Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

Dong! Dong! Dong!

For the first time, the sound of war drums echoed over the ramparts of Cangqi City. The sound sent a jolt of tension through the hearts of the women and children within the city, while the able-bodied laborers and the three hundred soldiers scrambled to the walls to take up defensive positions.

The so-called city wall was still the same camp wall constructed from black pine timber at the very beginning. The space between the two rows of wooden stakes had been packed solid with a massive amount of sand, soil, and rubble, making it quite sturdy. Its height had also been doubled, reaching a full two zhang. While it was incomparable to the massive walls of Yunyang Pass, it was more than enough to fend off common mountain bandits and brigands.

By the time Luo Yu and his men arrived at the wall, they saw a group of bandits gathered in the perimeter from afar. They were a dark, dense mass of at least two or three hundred people. Some were on horseback, others on foot, and the weapons they carried were a motley assortment—mostly common pudao, with the occasional long spears that looked like defective scraps discarded by the military.

“Bandits.”

Luo Yu’s lips quirked into a cold smile. It really was as Jun Mozhu guessed. The Yao family’s retaliation has arrived quite quickly.

A single rider galloped out from the bandit formation. The man on horseback shouted aloud:

“Liu Ban’er of Luan Shi Ling has long heard of the great name of City Lord Luo of Cangqi. I have come today specifically to pay a visit!”

“Paying a visit” was local bandit jargon. To put it politely, it meant meeting up to get acquainted; to put it bluntly, it was a show of force meant to intimidate.

“So, it’s the bandits from Luan Shi Ling.”

Having been in Cangqi for so long, Xiao Shaoyou had scouted the surrounding terrain and had a decent grasp of the situation.

“From Cangqi City to Fengchuan, one passes through a mass grave. Large and small boulders are strewn throughout the area, so the common folk call it Luan Shi Ling. I’ve heard a group of bandits has been entrenched there for a long time, living off robbery and plundering the common people. The ringleader had half an ear cut off by government troops in his younger years, so he gave himself the nickname Liu Ban’er.”

“A rabble.”

Luo Yu’s gaze sharpened, and he shouted coldly.

“I wonder what business Leader Liu has in my Cangqi City today?”

Liu Ban’er, sitting on his horse, wore a cheeky grin.

“First, City Lord Luo crushed the Qiang thieves at Yunyang Pass and kept the border secure. We are all border folk of Longxi, so we really ought to come and say a word of thanks, shouldn’t we? Second, a friend asked me to bring a message to City Lord Luo: the Sanqi Mountains are a land of good fortune, so you should just live your life well here. Don’t get involved in the affairs of Fengchuan City, lest you offend someone you shouldn’t.”

Everyone’s gaze turned icy. Did they even need to ask? It was undoubtedly Yao Ling and Du Gang, nursing their grudges and sending this pack of bandits to intimidate them.

Liu Ban’er turned his horse back toward the formation and arched an eyebrow at the man in dark, tight-fitting clothes beside him.

“Second brother, show them how it’s done.”

“Giddyap!”

The man in the tight-fitting clothes was young, barely in his twenties, but his face was like an iceberg, devoid of any expression. He rode out several dozen paces before pulling on his reins, cupping his fists, and shouting coldly.

“Yu Hangong of Luan Shi Ling greets all you heroes!

“Pardon my clumsiness!”

The man held a bow in one hand and pinched an arrow in the other, aiming from afar at the ramparts.

The crowd watched with curiosity. What was this man trying to do? This distance was well beyond the effective range of an ordinary archer.

Swoosh!

A sharp arrow whistled through the air, tracing an arc across the sky.

Cangqi did not yet have its own military banner, so the flag still flying was the “Qian” banner brought back from the border, snapping loudly in the wind. The arrow struck the flagpole dead center, tearing a small crack into the wooden stake.

The expressions of those on the wall shifted slightly. Both the archery skill and the force behind it were quite impressive.

Another arrow flew through the air, striking steadily in the exact same spot. The crack widened significantly. Even the look in Luo Yu’s eyes changed slightly at this.

The third arrow fell from the sky, piercing directly into the space between the first two. The powerful force spread rapidly along the original crack, instantly snapping the flagpole. The “Qian” banner drooped and fluttered down to the ground.

Hiss!

Everyone drew a sharp breath. At such a distance, all three arrows had landed in the exact same spot.

“Such powerful archery.”

