Bandit System I Just Wanted To Go Home-Chapter 89: BLOOD MOON RISING

Ten minutes until everything went sideways again.

Liu Mei’s ice blue eyes tracked three spiritual signatures approaching from the south like incoming missiles with really bad intentions. Her Peak Core Formation cultivation gave her ten mile detection range, which was currently showing three Core Formation cultivators flying toward them at speeds that screamed "we’re definitely not here to make friends."

"Three incoming." Her voice stayed calm in that professional way that actually made things scarier. "Core Formation signatures. Eight miles out. Moving fast."

Hunter felt his exhausted body immediately dump adrenaline into his system like his body was betraying him specifically. Foundation Mid worked fine despite the breakthrough strain, but seriously? He’d wanted maybe an hour of rest. Just one hour to enjoy not dying during cultivation advancement.

Apparently the universe thought that was asking too much.

"Any chance they’re friendly?" Hunter asked without much hope.

"Their approach vector suggests negotiation wasn’t part of their flight plan." Frost formed on the ground around Liu Mei’s feet. Temperature dropped five degrees from her unconscious spiritual pressure leak. "Demonic cultivators don’t fly at maximum speed toward breakthrough phenomena to have friendly chats about the weather."

Fair point.

Han materialized from the guard station with that military efficiency he’d mastered over twenty years. He’d literally achieved Foundation Realm Early this morning and was already coordinating defense against Core Formation threats. No time to process his own advancement. Just straight back to work mode.

"Guards are running on fumes," Han reported with brutal honesty. "Four injured from beast wave. Everyone else held together by stubbornness and questionable life choices. We can hold defensive positions but sustained combat is... optimistic."

"How optimistic?" Hunter needed specifics.

"Against Foundation Realm we’d manage through teamwork and formations. Against Core Formation?" Han’s expression said everything his words didn’t. "We’d die professionally but we’d still die."

Great. Fantastic. Wonderful.

Liu Mei moved toward the southern perimeter like someone who’d decided to handle this personally. "Maintain positions around cultivation chambers. Watch for infiltration tactics. Demonic cultivators prefer sneaky murder over honest murder."

Hunter trusted her two hundred years of experience more than his own instincts right now. Mostly because his instincts were screaming "run away" which wasn’t helpful.

Tao, Xuan, and Lex appeared in formation gear looking way too excited given the circumstances.

"We can help!" Tao announced like he was volunteering for a field trip instead of potential death. "The Dao of Sloth makes us strong now!"

"The Dao of Sloth makes you surprisingly competent," Hunter corrected. "But you’re still Body Refining Level 8 facing Core Formation cultivators. That’s like bringing a knife to a dragon fight."

"We’re very good at accidentally finding problems while being lazy," Lex offered helpfully.

"Then be lazy near the cultivation chambers. Accidentally discover anyone trying to break in."

They saluted with varying degrees of coordination and scattered. Hunter watched them go with mixed feelings about weaponized incompetence producing legitimate results.

The three cultivators arrived five minutes later on flying swords like they were making a dramatic entrance in a play about villainy.

Blood red robes. Because of course they wore blood red robes. Demonic cultivators weren’t known for subtle fashion choices.

The leader stepped forward first. Core Formation Early stage. Mid forties with features that might have been handsome before cultivation twisted them into something harder. His spiritual pressure radiated outward like someone testing how uncomfortable he could make everyone.

"Xue Feng. Blood Moon Sect outer elder." He smiled without warmth. "We detected unusual spiritual phenomenon. Came to investigate potential violations of cultivation law."

That was the most transparent lie Hunter had heard since Luna told him everything would be fine.

Liu Mei intercepted him at two hundred meters. Winter storm contained in human form. Ice crystals literally forming in the air around her.

"This is Azure Cloud Sect affiliated territory. I’m Liu Mei, Peak Core Formation administrator. State your actual business or leave immediately."

Her voice could have flash frozen water.

Xue Feng’s expression shifted slightly. Recognizing power gap. Adjusting tactics. "Just investigating unusual spiritual activity. Major convergence phenomena raise concerns about forbidden techniques. We’re exercising regional oversight on behalf of the cultivation community."

"Blood Moon Sect exercises nothing on behalf of anyone except Blood Moon Sect." Liu Mei’s words cut like ice shards. "Your sect specializes in harvest techniques and predatory opportunism. Your presence during vulnerable breakthrough period suggests targeting, not investigation."

