Chapter 980
Chapter 980 Meeting with the Head of Mountain Bandits
To successfully pass the Mount Five Heroes, apart from taking the risk of being robbed by the bandits, they could also take the initiative to give money to the mountain fort.
That was to say, one had to spend a lot of money to show respect for the mountain bandits’ territory.
However, Fort Naratha’s people did not abide by the rules. Sometimes, the passers-by offered money but were still being robbed.
The guide was kind-hearted. He just didn’t want everyone to get into conflict.
The guide took courage and walked to the place where was appointed to put down the money by Fort Naratha.
It was a temple about half the height of a man. It was dark inside. There might not be any god statues inside, but there was a censer with a chipped edge at the door.
Those who wanted to show their respects in advance were required to put the money under the censer.
Usually, when the mountain bandits received the money, they would let the money provider pass.
This also meant that there were mountain bandits guarding this place in secret.
There was no way for the guide not to be afraid. After all, he had witnessed a corpse being chopped into two by the mountain bandits.
He knew that his backing, Sanjue Hall, was more powerful, but he could not forget that scary sense. So he had to grit his teeth and put the silver ingot under the censer.
“Hello, brethren of the Fort Naratha. Here is a small gift for you. I hope you kindly accept it.”
According to the rules, if the bandits of Fort Naratha agreed to let them pass, someone would come out to talk.
The guide waited for a long time, but no one came out to reply.
He got nervous, and he made a bow to the mountain top.
“Brethren, if you think it’s not enough, please feel free to tell me. Our boss is a generous person and admires you heroes the most. Please let us pass.”
Only his voice was echoing around.
A drop of cold sweat fell from his forehead, followed by more and more drops.
The guide felt his scalp tingle, and he was extremely nervous. As a local, he naturally knew that something was wrong.
However, up the mountain, it was still quiet, not even a sound of birds.
He was in a dilemma. He was quite aware of the situation.
He was afraid that for Fort Naratha today, it would not be easy to get through.
“Who’s your boss?”
Unknowing how long it passed, a faint voice was heard from the mountain.
The guide didn’t have time to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, and he immediately replied as prepared earlier.
“Our boss is a medicine dealer from the south, running a small business. We know the rules here, so we don’t dare to be rash.”
The mountain fell silent again. After a while, someone continued to shout.
“Since we’re all sensible people, let’s get straight to the point. Our chief wants both money and people. If you know what’s good for you, leave all your money and that woman. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being ruthless!”
Clenching his fists, the guide thought that the chief of Fort Naratha was going too far.
“Bro, we can leave the money to you. Please show some mercy and let us pass.”
“Cut the crap! Either leave the woman here or get you all killed. It’s up to you!”
The tone of the people on the mountain suddenly became fierce. Although the guide knew that it was dangerous, he couldn’t help but get furious.
“We won’t leave anyone to you. I know you’re mountain bandits, but there should be rules to follow!”
The guide’s words enraged the mountain bandits, who had never been reasonable.
Just then, a sound of breaking through the air from the mountains. Before the guide could react, a long arrow whistled over and went straight to his chest.
“Damn!” The guide cried out in his mind. The arrow was about to pierce through his chest. At the critical moment, a silver light flashed, and the arrow was cut into two pieces before falling at the guide’s feet.
“What rules do you talk about with these bandits? Just kill them if needed. Don’t waste time.”
A slender figure leaped to the guide’s side and pulled the trembling steel knife out of the ground with his backhand.
“De… Deputy Hall Master!”
The guide, who had just survived a disaster, realized that his legs had gone weak. He did not recover from the fright until he saw Qinghu standing in front of him with a cold look.
It turned out that Qinghu had been protecting the guide in secret.
Qinghu turned around and looked up at the mountain with a visible murderous smile on his lips.
“Wanting to hurt my people? How dare you! Tell your stupid chief. If he doesn’t wish to die, he’d better get out of the way and stop making trouble for us. Otherwise, I’ll raze Fort Naratha to the ground!”
Qinghu’s killing intent was even stronger than that of the bandits, so none of the mountain bandits hiding in the woods dared to reply.
Qinghu didn’t mind it at all. He held the guide whose back was fully covered with cold sweat, with one hand and went down the mountain. After throwing the guide into a carriage, Qinghu turned to go back to Lin Mengya.
“Mengya, how about I go to the fort and kill them? They are so disrespectful that they are risking their necks!”
According to Qinghu’s previous temper, he would not have given the bandits a penny, and he would have killed them all.
However, Lin Mengya seemed to be deep in thought. She had seen everything that had happened just now.
“Hold on. I feel like something’s not quite right. Tell everyone to be more cautious. Since we’ve decided to confront them head to head, let’s not hold back.”
It was no doubt that Lin Mengya was one of the best when it came to being ruthless and merciless.
Lin Mengya realized that something wrong with the process of the talk between the guide and the mountain bandit. She thought that things would not be so simple.
