Three Bandit Chief's Wives

On Black Wind Mountain, the Gathering Hall reeked of pungent beef tallow, mixed with the stink of sweat.

Chen Fan hated being there, so he headed for the stone chamber behind the hall.

He had been Black Wind Baleful Intent for quite a few days now, and life on the mountain was hard, even harder than his time at the Daoist temple.

It was nothing like the life he'd led as Zhao Long.

The only comfort Chen Fan found lay in the bandit chief's wives.

The passage was deep and secluded, completely shutting out the clamor outside.

He pushed open the heavy door.

The stone chamber looked exactly as Black Wind Baleful Intent's dwelling did in his memories.

Yun Niang was sitting by the bed. At the sound, she instinctively flinched, but still rose to her feet and lowered her head.

"Chief."

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

Two other women stood beside her.

One wore a tight, fiery-red gown that showed off her voluptuous figure. Her peach-blossom eyes roamed boldly up and down Chen Fan, and she exuded a wild allure.

The other wore a gauzy green blouse. Slender and graceful, she held a round fan that half concealed her face, leaving only a pair of limpid eyes visible, bright and expressive as they glanced about.

These were Black Wind Baleful Intent's other two wives, Hong'e and Cuiqiao.

"Chief, your killing aura is so strong today. Even from far away, this little sister's heart was trembling."

Hong'e swayed her hips as she approached, reaching out a fair, delicate finger to touch Chen Fan's chest.

Chen Fan didn't dodge.

The strength of this body gave him confidence.

The moment Hong'e's finger touched him, she felt the explosive power hidden beneath his muscles. She gave a lovestruck giggle, pressing herself almost against him.

"Chief, did killing someone leave you all hot and bothered? Want this little sister to help you cool off?"

Her breath was fragrant as orchids, her words brazen and explicit.

Beside them, Cuiqiao came gliding over, waving her round fan. She tapped Chen Fan lightly on the shoulder with it.

"Sister Hong'e, you're so impatient. The chief has just come back from down the mountain and must be tired from the journey. He should bathe and change first."

As she spoke, her eyes curved into crescents.

"This little sister has already prepared hot water. I'm just waiting for you, Chief."

One was passionate as fire, the other tender as water, and they worked together without a single seam.

Compared with the wives at the Zhao residence, they were far more wanton.

Of Zhao Long's three wives, one was as cold as ice, while the other two meekly accepted whatever came their way.

The women before him, though, were true enchantresses.

Chen Fan grinned and copied Black Wind Baleful Intent's rough manner, wrapping one arm around Hong'e's waist and hooking his other hand under Cuiqiao's chin.

"You two really know what I want."

He felt their softness beneath his hands.

Mm, this is mainly to get used to my new identity.

I don't particularly like this sort of thing. I have no choice but to do it to get used to my identity.

That's right!

Yun Niang watched from the side and silently lowered her head, as though she had long grown used to such scenes.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the stone door, followed by a rough shout.

"Chief! Chief!"

Bang! One of his men was pounding on the door.

"Get lost!"

Hong'e was nestled against Chen Fan, and the interruption made her slender brows shoot up as she snapped at the man.

"Who the fuck told you to come here and disturb the chief? Don't you know the rules?!"

The bandit shuddered at the scolding and stopped knocking, but he kept shouting.

"Chief! Word from down the mountain! The county yamen... the county yamen has gathered all its county soldiers, more than five hundred of them! They're heading for our Black Wind Mountain!"

He got it all out in one breath, his voice filled with panic.

"They say... they say they're coming to avenge that Zhao Household brat!"

The atmosphere in the stone chamber turned cold in an instant.

The seductive smiles on Hong'e's and Cuiqiao's faces froze.

Five hundred county soldiers!

This was no joke!

Even counting every last one, Qinghe County had only that many soldiers. They had sent out the whole nest!

Chen Fan released the two women in his arms, his expression betraying no emotion.

He was a little annoyed.

He had just been about to enjoy life a little, and someone had come to interrupt him.

"Got it."

He uttered the words, then turned and walked out of the stone chamber.

Hong'e and Cuiqiao exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of worry in the other's eyes.

The Gathering Hall.

The second chief, Iron-Armed Monkey, and the third chief, Smiling Tiger, were already waiting there.

One was small and wiry, with a sinister gaze.

The other was fat-faced and big-eared, with a knife hidden behind his smile.

