Chapter 67: More Than Just Outlaws!

With only twenty or so constables, it was naturally impossible to block all fifty bandits fleeing for their lives; after all, they weren't about to risk everything in a desperate fight against such a large group. Yet, twenty-odd constables brandishing blades were more than enough to throw the escaping bandits into panic. In their confusion, unable to tell how many officers blocked their path, the bandits immediately veered off, charging in another direction.

At that moment, Li Yun, musket in hand, surged forth. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had wounded several more. Witnessing this, more than a dozen bandits, terrified, threw down their weapons, dropped to their knees, and surrendered on the spot. The remaining thirty or so crowded around their injured chief, Old Tong, whose arm Li Yun had cut, and together they forced their way out.

Seeing the constables had arrived, Li Yun, after subduing one last bandit, immediately slipped into a local house. There he removed his armor and mask, changed into a plain black robe, and strolled to the village entrance.

Only then did Chen Da and the others catch sight of him and hurriedly gather around.

“Captain!”

Still catching his breath, Captain Li asked, “How many of our brothers are hurt?”

“Four, but none from our anti-bandit squad,” Chen Da replied. “One is badly wounded; I’ve already sent for a doctor.”

Li Yun nodded, his voice low and steady. “These bandits have grown far too bold, fighting in our Qingyang territory. Take those who should be arrested back to the county yamen and await the magistrate’s judgment.”

Chen Da gave Li Yun a thoughtful look, especially noting the blood matting the ends of his hair. He hesitated, glanced around, and asked, “Captain, what should we do with the bodies?”

“Most of these are the corpses of the two warring bandit gangs,” Li Yun replied. “When the villagers return, they’ll bury them on the spot. Don’t worry about it. Just escort the surrendered bandits to the county jail.”

Looking back, Chen Da saw around twenty bandits kneeling in surrender. He nodded and clasped his fists. “As you command.”

“Will you come back to the yamen with us, Captain?”

Li Yun shook his head. “I still have some matters to investigate here. You go on ahead; I’ll return to the county in a few days.”

Chen Da cast one last glance at Li Family Village. He sensed something was amiss but wisely held his tongue, leading the constables away to carry out Li Yun’s orders.

After all, the pay from the anti-bandit squad was much better than what the yamen used to offer. Besides, Li Yun had a way of commanding respect—by now, Chen Da’s loyalty was firmly with him. As for who these people really were, what exactly had happened in the village, or why the captain was fighting here—none of it mattered anymore.

As dusk fell and the constables marched the bandits from King Ten’s Stronghold away, Chief Li slumped heavily beneath the great tree at the edge of the village, head throbbing.

He was only human, with his limits. After more than an hour of pitched battle in a state of utmost tension, his body could still hold out, but his spirit was nearly spent.

“Skinny Monkey!” he called at last.

Li Zheng, who had joined the fight very late, hurried over and squatted beside him. “Second Brother, I’m here.”

“Have Uncle Five prepare medicine immediately for the wounded,” Li Yun murmured with closed eyes.

Every stronghold had its own healer, and Cangshan Stronghold was no exception. Fortunately, Chief Li had recently led his men on a raid and secured plenty of medical supplies—there was no shortage on the mountain now.

Li Zheng nodded. “Don’t worry, Second Brother. Ninth Brother is meticulous—he had Uncle Five ready everything in advance.”

Li Yun rubbed his temples and asked, “How many of our men were lost? And the hired hands?”

Li Zheng glanced around, looking troubled. After a moment, he replied, “Second Brother, I’m afraid about ten are wounded and a few dead. It’s still hard to say for sure.”

Human vitality is stubborn; unless struck in a vital spot, it’s rare to die instantly.

He thought a moment longer. “Tiger took a cut across his back, but it’s not deep.”

Li Yun nodded silently and slowly stood.

“I’m feeling drowsy.”

“I’ll find you a place to rest,” Li Zheng said quickly. “Let me and Ninth Brother and Uncles Three and Five handle the aftermath.”

