Chapter 122

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Chapter 122: Robbing on the Road

Traveling every day was extremely dull, but Zhang Xiaohua’s requirements were not high. With books to read daily, he didn’t mind being in either the carriage or his own small room.

In fact, not having to work in the fields meant he had more time to read.

After the carriage had been traveling for another ten days or so, the singing of Shi Niu continued non-stop. The people initially enjoyed it, then grew annoyed, and eventually reached the point of unbearable frustration. Finally, the Villa Owner intervened. With her interference, Shi Niu stopped singing for a while. However, as evening approached and the sunset painted the sky in brilliant hues, Shi Niu couldn’t resist and started singing again. This made Ou Yan both amused and exasperated. She could only seek comfort by talking with Great Aunt Qin to alleviate her frustration. The others behind them, on one hand, kept a slight distance, and on the other, became so used to the sound that they simply ignored it, treating it as if a giant humanoid noisy crow was cawing away.

In the beginning, every evening after they settled for the night, Zhang Xiaohua would drag He Tianshu out to find a place to practice his martial arts. However, He Tianshu seemed to have learned from the first day’s experience and would always refuse. Zhang Xiaohua had no choice but to practice alone. After a few days of this, he became curious and secretly asked He Tianshu for the reason during their journey.

He Tianshu smiled and asked Zhang Xiaohua if he had noticed whether any of the other disciples going out to practice martial arts or training in the courtyard. After Zhang Xiaohua thought about it, he realized he hadn’t seen them practicing.

He Tianshu then explained that, like the other disciples, he practiced internal energy martial arts. As the ancient saying goes, “Train the muscles, bones, and skin externally, and cultivate inner energy internally”. Internal martial arts practice mostly involves meditation, gathering qi, and manipulating internal energy. Punching exercises are primarily for moving the muscles and bones. People like Nie Xiao’er and the others from Huanxi Villa also practiced internal martial arts in the evening. The morning and evening martial arts routines were for muscle and bone exercising as well as familiarizing oneself with the fist techniques. On a long journey with no suitable place for such practice, practicing martial techniques could be skipped, focusing solely on internal martial arts cultivation instead.

According to He Tianshu, once one’s internal martial arts are practiced to a certain level, they can replace the need for sleep at night. One only needs to meditate for a few hours during the night. Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua was full of admiration for a while. If he could avoid sleeping simply by meditating, it would be wonderful. However, considering his habit of needing to sleep at midnight and being impossible to wake once asleep, he couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened.

While disciples of the Piaomiao Sect didn’t need to practice martial techniques in the morning and evening, Zhang Xiaohua had no such luxury. Without internal energy cultivation methods, he had to find a place to practice his martial technique. He also wanted to avoid being seen, so after dinner each day, his first task was to find a somewhat secluded spot where he could practice.

Since Zhang Xiaohua obtained the toy sword, his sword skills have improved significantly. The sixteen variations were now clear in his mind, and he could execute them with ease and spontaneity. The angles and speed of his strikes became swifter and more unpredictable. The small sword moved as fluidly as his own arm, and the strength of the warm current became much stronger, far exceeding Zhang Xiaohua’s expectations. Ever since he once practiced his sword skills in the countryside and effortlessly sliced a large tree, creating a hole as wide as a bowl, Zhang Xiaohua refrained from using his full strength to stab anything. He feared that he might accidentally topple a tree and be asked to pay for it.

However, Zhang Xiaohua’s worries soon dissipated. The journey south was not always along official roads. After a few days, they began traveling on dirt roads and mountain paths. At night, they did not always stay in small town inns, sometimes they set up tents and camped in the wild.

One day, Shi Niu was driving the carriage ahead as the group arrived at the base of a mountain. The mountain was not very high, but there was only a narrow path suitable for the carriage, winding around the mountain. The mountain was covered with shrubs and withered trees, making it difficult to see clearly.

Shi Niu stopped the carriage and turned to ask: “Miss Qiu Tong, how did you get through here last time? This mountain is quite treacherous. If there are any ambushes, we would be at a disadvantage.”

