Bandits

"Hero!"

Suddenly, a middle-aged man caught up from behind, cupped his hands with a smile, and greeted him.

Fang Zhixing tilted his head to look at him. The man wore animal-hide clothing, had a rugged face covered in stubble, and a hunting knife at his waist. He was clearly a genuine hunter.

He asked, "What is it?"

The middle-aged man smiled. "I'm from Little Cow Village, not a refugee. A few companions and I are heading to the market town to sell animal pelts. I saw you make your move just now—your blade work was truly impressive. I'd like to join up with you so we can travel together and look out for each other. What do you think?"

Fang Zhixing looked behind him and saw a flatbed cart pulled by a yellow ox, with four large wooden crates stacked atop it.

Five people in animal-hide clothing stood around the cart. The oldest had white hair and beard, with deep wrinkles lining his face.

Fang Zhixing did not know these people and had no desire to invite trouble. He flatly replied, "Thank you for the invitation, but no."

The middle-aged man quickly said, "The mountain ahead is extremely chaotic. I've heard that bandits are active there, and rioters are blocking the road. Traveling alone, hero, I fear it will be difficult for you to stay out of trouble."

Fang Zhixing's thoughts stirred, but he still shook his head. "I have companions. We are only temporarily separated. It's best if we go our separate ways."

The middle-aged man looked disappointed upon hearing this, but he did not press the matter.

Thus, Fang Zhixing quickened his pace and left those hunters behind.

A short while later, he suddenly left the main road and entered the woods beside it, swiftly weaving through the forest.

"This will do."

Fang Zhixing stopped beside a steep slope and looked around, making sure there was no danger.

Then he took a pot from his battered bamboo basket, gathered some firewood, and started a fire to cook.

Skinny Dog kept watch over the surroundings, smacking his lips as he carefully savored that lingering flavor.

Soon, the meal was ready.

Man and dog happily dug in.

As Skinny Dog ate the fragrant meal, his mind kept returning to another flavor. Suddenly, the cured pork rice did not seem so appetizing anymore.

After filling their stomachs, Fang Zhixing set out again. He took a detour before returning to the main road.

As he walked, a few more clueless refugees tried to rob him. He made short work of them with his blade.

About two or three hours later, he looked up!

Fang Zhixing saw a great red mountain. Maple forests covered it from top to bottom, their layered hues painted in brilliant color, beautiful as a scroll.

A crowd of refugees trudged and staggered as they climbed the mountain.

Fang Zhixing sharpened his focus, gripping bow and blade as he blended into the crowd and climbed step by step.

"The bandits are here!"

"Run! Run!"

The group had only reached halfway up the mountain when they heard shouts.

Immediately afterward, many people came running down from the summit, shoving and squeezing one another and causing a huge commotion.

Some people unfortunately fell, their bodies rolling down the slope. Some crashed into trees, while others kept tumbling all the way down.

Amid the chaos, several people who seemed to have planned it beforehand suddenly charged in from all directions, taking the chance to pounce on Fang Zhixing, Skinny Dog, and the donkey.

"Watch out!"

Fang Zhixing had long been prepared. As he transmitted a warning, he drew his bow and fired two arrows in rapid succession. The arrows sank into two men's chests.

Then he drew his blade. Man and blade moved as one, steel flashing.

With a turn of his wrist, the blade slashed into another man's arm.

Pfft!

At once, someone rushed up behind him and wrapped both arms around him.

Fang Zhixing half-squatted, every muscle in his body swelling as strength erupted from him. He broke free from the man's hold and slashed backward.

Before that man could fall, Fang Zhixing launched himself off the ground!

At the same time, Skinny Dog growled and barked. With nimble footwork, he darted beneath a man and bit down hard on his ankle.

In the blink of an eye, bodies lay scattered around them. Blood splashed across the ground, and wails rang out everywhere.

"Who else!?"

Fang Zhixing stood with his blade in hand, drenched in blood. He glared in every direction, his presence intimidating all around him.

Seeing how powerful and ruthless Fang Zhixing was, the refugees who had been waiting for an opportunity shuddered with fear. Trembling, every one of them abandoned the thought of making a move.

One refugee gritted his teeth and shouted, "What kind of hero are you, bullying unarmed refugees like us? If you have the guts, charge up to the summit and kill those bandits!"

Whoosh!

Fang Zhixing drew his bow and released the arrow in one smooth motion.

Pfft!

The shouting man's head was pierced clean through by an arrow, and he fell stiffly to the ground.

"Damn it, you have no sense at all. Who gave you the impression that I'm some hero?"

Fang Zhixing licked the blood from his lips.

The surrounding crowd fell silent as cicadas in winter. No one even dared breathe loudly, and they looked at Fang Zhixing with utter awe and reverence.

Suddenly, Fang Zhixing looked at someone and asked, "How many bandits are at the summit?"

That person was one of those who had run down from the summit. He replied, "I don't know. The bandits hide in the woods and demand that everyone leave behind toll money. If you refuse, they come out and kill people. Once they've killed, they vanish without a trace."

Fang Zhixing fell thoughtful upon hearing this.

"Hero, may I have a word?"

At that moment, a middle-aged man on the slope waved at him.

Fang Zhixing looked up and discovered that the man was the hunter from Little Cow Village whom he had met earlier.

He walked over.

The middle-aged man looked at blood-covered Fang Zhixing, his expression somewhat tense. He extended a hand in invitation and smiled ingratiatingly. "This way, please. Let me introduce a few friends to you, hero."

Fang Zhixing saw three elders gathered beneath a large tree.

One was the elder from Little Cow Village. He had not seen the other two before.

The middle-aged man introduced them. "This is the chief of Buffalo Fort. He is heading to the market town this time to sell iron ore. This is the village chief of Black Ox Village. He has several carts of cotton and urgently needs to exchange them for grain."

The two elders nodded in greeting. They had personally witnessed Fang Zhixing's slaughter just now, and their eyes could not help but show fear and respect.

Seeing this, Fang Zhixing immediately understood that they wished to join forces and break through the bandits' blockade.

He asked, "How much do you know about those bandits?"

The chief of Buffalo Fort quickly replied, "The bandits on this mountain are actually just a group of rioters who have banded together as outlaws. They know this mountain is the only route to Little Clear River Market Town, which is why they have blocked the road here to rob travelers."

Fang Zhixing asked again, "Then what do you intend to do?"

The three elders exchanged glances. The chief of Little Cow Village answered, "We intend to speak with the bandit leader first. If we cannot reach an agreement, then we will force our way through."

Fang Zhixing immediately said, "Fine. You go negotiate first. If talks break down, I'll break through with you."

The expressions of the three elders tightened.

In truth, they had wanted to bring Fang Zhixing with them to negotiate. With such a formidable man at their side, they would have more courage.

But they had not expected Fang Zhixing to see through their little scheme already...

"Fine!"

The three elders looked at one another, then forced themselves to climb to the summit and shouted, "Which friend is the bandit chief? Come out and have a few words."

The red maple forest swayed in the wind.