Chapter Fifteen: Hero Li Descends the Mountain!

The news of the destruction of Erlong Stronghold quickly spread to the neighboring outposts, or rather, it shocked the entire bandit world in the vicinity.

Erlong Stronghold was by no means a small place. In this era, many who couldn't make ends meet turned to a life of banditry. Some could hardly be called bandits; they simply lacked official registration, living as outcasts in the wilderness, all to avoid taxes and levies.

Thus, strongholds were plentiful. Some had only seven or eight "main fighters," living with their families. A place like Erlong Stronghold, or the Great Cangshan Outpost, with twenty or thirty able-bodied men and some families, could be considered medium to large.

Of course, there were those sprawling across several peaks, hundreds strong, so formidable even the authorities dared not provoke them. Such super-sized mountain fortresses could not survive solely by looting; they surely had other trades and enterprises. Some strongholds were simply the "dagger in the night" of some great figure.

Erlong Stronghold was thus a notable presence nearby, and its two chiefs were old acquaintances of the father of Chief Li, who ran the main outpost. For a place of this scale to suffer such a blow—falling apart overnight—was enough to send tremors through all neighboring strongholds.

Everyone speculated whether the imperial army had intervened. As a result, every stronghold within a hundred miles sealed its gates and ceased operations.

By contrast, Li Yun, at the heart of the matter, remained at ease. He spent his days reading and practicing martial arts, occasionally descending the mountain to observe the area. By evening, he returned to his small courtyard to banter with Miss Xue, living a leisurely life.

In the blink of an eye, nearly twenty days had passed.

That day, the stronghold was stewing preserved meat. Chief Li sat at the head of the table, devouring a couple pieces before casting a glance at Peng Hai and the others from Erlong Stronghold, who by now had blended in.

Over these twenty days, the few from Erlong Stronghold had made no trouble; they likely sensed Li Yun’s suspicions and behaved themselves.

After his meal, Li Yun cleared his throat and said, “Chief Peng, are your wounds healed?”

Peng Hai hastily set his chopsticks down and stood up. “Thank you, Second Master, for your concern. I am much better.”

“Well then…”

Chief Li said slowly, “When do you plan to return to Erlong Stronghold?”

Peng Hai glanced at Zhou Liang, the third-in-command, who kept his gaze fixed forward, pretending not to notice.

“Second Master, there’s no longer any Erlong Stronghold…”

Li Yun regarded him calmly, saying, “Erlong Stronghold only lost a few people; the place itself remains. It wasn’t burned to the ground. Why do you say Erlong Stronghold is gone?”

With that, Li Yun paid him no further mind, stood up, walked over to the women cooking, scooped a bowl of rice and a bowl of preserved meat, a bowl in each hand, and made his way outside.

“Third Uncle, you brought Chief Peng up here. You handle it. If Chief Peng is truly willing to join us, it will be simple enough.”

At the gate, Li Yun looked back at the group, saying with a faint smile, “Find a suitable time, take Third Uncle to Erlong Stronghold, and bring all your belongings over.”

Zhou Liang’s eyes flickered, and he bowed low. “As you command!”

Peng Hai and the others from Erlong Stronghold exchanged glances, then lowered their heads in silence.

The main hall wasn’t far from Chief Li’s own courtyard. With two bowls in hand, Li Yun strolled back, then knocked on Xue Yun’er’s modest door.

“Miss Xue.”

He spoke to announce himself, and the door soon opened. Xue Yun’er looked at the food in his hands and smiled, “Why are you bringing me dinner yourself today?”

Usually, one of the women from the stronghold delivered her meals. After a month spent together, she trusted Li Yun would not harm her, and now her manner was much warmer.

Li Yun entered, placed both bowls on the table, and said with a smile, “The food’s good today, so I brought you some. I have a favor to ask.”

“Bringing food, trying to curry favor.”

Xue Yun’er gave him a sideways glance, a hint of playful reproach. “When have I ever missed a meal? Hardly something to earn favor with.”

“Today’s different.”

Chief Li smiled. “There’s meat today. Everyone’s scrambling for it. If I didn’t bring you a bowl, you’d get none when the women deliver it later.”

Xue Yun’er looked at the heaping bowl of preserved meat, then up at Li Yun. “So, what do you need from me?”

Chief Li made no pretense, seating himself with his back to her. “Miss Xue is skilled at hairdressing, isn’t she? Help me tidy my hair—it’s always such a mess.”

Xue Yun’er couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re the king of your mountain, why bother with your hair? Everyone in the stronghold…”

Her voice abruptly halted, and when she spoke again, it was trembling—perhaps with excitement.

“You… you…”

She asked shakily, “Are you going down the mountain?”

Li Yun turned to look at her.

“Days pass unnoticed up here. Miss Xue, you’ve probably forgotten: it’s been twenty-seven, twenty-eight days since the message was sent to your father. It takes another day to reach Qingyang. So…”

“It’s time to leave the mountain.”

Li Yun paused, then smiled. “If I go down in this wild-haired state, everyone will know at a glance I’m a bandit. It’s inconvenient and not good for you, either.”

“I’ve already had proper clothes found for me. Today I’ll have my hair done; if all goes well, tomorrow…”

“We leave the mountain.”

Chief Li smiled. “I’ll escort you home.”

Xue Yun’er was so happy she seemed to forget to breathe. After a moment, she said, “Alright… although I’ve never dressed a man’s hair before, I’ll try…”

Li Yun chuckled. “No rush. Eat first; we have the whole afternoon. Take your time.”

Xue Yun’er nodded, sat down to eat, then picked up the comb Li Yun had found for her and stood behind him.

The moment the comb touched his scalp, Miss Xue blushed.

Usually, it was a wife who dressed her husband’s hair…

Such intimacy felt almost improper.

Shaking off stray thoughts, she focused. After a few strokes, she relaxed, smiling. “Your hair is darker and thicker than mine, by far.”

Chief Li did not turn, only smiled. “I haven’t tended it in twenty years—perhaps it’s just natural.”

Though she had never dressed a man’s hair, Xue Yun’er was clever and had styled her own since childhood. In less than half an hour, she had fashioned a proper topknot for him, and, with the headband added, he looked the part.

Chief Li stood and turned to her. “Is it good enough?”

Xue Yun’er sized him up. “It’s fine. You just need to change your clothes.”

Li nodded, returned to his room, and donned a round-collared robe Liu Bo had found for him.

He was tall and sturdy, but in this robe, much of his roughness was concealed, as was the aura of strength that seemed to emanate from him.

Coupled with his manners, so different from the old Li Mazi, when he strapped on his sword and appeared before Xue Yun’er again, he was a changed man.

Scholars traveling for study in this era often looked just so.

Xue Yun’er gazed at him for a long moment, then suddenly covered her mouth and laughed.

“You really do look like a chivalrous knight.”

Chief Li laughed heartily. “From tomorrow on, I’ll be ‘Hero Li’.”

He looked at her, smiling. “Shall we leave the mountain tomorrow?”

Xue Yun’er nodded softly. “Yes.”

After a pause, she looked at Li Yun and spoke gently, “Thank you…”

Chief Li waved his hand.

“If Miss Xue doesn’t hate me, I am satisfied.”

“No need to thank me.”

With that, Li Yun left the room, stretched luxuriously, and returned to his own quarters.

Xue Yun’er closed the door, sitting alone at her table for a long while, murmuring softly,

“Yes, I…”

“I should hate him, shouldn’t I…”