Qiu Tong looked at the mountain and frowned, saying: “Last time, we passed straight through the mountain. It wasn’t very dangerous. There is still a path at the foot of the mountain, but it takes a long detour. I had asked a guide before, they said it would take an extra day. I was in a hurry last time, so we didn’t take the detour.”

Great Aunt Qin thought for a moment and said: “With the Villa Master on the carriage, it’s better not to take risks. Looking at the mountain’s shape, if a large rock were to fall, no amount of martial skill would help. It’s best to take the detour.”

Ou Yan was not entirely in agreement, feeling that taking a longer route for safety was not very cost-effective.

Great Aunt Qin replied: “It’s only an extra day’s journey. We’re not getting to Spring Rebirth Valley in just a few days, and your seeds won’t sprout in winter, so why risk it for just one day?”

The others in the carriage agreed. Fortunately, Ou Yan was open to persuasion and, seeing the consensus agreed to take the detour.

As the carriage proceeded along the mountain’s path and moved further away, several men in black clothing emerged from the mountain’s forest. Watching the departing carriage, they signaled to each other and used their lightness skills to leap up the mountain.

The people on the carriage were unaware that they escaped a disaster because of their caution, and they continued on their way as before.

The next day, they bypassed the mountain range and re-entered their planned route.

The journey ahead was still not on official roads, weaving through mountains and forests. Though less treacherous than before, Shi Niu, Great Aunt Qin, and the other disciples remained extremely cautious, fearing any unexpected mishaps.

However, fate was not on their side. As they were approaching a patch of forest, despite the saying in the Jianghu, “Avoid forests when possible”, this particular forest didn’t seem dangerous. The trees were sparse, the leaves mostly fallen, and the cold wind made a faint rustling sound. The forest appeared to be harmless, so everyone relaxed their vigilance.

Just as Shi Niu, singing a tune, drove the carriage into the forest, a “whoosh” sound was heard. An arrow shot out from the forest, landing about ten feet in front of the carriage.

The sudden arrow interrupted Shi Niu’s song. He immediately gasped, pulled hard on the reins, and brought the carriage to a sudden stop. The people inside the carriage, who had been chatting casually, fell silent at once. Zhang Xiaohua and the others in the rear of the carriage were startled by the sudden situation. Many of the disciples, recovering from their shock, quickly drew their weapons and jumped out of the carriage, ready to confront whatever threat lay ahead.

Amid the tension, a figure emerged from the forest, riding a horse. The rider was tall and poorly dressed, holding a spear. The horse was not particularly impressive, moving slowly with a “clop-clop” sound. As the figure drew closer, the onlookers saw that he had a square face, a thin build, and very alert eyes that darted around, taking in the four carriages.

When the rider reached the spot where the arrow had landed, he stopped, raising his spear. The people were startled and thought: “Could this person be challenging us alone?” Everyone tightened their grip on their weapons. However, the rider did not spur his horse on, and while the spectators were still puzzled, the rider shouted loudly. His voice was even louder than Shi Niu’s, proclaiming: “I opened this mountain, I planted this tree. If you want to pass, you have to pay the toll!”

The voice was so loud that some birds flew up from the trees. The people in the carriages, however, looked at the rider with amusement, as if they were watching a joke, and did not respond.

Seeing that his demand was ignored and the driver of the carriage, Shi Niu, had an expressionless face and was glaring at him coldly, the rider became furious. “What are you looking at? Was it you who was singing just now? What a racket! It was so unpleasant that it hurt my ears. Pay up now if you want to pass and I’ll allow you to pass, otherwise…” At this point, he waved his spear in the air to threaten them.

Shi Niu had intended to assess the bandit’s skills, but the rider’s comment about his singing struck a nerve, enraging him. He jumped down from the carriage and, empty-handed, walked toward the bandit. The bandit, seeing the coachman jump off the carriage and come straight towards him, was momentarily stunned. As Shi Niu got closer, the rider raised his spear and pulled on the reins of his horse with one hand.

