Victory hides within the guise of insanity (2/4)

It was a moonless night, with only the faint glow of the stars providing any illumination. The lone carriage trudged along the winding mountain road, with the dense trees crowding the path on either side. The rhythmic clattering of the wheels against the uneven stones echoed through the stillness of the forest.

Meanwhile, a group of thirty plus bandits crouched in the underbrush, their weapons ready to spill blood. They had been lying in wait for hours, hoping for a rich haul. As the carriage approached, they tensed, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

One of the bandits, a gruff-looking man with a thick beard, leaned over to a new recruit and spoke in a low voice; "Listen up, boy," he said, his breath hot against the recruit's ear. "This is your first job, so I'll give you some advice. Don't hesitate, don't show mercy, and don't let your guard down. If you do any of those things, you'll end up like that fool Ma."

The recruit, Chang Ming nodded nervously, his hands shaking as he gripped his saber. He had joined the bandits only a few days ago, looking for a quick way to earn some coin. He hadn't expected to be thrown into a situation like this so soon.

"What if they try to fight back?" Chang Ming asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The bearded bandit chuckled. "They won't. They'll be too scared to do anything. And if they do try to put up a fight, we'll take care of them. Just follow my lead and you'll be fine."

Chang Ming swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously to the approaching carriage. He knew he had to prove himself to the bandits, but the thought of taking someone's life made him feel sick to his stomach.

Another bandit with unkempt hair and a scar across his cheek, spoke up "I'm getting sick of waiting here. Let's just take them and be done with it."

The bandit with a beard sneered, he glanced at the latter with a disdainful gaze "You're always so impatient, you'll get us all killed one day."

Another lanky man with a hooked nose and a sneer on his face, scoffed. "Ha, Like we're not all going to die anyway. Might as well make it quick and easy."

At this moment Chang Ming spoke nervously, "I...I don't know if I can do this. I've never done anything like this before."

The bandits heard this and laughed soundlessly, "Better get used to it, kid. This is what we do, you're either with us or against us." The bandit with the thick beard voiced as he lightly patted Chang Ming's shoulder, but as his pupils landed on Chang Ming they revealed a brief moment of fiery lust.

Chang Ming nodded his head soundlessly, like an obedient little slave, but inwardly; 'Ha, what a mess I've landed myself in! It's all their fault! If only they had given me a better life, I wouldn't be in this mess. But no, they were too busy being poor and useless to think about their own son's future. Why did my worthless parents have to bring me into this life of poverty?' Chang Ming complained to himself, his words dripping with ungratefulness and spite.

He couldn't help but feel a burning envy towards those who were born with wealth and privilege, wishing that he too could have been given such a life of ease. Such was the bitterness and pettiness that consumed him, always blaming others for his own shortcomings.

The bandits soon turned serious as they heard the sound of the approaching carriage. They readied their weapons and prepared to attack, their greed and selfish desires driving them forward.

Uncle Ye was driving the carriage as he hummed a tune to himself, he urged the horses on, his eyes fixed on the path ahead but they looked completely lost in thought, lost in the memories of his past.

He had a lot on his mind, especially about this trip to the Astral Flame sect. These unexpected events gave him a headache, but the thought of his pregnant wife and two little daughters waiting for him at home brought a warm smile to his lips.

He suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wooden carving that his daughter had made for him. He traced the curves of the carving with his thumb, a small smile appeared on his face as he remembered his daughter's excited face when she had given it to him.

"I hope they're doing well," he said softly. "I miss their laughter and the sound of their voices. This trip can't end soon enough." Uncle Ye sighed in his heart, as he lightly kissed the carving in his hand.

Swoosh!

As Uncle Ye was lost in thought, suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, and he felt himself losing control of the carriage. He realized too late that he had let his guard down and was unprepared for the danger that lurked in the shadows.

An arrow had shot out from the darkness of the trees and pierced through his head, his vision became blurry. He tried to grab the reins to steady himself, but his body was failing him.

Blood started to pour from his wound as he slumped over the reins, his lifeless eyes staring straight at the wooden carving in his hand. He had many words, regrets, and memories that flowed through his brain as it was punctured and subsequently destroyed. Unfortunately, they would never see the light of day.

The carriage lurched to a halt, and the horses whinnied in terror. Wei Sang had just opened the door of the carriage and was utterly shocked by the sudden change. He saw the gruesome sight and quickly scurried back into the carriage and slammed the door shut, his heart pounding with fear and confusion.

Wei Wushang, who had just begun to clean the floor with a cloth in his hand, was startled by the sudden commotion. He immediately turned his head to face Wei Sang, Wei Wushang's mind jolted as he saw the fear in his brother's eyes.