“Alright, ” Qinhu agreed. Then he ordered, “Everyone, let’s be on guard. Move!”
Those people would have tensed up even if Qinghu did not say it. They all knew that it would be dangerous for them on the way ahead.
Raising their spirits, the caravan cautiously crossed the hummock.
Nothing happened until sunset.
However, Qinghu was keenly aware that a lot of people had gathered around them.
Probably, those mountain bandits waited for an opportunity when the caravan relaxed, and then they would swarm over like wild dogs.
The people in the caravan took turns to rest, ensuring that everyone was in their best state.
Finally, midnight came.
No one knew when the fist-sized firelight appeared in the quiet woods.
The firelight grew denser and denser, getting closer and closer to the caravan.
Qinghu immediately ordered everyone to be ready to fight. They used the carriages as shields to form an airtight circle.
More and more firelight appeared, at least a few hundred in number. It was not until the firelight got closer that they realized that each of the firelights was a torch.
This meant that they were surrounded by hundreds of mountain bandits.
“Humph! You’re really haunting. Where’s your chief? Tell him to come to me!”
Qinghu looked at the crowd around him coldly. For no reason, he felt a sense of danger.
An expert’s intuition was very keen. Under normal circumstances, Qinghu would not take those people seriously at all.
Anyway, they couldn’t stop him at all, so he could come and go freely.
But today, Qinghu had someone to protect him.
The crowd was separated, and then the only man riding on a horse showed up. He looked quite charming.
But different from Qinghu, whose gender was hard to distinguish, this man’s facial features were so feminine that it could tell that he was not a good person.
The man was dressed in fine silk. He didn’t look like a mountain bandit, but more like an actor who was performing at the foot of the hill.
“Hey, are you the legendary top killer of Peach Blossom Dock? Nice to meet you. Well, since you are in my territory of mine today, you have to do as I say!”
Like his unusual appearance, the man’s voice was hoarse and unpleasant, like an owl’s.
Qinghu narrowed his eyes and looked at the man. He had a feeling that he had seen this man somewhere.
“Is that the previous Prince Yu’s concubine behind you? Take it easy. As long as she comes with me, I won’t make things difficult for you. You have a good scheme. If it were in the past, I would have to think it over. But now… Guys, come and show the power of Fort Naratha to the expert!”
The chief Fort Naratha said in a chill tone. Then, the people in front of him moved aside, revealing everything behind them.
Qinghu noticed that they were surrounded by archers and large crossbows.
As long as the chief gave the order, Qinghu would be shot into a hedgehog, no matter how strong his ability was.
Qinghu’s eyes were filled with coldness. He was aware that he only had one chance.
As long as he could catch the chief as a hostage, the subordinates of the chief would not be disobeying.
However, before Qinghu could make a move in secret, a warm soft hand grabbed his sleeve.
Qinghu turned around and saw Lin Mengya’s calm face. Qinghu did not understand what Lin Mengya meant, so he had to give up his plan for the time being.
“Chief, since you want to talk to me, we’ll go to your fort with you. But one thing has to be mentioned. If your men dare to hurt my people, I promise that no one here can live until tomorrow.”
She curled her lips into a faint smile.
The chief, who had seen various bloody scenes, felt that the woman in front of him was like a poppy blooming silently in the dark night.
She was peerlessly beautiful, but she was also extremely vicious.
Remembering what someone had warned him, the chief had to put away the contempt.
“Sure. I’m just inviting all of you to come to my fort and have a chat. Guys, take our distinguished guest to our Fort Naratha!”
As soon as the chief finished speaking, a man took the initiative to come forward.
The man looked quite common. He was about 40 years old and looked like an in-charge person. However, the shrewdness in his eyes revealed that he was a little cunning.
“Madam and Sirs, please.”
Lin Mengya did not say anything. She returned to the carriage instead.
Qinghu glanced at the man and motioned to the team to follow.
Everyone immediately packed up and followed a large number of mountain bandits up the mountain.
The mountain bandits did not dare to make any other move, but the malicious looks in their eyes made Qinghu feel a little uncomfortable.
However, Qinghu’s gaze was always fixed on the chief who was riding the horse.
The more he looked at the chief, the stronger inexplicable sense of familiarity he got.
Qinghu deliberately slowed down his pace. When he was parallel to Lin Mengya’s carriage, he lowered his voice to say.
“I think I’ve seen the chief somewhere.”
Lin Mengya was resting inside the carriage with her eyes closed. Hearing this, she opened her eyes.
“I find it strange, too. Look at those crossbows, bows and arrows. They are just mountain bandits, but how can they find such good weapons?”
She was born into the Lin Family. Although she was a fool back then, she had been influenced by what she saw and heard at Lin’s.
Even from a distance, she could accurately recognize that those bows and arrows and crossbows were weapons that only the regular army could use.
These weapons were not only expensive but also lethal, so they had always been restricted from being used by the folk.
Just now, she counted them and found that there were at least 50 to 60 sets.
It was unusual for this matter!