Chapter Forty: Thunder Overlord

"Father is dead?" Lei Yan's mind buzzed, and he stood frozen in place. His heart was full of unwillingness; if only he had enough time and medicinal herbs, he could have prolonged Cui Ba's life. This was the second time he had watched a loved one leave him—the first was the mother who brought him happiness, the second was the foster father who gave him boundless paternal love. "Why? Why is fate so cruel to me?" Lei Yan looked up at the sky, letting the rain soak his face, hot tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes.

Second Elder Leng stood behind Lei Yan with a sorrowful expression, Lu Kai’s eyes were moist, and the other bandits lowered their heads in silence. For a moment, the entire mountain hollow was terrifyingly quiet.

Lei Yan’s mind flashed with Cui Ba’s familiar smile. Overwhelmed with grief, his chest suddenly tightened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Brother Lei!" Qing Ling stepped forward to support him. Cui Ba’s death hadn’t stirred her emotions, but seeing Lei Yan cough blood, her heart ached. As she helped him and glanced at his face, she was stunned. "Is this... is this even human?" Qing Ling couldn't believe her eyes—Lei Yan's face, with its blood-red eyes burning like fire, and crimson stains at the corners of his eyes and mouth, unmistakably blood. "Brother Lei, you..."

"I'm fine," Lei Yan said coldly, gently pushing Qing Ling aside. "Step back." With that, Lei Yan punched the mountainside; a cascade of rocks fell, burying Cui Ba’s body. In the blink of an eye, Cui Ba, who had spent his life among bandits, was forever laid to rest here.

"All hail the Dragon Overlord!" The burial of Cui Ba signified the passing of Dragon Overlord's leader. Second Elder Leng was the first to kneel respectfully, remembering Cui Ba’s last words, not daring to disobey. Lu Kai hesitated, clearly still processing it, but followed suit. The thirty-six bandits who had followed Lei Yan had already knelt, waiting silently, their silence almost habitual.

Of the three hundred bandits who had followed Cui Ba out, nearly all were dead, leaving only Wang Wu’s fifty or so men. Wang Wu, his expression complex, looked at Lei Yan, then finally led his men to kneel with the others.

Lei Yan slowly turned around. "Rise."

Second Elder Leng and the others exchanged uneasy glances; Lei Yan felt terrifying to them. Blood streamed from his seven orifices, and with his blood-red robe, he looked every bit like a vengeful ghost. Second Elder Leng’s heart was uneasy as he looked at Lei Yan—Cui Ba had died to save him, and now Lei Yan was in this state, filling him with guilt.

"Dragon Overlord, the boss is gone! Now the whole Dragon Overlord depends on you; you mustn’t fall!" Second Elder Leng, after pondering, couldn’t hold back. Lei Yan had inherited the leadership, so Second Elder Leng began calling Cui Ba 'boss'—in Dragon Overlord, only one can be Overlord, and the departed or retired are called 'boss'.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine," Lei Yan’s voice was raspy. He turned to Qing Ling. "Ling’er, have you recovered?"

Having reached the Foundation Establishment stage, Qing Ling’s true energy should have been inexhaustible, but she had nearly depleted it to clear a path, and still hadn’t recovered. She shook her head. "Not yet."

Hearing this, Lei Yan’s brows furrowed. Their earlier breakthrough had depended entirely on Qing Ling, the cultivator. Without her, killing their way through would have taken half a day. Now that Qing Ling hadn’t recovered, how could they break out? Lei Yan addressed Second Elder Leng and the others, "Tell me, how do we get out?"

"Damn it, let’s just fight our way out! Chop those bastards to pieces!" Lu Kai jumped up and shouted. These bandits lived on the edge of death every day, burying their grief and turning rage into strength.

"Lu Kai, you idiot, do you know how many are outside? How many do we have? Rushing out is suicide," Wang Wu sneered.

"Who are you calling an idiot? I’ll split you in half!" Lu Kai threatened, ready to act.

"Enough!" Lei Yan’s brow twitched; his mood was foul. "Are you trying to rebel? Anyone unwilling to follow me can get out!"

Lei Yan’s shout immediately halted Lu Kai and Wang Wu’s actions. Lu Kai helplessly waved his axes and returned to Lei Yan’s side, but Wang Wu’s eyes flashed with anger. He composed himself and said to Lei Yan, "Dragon Overlord, we have only fifty-some men left. Even with your thirty-six, we don’t have a hundred. We can’t force our way out. I suggest surrendering."

"Surrender?" Lu Kai, just back in place, jumped up again, pointing at Wang Wu. "Damn it, I knew you were up to no good! I’ll split you like the bastard you are!"

"Lu Kai, shut up!" Lei Yan rubbed his temples. Lu Kai truly gave him a headache. He looked at Wang Wu and smiled, "I won’t force you; take your men and leave."

"Dragon Overlord..." Lei Yan raised his hand to stop Second Elder Leng and the others from speaking, stepping aside to clear a path for Wang Wu.

As Wang Wu passed Lei Yan, his gaze involuntarily swept over Lei Yan’s blood-streaked face, making his heart tremble. "Is this really the right thing to do?" Though he questioned himself, his steps did not falter, quickly disappearing from Lei Yan’s view.

Once Wang Wu vanished into the darkness, Second Elder Leng asked Lei Yan in a low voice, "Dragon Overlord, why let them leave? Losing fifty innate masters makes our breakout even harder!"

Lei Yan wiped rain from his face and replied calmly, "Dragon Overlord’s men in Sunset Mountain wouldn’t be found unless someone tipped off the enemy. I gave him a choice, and if he chooses to surrender, it’s not my fault."

Second Elder Leng was stunned; clearly, he hadn’t considered this. He looked at Lei Yan’s daunting face and thought silently, "Boss, rest in peace. Dragon Overlord is far more mature than you imagined."

"Yin You!" Lei Yan said coldly.

"At your command!" Yin You appeared before Lei Yan in a flash, kneeling on one knee.

"Take your men; we’re preparing to risk it all," Lei Yan said with a faint, eerie smile, moving toward the top of the hollow. Qing Ling followed silently.

"Yes!" Yin You’s sharp voice echoed behind Lei Yan.

In the darkness, Second Elder Leng’s lips curled into a sinister smile. "Risk it all? That’s what we do best!" Lu Kai, influenced by Lei Yan, flashed a savage look and followed, axes in hand.