A dozen wanted posters, a dozen criminals—yet they’re all holed up in the same bandit fortress. Compared to the last hideout we took down, this spawn point looks way fancier.
“Looks all rundown from the outside, but if you look closely, there’s actually a ton of people in there.” Jill Young, Maggie Monroe, and Lady Simone were all lurking on a cliff near the bandit camp, striking classic reconnaissance poses like a field army scouting the enemy. They all wore matching expressions of 'Ah, so that’s how it is.'
This river valley is a natural fortress, with a slope at the end. The camp is built right on the slope, split into three levels, almost like a mountain city. On the surface, it’s all shabby wood and rickety fences, but if you look closer, you’ll see it’s actually a trap. For example, both cliffs on the sides look empty, but on closer inspection, you’ll spot some well-camouflaged observation posts.
Those so-called observation posts? First you dig a pit, then cover it with straw and dirt, and design a bunch of little gaps disguised as cracks in the rocks for peeking out. With that level of professional camo—and in this scorching weather—the fact that people can still hold out in there says a lot about the quality of these bandits. They’re way better than the last bunch. Any sign of trouble, those lookouts will sound the alarm, and the whole camp will snap to attention.
Of course, right now, those observation posts are... Well, let’s just say the three of them are using those camo mats as sunshades.
“Not bad at all—not your average bandit crew, so there must be someone backing them. Hmph, I’m getting more and more suspicious about that fat bastard.” Jill Young did her best Monkey King impression, shading her eyes as she scanned below. “This tiny place has over four hundred people. For Hanbing, handling this solo would be tough. Hey, Maggie, why don’t you take the lead this time?”
“Me?” Wu Zhengfeng pointed at herself in surprise. “If I go, what’s left for me to practice?”
“Too easy for you, huh? Then don’t use your internal skills. Trust me, fighting with just raw muscle is a blast!” Jill Young grinned wickedly and poked Wu Zhengfeng in the side. “Back when I was at Tier 3 Dragon Elephant, I took down a giant monster with pure brawn. Don’t tell me you’re chickening out?”
“Who’s chickening out? I’m in!”
Haha, still so easy to rile up at ninety-six. “Alright then, wait for my signal, and when I give the word, you charge in with the squad.”
Maggie Monroe shot off like a rocket, while Jill Young turned back to keep surveying the battlefield. She pinched her chin and muttered, “This bandit camp’s got some real tricks. Gotta use your head if you want to get out without a scratch. Three layers up, three layers down—terrain’s a mess. Bet there are some traps too. Not great for cavalry, but if it comes down to alley fighting, that’s where martial artists shine. But if you get stuck at the checkpoint on the second level, you’re toast. Gotta toss a flashbang, lock them down, blind them, keep ’em distracted. Hmm… If I’m not jumping in myself, how do I blind them…”
“Flashbang? Blind them?” Lady Simone, quick on the uptake, caught the drift even with these newfangled words. “Boss, you trying to keep those bandits busy?”
“Exactly! This camp’s got some serious defense—first gate’s just a decoy, second layer’s the real trap. As long as the bandits hold the second checkpoint, it’s like a mousetrap; anyone attacking gets pinned down by their firepower. If those bandits keep firing arrows like lunatics and the attackers don’t have any hacks, you’re gonna lose a ton of people right there. So, we need to lure all those bandits away.” Jill Young scratched her head, frustrated. “A bunch of desert-dwelling dudes, martial artists with way too much energy—what could possibly grab their attention and make their eyes pop…”
Just then, Jill Young had a sudden lightbulb moment.
Thinking back to that Black Dragon Camp fiasco, and then eyeballing all those shirtless, muscle-flexing bandits below… What do these hyperactive guys really want? Honestly, they’re not much different from college dudes. What could make these guys swarm together like flies to garbage? The answer’s pretty obvious!
It’s either computers and internet cables—
—or, y’know, those legendary educational videos from Professor Ozawa, Sensei Hatano, and other paragons of virtue…
At that moment, Lady Simone had the same idea. Instantly, her hair stood on end—her shameless boss’s eyes had narrowed into that classic scheming look, with a sly little smile. She glanced over, and the meaning was crystal clear: if Xiao Jingzhe were here, he’d be sprinting for the hills, because every time Jill was about to prank him, she wore that exact expression.
Smack! Jill Young clapped Lady Simone on the shoulder, striking the pose of a boss who “cares about her team.” “Simone, you’ve been stuck in a nest of women for ages—you must be dying for a change, huh?”
“Uh… I… Boss…” Simone stammered, totally at a loss for words.