23 Hemp Bandits
"Warrior!"
Suddenly, a middle-aged man caught up from behind, cupped his hands and smiled as he greeted him.
Fang Zhixing turned his head to look at the man, who was wearing beast skin clothes, had a rugged face covered with stubble, and a hunting knife at his waist, clearly a bona fide hunter.
He spoke, "What do you want?"
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "I come from 'Little Calf Village.' I'm not a refugee. My companions and I are heading to the market to sell beast skins. I saw you in action just now, your blade skill was truly elegant, and I thought perhaps we could team up and travel together, help each other. What do you think?"
Fang Zhixing looked back and soon noticed a flat cart led by a yellow ox, piled with four large wooden boxes.
Around the cart were five men in beast skin clothes, the oldest among them had white hair and beard, his face marked with deep wrinkles.
Fang Zhixing didn't know these people and didn't want to invite trouble, so he flatly said, "Thank you for the invite, but no need."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man immediately said, "The mountain ahead is very chaotic. I've heard there are bandits and rioting robbers around; as a solo warrior, you might have trouble taking care of yourself."
Fang Zhixing was slightly stirred but still shook his head and said, "I have companions, we've just temporarily separated. It's better if we each go our own way."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man looked disappointed, but he did not insist further.
Thus, Fang Zhixing quickened his pace, leaving behind those hunters.
A moment later, he suddenly veered off the main path and entered the woods beside the road, quickly weaving through the trees.
"This should do."
Fang Zhixing stopped on the edge of a steep slope and looked around to ensure there was no danger.
He then took a pot out of a broken basket, gathered some firewood, and started a fire to cook.
Xigou kept watch around them, smacking his lips, savoring that particular taste.
Soon, the food was ready.
A man and his dog happily ate.
Xigou enjoyed the fragrant rice, but his mind kept revisiting another taste, suddenly finding the cured meat rice less appealing.
After filling up, Fang Zhixing resumed his journey, took a detour, then returned to the main road.
As he walked, a few shortsighted refugees tried to rob him and were swiftly cut down by him.
About two or three hours later, he looked up!
Fang Zhixing saw a great red mountain covered with maple forests, the autumn colors picturesque like a painting.
A group of refugees staggered, clambering up the mountain with difficulty.
Fang Zhixing took a deep breath, holding his bow and knife, blended into the crowd, and climbed up step by step.
"The bandits are coming!"
"Run, run!"
Just as the group reached midway up the slope, they heard shouting.
Suddenly, many people ran down from the mountain top, pushing and shoving, causing a large commotion.
A few people unfortunately fell, rolling down the slope, either hitting large trees or rolling down continuously.
In the chaos, a few seemingly pre-coordinated people suddenly rushed from all directions, seizing the opportunity to pounce on Fang Zhixing, Xigou, and the donkey.
"Be careful!"
Fang Zhixing was well-prepared. As he whispered, he drew his bow and shot two arrows, which buried into the chests of two men.
Then he drew his sword from its sheath, Unity of Man and Blade, the sword light flashed.
The blade turned, cutting into another man's arm.
Puff!
Suddenly, someone rushed to his back and wrapped their arms around him.
Fang Zhixing crouched on the ground, his muscles tensed, he exploded with strength, breaking free from the hold and counterattacked with a sword.
Before that man fell, Fang Zhixing sprang from the ground!
At the same time, Xigou woofed and howled, maneuvering swiftly. He darted under a man's feet and viciously bit into his ankle.
In the blink of an eye, bodies lay strewn around them, blood scattered everywhere, and wails filled the air.
"Who else is there!?"
Fang Zhixing stood with his sword, drenched in blood, glaring fiercely in all directions, his presence deterring foes far and wide.
Witnessing Fang Zhixing's formidable and ruthless prowess, a group of refugees poised to strike were chilled to the bone, shivering in fear, all of them backing off.
A refugee gritted his teeth and shouted, "Bullying us, the unarmed refugees, what kind of hero does that make you? If you dare, storm the mountaintop and kill those bandits."
Whoosh!
Fang Zhixing drew his bow and released the arrow in one fluid motion.
Thud!
The shouting man was pierced through the head by the arrow, falling straight down.
"Damn it, can't you see that I'm no noble hero!?"
Fang Zhixing licked his blood-stained lips.
All around him was as silent as death, and everyone dared not even breathe heavily, looking at Fang Zhixing with immense awe.
Suddenly, Fang Zhixing looked at someone and asked, "How many bandits are there on the mountaintop?"
The man, who was one of those who had run down from the mountaintop, replied, "I don't know. The bandits are hidden in the woods demanding a toll from everyone. Those who don't pay, they come out and kill, then disappear without a trace."
Fang Zhixing pondered upon hearing this.
"Brave sir, may I have a word?"
At that moment, a middle-aged man on the slope gestured to him.
Fang Zhixing looked up and recognized the man as the hunter from Xiaoniu Village he had met before.
He walked over.
The middle-aged man, looking at the blood-soaked Fang Zhixing, appeared slightly tense, made a welcoming gesture, and said with a fawning smile, "This way, please. Allow me to introduce you to a few friends."
Fang Zhixing saw three elders gathered under a large tree.
One was an elder from Xiaoniu Village, and the other two he had not met before.
The middle-aged man introduced them, "This is the chief of Shuiniu Village; he has come to the market to sell iron ore. This one is the village chief of Heiniu Village; he has a few carts of cotton urgently needing to be exchanged for grain."
The two elders nodded, having just witnessed Fang Zhixing's deadly rampage, their eyes involuntarily filled with both dread and respect.
Seeing their reaction, Fang Zhixing understood that they wanted to join forces to break through the bandits' blockade.
He asked, "How much do you know about these bandits?"
The chief of Shuiniu Village promptly replied, "Those on the mountain are just a mob of rioters banding together for robbery. They know this mountain is the only way to the Xiaoching River market, that's why they block the path here to rob everyone."
Fang Zhixing then asked, "And what do you plan to do?"
The three elderly leaders looked at each other, and the village chief of Xiaoniu spoke up, "Our plan is to first try talking to the bandit leader. If we cannot come to an agreement, we will force our way through."
Fang Zhixing agreed, "Alright, you go talk first. If the talks break down, I will join you in fighting your way through."
The expressions of the three elderly leaders tightened upon hearing this.
Actually, they had been hoping to bring Fang Zhixing along for the negotiations to embolden themselves.
But to their dismay, Fang Zhixing had already seen through their little scheme...
"Alright then!"
The three elderly leaders looked at one another, steeled themselves, and climbed up the mountaintop, shouting loudly, "Which one of you bandits is the leader? Come out and have a chat."
Amidst the red maple forest, the wind rustled through the leaves.