The earth-shaking cries of battle rolled closer like thunder, bearing down on Qingfeng Village's crude yet sturdy wooden walls.
Dense ranks of figures lined the fortress walls, every face marked by the savagery unique to bandits and a trace of poorly concealed tension.
Just as the Lin Family Guards charged to within roughly a hundred paces of the gate, a figure stepped forth from among the crowd atop the wall. He appeared to be in his thirties. Unlike the coarse and vicious look of ordinary bandits, his features carried a hint of refinement, though a trace of cunning and sinister darkness lurked in the depths of his eyes. Dressed in a faded blue scholar's robe, bleached pale from countless washings, he seemed utterly out of place within this bandit den.
Standing behind the battlements, he cupped his hands toward the murderous Lin Family force below, especially Qin Shi at its head, who stood like a war god. His clear voice somehow carried over the clamor of the battlefield:
"Could the one below be Coach Qin Shi of Lin Manor? I have long admired your great name; it has thundered in my ears! I am but an unworthy fellow, the Second Head of Qingfeng Village. My friends of the martial world have kindly bestowed upon me the name 'White-faced Scholar,' Chen He."
He spoke neither too quickly nor too slowly, seemingly intending to offer courtesy before resorting to force.
Yet Qin Shi wanted none of it. His bristling beard flared, his tiger eyes went wide, and he cut the other man off directly, his voice exploding like thunder. "Pah! What White-faced Scholar, Black-faced Butcher bullshit! I've never heard of you! Stop showing off your fancy words in front of me! You bastards from Qingfeng Village dared stretch your claws toward my