Robbers' Ambush

Gu Sheng led the group out of the Yangzhou Salt Merchants Guild. He turned to glance at Lord Li and his party, who were leaving with Qin San and the others, then turned back to Teng Qingshan's group. "Uncle Yongfan, forget about the animal hides for now. We're leaving the city immediately!"

"Qinghu, we finally made a trip here. Are we really not going to sell off these hides and instead carry them all the way back..."

A tall, burly man unconsciously glanced at Gu Sheng's arms. He was Teng Yongjiang, of Teng Village's Yong generation. "Besides, we've made such a huge sum this time. Are we just not going to..."

Hearing Teng Yongjiang, the other hunters also stared eagerly at Gu Sheng's arms.

"Father, listen to Cousin. We can't stay in the city!"

Teng Qingshan also urged him repeatedly. As a top assassin in his previous life, his experience was far beyond ordinary.

After pondering for a moment, Teng Yongfan said firmly, "Enough. We leave the city and return to the village!"

With Teng Yongfan's order, the clansmen reluctantly but swiftly packed up the animal hides and other belongings. The large group left Yicheng and headed for the official road outside the city.

"Damn it!"

After Gu Sheng and the others left, a burly man in black watched their hurried retreating figures, his expression turning exceptionally ugly. After staring for a while, he gritted his teeth and ran straight out of the city.

At a small hill fifteen or sixteen li outside Yicheng, Gu Sheng suddenly stopped. "Everyone, stop!"

Teng Yongfan came up from the rear of the group. "Qinghu, what is it?"

"Qingshan, Uncle Yongfan, have everyone take the medicine we prepared before setting out. Then gather some dry firewood and the like nearby. Be careful not to stray too far."

"Cousin!"

Teng Qingshan came to Gu Sheng's side and followed his gesture toward a small earthen slope not far ahead. His ears twitched, and a chilling killing intent appeared on his face. "Qin San's men?"

Behind the thick clumps of withered grass atop the earthen slope, a group dressed as fierce bandits were quietly speaking with the man in black.

"Lang Ge, are you sure about the information? Those people really have nineteen thousand taels' worth of banknotes?"

A burly man with dark skin, ox-like eyes, and a tiger's back and bear's waist wore a thick black cotton robe and held a broad-backed saber. His hairy chest was exposed. He was the leader of this bandit gang.

The man in black said nothing, but the triangular-eyed man beside him quickly whispered, "Don't worry, Boss, it's absolutely true. Lang Ge came in person. How could it be false?"

"Hmph! That's not necessarily so!" The bandit leader snorted, then turned and called out, "Tell the brothers to wait until they get a little closer. Once I give the order, shoot them hard together. Best if we kill more than half of them in the first volley. Once we take the silver, we'll go enjoy ourselves at Spring Fragrance Courtyard!"

The bandits all laughed, though savage glints shone in their eyes, like beasts poised to attack.

"Is everyone ready?"

Gu Sheng took a large bundle of dried vines from the big pack he carried, then pulled out a packet of powder from his clothes. The system truly was reliable. After building its database, Gu Sheng had developed many uses for common mountain plants.

"Ready!"

Teng Yongfan and the others nodded. Then the group left the road and entered the fields, breaking into a wild run toward a small earthen slope. It was more than a hundred meters from the sandhill. Even if ordinary arrows could reach that far, they would have little power left.

"Damn it!" The bandit leader's expression changed when he saw this. "Those hunters actually discovered us."

"Boss, what do we do?" the triangular-eyed man asked anxiously. The man in black also looked worried.

"What else can we do?"

The bandit leader's expression twisted viciously, and a trace of madness flashed through his eyes. "I've got over a hundred men. Am I supposed to fear these people?

Listen up, brothers! In a moment, charge with me! Once the archers get close enough, shoot them hard. Kill every last one of them!"

"Kill!"

A violent roar rang out from behind the earthen slope. A dark-skinned, burly man with a tiger's back and bear's waist charged out first, wielding a broad-backed saber. A large group followed behind him, surging like a pack of wolves down the slope toward the Teng Village party, who had only just found their footing.

"Attack!"

Teng Yongfan roared. The small earthen slope they occupied was not high, but it still gave them a terrain advantage. They could barely hold their ground.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...

Arrows shot down at the hundred-plus bandits. Unfortunately, the distance was a little too great, and they only had twelve archers. The first volley claimed just three bandits' lives.

"Qingshan!"

As Gu Sheng checked the wind direction and prepared the bonfire, he shouted at Teng Qingshan beside him. The boy, barely ten years old, immediately turned into a Phantom and charged toward the bandits.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!...

Teng Qingshan was incredibly fast. The bandits' first rain of arrows could not harm him in the slightest. He rushed into their ranks, his eyes fixed on the bandit leader. His spear shot forth like a dragon, its shadow flickering, its red tassel dancing as drops of blood scattered through the air.

In the blink of an eye, Teng Qingshan crossed five zhang, while thirteen bandits fell. Every one of them had their throats pierced. Not a single exception.

"Shoot him!"

A handsome young man shouted urgently.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...

Arrows flew at Teng Qingshan like locusts.

Teng Yongfan, Teng Qinghu, and the others were frantic at the sight. Teng Yongjiang and several others roared, "They're ganging up on Qingshan! Let's kill our way over together!"

"Stop!"

Gu Sheng suddenly shouted, "Nothing will happen to Qingshan. If you really want to help, get that bonfire burning first!"

"Quick!"

At Gu Sheng's words, Teng Yongfan and the others left the archers to keep firing while everyone else helped Gu Sheng build the bonfire. With seventeen people working together, their efficiency increased dramatically. Before long, the bonfire frame was complete.

"Perfect!"

Gu Sheng tested the wind direction with a blade of grass. A gentle breeze blew, and downwind lay the bandits below. By then, some bandits had already charged to within twenty meters of the earthen slope.

Watching the rapidly approaching bandits, Gu Sheng threw the lit torch into the bonfire. Whoosh! With the help of the flammable materials, a column of flame instantly rose, and strange yellow smoke began to emerge with the burning fire.

As the flames grew fiercer, more and more yellow smoke quickly engulfed the small earthen slope. Carried by the wind, the thick smoke spread toward the bandits fighting below.

"Cover your faces with wet towels. Once the smoke thins a little, charge down together!"

Gu Sheng picked up a wet towel, tied it over his mouth and nose, then drew the hunting knife he carried.

Kill!

Gu Sheng took the lead and charged forward to support Teng Qingshan.

Kill!

The men of the Teng clan all had bloodshot eyes as well.

Their training from childhood showed its worth. They naturally formed into a formation, their long spears like a forest as they thrust at the charging bandits.