Bandit System I Just Wanted To Go Home-Chapter 90: Reinforcements

Six hours after Blood Moon tried murdering them, Hunter was pretty sure his body had decided to quit.

Foundation Mid worked theoretically. Practically, every meridian screamed about recent life choices. Hidden injuries whispered suggestions about extended bed rest. His spiritual energy felt held together by duct tape and optimism.

Two Foundation Realm cultivators. Him and Han. That was Shadow Rest’s entire Foundation defense against Core Formation threats and spirit beast tides.

They’d survived because Liu Mei was Peak Core Formation and terrifyingly competent. Without her they’d all be dead. Simple math.

"Reinforcements incoming." Liu Mei’s spiritual pressure spiked. "Six Foundation Realm cultivators. Three minutes."

About time.

The spirit crane descended exactly on schedule. Massive bird with azure plumage landing in the courtyard with impossible grace. Six cultivators dismounted wearing Azure Cloud Sect inner disciple robes. Professional military bearing.

The leader stepped forward. Foundation Peak stage. Early thirties with constant tactical evaluation in his eyes.

"Senior Disciple Zhao Lin. Elder Feng sends reinforcements and regards." He clasped hands formally. "Here to secure territory and transport prisoners."

Liu Mei returned the greeting with professional courtesy. "Liu Mei, Peak Core Formation administrator. Situation stable. Two Blood Moon disciples captured. Leader escaped. Convergence dissipated. Threats neutralized."

Zhao Lin surveyed the settlement. Defensive formations. Guard positions. Injured cultivators. Captured prisoners in spiritual suppression.

His expression shifted to visible surprise.

"Status report indicated Blood Moon attack with Core Formation leader plus Foundation Peak disciples. Beast wave of forty plus spirit beasts. Defensive force composition?"

"Two Foundation Realm cultivators," Liu Mei stated clinically. "Foundation Mid and Foundation Early. Twelve Body Refining ranging Level 3 to 8. Remainder Qi Condensation or mortal. Plus myself."

Zhao Lin stared. Processed. Recalculated. Stared again.

"You defended with TWO Foundation cultivators?"

"Correct."

"Two."

"Hunter and Han." Liu Mei gestured. "Han coordinated perimeter defense through tactics. Body Refining held beast wave through coordination. I handled Core Formation threats directly."

Zhao Lin studied them with professional evaluation that made Hunter feel like specimen under examination.

"You’re the territory commander. Foundation Mid achieved during convergence crisis?"

"Foundation Early going in. Broke through to Mid during phenomenon peak while hidden injuries tried killing me. Void Shadow Constitution emergency response bypassed damaged meridians. Barely survived. Currently held together by medical intervention and stubbornness."

Brutal honesty. No point pretending.

"Void Shadow Constitution." Recognition flashed. "That explains Elder Feng’s personal interest. Rare bloodlines attract sect attention."

"Also attract demonic cultivators wanting possession techniques. Visibility breeds problems."

"Accurate." Zhao Lin turned to Han. "You coordinated defense with Body Refining against Foundation equivalent beasts?"

"Twenty years military experience," Han reported efficiently. "Tactics compensate for power gap. Defensive rotation prevented exhaustion. Coordinated techniques maximized effectiveness. Zero casualties through discipline."

"Exceptional." Genuine respect in Zhao Lin’s tone. "Most territories have five to eight Foundation minimum. You held with two through superior tactics and Peak Core Formation intervention."

He surveyed again. This time with professional admiration.

"Elder Feng was right. Exceptionally competent or impossibly lucky. Possibly both." He gestured to his team. "We’ll establish perimeter security and secure prisoners. Your people have earned rest."

The six Foundation cultivators dispersed with military precision. Taking positions. Coordinating with Han’s rotations. Professional reinforcement letting exhausted defenders finally stand down.

Hunter felt tension release. Temporary safety while they recovered.

Liu Mei remained close. Temperature noticeably colder. Unconscious spiritual pressure leak from emotions she wouldn’t acknowledge.

"You should rest. Foundation breakthrough strains body even without hidden injuries and convergence. Your meridians need stabilization time."

"Planning to sleep three days straight."

"Wei Suyin will monitor your condition. No active techniques for seventy-two hours minimum. Light cultivation only. Foundation stabilization exclusively."

"That an order from administrator or recommendation from concerned colleague?"

"Both." Temperature dropped two degrees. Frost formed. "Your tendency toward near-death experiences is professionally concerning and personally frustrating."

Hunter noted "personally frustrating" but didn’t comment. Liu Mei’s emotional investment was obvious to everyone except possibly Liu Mei.

Zhao Lin approached. "Prisoner interrogation before transport?"

"Recommended," Liu Mei confirmed. "Initial questioning provided intelligence. Detailed interrogation might reveal operational details."

They moved to the storage building. Captured disciples remained frozen in spiritual suppression. Complete restraint preventing escape.

Zhao Lin studied them coldly. "Blood Moon outer disciples. Foundation Peak. Infiltration specialists. You targeted affiliated territory during convergence. Explain operational parameters."

The lead disciple looked significantly less arrogant than six hours ago. He answered with desperate cooperation.

"Xue Feng commanded. Core Formation Early outer elder. We were one of six teams Blood Moon deployed to regional convergence sites. Orders were disrupt breakthroughs, steal spiritual energy, eliminate witnesses. Standard harvest operation."

"Six teams?" Zhao Lin’s expression hardened. "Simultaneously?"

"Yes. Convergence phenomena detected across region. Blood Moon saw opportunity for mass energy theft. We targeted Shadow Rest specifically because intelligence indicated Innate Dao Body breakthrough."