The people from Huanxi Villa thought the rider was about to charge forward and thrust his spear at Shi Niu. Although everyone knew Shi Niu’s external martial arts were superb, they were still worried about him facing a spear with just his bare hands.

However, instead of attacking, the rider pulled the reins and turned his horse around, retreating into the forest!

Not only was Shi Niu surprised, but the onlookers were also bewildered.

What was going on?

Before anyone could react, the rider had vanished into the forest, disappearing from view in no time.

Shi Niu frowned and was about to turn around when he heard the sound of gongs from the forest. Four large horses burst out, and behind them were about ten burly men wielding weapons, charging forward with the horses.

The riders halted in front of Shi Niu, forming a line of four. Except for the one on the edge dressed like a frail scholar, the other three were robust men in rugged attire, each holding a saber, standing on their horses without speaking.

The scholar rode forward a step and said: “Where are you from? You have some nerve to remain calm in front of the Two Bulls. You must be a practiced fighter.”

Shi Niu frowned and said: “Why do you care where I’m from? If you have any sense, get out of the way and let us pass. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”

The scholar had not yet laughed, but the group of strong men around him burst into laughter as if they had never seen such a brazen victim of robbery.

The scholar then said: “Brother, I see you are tall and imposing, and you must be a skilled martial artist with some unique skills. However, did you not see your opponents? These are our three chiefs and about ten of our brothers. Even if you have formidable skills, what can you do against us? It would be better for you to hand over your gold and silver now, and we can part ways amicably. It will be easier for us to meet again in the future.”

Shi Niu burst out laughing and said: “Your Grandpa Shi has always been the one doing the robbing. It’s not your place to make a fuss in front of me. If you provoke me, I’ll raid your hideout and seize your gold and silver.”

At this moment, the person in the middle horse frowned and said: “Strategist, why waste time talking with him? We should rush him. Even if he is skilled, we can take him down together. Let’s grab the carriage first, take the money if there’s any, and plunder the women if there are any. Won’t that be satisfying?”

The people from Huanxi Villa were originally scattered, some outside the carriage and some inside, all watching the commotion. Hearing the chief of the bandits speak with such contempt for their Villa Master and the others, they were infuriated. They all grabbed their weapons and jumped out of the carriage. Except for a few female disciples who stayed around the carriage, the rest positioned themselves behind Shi Niu.

He Tianshu quietly instructed Zhang Xiaohua and then drew his long sword, standing guard beside the carriage of Ou Yan and the others. Zhang Xiaohua did not disembark but moved to the front of the carriage, sitting with the carriage driver and watching the scene with interest.

Seeing a lot of weapon-bearing people come pouring out of the carriage, the strategist’s expression shifted slightly. He then smiled and said to the chief: “First Chief, please remain calm. The Jianghu today is not what it used to be. The days of brutal fighting are over. Now, we emphasize civility and using martial prowess to convince people. Even though we are robbing the rich to aid the poor, and following the path of heaven, we must keep up with the times and adapt. Otherwise, we might be ridiculed by our peers. As the ancients said, it is better to lose ten taels of silver than to lose an inch of face. Even if we don’t succeed today, we should be strong, thoughtful, and ambitious.”

A nearby chief spat and said: “In the past, I enjoyed the thrill of robbery, but now what have I become? Talking about civility, are they going to lecture us too? Everyone’s armed, and yet you’re still not moving?”

The First Chief spoke: “Second Brother, be patient. Nowadays, it’s all about organization and scale. If we lose our reputation, who will join us? If we don’t expand ourselves, we’ll eventually be swallowed by others. I think the strategist has a point. If we can’t convince them with our skills, we can always take action later. After all, it’s still the same old fight, just a different approach.”

The bandits’s conversation was not hidden from the people of Huanxi Villa. Everyone was stunned. Were they being robbed or preached to?

