Attack

Wang Min added from the side, "Keep Head Escort Sun's words in mind. This delivery isn't particularly thorny, but the journey is long, so stay cautious.

Look out for one another; go safely, return safely."

After speaking, he looked at Li Yuan, who was standing to the side, and beckoned, "Li Yuan, come here."

Li Yuan stepped forward as instructed.

Wang Min introduced Li Yuan to the group.

Immediately after, he turned to Li Yuan and said, "You'll be with my squad this trip. Don't panic if something happens; just stick with the others."

Seeing the bow and arrows on Li Yuan's back, he asked in surprise:

"You know how to shoot?"

"Yes, I'm a hunter."

"Haha, not bad. We've got an archer now, too."

Hearing this, the others looked over and offered friendly smiles.

"Move out!"

Following Sun Tong's shout, the caravan began to move, rolling out of the city gates and onto the official road leading to Black Water Town.

Li Yuan felt a different sensation within the caravan compared to when he was trekking through the mountains.

The caravan continued along the official road, moving at a slow pace.

Because it was winter, the road was covered in a thin layer of snow.

Li Yuan followed beside Wang Min, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the road from time to time.

Compared to the scenery near the county town, the grass on either side here appeared much more desolate, and occasionally one could see abandoned field ridges and collapsed thatched huts.

"Uncle Wang, the route along this official road seems... lonelier than I imagined." Li Yuan found a topic and asked in a low voice.

Blue Stone Village, where he lived, was not actually far from Wuxi County, but it did not border this official road.

This was, therefore, Li Yuan's first time traveling along the official road.

Wang Min sighed at these words, his face growing more solemn: "Indeed, it's not like the old days.

In recent years, the borderlands have been restless, with troops deployed one after another, and taxes piled layer upon layer.

Many families simply couldn't bear it; they either fled to escape the famine or..."

He paused, then added, "Or they took to the mountains."

He tilted his chin toward the rolling mountain ranges in the distance: "See that? That's Mang Mountain.

It's full of bandits and outlaws. Originally, government soldiers were stationed at key intersections to maintain order.

Now, all the manpower has been pulled to the border, replaced by private soldiers sent by local noble families.

They only manage the main roads; they can't be bothered with the more remote areas at all."

"Private soldiers of noble families?" This was the first time Li Yuan had heard of such a thing.

"Yes, the imperial court lacks the strength, so it can only delegate power to local magnates.

These noble families send out men, ostensibly to assist in maintaining order, but in reality, they are just guarding their own properties and trade routes.

As for the common folk and travelers like us, they aren't necessarily concerned."

Wang Min's tone carried a hint of helplessness, "In this world, it's not easy to survive.

Just within Mang Mountain, there are probably over a dozen gangs of various sizes.

Many are just people who couldn't survive or pay their taxes, gathering together to find someone bold and capable to lead them, and then they start their trade."

As he spoke, feeling his throat dry, Wang Min took a drink from his water skin and continued:

"I've heard the big boss of the Mang Mountain Bandits goes by the nickname 'Mountain-Crossing Sparrowhawk.' He wields a fast blade and is incredibly agile.

They say he's long been an expert in the Bone Forging Realm, with hundreds of desperate outlaws gathered under him. He's the most troublesome gang in the Mang Mountain area."

When Head Escort Wang mentioned this name, his expression grew even more serious.

"We are traveling along the periphery this time, so as long as we don't touch their core territory, nothing should happen.

But we must be extremely careful; you never know when some short-sighted small-time bandit might want to make a quick score."

After walking for a while, Li Yuan did indeed see some sallow-faced people shivering in the cold wind.

They huddled by the roadside, their eyes numb yet still filled with greed as they watched the cargo-laden caravan.

But upon seeing the weapons in the escorts' hands, they dared not approach.

Fortunately, until the sun began to set, nothing happened.

Soon, a relatively open area appeared ahead with a small stream flowing nearby—a good place to set up camp for the night.

"We'll rest here tonight," Sun Tong's voice came. "Old rules: take turns on watch, circle the wagons."

This was a place their escort agency often chose to rest when traveling this route.

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and began to busy themselves.

Unloading the carts, feeding the horses, fetching water, and lighting fires to cook—the entire process was carried out in an orderly fashion.

Soon, several bonfires were crackling, and hot food bubbled in the pots, the aroma of dried meat and wild vegetables wafting through the air.

After dinner, the sky turned completely dark, and the crackling bonfires illuminated everyone's faces.

I do not know who suggested it first, but several young escorts and guards gathered together to play a game of "guessing stones."

The rules were simple: one person would shake a few small stones in their palm, then clench their fist for the others to guess the number.

Those who guessed wrong either had to mimic an animal sound or tell a funny story, drawing bursts of laughter from the crowd and enlivening the atmosphere significantly.

Li Yuan was on the outer edge of the camp, tempering his stance.

Only after setting out did he truly feel how increasingly chaotic the world had become.

Therefore, he had to seize every moment to improve his strength.

Head Escort Wang sat beside him, puffing away on his pipe in the firelight.

"Young man, a little fun is good for you, lest you wind yourself too tight," Uncle Wang said leisurely, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

However, just as the atmosphere was at its most relaxed:

"Whew!"

"Ah!"

A signal arrow, accompanied by a shrill whistle, suddenly shot from the woods outside the camp, striking a guard precisely in the arm.

"Enemy attack! Grab your weapons!" Sun Tong reacted with lightning speed, leaping to his feet.

His roar was like a thunderclap, instantly shattering the camp's relaxed mood.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The urgent sound of a gong rang out, signaling the presence of enemies.

"Kill!"

"Seize their goods!"

Almost at the same moment the arrow pierced the air, shouts erupted from the woods, and dozens of dark figures charged out like ghosts.

Wielding steel blades, wooden clubs, and even farm tools like manure forks and hoes, they lunged toward the camp.

Most of these people were dressed in rags, but their eyes were fierce and their movements swift.

Although the group in the camp had been ambushed, they did not panic.

Clearly, they had encountered such situations far too many times.

"Form up! Protect the goods!" Wang Min tossed aside his pipe, drew the thick-backed saber at his waist, and spoke in a steady voice.

If the cargo suffered heavy losses, this entire escort mission would have been for nothing.

The experienced guards grabbed their swords and blades at once, forming a defensive formation.

Li Yuan also drew his bow and nocked an arrow, his sharp gaze sweeping across the surroundings.

In the chaos, the fastest bandits had already broken through the sparse outer perimeter and were locked in combat with the guards who had rushed to meet them.

The sounds of clashing steel and agonizing screams merged into a cacophony.

A fierce bandit wielding a rusted wood-chopping knife crept cautiously toward the back of the fighting Wang Min.

Li Yuan's eyes turned cold; he took a deep breath, drew his bow, and released the arrow in one fluid motion.

The bowstring vibrated, the arrow left the string, and it cut through the air like a streak of cold light under the glow of the bonfire.

"Puchi!"