Chapter 3, Gunfight

Upon seeing Wang Kui's gesture, Gongsun Zhi and the other two took a deep breath to steady themselves. The bald man whispered, "Don't be nervous, we have no way out. It might be better to stay here; preserving our lives is the priority"

The woman screamed as she wrapped herself in the wool blanket

How to do ... ... how to do ... ... how to do? '' murmured softly from the lips.

"Speak wisely and do not provoke Chief Wu, or you will face dire consequences" Wang Kui advised as he walked ahead

The firelight illuminated the scene, and beneath the disheveled hair bun, a handsome face was filled with wildness. He swung the knife down at the shadow crouched over the woman, sparks flying with a loud clang, and the figure rolled off the stone bed.

The wooden door suddenly burst open, splintering wood flying everywhere, as two figures armed with knives charged in.

Brother, if you can't stand it... then what do you want..." The strong man threw the broken branch into the fire, his gaze falling on the tall and robust figure across from him, his voice lowering: "... how should we proceed?"

"I won't go, the young ones are no match for the old ones..." The woman pouted, rubbing her face against the chest of the bandit leader

... ...

The man glanced at the woman's alluring demeanor, pinched her cheek, and said, "So? Are you interested in the one in the middle? Alright, you can go to his place tonight"

Two corpses fell against the cave wall, and the shadows reflected by the torchlight approached the crude wooden door

Gongsun Zhi lowered his eyelids, and on the map within the double image, the marked red dots gradually began to disperse. The two red dots positioned at the upper right corner also subsequently moved deeper into the cave

On the stone bed covered with a wool blanket, two bare bodies intertwine and collide, emitting lascivious gasps

Wang Kui greeted that person and, accompanied by Gongsun Zhi and the others, entered the forest. They passed through an area with hidden sentries and came upon a massive rock, beneath which there was a cave. The flickering light and the sounds of a bustling crowd faintly reached the cave's entrance

The torch quietly burns as it is inserted into the damp wall of the cave, and faint footsteps echo in the dimly lit passage.

The surroundings fell silent, and a group of bandits stopped drinking, casting unfriendly glances in their direction. Some nearby had already reached for their weapons. Gongsun Zhi narrowed his eyes, his fists suddenly clenching tightly. A large hand beside him discreetly gripped his, and only he could hear the voice saying: "Don't be reckless..."

After descending into the cave entrance, the interior is surprisingly spacious. After walking through a section of the tunnel with my head lowered, the view ahead unfolds. The flickering light from the flames embedded in the cave walls illuminates dozens, if not hundreds, of figures moving about. This expansive cavern is large enough to accommodate these bandits, who appear fierce and are dressed like mountain folk and hunters, with a few of them even wearing leather armor.

After speaking, the three descended the stone steps and passed through the bright stone chamber. On both sides, the raucous bandits were drinking and feasting, some casting malicious glances their way, brandishing the blades in their hands, or silently turning their heads to reveal their muscular arms. There were also the gasps and shrieks of women intermingled, rolling about in the arms of several bandits, their clothes nearly torn off by a single hand, provoking the remaining bandits to jeer and laugh.

Did you all hear what that guy just said

Wang Kui jogged through more than a dozen makeshift wooden and stone tables, arriving at a large stone at the head of the table, which had a rough outline of a carved chair. He leaned in to whisper a few words to a figure draped in a cloak with a handlebar mustache sitting above, then pointed towards the three individuals on Gongsun Zhi's side. After finishing, he made a gesture to beckon them over

The wind picked up, and the trees on the hills rustled loudly, with yellow leaves falling down and landing on people's shoulders. The faces illuminated by the fire flickered in and out of view. A piece of mutton sizzled on a branch, emitting a strong odor. Three figures sat around the campfire, and Gongsun Zhi tossed the leaves from his shoulder into the flames.

Bang

"You scholars do know how to appreciate a favor." The Wu clan leader sat up, one foot resting on the edge of the stone table, glaring at them: "... ... Just now, I was merely giving you a lesson. The Xiongnu and Xianbei people cannot be killed or robbed. Our focus should be on the passing merchant caravans and the Han people. If we provoke the Xiongnu or Xianbei, our small number will not be enough for others to consume. Remember that?"

A gust of wind swept by, the flames flickered, casting alternating shadows on Gongsun Zhi's face. With a crack, he snapped a branch, his gaze revealing a fierce glint: "The wolf seeks flesh; whoever stands in the way shall die. Since that fellow cannot hold this position well, let us pull him down and chop him up."

