Upon returning to the estate, Zhang Hu stared at the nearly depleted silver reserves in the general's ledger, his anxiety mounting. The coming-of-age ceremony for the general was just a month away, and the wedding half a year later—both required substantial funds. Not to mention, there was still the dowry to prepare.
Beside him, Xiao Zheng showed no trace of urgency, calmly polishing his blade. The cold glint of the metal under his meticulous care only accentuated his stern demeanor.
"General," Zhang Hu hesitated before mustering the courage to speak, "Do you have any vacant positions under your command? Perhaps we could... discreetly arrange something?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Zhang Hu sensed the shift in the air. He stole a glance at Xiao Zheng, only to meet a frigid glare that instantly choked off the rest of his sentence. He clamped his mouth shut.
Xiao Zheng sheathed his blade with a sharp shing, his tone laced with warning. "Zhang Hu, you dare entertain such thoughts? Seems like you’d rather reminisce with the boys downstairs, hm?"
Zhang Hu shook his head vigorously.
"Not at all, sir!"
Xiao Zheng shot him a sidelong glance.
"I have a plan for the silver. Don’t do anything reckless—if you get into trouble, I won’t bail you out. Take it easy for a few days. Soon, I’ll take you to earn some money."
"How? Street performances with chest-breaking stunts?"
Thud!
Zhang Hu rubbed his sore backside as he stood up, dusting off his clothes with a grumble. "No need to be so rough..."
With that, he sauntered out alone to fetch some wine.
"Brother Hu!! You’re finally back!!"
Li Tie reined in his horse and dismounted in one swift motion, his voice brimming with excitement as he caught sight of Zhang Hu’s empty sleeve.
Zhang Hu turned at the call, his face lighting up with a grin when he recognized Li Tie.
"Well, well, if it isn’t Ironhead! Look at you, all dressed up like a proper gentleman! Serving the general must’ve polished you up nicely—quite the impressive sight!"
Li Tie scratched his head sheepishly at the praise, chuckling. But his smile froze as he suddenly remembered urgent business, his expression turning grave.
"Brother Hu, urgent news! I must report to the general immediately. Wait here for me!"
Zhang Hu waved him off, motioning for him to hurry inside while he leisurely strolled to the steps and plopped down, crossing his legs with ease.
Before long, Xiao Zheng emerged clad in black armor.
"Zhang Hu, follow me!"
Zhang Hu, who had been half-dozing on the steps, snapped to attention at the command, his eyes blazing with energy.
In one fluid motion, he sprang to his feet and bellowed, "Aye, sir!"
Then, with a nimble leap onto his horse, he shot Li Tie a triumphant smirk.
Nightfall at the foot of Tianlang Mountain.
Xiao Zheng stood in black stealth attire, arms crossed, as a group of proud young subordinates encircled him, rapidly relaying their scouting reports.
Zhang Hu clicked his tongue, eyeing the jade-inlaid scabbards at the waists of the officers. He nudged Li Tie and whispered teasingly,
"So the general’s money-making scheme is looting bandit dens? Though, I see quite a few young masters among his ranks."
He glanced back at the fifty eager young soldiers, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Think those jade ornaments will survive the night?"
Li Tie lowered his voice.
"These fifty are the Left Army’s finest, all from influential families. Especially Liu Qian—he’s a tough one."
"And the Right Army?"
"They’re assigned to raid another stronghold tomorrow."
"Ah, a competition." No wonder these pups are so fired up.
Xiao Zheng listened to the intel gathered over the past few days and nodded.
"Tonight, I’m only overseeing and keeping time. I won’t intervene unless absolutely necessary. But if I do—"
"General, rest assured, we won’t give you the chance! We’ll crush the Right Army’s brats so hard they’ll beg for mercy!"
