Black Wind Stockade was located in Nanyang Prefecture in the south of Jin State. The prefecture was crawling with bandits and outlaws. There were more than a dozen notorious gangs alone, and Black Wind Stockade ranked somewhere in the middle.
Now Zhang Yunhao was heading for Peach Blossom Mountain, not far from Taicang Mountain. Another band of bandits occupied the mountain, and their strength was no less than Black Wind Stockade's. They had even clashed with Black Wind Stockade several times in the past.
This time, Zhang Yunhao wasn't a lone wolf. He was leading more than a hundred bandits, marching with menacing force.
Even the deathly afraid Scholar Lu had come along. Riding a small horse, he was currying favor with Zhang Yunhao. "Great Chieftain, your martial arts are unmatched beneath heaven. Just use the same trick as last time, and breaking Tiger Head Stockade will be child's play!"
"Last time, I came alone. The three chieftains of Black Wind Stockade underestimated me, so they came out themselves."
Zhang Yunhao shook his head. "This time, we've brought so many people. There's no way they won't notice us. Besides, the people who fled Black Wind Stockade may have already spread the news. They'll certainly shut their gates and prepare for battle. It won't be that easy again."
"Prepare for battle?"
Scholar Lu was horrified. He'd thought it would be as easy as last time, which was why he'd dared to come. But now they were heading into a bloody fight, and he was so frightened he almost turned around and fled.
Zhang Yunhao glanced at Scholar Lu and smiled. "Relax. Tiger Head Stockade is nothing but a rabble. Not many people will die. Did you finish making the thing I asked you to prepare yesterday?"
"I did. The two horses behind us are pulling it."
Scholar Lu nodded, then steeled himself and tried to talk him out of it. "Great Chieftain, Tiger Head Stockade is no weaker than us. Isn't it too reckless to go there like this?"
"I told you to relax."
Zhang Yunhao replied calmly, but Scholar Lu shuddered so violently he nearly fell off his horse. He didn't dare say another word. The Great Chieftain before him was no kind soul.
Still, the Great Chieftain was so powerful. If he said there was nothing to worry about, then surely there wasn't?
Zhang Yunhao didn't know where Tiger Head Stockade was, but Zhang Dazhuang and the other bandits had been there before. So this time, there was no need to capture a guide; they headed straight up the mountain.
The people of Tiger Head Stockade had received the news long ago. Its gates were shut tight, and the watchtowers were packed with archers. At that moment, the chieftain of Tiger Head Stockade, Qin Lin—known throughout the martial world as Phantom Sword—stood atop a watchtower, staring gravely at Zhang Yunhao, who was mounted on a fine steed.
When Zhang Yunhao stopped, Qin Lin seized the initiative and shouted, "Blood Hand Tian Ming! Don't think that just because you seized Black Wind Stockade through underhanded means, you can take on us at Tiger Head Stockade! Leave now, and you might still keep your life. Otherwise, today will be your last!"
Qin Lin's words sounded fierce, but he was bluffing. He didn't even dare hurl a real insult, because Zhang Yunhao had genuinely terrified him.
That man had taken on all of Black Wind Stockade by himself! At first, everyone had thought it was a joke. Once they learned it was true, they were all shaken to the core. So if they could avoid a fight, they wanted no part of one!
Zhang Yunhao dismounted and motioned for Scholar Lu to have the men carry the thing over. Then he looked up and called out, "Don't say I never gave you a chance. Surrender now and submit to me, and I'll spare your lives. Otherwise, once I break through your stockade, you won't get another chance to surrender."
Qin Lin laughed in fury. He didn't want to fight, but he wasn't afraid of one either. He roared, "Tian Ming, if you've got the guts, come and try! Tiger Head Stockade isn't made of paper. However many of you come today, that's how many will die!"
"Then I'll break through and show you!"
Zhang Yunhao laughed. Just then, two burly bandits carried over a heavy object covered with cloth. He pulled off the black cloth, revealing an iron shield as tall as a man and wider than a door.
Even the two bandits carrying it had found the iron shield heavy. Zhang Yunhao, however, effortlessly lifted it with one hand, as if it were made of paper.
"Wait until I break through the gate, then charge in."
After giving the order, Zhang Yunhao didn't wait for anyone to say a word. Shield in hand, he charged toward the stockade gate like a galloping steed, kicking up a cloud of dust as he barreled forward, unstoppable!
Both sides stared, dumbfounded. One man charging an entire stockade—what a sight!
"Shoot him dead!"
As Zhang Yunhao drew closer, Qin Lin hurriedly bellowed the order. He grabbed a longbow himself as a volley of arrows whistled toward Zhang Yunhao.
Zhang Yunhao promptly raised the great shield. Every arrow struck it and bounced away. His pace didn't slow; if anything, he only sped up. Then he slammed into the gate like a tank.
With a thunderous crash, the thick wooden gate was knocked flat by Zhang Yunhao, who hit it like a raging bear. Several bandits behind it were crushed to death on the spot.
"Is he even human?"
Both sides stared in disbelief once more. It wasn't as if no martial arts expert had ever taken a stockade alone, but they usually used lightness skills to leap inside. Who had ever just charged straight through the gate? Was he even human? Had a monster taken human form?
After smashing through the gate, Zhang Yunhao felt his blood and qi churning. He rolled his arms and roared like a thunderclap, "What are you waiting for? Follow me in!"
"Long live the Great Chieftain!"
"The Great Chieftain is invincible!"
The bandits of Black Wind Stockade snapped out of it and charged toward the stockade with excited shouts. With a Great Chieftain that formidable, they were sure to win this fight!
Charge in, seize the money, seize the grain, seize the women! And if they performed well, they could learn martial arts too. The bandits of Black Wind Stockade were fired up and ready to go!
Compared to Black Wind Stockade, the morale of Tiger Head Stockade had plummeted. Zhang Yunhao's feat had been too astonishing—or rather, too frightening. Some of the bandits were even thinking of running away!
"Stop them! The rest of you, come with me and kill Blood Hand Tian Ming!"
Qin Lin was frightened too, but he gritted his teeth and decided to fight anyway. He led the other two true qi experts and a band of elite bandits as they leaped down from the watchtower.
By then, several bandits had already rushed at Zhang Yunhao with weapons in hand. He gave a cold snort and swung the iron shield. With a series of thuds, the bandits were swept off their feet. By the time they hit the ground, their bodies were twisted out of shape. They were dead beyond any doubt.
Seeing how ferocious Zhang Yunhao was, the remaining bandits didn't dare approach. They stood trembling nearby with their weapons in hand.
This isn't how it's supposed to go. I always dreamed of becoming a swordsman in white, his robes as pure as snow. Why have I turned into a battle-hardened general charging at the front?
Zhang Yunhao grumbled to himself. Seeing that the other bandits didn't dare advance, Qin Lin cursed inwardly, gritted his teeth, and led the two true qi experts into the attack.
Qin Lin's nickname was Phantom Sword. Both his swordsmanship and his lightness skills were swift. He darted around Zhang Yunhao, striking again and again with his sword, each thrust seeming both real and illusory.
Meanwhile, one of the other two true qi experts stood farther off and sent a flurry of hidden darts at Zhang Yunhao. The other stood guard with a huge axe in hand, holding back instead of joining the attack.
In fact, the axe-wielding true qi expert was a fierce fighter who usually led every charge. But now he didn't dare go in, because Zhang Yunhao was simply too terrifying. He had no confidence he could withstand even one of Zhang Yunhao's blows.
And so the axe-wielding warrior had become the one holding the line!
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