of uselessness. They can't defend themselves or retaliate."

"Young master, how can we…" Miao Miao muttered, wringing her fingers.

"The path of a cultivator is filled with hardship and bloodshed. You might avoid the hardship if you have someone looking out for you, but never the bloodshed. Killing is a must. If you can't even kill these things equivalent to pigs on a chopping block, then you are not qualified to be a warrior."

Xinglan pulled her sword and stepped forward.

"I will do it, I will kill and dispose of them."

"I refuse. Each of you must kill at least two people. For every three minutes you waste, I will release the accupoint of one person and allow them to move and attack you. And if any of them escapes, hehehe. You will have to kill any robbers we meet on the way, all on your own. Decide now, are you going to kill them while they're still immobile? Or do you want to fight them when they get released? Either way, none of you can escape getting dirty today."

The two girls were shaking, only Xinglan had cold eyes with her sword already drawn.

"Kill them, now. It's time to use those flashy battle techniques you asked for."