Hunter felt cold unrelated to Liu Mei’s temperature. "How did Blood Moon know about Mei’s constitution?"

"Information network. Sect has informants tracking talented cultivators. Innate Dao Body breakthrough energy is worth significant risk. Xue Feng personally led because target value justified elder involvement."

Liu Mei’s spiritual pressure dropped temperature ten degrees instantly. Killing intent manifested physically. Frost spread across walls.

"Someone reported my territory’s prodigies to demonic sect." Her voice could freeze blood. "Merchant? Passing cultivator? Spy?"

"Don’t know specifics. Just told Innate Dao Body confirmed at Shadow Rest. Eight years old. Approaching breakthrough. Prime target."

Information leak. Security breach. Someone had identified Mei specifically and reported to Blood Moon.

"Other teams’ targets?" Hunter asked.

"Don’t know details. Each team operated independently. Six convergence sites detected, six teams deployed. We drew Shadow Rest."

Zhao Lin made notes with professional detachment. "Blood Moon escalating significantly. Six simultaneous infiltration teams represents major resource commitment. Sect will respond appropriately."

"What’s appropriate response?" Hunter asked.

"War." Statement of fact. "Blood Moon attacking multiple affiliated territories during vulnerable breakthroughs is declaration of aggression. Azure Cloud Sect will mobilize elimination teams. This won’t stand unanswered."

Cultivation world politics escalating. Shadow Rest had triggered larger conflict through survival.

[LUNA] CONGRATULATIONS (◕‿◕✿)

Not now Luna.

[LUNA] YOU SURVIVED CONVERGENCE!

[LUNA] ALSO TRIGGERED SECT WAR!

[LUNA] VERY EXCITING DEVELOPMENT ♥

We nearly died multiple times.

[LUNA] BUT DIDN’T (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧

[LUNA] PROTAGONIST ENERGY

[LUNA] EXCELLENT NARRATIVE ESCALATION

Terrible encouragement as always.

Evening brought community gathering. All one hundred fifty residents in central courtyard. Exhausted but alive.

Han stood before them with military bearing. "Status report. Beast wave repelled. Forty plus beasts engaged. Four injured, all recovering. Zero casualties through coordinated defense."

Quiet pride from Body Refining cultivators who’d faced impossible odds.

"Blood Moon infiltration stopped. Two Foundation Peak captured. Core Formation leader escaped but threat neutralized. Children protected. Zero casualties."

Wei Suyin looked embarrassed at being called defender when she’d faced Foundation Peak with medical scalpel and courage.

"Breakthroughs completed successfully. Four cultivators advanced during convergence. Zero failures. Zero deaths. Unprecedented achievement."

He gestured toward them. "Hunter achieved Foundation Mid. Mei Foundation Early at eight years old. Twins Foundation Mid synchronized. Wei Lin Foundation Early at ten through calculated precision."

Applause erupted. Genuine celebration from community that defended these breakthroughs with their lives.

"Shadow Rest defended itself against overwhelming odds. Two Foundation cultivators. Twelve Body Refining guards. One Peak Core Formation administrator. We survived through coordination, discipline, and refusal to accept defeat. You should be proud."

More applause. Recognition of impossible survival through competence.

Hunter stood because apparently he needed to say something despite being terrible at speeches.

"We survived together. Two Foundation cultivators shouldn’t have held against what we faced. But Body Refining fought like Foundation through Han’s coordination. Wei Suyin stood against Foundation Peak to protect children. Everyone contributed beyond their cultivation level. That’s why we’re alive."

He paused. Looked at exhausted faces.

"Risks remain. Blood Moon knows we’re here. Sect war is coming. More threats will arrive. But we defended ourselves once. We can do it again. Together."

Not inspiring. But honest.

Good enough based on continued applause.

[LUNA] ADEQUATE SPEECH (◕‿◕✿)

[LUNA] ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED:

[LUNA] - Foundation Mid Complete!

[LUNA] - Beast Wave Defense!

[LUNA] - Blood Moon Repelled!

[LUNA] - Zero Deaths!

[LUNA] - Triggered Sect War!

[LUNA] YOU’RE IMPROVING ♥

Triggered sect war wasn’t achievement. That was problem.

[LUNA] PERSPECTIVE ♥

Mei appeared with Gerald. "You did good. Gerald says you’re learning leadership through adversity. Also says your hidden injuries need three days minimum rest before catastrophic failure becomes probable."

"Tell Gerald I’m planning extended unconsciousness immediately."

"He says acceptable plan. Also says sect war brings opportunities and threats. Shadow Rest proved competent. Will attract both protection and targeting."

"Encouraging."

"Gerald’s predictions usually are." Mei hugged him. Small Foundation Early cultivator with impossibly young spiritual pressure. "Thank you for protecting everyone."

Hunter hugged back. Adopted daughter who kept calling him father. Progress through small moments.

Liu Mei watched from distance. Temperature fluctuating unconsciously. Two centuries of discipline cracking. Zhao Lin noticed, said nothing, filed for later gossip.

Convergence ended. Shadow Rest survived. Four successful breakthroughs. Zero deaths. Captured prisoners. Sect reinforcements secured.

Victory. Technically.

Also triggered sect war, revealed information leak, attracted Blood Moon permanently, partially unsealed legendary physique.

Same pattern. Survive immediate crisis. Create larger problems. Handle consequences later.

Cultivation world standard.

Hunter headed toward quarters. Sleep calling. Mei followed with Gerald. Wei Lin calculating variables. Little Sparrow chattering.

Just another evening at Shadow Rest. Where surviving convergence was Tuesday and triggering sect war was bonus achievement.

At least nobody died this time.

Progress. Probably.