Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Heads

The Four Great Bandits still showed a gang's camaraderie; seeing Fang Jianding about to be killed, Xiang Batian immediately handed out the double rings to lock Bai Lang's iron claw left and right. Accompanied by a sour‑tooth grinding friction sound, the sawteeth on the double rings were all flattened, even the shape changed, and Xiang Batian quickly threw away the double rings to avoid injury, while Mao Zao flashed and pulled Fang Jianding away, and Cao Yinglong struck with both palms in a linked‑ring attack, the raging qi like a storm tightly coiling around Bai Lang's long spear.

"Humph, still talk about loyalty? I'm starting to appreciate you. Let's do this—walk together on Yellow Spring Road, brothers for life," Bai Lang sneered, his hand trembling as the double rings hanging on the iron claw shattered, and the qi that had been coiled around his long spear was completely torn. Bai Lang spurred his horse forward, the iron claw in his left hand slammed down again, and his right‑hand long spear delivered a sudden rain‑like pear‑flower thrust.

Every strike was boundlessly powerful, every strike uniquely sharp, every strike unstoppable. If the Four Great Bandits could don heavy armor and wield weapons and shields they might block one or two, but dressed as martial artists, no amount of protective qi could stop steel weapons. The three had already fled early, running away before Bai Lang even demanded their heads—seems the young man's mind works well; seeing the situation become unmanageable he cut his losses and fled.

Even if they fled gnashing their teeth, preserving their lives gave them hope—Bai Lang's war‑general shout already made their faces turn pale, planting fear of Bai Lang in their hearts. This so‑called "War‑General Technique" among ten thousand troops is nothing short of a miracle; Bai Lang could even call himself a Flying General.

The Four Great Bandits certainly couldn't escape; even if they wanted to run now they'd first have to suppress Bai Lang—since suppression is impossible, escape is likewise impossible. There's a way—someone could voluntarily sacrifice themselves, offering their head to Bai Lang, allowing the others to possibly flee, betting on whether Bai Lang's Lightness Skill is good enough or lazy enough. The Four Great Bandits now seem to have this thought—deliberately sacrificing a teammate is unwise and likely they'd all kill each other, so each shows their skill; whoever lacks skill gets beheaded and can only blame themselves.

Bai Lang naturally saw the four men each forming a plan; his martial arts easily contained all four at once—thanks to the world's gift, Bai Lang cannot massively lever the primordial qi to perform those hundred‑mile‑shaking innate divine arts, so his ceiling is lowered, but trapping these four is no problem. When to take their heads depends on Bai Lang's will and on when these four idiots stop covering each other completely.

The signs have already begun, likely only twenty or so moves left—Bai Lang's duel with the Four Great Bandits has been just a cup of tea so far, and he doesn't mind spending an extra half‑cup of tea to watch their disgrace. Indeed, the first to collapse is the fourth, Xiang Batian—he's also loyal, having damaged his own weapon to save the third, and now even a spare weapon can't be drawn in time—Bai Lang's attacks are unmatched, leaving no time to dodge or block, let alone reach for a weapon.

Relying on his arm guard, Xiang Batian was already struggling to block, his body already bruised red—he dared not block head‑on, forcing all his effort to deflect from the side. During this time Xiang Batian unleashed all his martial wisdom, entering an unprecedented realm—he devoted himself wholly, achieving a great breakthrough; if he survives to return, a massive cultivation leap would not be a dream.

The others are similar; if they survive to return, they won't be weaker than the direct disciples of the famed sects, their martial progress would be extremely rapid.

Xiang Batian bore a quarter of the assault, and Bai Lang casually thrust a spear at him; the man had to risk his life to deflect, and with another hammer strike from Bai Lang, the man basically rolled like a donkey. They weren't unwilling to strike the warhorse carrying Bai Lang, but the problem was they couldn't reach—it's doubtful even full defense could block Bai Lang's attacks, let alone find time to hit the horse, and if they killed the horse… the monster would become even stronger—what then?

Xiang Batian finally exhausted, with nothing to shield his hand, Bai Lang's iron claw smashed his shoulder to fragments; amid his wail, his left shoulder collapsed down to the waist, his left arm and a chunk of his torso seemed about to separate. Internal organs and blood burst out from both sides of the dented area. Such wounds were clearly fatal; the three men exchanged glances and silently strained to divert the attacking qi toward the doomed Xiang Batian.

Bai Lang's long spear swept horizontally, easily cleaving Xiang Batian's skull; the head lay flat against the spear blade as he retracted it. Bai Lang casually opened a leather sack, and with a flip the head rolled into it with a clatter. As his movement changed, the other three turned and fled, displaying Lightness Skill at an unprecedented level. Bai Lang indeed felt too lazy to chase; he simply threw the spear.

The spear split the third, Fang Jianding, cleanly in two; the two halves lay on the ground, not yet dead, merely writing a tragic scene. The second, Mao Zao, and the first, Cao Yinglong, were nearly struck by a pair of iron claws, but Bai Lang's slight mis‑aim saved their lives. "Hahaha, still not good at killing blows, especially when thrown from a horse," Bai Lang chuckled, riding over to take Fang Jianding's head, freeing him.

"So these are the heads of the two great bandits; a fine horse in exchange is more than enough." As for the horse‑bandits' forces? Those guys had already scattered; ten‑thousand cavalry? Just a heap of trash. "Does this count as saving their lives?" Bai Lang wasn't sure; if the horse‑bandits kept lingering here to besiege the city, they might starve to death from lack of supplies… "But if they're truly this stupid, how did they rise to become the Four Great Bandits? Yet seeing they still can't fully unify command and strongholds as a stepping‑stone, they're probably that foolish."

Bai Lang rode his horse, this time not needing to input true qi—Bai Lang's innate true qi is domineering and strong, and if he kept going the horse would be exhausted. He rode back to the inn's location; the Flying Horse Ranch still didn't know the horse‑bandits had already scattered, the two bandits had become heads. Bai Lang first took Wei Zhenzhen, letting her drive a mule cart herself, while he leisurely ran to the Flying Horse Ranch gate to call out. "People above, listen: the horse‑bandits have dispersed. Here are two heads; exchange for a fine horse!"

Bai Lang, with Wei Zhenzhen, gave the impression they weren't coming to deceive the city; besides, his handsome appearance certainly wasn't like someone who lures enemies in.