Black Wind Village bandits

Lin Feng flicked his wrist, and a flash of saber light streaked across. The Imperial Inspector, unable to dodge in time, had his head severed from his body.

[Killed Imperial Inspector, gained 350 Slaughter Points]

As the notification sounded in his mind, Lin Feng's gaze fell upon the satchel that had dropped beside the Imperial Inspector's corpse.

He bent down to pick it up. After a brief inspection, aside from some miscellaneous gold and silver, a thin, coverless, thread-bound booklet fell into his hands.

Opening it, he discovered it was a palm technique called "Blood Fiend Palm." Judging by its method of channeling energy, it was sinister and vicious—exactly the kind of martial art his family might have secretly passed down.

"The spoils are decent," Lin Feng sneered inwardly, tucking the manual into his robes.

These 350 Slaughter Points, plus this unexpectedly acquired martial art, made the trip worthwhile.

He turned, facing the soldiers under his command, his voice returning to its usual cold sternness. "Captain."

"Your subordinate is here!" The Captain immediately stepped forward, cupped his fist in a bow, his eyes filled not only with reverence but also with a touch of fanaticism.

Lin Feng's earlier display of killing prowess, like that of a ghost from the netherworld, had been deeply seared into the hearts of all the Northern Garrison Command soldiers.

"Secure the battlefield. Collect the bodies of the Imperial Inspector and these..." Lin Feng gestured to the corpses of the noble family's soldiers scattered on the ground, "...bravely fallen comrades. Burn them all to prevent the spread of plague."

The Captain paused slightly, then understood, and said in a deep voice, "As you command!"

He knew this was about destroying evidence and setting the stage for the next move.

Lin Feng continued his orders, his tone flat but carrying an undeniable authority.

Record the battle situation: the Imperial Inspector colluded with Black Wind Stronghold bandits and intended to backstab our army during the suppression operation.

Fortunately, the accompanying noble family soldiers were vigilant and resisted bravely. However, the incident was sudden, and the bandits were fierce. The noble family soldiers unfortunately all perished.

Our Northern Garrison Command soldiers rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, fought valiantly, and finally suppressed the traitorous Imperial Inspector and the attacking bandits. To prevent plague, all bodies have been cremated on-site. Do you understand?"

The Captain understood implicitly. This was about pinning the blame entirely on the deceased Imperial Inspector and Black Wind Stronghold. Not only would it absolve Lin Feng of the crime of killing the Imperial Inspector, but it would also allow him to counterattack and even "award merit" to the fallen noble family soldiers, silencing their families, at least on the surface.

He immediately replied, "Your subordinate understands! I will record this matter clearly and in detail!"

Soon, fierce flames erupted, consuming the corpses and temporarily obscuring the truth.

The air was filled with a mixture of burnt flesh and blood.

The soldiers of the Northern Garrison Command silently carried out their orders, their movements swift and disciplined. As they looked at Lin Feng's retreating back, their eyes were filled with conviction.

This new Qianhu not only possessed terrifying strength but also decisive and ruthless methods. Following him, they might truly carve out a path to success in this chaotic situation and achieve great deeds.

A sense of anticipation for the future, and a hint of excitement, involuntarily arose in the hearts of all the soldiers.

After dealing with the bodies of the Imperial Inspector and the noble family soldiers, Lin Feng wasted no more time. He mounted his horse and ordered in a deep voice, "All troops, receive my order, leave the city!"

The group left the ruined city gate. The expected scene of a siege did not materialize.

The area outside the city was vast and empty, with only the whistling of the wind across the wilderness and the faint chirping of birds from the distant mountains and forests.

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold had completely retreated, a far cry from the "heavily surrounded" situation described by the Northern Garrison Commander.

Lin Feng reined in his horse, his eyes narrowing slightly. Something was wrong.

Was the Northern Garrison Commander's intelligence inaccurate? Or... was there another hidden reason?

The retreat of the Black Wind Stronghold bandits felt eerie in every way.

"Sir, should we return to the city?" the Captain rode closer and asked in a low voice.

Lin Feng shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding terrain, and pointed to a leeward high ground not far away.

"We won't return. The bandit situation is unclear. Rashly returning to the city and encountering an ambush would be even more disadvantageous.

