Chapter 21: United Bandits

The reddish-brown horse buried its head in the feeding trough, gulping down Jiang Xiaomu's specially made horse feed with loud chewing sounds.

Jiang Xiaomu secretly laughed; this Wang Ma Zi really thought himself a divine doctor.

Seeing the reddish-brown horse wolfing down its food, Jiang Xiaomu pondered what to do next.

This military camp is no place to linger; he needed to find a way to slip away.

Just then, Wang Ma Zi wobbled back with his bulky frame, holding two roast chickens in his hands.

"Little divine doctor, you've worked hard! Come, come, eat some chicken!" He smiled obsequiously and handed the roast chicken to Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu took the roast chicken, feeling a wave of nausea.

Wang Ma Zi's face changed faster than flipping a page; just moments ago he was fierce and menacing, now he fawned like a lapdog.

He tore off a piece of chicken meat, symbolically took two bites, and said perfunctorily, "Brother Wang, thanks, but this horse's illness still needs a few more doses of medicine to heal; I still have to go up the mountain to gather herbs."

"Fine, fine, go! Tell me if you need anything!" Wang Ma Zi waved his hand grandly, acting all rich and imposing.

Jiang Xiaomu smirked coldly; this fool really thought himself a gullible mark.

He picked up the remaining roast chicken and left the stables.

He had no intention of gathering any medicine; the horse wasn't sick at all—it was just starving.

He needed to find a place quickly, stuff his belly with one roast chicken, and trade the other for some silver.

Leaving the military camp, Jiang Xiaomu walked along the bustling street, pondering his next plan.

【Ding, an enemy spy has appeared in the stronghold, currently gathering military intelligence.】

【In just a few days, the enemy will muster a large force and launch a massive assault. And the host—that is, you, currently inside the stronghold—will be mistaken by the chieftain as a traitor in the chaos, face his blade, and ultimately die here. Moreover, the innocent civilians of the entire town will hardly escape; they will suffer a brutal slaughter in this war, corpses strewn across the fields.】

【My sister Xiao Yudian remains unprotected, the outcome unchanged.】

Jiang Xiaomu's heart jolted; so soon?

He quickly looked ahead; a shifty-eyed man in tattered clothes darted through the crowd, glancing around furtively from time to time.

He looked at that bandit lackey, used Heaven's Mandate Points to gain a system prompt, after all there were so many people in the town.

With his current abilities, it's hard to avoid involving his sister.

Using five Heaven's Mandate Points, he obtained a hint.

【Join forces with the bandits, then rise up to seize the military household chief, become the leader yourself, and change your fate.】

The system prompted that he could ally with the bandits, then turn around and take down the military household chief, replacing him.

This sounded crazy, but it was currently the only way to survive.

He quickly stepped up to the bandit lackey, grabbed his collar, and dragged him into a secluded alley.

"Kid, what are you sneaking around for?"

The bandit lackey's face turned pale with fright, stammering, "I… I was just looking around…"

"Just looking around? I think you're a spy." Jiang Xiaomu narrowed his eyes, his tone icy.

Upon hearing that, the bandit lackey was terrified out of his wits, thudding to his knees and crying, "Sir, spare my life! I'm only following orders; I dare not disobey!"

Jiang Xiaomu's mouth corner twitched up slightly, but there was no warmth in it; that smile seemed frosted by winter's snow, exuding bone‑chilling cold.

It looks like this kid really is a bandit spy.

He seized the bandit lackey by the collar, his eyes trembling with anger, and said, "Take me to see your chieftain!"

The bandit lackey dared not resist; he could only obediently lead Jiang Xiaomu out of the city.

Along the way, Jiang Xiaomu pumped the bandit lackey for plenty of information about Heifengzhai.

The chieftain of Heifengzhai is named Hei Xuan, a ruthless tyrant who commands hundreds of bandits.

They have held Black Wind Mountain for years, remaining a major scourge of the region.

"Hei Xuan really is a scourge!" Jiang Xiaomu said through gritted teeth.

"Sir, you really mustn't say that! If the chieftain hears it, my little life will be forfeit!" the bandit lackey trembled with fear.

"Don't worry, I won't let you die." Jiang Xiaomu's lips curled up ever so slightly, gentle yet restrained.

"I still need you to help me deal with that Wang Ma Zi!"

The bandit lackey looked bewildered, having no idea what medicine Jiang Xiaomu was selling from his gourd.

After walking half a day, they finally reached the base of Black Wind Mountain. The bandit lackey pointed to a cluster of buildings on the slope and said, "Sir, that's Heifengzhai."

Jiang Xiaomu looked up and saw the mountain thickly wooded, the stronghold hidden within, easy to defend but hard to attack.

He silently reckoned that Heifengzhai was indeed a fine place; if he could take it, wouldn't he have a secure foothold?

"Come on, take me to see your chieftain!" Jiang Xiaomu kicked the bandit lackey's butt to urge him on.

The bandit lackey dared not delay; he hurriedly led Jiang Xiaomu up the mountain.

The mountain path was rugged; after walking a long while, they finally arrived at the gate of Heifengzhai. Two gate guards barred their way. "Who goes there?"

"This sir wishes to see the chieftain!" the bandit lackey hurriedly said.

The two guards sized up Jiang Xiaomu from head to toe; seeing his ordinary attire, they didn't think he was anyone important.

They snorted contemptuously, saying, "The chieftain isn't someone just anyone can see! Get lost!"

Jiang Xiaomu's eyebrows instantly knit together; it seemed the guards of Heifengzhai truly judged people by their appearance.

He was about to erupt when suddenly a clamor rose from the mountain.

"What's going on?" Jiang Xiaomu asked.

"Looks like someone's come to cause trouble!" the bandit lackey said, his face changing.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart stirred; he put on a smile, pulled out a few bits of silver from his pocket, weighed them in his hand, and deliberately let the two guards see.

Accompanying the smile, he said, "Brothers, I've just arrived and don't know the rules; I'm really being presumptuous.

These few bits of silver are my apology; please do me a favor and take me up the mountain to have a look at the commotion.

I promise I'll just glance from afar and won't cause you any trouble."

Those two bandits were just the type who see money and go crazy; as soon as they saw the silver, their eyes lit up instantly.

After exchanging a glance, their attitude changed instantly, and one of them reached out to take the silver.

He grinned and said, "Hey, you're sensible enough; that'll do—stick close, and don't go running off."

If anything happens, we won't be responsible.

"That's right, that's right, thanks, you two big brothers."

Jiang Xiaomu hurriedly nodded and bowed in agreement.

In the center of the stronghold, a man dressed in brocade robes and holding a folding fan was confronting a group of bandits.

"Hei Xuan, you cowardly turtle, get out here and die!" the brocade-clad man shouted loudly.

"How dare you cause trouble in Heifengzhai!" a bandit leader roared, swinging his blade at the brocade-clad man.

The brocade-clad man snorted coldly, flashed aside, easily dodged the bandit's attack, then kicked the bandit leader flying away.

"Nice moves!" Jiang Xiaomu couldn't help but praise. It seemed this brocade-clad man was no pushover either.

Just then, a burly, thick‑faced man stepped out of the crowd. He was none other than Heifengzhai's chieftain, Hei Xuan.

"Who are you? How dare you cause trouble on my turf!" Hei Xuan glared at the brocade-clad man and demanded.

"I am Qin Feng, chief of the Flying Eagle Stronghold!" the brocade-clad man said, flicking his folding fan with an arrogant expression.

"I've come today to pay respects to the mountain—and, by the way, to take your dog's life!"