With the chaos still unfolding and no time for the leader to ponder the situation, deserters began falling from the sky like dumplings. With a series of thuds, they landed like human sandbags not far from Shen Tang, wailing in pain. Some had minor injuries like bruises and swelling, while others suffered from broken bones and concussions.
All of them had been thrown!
A few who escaped unscathed could still stand, albeit reluctantly. They seemed to have witnessed something terrifying, forced to retreat step by step. Overwhelmed by the overwhelming and pure dominance, they lost all will to fight, trembling like sieves.
The leader's face turned pale as he attempted to push himself up from the ground, but every part of his body throbbed with pain, and he failed several times.
"What's going on?"
Zhai Le leaped down from the treetop and approached Shen Tang.
Shen Tang raised an eyebrow. "This night is anything but peaceful, isn't it?"
One wave subsided, only for another to rise.
Upon hearing this, Zhai Le cast his gaze towards the darkness.
Clang, clang, clang.
Zhai Le's expression shifted from ease to seriousness as his lips lost their smile. His peach blossom eyes, typically gentle, now held a rare intensity.
As the person approached, the sound grew clearer. Zhai Le was intimately familiar with it—the distinct noise of armor joints colliding. The newcomer's footsteps were steady and powerful, with a slow and leisurely rhythm. Seemingly casual, each step accumulated momentum, steadily rising. Zhai Le had a premonition that if this person amassed enough momentum, even at his best, he wouldn't be able to stop him!
Definitely a formidable opponent!
Zhai Le took a step forward, positioning himself to shield half of Shen Tang's body, and whispered low, "The newcomer is dangerous. If conflict arises, I may need you to assist me with your literary skills, Brother Shen."
Shen Tang's face twisted momentarily with a strange expression.
"I'm afraid... that won't be necessary."
Before Zhai Le could inquire further, a burly figure approaching within two meters gradually emerged from the darkness. He wore a black helmet with a tiger's head design, adorned with a red tassel atop. His armor, connected by black "mountain" plates, was both aesthetically pleasing and imposing. With pauldrons on his shoulders, tiger-headed arm guards on his wrists, chest and back plates covering his upper body, and a skirt extending to his calves, he exuded the aura of a general straight from the battlefield.
Shen Tang leaned close to Zhai Le's ear and whispered, "It's that thief!"
Zhai Le: "..."
Well, well, well, isn't this quite the surprise? It's indeed Mr. Guan Shuwu.
Isn't he the one who's arrived?
Not only Guan Shuwu, but he also had two scholarly companions with him—one with a complexion as dark as ink named Qi Yuanliang, and the other with a face almost as pale as the night, named Chu Wuhui. Both seemed to blend into the darkness itself. Upon meeting each other, Guan Shuwu let out a relieved sigh, allowing his armor to transform back into the black martial energy at his waist.
Without the cumbersome fifty pounds of armor, Guan Shuwu's steps lightened considerably as he approached. "Finally found you."
Zhai Le chuckled awkwardly. "Mr. Guan, is it necessary to don your martial armor to deal with a few bandits? You nearly scared me just now. I almost put on armor myself to fight you."
He opted for agility, which meant his endurance and strength were not as abundant compared to someone of similar martial prowess. Even his armor was relatively lightweight, suitable for swift and decisive combat rather than prolonged engagements.
If he encountered a formidable opponent, one who warmed up slowly and built up power, was he supposed to wait until they chopped him down?
Guan Shuwu simply said, "Better safe than sorry."
After all, two scholarly gentlemen were accompanying him.
Speaking of those two gentlemen...
Guan Shuwu and Zhai Le turned their gazes towards Shen Tang.
Shen Tang stood proudly, one hand on her hip and the other holding her sword. Her chin was slightly raised, exuding an air of righteousness and confidence. Faced with the silent inquiry from the two gentlemen, she showed no signs of weakness. She saw nothing wrong with venturing into the mountains at night and engaging in combat.
She could uphold justice, punish evil, and promote good, even while enriching herself—no need to doubt it. And if that "poverty" referred to herself, who else?
She wasn't alone in this "venture."
Didn't she bring Zhai Le along?
If Qi Shan were to get angry...
Shen Tang sighed, using the tone one might use with a child.
"Next time, I'll definitely bring you along, alright?"
She reflected deeply and sincerely.
Qi Shan: "..."
Having worried all night and finding the person safe and sound, he should have been happy. But seeing Shen Tang's demeanor, he felt a twinge in his stomach, his anger rising uncontrollably.
At this moment, Zhai Le stepped forward to explain.
"Mr. Qi, Brother Shen here is drunk."
Qi Shan's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean he's drunk again?"
Zhai Le: "At first, we don't know where Brother Shen drank, but after we arrived in the mountains, he drank at least three jin..."
Qi Shan: "..."
Chu Wuhui cleared his throat, patting Qi Shan's shoulder reassuringly.
"Let it go, let it go. As long as Fifth Brother is safe and sound."
Qi Shan took a few deep breaths, barely suppressing his surging anger, silently telling himself not to argue with a drunkard. As for the three of them running around all night, scouring several mountains and searching in the dark, they would address it later after Shen Tang sobered up.
Guan Shuwu noticed movement in the nearby woods, his eyebrows slightly furrowing. He was about to approach and investigate when a young girl emerged—a petite figure with a haggard appearance. Zhai Le also noticed her and called out, "Miss Lin, are you awake?"
Upon hearing Zhai Le's voice, Lin Feng approached, her young face weary. She bowed and then stood beside Shen Tang before replying, "I woke up when I heard the commotion."
In reality, she hadn't slept all night and couldn't sleep.
She had been trembling with fear upon hearing the sounds of battle outside, her mind replaying the scene of her family being slaughtered by the guards.
Unable to calm down, she had sneaked over to check on the situation.
Qi Shan asked, "Who is this?"
Shen Tang replied, "She's Lin Feng."
"Lin Feng?"
"Yes, she'll be following me from now on."
Following?
Qi Shan gave Shen Tang a strange look, silently assessing her.
Zhai Le added, "Mr. Qi, Miss Lin recently suffered a great tragedy, losing her family to bandits. Now she's alone, and Shen Brother took pity on her and decided to take care of her. Brother Shen has a kind heart and means no harm."
Qi Shan: "..."
Not saying anything would be
best, but once he did, his thoughts inevitably turned to a dark place.
Shen Tang directly criticized him, "Zhai Xiaofang, your words just now were dripping with sarcasm. Why don't you tell me, what 'hidden intention' do I have?"
Zhai Le: "..."
Although he didn't understand what "dripping with sarcasm" meant, even a child could tell it wasn't a compliment.
Relying on his survival instinct, Zhai Le chose to change the subject.
"What should we do with these bandits?"
Shen Tang replied, "If they're lucky enough to survive, they'll be recruited. If they can't hold on and die, bury them on the spot to fertilize the soil."
Chu Wuhui caught onto a word.
"Recruited?"
Shen Tang tilted her head proudly.
"I have dozens of little brothers now."
Chu Wuhui's eyes softened as he praised, "Fifth Brother is brave."
Qi Shan: "..."
Rolling his eyes to the heavens.
At this moment, he noticed the injured bandit leader.
With his photographic memory, he easily recognized his identity, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Isn't this the official who was escorting the Gong family? How did he end up like this?"
Upon hearing the name "Gong," Guan Shuwu's spine stiffened.
His sharp gaze seemed capable of piercing through the man.