Chapter Forty: The Fiery Horse Gallops Forward (Please Vote)

"Excellent marksmanship!"
Yan Qing’s ruthless triple shot earned him loud praise from Xie Ke.

To be honest, when Zheng Yanqing was bargaining with the horse bandits, Xie Ke looked down on him a bit. A mere scholar with no courage, actually negotiating with bandits for his life? It was disgraceful, utterly weak.

Then Yanqing’s triple shot surprised Xie Ke.

As an expert marksman himself, he recognized that Yanqing’s skill was honed under the guidance of a master—a renowned teacher. Yanqing studied under Changsun Sheng, the greatest archer of the Sui dynasty, whose skills were truly transcendent. A disciple of his could never be ordinary.

Xie Ke was still young and somewhat arrogant, but soon he developed a deep respect for Yanqing. No wonder he was the half-fated lord who penned the Romance of the Three Kingdoms—a true genius.

Xie Hong noticed the shift in Xie Ke’s attitude and sighed quietly. He muttered, "Still, he can never compare to the half-fated lord."

The Zheng family had produced a half-fated lord, halting their decline and sparking a revival. This caught the attention of many noble clans, who began focusing on nurturing their own heirs. The Xie family was no different. With Xie Ke emerging as a standout among his peers, the family resolved to cultivate him carefully.

Today’s secret comparison forced Xie Hong to admit that, at least in terms of breath control, Xie Ke was far weaker than Zheng Yanqing.

For Yanqing, anything that could be solved with money wasn’t truly a problem.

His display of concession was a ploy to extract useful information from his opponent. Unfortunately, Xie Ke lost patience and fired the first arrow, forcing Yanqing to change tactics. Even so, Yanqing managed to glean some clues: these were horse bandits from Shouyang Mountain, led by someone nicknamed Two-Headed Snake—a nickname, not a real name. The bandits were sent by an unknown third party.

Ten thousand strings of cash to buy one’s life?

That was a hefty price…

The client behind this must have considerable influence. No ordinary family could afford such a sum—most couldn’t even come up with a hundred strings. Moreover, Two-Headed Snake knew Yanqing’s rank as a cavalry captain but dared to act recklessly, showing he was confident and fearless.

In other words, the client had a strong background.

Considering this, very few bore such deep hatred toward Yanqing.

Could it be Mai Zizhong? Unlikely. From their few encounters, Mai was arrogant but honorable enough to accept defeat.

The Yuwen family? Also improbable. Yuwen Shu had just expressed a desire for reconciliation. Besides, Yanqing harbored no unresolvable grudge against them. Yuwen Chengzhi’s secret love for Pei Cuiyun was related but not enough to order a hit. Yuwen Shu wouldn’t stoop to such means.

That left only Wang Tong—humiliated and returned to Taiyuan four years ago—and the Zheng family itself, embarrassed by this ancestral ritual.

Wang Tong didn’t seem the type to use such tactics.

In truth, he was a scholar enamored with fame, proud by nature. If he had endured four years quietly, only to strike now, history would remember it.

So not Wang Tong…

The answer was obvious.

No one else but the Zheng family.

But which branch? Who was pulling the strings? Yanqing did not yet know. Yet it was not hard to investigate. As long as Yanqing lived, he would uncover the culprit.

No one expected the silent, calm Zheng Yanqing had already found the answer.

After a brief commotion, the bandits outside the mountain gate settled down.

Yet Yanqing could not locate their leader, which puzzled him.

How could such a band operate without a leader visible? From the start, Two-Headed Snake had never appeared openly, but Yanqing was certain he was among them. The premature deaths of two men served as a powerful deterrent to ordinary bandits. Still, these bandits remained orderly.

“Mr. Xie, have you found their leader?”

Xie Hong quietly observed and replied, “Not yet.”

Before his words ended, hundreds of bandits shouted in unison, splitting into three groups. Several dozen mounted bandits charged the mountain gate, while foot soldiers attacked the southern and northern walls.

Their gear was crude, but their assault was well-coordinated.

Leading the charge were a dozen bandits wielding wooden shields, with others crouching behind them, advancing slowly yet swiftly.

