[Wuxia] Hunting Beauties in the Qin Dynasty (Complete) - 6

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Unparalleled Fortune
Update Time: 4-30 7:52:11 Words: 3196

Tianxiang Tower, Long Lin was diligently plowing the woman named Ziwei. His mind, however, was preoccupied with what had just happened.
Just moments ago, this woman had suddenly become possessed, uttering words that astonished Long Lin, words he himself found hard to believe.
This world had its own laws, and Long Lin, with his current power, couldn't change anything. The woman even mocked Long Lin, saying that his musket and thunderbolts were mere child's play, utterly incapable of turning the tide.
When Long Lin asked her who she was and what her relationship was with the heroine of Dangshan, the woman shuddered and regained her senses.
Her name wasn't Qing'er at all, but Ziwei, a fact Long Lin had confirmed through the outside world.
"Ah… Big Brother… Ah…"
Ziwei's cries were melodious, but they held little interest for Long Lin.
Qing'er, Mu Wanxin, the heroine of Dangshan, the goddess beside the Azure Emperor—these voices and faces intertwined, yet always seemed to converge in a strange, incongruous way.
The sound of hooves echoed, footsteps echoed, the path stretching deep into the mountains.
Liu Bang and Fan Kuai were still discussing their enjoyable night with the girls at Tianxiang Tower, while Long Lin remained preoccupied with the strange events of the previous day. Gradually, he realized that his bizarre journey through the Five Emperors Bell to this place, almost by accident, had led him to Liu Family Village. Everything that followed had gone remarkably smoothly; even the attack on Wolf Head Ridge, which he feared most, and the most formidable enemy, the White-Eyed Wolf, had been killed by the heroine of Dangshan. Later, he had even miraculously saved her.
If everything was a coincidence, then the appearance of the heroine of Dangshan must have been. He had used her refusal to meet with officials as the reason for her abrupt departure. But this reason seemed insufficient.
Throughout Pei County, every pavilion and every branch of the search party was openly and secretly looking for her, but she remained elusive.
He had even asked Liu Bang why there was a goddess enshrined in the Temple of the Four Emperors. Liu Bang said it was impossible. He then asked about the goddess statue next to the Green Emperor, and Liu Bang said he had never seen it!
"Damn, am I seeing a ghost?"
Long Lin cursed unconsciously as he rode his horse.
"Master... what ghost?"
Chang Tianba rode up and asked Long Lin seriously, as if he were a general who could exorcise and catch ghosts.
Long Lin smiled calmly, "No ghost, I'm cursing this damn weather!" There was no need for others to know these things.
Chang Tianba looked up and cursed as well, "What damn weather! It was unbearably hot just now, and now it's about to rain!"
Only then did Long Lin notice that dark clouds had rolled in the sky, and the previously sultry wind had become cool. In Long Lin's experience, a thunderstorm was coming within half an hour.
"Damn it, it's raining again! The roads are difficult to travel, and if we're late, we'll be punished!"
Liu Bang cursed, looking up at the sky. He then ordered his men to find high ground and set up camp to avoid getting wet and sick.
Previously, they didn't have the concept of setting up camp; even in heavy snow and rain, they would camp outdoors. If they reached a market town, they could find shelter;
otherwise, they had to endure the rain. Often, only about two-thirds of the hundreds of convicts would reach Xianyang. Fortunately, the Qin Dynasty didn't care much about the lives of the convicts; if a convict died, the escorts wouldn't be held responsible.
However, if the convict recruitment quota wasn't met, the punishment was extremely severe, and the escorts would also become convicts and slaves.
Three village chiefs had never returned because too many convicts escaped along the way, preventing them from collecting the required number. Liu Bang, however, wasn't so unlucky. He treated the convicts well, and he was also lucky enough to successfully complete several missions, earning substantial rewards.
However, he hadn't expected to encounter such a devastating downpour.
Although he was escorting half again as many prisoners as the actual number, things were unpredictable; ahead lay treacherous, deep mountains and marshes, where death was commonplace.
Tents were erected one after another, and five hundred men crammed into more than twenty tents, munching on compressed biscuits.
"Luckily, Master was prepared in advance, providing these cloth tents and this dry rations, otherwise we would have been in trouble!"
Eagle Eye said with a smile as he gathered the firewood the prisoners had carried and lit it.
Long Lin smiled faintly, saying nothing. To him, these were perfectly normal occurrences. As the leader of a mercenary group, if he couldn't even think of these things, wouldn't he have lived in vain?
In fact, Long Lin had put a lot of thought into how to deliver these prisoners safely to Xianyang. Although he said this might be a good opportunity before Liu Bang rose to power, the historical records didn't specify the exact date, and it was still unknown whether Liu Bang had started his uprising in Dangshan during this prisoner escort. He had still prepared everything.
Of course, Long Lin in the Qin Dynasty couldn't find any high-grade materials to make tents. He soaked coarse cloth in tung oil, dried it, and then sewed it up. It wouldn't get wet, which was decent, much better than nothing.
The compressed biscuits weren't the same as the field rations Long Lin used in modern times. Modern combat rations are carelessly formulated by nutritionists; a small piece can sustain a normal person's energy for a day.
Of course, there wasn't such a nutritionist in Liu Family Village. However, Long Lin did manage to stir-fry rice and flour until soft, add steamed vegetables and cooked meat, press them together using a mold, and dry them. He could eat them by holding them in his mouth or soaking them in water .
No matter how unpalatable, it was better than starving.
Outside the tent, the rain poured down. Eagle Eye, who had just sent someone to light a fire, played dice with several prison guards, using the compressed biscuits as stakes. With Eagle Eye's keen eyesight, he naturally won every time.
The rain fell all night, and the next day, Long Lin, Liu Bang, and the others set off. After crossing the mountains, they faced an endless expanse of muddy swamps.
After traveling for more than ten days, nine convicts died from malaria due to the damp weather. Then, thirteen more convicts attempted to escape but were captured and torn to pieces by Long Lin and his men.
It was also Liu Bang's bad luck; since the first rain, there had been a torrential downpour almost every other day. The roads were washed away, and the muddy paths were extremely difficult to traverse. Upon reaching the swamp, a bout of malaria killed over a hundred of the five hundred convicts overnight.
"Damn it, we're doomed this time!"
Liu Bang cursed, patting the food sack on his horse. Based on a month's journey and the amount of food they carried, a month had already passed, but they had only covered a third of the distance.
With the food gone, the remaining four hundred convicts would travel even slower, and the death toll would rise even higher—this was obvious. Unless a miracle occurred, and the weather cleared, allowing them to cross this deadly swamp as quickly as possible.
Taking advantage of a lull in the rain, Fan Kuai slaughtered a horse. He was a butcher, and his Heavenly Fiend Blade was extremely sharp, so he dismembered the horse with remarkable efficiency, not even wasting a drop of blood.
Four hundred people sharing a single horse weighing over a thousand catties would only provide enough rations for four days, no matter how frugal they were. Liu Bang's brow remained furrowed. However, Long Lin offered him an idea: let the convicts escape, but not too many.
"Releasing convicts is a capital offense!"
Liu Bang chewed on a compressed biscuit, the veins in his neck throbbing.
Long Lin smiled slightly, "At this rate, most of them will starve to death sooner or later. It's better to give them a chance to live! As long as there are two hundred or so left, we can report back."
He had already keenly sensed that this might be Liu Bang's calamity, but also the crucial opportunity that would propel him to power. Because beyond this swamp lay Dangshan.
Liu Bang had first slain the snake and joined the outlaws at Dangshan before his uprising, as clearly stated in history. Long Lin kept this firmly in mind. Therefore, he didn't consider releasing the convicts a crime.
"If they all die, we might not be able to get out ourselves! We can't kill the horses anymore; in this awful weather, they're our lifeline!"
