Beaten into Confession

Zhan Xiaobai scrutinized the bandit NPC hanging from the tree. He resembled a gaunt monkey, about thirty years old, with a pointed chin and sharp features, shifty eyes, and dressed in a dark blue scholar’s linen robe. He had just been lashed by Snow Mountain Leopard, clearly frightened, his thin mustache trembling as his eyes darted about, most likely plotting some escape.

Zhan Xiaobai chuckled, “You’re the strategist from Tiger Head Mountain stronghold, aren’t you? The bandit strategist?”

“Never change my name, never change my ways. I am your master, Gou Buli!” the bandit NPC retorted, still unaware of his predicament, trying to gain some verbal advantage.

Zhan Xiaobai ignored him. “Fine, now report your personal details, all specifics about the stronghold, including its leaders, manpower, and defensive arrangements.”

“Bah! You want me to betray the stronghold? Not a chance!” the bandit strategist shouted defiantly.

Zhan Xiaobai simply gestured. Snow Mountain Leopard stepped forward, smirking, and whipped the bandit strategist hard.

A miserable, earth-shattering pig’s squeal erupted, “I’m a level 20—yes, level 20 bandit strategist, intelligence seventeen! I have four strategist skills: sow discord, incite, flatter, and intimidate!”

The bandit strategist’s confession was impressive. To possess four strategist skills was extraordinary—ordinary NPCs with even one skill were remarkable. Most players had none. No one present dared underestimate the bandit strategist now.

Zhan Xiaobai quickly asked, “What are the levels of your four skills, and what are their effects?”

The bandit strategist cried out, “That’s my secret! How could I possibly tell you?”

“Stop calling yourself ‘master’—who do you think you are? Speak up!”

Snow Mountain Leopard cursed, swinging another branch at him.

The bandit strategist screamed, “Ah, ah—so painful! Stop beating me, I’ll talk!” He immediately revealed the effects of his four skills:

1. Sow Discord—Beginner. Each success decreases favor or loyalty by 1%–5%. Success rate depends on skill level and the intelligence of the target. The drop in favor/loyalty depends on skill level, target intelligence, and current favor/loyalty.
2. Incite—Beginner. Causes others to commit misdeeds. Success rate depends on skill level and the intelligence of the target.
3. Flatter—Advanced. Pleases others, making them happy. Success rate depends on skill level and the intelligence of the target.
4. Intimidate—Beginner. Uses fierce demeanor to frighten others, making them afraid to resist. Related to skill level, intelligence, and courage.

Zhan Xiaobai was very pleased and continued, “What are your weaknesses?”

Seeing Snow Mountain Leopard raise the branch, the bandit strategist blurted out reflexively, “Greedy and lustful, bullies the weak, fears the strong.” He immediately regretted revealing his flaws, realizing he had handed over leverage.

Everyone laughed heartily. “Damn, this guy was born to be a scoundrel!” “He won’t tell the truth unless beaten—no wonder he bullies the weak and fears the strong.”

Having understood the bandit strategist’s background, Zhan Xiaobai began to ask about the stronghold, “How many bandits are there, and how are the defenses arranged?”

The bandit strategist refused to answer, but after another round of beating, he finally broke and told all.

The bandit stronghold atop Tiger Head Mountain was an elementary bandit stronghold, home to over two hundred bandits. There were seven distinct ranks: level 20 petty thieves, level 22 thieves, level 21 junior bandits, level 23 bandits, level 24 thief leaders, level 25 bandit leaders, level 27 chief bandit leaders, level 30 bandit king Wang Tiger, and level 20 bandit strategist Gou Buli. Petty thieves wielded spears and blocked roads for robbery. Bandits carried broadswords and killed for loot. The king, the highest leader, wielded a nine-ringed broadsword, formidable and fierce. Strategists carried no weapons, offering counsel. Tiger Head Mountain stronghold was a fully functional miniature stronghold.

King Wang Tiger seldom descended the mountain, staying in the stronghold. The stronghold boasted sturdy wooden palisades, a main gate, two elementary arrow towers, and only one narrow mountain path, heavily patrolled by bandits—easy to defend, hard to attack.

After “Gray Sun Village” killed several lone thieves, Wang Tiger flew into a rage, spurred on by Gou Buli’s constant incitement, and led a horde of bandits to raid Gray Sun Village, destroying it completely. The abandoned village became a stronghold outpost, soon swarming with NPC thugs and hoodlums. Gou Buli, relying on his strategist status, often came to the village to select batches of level 19 thugs to be transformed into thieves and bandits, constantly expanding the stronghold’s power. Wang Tiger learned from the deaths of lone thieves; every robbery was now carried out by four or five squads under the command of level 27 chief bandit leaders—never alone.

Extracting the stronghold’s strength and deployment from the bandit strategist, the group felt a chill in their hearts. Their team of nineteen averaged only level 21, with the strongest, Bloodlust No. 1, at level 26. Completing the bandit suppression quest on the Ebony Order seemed a near impossibility—they might all die before finishing it.

The Young Hero of Spring and Autumn worried, “Big brother, what should we do? Should we call in more players?”

Zhan Xiaobai shook his head. With the bandits’ strength, numbers alone would not solve the problem. The dozen players here from Xiaobai Village were already the elite—if even such a skilled group couldn’t complete the quest, he had no solution; they would have to wait until their strength improved.

“Let’s go near the stronghold and assess the situation first. If it doesn’t work, we’ll just head back.”

Zhan Xiaobai glanced at the dejected bandit strategist and had him taken down from the tree, bound and brought along. Perhaps, in completing the Ebony Order bandit suppression quest, this shifty-eyed strategist might prove useful. Regardless of whether the quest succeeded, having gained a strategist with four skills and an old farmer was already a great reward.

The group escorted Gou Buli, the bandit strategist, toward Tiger Head Mountain.

Only two li from the mountain, they began to encounter groups of players, all rushing toward Tiger Head Mountain, calling out to friends. Occasionally, someone glanced curiously at Zhan Xiaobai’s group but paid them no mind, hurrying on even faster.

Everyone was surprised. Wasn’t it said that few players dared approach Tiger Head Mountain stronghold? Why were so many here? In a short time, they saw over a dozen groups, nearly a hundred players, all heading toward the mountain.

Zhan Xiaobai, the Young Hero of Spring and Autumn, and Wutong quickly realized that something significant must be happening near Tiger Head Mountain, attracting a large number of players. In truth, any major public event in the game would be immediately exposed on the forums, and information spread rapidly both inside and outside the game.

Zhan Xiaobai and his companions had no time to browse the forums, so they hurried their pace toward Tiger Head Mountain. They would discover what was happening upon arrival.