Chapter 3: Strength Is the Foundation of Confidence

Outside Morin Village, under the moonlight on a country path, Guo Nan swaggered into the village, a broadsword slung over his shoulder. Guo Nan had once been a villager here, but after committing a crime, he had fled to Qianfeng Territory to become a bandit. This time, he returned on the orders of Wang Yuanwu, the bandit squad leader, to snatch a young woman from Morin Village for their amusement.

Knowing the village well, Guo Nan recalled the now-grown Gu Yan. He had fancied her even as a child; now, as a bandit, it was only natural that he would head straight for the home of Gu Yan and her brother, Gu Feng.

Ashamed and in distress, Gu Feng had sprinted ahead on his own. Gu Yan, running at a trot, soon lost sight of her brother. Though the moonlight offered some illumination, the dim countryside made her uneasy, and she quickened her pace out of fear.

By coincidence, the direction Gu Yan was heading, the path Guo Nan took into the village, and the location of Gu Yan’s home all formed a Y-shaped intersection. It was at this fork that Gu Yan and Guo Nan crossed paths.

Startled to see someone ahead, Gu Yan recognized the figure with the broadsword—it was Guo Nan. She knew him all too well; even as a child, he’d taken liberties with her. Now that he was a bandit, would he let her go? She dared not make a sound or linger, fearing to alert Guo Nan, and dashed off toward her home.

Guo Nan was momentarily stunned—he hadn’t expected to encounter Gu Yan on the road. What delighted him even more was how much she’d changed after a year apart—she was now dazzlingly beautiful, almost unearthly. Excitement surged within him; coming to capture Gu Yan was well worth the effort. Even if he couldn’t be her first, he was eager to enjoy her beauty. The very thought thrilled him.

“Stop right there.”

By the time Guo Nan came to his senses, Gu Yan had already run far ahead. Hearing his voice, Gu Yan cried out, “Help! Brother!” and fled for her life.

Though not a trained warrior, Guo Nan was powerfully built and swift; the frail Gu Yan stood no chance of outrunning him. In moments, Guo Nan seized her by the hair.

A scream of pain escaped her lips, but she struggled on, fighting to break free. She knew if she could just find her brother, Guo Nan would not dare harm her.

“Heh! Trying to run? Gu Yan, ever since childhood I liked you, and now, you’ve become even more enchanting. Well, I suppose it’s Wang Yuanwu’s good fortune to have you first, but I’ll have my turn too—at least I’ll get to enjoy you. Don’t worry, you won’t die. I’ll keep you locked up and savor you every night.”

“Let me go!” Gu Yan was terrified by the sick delight in Guo Nan’s voice.

“Let you go? Dream on!” Guo Nan chopped her on the neck with a hand strike, knocking her out to keep her from alerting the village’s braver souls. Though he had the backing of Qianfeng Territory and feared little, he preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble.

He hoisted Gu Yan onto his shoulder, his hands lingering on her soft waist and thighs, desire burning within him. He longed to take her then and there, but fear of Wang Yuanwu’s power held him back, and he forced himself to wait. Eager for his reward, Guo Nan quickened his pace to leave the village behind.

Meanwhile, Gu Feng, having left the courtyard, sprinted back along the road. With a set of leather armor and sturdy boots enhancing his speed, he soon reached the Y-shaped intersection. Not seeing his sister there, he panicked, unsure of what to do.

“Boy, what’s the rush? Your sister’s been taken—head right, you can still catch up,” drawled the old system voice in his mind.

Alarmed, Gu Feng dashed in the direction indicated. Under the moonlight, racing along the mountain path, he pushed his speed to the limit. Finally, around a bend, he caught sight of Guo Nan and his abducted sister.

With his improved strength, Gu Feng's vision had sharpened as well. He recognized Guo Nan at a glance and roared in anger: “Guo Nan, put my sister down!”

Lost in visions of pleasure with Gu Yan, Guo Nan was startled by the furious shout behind him. Annoyed, he turned and recognized Gu Feng. He was baffled—how could the timid and cowardly Gu Feng be faster than himself?

While Guo Nan stood in shock, Gu Feng had already caught up, pointing his fine steel shortsword at Guo Nan and shouting, “Guo Nan, let go of my sister!”

Guo Nan frowned in confusion at the transformed Gu Feng, now clad in impressive armor—gear that sparked envy in him. “Gu Feng, take off your armor, drop your weapon, and leave now. I’ll let you go,” he declared confidently.

He knew Gu Feng well, and despite the change in appearance, he didn’t consider him a real threat.

“Damn you, Guo Nan! I told you to let go of my sister!” Gu Feng’s rage boiled over, and a killing intent rose within him. If his sister were not in Guo Nan’s hands, he would have attacked already.

Facing Gu Feng’s murderous glare, Guo Nan remained unafraid, sneering coldly. “So, you want to die? I’ll grant your wish.”

With that, Guo Nan gently set down the unconscious Gu Yan, gripped the broadsword slung over his other shoulder, and his contemptuous gaze turned sharp as he swung a fierce blow at Gu Feng.

Guo Nan wanted to finish this quickly, eager to claim Gu Yan for himself. The anticipation of her body made him almost lose control.

As Guo Nan charged, Gu Feng felt a surge of panic—this was his first real battle. With a chopping skill level of just one, his instinctive response was a downward slash.

He swung hard, his sword colliding with Guo Nan’s broadsword.

A loud clang echoed.

Then—a snap!

Gu Feng stared in astonishment.

Guo Nan was equally dumbfounded, his mind reeling in disbelief. How could it be? His broadsword had been cleaved in two by a single stroke from Gu Feng.

Guo Nan looked at Gu Feng as if he’d seen a ghost. Gu Feng, meanwhile, found his anxiety replaced by exhilaration at his own prowess. Meeting Guo Nan’s gaze, he felt a surge of fighting spirit. Confidence in his newfound strength blossomed within him.

“Guo Nan, you dared lay a hand on my sister—you deserve to die.”

Gu Feng’s eyes were icy, his voice cold as steel, his murderous intent undisguised.

Guo Nan stared at the scrawny Gu Feng in shock, unable to comprehend how this once-timid weakling had gained such power. Noting Gu Feng’s equipment and the fine steel shortsword that had severed his own blade, he wondered if Gu Feng had stumbled upon some incredible luck.

Though his weapon was broken, Guo Nan was not afraid. After more than a year with the Qianfeng bandits and many battles, he had little fear of death—and certainly none of Gu Feng.

“Heh! Gu Feng, you surprise me. But the one who dies tonight won’t be me—it’ll be you.”

Guo Nan took the initiative, using the terrain to launch a strange footwork maneuver. Though simple, this move had kept him safe through many skirmishes, and he believed it more than enough for Gu Feng.

Despite his confidence in his strength, Gu Feng grew tense seeing Guo Nan’s nimble steps. He tightened his grip on the steel shortsword, preparing another downward slash.

Seeing Gu Feng stick to his basic attack, Guo Nan sneered and quickened his footwork, trying to circle behind for a fatal blow.

Gu Feng drew a deep breath, suppressing his nerves. Though he lacked such footwork, his equipment—imbued with speed attributes—was not of this world.

He focused on Guo Nan’s approach, seized the right moment, and suddenly burst forward, slashing down with all his might.

“No!”

Guo Nan had not expected Gu Feng’s timing to be so perfect. With no chance to dodge, he had to block. He raised the broken blade above his head, cold sweat beading instantly, praying it would hold.

But the memory of his sword being cut in half moments before left him with no confidence—only growing despair.

“Is this the end? Am I going to die?”