Long Lin threatened Liu Bang again. Even the most shameless Liu Bang couldn't laugh at such a life-or-death situation. After a long silence, he finally nodded in agreement.
That night, while the convicts slept, Long Lin and Ying Tong sneaked into a tent and quietly cut the ropes binding more than a dozen men.
"The ropes are broken! Run!"
Before dawn the next day, a shout rang out from the tent, and more than fifty men rushed out and fled in all directions.
Long Lin and Liu Bang were already waiting there, and immediately mounted their horses to give chase. It was more of a kill-and-run than a pursuit; after killing a dozen or so, they let the faster ones escape once they had gone some distance. Of
the five hundred convicts, only three hundred and fifty remained. The food problem was partially solved; the horse's meat should be enough to sustain them through the swamp.
Moreover, with Liu Bang's tacit approval, Long Lin repeated the trick on the third night, releasing another fifty-odd people.
The fewer convicts there were, the easier it was for Long Lin and his men, and the faster they could travel. However, some of the old and weak still perished. When they reached Dangshan, the number of convicts was exactly what Long Lin had predicted—the exact number needed.
"Damn it, I hope no one dies on the rest of the journey, or we're doomed!"
Liu Bang had no choice but to pray to Heaven.
Perhaps Heaven was moved by Liu Bang's words, for the rain stopped as soon as they entered Dangshan. From the swamp to Dangshan, not a single person died.
Dangxian was the only large city within a hundred li (approximately 50 kilometers) of surrounding area. Liu Bang planned to rest there temporarily, gather supplies
, and then set off again. He had brought a considerable amount of money with him, but aside from spending some in Rongyang Town, he hadn't really used it much. He threw five hundred strings of cash directly into the largest inn in Dangxian, settling over two hundred convicts and preparing half a month's worth of carriages, horses, and provisions. The five of them went directly to Chunhua Brothel, the largest establishment in Dangxian.
The past twenty-odd days had driven them nearly mad with loneliness. Long Lin then realized that women were truly strange creatures—too many were a nuisance, too few were unbearable, and being without one was unbearable.
For three whole days, Liu Bang indulged himself, whether to relieve pressure or an explosion of pent-up emotions after days of suppression, it was unclear!
However, as he left Chunhua Brothel, Long Lin had a bad feeling. He hadn't expected that his joy would turn to sorrow so quickly...

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Misfortunes Never Come
Alone (Updated: 5-1 6:29:39, 4418 words)

Ten miles outside Dang County, there was a rocky slope.
Two groups of people were already standing on it. One group was the more than two hundred convicts being escorted by Liu Bang and Long Lin; the other group was a band of mountain bandits wielding sharp weapons and with ferocious faces.
"Damn it, don't you know who I am? I'm Liu Bang, the one who fought his way through Wolf Head Ridge and flattened Stone Mountain!"
Liu Bang's anger flared immediately upon seeing the band of commoners and mountain bandits. Attacking a procession of prisoners will be treated as robbery, a capital offense. They dare to cause trouble so close to Dang County; they've got some nerve!
"Damn it, I don't care if you're Liu Bang or Qu Bang. Since you're on my turf, don't say I don't respect you. Leave your toll and leave peacefully, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Among the bandits, a burly man with a full beard, wielding a giant wolf-tooth club, stood arrogantly on a large rock.
"Where are you from? Dare to state your name?"
Liu Bang, a seasoned traveler, naturally wouldn't back down easily and immediately asked.
"Dangshan Buried Sword Valley, our leader is called Chen Yu, Ten-Zhang Red. If you've got the guts, come to the mountain with my head and let's see!"
The bearded man was incredibly arrogant, showing no sign of backing down.
"Second Brother, why waste time arguing with them? Kill them!"
Fan Kuai's eyes were bloodshot, his Heavenly Fiend Blade gleaming coldly, his killing intent filling the air.
Liu Bang, seeing the enemy's overwhelming numbers and his own side with only five capable fighters, didn't want to resort to force. He wanted to settle things peacefully, even if it meant getting some money. He stopped Fan Kuai and asked the bandits, "How much is the toll?"
Long Lin, observing coldly from the side, judged that these bandits had likely scouted the area beforehand and wouldn't give up easily. He gave Chang Tianba and Ying Tong a wink, and they secretly loaded their pistols, ready to strike first if the fight broke out.
The bandits laughed wildly, "Ten strings of cash per person, not a single string less! You've already spent a thousand strings at the Spring Flower Brothel, so it shouldn't be difficult for you to come up with a little more!"
Liu Bang's face darkened; clearly, these bandits had already scouted the area!
Just then, a muffled thud was heard, and a puff of smoke rose
from the bayonet in Long Lin's hand. The bearded man who had been riding a horse moments before screamed in agony, his body riddled with bullets, blood streaming from his seven orifices, before he collapsed from his horse.
"Second Master! Damn it, kill him!"
The bandits beside the bearded man, seeing him fall dead, were filled with grief and rage, shouting and charging forward, brandishing their swords.
Bang, bang, bang...
five muffled thuds followed, and five bandits fell in front of them. However, a hail of arrows immediately followed, like locusts.
Long Lin and his men used their weapons to deflect the arrows, but the enslaved convicts, strung together, suffered greatly. They had no way to run or dodge, and dozens were immediately wounded by the arrows.
"Eagle Eye, cover! Tianba, charge!"
Seeing the situation was dire, Long Lin shouted, spurring his horse forward. Without even aiming, he fired three shots with his bayonet, the scattering bullets instantly killing or wounding over a hundred bandits.
The bandits, stunned by the massive casualties inflicted by Long Lin's three shots, slowed their charge. Long Lin, on horseback, leaped into the midst of the bandits, his bayonet flashing, instantly disemboweling several men.
Liu Bang, Fan Kuai, and Chang Tianba also shouted, each wielding their weapons and charging forward. Their sharp weapons were impervious to the bandits' swords and spears; in a single charge, more than ten corpses were left behind, forming a bloody path.
"Brothers, scatter! Kill those convicts!"
Seeing the ferocity of Long Lin and his men, one of the bandits shouted, and many abandoned their fight with Long Lin and rushed towards the convicts.
Bound by ropes, the convicts had no chance of escape and were powerless to resist; more than thirty more died instantly under the bandits' hacking and slashing.
"Damn it, it's over! Kill!"
These convicts were the lifeblood of Liu Bang and his men; their deaths were tantamount to killing several of them. Seeing this, Liu Bang roared, his eyes bloodshot, and his Soul-Separating Sword flashed, instantly killing two bandits who were fighting him.
"Retreat!"
The bandits killed dozens more convicts, then with a shout, they spurred their horses and galloped into the distant mountains, disappearing in a few breaths, leaving only forty-odd corpses behind.
Liu Bang and his men gave chase once, but because they were unfamiliar with the route and feared an ambush, they didn't pursue further.
"Second Brother, what do we do now?"
Seeing the remaining hundred or so convicts, Fan Kuai's heart skipped a beat, and even his usually domineering face showed a hint of sorrow.
Liu Bang's face instantly turned ashen, and Long Lin was speechless. He suddenly recalled the feeling of the Tyrannosaurus Mercenary Group's complete annihilation. That pain was a pain to the very core of his being.
Of course, these convicts were of no value to Long Lin; on the contrary, their deaths were a crucial step in his future actions. However, for Liu Bang, it was a matter of life and death.
"Fourth brother, if we go to Xianyang now, we certainly won't come back alive! If we don't go to Xianyang, we can't return to Pei County either. Going is death, going back is death! What should we do?"
Liu Bang stared intently at Long Lin and asked.
Long Lin remained silent. Although becoming an outlaw was an inevitable step for Liu Bang, his intuition told him in this adversity that he couldn't utter the words to persuade Liu Bang to join the outlaws.
