Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 861: Chapter 454: Accidentally Entering the Bandit Lair (Part 2)

But with the atmosphere heated to this point, he had no choice but to press on, fabricating as he went.

"My ill mother is gravely sick at home, I have no other choice. Moreover, this is my first time collecting herbs, so I’m not entirely familiar with the environment here."

Gu Sheng explained.

"First time..."

The big man was silent for a moment, then he waved his hand, indicating to the subordinates beside him, "Take him down and check thoroughly whether there’s anything hidden on him."

"Yes!"

Subsequently, Gu Sheng was taken by two burly men to a simple wooden hut.

They started searching his body and clothes.

Gu Sheng inwardly rejoiced that he hadn’t carried anything that could expose his identity.

His clothes were tattered and, other than some mud and grass clippings, there was nothing else on him.

After the search was completed, the two burly men reported to the big man, "Really unlucky! Boss, this kid has nothing on him."

"Alright!"

The big man nodded, seeming to trust Gu Sheng’s words a bit more.

"Okay then, since you’re a mountaineer, stay and help us with some chores, and once you’re healed, we’ll consider sending you back."

"Really?"

Gu Sheng was secretly delighted.

Although he had temporarily lost his freedom, his life was at least not in danger.

"Thank you, boss, I’ll work diligently."

Gu Sheng said with a genuinely earnest appearance.

After the big man left, the two guards looked at Gu Sheng and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... This kid, really amusing..."

"Hehe... Who would have thought, someone just walks right in."

Hearing this, Gu Sheng was very puzzled.

"Why are you laughing, sirs?"

He asked, furrowing his brows.

One of the guards patted Gu Sheng’s shoulder and laughed, "Kid, you’re really naive, you’ll know tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Gu Sheng felt a pang of unease, but outwardly remained calm, "Oh? Then I look forward to tomorrow."

The guards said nothing more, only exchanged smiles and turned to leave.

Watching their backs, Gu Sheng grew more vigilant.

But for now, he had no other choice, he could only rest well for the night.

As night fell and the surroundings grew silent, Gu Sheng lay on the simple wooden bed, feeling the quiet around him.

He closed his eyes, trying to adjust his breathing and enter a meditative state.

However, his thoughts remained restless.

His mind kept replaying the events of the day.

Especially the cryptic words of the two guards, naive? Could this place be some shady operation?

But it didn’t make sense; even if it were, there was no coal mine here?

For now, forget it, just rest.

With that, Gu Sheng drifted into a deep sleep.

As dawn approached, Gu Sheng suddenly felt an itch at his wound.

This sensation was a sign that the wound was starting to heal.

He was moved, sitting up immediately.

If he could catalyze it with divine power, the wound would heal even faster.

Yet he knew too well, his divine power was almost depleted.

If he used it now, he would indeed become a cripple in the short term.

"Heal or not to heal?"

Gu Sheng was a bit conflicted.

Gnashing his teeth, he felt he had no choice.

Then he sat cross-legged, despite the pain in his leg, channeling the last trace of divine power within him, trying to guide it to the wound.

"Swish swish swish..."

The divine power, like a tiny stream, flowed slowly through Gu Sheng’s body.

Under the control of Gu Sheng’s divine sense, it finally gathered at the wound.

Where the divine power reached, the itch at the wound grew stronger.

Gu Sheng knew this was a good sign, indicating the wound was healing rapidly.

He dared not be careless, cautiously controlling the divine power, fearing any slip would exhaust this precious force.

Gradually, Gu Sheng felt the pain at the wound lessen.

It was replaced by a warm and comfortable sensation.

"Phew..."

Gu Sheng exhaled deeply, knowing his wound was mostly healed.

"Thump thump thump!"

At this moment, a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

Gu Sheng was startled, quickly withdrawing his divine power and pretending to be asleep.

"Creak!"

The door was pushed open, and a guard peeked in, looking around.

Seeing Gu Sheng still asleep, he sneered, "This kid, can really sleep!"

"Boom!"

The guard came forward and kicked Gu Sheng’s makeshift bed, collapsing it.

"What’s going on?"

Gu Sheng pretended to be startled awake, drowsily rubbing his eyes.

"Get up! Follow me outside!"

The guard said impatiently.

"Oh."

Gu Sheng responded, hobbling out of the building on his right leg.

He found that outside, many mountaineers were squatting in a row.

Their clothes were shabby, faces full of hardship, eyes revealing despair for life.

"Oh no..."

Gu Sheng’s heart sank, realizing the situation might be worse than he thought.

"What do I need to do?"

Gu Sheng cautiously asked.

The guard dragged Gu Sheng over to several old mountaineers, speaking coldly, "Squat with them and wait for today’s task!"

"Oh."

Gu Sheng nodded and moved over.

Those old mountaineers looked at Gu Sheng, feeling quite sorry for him.

"Alas... what a pity!"

An older mountaineer leaned close to Gu Sheng, whispering, "Young man, how did you end up here?"

"What’s the matter?"

Gu Sheng feigned ignorance.

"You’ve got trouble, these bandits are from the Joyful Gang, ruthless, and our village was captured by them for labor, a slight mistake and they’ll beat you."

"What? The Joyful Gang?"

Gu Sheng’s heart tightened.

He’d heard that the Joyful Gang was a small sect of Shaking Light Sacred Land.

But this gang was only about living freely, caring nothing for the future.

Truly a gathering of short-sighted scoundrels...

Hence its notorious reputation!

Gu Sheng knew he must be even more careful to quickly find a chance to escape.

"You guys! Over here!"

"You! Come this way, form groups!"

"Yes! Quickly! Stop dawdling!"

The bandits of the Joyful Gang were dividing the mountaineers into groups, assigning different tasks.

Gu Sheng was assigned to the transport group, responsible for moving heavy wooden crates from one end of the valley to the other.

These crates were very heavy, clearly holding something important.

As he carried them, Gu Sheng discreetly observed.

He noticed that strange symbols seemed to be carved on the boxes, perhaps some kind of markings.

What exactly could be inside these boxes?

Could it be the bandits’ treasure?

If so, this might be an opportunity he could use.

The transport work was extremely arduous, and even though Gu Sheng’s leg wasn’t fully healed,

he bit down hard and persisted.

Because here, only by performing well could he win the bandits’ trust and thereby find an opportunity to escape.

As night fell again, Gu Sheng and the other mountaineers were taken back to the camp.

This time Gu Sheng wasn’t locked in a single room, but rather with others in a simple wooden shack.

The entrance of the shed was guarded by bandits, the security seemed strict.

Suddenly, the gang leader brought two cultivators into the shed.

Upon seeing them, Gu Sheng immediately realized that these two cultivators were likely at the Divine Bridge Realm.

Yet now he was a cripple, unable to fight back.

Gu Sheng’s heart tightened, knowing he would face great danger if discovered.

"Screech, screech, screech!"

At this moment, the two cultivators suddenly surged with divine power, sensing the atmosphere in the shed.

Their eyes swept over each mountaineer like a hawk.

Suddenly, one of the cultivators pointed at an elderly white-haired man, "He is also a cultivator, there’s a divine power fluctuation within him."

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, the gang leader’s eyes flashed with a hint of greed.

"Go! Drag this old man out, I want to interrogate him personally."

"Yes!"

Several bandits rushed in.

The old man was immediately terrified, hurriedly explaining, "Boss, I did dabble in some cultivation when I was young, but now I have barely any divine power, just a smattering."

"Heh... is that so? Then I will personally see how much divine power you have."

The gang leader chuckled coldly.