Rookies Pecking at Each Other

"Forgive me, Mountain-Suppressing Tiger," Zhu Jie said with cupped hands. "These days, natural disasters and upheaval have left the land ravaged by war. No one has it easy. Otherwise, we would not have left our homes and traveled so far from our native soil. I hope you can make things convenient for us."

Mountain-Suppressing Tiger narrowed his eyes and called out, "Leave behind half the things you brought, and I'll let you pass at once."

Naturally, Zhu Jie refused, and the expressions of those beside him turned exceedingly grim as well.

Since they had left their homes, they had naturally brought along all their possessions. Leaving behind half of it was no different from taking their lives.

Zhu Jie forced a smile. "This is a matter of great importance. Please give us a moment to discuss it."

"Hmph! Be quick about it. I don't have much patience."

Zhu Jie slowly backed away, and the group gathered together once more.

"That Mountain-Suppressing Tiger is insatiably greedy. He's gone too far," Zhang Village Chief said indignantly.

"Leave behind half our things? Heh, he really dares to dream. Isn't he afraid he'll chip his teeth?"

Someone sneered coldly.

The village chief of Immortal Deer Village, the elderly man from before, also let out a long sigh. "It seems this matter cannot be settled peacefully. We have no choice but to force our way through."

"Then we'll proceed according to plan. I'll keep Mountain-Suppressing Tiger occupied, while you stir up the refugees. We'll strike their blockade together. As long as we tear open a gap, we can force our way through," Zhu Jie said gravely.

The others exchanged glances and nodded.

This had been their plan all along: courtesy first, force second. Since courtesy did not work, it was time for force.

The refugees had little fighting strength, but there was strength in numbers. With so many people, even if they were a herd of pigs, stopping them would take a great deal of effort.

Afterward, the men returned to their respective groups, gathering the refugees and urging them to break through together.

"If we don't force our way through, we'll all starve to death here."

"Don't be afraid, everyone. Charge with us!"

"There's strength in numbers. With so many of us moving together, even the bandits will have to fear us somewhat."

"Staying here means death. Breaking through means there's still a chance to live. Whether you live or die, think it over yourselves."

The refugees had long since been starved until their eyes were bloodshot. At this point, they had no other choice. As long as someone took the lead, they were naturally willing to follow.

At last, amid a loud cry, the refugees gathered at the foot of the mountain began their charge.

"Charge!"

Though the several thousand people were all refugees whose legs had gone weak from hunger, their repeated shouts still carried a certain force.

Zhong Lin carried Little Shi on his back and blended into the crowd. Neither too fast nor too slow, he watched in every direction and listened to every sound, ready to leave the crowd at any moment.

The refugees included both old and young, some fast and some slow. As they charged, they gradually stretched into a long stream.

The bandits atop the mountain panicked at the sight before them, somewhat at a loss.

In the past, when they blocked the road and robbed travelers, the passing refugees usually came wave after wave. Faced with hardened men like them, they did not dare resist. Even when they did resist, their numbers were relatively small, and the bandits could easily keep them under control.

But this time, so many people surged forward together like a burst dam. The sight truly made their hearts tremble with fear.

"B-Boss, w-what do we do now?"

One of the bandits asked in a panic.

Smack!

Mountain-Suppressing Tiger slapped the bandit across the head and cursed, "Useless trash! They're just a bunch of refugees. You're scared stiff by this?"

Sweeping his gaze over the refugees drawing ever closer, Mountain-Suppressing Tiger revealed a cold smile.

"Heh, this lot really has some ability. They actually thought to use the refugees to batter our blockade. Do they think I have no answer? Listen up, all of you. Don't rob the refugees. Rob only the ones with carts."

If the trouble could not be solved, then solve the people causing it.

Besides, what was there to rob from refugees? Mountain-Suppressing Tiger's original target had been these wealthy households.

"Yes."

"We hear you, Boss."

"Boss is wise."

Mountain-Suppressing Tiger spat on the ground and grabbed a broad saber. "Brothers, with me!"

With a shout, he raised his saber and charged forward. The bandits behind him also clamored as they followed close on his heels.

"The bandits are coming!"

"Run!"

The refugees were terrified when they saw the bandits rushing down the mountain. They bolted like mad, desperately trying to circle around them and escape.

"Don't run! Don't run! Charge through!"

"Don't run! There are so many of us, they wouldn't dare—"

Zhu Jie and the others had greatly overestimated the refugees' discipline. They had thought they could use the refugees to smash through the blockade, but one charge by the bandits scattered them into a complete mess.

"Quick, gather together!"

The village chief of Immortal Deer Village urged anxiously. Under his command, Zhu Jie, Zhang Village Chief, and the others hurriedly had the ox carts drawn together into a circle to serve as a defense.

"Grab your weapons. Get ready."

Compared to the refugees, their own blood brothers were more reliable. At the command, they drew out spears, broadsabers, and bows.

"Fire!"

At the order, dozens of arrows tore through the wind, shooting toward the charging bandits.

The villagers living beneath Black Mountain farmed when busy and hunted when idle. Many of them knew their way around a bow. In this volley alone, seven or eight bandits fell to the ground and could not rise. For a moment, even the bandits lost all composure and descended into chaos.

"Fuck your mother!"

Mountain-Suppressing Tiger flew into a rage as he watched seven or eight of his brothers collapse to the ground.

Zhu Jie's face lit up with joy as he shouted, "Aim at Mountain-Suppressing Tiger! Fire again!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Arrows ripped through the air once more. The sound was like King Yama's death summons, frightening the bandits so badly that they stopped charging and hurried to find cover.

Even so, some were struck in the ankles or shoulders, crying out in agony.

Among them, Mountain-Suppressing Tiger stood out the most. Seventy or eighty percent of the arrows were aimed at him.

Zhong Lin, watching from afar, quietly let out a breath of relief. With the eyesight granted by his max-level archery, he could tell that Mountain-Suppressing Tiger was as good as dead under the aim of so many bows.

He had thought Zhu Jie and the others' scheme had failed after the refugees scattered in all directions. Who would have expected this group of bandits to be rookies too, every one of them coming out to serve as a living target?

Rookies pecking at each other—big brother had no right to laugh at little brother.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The arrows struck Mountain-Suppressing Tiger's body head-on—some in his thighs, some in his shoulders, and one even directly in his chest.

Yet the sound of arrows hitting his body was strangely off. It was not the crisp sound of piercing flesh, but rather the dull thump of beating a drum covered in cowhide.

The arrows tore through Mountain-Suppressing Tiger's clothes, but after leaving only red marks on his body, they were all knocked away, as though they had struck tough cowhide.

The sight brought Zhong Lin, who had been rushing forward, to an abrupt halt. He stared ahead in utter shock.

With the eyesight granted by his max-level archery, he could naturally tell that arrows with such force were not something flesh and blood could block—unless one wore iron armor. Yet they could not even pierce Mountain-Suppressing Tiger's skin. How was that possible...