The speaker was Liu Qian, youngest son of Marquis Wuxing. His mother, the marquis’s second wife, meant he stood to inherit little under primogeniture. Unwilling to settle for a meager allowance, he’d enlisted to carve out his own future—a rare ruthless type, though Xiao Zheng had tamed him after a few clashes.
"One last rule: no revealing your identities."
"Yes, sir!"
The pack of wolves, honed by rigorous training, buzzed with excitement for this covert mission. Masks secured, they melted into the night.
Zhang Hu and Li Tie exchanged grins before tailing them.
Tianlang Stronghold, flickering with candlelight.
The bald-headed bandit chief sat at the head of the hall, tearing into mutton with one hand and gulping wine from a bowl with the other.
"Long live the Chief!!"
His underlings roared in drunken revelry.
"Damn it!! Today’s haul was a beauty!! Enough to last us half a year!!"
"Drink up!"
"Those women we snatched—one’s a scholar’s wife!! Hah!! Lucky our Chief gets first pick!!"
"Fate smiled on her, tagging along with that merchant convoy to the capital! Hahaha!"
Hidden behind a boulder, Xiao Zheng scanned the surroundings. All five watchtowers were manned.
Liu Qian’s plan was to neutralize the sentries during shift changes. Teams were already creeping toward the east and west towers.
"Where the hell are San Diao and the others? Shift’s over! If they don’t show, we’re finishing this feast without ’em!"
"One-Eye, quit stuffing your face! Go check!"
A short, foul-mouthed man gnawing on a rib stomped out of the hall, grumbling as he trudged toward the watchtower.
"Hey! Where’s San Diao?!"
The sentry glanced down at the corpse at his feet, the stench of blood mingling with alcohol in the air.
"How the hell should I know?! Lazy bastards!"
One-Eye paused, then spat,
"You’re drunk off your ass! Drinking on duty—Third Boss’ll flay you alive!"
"Useless rats! Can’t even show up for free food! Screw ’em!"
Liu Qian exhaled in relief, whispering to Xiao Zheng,
"Thank heavens that lad’s quick-witted."
Xiao Zheng gave him a meaningful look.
"You’ve been compromised."
Liu Qian opened his mouth to protest—
"INTRUDERS!! SOUND THE ALARM!!"
One-Eye’s scream echoed as he bolted back toward the hall.
Liu Qian’s face paled, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"What are you standing around for? You're the commander—your men are waiting for your orders!"
Xiao Zheng kicked the man in front of him, and Liu Qian gritted his teeth.
"Fire the arrows!!"
Flaming arrows streaked across the night sky, raining down on the bandit stronghold. In an instant, the wooden eaves burst into flames, thick smoke billowing upward as embers scattered in all directions.
Inside the main hall, the bandits—caught in the middle of drinking and revelry—descended into chaos. Wine jars toppled, spilling liquor that mixed with the burning oil, feeding the flames until they roared even fiercer.
The bandit chief overturned a table with a single kick, snatched up his nine-ringed broadsword, and charged outside. The rest of the outlaws grabbed their weapons and followed.
"Who dares attack our Sky Wolf Stronghold?!"
The chief’s roar boomed like thunder. His bare torso, covered in gruesome scars, gleamed menacingly in the firelight.
Liu Qian crouched on a tree branch just beyond the stockade wall, holding his breath. Slowly, he drew back his bowstring, the arrowhead aimed straight for the chief’s throat.
"Whoosh—"
The arrow sliced through the air with a sharp whistle. The chief seemed to sense it—his head jerked aside just in time. The projectile grazed his ear, sending droplets of blood flying.
"Ambush ahead!" The chief clutched his ear, eyes blazing with fury. "Kill them! Bring me their heads, and I’ll reward you handsomely!"
The bandits scattered, charging forward recklessly. Liu Qian cursed under his breath. The stronghold was nestled halfway up the mountain, with little room to maneuver. If they fired another volley now, it’d be too late.
"Switch to blades!! Meet them head-on!"
With that, he led the charge straight into the fray.
