The broad-leaved trees, vibrant with green, tumbled and danced before the wind, rustling loudly, like a massive, enraged wildcat arching its back, scattering the mountain sparrows into a flurry of black specks carried aloft. On the sheer cliff face, the long reeds growing in clumps whipped and swayed like countless spears raised high.

Hidden within this dense thicket was a company of several dozen men.

These were the same black-clad, masked figures who had raided the Cheng Manor for the thousand-year Blood Ginseng. Since entering the forest, they had remained here, with only a few scouts dispatched to gather intelligence, and no other movement.

The leader was a tall, strapping man whose face held no remarkable features, save for the skin between the back of his head and his neck, which was a strange brownish-red and tightly wrinkled, resembling faint rivulets etched into dried mud.

This mark was a permanent scar Guan Wei had earned during a mishap in his cultivation practice. Though unsightly, it carried immense notoriety among the bandits of Taichong County.

By now, they had cleared the immediate vicinity, ensuring no flammable materials remained. Content, they began roasting the game they had hunted in the woods.

However, Guan Wei’s mind was clearly elsewhere. He gnawed off a leg of rabbit, roasted to a perfect gold, tossed the twig aside, and grumbled, “Copper Head and the others have been gone three days; why haven't they returned? Where have they gotten themselves stuck?”

One of his subordinates quickly scurried over. “Captain Guan, the county must be in absolute chaos since we made our move. It’s not easy to get information out right now. Besides, Copper Head and his crew are unfamiliar with the area; getting a report back to you within four or five days would be considered fast.”

Guan Wei nodded slightly. Though his temper was volatile, he wasn't unreasonable.

Frowning, he murmured, “What if they’ve run into trouble?”

Another man quickly assured him, “Don’t worry, Captain. This isn’t the first time Copper Head and the others have done this sort of thing. With their skill, if they were discovered, escaping would be like child’s play. As long as Copper Head and the others don’t exhaust themselves in the brothels while gathering intel, they’ll be fine.”

The entire group burst into hearty laughter. Hearing that comparison made everyone’s blood stir, wishing they could swap places.

Guan Wei’s face betrayed a flicker of satisfied pleasure, yet his words were sharp: “If those rascals mess up my important business, just wait until I skin them alive.”

They held immense faith in their comrades. Forget the local government of this small place, Taicang County; even among the officialdom in Linlang Prefecture City, few cultivators had reached the Fifth Layer of Inner Strength. Copper Head and his group were all at the Fifth Layer, with Copper Head himself at the Seventh. Naturally, they held no regard for the local constables.

Yet, these Crimson Bandits, who ruled Taichong County with an iron fist, were unaware that Taicang County was unlike their home turf. Here, the Cheng family was the authority. To avenge their kin, everyone involved was putting forth their utmost effort, not daring to make the slightest mistake. Moreover, aware that this group possessed extraordinary strength, the Cheng family had long prepared reserve teams, allowing them to capture the men Guan Wei sent out for scouting in one fell swoop.

But since these events in the county town had unfolded outside their awareness, they could afford to be so relaxed and carefree here.

In the distance, a bandit roared an insult, his voice thick with impatience.

Guan Wei glanced in that direction, and the quickest-witted man beside him immediately ran over. Moments later, the man returned. “Captain, the two five-man teams assigned to hunting today haven't come back yet, so Brother Ma is getting angry.”

Guan Wei snapped his head up, his gaze instantly sharpening to a razor's edge. He asked in a low voice, “Two teams? Not a single one returned?”

“Yes,” the man replied, startled, quickly adding.

Guan Wei’s expression darkened further. He was, after all, a master of the Ninth Layer of Inner Strength and a bandit leader who had faced death multiple times. At this moment, he finally sensed something was wrong.

He looked around at the gloomy forest, which now seemed to exude a palpable sense of danger.

“Order them to pack up. We leave immediately.”

His men were utterly bewildered. Just then, a loud burst of laughter echoed through the dense woods.

“Leave? And where do you think you’re going?”

This voice didn't seem to originate from a single spot but rather drifted through the forest, as if one person were sprinting around them at top speed while speaking.

The next instant, the sound of drawing blades erupted among the bandits. Although they were deeply wary of this inscrutable voice, none panicked.

The bandits, forged in the crucible of life and death, possessed a steadfast composure that ordinary men could hardly imagine.

Guan Wei’s eyes darted around in shock. He let out a cold snort, flicked his wrist, and a cold glint shot from his hand like lightning toward the shadow behind a large tree.

Clang...

A small throwing dart fell to the ground, seemingly striking something made of steel, producing a sharp, brittle sound.

