Blackwood Cliff
"My two escort leaders, I believe that our focus for this mission should be on Miss Luo Family."
The goods on those hundreds of carriages were just a smokescreen; the real valuables were on the young lady.
Therefore, we must make strategic deployments and focus on protecting key areas!
Of course, if no one robs our cargo and we can arrive safely, that would be a great blessing.
"Just in case, my two escort leaders—and I mean just in case—we must take extra precautions to protect them and minimize any losses."
Cao Hong and Cao Ren exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.
"Yinyi, we'll do as you say!"
With their approval, Song Zhong smiled.
As the sun sets, Blackwood Cliff resembles a lurking giant beast, stretching across the sky and earth.
The entire mountain is steep and precipitous, with jagged rocks and winding mountain paths that resemble sheep intestines. There are cliffs and deep ravines everywhere, and a slight misstep could send you tumbling into an Abyss.
The mountain path is covered with sharp rocks and overgrown with thorns on both sides, making it difficult for even the most agile mountain people to climb.
The unique terrain made Tianyan Fortress easy to defend and difficult to attack.
On the mountainside, patches of flat land break the monotony of the steep terrain.
These open areas were densely packed with bandit strongholds.
The towering stockade walls were built from rough logs, surrounded by sharp barricades. On the watchtowers, bandits held bows and arrows, their eyes scanning the area below with the vigilance of hawks.
Inside the village, smoke from cooking fires mingled with dust, and shouts and the clanging of weapons rose and fell, making it seem like a "country within a country."
There were over a thousand bandits entrenched here, and their leader Shang Tian Xing, was notorious.
After reaching the Immortal King Realm, he led the bandits with his formidable strength. Every move he made exuded World-destroying aura, and his eyes were sinister and ruthless, as if they could pierce through a person's soul.
The second and third leaders were no ordinary people either; their peak Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivation made them virtually invincible within a hundred miles.
One of them was skilled with Mountain-Splitting Axe and possessed immense strength; the other was proficient in concealed weapons and was ruthless and cunning in his attacks. They were Shang Tian Xing's right-hand men.
This bandit group has been based in Blackwood Cliff for many years, taking advantage of its treacherous terrain to plunder nearby villages and rob passing merchants.
The once peaceful and prosperous villagers were completely looted, their fields were abandoned, and their houses were in ruins.
Once a caravan is targeted, at best the goods will be lost, and at worst the caravan's life will be in danger.
The name Blackwood Cliff has long been feared like a plague.
Although the surrounding prefectures and counties repeatedly sent troops to besiege and suppress them, they were all trapped by the terrain and returned empty-handed in this dangerous place that was easy to defend but difficult to attack. This made the bandits even more rampant and became a sharp blade hanging over the hearts of the people.
As dusk fell like blood, the setting sun stained the eaves of the Hall of Righteousness a dark red.
The sandalwood table was filled with wine jars and a whole roasted, fragrant lamb. The three heads of the household sat around it, feasting and drinking, the aroma of wine mingling with the smell of meat filling the air.
"Pig meat! Pig wine!"
Xiang Tian Xing picked up the large bowl, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. He wiped the corner of his mouth, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.
He was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, with a gilded short sword hanging at his waist. His every move exuded an aura of authority without anger.
The second-in-command, Peng Xiong Hai, was a towering man with a full beard and bulging veins on his arms.
He was currently devouring a leg of lamb, oil dripping down his beard.
"Hahaha, Eldest Brother is right! This is what it means to Xiaoyao!" Before the words were finished, a fragrant aroma of wine wafted over.
The third leader Su Wen Xuan, appeared refined and courteous, holding White Jade wine cup and sipping slowly.
He was dressed in a blue robe, with an exquisite Longsword hanging at his waist, which contrasted sharply with the other two.
"Second Brother, don't be impatient. This wine may be stale, but it should be savored slowly," he said softly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Third Elder, Second Brother is a rough man, unlike you, who only studied for a couple of days and is all pretentious."
Why would we, as Mountain Bandits, need to do that?
The point of life is to enjoy yourself, and drinking and eating meat are no exception.
Savoring it in such small sips isn't my style!
Just then, a scout rushed into the hall, knelt on one knee, and panted, "Reporting to the three masters, a large convoy has been spotted ten paces ahead. The carts are loaded with supplies, but there are few guards. They've delivered themselves to our doorstep!"
"What?"
Peng Xiong Hai slammed his hand on the table, making the dishes rattle loudly.
"It's like searching high and low without finding it, only to have it come to you effortlessly!"
Eldest Brother, Third Elder, this deal is mine!
He stood up, his broad shoulders and muscular build blocking half of the door.
A glint of cunning flashed in Xiang Tian Xing's eyes, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth, "Damn it! Second Elder, Eldest Brother and third brother are waiting for good news at the mountain stronghold."
"Rest assured!"
Peng Xiong Hai grabbed the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. He then tore off a leg of lamb and chewed it as he walked.
"Pass down the order: gather two hundred men and come with me to meet this fat sheep that has delivered itself to our door!"
Let's have a meal together tonight!
With his roar, a commotion erupted in the mountain stronghold, with the sounds of horses' hooves and clashing weapons rising and falling.
As dusk deepened, layers of dust rose from the official residence.
Cao Hong and Cao Ren rode side by side, their long swords gleaming coldly in the dim glow of the sunset.
Ten Escort Agency) disciples, clad in black iron protective gear and with steel swords at their waists, vigilantly scanned their surroundings.
A long procession of hundreds of carriages stretched for miles, their heavy wheels creaking against the ground.
"Brother, Blackwood Cliff is just ahead."
Cao Hong gripped the reins tightly, his eyes fixed on the dense forest on both sides.
"This forest is often infested with bandits; we need to be extremely vigilant."
His palms were sweaty from nervousness.
Cao Ren patted his younger brother on the shoulder, his thumb rubbing against the hilt of the sword.
"What's there to be afraid of! We Cao brothers have traveled all over the country and have never been afraid of anyone."
Even if the Mountain Bandits dare to come, this knife of mine doesn't discriminate!
Before the words were finished, a sharp whistling sound suddenly came from the forest—a whistling arrow pierced the twilight and soared into the sky.
"Come on!"
Cao Ren suddenly drew his long sword, the blade reflecting his cold gaze.
In an instant, shouts came from the dense forest on both sides, and more than two hundred Mountain Bandits surged out like a tide.
The leading man was a burly figure, wielding a broad-backed cleaver with a cold, gleaming blade, as he rode his horse, trampling over rocks.
"Hey! I opened this road, I planted this tree!"
If you want to pass through here, leave your toll!
Peng Xiong Hai shouted a command, reined in his warhorse, and slammed the back of his knife onto the saddle, the sound making everyone's eardrums ache.
"Grandpa is Peng Xiong Hai, the second-in-command of Blackwood Cliff! If you know what's good for you, quickly hand over your valuables, kneel down and beg for mercy, otherwise—"
He swung his knife sharply, snapping a tree branch as thick as a bowl beside him. "Don't blame me for being merciless!"
The Mountain Bandits, brandishing their weapons, surrounded Guan Yu completely.
Peng Xiong Hai's face was full of fierce and terrifying flesh, and the Gourd Flask at his waist swayed and emitted a strong smell of alcohol.
Cao Hong's hands, gripping the reins tightly, bulged with veins. He exchanged a glance with Cao Ren, and the two brothers drew their long swords. The clear sound of the blades being drawn was particularly jarring in the night.
A fierce battle is about to break out.