Ji Shan could hear their conversation, but he ignored them until he heard about the entrance and exit being closed.
Since they Teleported here, the blockage didn't matter to them, but it was clear that it was going to make them suspicious.
Ji Shan realized that they would probably start interrogating him, which was going to make things troublesome. He didn't wish to fight unnecessarily, so he started thinking of an excuse.
"You there! Stop!" The bandits asked Ji Shan as they stopped the horses before him.
Ji Shan stopped and raised his gaze to look at them.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Who are you? And what are you doing in our town?" The bandit leader asked Ji Shan.
"I am just a wandering Cultivator that has lost his way. I came here, trying to find the location of Tianme Kingdom," Ji Shan explained.
"How did you enter the town when we have guards at the entrance and exit? Also, if you were looking for a path to the Tianme Kingdom, why didn't you ask the guards and be on your way? Do you think you can fool us? Who exactly are you?" The Bandit leader exclaimed, seeing problems in Ji Shan's story.
Ji Shan knew how his answer could have brought forth this question, so he had already thought of a solution for this.
"I didn't enter through the entrance. I jumped the walls since I didn't want to waste time finding the entrance. That's why I didn't see your guards. If I had seen them, I would be on my way by now. Why else would I be wandering in this ghost town?" He replied.
The bandits found his explanation plausible.
"So you still didn't find the path to the Tianme Kingdom?" The bandits asked.
"I haven't seen a person, so I didn't know. Please tell me the way so I can leave," Ji Shan answered.
The bandit leader nodded his hand.
"It's fine. I don't think you need to go to the Tianme Kingdom anymore. From your clothes, I can see that you are rich. I can't let you walk your way there. It wouldn't be good for your feet," the bandit leader said as a grin formed on his face.
Ji Shan could see their intentions on their faces clearly, but he didn't say anything. He pretended to be ignorant and asked, " What do you mean?"
"Since you're so rich, how about you let us take your storage ring. You can sleep here. You don't need to go anywhere. We will take care of your stuff," the bandit leader said with a grin. He glanced at another bandit.
The other bandits jumped down from their horses as they creepily laughed.
"Sigh, is this the path you have all chosen?" Ji Shan asked, sighing.
The bandits brought their swords out. "The path of your death? Yes. We have chosen that."
"You think you have the path of my death, but is that really what it is? I am really not willing to fight. As I said, I was looking to know where I was. If you really wish to blow this thing up and try robbing me, then you can only blame yourself," Ji Shan said heavily as he pulled out his sword from his storage ring.
"Oh? You are a Cultivator as well?" The bandit leader exclaimed as he noticed the sword. He previously didn't think that Ji Shan was a Cultivator, but when he held the sword, he got a feeling that he was looking at a Cultivator.
"Does it even matter now?" Ji Shan asked, smiling casually.
"It doesn't. Since you're a Cultivator, you just have even better things in your storage ring," the Bandit leader said as he grinned. "Everyone, attack together!"
He still didn't put much effort into finding Ji Shan's identity since there was no way that a powerful Cultivator would be moving alone without any map. It must only mean that the man was only an insignificant person.
All the bandits attacked Ji Shan together.
*****
Long Chen opened his eyes slowly. He could feel that his body was feeling much better. Although there was still a pain in his body, it was still better. His feet weren't shaking anymore, and most of his internal wounds had also healed.
He slowly stood up and stretched his arms as he yawned.
"Thanks for taking care of me," He said as he rubbed her head.
"Where is Ji Shan?" Long Chen asked, confused.
Ming Lan stood up and explained to him. "He went outside some time ago to find out where we were. He should be back soon. It hasn't been long since he left."
"Oh." Long Chen walked to the window and looked outside himself. "This place doesn't look dangerous. I guess I don't need to worry about him."
He turned back and gazed at Ming Lan.
"Do you want to take a nap as well? I can keep watch," he asked her.
"I am fine. I don't need to sleep," Ming Lan said, shaking her head.
"Alright. Let's go out then. We can find him, and then we can be on our way," Long Chen muttered as he held her hand.
They walked out together.
He spread out his Divine Sense as he walked through the town to find Ji Shan faster.
He also called out the Snake Monarch along the way since he was still feeling a little bit tired.
"Hah, so you finally called this King out. What happened to the Birdy that you were using? Got tired of him?" The Snake Monarch exclaimed as soon as he came out.
" Oh right. I'll call him out," Long Chen let out, nodding his head. "You can go back."
"Hey, hey! Wait! This King was getting bored inside. Let me stay outside. This world needs to see this Monarch's true glory. You can't keep them missing me. For their good, I will allow you to accompany me outside," The Snake Monarch said, seemingly not willing to go back.
"Why are you talking as if you're scared to go back? What happened inside?" Long Chen asked as he gazed at him suspiciously.
"Huh, nothing. What are you talking about? Stop making things up. It's clearly not because this king is not respected there!" The Snake Monarch refuted even without being asked.
"Ah, so that's what it is. You're just like a kid," Long Chen muttered as he smiled wryly. He rubbed the head of the Snake Monarch.
"Stop treating this Kid like a King! Ahem, I mean, stop treating this King as a kid!" The Snake Monarch said, feeling flustered. "You're the Kid!"