Ambush

"Matters that cannot be resolved through official channels will inevitably turn into private feuds!"

Wu Ming looked in the direction of the county town, a cold smile appearing on his lips. "My attack on the merchant caravan this time has certainly left an impression of being young, impulsive, yet sinister and vicious. Right now, there must be a bunch of Zhou Family members shouting 'this brat cannot be left alive' and coming to kill me to eliminate future trouble!"

"The Zhou Family can mobilize more people than the Wu Family, their weapons are more refined, and they even recruit more experts. Once they hear the news, they will undoubtedly go all out, sending their entire force... By then..."

Wu Ming looked towards the back mountain. The continuous mountain range, like a fierce beast in the darkness, carried an indescribable danger.

"At that time, I will absolutely not turn back. Instead, I will enter the mountains, the deep mountains! And lead my men to engage them!"

Marching in the mountains, provisions, military equipment, and medicine are all major problems. The Zhou Family will only think that Wu Ming has gone mad and his end is near, and will surely pursue him relentlessly.

And this is precisely Wu Ming's objective.

Although when it comes to resource consumption, he is definitely no match for the Zhou Family, he has the Main God Hall as his cheat!

With the exchanges from the Main God Hall at his disposal, as long as he has enough merit points, it's practically an infinite resource cheat. In the deep mountains, this advantage will be amplified a thousandfold.

Of course, the consumption is also terrifying.

Although the Main God Hall has grain exchanges, Wu Ming calculated that exchanging one shi at the Main God Hall and then spending merit points to bring it to the main world would be worth enough to buy forty or fifty shi in the Great Zhou.

But in the mountains, during a major battle, even with a hundred shi of money, you couldn't buy one shi of grain! Not to mention the replenishment of various medicines and military equipment, which makes it completely worthwhile.

Of course, this method has two drawbacks: first, the consumption is high, and second, only Main God Apostles can use it.

Not every Reincarnator is like Wu Ming, who can treat the Main God Hall like home and return whenever he pleases.

According to Shan Lan and Ling Guhong, they only get one chance to heal and exchange after each mission. If they want to enter again, they have to wait for the next mission!

Wu Ming is determined this time, willing to spend all his merit points to drag the Zhou Family's elites into the deep mountains until they are out of supplies and ammunition, and then wipe them out in one fell swoop!

The Zhou Family's influence is indeed great, but they are not Wu Family's only enemy.

Once they suffer heavy losses, the Wu Family can easily unite with other enemies, form alliances, and slowly bleed them dry.

"I really am such a vengeful person..."

Wu Ming looked at the night and couldn't help but chuckle.

Indeed, with the Main God Hall's accumulation, there were items suitable for decapitation tactics, and it was even possible to directly take the life of the Zhou Family patriarch.

However, firstly, they reside in the county town, surrounded by guards, making the risk very high. Secondly, the Zhou Family has over a thousand members; even if one is killed, another, and then a third patriarch can be appointed!

Furthermore, according to legitimate law, the new patriarch must avenge the former one to solidify their position and hold the moral high ground.

Rather than causing such a shocking crime, it would be better to uproot the Zhou Family's foundation once and for all.

To be honest, this is just like the Inspectorate suppressing bandits. In terms of impact, it's naturally much smaller than assassinating the head of a major clan.

As long as they are not of the same rank, the death of many subordinates will not challenge the sensitive nerves of those in power.

"Young Master, the captives have been screened. There are thirty-two, including five or six minor leaders, and one one-eyed man who claims to be the second-in-command of the mountain stronghold and is willing to surrender..."

Wu Ming arrived in the center of the main hall. Zhao Song brought in the captives, each bound with hemp ropes, their faces filled with panic.

"Esteemed official, I am willing to surrender! I am the second-in-command here, and I know where the Great Leader buried his treasure...!"

The one-eyed man's face lit up when he saw Wu Ming, and he shouted loudly.

"Noisy! Kill him!"

Wu Ming frowned. Beside him, Wu Tiehu immediately grinned sinisterly, and with a swing of his long saber, a head flew off, blood gushing like a spring.

This brutal scene instantly silenced the subordinates, who trembled in fear.

"I don't care about your treasure... and I don't care about your loyalty. Those who want to live now, step forward and chop off one hand or foot of these minor leaders..."

Wu Ming pointed at the several minor leaders who were trembling.

In reality, infighting among bandits was too common; this was nothing, just a routine action.

Those unwilling to do even this would naturally be killed.

After a burst of curses, screams, and the stench of blood, only a dozen or so people remained in the hall.

"Very good... I need you to do one thing for me. After it's done, this mountain stronghold, and even the wealth, can be rewarded to you..."

Wu Ming smiled.

The second-in-command and the minor leaders naturally couldn't be kept alive, otherwise, these bandits would be like time bombs.

But now, they could be used a little.

The next day, as the morning light faintly appeared.

Thick fog permeated the mountains and wilderness, accompanied by the chirping of birds and insects. Amidst the cold air, a merchant caravan was slowly making its way with difficulty.

"Put in more effort!"

The caravan driver, an old hand, shouted, "We've already missed Laba, we can't be delayed any further. Let's finish our business quickly and go back for the New Year!"

"Once we pass Spoon Mountain, it's all flat ground!"