At this moment, the strategist urged his horse forward a step and called out to Shi Niu: “Brother, as you can see, we are not unreasonable people. We are merely fulfilling our duty to act on behalf of Heaven. It’s easier to negotiate and let you go after taking the gold and silver. Judging by your posture, it seems you are not pleased. Fortunately for you, you have encountered us. I, having just returned from overseas and learned new robbery techniques, wish to showcase my skills. Since you are on my turf, it’s up to me to decide. If you pass our test, we will let you go. If you lose, don’t blame us for being rough, we’ll take the gold, silver, and beauties behind. What do you say?”

Everyone understood what was being said, but they were unsure how to respond. Usually, when faced with a robbery, they would simply draw their weapons and fight. Now, this returnee was talking about rules and regulations, leaving them feeling confused.

At this moment, Ou Yan, who had not appeared from inside the carriage, extended her hand and waved to a female disciple outside. The disciple leaned in, and after receiving some instructions from Ou Yan, she walked over to Shi Niu and whispered something.

Upon hearing this, Shi Niu frowned deeply and then addressed the group of bandits: “Alright, my master says that if you set up the challenge, we’ll accept it. Let’s see whether you’re really sent on an official mission or just sneaked out.”

The strategist was delighted upon hearing this and said: “Excellent. Let’s resolve this amicably and avoid bloodshed. Nowadays, there are still some people in the martial world who resort to violence at the drop of a hat, using their weapons recklessly. It’s not ideal, even if no one gets hurt, it still damages the environment. Anyway, let’s not dwell on that. On our turf, we have our own rules. Do you see these three formidable heroes in front of you? They represent the three challenges. If you can have three of your people each face one of our three chiefs and win two out of three matches, you pass. If you lose two matches, you’ll have to leave behind four carriages and all the women. How does that sound?”

Upon hearing this, everyone from the villa slapped their foreheads in realization. Good grief, after all the talk, wasn’t it just a matter of three duels? What a letdown for someone who’s supposed to be a returnee from overseas! Whether he sneaked out or came from some obscure sect, it was rather tiresome to hear him go on and on. But, robbing in such a manner was quite a unique approach.

Shi Niu naturally didn’t want to agree easily. He quickly walked to the front of the carriage. Ou Yan took one look and saw that this bandit indeed knew how to scheme, with He Tianshu and his group, there were exactly three people. Adding one more would be awkward. However, Shi Niu was unwilling and said: “Villa Master, I can handle these little brats by myself. Why go through all this trouble?”

Great Aunt Qin smiled and said: “We’ve been traveling for so long and are feeling quite bored, just rushing along every day. Now that entertainment has come knocking, why not enjoy it? I haven’t seen such an interesting band of robbers in so many years.”

Shi Niu, being someone who didn’t understand such subtleties, was too lazy to argue with the Villa Master and Great Aunt Qin. He returned to the front line, saying; “Alright, my master agrees. But we have one more question, what will you do if we win?”

The strategist seemed to smile sheepishly and said: “We hadn’t thought of that, but on my territory, I make the rules. If you win, I’ll let you pass through my territory. That should be acceptable, right?”

Shi Niu didn’t want to say much more. He waved his hand and asked: “Will the three matches start simultaneously, or one at a time?”

The strategist’s eyes turned as he said: “Naturally, it’s better to start simultaneously. Time is money. The sooner the matches are over, the sooner we can all rest. You’ll be able to move on earlier too. How does that sound?”

Just as Shi Niu was about to agree, a melodious voice like an oriole came from inside the carriage, saying: “That’s not right.”

The bandits’ eyes lit up, and they stared intently at the carriage, waiting for the beauty to appear.

Unfortunately, when Great Aunt Qin emerged, everyone’s spirits drooped. How could she look so ordinary with a voice so enchanting?

Great Aunt Qin stood at the front of the carriage and said: “If the three matches are held simultaneously, won’t that require three separate locations? If your subordinates don’t keep their promises and all rush at once, our carriages will be in danger. We suggest holding the matches one after another instead!”

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