Chapter 15 - Zhao Shi makes a move

The hall echoed with the sound of rowdy laughter as the leaders of the bandit circle eyed their once-feared comrade. The Buckteeth Leader, now sporting a swollen face and missing his prominent front teeth, stood defeated before them.

"Silence!" The main leader's voice boomed through the hall as he slammed his armrest, his fury cutting through the laughter. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to him.

Turning to the humbled Buckteeth Leader, he sneered, "You can't even defeat three intruders?"

"They are too strong," Buckteeth stammered through the gap where his teeth had been, his voice tinged with fear and defeat.

The main leader's expression darkened. "Hmm,"

Before he could continue, the door to the hall flew open with a resounding bang, revealing the unconscious body of one of their own members lying in the doorway.

A wave of shock swept through the room as the bandit leaders jumped to their feet, their eyes filled with fury and alarm. The tension was palpable as they turned to face the intruders.

"Have you finished?" a calm voice cut through the silence.

Two masked figures stepped into the hall, their presence imposing and confident. Behind them, another figure followed, casually wiping his knuckles.

"Yes, young master," the third figure said, addressing the figure at the front.

The three masked intruders now stood before the table filled with the bandit leaders, their gaze unwavering.

"Who are you? How did you get here?" one of the gang leaders barked, his voice laced with anger and disbelief at the chaos unfolding.

"We-" Spark opened his mouth to reply, but Yuna stepped forward, her voice ringing clear and proud.

"We're the heroes of justice,"

The declaration hung in the air, met with incredulous looks from the bandits. They exchanged glances, clearly unimpressed and dismissive.

"Huh! What kind of joke is this?" one of the bandits spat, his face twisting in contempt.

Spark struggled to keep his composure, almost breaking into laughter at Yuna's bold proclamation. He wished she could've used a different title.

Meanwhile, the main leader's eyes narrowed as he assessed the intruders.

"Go deal with them at once," he ordered, still seated confidently as he gestured for his men to attack. His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of urgency.

With the order given, the bandit leaders charged forward, weapons drawn, ready to overwhelm the intruders with sheer numbers.

"All at once?" Spark's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the wave of attackers surging towards them.

"Let me handle this, young master," Zhao Shi said, stepping forward into a combat stance. His voice was steady and his movements deliberate, showing no signs of fear or hesitation.

One of the bandits, emboldened by the sight of the unarmed Zhao Shi, charged ahead of the others. He swung his saber in a wide arc, aiming to cut down Zhao Shi in a single, decisive strike.

However, Zhao Shi moved with uncanny speed and precision. The saber sliced through the air, missing Zhao Shi by mere inches.

The bandit, stunned by the miss, swung again, only to see the blade pass harmlessly by once more, failing to even graze Zhao Shi's clothes.

Frustration turned to disbelief as the bandit prepared for a third strike, but this time Zhao Shi had made a move.

With a fluid motion, Zhao Shi closed the distance between them. The bandit readied himself for the impending clash, but before he could react, Zhao Shi's fist slammed into his stomach with the force of a battering ram.

The bandit scrunched to the ground, groaning in agony, clutching his abdomen as pain radiated through his body. His internal organs felt as if they had been rearranged by the impact.

Seeing their comrade fall so swiftly and decisively, the other bandit leaders hesitated. They halted their charge and began to circle Zhao Shi, their eyes wary and their movements cautious. They had witnessed the prowess of this intruder and realized they could not afford to underestimate him.

As the bandits encircled him, Zhao Shi remained calm, his stance firm and his eyes keenly observing each of his potential attackers. The tension in the hall grew thick, and each side prepared for the next move.