A One-Man Bandit Suppression Chronicle

A One-Man Bandit Suppression Chronicle

Bald Sanpao had a gleaming bald head and an incredibly accurate Box Cannon. He was the most famous bandit within a hundred miles, ruthless and cunning. With a gang of brothers, he roamed several counties around Gaomi, specializing in robbery. Countless people were said to have died at his hands.

At that moment, he was returning from Lin County with two subordinates. The Beef Shop was not his main hideout, but it was one of his footholds in Gaomi. The woman from the Liquor Shop was being held there.

In truth, he had never cared much about that woman. She was an unprotected country woman and a widow besides. She could not possibly cause much trouble.

The three horses entered a narrow path between the hills, slowing to a steady clop. Suddenly, Bald Sanpao felt a chill in his heart. An instinctive sense of danger surged through him, and he ducked reflexively. Then came a gunshot.

With a cry of pain, Bald Sanpao tumbled from his horse.

His two subordinates knew they had been ambushed. They yanked their reins, rolled off their horses, and dropped flat to the ground. One of them saw Bald Sanpao lying motionless and shouted, "Boss! Boss, are you all right?"

That man had just risen to his feet.

Bang!

The bandit dropped at the sound of the shot. A bullet had struck his chest, blood spurting out in gushes. He was clearly beyond saving.

The other bandit was terrified. He drew his gun and fired wildly at the hillside. Jiang Hao's slope was about a hundred meters away, and the man could not possibly hit him, though a few bullets still struck the dirt bank, making Jiang Hao duck his head.

At that moment, Bald Sanpao moved. Struggling with all his strength, he rolled into a ditch beside the road.

Jiang Hao's earlier shot had hit Bald Sanpao, but his evasive movement had spared his vital areas. Still, the bullet struck his shoulder and wounded him.

"Boss! Boss!"

That subordinate also slid into the ditch and hid there with Bald Sanpao.

"Boss, you're wounded."

Bald Sanpao clutched his shoulder, panting heavily from the pain. He cursed viciously, "Damn it, who ambushed Laozi?"

"Could it be one of our enemies? Old Xin of Xishan King's bunch?" the subordinate asked.

"Damn it, I don't care who it is. Just let Laozi get the chance. As long as Laozi gets out alive, I'll wipe out his entire family. Not one will be left," Bald Sanpao said through gritted teeth, his face ferocious.

On the hillside, Jiang Hao lay behind a dirt bank, watching the ditch where Bald Sanpao and his subordinate were hiding. He could not see either of them, but the surroundings were completely open. That was the only place they could hide, and neither dared come out.

Jiang Hao was somewhat excited. One shot had just taken down a man. Killing someone had not frightened him. Instead, his blood seemed to boil.

It was his first time using a real gun to shoot someone, and the result had been excellent. Just as his shooting instructor had said, Jiang Hao truly possessed Shooting Talent. He was perfectly suited to be a sniper.

Jiang Hao kept his eyes on the ditch. Bald Sanpao and his subordinate did not dare show themselves, and the scene fell quiet.

Only the wind blew softly, occasionally stirring up dust.

Bald Sanpao could not wait. He was wounded, and if he did not receive treatment soon, he would bleed to death. Gritting his teeth, he said to his subordinate, "Heitou, there's only one man on the other side. Find a way to circle around. We'll attack from both sides. If we stay pinned down here, neither of us will survive."

"Boss..." Heitou was afraid. That sharpshooter was simply too formidable.

"Go. I'll cover you." Bald Sanpao patted his shoulder.

Heitou hardened his heart, gritted his teeth, and charged out. But Bald Sanpao had no intention of coordinating some pincer attack with him. He planned to trade the man's life for an opportunity. As long as Heitou drew the enemy's attention and made him reveal himself, Bald Sanpao was confident he could kill him with his marksmanship.

He did not care in the slightest whether his brother lived or died.

Jiang Hao saw a figure dart out of the ditch and race desperately toward another slope nearby. It was only thirty or fifty meters away. Once he reached it, he would have cover.

Jiang Hao raised his gun and took aim.

Bang!

The shot rang out, and the running figure fell at once, rolling onto the roadside. The bullet passed through his back. He did not move again.

At that instant, Bald Sanpao seized the opportunity. He stuck out his body and fired his Box Cannon at the hillside where Jiang Hao lay. Jiang Hao heard a sharp whizz beside his ear as the bullet grazed past his cheek. He was so startled that he immediately flattened himself against the ground.

Bald Sanpao cursed inwardly. He had actually missed. The wound had affected his aim, and the distance really was too great. At over a hundred meters, it was beyond a pistol's optimal range.

Jiang Hao cursed too. He knew the battlefield was dangerous. That bastard had nearly blown his head off. He worked the bolt, ready to return fire, but could not find Bald Sanpao. The man had ducked back down again.

The two were deadlocked once more.

Bald Sanpao did not dare show himself, and Jiang Hao could not see him either. Both were sharpshooters. Neither dared move recklessly.

But the situation was extremely unfavorable for Bald Sanpao. He was injured, and his shoulder was still bleeding. He could not afford to wait.

Feeling himself grow weaker and weaker, Bald Sanpao clutched his shoulder, took a deep breath, and shouted, "I don't know which hill's brother you are, but we're all out here making a living. There's no need to fight to the death. If you let me go today, I'm willing to offer one thousand Silver Dollars. What do you say?"

He intended to buy his life with money.

Bang!

A bullet was his answer. It struck the dirt bank beside Bald Sanpao, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Brother, is there some misunderstanding between us?"

Bang!

Another shot.

"We're away from home just to make money. Brother, I'm willing to pay two thousand Silver Dollars."

Bald Sanpao truly could not hold on much longer. All he wanted now was to survive. Then a voice rang out, "Bald Sanpao, you and I truly have no grudge. Someone paid for your life. Of course, if your price is high enough, I can let you go."

The moment he heard this, Bald Sanpao shouted, "Three thousand! Three thousand Silver Dollars! Brother, spare my life. Three thousand Silver Dollars is enough for you to buy a house and land in the countryside and keep women, or live freely in a big city for two years. I won't pursue this afterward. My word is my bond."

After Bald Sanpao shouted, he waited for a long time without hearing any response. Anxiety rose in his heart. Then that voice sounded again. "Fine, but I have one condition."

"Brother, tell me," Bald Sanpao said quickly.

"Put down your gun and walk out slowly. Follow my instructions. Only when I feel there's no danger will I make this deal with you. Don't try any tricks, or I'll go straight to the employer and collect the money," the voice said.

A vicious glint flashed through Bald Sanpao's eyes. "Fine, I agree."

Bald Sanpao struggled out of the ditch and stood on the dirt road, one hand clutching his shoulder. Half his body was stained with blood, and he was covered in dust. He had none of a bandit leader's imposing presence left. Yet his triangular eyes kept narrowing and opening, unable to conceal the viciousness in his heart.

Damn it. Once I get close enough, I'll turn you into a sieve!

That was what Bald Sanpao thought, but Jiang Hao would never let him have his way. He did not show himself at all, keeping his gun trained on Bald Sanpao as he shouted from the hillside, "Throw out the gun on your body. Throw it farther away."

Bald Sanpao obediently threw away the gun in his hand.