"Heavens! What have I, Liu Bang, done to offend you!"
Liu Bang cried out to the heavens, tears streaming down his face.
"Damn it, since we can't be made marquises or prime ministers, or bring glory to our families, why don't we just become outlaws and live a carefree life as mountain bandits!"
Chang Tianba suddenly slammed his Heaven-Piercing Spear into the ground and said.
"Tianba... what did you say?"
Liu Bang was startled and turned around.
Long Lin frowned slightly, "Second Brother, I think Tianba's words make sense. The Qin Dynasty was tyrannical, and the people suffered. Even these convicts were forced into slavery. Why don't we learn from Wolf Head Ridge and Stone Mountain? With our abilities, we're sure to achieve great things!"
"Yes, being a mountain bandit is much more enjoyable than being a minor official in Sishui Pavilion!"
Fan Kuai also gritted his teeth and said.
Ying Tong pondered for a moment and said, "Second Master, Master, you gave me my life. Without you, I might be like them now, or I might be dead long ago. Whatever you say, I'll do!"
Liu Bang took a deep breath, looked up at the sky, and saw that the sun had already risen, its white light dazzling.
“Alright, let’s throw away these Qin skins and quit! I’ve heard Brother Xiao say that Dangshan is a deep forest with treacherous peaks, possessing the aura of a hegemon. Why don’t we settle down here, establish our own stronghold, firstly for survival, and secondly to avenge those bandits of Dangshan!”
Liu Bang said slowly, his eyes gradually hardening.
“Second Brother, what should we do with these convicts?”
Fan Kuai asked.
Liu Bang remained silent, but looked at Long Lin. Long Lin understood, immediately climbing onto a large rock, gathering his inner energy, and shouting, “Going or returning is death, so Brother Liu Bang has decided to remain hidden in Dangshan. Those who want to leave can go, and those who don’t can follow us and become brothers!”
The convicts looked at each other, understanding what was going on. They knew that escaping back would inevitably lead to becoming convicts again, and besides, Liu Bang, Long Lin, and the others had treated them very well along the way, so they all had the idea of following Liu Bang to become outlaws.
At this moment, following Liu Bang's orders, Chang Tianba, Ying Tong, and others began to cut the ropes binding the convicts with their knives.
"Lord Liu, Long Lin, we're willing to go with you!"
said a convict with a scarred face.
"Yes, we're all going to die anyway, let's rebel!" the other convicts roared. Of the
more than 130 convicts, more than ten left, and the rest were all willing to follow Liu Bang and Long Lin.
Liu Bang looked at the remaining men and said, "From today onwards, we are brothers in life and death. If anyone dares to betray us, this is their fate!"
With that, he swung his Soul-Separating Sword downwards, a flash of white light, and a bandit who was still breathing on the ground was instantly decapitated.
In Dang Mountain, mist began to rise. Liu Bang and Long Lin led more than a hundred men, abandoning the main road and following a small mountain path into the mountains.
Dang, meaning "stone pool," refers to the many large marshes and swamps in the mountains, hence the name Dang.
Liu Bang, Long Lin, and their men had not traveled far into the mountains when they gradually entered a vast swamp. The swamp had dried up, leaving only a few barely visible puddles. A hunter's path cut through the swamp and led into the mountains.
As soon as they stepped into the swamp, a faint mountain mist gathered, and the puddles shimmered with a grayish, eerie fog.
Someone in the group said it was miasma, and everyone tore off pieces of their clothing to cover their mouths and noses.
Long Lin, who had fought in treacherous environments for many years as a mercenary leader, was no stranger to miasma, but now he frowned. This wasn't miasma at all; it was more like the eerie aura he had seen in the ancient king's tomb.
"Damn, eerie aura?"
Long Lin's mind suddenly became as foggy as the mist. He had never felt this way before, but since experiencing that strange scene in the Four Emperors Shrine, he had become extremely sensitive to it.
The mist drifted, swirling in the air like feathers.
"Snake..."
Suddenly, one of the convicts leading the way cried out and ran back.
"Damn it! What kind of snake is this that's causing such a fuss? You're all useless!"
Fan Kuai shouted from his horse.
"A white snake, this thick, this long..."
The convict's face turned pale with fright, and he gestured wildly.
The crowd burst into laughter, because when he put his arms around the convict and pointed, it wasn't a snake at all; it was at least a tree that two people could hug.
"Really... Lord Liu, we can't go any further. The snake is sleeping right now. If it wakes up, we're all doomed!"
the convict said in terror, as if telling everyone to retreat.
"Go to hell, are you exhausted?"
Fan Kuai laughed and cursed, spurring his horse forward. However, he quickly turned back, his face grim, and rode to Liu Bang and Long Lin's side. He led them aside and said in a low voice, "There really is a snake! Brother, I think we should take a detour!"
Long Lin chuckled inwardly. History had come true; it seemed that the story of Liu Bang slaying the snake wasn't made up.
"There really is a big snake?"
Liu Bang asked in surprise.
"It really is! That mouth could swallow two people whole!"
Liu Bang's expression changed, and he said to Long Lin, "Fourth Brother, let's take a detour! It seems this is fate, preventing us from entering Dangshan from here!" "Damn, why is Liu Bang so cowardly! Do I really need to do this myself?"
Long Lin cursed inwardly, but then burst into laughter, "Second Brother, a snake is still a snake, there's nothing to be afraid of! I'll deal with it!"
"Fourth Brother, don't take the risk!"
Liu Bang advised.
Fan Kuai also tried to persuade him, but Long Lin refused with a smile.
Long Lin called Liu Bang over and told him to follow behind him; he would have a plan later.
Although Liu Bang was skeptical, thinking of Long Lin's past strength, he gritted his teeth and spurred his horse to follow.
After walking several dozen feet, in the misty swamp, a giant white snake as thick as a cartwheel lay coiled in the middle of the muddy road, its huge triangular head bearing two bright red horns.
Perhaps the commotion of people had startled it, for it raised its massive head, its lantern-like eyes shifting from eerie green to red, its forearm-thick tongue flicking back and forth, a foul-smelling mist billowing from its mouth, making one dizzy.
"Damn, this isn't some snake! This is clearly a rare, thousand-year-old Water Dragon!"
Upon seeing the snake, Long Lin immediately understood its nature. He had seen a similar dead dragon in the East Sea in his modern days, and had also seen pictures of it in ancient texts.
A white snake grows horns after a thousand years, becoming a dragon; it grows feet after ten thousand years, becoming a dragon.
This Water Dragon had two horns, indicating it had cultivated for thousands of years, but he didn't know why it was here.
Long Lin glanced back at Liu Bang, whose face was already pale with fright. He rode his horse in a circle, but the Water Dragon didn't attack, only continuously spewing out dark mist.
"Brother Long, hurry!"
Liu Bang shouted from behind.
"Don't be afraid, brother, I'll deal with this beast!"
Long Lin shouted.
As soon as he spoke, the coiled Water Dragon suddenly let out a sharp hiss, straightened its body like a white ribbon, and its huge head whipped up a gust of wind, bypassing Long Lin and lunging at Liu Bang.
Liu Bang was shocked and reined in his horse to flee, but his steed was no longer under his control. At that moment, the Water Dragon spewed out a cloud of black mist, instantly enveloping him.
"Second Brother, be careful, the mist is poisonous!"
Long Lin shouted, and Liu Bang's horse let out a mournful cry and collapsed. Liu Bang covered his mouth and nose and leaped down, drawing his Soul-Separating Sword from his waist.
Boom, boom, boom...
Long Lin had already fired at the Water Dragon. Because of the close distance, the bullets whistled and spun, piercing the giant dragon's hard hide and exploding inside its body.
After emptying his rifle, Long Lin turned his horse around and retreated more than ten zhang.
