Chapter Seventeen: Horse Thief

Following Xiao Liu and three other bandits out of the stronghold, Xiang Yang let out a long sigh. Although his visit to Black Wind Mountain Stronghold had been uneventful, the pressure had been immense. Anyone else might not have fared as well, perhaps even dying to Xiao Liu's arrows before reaching the stronghold.

"Young Brother Yang, you have remarkable courage for your age to dare come to Black Wind Mountain Stronghold alone. I, Old Liu, dare to predict you will achieve great things in the future. I hope next time you visit, we can have a good drink together. My treat."

Xiao Liu felt confident that the ransom situation was settled and was in high spirits. He walked down the mountain with Xiang Yang, chattering non-stop. It was rare to encounter an outsider, and he felt he'd burst if he didn't brag a little.

Xiang Yang offered polite agreement and a smile, but his heart was cold. Black Wind Mountain Stronghold was a blight on the nearby villages, responsible for countless deaths and broken families. If he had the chance, his next visit would be to lead an assault to wipe them out.

After parting ways with Xiao Liu and the other bandits, Xiang Yang reached the familiar mountain path. He carried his thick-backed saber towards where he had tethered his horse. Pushing aside the obstructing branches and vines, he found that his usually well-behaved Yellow Dappled Horse was gone. Only scattered, gnawed grass and two pairs of muddy footprints remained.

Xiang Yang frowned and bent down, inserting his thick-backed saber to the side. He picked up a small clump of dirt and examined it closely, his eyes thoughtful. The mountain path was covered in dirt, unavoidable for anyone who traveled it. Normally, it would reveal nothing.

However, in his eyes, besides the black soil, there were traces of a sticky, gray stone powder, similar to what was sprinkled on the ground at Black Wind Mountain Stronghold.

This gray stone powder was used to absorb moisture and keep things dry. People living in the mountains typically sprinkled it around their homes to prevent illness from dampness over time. On this Black Mountain, besides Black Wind Mountain Stronghold, who else lived here?

Had bandits come down the mountain, or had someone else come up and then gone back down, just like him?

Discarding the black soil, Xiang Yang drew his thick-backed saber and held it in his hand. Following the footprints, both deep and shallow, and the disturbed grass and bushes around them, he tracked them. He eventually descended another mountain path and found two burly men walking slowly at the foot of the mountain.

The two men were tall and dressed in brown cloth. Each carried a weapon. One was leading Xiang Yang's Yellow Dappled Horse, while the other was stuffing dried fruit into his mouth and chewing.

Hearing the sound behind them, the two men stopped and looked back. They were startled to see Xiang Yang holding the gleaming thick-backed saber and drew their own steel swords. However, upon closer inspection, they relaxed.

"Huh? Isn't this Xiang Da Niu's son? Xiang Yang, right? What are you doing here?"

The man leading the horse had bushy, upturned eyebrows that gave him a comical appearance, but his tone was unpleasant, filled with disdain.

Xiang Yang was startled to be recognized, his reaction mirroring theirs. He initially feared his identity had been exposed to the bandits.

However, upon closer inspection, he relaxed. Though he didn't know them personally, he had seen them a few times. They were members of the Giant Bear Gang from Anyuan County, known for extorting protection fees from small stalls and shops. Xiang Da Niu had taught them a lesson before.

"Why am I here? You stole my horse, so where else would I be? As for you two, bullying people in the county town is one thing, but are you planning to join the bandits now?"

Xiang Yang approached them in a few strides, holding his saber. This horse had been lent to him by Zhou Fugui, and it would be difficult to explain if it were lost.

Moreover, it was unlikely these two were out for a stroll. They must have some connection to Black Wind Mountain Stronghold. His trip had yielded little besides meeting the Poison Scholar and Hu Qiang, and learning that Hu Qiang was injured. He wanted to capture these two and interrogate them.

These two men were minor leaders in the Giant Bear Gang, known for their strength and fierce temperaments. Seeing Xiang Yang's impudence, they exchanged glances and sneered.

"Little brat, when your old man was alive, we showed you some respect. Now that he's gone, you're acting all tough. Who do you think you're talking to? You're looking for death."

One man tied the horse to a small tree beside them, while the other advanced with his steel saber, menacing Xiang Yang. This man had previously bullied a widowed wonton seller on the street, and Xiang Da Niu had caught him and given him a severe beating. He had harbored resentment ever since.

However, Xiang Da Niu was not only skilled in martial arts but also a constable in the county yamen, so he dared not retaliate. Now, seeing Xiang Yang alone and seemingly weak, he decided to settle the score. After all, wasn't there a saying about children paying their father's debts? Out here in the wilderness, no one would know if he killed him.

Xiang Yang tightened his grip on the thick-backed saber in his right hand, swallowing hard. Although he had mastered basic saber techniques and practiced the Iron Crotch Technique all night, he had never actually fought anyone. Now, facing a real confrontation, he felt a surge of nervousness.

"Die." The man opposite him, seeing Xiang Yang's nervousness, rejoiced, thinking Xiang Yang was all show and hadn't inherited his father's skills. He snorted, accelerated, and swung his steel saber with all his might towards Xiang Yang's head. If this blow landed true, Xiang Yang's head would be split open.

Xiang Yang stood frozen, appearing utterly terrified. However, just before the steel saber struck, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He sidestepped, raising his thick-backed saber and giving a slight upward flick. He first dodged the man's attack, then sliced open the man's right arm, causing blood to gush out.

"Ah, Old Li, let's go together! Kill this kid!" The sight of the bright red blood and the sting of pain drove the man into a frenzy. He yelled, wielding his steel saber and hacking wildly at Xiang Yang.

Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of metal striking metal echoed at the foot of the mountain. Xiang Yang's eyes were fixed on the man's steel saber, his movements swift. He parried each blow with astonishing reflexes, occasionally finding an opening to counter-attack. Soon, the man's face, chest, and left abdomen were all wounded, spewing blood like a crimson figure.

The other man hadn't even reacted when he saw his companion's miserable state. He felt a chill and secretly thought, this kid is a bit strange. He seems to have learned his father's saber techniques; he's not easy to deal with.

His heart faltering, his courage waned. He could only probe with his saber from the side, waiting for his companion's strength to fade. Seeing Xiang Yang's gaze shift towards him as his companion gasped for breath on the ground, he prepared to flee.

However, Xiang Yang lunged forward, rolled onto the ground, and with two swift slashes, cut open the backs of the man's knees, causing him to bleed. The man had been rushing forward too quickly, and with his leg injured, he tumbled to the ground, losing several teeth. His fear intensified.

Xiang Yang stood up, leaning on his saber, also breathing heavily. His heart pounded, his arm felt numb, and his right hand was weak, almost without strength.

But in contrast to his body's exhaustion, Xiang Yang's phoenix eyes grew brighter, filled with confidence. He was unharmed and had defeated two strong adult men, proving his strength far surpassed his previous capabilities.

"Thank goodness for the Iron Crotch Technique. Otherwise, no matter how exquisite my saber skills, without sufficient stamina, my saber might have been knocked flying."

Xiang Yang silently thanked the Wordless Book for its power once more. Then, under the terrified gaze of the two men, he walked towards them.