Chapter Fifty: Ambush on the Road
On the mountain path, the household guards stood at vantage points, scanning the surroundings vigilantly, while Feng Xiaobao and his two companions continued playing cards, only now their game had moved to a road flanking the Yellow River, not far from Xindu Mountain.
The sun climbed higher. After tossing out an ace, Feng Xiaobao casually asked, “Do you think the third pass has been breached yet?”
“It should be. Normally it wouldn’t be so easy, but once the bandits realized their leaders weren’t around, they surely couldn’t hold out for long,” Cheng Boxi replied.
“Not necessarily. Maybe the bandits are desperate, after all, each of their heads is worth ten strings of coins,” Yang Chengxian retorted.
Cheng Boxi snorted, “Care to wager?”
“What sort of wager?”
“Forget it, forget it!” Feng Xiaobao interjected to smooth things over. “However the third pass turns out is none of our concern. Boxi, is your intelligence reliable?”
“Absolutely!” Cheng Boxi responded with confidence.
In ancient times, intelligence gathering lacked the conveniences of satellites, drones, or listening devices—it relied entirely on manpower and firsthand investigation. Though Cheng Boxi was a concubine’s son, he belonged to the Cheng family, and once he set his sights on the bandits of Xindu Mountain, he was determined to see it through to the bitter end. Such was the style of the old noble houses: once committed, there could be no failure.
Thus, the Cheng family extended its reach, gathering information everywhere. It was unfortunate for the bandits of Xindu Mountain that the imperial court had chosen them as the “harvest” targets. With pressure mounting, all the local gangs and brotherhoods naturally facilitated the powerful families.
So, when the chivalrous warriors mobilized, their profiles reached the bandits of Xindu Mountain. Yet, the bandits’ intelligence likewise reached Cheng Boxi, revealing to him:
Why was Xindu Mountain so formidable, and what did they rely on? How would they counter the official troops? If the bandits were defeated, what would they do?
The answer: they were very likely to escape via this road along the riverbank.
No one told Cheng Boxi directly that the bandits might use this route—it was deduced by the Cheng household team themselves, hence Feng Xiaobao and his companions waited here.
Those who could escape would be the leaders, bringing with them years of accumulated wealth... This was the cream of the crop.
While the chivalrous warriors fought bitterly at the three passes, Feng Xiaobao was here waiting to reap the rewards.
Of course, intelligence is intelligence—there was always a chance it could be false, but luck was on their side.
This stretch of road was desolate; the wild chirping of insects and birds filled the air. Among them sounded a remarkably lifelike owl’s call—if one weren’t alert, it would be hard to notice.
Upon hearing it, Feng Xiaobao and his group sprang to attention. Someone was coming!
...
Soon, a group appeared on the road—about twenty people, carrying large bundles and moving hurriedly.
Feng Xiaobao spotted several familiar faces among them: “Snake Lance” Zhang Yongping, “Ghost Axe” Qiu Shenyang, “Hercules General” Tian Shi, and “Feathered Knight” Sima Wang.
There were also two strong women supporting a young lady; her face hidden by a silk scarf, but her graceful figure and elegant curves were unmistakable.
To bring her along during an escape clearly meant she was no ordinary woman.
A thought flashed through Feng Xiaobao’s mind. He pointed at Sima Wang, then at himself, next at Zhang Yongping for Yang Chengxian, and at Qiu Shenyang for Cheng Boxi—leaving Tian Shi aside for the moment.
---
Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi, upon understanding their assigned targets, joined their companions in the grass, bending their bows and nocking arrows, taking aim.
True to his reputation, “Feathered Knight” Sima Wang sensed danger the instant he was targeted. He glanced toward Feng Xiaobao’s position on the right side of the road and shouted, “Watch out!”
His warning was accompanied by the twang of three bowstrings—three arrows streaked forth.
Sima Wang and Qiu Shenyang evaded the missiles, but Zhang Yongping twisted his body and took an arrow in his left shoulder. He glared ferociously in the direction of the attack.
Before he could curse, “Cowardly rats, how dare you ambush us,” he saw over a dozen men rise to their feet, releasing a simultaneous volley of arrows.
Too startled to curse, he focused on blocking the arrows, wary of any slip.
...
Feng Xiaobao fired three arrows in succession, killing only one, while the others’ archery barely wounded two or three.
Those who managed to flee Xindu Mountain were elite—hardly easy prey!
Seeing them braving the arrows and about to break through, Feng Xiaobao tossed aside his bow, kicked the gleaming silver-red spear from the ground into his hands, and charged straight ahead!
With Yang Chengxian, Cheng Boxi, two warrior-kings, and twenty household guards, they launched a joint assault.
“Kill them!”
“Damn them!” Feng Xiaobao’s side shouted as they charged.
“It’s you!” Enemies met, tempers flared. Zhang Yongping yanked the arrow from his shoulder and strode toward Feng Xiaobao.
Seeing his fierce, gnashing expression, Feng Xiaobao held back, letting Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi rush forward, directing, “Boxi, you take Zhang Yongping. Chengxian, you and Yang Debiao handle Qiu Shenyang. Yang Chengyong, you deal with Tian Shi!”
Everyone followed orders. As for Feng Xiaobao, he confronted “Feathered Knight” Sima Wang.
Sima Wang, an archer—long-range specialist—was always the first priority in games, along with magicians! Their attack power was formidable, and they could strike from the shadows; if not eliminated early, their threat would linger.