At that moment, another bandit turned around, and in the instant when the blood splattered onto his face, two strong hands covered him. He let out a whimper, and with a crack, his neck twisted, turning his head backward

The two bandits guarding the door at the end of the hallway wore lewd smiles, pressing their ears against the dilapidated wooden door to listen. From within, the hoarse shouts of a man and the soft, delicate moans of a woman emerged, causing the two to forget that someone was approaching from behind

He is not a person of this world and cannot comprehend the world as described by them; at most, he has only seen it on television. However, what he mostly sees are renowned generals rising to prominence and strategists competing against each other. He has never witnessed the true suffering of the common people. Previously, he heard that the bandit leader specifically targeted Han civilians, and such a cowardly and oppressive approach ignited a wildfire within him.

Gongsun Zhi followed silently behind, his hand subtly gripping the leather reins of the knife.

"Go outside and keep watch." The figure above waved dismissively.

The bald man on the right side broke a branch, gazing at the lamb skewers dripping with fat, and with a crooked smile, he seemed to sigh in resignation: "Isn't this world just you eat me, I eat you? Back in the day, I, the Yellow Turban, was powerful, sweeping through several provinces, yet in the end, didn't it all fall apart?" As he spoke passionately, he opened his leather coat to reveal a chest covered in black hair, pointing to a scar: "That day, I was knocked to the ground by a Han general wielding a spear with a ring-eyed leopard head. Fortunately, I managed to survive, falling off my horse but not dying."

"Do you not see that some endure suffering and hardship, only to rise to the challenge in the future and achieve greatness..." Dongfang Sheng had only spoken half of this when he was glared at by the Han. Gongsun Zhi shook his head, watching the leaves burn to ashes, "...I...I simply cannot tolerate it."

... ...

Gongsun Zhi gritted his teeth and remained silent, as the shadowy map displayed a dense array of red dots; the situation was more formidable than the individual, and he could only nod in agreement

In the next second, the man raised his head and looked at the wooden door: "Who?"

His hand caressed the hilt of the knife, trembling with a hint of excitement. Perhaps the personality of this body also had an influence on him, but that was no longer important. He liked wolves, understood wolves, and in a bygone era, he enjoyed communicating with them, naturally imitating some of their traits.

I! Gongsun Zhi

Wait until they are sound asleep, then make your move. He ran his finger along the blade.

The branches crackled softly in the fire

As the three individuals left with cupped hands, the stone chamber in the cave returned to a lively scene of conversation. Gongsun Zhi walked to the cave entrance and looked back, his gaze cold and fierce

While speaking, the scholar on the right suddenly bent down, picked up the piece of mutton that had already become dirty on the ground, patted it in his hand, and smiled obsequiously: "Thank you for the leader's generous gift"

... ...

... ...

My name is Gao Sheng, what do you suggest I do? The bald man plunged the knife into the ground, finally revealing his own name

The man on the stone chair burst into hearty laughter, one foot resting on the stone table. He casually grabbed a piece of mutton and threw it to the ground, where it rolled down the steps, becoming covered in dust. "This is your reward, pick it up and eat it."

Footsteps shifted, the faint sound of small stones, a bandit turned his head to look over, his pupils suddenly constricting, a blade's edge cutting through the dim light

"They are quite impressive. Why doesn't the chief reward them with some meat?" A pair of delicate arms, slightly yellowed, wrapped around the man's shoulder, and a rather attractive cheek gently leaned against him. The lips, adorned with rouge, softly whispered like orchids in the other's ear, while her eyes subtly glanced at Gongsun Zhi among the three over there, her brows and eyes sparkling with springtime affection.

As he walked through the center of the stone chamber, the man reclining in the rough stone chair on the left held a delicate woman in his arms. Occasionally, he glanced over with a tone of mockery: "In two days, we couldn't catch a single lean sheep, yet today we managed to behead a Xiongnu. Quite impressive"

The stars paved a path resembling a river of stars, while the bright moon hung at the treetops, shifting with each step of the journey. Approximately ten miles from the site of the previous battle, a group of four returned through the rugged hills under the starry sky. After passing a small pond, the leading bandit, Wang Kui, called out a few bird calls towards a cluster of trees on a hill. Moments later, the dark forest echoed with the sounds of beasts. After responding to the call, someone emerged from within to lead the horses away, yet remained vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on them. After passing a small pond, the leading bandit, Wang Kui, called out a few bird calls towards a cluster of trees on a hill. Moments later, the dark forest echoed with the sounds of beasts. After responding to the call, someone emerged from within to lead the horses away, yet remained vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on them.