Li Yun simply grunted. Supported by Li Zheng, he didn’t return to the mountain but found a house in the village. He washed his face, stripped off his bloodied clothes, lay down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke, it was already noon the next day.

He bore no serious wounds, just two red welts on his chest where sleeve-daggers had struck. After a good sleep, his spirit was renewed, and hunger gnawed at him.

Someone had been guarding his door all along. Hearing movement inside, a balding middle-aged man entered, delighted. “Chief, you’re awake!”

Li Yun looked at him with a wry smile. “Baldy, what brings you here?”

Baldy was a close companion of Li Yun’s, once Chief Li’s right-hand man, though since Li Yun’s “awakening” after the bride-snatching incident, he’d spent more time with Liu Bo, Li Zheng, and the other young core members, growing distant from Baldy.

“Skinny Monkey sent me to watch over you.”

Li Yun stretched and said, “I’m fine now.”

He donned his outer coat, pushed open the door, and stepped outside. In the courtyard, an old man awaited him—the village chief of Li Family Village.

Seeing Li Yun, the old chief rose and gave him a once-over, a smile breaking over his face. “Young man, you’re all right?”

Li Yun shook his head slightly. “I’m fine, Elder.”

“Have the villagers returned?”

“They all came back this morning.”

He glanced at Li Yun, then at Baldy beside him. Li Yun caught his meaning and signaled Baldy, who, after a look at the old chief, left the courtyard.

The old chief sat with Li Yun and said, “Our village owes you a great debt. Had you not sent word of warning, who knows how many of us would have survived the night?”

Li Yun smiled. “Bandit feuds are our own affair. The villagers should never be dragged in.”

The old man regarded him. “From now on, if Cangshan Stronghold wants to recruit from the village, I won’t stand in the way.”

With that, he stood and walked out. “You and your father are sons of this village.”

Li Yun watched the old man’s retreating figure and slowly clenched his fist. If he could bring in some new recruits from Li Family Village, this settlement at the foot of the mountain would become Cangshan Stronghold’s natural bastion.

He rose and left the courtyard.

There were still bloodstains scattered through the village, though most had been washed away.

Li Yun strode toward Cangshan Stronghold, fully aware that after last night’s battle, their name would soon be known throughout the world of outlaws—at least across Xuan Prefecture. As for himself, his fame would inevitably rise again across the land.

Of course, the last time someone from Li Family made a name for himself, it was Captain Li Zhao.

…

In the main hall of Cangshan Stronghold, Li Yun sat in the seat of honor, with Li Zheng and Liu Bo at his sides.

Liu Bo, head bowed, reported, “Second Brother, we lost six men. More than twenty are wounded, but most injuries are minor. As for King Ten’s Stronghold, they lost at least fifty here in Cangshan, counting those taken by the authorities.”

He continued in a grave tone, “At best, half the able men of King Ten’s Stronghold remain.”

A smile flickered across Li Yun’s face. “Their chief and third-in-command led most of their men down the mountain, and only twenty-odd made it back. Even the third-in-command died out there. Whether their chief can hold his position now is highly doubtful.”

“Ninth Brother,” he said.

Liu Bo nodded eagerly. “Second Brother, your orders?”

“They fell for our trap once; they may well try to ambush us in return. From now until New Year, no one is to leave the mountain. As long as we stay put, they won’t dare come again.”

“And before the festival—” Li Yun looked steadily at Liu Bo, his voice calm. “I’ll take you on a raid to King Ten’s Stronghold.”

It was nearly November now, and the New Year was not far off. With King Ten’s Stronghold in chaos, Li Yun had no intention of giving them time to recover.

Liu Bo, who had been humiliated by King Ten’s Stronghold two months earlier, brightened at his words and slammed the table in excitement.

“Second Brother, once we wipe out King Ten’s Stronghold and seize Lingyang Mountain, all of Qingyang’s outlaws will take orders from us!”

Captain Li was unimpressed. He sipped his tea and corrected him.

“Not just the outlaws.”