Chapter 2 - The First Test (Part 3)

As the group continued to make their way through the forest, they suddenly heard the sound of leaves rustling and branches snapping behind them. Everyone immediately drew their weapons and prepared for an attack.

Out of the bushes emerged a group of bandits, their faces covered with masks and their weapons drawn. They outnumbered the group of travelers, and it was clear they were not there to make friends.

"Hand over your valuables, and nobody gets hurt," one of the bandits said, his voice menacing.

Mingyu stepped forward, his sword at the ready. "I'm afraid we cannot comply with your request," he said calmly. "We are on a mission and cannot afford to lose our supplies."

The bandits laughed, clearly not intimidated by the lone traveler. "Well, then we'll just have to take what we want," the leader said, motioning for his men to attack.

The group of travelers fought back with all their might, each displaying their unique skills and abilities. Mingyu was a skilled swordsman, slicing through the bandits' weapons with ease. Zhiqing used her magic to launch powerful spells, while Cheng used his agility to dodge attacks and strike back with deadly precision.

The battle raged on for what seemed like hours, with neither side gaining the upper hand. But just when it seemed like the travelers were about to be overwhelmed, a group of soldiers emerged from the nearby village, drawn by the sounds of battle.

The bandits, outnumbered and outmatched, quickly fled back into the forest, leaving the travelers alone once again.

The soldiers approached the group, their leader introducing himself as Captain Liu. "Are you all right?" he asked, looking at the travelers' wounds.

"We are fine, thank you," Mingyu said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We appreciate your timely arrival."

Captain Liu nodded. "We received reports of bandits in the area and came as quickly as we could. Please, come with us to the village. You can rest and resupply there before continuing on your journey."

The travelers agreed, grateful for the opportunity to rest and recover. As they followed the soldiers back to the village, they couldn't help but wonder what other dangers lay ahead on their journey.