Even without Wei Sang having to say a word, the word 'Danger' immediately rang in Wei Wushang's head like an alarm bell.

Wei Wushang's mind immediately registered the danger and he sprang into action, shouting loudly at his brother, "Quickly, lock the door!" He moved with the grace of a panther, swiftly making his way to the carriage window to survey the surroundings with caution.

One look was all it took for Wei Wushang's heart to drop like a stone.

There were at least thirty bandits, their faces twisted into cruel sneers as they surrounded the carriage like a pack of hungry hyenas. They brandished their swords and axes with savagery, their eyes glinting with insatiable greed.

Wei Wushang's expression turned grim as he realized the gravity of the situation.

The bandits had tightly surrounded the carriage, and a person with a muscular build and an eagle resting on his shoulder stepped forward, "Hand over all your valuables and we might just let you live." he sneered, his voice laced with malice

"Heh, the boss is such a gentleman." a skinny bandit spoke in a flattering tone. He then raised his voice for all to hear. "Listen up! If you obey us without resistance, the boss may spare your puny lives. But if you dare to fight back, we won't hesitate to kill you all."

Wei Sang's heart raced with fear and uncertainty. He had never faced such a precarious situation before, and the demoralizing comments of the bandits only made him feel even more hopeless.

'There are too many of them.' Wei Wushang's gaze swept through the nearby bandits, his eyebrows knitted into a frown.

Wei Wushang's expression was dark as his mind raced with thoughts, 'Even if Wei Sang and I join forces, we stand no chance against thirty armed bandits.' he reasoned. 'Retreating won't work either. My elder brother might break free, but what about me? And if he stays to help me, we'll both be captured or worse.'

Wei Wushang racked his brain as he began desperately searching for another solution. The bandits outside were losing their patience and slowly getting closer, time was running out!

The glint of starlight on the sharpened edges of their weapons made them look even more menacing, like predators ready to pounce on their prey.

Even with Wei Sang's divine innate strength, taking on twenty to thirty fully armed adults with rich combat experience was not a feasible option.

As for Wei Wushang, fighting was never an option to begin with. Though his Strength path intent granted him some extra bit of strength, it was not enough to match the power of these bandits.

The true might of Strength path Intent can only be unleashed when the user already possesses great physical strength. For instance, if a person could normally strike with 200 jin of force, the amplification of Strength path Intent could enable them to strike with 400 jin of force. In essence, Strength Intent can effectively double the force behind an individual's strike.

Right now, Wei Wushang could barely face off against a grown man in a physical confrontation, which meant that relying on his Strength Path Intent alone to take on a crew of sturdy men was not an option.

Wei Wushang was acutely aware of his limitations, While he could try to outsmart or outmaneuver the bandits in a fight, he knew that it wouldn't be enough to overturn this precarious situation. He needed to think of a strategy that would allow him and Wei Sang to escape from the bandits' clutches before it was too late.

As the bandits drew closer desperation crept into Wei Wushang's mind, his eyes darted around the carriage as he searched for any possible way out.

Fighting was not an option, it would be equivalent to signing a death sentence.

While the idea of retreating offered a glimmer of hope, the odds of survival were still meager and uncertain.

At this crucial juncture, Wei Wushang's gaze suddenly shimmered, 'If Wei Sang can distract the Bandits, I can safely take this chance and retreat... But, Is it worth it?' Wei Wushang's frown deepened, his heart felt extremely conflicted as he struggled with the decision in front of him.

A part of him was screaming at him to use Wei Sang as a decoy and save his own life, while the other side was begging him not to sacrifice his loving brother. The two voices were engaged in a fierce battle within his mind, causing him great inner turmoil.

The urge to preserve his own life was incredibly strong, but at the same time, a deep-seated sense of loyalty and love for his brother tugged at his heartstrings.

The pain of this conflict was palpable, and it showed in his troubled expression.

Wei Wushang's gaze concentrated. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug painfully into his skin.

What to do?!!

Despite Wei Wushang's efforts to come to a decision, he found himself unable to do so, as if there was a mental barrier preventing him from seeing things clearly.

"Huh?" Wei Wushang's mind was lost in thought until he felt a firm grip on his shoulder, jolting him back to reality. He turned to see Wei Sang, looking at him with urgency and fear.

"Wushang, listen to me carefully." Wei Sang said, his voice shaking slightly. "I'll try to distract them, you take this chance and escape far away from this place."

Wei Wushang's mind went blank as Wei Sang spoke, for second there he found himself unable to process any of the words coming out of Wei Sang's mouth.

He could see the tears in Wei Sang's eyes as he pulled him into a tight hug; "Promise me, you'll leave and never look back." Wei Sang pleaded weakly, "I can't bear the thought of losing you too."

"W-Wei Sang..." Wei Wushang stammered, still processing the sudden turn of events.