Pass the order: set up camp here and construct simple defensive fortifications.

Captain, personally lead a squad of elite brothers to patrol within a five-mile radius around the camp. Investigate for any signs of bandits. If you find any, report back immediately. Do not engage in prolonged combat!"

"Understood!"

Can't find the book title? Try searching for the author, perhaps the name has changed!

The Captain cupped his fist and immediately selected ten of the most alert and brave soldiers, galloping towards the edge of the distant forest.

The camp quickly began to take shape.

Lin Feng stood at the edge of the camp, gazing in the direction where the Captain and his men had disappeared, his brow furrowed.

The ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger.

The retreat of Black Wind Village was too abnormal; it was as if they were deliberately luring them out.

Time ticked by, the sun setting, and the sky gradually darkening.

Suddenly, hurried hoofbeats sounded from outside the camp perimeter. Only one rider!

A Northern Garrison Command scout, covered in blood with shattered armor, stumbled into the camp. As soon as he dismounted, he fell to the ground and shouted hoarsely.

"Lord Qianhu! This is bad!

We... we were ambushed! The Captain... he was captured alive by the bandits! The rest of the brothers... all died!"

The atmosphere within the camp instantly froze. All the soldiers gripped their weapons, their eyes blazing with furious flames.

The Captain was a righteous man and held considerable prestige within the army. Now that he had been captured by bandits, and the rest of the brothers wiped out!

"Where? How many people are on their side?" Lin Feng's voice was bone-chillingly cold, betraying no emotion, but the very air around them seemed to freeze from his killing intent.

"Just... about three miles east, in Fallen Eagle Ravine... Not many, only a dozen or so, but the one leading them... is too strong! The captain didn't last three moves against him!"

The scout said with grief and indignation.

"A dozen? Captured the captain in three moves?"

A cold glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.

The captain was at the peak of Seventh Rank. To capture him in three moves meant the opponent was at least Sixth Rank!

It seemed this was the true elite of Black Wind Stronghold, or perhaps, a "welcome ceremony" specifically set up for him, Lin Feng.

"Leave half the men to guard the camp, the rest, follow me!"

Lin Feng mounted his horse, spurred it forward, and took the lead, charging towards Fallen Eagle Ravine.

Behind him, fifty soldiers of the Northern Garrison Command, filled with rage and grief, followed closely.

Fallen Eagle Ravine was a narrow mountain valley.

When Lin Feng and his men arrived, they saw several bonfires burning at the valley entrance. A dozen or so bandits, dressed in black with fierce expressions, stood or sat, surrounding one person in the center.

That person was tall and burly, with a rugged face, and a nine-ringed ghost-head saber hanging at his waist. He was currently standing on someone – it was the captain, bound by ropes, covered in wounds, and already unconscious.

Seeing Lin Feng and his group arrive, the saber-wielding man grinned, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth, and spoke in a booming voice filled with undisguised mockery.

"Yo? The main man himself? A Qianhu from the Northern Garrison Command? You look soft and tender, like a woman! I thought it was some kind of monster, someone old dog Shen would send to his death!"

He pressed down with his foot, grinding the captain's injured arm. Even in his unconscious state, the captain let out a muffled groan of pain.

"Your subordinate isn't much, can't take a beating. I'm 'Mountain Crusher Saber' Hu Biao, a Sixth Rank martial artist!

Crushing you all is like crushing ants! Kid, be smart, get down on your knees and kowtow three times, call me grandpa three times!

If I'm in a good mood, I might leave you with your bodies intact! Hahaha!"

The bandits behind him joined in with laughter, spewing all sorts of vulgarities.

The soldiers of the Northern Garrison Command's eyes turned blood red with anger, itching to charge forward and fight to the death. However, the opponent's undisguised aura of a Sixth Rank martial artist, and their captured captain, made them hesitate.

Lin Feng raised his hand, stopping the agitated subordinates behind him. He looked at the wildly laughing Hu Biao with a blank expression, his gaze as if he were looking at a dead man.

Just then, a familiar, cold system prompt sounded in his mind:

[Defeating Black Wind Stronghold bandits will yield 350 Slaughter Points!]