Chapter 11

Alex led the group out of the Yangzhou Salt Merchant Guild, casting a quick glance back at Mr. Li and his entourage, who were leaving with Qin San. He then turned to Teng Qingshan and the others and said, "Uncle Yongfan, forget about the animal skins for now. Let's head straight out of the city!"

"Alex, we've come all this way. We can't just bring the animal skins back without selling them..." a tall man, Teng Yongjiang, glanced at the bundle in Alex's arms. "And with all the silver we got this time..."

The other hunters, hearing Teng Yongjiang, also looked eagerly at the bundle in Alex's arms.

"Father, listen to my cousin. We shouldn't stay in the city," Teng Qingshan urged, his past life as a top assassin giving him a keen sense of danger.

Teng Yongfan thought for a moment before decisively saying, "No more talking. Let's get out of the city and head back to the village!"

With Teng Yongfan's order, the clan members, though reluctant, quickly gathered their things and left Yicheng, heading towards the main road out of the city.

"Damn it!"

After Alex and his group had left, a man in black watched their hurried departure, his face turning grim. After a moment of brooding, he clenched his teeth and rushed towards the city gate.

...

About fifteen or sixteen miles outside Yicheng, on a small hill, Alex suddenly stopped. "Everyone, hold up!"

Teng Yongfan came to the front from the rear of the group. "Alex, what's the matter?"

"Qingshan, Uncle Yongfan, have everyone take the medicine we brought and gather some dry wood nearby. Make sure not to wander too far."

"Cousin!"

Teng Qingshan joined Alex, and following his direction, he looked towards a small mound not far away. His ears twitched, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes. "Qin San's men?"

On the mound, behind a cluster of dead weeds, a group of thugs was whispering with the man in black.

"Lao Lang, are you sure? Those people really have silver notes worth nineteen thousand taels?"

A brawny man with dark skin and bull-like eyes, wearing a black cotton robe and holding a thick-backed broadsword, revealed his hairy chest. He was the leader of this band of thugs.

The man in black remained silent, while a man with triangular eyes beside him whispered, "Don't worry, boss. It's confirmed. Lao Lang is here himself, there's no mistake."

"Hmph! We'll see!" The thug leader snorted, then turned to his men, "Get ready. Wait until they get closer, and when I give the order, shoot them all. Once we get the silver, we're off to the brothel!"

The thugs grinned, their eyes gleaming with a predatory light.

...

"Is everyone ready?"

Alex pulled out a large bundle of dried vines from his pack and then took out a pouch of powdered substances. The system had indeed proven useful, enabling Alex to develop various uses for many common plants in the mountains.

"We're ready!"

Teng Yongfan and the others nodded, then the group left the road, sprinting towards a small hill. This spot was over a hundred meters away from the sand dunes, out of the effective range of most bows.

"Damn it!" The thug leader saw this and his face darkened. "Those hunters spotted us."

"What do we do now, boss?" the man with triangular eyes asked anxiously. The man in black also looked worried.

"What else?"

The thug leader's face twisted with rage, "We have over a hundred men. Are we afraid of them? Get ready to charge. Archers, shoot them down when we get closer. Kill them all!"

"Kill!"

A fierce shout erupted from behind the mound as the brawny leader charged forward with his broadsword, followed by a horde of men, charging like wolves towards the Teng Family's position.

"Attack!"

Teng Yongfan shouted. Though their hill wasn't high, it provided a defensive advantage.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Arrows rained down from above, killing three of the bandits. However, the distance was far, and there were only twelve archers.

"Qingshan!"

Alex shouted to Teng Qingshan, who immediately sprinted towards the bandits like a blur.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Teng Qingshan's speed was extraordinary. He weaved through the first wave of arrows, unscathed, and plunged into the throng of bandits. His eyes locked onto the thug leader, and his spear flashed like a dragon. In moments, he had covered five meters and thirteen bandits fell, each with their throats pierced.

"Shoot him!"

A youthful voice shouted desperately.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Arrows flew like locusts towards Teng Qingshan.

Seeing this, Teng Yongfan, Teng Qinghu, and the others panicked. Teng Yongjiang shouted, "They're surrounding Qingshan! Let's charge!"

"Stop!"

Alex shouted, "Qingshan can handle it. If you really want to help, get the fire started!"

"Hurry!"

Hearing this, Teng Yongfan left a few archers to keep shooting while the others helped Alex set up the fire pit. With seventeen people working together, the fire was quickly prepared.

"Just in time!"

Alex checked the wind direction with a blade of grass. A gentle breeze blew towards the bandits. By now, some bandits were within twenty meters of the hill.

As the bandits approached, Alex threw a lit torch onto the fire pit. With the help of flammable materials, a column of fire shot up, and tendrils of strange yellow smoke began to rise.

As the fire grew, more yellow smoke engulfed the hill and spread towards the bandits.

"Cover your noses with wet cloths. Once the smoke clears, charge!"

Alex covered his nose with a wet cloth and drew his hunting knife.

"Charge!"

Alex led the charge to support Teng Qingshan.

"Kill!"

The men of the Teng family, their eyes red with fury, followed.

Their training from a young age paid off as they quickly formed a battle formation. Spears bristled like a forest, thrusting towards the incoming bandits.