The Water Dragon, which had been about to bite the fallen Liu Bang, was hit by Long Lin. Its long serpentine body suddenly contracted, coiling and rolling, its crimson twin snakes turning menacingly towards Long Lin, spewing out large plumes of multicolored smoke.
Amidst a piercing, terrifying hiss, the Water Dragon struggled for a full quarter of an hour before finally lying motionless, its belly turned white.
"Long Lin, quickly have Liu Bang use the Soul-Separating Sword to slay that dragon's soul!"
Long Lin breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak to Liu Bang when suddenly he heard a woman's voice, seemingly dreamlike, echoing in his ears—the same voice that had spoken to him at the Four Emperors Shrine and the Spring Flower Pavilion.
Long Lin's mind jolted, and upon seeing the Water Dragon, he gasped.
The Water Dragon's belly gradually swelled, as if something inside was struggling to break free of its skin.
"Second Brother, quickly kill this snake! Slash there!"
Without thinking, Long Lin's roar startled the stunned Liu Bang.
Liu Bang suddenly took two steps forward, raised the Soul-Separating Sword high, and with a shout, closed his eyes and slashed down where Long Lin was pointing.
*Sizzle...*
Snake blood splattered, and a white light shot out with the Soul-Separating Sword, rising into the sky.
Long Lin witnessed Liu Bang slaying the snake and was utterly astonished. The instant Liu Bang raised the Soul-Separating Sword, he seemed to see a gigantic black dragon emerge from Liu Bang's body, soaring and circling in mid-air.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Azure Emperor and the White Consort (
Updated: 5-2 7:24:49, 4294 words)

Deep in the Dang Mountains, beside a waterfall, lay a cave.
The cave was vast, with the main cave connecting to many smaller caves, like dozens of interconnected rooms.
When Long Lin, Liu Bang, and the others reached this point, they stopped, as it was getting dark and the sky was filled with rolling clouds, threatening rain.
At Ying Tong's suggestion, over a hundred people entered the cave. Some lit a fire for warmth, some dealt with the giant snake, and some went to the spring beside the waterfall to catch fish. Fortunately, except for a small pool in the middle of the cave, the rest was dry enough to live in.
Long Lin and Liu Bang led a few men to explore the cave. They found it extremely deep; further in, it was pitch black, and a hot wind blew through.
"Second Brother, the hunter said this cave is called Fire Dragon Cave. Someone once saw a fire dragon rise into the sky from here. Could it be true?"
Fan Kuai asked, wiping sweat from his brow as he unbuttoned his shirt.
"What fire dragon? Maybe the hunters in the mountains think we're not good people and are deliberately trying to trick us into going in!"
Ying Tong said, holding up a pine torch that illuminated a spot more than two zhang in front of him.
Liu Bang nodded. "This cave is too deep. Let's not explore any further. Let's go back! Whether there's a fire dragon or not, the cave is large and suitable for habitation. We'll stay here for now."
Long Lin had thought that after Liu Bang killed the snake, he would really encounter the old woman crying over her dead son on the road, but he didn't. This made him somewhat disappointed. He thought to himself, "So even so-called history has its inaccuracies."
However, upon encountering the hunter, they learned of the Fire Dragon Cave ahead where they could temporarily take refuge, so the group hurried there.
Retreating from the depths of the cave, they found someone had already lit a fire and was roasting freshly caught fat fish and snake meat, the aroma filling the entire cave.
After
eating their fill, the group discussed Liu Bang's slaying of the giant snake. Long Lin, using the snake-slaying as an excuse, fabricated the old woman's story. He had read the whole story clearly in his modern high school textbooks—it was simply that the son of the Red Emperor killed the son of the White Emperor.
Surprisingly, none of the convicts doubted him; after all, killing that giant snake was no easy feat. They immediately recognized Liu Bang as their leader, arranged ranks and tasks according to ability, and designated the Fire Dragon Cave as their stronghold, naming it Fire Dragon Stronghold.
After discussing that Liu Bang and the others would go to Dangshan City the next day to purchase food, weapons, clothing, and other necessities, everyone went to their respective small caves to rest.
Long Lin chose a small cave, tidied himself up briefly, and lay down fully clothed to rest. However, after lying there for a while, his mind remained unsettled. Firstly, he was excited that his plan was progressing step by step. Secondly, he still harbored doubts about the mysterious woman named Qing'er—was she human or a ghost?
Night had fallen, and everyone in the cave was sound asleep. Over a month of arduous travel, hunger, rain, and life-or-death situations had left them exhausted. Finally finding such a safe haven, they slept soundly. Even with the thunder rumbling outside, they wouldn't wake.
Long Lin couldn't sleep, so he sat cross-legged and began practicing the Twelve Zodiac Animal Form and Intention Techniques. He closed his eyes, and before him lay a dark void. He guided his inner energy, and gradually, a figure of white light began to condense in the darkness. He began practicing the Form and Intention techniques, move by move.
A faint white mist rose from the top of his head, swirling and circling around his body, making Long Lin feel as if he were sitting in a giant steamer.
Unbeknownst to him, the night's chill gradually intensified, and a sinister aura suddenly swirled within the stone chamber where Long Lin was, converging towards the white mist surrounding him.
Suddenly, a figure formed from white light appeared before Long Lin's dark eyes.
"Who?"
A stranger had intruded into his mind; Long Lin immediately sensed it, withdrawing his fist and asking.
The figure of white light turned around, its face obscured, but its form suggested a woman.
Long Lin's heart tightened, involuntarily recalling the mysterious voice of the woman named Qing'er.
"Your name is Long Lin, right?"
The woman's voice was aged and sinister, seemingly filled with intense anger.
"Indeed, what business do you have with me?"
Long Lin frowned slightly; this voice was so different from the mysterious Qing'er's, he couldn't help but be surprised.
The woman in white suddenly looked up and laughed wildly. Countless white points of light flew in from outside and gathered around her, gradually revealing her face—an old woman in white robes and white hair, well past fifty.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared intently at Long Lin, gritting her teeth as she said, "Today, you killed my son, my son with the White Emperor… I've come to claim your life!"
Long Lin was startled; he hadn't expected the old woman from the historical records to appear here instead of by the roadside. However, he immediately countered, "Who is your son?"
"Don't you remember the white dragon you killed in Lingmeng Marsh?"
the old woman in white gritted her teeth.
"So that Water Dragon was indeed the White Emperor's son! But it attacked us first, and we retaliated. In the end, it was outmatched and died, so how can you blame us?"
Long Lin chuckled, relieved.
"Enough nonsense, prepare to die!"
The old woman in white, her face deathly pale, suddenly lunged forward, countless strands of silver hair whipping back like a white ribbon as they rushed towards Long Lin.
"Damn it, the White-Haired Witch! How am I supposed to fight this?"
Long Lin frowned and cried out. He had never encountered such a fighting style before. If he had a gun, he would have already emptied a magazine. If he had a sword, he could have cleaved through the mountains, but he was unarmed. Seeing the countless white hairs rushing towards him, each one like a silver needle, he could only lean back and dodge like a rabbit leaping an eagle.
A strand of silver needle-like white hair grazed past Long Lin's nose, startling him into a cold sweat.
"Old woman, are you serious?"
Long Lin yelled, springing up with a burst of energy. However, before he could regain his footing, he felt a sudden tightening around his waist, as countless white hairs flew back and tightly wrapped around his body.
Amidst the white-robed old woman's maniacal laughter, the tips of countless silver hairs instantly transformed into countless triangular snake heads, their tongues hissing and their mouths wide open, revealing two chilling fangs.
Hundreds of silver hairs coiled around him were like hundreds of venomous snakes; Long Lin's scalp tingled instantly, and even he, who had never been afraid before, felt a chill.
"Boy, I will use your blood to sacrifice my child!"
