Subduing

Were the bandits of Black Wind Stockade fearsome?

Of course they were. Everyone within a hundred li paled at the mere mention of Black Wind Stockade. Those bandits killed without batting an eye; they had even massacred entire villages.

Yet at that moment, more than a hundred bandits from Black Wind Stockade surrounded one man and didn't dare attack. Their faces were tense and terrified. When the man turned to look at them, they even stumbled backward in fright, afraid he might charge at them!

It wasn't that the bandits were cowards. The man before them was simply too powerful, too terrifying!

The corpses of the three chieftains and a group of elite bandits on the ground proved it!

Zhang Yunhao wasn't surprised by the bandits' fear and retreat. Otherwise, he never would have dared come alone to challenge the entire stockade!

Bandits weren't an army. Though they lived by the blade, they were still afraid of death—and extremely selfish. Zhang Yunhao was so strong that nobody could withstand even one of his punches. Who would volunteer to die?

If the bandits truly had the courage to face death without flinching, more than a mere dozen would have charged him earlier.

What's more, with the three chieftains dead, the bandits were leaderless and even less willing to do anything. That was why Zhang Yunhao had killed the three chieftains first; otherwise, things might have gotten a little troublesome.

Zhang Yunhao showed no intention of attacking again. He took out a piece of cloth and wiped the blood from his fist, then suddenly asked, "Do you know why I came to Black Wind Stockade?"

"How the hell should we know why you came?"

The bandits grumbled inwardly, though they were all quite curious about what had driven this fellow to come knocking on their door.

Zhang Yunhao smiled and said, "Some time ago, I suddenly realized I wasn't so young anymore. I started wondering what my future would look like. Would I always be alone like this? If so, what would I do when I grew old and frail?"

He paused, swept his gaze across the crowd, and continued, "I felt a little afraid. So, before I grow old, I want to carve out a bright future for myself. That's why I came to Black Wind Stockade."

Someone finally couldn't hold back and asked, "You want to be our new chieftain?"

Zhang Yunhao turned toward the speaker. He was a frail-looking fellow dressed like a scholar. The moment he saw Zhang Yunhao looking at him, he hurriedly hid behind a bandit, too scared to show his face.

Zhang Yunhao asked mockingly, "Is a measly Black Wind Stockade really a bright future? Do you think you have a future?"

The bandits fell silent. What future was there in being a bandit? They didn't even know if they'd be alive the next day, and it rarely ended well for them.

Without realizing it, the bandits had lowered their weapons. All they wanted to know now was what Zhang Yunhao had come to do.

Zhang Yunhao continued, "The future I'm talking about is sweeping up all the mountain strongholds across Nanyang Prefecture, becoming the overlord of this region, and making even the Imperial Court think twice before crossing us. Maybe they'll even offer us amnesty and make us high officials. Of course, by then, it'll be up to me whether I accept."

"An overlord?"

"Amnesty?"

The bandits were stunned. Quite a few of them lit up. Some cared about the status of an overlord; others cared about being offered amnesty. The scholar from earlier, for instance, stared at Zhang Yunhao with yearning in his eyes!

Zhang Yunhao took in each of their expressions and understood. He tossed aside the cloth in his hand and said, "I came to Black Wind Stockade to make this happen. Of course, I knew some people wouldn't agree, so I killed them. Anyone else disagree?"

The bandits were speechless. After hearing him put it like that, who would dare say they disagreed?

Still, a few empty promises clearly weren't enough to make the bandits truly submit. Zhang Yunhao didn't have the bearing of a born overlord, after all. So, though the bandits didn't object, they didn't agree either. They all stayed silent!

Zhang Yunhao had expected this. He brought out his real trump card. "By the way, to make myself the overlord, I'll teach some people martial arts that can cultivate True Qi!"

"Teach us martial arts? Are you serious?"

All the bandits cried out in surprise, their breathing growing quick. They were excited and couldn't believe their ears!

Don't assume that secret manuals were everywhere just because this was a martial arts world. In fact, whether in this world or the Martial Immortal World, martial arts manuals were in the hands of a select few. Ordinary people had a very hard time getting one!

Most of the bandits here knew only a few crude tricks. Even those who truly knew martial arts had incomplete techniques that left them with lasting side effects, and they had almost no chance of breaking through to the True Qi Realm.

Yet even such incomplete techniques could be passed down as family treasures! As for a complete manual, that was a treasure worth risking one's life for!

That was why the bandits were so thrilled to hear that Zhang Yunhao was willing to teach them martial arts. It was worth countless times more than handing them silver!

"Bloodhand... No, Great Chieftain, if you're really willing to teach me martial arts, I'll do anything you ask!"

A burly, rough-voiced man immediately stood up and shouted eagerly. He had actually practiced martial arts, but his technique was incomplete, and he had never been able to break through to the True Qi Realm. Now that an opportunity had appeared, how could he possibly hold back?

The other bandits came to their senses as well, one after another declaring their willingness to accept Zhang Yunhao as their chieftain. Their response was completely different from their earlier silence!

Zhang Yunhao said calmly, "I won't teach everyone. I'll only teach those who prove themselves. But since you were the first to speak up, I'll teach you Iron Cloth Shirt."

The burly man hadn't expected such a huge windfall to land in his lap. He was so excited he could hardly contain himself. He immediately thumped his chest and swore, "Great Chieftain, from now on, my life, Zhang Dazhuang's, is yours!"

The bandits erupted into a commotion, gazing at Zhang Dazhuang with envy. They regretted not pledging allegiance first and resolved to prove themselves so they could learn martial arts!

From that day on, Black Wind Stockade had a new master!

"You're Black Wind Stockade's Military Advisor?"

In Black Wind Stockade's main hall, Zhang Yunhao sat high above and questioned a bandit who looked like a scholar.

The scholar was terribly timid. At once, he waved his hands and explained, "I... I really was Black Wind Stockade's Military Advisor, but I was originally a Xiucai Scholar. My ancestors even included a prefect. They kidnapped me and dragged me up the mountain. Now that Great Chieftain has killed them, I'm deeply grateful."

"It's rare to find a Xiucai Scholar in a bandit den."

Zhang Yunhao smiled. "You can continue as my Military Advisor from now on."

"Thank you, Great Chieftain."

Scholar Lu breathed a sigh of relief. His life had been spared. Then, thinking of something, he cautiously asked, "Great Chieftain, are you hoping to be offered amnesty?"

Zhang Yunhao looked at Scholar Lu and asked, "Do you want to be offered amnesty that badly?"

Scholar Lu replied eagerly, "Of course! I dream of it. I was afraid of dying, so I became a bandit. If I can't clear my name, how will I ever face my ancestors?"

"Assist me with all your might, and one day, you'll bring honor to your ancestors."

Zhang Yunhao spoke with certainty. Scholar Lu was overjoyed and repeatedly swore his loyalty!

Zhang Yunhao waved a hand. "Enough talk. Tell me about Black Wind Stockade's situation."

"Yes, Great Chieftain. Black Wind Stockade originally had more than five hundred people, with over two hundred combatants."

Scholar Lu hurriedly reported, "Also, I was the one who managed the stockade's wealth. It's all in the storehouse, about five thousand taels of silver. Great Chieftain can inspect it whenever you like. Oh, the former Great Chieftain also had a private stash, and I know where it is."