Chapter 14: A Powerful Strike Against the Bandits of Mount Mang

Mang Mountain lies over a hundred miles from Tanzhou Prefecture’s city proper. Its terrain is ever-changing, marked by towering peaks, deep gorges, rolling hills, and dense stone forests.

What makes it truly peculiar is a cliffside riddled with numerous caves—some extending for miles, others piercing through sheer rock walls with exits on the opposite side.

Moreover, Mang Mountain is not far from the dreaded Deadly Cliff, a place that strikes fear into all who hear its name.

For this reason, the mountain has long been a sanctuary for the corrupt and a refuge for those wishing to escape the world.

Just a few days ago, the bandits Qin Anyu encountered were hiding in Mang Mountain.

In that battle, the bandits sacrificed more than ten of their own to massacre every traveler passing through. The wounded tended to their injuries, while the dead were buried in hastily dug graves.

After several days of recovery, the weariness from the fierce fight had vanished. The lightly wounded had nearly healed, and even the severely injured showed signs of improvement. Hunger soon drove them to seek food once again.

Though their scouts had yet to return, a feast was already laid out in the bandit den.

Within a vast cavern, over thirty men had gathered, their voices loud and boisterous.

At the head sat the bandit leader, Wu Fei, a master of the ninth cultivation stage of Qi Nourishment. Beside him was a vigorous elderly man.

Wu Fei cleared his throat, silencing the chatter. “This banquet serves two purposes: first, to make up for the celebration we skipped after our previous heavy losses; second, to bid farewell to the two large merchant caravans expected to pass through in the coming days.”

Raising his large wooden bowl, he proclaimed loudly, “The sky is vast, the sea is wide, I roam freely; all things under heaven, I seek at will. We, the heroes of Mang Mountain, are invincible! Let us toast to a campaign without casualties and a bountiful harvest!”

The men raised their bowls in unison, shouting, “No casualties, great rewards!”

Just as they drank, a piercing scream erupted outside, followed by a figure hurtling into the cave—flying sideways.

The bandits turned their heads, watching the figure collapse onto the ground.

“That’s Zhang Huatou.”

“Someone’s broken in!”

“Who dares come here to die?”

Amid the clamoring, Wu Fei set down his bowl and swiftly grabbed his weapons—two massive hammers. With a roar, he charged toward the entrance. “Grab your arms!”

Others followed suit, abandoning their bowls and rushing to their weapons stored against the rock walls.

Chaos ensued—shouts, scuffles, and disorder filled the cavern.

Halfway to the entrance, Wu Fei spotted a hand climbing the cliff floor, then a youth springing upward.

A young man with a sword hilt strapped to his back.

Upon seeing him, a voice behind Wu Fei blurted out in shock, “You’re not dead? How is that possible?”

“Who is he?”

“That big fool from the Qin household.”

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