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Accusations require evidence. We’re simply concerned cultivators."

While they talked, his two Foundation Peak disciples circled the perimeter. Casual patrol that looked innocent except Hunter’s improved spiritual sense recognized positioning. They were finding weak points. Establishing attack vectors. Preparing for something definitely not peaceful.

Hunter caught Han’s eye. Made subtle gesture. Han nodded and adjusted guard positions accordingly. Professional recognition that talking was distraction while the real threat maneuvered.

The conversation continued with polite accusations wrapped in cultivator courtesy. Professional word sparring while both sides positioned for violence. Standard cultivation world politics where everything was layered deception until someone threw the first attack.

Then Little Sparrow’s voice cut through like alarm bell.

"GERALD SAYS BAD PEOPLE COMING UNDERGROUND! TWO OF THEM! FOUNDATION PEAK!"

The thirteen year old’s earth affinity had detected something Liu Mei’s ice cultivation couldn’t sense. Two cultivators tunneling beneath formations using earth techniques. They’d surfaced thirty meters from Mei’s chamber while everyone watched the obvious distraction.

Wei Suyin appeared between infiltrators and chamber with medical scalpel held like actual weapon. Qi Condensation Peak medical cultivator versus two Foundation Peak demonic cultivators. Suicide mission by any calculation. She stood ground anyway.

"Move aside," the lead infiltrator commanded with casual arrogance. "We’re claiming the Innate Dao Body’s breakthrough energy. You can’t stop us."

"You’ll have to go through me first."

Wei Suyin’s voice shook but didn’t break. Terrified but determined. The kind of courage that came from protecting children being non negotiable regardless of odds.

The infiltrators laughed. Foundation Peak spiritual pressure flooding outward meant to intimidate. They’d kill her casually if she didn’t move. Her life meant nothing compared to stealing Mei’s energy.

Hunter started moving. Foundation Mid gave him speed but thirty meters felt like miles when measuring seconds until Wei Suyin died. Too far. Too slow. Math didn’t work.

Then Liu Mei was just there.

Hunter barely tracked it. One moment she stood two hundred meters away. Next instant she manifested between infiltrators and Wei Suyin like reality had been edited. Peak Core Formation movement making distance meaningless.

Temperature dropped forty degrees in explosive radius.

Everything within fifty meters froze. Air became visible fog. Ground crystallized. Nearby plants turned brittle with ice. Wei Suyin stumbled backward from cold shock.

"Leave. Final warning."

Ice spear formed above Liu Mei’s hand. Three feet of crystallized death aimed at lead infiltrator’s heart.

He opened his mouth. Started questioning what made one child worth Core Formation protection.

The ice spear moved.

Not killing strike. Warning shot that could have been lethal. It pierced his shoulder instead of heart. Pinned him to ground through bone and muscle with surgical precision.

He screamed. High pitched genuine pain from someone who’d catastrophically underestimated his opponent.

His companion froze. Literally and figuratively.

"Next one kills." Liu Mei’s voice was winter given speech. "Choose quickly."

"We yield!" The second infiltrator’s hands shot up. Surrender absolute. "Azure Cloud authority recognized!"

Two hundred meters away, Xue Feng made his decision. Saw infiltration failed. Saw Liu Mei mobile and extremely angry. Calculated odds.

His flying sword activated. Maximum speed retreat carrying him south faster than Hunter could track. Abandoning disciples without hesitation because survival trumped loyalty.

"This isn’t over. Blood Moon remembers."

Then gone. Disappeared beyond detection range within seconds.

Liu Mei turned to captured disciples. Ice formed around wrists and ankles. Spiritual suppression carved into frozen bonds.

"Attempted murder of affiliated territory administrator. Infiltration during breakthrough with intent to harvest spiritual energy. Targeting minor for forbidden techniques." Clinical precision. "Death penalty under Azure Cloud Sect law."

Both went pale. Death penalty meant exactly that. Sects eliminated threats permanently.

"We were following orders," one tried desperately. "Just outer disciples with no choice."

"Following illegal orders doesn’t absolve culpability. But cooperation might influence sentencing. Elder Feng will determine punishment after interrogation."

She gestured to Han. "Secure them. Reinforced storage. Guards rotate every two hours. If they escape, everyone on watch faces disciplinary action."