A sinister smile appeared on the white-robed old woman's face, her crimson eyes flashing red, and the countless snake heads coiled around Long Lin snapped down simultaneously.
"Damn it..."
Long Lin cursed, his entire body erupting with true qi. With a deafening boom, a white light flashed, and the venomous snakes all over his body were sent flying.
"I'm alright?"
Long Lin checked himself; he was unharmed. He was secretly astonished—could the true qi he released in despair have such power?
The white-robed old woman groaned, clutching her chest and staggering back several steps. Looking up, he shouted, "Azure Emperor, how dare you interfere in my affairs?"
Long Lin was taken aback. When did another Azure Emperor appear? Turning his head, he realized that besides himself and the white-robed old woman, there was another old man in the void, his body shimmering with green light, and his appearance was exactly the same as the Azure Emperor in the Temple of the Four Emperors.
"White Consort, you bully the weak with your superior strength, and deceive others with your divine power. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by your fellow cultivators?"
The Azure Emperor stroked his black beard and sneered.
The white-haired old woman was furious and shouted, "Azure Emperor, when did it become your business to interfere in my affairs?"
Long Lin then realized that it wasn't his own true energy that had injured White Consort, but rather the Azure Emperor who had saved him.
"Thank you for saving my life, Senior Azure Emperor!"
Long Lin immediately bowed to the Azure Emperor in gratitude.
The Azure Emperor chuckled and nodded slightly to Long Lin.
"Boy, how dare you interrupt a senior's words?" Bai Fei retorted angrily. "Azure Emperor, this brat has a blood feud with me for killing my son, and I must avenge him. Are you really going to stand up for him?"
"Bai Fei, descendants have their own karma. Long Lin killed the White Emperor's son, but it was not his own choice. Why do you hold a grudge? If you insist on killing him, then I will not stand idly by."
Azure Emperor said, his words gentle but carrying an unyielding air.
Bai Fei was taken aback, then said hatefully, "Fine, now that my husband, the White Emperor, is undergoing his tribulation, and my son is also entering reincarnation, there's no point in leaving this old woman here alone. Today, I will fight you to the death!" After saying
this, she held her hands upright against her chest, and a beam of white light gathered on her three-inch-long fingernails, which suddenly shot into the sky.
Long Lin didn't think much of it, but the Azure Emperor said, "Consort Bai, even if it's a fight to the death, there's no need to call for help! Besides, in our battle, no one can interfere!"
Consort Bai smiled coldly, "I don't need help to deal with you. I'll tell you anyway, I've already ordered my disciple to kill this brat even if it means going through hell and high water, to avenge my son!"
"What a vicious woman! Make your move!"
the Azure Emperor said in a deep voice, his hands forming a hand seal, and a green arc of light shone from between his hands, instantly transforming into a jade staff. The staff was like bamboo and wood, with green vines like flames coiling around it.
"Alright, then let's settle this today!"
A resolute look appeared on Consort Bai's face, her white robes fluttering, and countless white light points scattered out, but in mid-air they condensed into a ribbon as cold as ice and as white as silk.
"You old bastard, Qingdi, today I'll let you experience the power of my Ice and Snow Celestial Silk!"
Bai Fei coldly shouted, her Ice and Snow Celestial Silk soaring into the air. The surrounding space instantly seemed to freeze, becoming incredibly cold. Large swaths of purple ice swept towards Qingdi.
"Ten Thousand Vines Leading Spring!"
Qingdi shouted in a deep voice, his jade staff automatically flying up. The vines on the staff instantly split into countless strands, swirling towards the purple ice. A warm wind blew by, dispelling the extreme cold.
"Boy, put this on!"
Qingdi used his jade staff to fight, but then turned and gently pointed at Long Lin. Long Lin felt a slight weight on his body as a pair of shimmering green vine armor appeared on him. A heat emanated from the armor, reaching straight to his lungs. His body, which had been frozen stiff by the cold, immediately warmed up, and Long Lin suddenly felt as if he had drunk a nutrient solution, his energy surging.
Next, Long Lin witnessed a battle he had never seen before. Countless points of light exploded, and the enormous ice serpent and wooden dragon clashed. Deafening sounds echoed through the space, and intense tremors made Long Lin feel as if the space itself was collapsing.
Finally, the Azure Emperor struck Bai Fei in the chest with his staff, but Bai Fei's Heavenly Silk was also wrapped around the Azure Emperor's arm. With a gentle pull, one of the Azure Emperor's arms fell off.
Bai Fei, bent over, panting heavily, white blood trickling from her mouth, laughed bitterly, "Old man Qingdi, you're finished! My Ice Silk magic has entered your body; even your Myriad Trees Rejuvenation Technique is powerless!"
Qingdi, supporting his blackened arm, smiled sadly, "Bai Fei, you're not much better off. My Wood Qi Sword has shattered your Ice Water Heart; within ten breaths, your true form will be destroyed!"
"What's there to fear? At worst, I'll enter reincarnation again, undergo the Heavenly Tribulation once more… In ten thousand years, let's see who's stronger!"
Bai Fei suddenly threw her head back and laughed loudly, her white light gradually dissipating as she drifted into the void, finally disappearing without a trace.
"Senior Qingdi! How are you?"
Even Long Lin, who had endured countless battles and whose heart was as hard as stone, was intimidated by the fighting spirit of these two, a chill running through him. Regaining his composure, he hurriedly asked Qingdi.
The Azure Emperor shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "I'm fine for now, but Bai Fei's ice silk magic is indeed formidable. It seems I, the Azure Emperor, who has reigned supreme for millennia, am destined to follow in their footsteps."
Long Lin didn't know who the Azure Emperor was referring to, and seeing the Azure Emperor injured and powerless to help, he remained silent, at a loss.
"Long Lin, my days are numbered, but before I go, I have some things to tell you!"
The Azure Emperor was a god of this era, as Long Lin naturally knew. Now that he was injured and dying while saving him, he felt uneasy and sorrowful. He immediately said, "Senior, please speak."
Long Lin listened carefully to the Azure Emperor's words, then frowned slightly. "Is this your reason for saving me?"
"That's right! I can only tell you that you are an extraordinary person."
The light emanating from the Azure Emperor dissipated like ripples, and his voice weakened.
"Damn, is this for real?"
Long Lin shook his head; he still couldn't quite believe it. This person called the Azure Emperor, or rather, this god, actually claimed to be the key figure who would determine the outcome of this war of the gods. Moreover, the change of dynasties was actually just a game among the gods.
"Really, Long Lin... your potential is far from being realized. Do what you should do!"
said the Azure Emperor.
"What should I do?"
Long Lin spread his hands. He was just a passerby who had accidentally traveled here. As long as he found the Five Emperors Bell, he would leave this damned place. He wouldn't be so bored as to try to dominate in this backward ancient world.
"Your abilities are not enough, even if it's for your own small goal! If it weren't for me, you would already be dead!"
The Azure Emperor didn't care about Long Lin's disdain. As he spoke, he took out a wooden token that shimmered with a faint green light from his robes and tossed it to Long Lin. "Give this Azure Wooden Token to Qing'er. She will tell you what to do!"
Long Lin took the token and felt a warm current flow from his palms into his body. To his surprise, he saw the Azure Emperor raise his arms high, his whole body turning into countless green light spots that scattered and disappeared into the void.
"Come back!"
Long Lin shouted, but no one answered him anymore.
The green light of the Azure Wood Token illuminated the surroundings. Long Lin cursed under his breath, "Damn it, where is Qing'er?"

Chapter 30 Triumph in Dangshan
Update Time: 5-3 7:42:38 Words: 3472

Chunhua Tower, Dangshan County.
In an elegant room, there was a wooden tub large enough for two people to bathe in.
