The Guards' Strength: A Complete Victory over the Bandits

Everyone had left, leaving only Uncle Dashan and Zhang Sheng in the open area.

"Eldest Son of the Zhang Family! What were you thinking? Wouldn't another person mean another share of strength? Why did you let some of them leave?"

"Uncle Dashan! There's no use forcing them to stay. Those people weren't of one mind with us at all.

"They might even sell us out one day, so I took this chance to see

"who really trusts us. That way, there won't be any traitors among us later."

"Mm! You thought it through better than I did. I was also a little angry that those people left. I feel like taking them in back then was a mistake."

"Don't be angry. After all, when faced with a choice between life and death, no one is selfless. You'll feel better once you understand that."

After comforting Uncle Dashan, Zhang Sheng began making arrangements for the next day. Lives were at stake, after all, so it was better to be careful.

Time passed in a tense atmosphere, and before they knew it, the next evening had arrived. After the villagers of Blue Silver Village had eaten,

all the young, able-bodied men, apart from the elderly, children, and women, had to take up their weapons and lie in ambush at designated spots. They were determined not to let a single bandit escape.

Zhang Sheng's side had long since finished its preparations. Weapons in hand, the young guards set off for the village entrance, looking spirited and imposing.

When the villagers spotted the group of youths, they looked surprised.

They didn't know where this elite squad had sprung from, but it looked as though they had come to help.

When they saw Zhang Sheng following behind, they immediately understood that he had brought them.

Their confidence surged back in an instant, and they felt that victory would surely be theirs this time.

Night soon fell. At that moment, on a hill five li outside Blue Silver Village,

a group of fierce-looking men were discussing something, their manner extremely arrogant.

"Chief! Blue Silver Village is just ahead. It really is wealthy. We're sure to make a rich haul this time."

"Third Brother! Did you find out whether there are any other forces there that we can't afford to provoke?"

"Big Brother! Don't worry! They're just a bunch of peasants. Who knows where they made their fortune to live so well.

"Big Brother, do you think that story about the treasure might really be true? Otherwise, it doesn't make sense!"

"Hmm...! Forget about the treasure for now. Once we get to the village, can't we just find someone and force the answer out of them? Tell the brothers to move out!"

"Whoo... whoo..."

At the bandit chief's command, the lackeys behind him immediately charged down the hillside and raced toward Blue Silver Village.

Over in Blue Silver Village, the bandits had already been spotted as they drew near. All that remained was to wait for them to fall into the trap.

"Clop, clop!"

"Up!"

"Ah..."

As the horse-tripping rope was pulled taut, the horses at the front immediately tripped and fell to the ground.

Those behind couldn't dodge in time and tumbled over them. Screams and whinnies filled the air, and for a time the scene was utter chaos.

"Kill!"

Zhang Sheng and his people paid no heed to the bandits' condition and immediately ordered a charge, giving them no time to react.

"Big Brother! We've been ambushed! What do we do now?"

"What do we do? Are we supposed to be afraid of them? If we don't wash them in blood today, how can we keep making a living in the greenwood? Tell the brothers to kill them!"

After the sneak attack, the bandits immediately began organizing a counterattack, but their hopes were all too rosy.

Only when they ran into Zhang Sheng's young guards did they realize they had met a tough opponent today.

Though the youths were young, every one of them was exceptionally skilled. Whether with spear or saber, their techniques were top-notch.

Before long, the bandits were driven back step by step, suffering heavy casualties.

"Big Brother! The brothers can't hold out much longer. We should retreat!"

"Second Brother! How are you?"

"I'm all right! Just a little wounded! Big Brother, if we don't leave now, it'll be too late!"

Just as they were about to retreat, a young female voice suddenly rang out:

"Bandits! Where do you think you're going? Take a hammer blow from your great-aunt!"

As the shout rang out, everyone present was stunned by the sight before them. A little loli

wielding a hammer taller than she was cut a bloody swath through the crowd.

Anyone grazed by the hammer was wounded; anyone struck by it was killed. In no time, fallen bandits lay all around her.

"B-Big Brother! Is she even human?"

"Let's retreat, quickly! The enemy is too strong!"

After seeing Lan Yun's violent display, the bandit chief was scared pale. No longer caring about anyone else, he turned and made to run.

But how could Zhang Sheng and the others let him go? They had been watching the chief for some time, so he hadn't run far before Zhang Sheng blocked his path.

"Where are you going? Since you've come, why are you so anxious to leave?"

"You brat! Get out of my way, or the saber in your grandpa's hand won't show you any mercy!"

"Then show me just how little mercy your saber has."

"You're courting death!"

"Clang!"

When the bandit swung his saber at Zhang Sheng, Zhang Sheng merely raised a hand and caught the blade between his fingers, stopping it from advancing an inch.

"This..."

Zhang Sheng's move gave the bandit chief a terrible fright. His eyes widened as though he had seen something terrifying.

"Crack!"

"Bang!"

Zhang Sheng didn't care whether he was afraid or not. He snapped the blade with his fingers, then raised his right foot and kicked.

The kick sent the bandit chief flying several meters, leaving him at death's door.

The other bandits were surrounded and wiped out by the guards and villagers. Not one escaped. This time, Zhang Sheng and his people had won a complete victory.

"Oh-ho! We won! We wiped out all the bandits!"

"Everyone, quiet down for a moment! Check whether anyone's hurt. If they are, treat them quickly so they don't suffer any lasting effects.

"And keep a close watch on the bandits we captured. Ask them where their hideout is."

Although Zhang Sheng was happy about the victory, this wasn't the time for celebration.

The scene still had to be cleaned up, after all, and the bodies needed to be buried or burned. Otherwise, a plague could easily spread.

With Zhang Sheng's instructions, everyone began checking for injuries and cleaning up. A few villagers had indeed been hurt, but fortunately, their injuries weren't serious.

They only needed a few days' rest to recover, and the others were mostly unharmed. With the guards holding the front line, the pressure on them had been much lighter.

As for the guards, they had truly made a name for themselves this time. Their relentless charges through the bandits had left the villagers dumbstruck.

Lan Yun was the most eye-catching of them all. When she appeared with her hammer, looking as though she could sweep across the world,

no one could have guessed that such tremendous strength was hidden inside her tiny body.

For a while, it was hard to accept, especially for the young men, who felt rather embarrassed.

"Master! How did I do today?"

"Uh! Good! Very good! Look, they're all admiring you!"

Seeing Lan Yun's face, so eager for praise, Zhang Sheng couldn't bring himself to dampen her enthusiasm and could only praise her.

But whenever he saw her, Zhang Sheng felt an inexplicable sense of incongruity.

"Sigh! What happened to the soft, adorable loli I was promised? She's practically becoming a female version of Li Yuanba."