Han coordinated prisoner transfer with professional efficiency. The captured disciples were escorted away still frozen.

Wei Suyin collapsed once adrenaline faded. Hunter helped her stand on shaking legs.

"You were going to die fighting them," Hunter said quietly.

"Yes." No hesitation. "But I would have died protecting Mei. That felt more important than living by stepping aside."

Hunter understood completely. Some things were worth dying for.

Little Sparrow approached with Gerald clutched tight. Vibrating with fear and excitement.

"Gerald says you did good. His geological awareness detected earth tunneling. He told me where bad people were coming. Did I help?"

"You absolutely helped. Gerald’s detection saved lives. Thank him for us."

Little Sparrow hugged the rock tighter. Adults thought it was adorable imagination. Only junior division knew the ancient soul actually responded. Perfect cover.

Liu Mei returned from security coordination. Temperature around her noticeably colder than ambient. Unconscious emotional response affecting two hundred years of discipline.

"Xue Feng will report back. They’ll know we have Peak Core Formation defense and affiliated status. Might discourage attempts or encourage organized assault. Unknown variable."

"Can we request reinforcements?" Hunter already knew the answer.

"Already contacted Elder Feng. Additional guard detail from nearest outpost. Estimated arrival six to eight hours." She didn’t look pleased about needing help. "Temporary until convergence dissipates and threat returns to normal."

Six to eight hours of vulnerability. More opportunistic cultivators might arrive sensing weakness.

Hunter’s Foundation Mid felt inadequate compared to threats faced. But combined with Liu Mei’s power and Han’s coordination, they could probably survive until help arrived.

Probably.

[LUNA] CONVERGENCE ATTRACTS EVERYONE (◕‿◕✿)

[LUNA] THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL

[LUNA] YOU’RE DOING GREAT ♥

"Normal is terrible Luna. I hate normal."

[LUNA] BUT IT’S SO EXCITING (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧

"Exciting is also terrible. I’d like boring. Just once."

[LUNA] BORING IS FOR WEAK PROTAGONISTS ♥

Hunter really missed boring. Boring people didn’t nearly die from qi deviation. Boring people didn’t get attacked during convergence phenomena. Boring people filled out insurance paperwork and went home at reasonable hours.

He missed being boring so much.

Mei emerged from her chamber exhausted but triumphant. Foundation Realm Early achieved despite chaos thirty meters away. Her Innate Dao Body had crossed threshold with natural grace even while demonic cultivators tried stealing her energy.

"I heard fighting. Gerald says Blood Moon Sect attempted infiltration but Liu Mei stopped them efficiently. Also Gerald says thank you for protecting me even though I was fine because my chamber had defensive formations that would have electrocuted anyone touching the door."

"You had secret defensive formations?" Hunter asked.

"Gerald taught me basic arrays during meditation. Used them on chamber door as practice. Didn’t mention because it seemed obvious everyone would do this during dangerous convergence phenomenon."

Eight year old genius with ancient guidance and proactive security. Of course she’d installed defenses nobody knew about.

"Next time mention the secret electrocution traps before Wei Suyin almost dies protecting you."

"Noted for future reference." Mei hugged him suddenly. Small body radiating Foundation Realm power. "Thank you for worrying though. Gerald says parental concern is emotionally healthy even when tactically unnecessary."

Hunter hugged back. Adopted daughter who kept calling him father despite his inability to fully accept it. Progress happened incrementally. Like hugging instead of freezing awkwardly.

The convergence phenomenon was finally dissipating. Spiritual pressure dropping to normal as breakthroughs stopped generating concentrated qi. Storm had passed. Shadow Rest survived through preparation, coordination, and Peak Core Formation administrator who’d chosen protecting children over everything else.

Casualties: zero.

Prisoners: two.

Threats remaining: Blood Moon Sect knowledge and grudges.

Same terrible odds. Still alive. Still functional. Still standing.

Progress. Probably.

Hunter stood on the wall watching southern horizon where Xue Feng disappeared. Blood Moon wouldn’t forget this. Wouldn’t forgive captured disciples. Would return eventually with better planning.

Future problem for future Hunter.

Present Hunter was exhausted, Foundation Mid, and desperately hoping reinforcements arrived before anything else tried murder.

Just another day at Shadow Rest. Where successful breakthroughs attracted cascading disasters with Luna’s cheerful emoticons and terrible timing.

At least nobody died this time.

Small victories counted.