So Feng Xiaobao targeted him first, feeling that only a high-agility fighter like himself could match the Feathered Knight, just as only he could handle the three-handed female general Hong Xiaoshui. Ordinary men simply couldn’t contend with either; if Yang Chengxian or Cheng Boxi tried and failed, it would haunt him forever.
If not me, then who?
The rest clashed fiercely, while Feng Xiaobao charged straight for Sima Wang.
...
Sima Wang faced Feng Xiaobao, raising his bow.
He entered the tranquil state of mind he’d mastered before, his earlier anxieties well concealed—now, only the enemy existed.
Arrow nocked, he fired in rapid succession!
Eight arrows, like a single line, flew in relentless succession, the whistle of their flight pure and undisturbed, as if released by one shot.
Feng Xiaobao exclaimed in admiration.
It was no exaggeration—if anyone else had faced Sima Wang, they’d have little hope of victory.
Sima Wang’s archery was superb, but Feng Xiaobao was hardly a pushover. His high agility shone through as he flicked his gleaming silver spear left and right, knocking down all eight arrows!
Seeing his arrows thwarted, Sima Wang was undeterred, a faint smile appearing on his face. He glanced around, then turned and bolted!
---
Feng Xiaobao was taken aback—Sima Wang had abandoned his comrades to flee on his own?
What now? Feng Xiaobao hesitated briefly, then decided: the archer must die! He stamped his foot and gave chase.
...
The others fought on with vigor.
Cheng Boxi faced Zhang Yongping, who, instead of his usual heavy lance for mounted charges, wielded a short spear. Even so, at first he pressed Cheng Boxi hard.
Zhang Yongping was a seasoned adult at his peak, while Cheng Boxi was not yet fully grown—slightly less powerful, less experienced, no match for the veteran bandit.
Fortunately, Zhang Yongping’s exertion aggravated his arrow wound, blood spurting several meters!
The archery of Feng Xiaobao and his brothers was formidable; none were willing to lag behind in practice. Feng Xiaobao was certainly the best, but Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi were determined not to fall short. Their bows were equally strong—one stone bows, capable of piercing iron plates. Any arrow that hit, regardless of the target, would cause serious trouble. Moreover, Zhang Yongping had descended from the mountain without heavy armor, and forcibly pulling out the arrow left his shoulder severely injured.
Cheng Boxi’s eyes lit up, and he focused his axe on Zhang Yongping’s left shoulder.
Zhang Yongping managed to block a few blows, but each movement tugged at his wound, slowing him considerably, greatly reducing his dominance over Cheng Boxi.
Cheng Boxi thus exploited his opponent’s discomfort, relentlessly attacking the injured shoulder.
Zhang Yongping was furious, but the new leader of Xindu Mountain, Qiu Shenyang, was even more miserable.
His martial prowess surpassed Yang Chengxian’s by a wide margin. Though Yang Chengxian had inherited his family’s spear techniques, Qiu Shenyang’s “Ghost Axe” reputation was well earned—built on countless victories over heroes.
So Yang Chengxian surviving thirty moves against him was impressive; within a dozen exchanges, Qiu Shenyang had Yang Chengxian scrambling. Suddenly, Yang Debiao joined in!
Warrior King Yang Debiao!
After letting Yang Chengxian experience the skill of a master, Yang Debiao entered the fray, instantly turning the tide!
Some men are born martial fanatics—Yang Debiao was one of them.
He was a household guard of the Yang family, always following Yang Chengxian’s father, Yang Deqing, into battle, earning countless merits. If he wished, a mid-level officer’s rank would be guaranteed.
Yet he preferred to remain a Yang family guard, devoted to martial arts, indifferent to worldly affairs. He claimed that being an officer was too busy and stressful, leaving no time to train. Of course, Yang Deqing did not neglect him, treating him as a captain.
Yang Debiao’s attack was extraordinary, his blade fierce and his murderous aura unstoppable!
After a few exchanges, Qiu Shenyang’s eyes widened in alarm; he knew quality when he saw it—this master, dressed as a household guard, could easily be a captain come to trouble him.
With Yang Debiao holding Qiu Shenyang head-on, Yang Chengxian reenacted the previous scene of teaming up with Cheng Boxi against Qiu Shenyang. Both were from the Yang family, deeply familiar and perfectly coordinated, leaving Qiu Shenyang overwhelmed.
As for Yang Chengyong versus Tian Shi, “Hercules General” Tian Shi had formidable attack power, but after being suppressed by Feng Xiaobao and reduced to a fugitive, Yang Chengyong—a warrior king with vast experience—skillfully contained him, never falling behind.
Generals faced generals, warriors faced warriors. The twenty household guards of Feng Xiaobao’s side (ten more had to guard the three-handed female general Hong Xiaoshui, along with the bounty, horses, and other assets, and couldn’t join the fight) faced the other bandits. The enemy were elite among bandits, extremely capable, and together they broke through the road, the guards unable to stop them.
Feng Xiaobao chased after Sima Wang, Yang Chengxian and his companions struggled against Zhang Yongping, Qiu Shenyang, and Tian Shi, unable to gain the upper hand, watching helplessly as their foes fought while retreating. If they pressed forward, Tian Shi would lead a countercharge, and none could withstand him, their ranks scattered.
Just as frustration peaked, the sound of bells echoed—a troop of cavalry whirled onto the scene. The lead rider called out, “Yang Chengxian, where are your brothers? We’ll help you and split the spoils—what do you say?”