Luo Yu shouted coldly, “Meng Hu!”

Meng Hu understood immediately. With a savage grin, he grabbed his spear and mounted his horse, galloping out of the city. His horse’s hooves kicked up a cloud of dust.

Yu Hangong remained calm and unhurried. He discarded his bow for his spear. He seemed slightly surprised by Meng Hu’s mountain-like, sturdy frame, but he cupped his fists.

“I have yet to ask for your name!”

Meng Hu brandished his long spear. “I advise you to be sensible and leave on your own. I don’t even know how many Qiang thieves have died by my hand. Don’t go losing your life here.”

“Quite a big mouth you have.”

Yu Hangong held his spear at a slant. “Want to try?”

“Hmph, you think I’m afraid of you?”

Meng Hu couldn’t be bothered with more talk. He thrust his spear forward directly. Yu Hangong clearly knew more than just archery; his horsemanship was also excellent. Without dodging or evading, he blocked the strike with his spear.

Dang!

A dull, heavy impact made Yu Hangong’s expression shift. Meng Hu’s raw, powerful force had exceeded his expectations.

“Yo, you can actually block a strike from your grandpa?”

Meng Hu was somewhat surprised and swung his spear again. Yu Hangong was also angered.

“Too arrogant! Take this!”

Dang! Dang! Dang!

The two men shifted and maneuvered on horseback, trading over a dozen blows. Although Meng Hu, with his brute strength, held the upper hand, Yu Hangong was always able to turn danger into safety and had not yet been defeated.

“To be able to trade blows with Meng Hu for so long without losing, his spear technique is already top-tier.”

Xiao Shaoyou was visibly surprised. “I never expected such a figure to emerge from a mere pack of bandits.”

Luo Yu’s eyes flickered, his attention entirely fixed on Yu Hangong.

Under another heavy strike from Meng Hu, Yu Hangong finally couldn’t hold on. His arms were numbed by the impact. He yanked his reins, turned, and fled, covering a dozen paces in the blink of an eye.

“Damn it, he runs fast!”

Meng Hu gripped his spear horizontally and spurred his horse. “You think you can run once you’re in my hands? Cangqi isn’t a place just anyone can come and trample on!”

One chasing, one fleeing, the two tall steeds ran at full tilt.

“Bad, it’s a trap!”

Luo Yu’s expression changed drastically, and he shouted urgently, “Don’t chase!”

From so far away, Meng Hu couldn’t hear Luo Yu’s shout. He had eyes only for the fleeing back of Yu Hangong, intent on teaching these bandits a lesson.

Suddenly, he saw the figure ahead turn around and flick his wrist, firing an arrow. The hair on Meng Hu’s body stood on end. He had no time to react and could only watch helplessly as the sharp arrow grazed his cheek, carving out a bloody scratch.

The wound was light and shallow, but blood still seeped out.

Meng Hu was stunned, frozen in place, not daring to move.

He was startled, but also confused.

This arrow should have been a killing blow. Why had this man shown mercy?

Dong, dong, dong!

The urgent sound of a gong signaled a retreat. Meng Hu didn’t have time to overthink it. After casting one last look at Yu Hangong, he reined his horse and returned, his neck already soaked in cold sweat.

Liu Ban’er frowned.

“Why didn’t you kill him? With your archery, at such close range, you couldn’t miss.”

Yu Hangong remained expressionless.

“He’s a hero who has killed Qiang thieves at the border. There’s no need to forge a blood feud. Besides, the Yao family’s demand was to ensure not a single jar of wine leaves Cangqi, not to kill anyone.”

“Fine, you’re always so stubborn.”

Liu Ban’er curled his lip and shouted angrily toward the city wall.

“City Lord Luo, from today on, don’t sell any more Sanguotou, or don’t blame us for being impolite!

“Let’s go!”

The hundreds of bandits roared away, leaving behind a Meng Hu with a face flushed in shame.

“Brother Yu, I’ve disgraced you.”

“Grow a brain next time! If he hadn’t shown mercy, you’d be a dead tiger right now!”

Luo Yu looked toward the departing figures, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

“Yu Hangong…”

Translator’s Note: Do you think Luo Yu is going to try to recruit him, or is this just the start of a long, bloody rivalry? Drop a comment, it genuinely keeps me going.

💝 Support the Team

possible odoabuchi

✍️ Translator

☕ Buy Me a Coffee