"No time to waste, go now!" Wei Sang's voice was firm as he pushed Wei Wushang away, walking toward the door with determination etched on his face.

Wei Sang knew what he had to do, even if it meant sacrificing himself to save his little brother.

'After all, isn't this what elder brothers are for? To protect!' Wei Sang smiled faintly, a bittersweet expression on his face as he made his way toward the door.

Wei Wushang stood frozen, his eyes reflecting the maelstrom of emotions that swirled within him.

With each step, Wei Sang seemed to fade like a dying ember, leaving Wei Wushang alone in a world of darkness and uncertainty.

As Wei Sang moved further and further away, Wei Wushang felt like he was being consumed by a dark abyss, his only light fading away. The warmth and comfort he once knew were slipping away into the distance, leaving Wei Wushang lost and adrift in a sea of conflicting emotions.

In the end, Wei Wushang stood there, trapped in his thoughts, unsure of what to do. He knew that if Wei Sang were to face the bandits alone, he could save his own life and continue to pursue his goals. But in the depths of his being, there was no joy nor was there any sort of sadness, only an overwhelming sense of confusion and uncertainty that clouded his heart.

At that very moment, Wei Wushang found himself questioning what he truly desired and what path he was willing to take.

'What is it that I truly desire? What am I actually fighting for? Is it for my desire to be eternally free or is it to protect this foolish brother of mine? Which one is it??'

As Wei Wushang struggled to make a decision, he saw Wei Sang standing before the door, his fingers trembling as they clutched the handle. His voice cracked as he whispered, "Please, I don't wanna die. Mom, dad, please help me! I'm so scared..." Tears flowed down Wei Sang's cheeks, his heart was trembling with fear as he prepared to face the bandits alone, all for the sake of protecting his beloved younger brother.

Wei Sang was scared, truly scared.

However, the fear within him could not overwhelm the love he had for his little brother. Wei Sang needed his feet to move forward, even though he didn't want to. He had to do it, all for the sake of his younger brother.

Wei Wushang's eyes widened, he felt a surge of shock run through his body, leaving him trembling in place as Wei Sang's words sank in. The plea for help echoed in his ears, the fear in Wei Sang's voice piercing his very heart. He couldn't help but think to himself, 'Brother is scared... Scared, he is scared.' Wei Wushang's gaze narrowed as he repeated these words in his mind as if trying to grasp onto something.

And then, his eyes suddenly lit up, inspiration had struck him!

The confusion in his heart vanished and a wide grin immediately spread across his face as he realized what he had to do. He immediately dashed forward to grab Wei Sang's shoulders.

Wei Sang's shoulders trembled under Wei Wushang's firm grasp, his tear-streaked face turning to look at his brother. When he saw Wei Wushang's expression, his eyes grew large with surprise and a look of bewilderment crossed his face.

Behind him stood Wei Wushang, his voice was low and hypnotic as he spoke to his brother, "My foolish brother, fear is nothing but a figment of our imagination. It clouds our judgment and prevents us from seeing the truth. Do not let it control you."

Wei Wushang's face then twisted into a cold smirk as he delivered his next words with a hint of scorn. "You really thought that sacrificing your life to save mine was heroic? Pathetic, dear brother." he scoffed, his tone filled with arrogance.

"Dying is for losers, and we are not losers. We are winners, Wei Sang, winners who will go to any lengths to achieve our goals." Wei Wushang declared with conviction, his eyes glinting with overwhelming arrogance.

Wei Sang's eyelids twitched, his confusion deepening at his younger brother's antics. He immediately tried to break free from Wei Wushang's grip, scolding "Wushang, let go of me this instant! We don't have time for this nonsense!" Wei Sang demanded, his voice strained with urgency.

But Wei Wushang's hold only tightened, and a mysterious smile played on his lips as if he had everything under his control.

"Do you really think you have a choice in this matter?" Wei Wushang's eyes bore into Wei Sang's, his voice dripping with superiority "Hmph, no obstacle is too great, no challenge is too insurmountable. I have a plan, and you will help me execute it, whether you like it or not." Wei Sang was about to protest, but seeing the firmness in his brother's gaze he could only grit his teeth.

Still, Wei Sang couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled in the pit of his stomach. After a bit of hesitation, he finally sighed in resignation and asked, "What is it this time..?"

Wei Wushang scratched his head, appearing a bit uneasy. "Oh, that..." his voice trailed off. Then he suddenly flashed his brother a foolish grin and asked, "You hungry?"

"Huh?" Wei Sang was dumbfounded by the sudden shift in conversation and simply ended up nodding in response.

But little did Wei Sang know that the events that were about to transpire would alter his relationship with his brother in ways he could never have foreseen.