Long Lin sat in the tub, his eyes closed, enjoying the rubbing of small hands behind his back. Amidst the rising steam, bathing with him was a woman with snow-white skin and soft phoenix eyes.
This woman was named Ziwei, who had served Long Lin before. This time, Long Lin's visit to see her was a return visit.
"Master... this time you have to be gentle with me! Last time you almost killed me!"
Ziwei said as she slowly put her hand under the water, carefully washing Long Lin's inner thighs.
"Okay! No problem..."
Long Lin hugged Ziwei, gave her a deep kiss on her pink cheek, and then said.
The Fire Dragon Village had just been established, and Liu Bang and the others were busy preparing various things. Stealing a moment from his busy schedule, Long Lin went to Chunhua Tower alone.
"Are you called Ziwei, or Qing'er?"
Long Lin asked softly, looking at her face, slightly blurred by the steam.
"Of course I'm Ziwei! There's no one named Qing'er at Chunhua Tower!"
Ziwei said, her hands moving non-stop, while giving Long Lin a flirtatious wink. Then, she wrapped her arms around Long Lin's back, her cherry-red lips whispering in his ear, "Who's Qing'er? Am I not enough to satisfy you, sir?"
"Of course I'm satisfied!"
Long Lin chuckled. "I just think you look a bit like that Qing'er!"
"Hmph…Sir, I won't stand for it…You're with me, yet you're thinking of other women…"
Ziwei pouted coquettishly, then stopped bathing Long Lin and simply threw herself into his arms in the water.
"Alright, I won't think about her…I only have you now!"
Long Lin laughed heartily, spreading Ziwei's legs in the water…
After leaving Chunhua Tower, Long Lin went directly to the Four Emperors Shrine outside the county town. The
statues of the Four Emperors were still there, but the goddess statue beside the Green Emperor was gone. Long Lin felt that what happened last time might have truly been an illusion.
"Damn, give this to Qing'er, but where is Qing'er?"
Long Lin thought to himself. That day, when he woke up, he felt as if he had just survived a fierce battle, his body weak and exhausted. He recalled the events that occurred in the void, but it felt like a dream.
However, this dream was incredibly real, so real that he was actually clutching a palm-sized green wooden plaque in his hand.
The plaque was made of some unknown wood, like jade yet fragrant. Strange runes and a large "Qing" character were carved on the front, while the back depicted a lifelike, almost leaping, azure dragon.
"The Azure Wood Token, give it to Qing'er! She'll tell you what to do!"
Long Lin remembered the words of the Azure Emperor in his dreamlike state. So, taking advantage of a trip to the county town to buy supplies, he made a special trip to the Spring Flower Pavilion to find the woman who called herself Qing'er.
However, Ziwei was Ziwei, and Qing'er still didn't appear.
Even now, the mysterious goddess statue was nowhere to be found in the Four Emperors Shrine. Intuitively, Long Lin believed that the mysterious goddess statue and the person who used Ziwei's body to transmit her voice were Qing'er.
Standing in the Four Emperors Hall, Long Lin remained silent for a while, then suddenly smiled wryly, shook his head, casually tossed aside the Green Wood Token in his hand, and strode out.
"Bullshit Green Wood Token, I'm so confused!"
Long Lin muttered to himself, leaping onto his horse, ready to return to Fire Dragon Village.
Boom...
Just then, the earth trembled violently, and a loud crash came from the Four Emperors Shrine.
"What happened now?"
Long Lin dismounted and rushed back into the Four Emperors Shrine. The entire hall was a mess of dust and debris. Of the four statues, the statue of the Azure Emperor was gone, and the ground was littered with shattered mud and gold paint.
A green light emanated from a dark corner, making Long Lin's nerves jump.
It was a hand, and it seemed that apart from this hand, the entire Azure Emperor statue had been smashed to pieces. In the palm of that hand, the glittering Green Wood Token was held.
Amidst a flash of green light, a lacquered, golden mud hand silently rose and hovered before Long Lin.
"Alright! Azure Emperor, I promise you, I will definitely deliver this Azure Wood Token to Qing'er!" Long
Lin sighed, taking the Azure Wood Token from the mud hand. The green light vanished instantly, and the lacquered, golden mud hand shattered on the ground.
"Giddy up...giddy up..."
Long Lin spurred his horse and galloped away.
The Azure Wood Token was in his arms. Now he completely believed that the dream was real. Under the bright sunlight and blazing sky, there was indeed another force influencing all living beings and the myriad phenomena.
Although countless mysteries still lingered in Long Lin's heart, his admission meant he would shoulder greater responsibility.
Crossing the muddy swamp, Long Lin stopped his horse. It was here that he helped Liu Bang kill the Water Bell Dragon, the son of the White Emperor and White Consort. It was also here that he heard Qing'er's voice.
The mountains stood majestically, overgrown with tall grass. Long Lin stood there for over half an hour, but nothing unusual happened; Qing'er's voice never reached his ears.
Looking down at the Green Wood Token in his hand, Long Lin muttered to himself, "Where can I find Qing'er?"
As darkness fell, a faint, fluorescent green light gradually appeared on the Green Wood Token.
At this moment, Long Lin's pupils contracted slightly. He seemed to remember that the Green Wood Token's light shone brighter in the darkest places.
For some reason, Long Lin instantly thought of the extremely deep cave behind the Fire Dragon Cave.
"Hmm, I'll take this Green Wood Token and explore that inner cave later!"
With that thought, Long Lin remounted his horse and galloped back.
At this time, wooden beams had been erected in front of the Fire Dragon Cave, and over a hundred people were repairing the cave and expanding the mountain stronghold.
Arrow towers and battlements had been set up on the cliff in front of the Fire Dragon Cave.
"Fourth Brother... you're back!"
Liu Bang chuckled upon seeing Long Lin.
Long Lin nodded, looked around, but couldn't find Fan Kuai. He asked, "Where did Third Brother go?"
"We've settled here as outlaws, we need to let our families know we're safe, right? I ordered Fan Kuai to return to Pei County. Tell him we were ambushed and killed by bandits on the way, and only he returned; the rest of us are missing."
Long Lin nodded in agreement; Liu Bang had indeed thought things through.
Among the hundred-odd convicts, Liu Bang had already selected leaders to handle various matters, each with their own responsibilities, and everything was well-organized.
"Brother Long, now that our stronghold is built, with ample clothing, horses, provisions, and weapons, we'll soon be ready for a major operation!"
Liu Bang laughed.
"Good! Then we'll first wipe out the bandits of Dang Mountain, especially those who attacked us!"
Long Lin agreed.
Liu Bang pondered for a moment, then said, "We've already scouted that band of mountain bandits. They're a group of over a thousand from Qingsong Peak in Dangshan, and they're considered quite powerful among the major bandit groups in Dangshan. We're afraid we can't defeat them for now!"
Long Lin nodded slightly, a savage glint in his eyes. "It's alright, if we can't defeat them now, we won't touch them! We'll settle accounts with them sooner or later!"
"Yes, Fourth Brother, you're the most skilled among us. Let's conserve our strength first, and once we've trained these hundred-odd men into elite troops, defeating that rabble will be a piece of cake!"
Liu Bang said.
At this moment, Ying Tong came over and said that the banquet inside had been arranged.
"Then let's drink first!"
Long Lin laughed loudly and took the lead into the Fire Dragon Cave.
The Fire Dragon Cave had already been carved and decorated by everyone, and the stone chambers had been renovated and fitted with wooden doors. In the central hall, large bowls of vegetables and meat, along with rows of wine jars, were laid out on more than ten stone tables.
"Fourth brother, we've really gone broke this time! All the travel money we brought, plus your gold, has been used to buy things,"
Liu Bang said with a smile, sitting at the innermost seat.
Long Lin didn't seem to care. "Second brother, what are you saying? Money is just an external thing. What's lost will come back. Once we start our business, we won't have to worry about gold and silver."
