Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 323: Strong Death Aura
Sun Chen and Zhu Quan immediately looked in the direction Shang Lu pointed.

However, they only saw rocks and trees, but not the bandits and their nests.

But they did not doubt Shang Lu's words.

They couldn't see the enemy because of the trees and terrain, but Shanglu had wooden kites, which allowed them to monitor the situation from a high vantage point.

Even though there are many trees in the mountains, they cannot stop the wooden kite from detecting.

What the two were curious about was the second half of Shang Lu's sentence.

No matter how Sun Chen looked at it, he couldn't detect the problem, so he could only ask in a low voice: "Shang Zei Cao, what do you mean when you said that the aura of the thieves' nest is not right?"

"Too much death!"

However, this sentence was not said by Shang Lu.

After hearing Shang Lu's reminder, Zhu Quan narrowed his eyes and looked at it carefully.

Although due to his cultivation level and distance, he did not sense any strange aura from Yunshang Peak where the thieves' nest was located.

But a problem was also discovered - there were too many crows circling above the mountain.

These crows are carrion eaters by nature and like to guard dead or dying creatures.

That is why people believe that crows are unlucky birds and will bring death.

Now a large flock of crows appeared on Yunshang Peak, circling and refusing to leave. Obviously something was wrong.

This means that there are a large number of corpses in that place.

Zhu Quan quickly shared his discoveries and speculations.

Shang Lu nodded secretly, and his opinion of Zhu Quan became even higher.

Compared with Shentu, Zhu Quan has a more active mind and is more observant.

"A lot of dead bodies?"

Sun Chen frowned and made a bold guess: "Could it be that all the bandits are dead? But who killed them? Did they fight among themselves?"

"The bandit is not dead." Shang Lu shook his head.

He could see clearly through the wooden kite that there were bandits moving around and keeping watch inside and outside the thieves' lair on Yunshang Peak.

At the same time, Sanniang also got close to the thieves' nest and, with the help of the wooden kite in the sky, helped him get a clear picture of the defense situation in the thieves' nest on Yunshang Peak.

"Not a bandit? That's..."

When Sun Chen said this, his expression suddenly changed.

"Yes, they were the ones who were killed."

Shang Lu took over Sun Chen's words: "These bandits not only rob passers-by, but also take people to the mountains and kill them."

Why did they go to the trouble of taking people to the mountains and killing them? Shang Lu didn't say it, but Sun Chen and Zhu Quan understood.

Or they killed and ate them... Killing and eating people is not a new thing for bandits these days.

Or... they are practicing some kind of evil magic or practicing some evil technique.

Attracting so many crows circling around... How many people did this group of bandits kill? How many corpses did they pile up?

This is also what Shang Lu is curious about.

What made him even more curious was that through the wooden kite, he could not see any pile of corpses in the thieves' nest.

Were the bodies hidden indoors by the bandits? Or did they use some means to interfere with Mu Yuan's reconnaissance?

This is not an ordinary wooden kite, but one made by Senior Sister Gongshu.

It takes extraordinary means to be able to hide from its eyes.

Shanglu didn't bother to guess.

These questions would be answered naturally after the stronghold was conquered. He leaned over and tapped the ground with his fingers, and the energy he released quickly drew a map on the ground.

It is the topographic map of the thieves' den.

Then he marked the locations of the visible and hidden sentries, as well as the two entrance and exit roads, on it.

"The east and north sides of the mountain stronghold are all cliffs, and there is only a small path on the west and south sides. I will lead the team to break in from the west. County Lieutenant Sun, you lead the people to set up defenses on the south side and don't let any bandits escape!"

Sun Chen carefully noted the road conditions to the south and nodded in agreement.

"Zhu Quan, take your men and the bandits with you, and follow me into the stronghold."

"I understand," Zhu Quan responded, calling on his men to gather the thieves and make preparations for the battle.

Not sure if he wanted to share the credit or really wanted to help, after Sun Chen remembered the situation in the south, he volunteered:
"Shang Thief Cao, I have some good fighters under my command. Let them follow you and charge into the thieves' den!"

"You gave me a good fighter. Can you defend the southern road?"

Shang Lu looked at Sun Chen and reminded him, "Don't think that your task of setting up the net is easy. The bandits who escaped will really fight to survive! And once they start, the poisonous snakes and beasts in the mountains will definitely surround you."

Sun Chen was confident: "Don't worry, Shang Zecao. Although the people under my command are not as elite as Zecao's, they can still beat the drowning dog. As for the poisonous snakes and beasts in the mountains, we have brought enough equipment with us this time. If they come, it will be a good opportunity to avenge our previous humiliation."

Seeing him say this, Shang Lu naturally had no objection and nodded to accept the good intention.

At the same time, he also asked Zhu Quan to take a few magical weapons and residual spirits and lend them to Sun Chen in case of any accidents.

After arranging the battle plan, Shang Lu asked Sun Chen and Zhu Quan to express their opinions to improve and supplement the plan.

Finally, he said, "Now that you understand what to do, let's act immediately. County Captain Sun, I will let the paper man lead you to the southern path to set up defenses. Remember, follow the paper man all the way and don't walk around randomly, so as not to encounter poisonous snakes and beasts and expose your whereabouts!"

Sanniang has helped to open up a path to the south. Shang Lu asked the paper man to lead the team to prevent Sun Chen and his friends from taking the wrong path.

As he spoke, Shang Lu spread out his hands. A paper man stretched out his arms and legs in his palms, then jumped to the ground and raised his little hand to wave at Sun Chen and the others, as if to say, "Follow me."

Then he turned around and headed into the woods.

Sun Chen immediately called on his yamen runners and county soldiers to follow, and issued strict orders not to run around or make loud noises.

After Sun Chen and the others had gone far away, Shang Lu also called Zhu Quan and the others to follow him, and headed towards the west path of Yunshang Peak, and ordered: "There might be something strange hidden in the village, everyone must not take it lightly!"

Seeing that he was serious, Zhu Quan and others naturally did not dare to be careless and responded in a low voice.

The two teams headed towards Yunshang Peak from the west and south.

After a while, they were very close to the bandits' outer sentry post.

Shang Lu was not in a hurry to clear the sentry point, but waited until Sun Chen and others in Nanjing had completed their deployment. Then he pointed out the specific location of the sentry point and handed it over to Zhu Quan to deal with.

The bandits at the outer sentry posts are all ordinary people. If they cannot be eliminated quietly after knowing their locations, Zhu Quan and his bandits should all be replaced.

But the accident happened.

Just as Zhu Quan and his companions killed the bandits on guard, a rapid sound of knocking wood was heard from the bandits' nest in the distance.

“Bang bang bang bang…”

The sound was dull and loud.

Then, Shang Lu, who had a keen hearing, clearly heard the bandits shouting and cursing from the thieves' den:
"Someone has come up the mountain!"

"Damn it, who dares to come and pay attention to our Gexian Village?"

"What happened to the spies in the mountains? Why didn't they raise the alarm?"

"Grab your weapons and kill these intruders!"

"Yes, kill them! We are running out of food!"

Through the wooden kite, Shang Lu clearly saw that the originally quiet thieves' nest suddenly became boiling.

Groups of bandits armed with bows and swords rushed out of the houses, shouting and cursing, and rushed to advantageous positions to set up defenses.

(I was delayed by trivial matters today and owe two thousand words. I will make up for it later.)
(End of this chapter)