Yanqing felt a chill.

“Mr. Xie, you take your men to block the gate!”

Without hesitation, he grabbed his bow and dashed toward the southern wall.

Among the three entrances to the ancient temple, the weakest defense was behind the southern wall’s gap, guarded by Dang Shiying.

Though the northern wall’s gap was larger, it was well-defended by the battle-hardened Pei Zi and his veterans, so that side was less worrisome. Dang Shiying, on the other hand, had only five retainers and lacked control.

Yanqing quickened his pace toward the southern wall. Meanwhile, Xie Hong and Xie Ke each nocked arrows, firing volley after volley at the charging cavalry, cutting off their advance. Though the bandits anticipated the attack, dozens of arrows still overwhelmed them. Horses screamed as two bandits’ mounts dropped in pools of blood.

Yanqing reached the southern wall.

Dang Shiying was clearly rattled as the bandits closed in.

“Don’t panic! Leave two to shoot with me! Dang Shiying, you and two men hold the other side—kill anyone who approaches!”

Though young, Yanqing’s words carried extraordinary weight.

He nocked an arrow, focusing silently: “Arrow and intention aligned, intention and spirit united, spirit and heaven and earth in harmony.”

In an instant, he seemed to enter a profound state.

At the critical moment, the archery secrets taught by Changsun Sheng merged mysteriously within him. Changsun once said arrows must be ‘empty,’ but the meaning eluded Yanqing until now. It was not mere relaxation, but a purity of spirit when shooting.

He released his fingers suddenly.

The arrow shot forth with a sharp ‘snap,’ striking a bandit’s wooden shield with an explosive crack. The sturdy shield cracked instantly. Yanqing swiftly nocked another arrow, drawing his bow like a full moon, a cold gleam flashing.

Bandits screamed, blood spattered.

A gap opened in the shield wall as two more arrows struck like shooting stars.

In the blink of an eye, three bandits lay writhing on the ground, howling.

The bandits’ leader might be formidable, but the others were mere rabble.

Panic spread; the bandits retreated in disorder. Yanqing stood tall, serene as water, releasing three arrows in rapid succession.

The wounded bandits fell silent in death.

This merciless slaughter sent chills through the bandits, who retreated like a tide. Yanqing hid behind the wall, watching cautiously. Oddly, no one shouted orders or moved about. The bandits quickly regained composure, eager to attack again.

Something was wrong. How did Two-Headed Snake pacify his men?

The first charge was a mere probe. After leaving seven or eight bodies behind, they regrouped swiftly.

Shen Guang approached Yanqing. “Young master, these bandits are strange.”

“You noticed too?”

“Yes.”

Shen Guang said, “I’ve been watching them. They don’t wield military bows, only hunting bows, so they avoid shooting at us directly. After each retreat, they touch their left chest as if praying, then attack again.”

“Bah!”

Yanqing spat quietly, “Damn cultists. Where the hell did they come from? And who exactly is Two-Headed Snake? I still can’t find him.”

“If we could find Two-Headed Snake, we might end this quickly. But if they keep charging like this, after three or five waves, our arrows will run dry.”

They weren’t on a military campaign and carried only limited arrows.

This was their gravest problem. Once out of arrows, they’d have to face close combat. Yanqing considered himself skilled enough to hold off three or four men, but he couldn’t guarantee twenty men could defeat hundreds of bandits—especially without knowing who the leader was to capture him first.

“We must find a way to send someone through to get help.”

Shen Guang frowned, “If my arm wasn’t injured, maybe I could break through. But with your skills and Jade Hoof’s speed, if we cover you fully, you could make it.”

Yanqing shook his head quickly. “Anyone can go but me. The bandits want to kill me. Most here follow me. If I fled when I had the chance, I wouldn’t wait until now. If I leave, everyone will panic and falter. Shen brother, Xie Hong and Xie Ke are innocent but stand firm. I, Zheng Yanqing, will not retreat!”

Not just a refusal, but an impossibility.

Those two words expressed his unwavering resolve.

His voice rose sharply, drawing all eyes to him, shining with steadfast determination.

“Everyone keeps only one quiver; all others bring into the main hall.”