"A fine saying, 'What's lost will come back!'"
Liu Bang laughed loudly, raising his bowl in a toast.
More than ten days had passed in Dangshan. The Fire Dragon Stronghold had been built to a considerable scale, with all sorts of offensive and defensive facilities completed. During this time, Long Lin trained a hundred henchmen while continuing to practice the Zodiac Xingyi Quan. Of course, he didn't forget to go to the Chunhua Tower in Dang County for some fun when he had free time.
"Master, have you taken a fancy to that Ziwei girl? Why don't you just redeem her and bring her back to the stronghold to be our mistress?"
Chang Tianba, seemingly honest and simple, asked Long Lin with a wicked grin.
Long Lin, of course, kicked Chang Tianba without hesitation and cursed, "Women are heartless, actresses are ruthless, I just like how comfortable she is to serve me..."
Eagle Eyes chuckled, "Master has a big appetite, only Ziwei in the entire Chunhua Pavilion can withstand Master!"
Long Lin smiled faintly, shaking his head without speaking. In fact, only he knew why he always sought out Ziwei.
These past few days, he had not received any news of Qing'er. Moreover, he had sent messages to Fan Kuai and others to search for the Dangshan heroine Mu Wanxin, but the reply he received was that no one had seen the Dangshan heroine anymore, and there was not even a trace of her.
Long Lin inquired throughout Dang County and learned that the Dangshan heroine was of unknown origin, and there was no such thing as a hunter surnamed Mu in Dangshan.
Unable to obtain any news of Qing'er or Mu Wanxin, Long Lin felt a heavy weight on his heart, as the strange events of that day frequently flashed through his mind.
A month later, Fan Kuai arrived by fast horse from Pei County. Due to a mistake in escorting prisoners, the magistrate of Pei County was punished by the prefecture, but he did not hold Liu Family Village or Xiao He accountable, not even punishing Fan Kuai. Instead, he appointed Fan Kuai as the head of Sishui Pavilion, replacing Liu Bang.
Fan Kuai's arrival further strengthened the Fire Dragon Stronghold. He also brought back over a dozen gold bars that Long Lin had stored at Liu Family Village, along with a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher and some thunderbolts. More importantly, he brought ten well-trained retainers from Liu Family Village.
Three days later, on the official road from Dangshan to Xianyang... Over a hundred masked bandits, wielding sharp blades, intercepted a passing caravan of merchants.
The caravan consisted of more than twenty people and had hired twenty wandering swordsmen as guards.
The caravan owner initially tried to ingratiate himself with them, hoping to pay a toll.
However, one of the bandits, a man with a fine scar on his forehead, didn't even raise his head. He pointed a strange weapon forward and shouted like thunder, "Kill!"
The hundred-plus bandits swarmed forward, hacking and slashing, leaving no one alive except the caravan owner.
Before leaving, the scarred bandit blinded him, leaving behind the words: "Those who robbed this caravan are Liu Bang and Long Lin of the Fire Dragon Village in Dangshan!"
For ten consecutive days, Long Lin and Liu Bang led their men to rob and kill four groups of merchants passing through Dangshan, their methods ruthless and merciless. No matter how many people were killed, only one was spared, and without exception, all were blinded.
The county seat of Dang County was plastered with wanted posters for the bandits of Fire Dragon Village, but Long Lin, Liu Bang, and their men ignored them and continued their rampage through Dang Mountain, indulging in drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Despite the wanted posters, the victims of their robberies couldn't describe the bandits' appearances.
In no time, Fire Dragon Village's reputation spread far and wide in Dang County, striking fear into the hearts of everyone. Even the powerful figures who had previously lived as outlaws in Dang Mountain knew of Fire Dragon Village's infamous name.

Chapter 31 Beautiful Mountain Bandit
Update Time: 5-4 8:28:13 Words: 3526

"Fourth Brother, haven't we gone too far these past few days?"
Liu Bang asked Long Lin hesitantly. These past few days, they had robbed and killed nearly a hundred merchants with bloody methods, and Liu Bang felt a pang of remorse.
Long Lin understood his meaning, and smiled faintly, "It is a bit excessive, but if we don't do this, we'll be bullied. Don't think that the three strongholds and six gangs of Dangshan are all good-natured. Even so, they're probably all plotting to devour us!"
Long Lin had been a mercenary leader; in the mercenary world, strength was everything. Double-crossing and bullying were commonplace.
The entire Dangshan region had six bandit strongholds and gangs, the larger ones with over two thousand men, and the smaller ones with three or four hundred. Each was stronger than the Fire Dragon Stronghold. If they didn't do something significant, their hundred or so men would eventually be swallowed up by others.
“However, I’ve already sent people to contact the leaders of the three strongholds and six gangs, making it clear that we’ll keep to ourselves. Besides, isn’t robbery a trivial matter that shouldn’t lead to conflict?”
Liu Bang said.
Long Lin’s forehead scar reddened slightly. “Second Brother, in a poor place like Dangshan, can we support a hundred or so men by just robbing passing merchants? Moreover, these small-scale skirmishes are most dangerous to the authorities. They might be gathering troops to suppress us right now!”
“Hmm, that’s true!”
Liu Bang nodded.
Just then, a man rushed into the cave, shouting, "Second Master, Fourth Master, it's bad! The government troops are here!"
Liu Bang was startled and stood up, asking, "How many are they? Where are they?"
Long Lin laughed and gestured for Liu Bang to sit down. "Second Brother, don't panic. We used to hunt down bandits, now it's our turn to be hunted!"
Liu Bang calmed down and asked, "Are they government troops from Dang County?"
The henchman replied, "Yes, from Dang County. There are over five hundred of them, and they've already reached Nize. According to the brothers, they're heading straight for our Fire Dragon Stronghold!"
"Good, Second Brother, let's have a big fight! Let's show off the might of our Fire Dragon Stronghold!"
Long Lin immediately slammed his hand on the table and shouted.
"Over five hundred?"
Liu Bang frowned and hesitated.
Long Lin glanced at Liu Bang, thinking to himself that Liu Bang was still rather petty. He needed more training before he could truly start a rebellion. He then said, "Second Brother, if we escape this time, or are scattered by the government troops, do you believe the surrounding mountain strongholds will take advantage of our misfortune?"
Liu Bang thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
"That's right. So this time we must win against the government troops! Otherwise, it will be difficult to gain a foothold in Dangshan,"
Long Lin laughed.
"Then what do we do now?"
Liu Bang asked.
"That's easy!" Long Lin laughed. "Leave everything to me. You just need to inform the leaders of the three strongholds and six caves not to get involved!"
About twenty miles from Fire Dragon Stronghold, there was a narrow valley.
At this time, Long Lin, Chang Tianba, and more than sixty others were already lying in ambush on both sides of the valley. Behind a large rock at the highest point, Eagle Eyes' eyes were fixed on the road below.
A thunderous sound of hooves echoed, and a cloud of dust rose in the distance.
"They're here!"
Chang Tianba whispered in Long Lin's ear.
Long Lin smiled slightly and made a circular gesture with his hands crossed towards the opposite side of the valley.
The other side understood, and each of the sixty-odd men grabbed a thunderbolt.
The county magistrate of Dang County, leading over five hundred soldiers, arrived aggressively, confident that these bandits, numbering only a hundred or so, would be easy to capture. Moreover, the leader of Qingsong Village had secretly promised him three thousand strings of cash, plus the county's reward, meaning he could make a fortune.
According to scouts, the bandits of Huolong Village were still unaware of the situation, and their rapid advance would surely catch them off guard.
At the foot of the valley, the county magistrate didn't even consider the possibility of an ambush. Besides, with his superior numbers, even if a mere hundred or so men were lying in wait, it wouldn't be a problem; he could save himself dozens of miles of travel and wipe them all out in one fell swoop.