At the front of the caravan, a portly steward smiled and looked at another man with bronze skin, like a Vajra. "Thank you, Martial Master Song, for your protection on this journey!"

"We both serve the same master, what's there to say?"

Song Jingang's eyes were like a hawk's. "Of the three families and eighteen villages in Yunping County, nearly half recognize our Zhou Family's banner. While Jie Tianfeng and his gang on Spoon Mountain wouldn't dare commit outright heresy, it's still best to be cautious!"

Just as the caravan passed through a small mountain pass, a rustling came from the bushes opposite. A group of bandits, flying Jie Tianfeng's banner, charged down. "Charge!"

Their steps were panicked, their numbers few, and they looked more like they were fleeing for their lives, causing the caravan guards to laugh in surprise.

"Hmm? Something's wrong!"

Song Jingang's body jolted. He immediately saw the first bandit collide with a guard and be cut down. The bandit cried out loudly, "Spare me, grandpa! Spare me! We were all forced!"

"What's going on?"

Just as the guards were bewildered, another group appeared. "We are from the Inspector's office, apprehending the rebel Jie Tianfeng and his gang. Do not interfere!"

These men wore fine leather armor, carried swords and bows, and charged down in an orderly fashion, looking like a thousand-strong army.

"This is military discipline! Our county's Inspector's office actually has such talent?"

Song Jingang was stunned.

This official guise clearly had considerable deterrent power. Several guards lowered their swords. Only the shopkeeper greeted them with a bitter smile, preparing to pay a hefty sum.

"Hmm? Wrong, why do they look so unfamiliar? Everyone, be on guard!"

After a moment's pause, Song Jingang was the first to react, shouting loudly.

But in an instant, the Inspector's officers opposite grinned sinisterly and loosed arrows.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Arrows rained down. The unprepared guards were hit and fell to the ground. In that instant, two steel-forged, barbed wolf-tooth arrows shot towards Song Jingang from different directions.

"Ah! They're coming for me specifically?"

In a flash, Song Jingang dodged to the side, retreating several feet. He drew in his chest and hunched his back, instantly becoming as thin as a sheet of paper, evading the two arrowheads.

Puff!

But immediately, a splash of blood bloomed on his shoulder.

"Good archery!" Song Jingang grunted. "Those first two arrows were meant to force me to dodge. The real killer is this one, right?"

Snap! Snap!

From the dense forest, Wu Ming and Feng Han emerged, clapping their hands. "Martial Master Song is known as a reincarnation of King Kong. His external martial arts are indeed extraordinary. Even the finely crafted wolf-tooth arrows from the Iron-Core Bow only penetrate three inches... But... where's the poison?"

"Poison?"

Song Jingang's eyes widened. He saw a dark green layer spreading on his shoulder, yet he felt no itching or pain, only numbness. He was terrified, knowing this situation was the most dangerous. "You despicable scoundrels!"

"In battle, what's the difference between despicable and not? Everyone follow orders, leave no one alive!"

Wu Ming laughed wildly. His subordinate Feng Han lunged out instantly, soaring through the air, his claw winds descending continuously. "Thirteen Eagle Claw Strikes!"

"Hah! King Kong Body!"

Song Jingang's blood boiled. His entire body seemed to emit a faint golden light as he fought Feng Han.

Though his martial arts were slightly superior, he was injured and poisoned, putting him at a severe disadvantage and forcing him into a desperate situation.

"Haha... Kill!"

On another front, Wu Tiehu and two others formed a small triangular formation, tearing through the defenses like fierce tigers and slaughtering the caravan.

His blade was sharp and relentless. Combined with the military formation, he was invincible. "The young master ordered that after killing these people, twenty percent of the wealth will be ours to use as we please. What are you waiting for?"

With him leading the charge, killing two people, the laborers and village militia behind him gradually relaxed, their eyes red as they went on a killing spree.

Wu Ming, carrying his crossbow, remained in the center. Anyone attempting to escape was shot down by him, with no one getting away.

Bang!

In the center of the fray, the qi of two individuals clashed. They rapidly retreated, revealing Feng Han and Song Jingang, both bleeding profusely.

"If you do this, aren't you afraid of retaliation from my Zhou Family? Slaughtering innocent civilians is tantamount to rebellion!"

Song Jingang shouted, slapping a talisman onto his wound, which immediately stopped the bleeding.

"Haha... We are apprehending the rebel Jie Tianfeng. We have merit, not demerit. You were killed by bandits, what does it have to do with us?"

Feng Han laughed, applying a talisman himself. His spirit revived, and he lunged forward again.

'This is a fight to the death!'

Song Jingang's heart grew cold. 'And... where did that talisman come from?'

The Minor Rejuvenation Talisman in his hand was a life-saving item he had obtained after a significant expenditure through his connections with the Zhou Family.

Now, seeing Feng Han use it so casually, he felt a sense of unfathomable depth.

"Go!"

Turning his head, he saw that the surrounding caravan had been almost completely slaughtered, their defeat like a collapsing mountain. His heart chilled, and he suddenly fled desperately.

Whoosh!

A poisoned arrow shot out like a maggot attached to bone, hitting his thigh and drawing blood mixed with dark green.

"You still want to run after being hit by my poisoned arrow?"

A young voice came from behind Song Jingang's ear, and then he plunged into complete darkness.