Along the way, Wang Chong repeatedly questioned the three captives and gained some understanding of this band of mounted bandits.
The band numbered over seven hundred. Their leader was called Yi Mofeng Dong Qing, a Han man who had apprenticed to the Green Mountain Sect in his youth and learned formidable martial arts.
The Green Mountain Sect held unchallenged sway over a region of the great grasslands. Once its disciples mastered their martial arts, some made their living within the sect, like Tie Mole, while others sought employment with other tribes-Narihai, for instance, was a general of the Yegeluo Clan. But there were also those like Dong Qing, unwilling to live at another's mercy, who built their own forces and roamed the grasslands as mounted bandits, coming and going like the wind.
These mounted bandits had no fixed abode. They had only recently stopped to rest and regroup near a water source. This was also one of Yi Mofeng Dong Qing's secret hideouts, and no other tribes ever came here.
Heeding Su Luoyan's words, Wang Chong traveled slowly, leaving markers along the way. Before they had covered a hundred li, he spotted a small mountain hollow. According to the bandits, Yi Mofeng Dong Qing was hiding inside with his mounted band.
He did not advance any farther, but stayed where he was and meditated for over two hours under Su Luoyan's protection, intending to replenish his strength fully. After all, there would soon be fighting.
At nightfall, the clopping of hooves came from behind. Wang Chong leaped into the air, wheeled around, and landed, then said to Su Luoyan, "Sister Su, there's no need to worry this time. General Gan Ci has caught up with his men."
Gan Ci had already spotted Wang Chong. Each of his cavalrymen had two