When Chen Fan came out, both men immediately went to meet him.

"Big Brother!"

"Chief!"

Chen Fan walked over to the main seat and sat down in the large tiger-skin chair, planting the ghost-head saber heavily on the ground.

"Thud!"

The whole cave seemed to tremble.

"What are you panicking for?"

He swept a glance over the bandit leaders below, each wearing a different expression.

Iron-Armed Monkey let out a "heh," baring a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Big Brother's right! A mere five hundred county soldiers, a bunch of wine bags and rice sacks. What is there to panic about?"

He thumped his chest, full of disdain.

"Last time the county commandant brought three hundred men, didn't they just wander around outside the mountain for three days and go back without daring to let out a fart?"

The third chief, Smiling Tiger, shook his enormous head and chimed in with a chuckle.

"Exactly, exactly. Those county soldiers are nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs, good to look at but useless in a fight. If it really comes to blows, there won't be enough of them to fill the gaps between our brothers' teeth."

He narrowed his eyes, calculating. "But they have numbers. If we meet them head-on, our brothers will take losses too. It isn't worth it."

Chen Fan looked at the two men.

One was arrogant, the other shrewd.

In Black Wind Baleful Intent's memories, these two really were his right and left arms.

"Let's hear it. How should we fight?"

Chen Fan tossed the question back to them.

He was the bandit chief now. He only needed to give orders, not use his brain.

Iron-Armed Monkey spoke first, his face alight with bloodthirsty excitement.

"Why fight them head-on? Big Brother, I say we set an ambush at One-Line Sky! Once they're inside, we'll send rocks and logs crashing down on them. I guarantee none of them will come back out!"

"Then I'll take a squad of brothers around the back of the mountain and cut off their retreat! I'll bring that damned county commandant's head back for you to use as a chamber pot, Big Brother!"

Smiling Tiger shook his head.

"Second Brother, I'm afraid you're mistaken. One-Line Sky may be a dangerous pass, but Zhao De is dead set on revenge this time. He'll certainly be prepared. Meeting them head-on isn't the best plan."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Chief, in my humble opinion, we'd be better off... holding our ground and staying put."

"Black Wind Mountain's terrain is treacherous, and there's only one road up. As long as we hold the mountain pass, never mind five hundred men-even five thousand can forget about fighting their way up!"

"We have enough food and water on the mountain to last three months. Once their provisions run out and their fighting spirit fades, they'll naturally withdraw."

One advocated taking the initiative, the other holding fast and waiting for reinforcements.

The bandit leaders in the cave split into two camps and began chattering and arguing.

Chen Fan said nothing, simply listening in silence.

He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the tiger-skin armrest.

Only after a long while did the arguments in the cave gradually die down.

Everyone's eyes converged on him, waiting for his final decision.

Chen Fan stood up.

"We'll do as Second Brother said."

His words were crisp and decisive.

Iron-Armed Monkey was overjoyed.

"Wise decision, Big Brother!"

Smiling Tiger's fat face fell, but he didn't dare say much.

Chen Fan paid no attention to their reactions. He hoisted the ghost-head saber over his shoulder and headed for the rear hall.

"You two can discuss how to handle the rest."

"Don't let those soldiers disturb my sleep."

His retreating figure vanished into the darkness of the passage.

In the Gathering Hall, a group of bandits were left staring at one another.

Iron-Armed Monkey and Smiling Tiger exchanged a glance, the former looking smug, the latter worried.

Chen Fan, meanwhile, had already pushed open the stone door behind the hall.

Hong'e and Cuiqiao were waiting anxiously at the entrance. Seeing him return, they hurried over to meet him.

"Chief, how did it go?"

Chen Fan didn't answer.

He simply reached out and once again gathered the two warm, fragrant, soft-as-jade bodies into his arms.

"Even if the sky falls, it can wait until I've had my fun."

He smiled faintly, scooped both women up around their waists, and carried them toward the broad stone bed.

He kicked the door heavily shut behind him.

Outside the door, a rain of blood and a wind of slaughter were on their way.

Inside, all that remained were irrepressible gasps and the women's coquettish laughter.

Cuiqiao had been tossed onto the bed, her clothes half undone. Gasping for breath, she hooked a finger around Chen Fan's neck.

"Chief, aren't you afraid... that Zhao De really will fight his way up the mountain?"