eurekapd Chapter 415 Sand Bandits
Chapter 415 Sand Bandits
Time slipped away, and another noon arrived. As the Cao family caravan rounded a stretch of sand dunes, a group of uninvited guests suddenly appeared ahead. Twenty or thirty of them appeared like ghosts, dressed in ragged, unkempt clothing, armed with a variety of weapons, their eyes gleaming with ferocity and greed. Leading the charge was none other than the bandit leader, Sharidao. He was a massive figure, his face thick with flesh. A hideous scar stretched from the corner of his eye to his cheek, strikingly visible in the sunlight. He wielded a broadsword, its cold gleam gleaming in the sunlight, as if telling of the blood it had once drunk.
Sharidao strode in front of the Cao family caravan, blocking their path. He grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth, and said viciously, "Hand over your money and supplies, or I will kill you without mercy!" His voice was like thunder, echoing in the desert and sending shivers down your spine.
Cao Xun's heart sank. He was well aware of the notoriety and power of the Shari Knife. He quickly halted the caravan and whispered, "Everyone, prepare for battle, but do not act rashly." His eyes were firm and calm. While he understood the difficulty of this battle, the Cao family's supplies were hard-earned, and he was unwilling to surrender them. The caravan's guards tightened their weapons, nervously watching the sand bandits' every move. Their eyes were filled with fear and determination. After all, this was a matter of life and death.
Cao Xun took a step forward, looked into Sharidao's eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Sharidao, don't go too far. We, the Cao family caravan, are traveling in this desert, and we are not easy to bully." Although his voice was calm, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.
After hearing this, Sharidao couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Do you think you can compete with me? I advise you to hand over the supplies obediently, otherwise today will be the day you die." He waved the big knife in his hand, and a whistling sound suddenly sounded in the air.
Cao Xun knew there was no room for retreat. He slowly drew the sword from his waist. The blade gleamed with a cool light in the sunlight, as if sensing its master's determination. He whispered to Cao Ling and Cao Mo beside him, "Be careful for a while, and try to stay behind me." Cao Ling and Cao Mo nodded silently, their eyes filled with trust and determination.
The battle was imminent. Cao Xun was the first to charge at Sharidao, and the two instantly engaged. Cao Xun's swordsmanship was sharp and precise, each strike striking Sharidao's vital points. Sharidao, not to be outdone, wielded his broadsword with vigorous force, each swing carrying immense power. Sparks flew as the sword clashed with Cao Xun's. The two exchanged blows, and for a moment, it seemed as if they were evenly matched. Their figures intertwined in the yellow sand, raising a cloud of dust that made it difficult to discern their movements.
Meanwhile, Cao Mo was engaged in a fierce battle with a bandit. The bandit was sturdy and wielded his spear with the agility of a venomous snake. Though Cao Mo was old, he was experienced. He deftly dodged the bandit's attacks while searching for weaknesses. His weapon frequently clashed with the spear, producing a resounding sound, each collision a test of strength and skill.
However, the Cao family's other guards were facing a difficult battle against the bandits. The bandits were desperate men, seasoned warriors with rich combat experience in this desolate desert. Their attacks were ferocious and fearless, disregarding their own safety as they charged towards the Cao family guards. Despite their fierce resistance, the Cao family guards were gradually losing ground under the bandits' fierce attacks. Fear and despair crossed their faces, and sweat and blood mingled, dripping onto the yellow sand.
From behind the distant sand dunes, Lin Feng quietly watched the fierce battle between the two groups. His eyes were calm and indifferent, as if none of this concerned him. He pulled a water bag from his bosom and slowly drank from it, moistening his parched lips. He weighed the pros and cons, wondering if he should intervene in this battle. He knew his goal was to reach Lingyuan City, and he didn't want to get involved in unnecessary disputes. But seeing the Cao family caravan in trouble, he hesitated.
As time went on, the battle intensified. Casualties in the Cao family caravan continued to mount, with half of the men already lying in a pool of blood. The ground was littered with corpses and body parts, blood staining the yellow sand red and emitting a pungent odor. Cao Xun was distracted during the battle, worried about the safety of the Cao family members. He was caught off guard and was caught by the Shari Knife. With a sudden swing of the knife, the Shari Knife struck Cao Xun hard in the chest. Cao Xun felt a powerful force, a sharp pain in his chest, and a mouthful of blood spurted out instantly. His body flew backwards and fell heavily to the ground.
"Dad!" Cao Ling cried out in surprise upon seeing this. She and Cao Mo hurriedly retreated from the battle and ran to Cao Xun's side. Cao Ling's eyes were filled with tears and fear. She lifted Cao Xun up with trembling hands and said in a choked voice, "Dad, how are you?" Cao Mo anxiously checked Cao Xun's injuries, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with worry and anger.
Seeing Cao Xun injured, the bandits gathered around him. Sharidao laughed and said, "If we had handed over the supplies earlier, we wouldn't have suffered this." His laughter sounded like a devil's roar to the Cao family, making them feel despair.
Cao Xun endured the severe pain in his chest, raised his head and looked at Sharidao, and said with difficulty: "We can hand over the supplies, and you let them go." His voice was weak and powerless, but there was still a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Sharidao said disdainfully: "It's too late to say this now." His eyes were full of greed and cruelty, as if he had already regarded the Cao family's supplies as something in his pocket.
At this time, a bandit's eyes suddenly lit up, and he pointed at Cao Ling and said, "Boss, look, this girl is pretty good." There was a hint of obscenity in his voice, which made people feel disgusted.
As soon as these words were spoken, all the bandits' eyes turned to Cao Ling. Previously, because Cao Ling was covered in a cloth and cloak, they hadn't been able to see her face clearly. Now that the cloth had been removed from her head, her stunningly beautiful features were fully revealed. Feeling the bandits' greedy and lustful gazes, Cao Ling felt a wave of fear, and her body involuntarily shrank.
Seeing this, Cao Xun hurriedly said, "Please, let my daughter go." There was a hint of pleading in his voice. This was the helpless act of a father in desperate situation to protect his daughter.
Sharidao laughed loudly: "Let your daughter go? You will all die, but your daughter can still live happily for a while." His words caused a burst of laughter from the bandits. Their laughter echoed in the desert, making people feel creepy.