Xie Hong suddenly spoke, startling everyone.

Yanqing said, “Xie Ke and I each hold two quivers. Follow Mr. Xie’s orders—store the arrows in the main hall.”

The mountain walls could only hold temporarily; they understood they would be breached eventually.

The true defense focused on the Guanyin Hall. But before retreating there, they had to buy time.

“Pei Zi, come here.”

“Young master Zheng, your orders?”

“I have an idea. Perhaps one can break through the siege. But after that, the rest must hold here. If reinforcements arrive in time, all lives can be saved; if not, we might all perish in this cursed temple.”

Faces grew tense as they listened.

“Cousin, speak freely if you have a plan.”

“Pei Zi is Lord Pei’s retainer, surely carrying the Pei family token. You have the best skills and experience. Ride my Jade Hoof and break through. I’ll find a way to open a path. Will you do it?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you!”

At first, Pei Zi thought Yanqing would send someone else—after all, he wasn’t a Zheng clansman. But Yanqing chose him.

Xie Hong silently praised the decision.

If a Zheng clansman escaped, others might resent it, causing discord. Pei Zi, not a Zheng and a retainer of the rising Hedong Pei family, was the ideal choice.

No one objected within the Zheng clan. Their young lord remained, so no one felt superior or inferior.

With consensus, Yanqing ordered all horses from the stables brought inside the temple. Then dry wood and grass were tied to the mounts’ tails. Outside, the bandits knelt in a mass, seemingly praying.

Shen Guang led Jade Hoof forward, stroking its large head gently.

“Jade Hoof, be obedient. Brother entrusts you with this life.”

He signaled Pei Zi to mount.

Jade Hoof seemed to understand, stamping hooves and wagging its tail in reluctant farewell.

“Gentlemen, long ago Tian Dan used fire oxen to defeat the Yan army and reclaim over seventy cities. Today, we use this fiery horse formation to seize a chance for survival. Pei Zi, these thirty or forty men are entrusted to you. Please hurry and return.”

Pei Zi nodded firmly.

Yanqing shouted to mislead the bandits into thinking they were breaking out.

The bandits fell for it, shifting formation and aiming their hunting bows at the gate.

Their bows lacked range, so they couldn’t attack yet. Approaching meant facing a hail of arrows. This gave Yanqing’s group the chance to lead the horses out. Suddenly, Xie Ke and others ignited the fire tied to the horses’ tails. Thirty horses panicked, galloping wildly.

Pei Zi seized the moment, riding Jade Hoof through the gate.

Smoke billowed from the burning tails, masking his figure.

“Don’t panic. They’re not breaking out. Clear the way, clear the way!”

Obviously, no one could ride a horse engulfed in flames. Yanqing crouched at the wall gap, watching outside.

A man in blue stepped out from the crowd, shouting loudly, “Maitreya protects us! Don’t panic!”

He was Two-Headed Snake!

But what shocked Yanqing more was the phrase "Maitreya protects us."

Damn it, these weren’t ordinary bandits—they were a cult!

Yanqing’s expression darkened. He grabbed his heavy bow, aimed at Two-Headed Snake, and loosed an arrow.

Sadly, the distance was too great; the arrow slowed and weakened before reaching the target. The man swung his blade, knocking it aside, then looked toward the wall.

At that moment, a bandit shouted, “Chief! Someone broke through the siege—just now someone escaped!”

“Ah?”

Two-Headed Snake turned sharply.

Pei Zi, covered by the fire horses’ smoke, charged into the bandit ranks.

Jade Hoof snorted fiercely and raced ahead.

The bandits stepped aside to avoid the flaming horses, opening a path. Pei Zi faced no major resistance, slashing left and right with his long blade, breaking through the encirclement and galloping away.

Two-Headed Snake’s face turned pale as iron.

Yanqing watched Pei Zi disappear and exhaled deeply.

“Those unskilled with a bow, retreat immediately into the hall. The rest, fight and fall back with me… These bastards will be furious.”

Before he finished, Two-Headed Snake’s enraged roar came from outside the gate:

“Break in and kill them all! Leave no one alive!”

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