Over a hundred horses and four hundred soldiers surged into the narrow valley.
At Long Lin's command, over sixty thunderbolts rained down, landing among the soldiers and exploding with a deafening roar.
The entire Dangshan Mountain trembled as if struck by an earthquake. The sound of the explosion could be heard dozens of miles away.
"Not good!"
the Dangxian magistrate cried out, but it was too late. Thick smoke billowed through the valley, and screams filled the air. In this dense valley, the thunderclap bombs had unleashed their full power.
"Retreat!"
Most of the dozen or so guards around the Dangxian magistrate were dead, and countless other soldiers were killed or wounded. He turned his horse around and charged out of the valley, shouting. But at that moment, Eagle Eye, hiding on the highest point, had already aimed his gun at him.
Bang!
As Eagle Eye pulled the trigger, the Dangxian magistrate's brains splattered, and he fell from his horse.
"The magistrate is dead!"
the soldiers cried out in terror, and those who were not injured desperately rushed out of the valley.
"Kill!"
Long Lin's forehead scar began to turn red. He roared and grabbed his rifle bayonet, charging forward first.
More than sixty men followed closely, letting go of the first hundred or so, but intercepting the hundred or so wounded soldiers behind.
Seeing the group of ferocious-looking bandits, the soldiers were already terrified, some kneeling and begging for mercy.
Long Lin laughed loudly, "Those who beg for mercy will not be killed!"
Immediately, a dozen or so soldiers still resisting were killed by Chang Tianba's gunfire. The rest threw down their weapons and knelt on the ground.
"Step forward, tie them all up!"
At Long Lin's command, henchmen immediately took ropes and bound the soldiers like prisoners.
"Master, why keep them alive?"
Chang Tianba asked, puzzled. According to the usual practice these days, Long Lin almost never left anyone alive.
Long Lin smiled slightly, slung his bayonet over his shoulder, "Of course, to exchange them for a reward!"
"A reward?"
Chang Tianba scratched his head, not understanding Long Lin's meaning.
Long Lin then ordered his men to collect all the food, weapons, and silver from the dead soldiers, bury them in a large pit, and then escort the blindfolded prisoners back to Fire Dragon Stronghold.
"Tianba, I have a task for you!" After locking up
the prisoners, Long Lin called Chang Tianba over and ordered him to shoot a letter into Dang County with an arrow.
"Don't worry, Master!"
Chang Tianba rode off quickly.
Long Lin thoroughly cleaned himself of blood in the waterfall, then lay down in front of Fire Dragon Stronghold, comfortably sunbathing. The letter he had just given Chang Tianba was, of course, a demand for ransom.
Dang County had suffered another great loss, not only paying the prepared reward money to ransom the prisoners but also paying Fire Dragon Stronghold an additional 500 strings of cash for emotional distress.
When Liu Bang returned, Long Lin had just released the prisoners, and the money was still piled up in the main hall of Fire Dragon Cave.
"Fourth brother, now our Fire Dragon Stronghold has truly made its name known! The other three strongholds and six caves are starting to respect us, and the female leader of White Horse Stronghold is even coming to visit us!"
Liu Bang said gleefully.
"White Horse Stronghold? The female leader?"
Long Lin pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled wickedly.
He had long heard that White Horse Stronghold was a female bandit stronghold. While other bandits robbed money, grain, and women, they robbed money, grain, and men. Legend had it that the female leader, Bai Xiunü, was a formidable figure, possessing captivating beauty and being the dream lover of all the bandits. Although White Horse Stronghold wasn't particularly powerful, it was the wealthiest among the many strongholds because Bai Xiunü was adept at cultivating relationships.
"Second brother, have you seen the female leader of White Horse Stronghold?"
Long Lin asked with a smile.
Liu Bang shook his head. "No, that White Horse Village is quite eerie. Hidden in Saddle Gully, it's shrouded in white mist year-round. It's said that most people who enter lose their way. I heard from the messenger from White Horse Village that Bai Xiu Nu was coming to our Fire Dragon Village!"
Sure enough, the next day, Bai Xiu Nu from White Horse Village visited Fire Dragon Village.
Upon seeing her, the men of Fire Dragon Village were practically mesmerized.
If some women are as gentle as lambs, then Bai Xiu Nu was as voluptuous as a white horse. She was over seven feet tall, with a devilish figure and dazzlingly white skin. Especially her captivating eyes; a couple of blinks could make a man faint.
Long Lin, who had seen countless women, secretly sighed that she was truly a remarkable woman. He even wondered if Bai Xiu Nu had White Russian ancestry.
"Chief Liu, Chief Long! I was truly impolite not to attend the founding of Fire Dragon Stronghold!"
Bai Xiu Nu spoke quickly and frankly, her demeanor surprisingly magnanimous.
"Chief Bai, you are too kind. Fire Dragon Stronghold is newly established, and to receive such high regard from you is an honor!"
Liu Bang laughed, then ordered a banquet to be prepared.
Bai Xiu Nu brought ten attendants, all beautiful women with graceful figures and captivating beauty. They were poised and unperturbed, showing no shame or anger even towards the men whose eyes gleamed with lust.
"Chief Liu, Chief Long, to be honest, besides offering my congratulations, I have something else to discuss with you both!"
After a few rounds of drinks, a blush rose on Bai Xiu Nu's face, making her even more alluring.
"What is it? Please speak freely, Chief Bai!"
Liu Bang laughed.
Long Lin remained silent, leaving the conversation entirely to Liu Bang. At first, he didn't think much of it, but after a few drinks, he felt that Bai Xiu Nu possessed a strange aura that caused his internal energy to surge slightly.
"Actually, it's not a difficult matter. In the current situation in Dangshan, the various villages are outwardly friendly but inwardly divided, fighting amongst themselves. Especially Qing Song Village, which has already subdued the Three Heroes, Tiger Roar, Thunder God, and Black Killer Caves, and has declared that it will bring all the villages in Dangshan under its control. Of course, we can't just sit and wait to be killed. Why don't we unite?"
Bai Xiu Nu said.
"Good! Of course!"
Liu Bang laughed. "Our Fire Dragon Village and Qing Song Village are irreconcilable enemies!"
"Chief Liu is truly generous. I wonder what Second Chief Long's intention is?"
Bai Xiu Nu turned to Long Lin and asked.
Long Lin smiled slightly. "Since Chief Bai is so kind, what could we possibly object to?"
"That's good!"
Bai Xiu Nu laughed, and then discussed with Liu Bang and Long Lin, inviting them to a meeting at Bai Ma Village.
After the meal, Bai Xiunü returned to Baima Village with her entourage, while Liu Bang and Long Lin discussed how to expand the village.
"Fourth Brother, I find Bai Xiunü strange. She doesn't seem entirely sincere about forming an alliance with us!"
Liu Bang frowned slightly.
Long Lin thought for a moment and said, "I feel the same way. Bai Xiunü has been in Dangshan for many years, always hovering between these mountains. This time, she's openly making an enemy of Qingsong Peak. There's probably more to it than meets the eye. An alliance is secondary, but since she's come to show goodwill, we can't be impolite. How about this, I'll go and investigate Baima Village's strength in two days!"
"Let's go together!"
Liu Bang said.
"Things are still unclear. Second Brother, it's best not to take the risk! Baima Village is quite strong, and legend has it that the mountain is very strange. Tianba and I will go. Besides, the Dang County government suffered a loss and will not let it go easily. Our Fire Dragon Village must be on high alert these days!"
Long Lin thought for a moment and said.
"That's good!"
Liu Bang nodded in agreement. "Regardless of Bai Xiu's intentions, we shouldn't clash with them unless absolutely necessary! We shouldn't make enemies right now!"
Long Lin smiled. "Don't worry, Second Brother, I understand!"

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