Guan Wei said coldly, “Which esteemed master dares to play tricks here, hiding like a ghost? Are you not afraid of losing face?”

“I am not afraid of losing face,” the person replied without revealing himself, still hidden behind the tree. “If we speak of lurking like ghosts, who could be more ghostly than those who rob masked in the dead of night?”

Guan Wei’s expression shifted slightly. His eyebrows shot up. “The Cheng family?”

After speaking those two words, his ears twitched sharply. “Bad. People are rushing this way. Everyone, move out fast!”

The dozens of men immediately snatched their weapons and sprinted toward the pre-arranged escape route. Under the circumstances, not a single person bothered to collect the scattered items on the ground, indicating that this kind of hurried retreat was not new to them.

Two figures suddenly emerged from behind the large tree: one was naturally Cheng Jiahui, and the other was He Quanxin.

Upon appearing, they immediately lunged toward Guan Wei.

Guan Wei sneered. With a movement of his hand, a heavy saber materialized in his grip. While this saber was nowhere near as exaggerated as He Wude’s great long-handled blade, it was still several inches thick and nearly a meter long. He brought it down in a single chop toward the head, the fierce sound of displaced air rushing past like a landslide.

Cheng Jiahui abruptly halted his charge, but He Quanxin flicked his wrist in unison; a twelve-foot-long red-tasseled spear shot out like a viper leaving its den, coiling around.

Both these masters possessed the Ninth Layer of Inner Strength cultivation. Although He Quanxin’s skill was slightly superior, Guan Wei was a bandit leader; his every move carried an overwhelming, savage momentum. From their first exchange, it was as if he held an ancient grudge—the murder of a father, the theft of a wife—with every slash suicidal and every thrust soul-stealing.

Under this nearly rogue-like fighting style, even He Quanxin found his movements restricted, falling into disadvantage within moments.

Cheng Jiahui did not advance alongside. Instead, he tried to skirt the immediate conflict to pursue the ordinary bandits. However, another bandit turned back to intercept him. This man’s cultivation was only at the Seventh Layer, but the way he wielded his broad saber was akin to Guan Wei’s own style—every blow was a life-or-death gamble, fighting like a shrew, ensuring the high-and-mighty Cheng Jiahui dared not touch him even slightly.

After the four had fought for a while, countless footsteps echoed from the direction the pursuers had come. The Cheng family reinforcements had finally arrived.

At this moment, Guan Wei and the other bandit simultaneously let out long laughs, easing their saber strikes as they disengaged and retreated, turning to pursue their companions.

Because these two had been proactively attacking, they could withdraw at any time without reservation.

Yet, they failed to notice that although He Quanxin and Cheng Jiahui shouted loudly, they made no true, life-risking effort to block the retreat. They simply watched the backs of the fleeing men with expressions of mockery.

Only then did the two leisurely begin to follow.

Guan Wei and the other bandit retreated swiftly. After a short distance, they suddenly heard sharp screams coming from ahead, and the sound clearly indicated that many of the brothers who had been with them were crying out.

The two were deeply alarmed and quickened their pace. When they arrived at the front, they couldn't help but feel their eyes nearly split open in rage.

More than half of the initial forty-plus men lay sprawled out at the edge of the dense woods. Embedded in the bodies of these fallen men were several crossbow bolts.

It was clear that someone had been hidden here all along, specifically waiting for them to fall into the trap.

A thought flashed through Guan Wei’s mind, and he instantly understood who had leaked the information about their escape route: “Copper Head. He’s in your hands.”

An old man with white hair and beard calmly walked out from among the trees ahead. This elder was Cheng Ningsheng, the master of the Cheng family.

The old man looked at Guan Wei, his eyes openly displaying thick, killing intent. “Indeed. Though that Copper Head is stubborn, this old man’s hand is harder. After I crush every bone in his body, he will tell me everything he knows without holding back.”

Cheng Ningsheng’s words were flat and calm, as if he were reminiscing with an old friend, but meeting the elder’s gaze sent an icy chill deep into Guan Wei’s heart.

A flicker of regret suddenly sparked in his mind. Had he underestimated the great families here too greatly?

Cheng Ningsheng extended both hands, holding an iron-cast staff. He announced loudly, “Mr. Guan, our last engagement was not satisfying. Let us contend once more.”

As his voice faded, over a hundred men charged out from behind him. Seeing the readiness of these men, Guan Wei’s heart sank.

Among this contingent, there were quite a few masters who had reached the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Inner Strength.

It was evident that to avenge their family, the entire Cheng household had emptied its coffers!

Ps: Three chapters tomorrow, seeking recommendation tickets and collection ^_^

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