Chapter 2, Mountain Bandits

Unable to confront with strength, one can only rely on wisdom. Pei Ziyun could not help but carefully recall the events of defeating the enemy, and a particular incident from that year surfaced in his mind, instantly illuminating his heart and leading to a calculated plan.

The middle-aged mountain bandit at the center, surrounded by two other bandits who seem to regard him as their leader, has a gaunt face and is dressed entirely in black. Even while joking at this moment, his eyes remain cold and glinting with a chilling light. This man is the third leader of the Black Wind Bandits, who initially abducted Ye Su'er from the village, leading to the missed opportunities of the past life.

The middle-aged bandit among the three also felt puzzled, as it seemed that someone had been watching just a moment ago. However, when he looked, there was nothing to be seen. Thinking of this made him feel uneasy, and he remained silent, rising to walk towards the thicket, instinctively lowering his voice and footsteps.

These are a few hens raised in his home, all intended for laying eggs. However, these mountain bandits clamored to eat the chickens, so someone went and took them, tied their legs, and threw them out.

Fool

There is still time now

The village has mud walls, but these mud walls can only intimidate bandits. Those who are familiar with the area naturally know many loopholes, making it very easy to climb out.

In the previous life, I was weak and incompetent, unable to resist the choices made by the villagers, trailing far behind, witnessing the last moment when Ye Su'er was sent away.

The middle-aged mountain bandit was somewhat unexpected; I had thought he was a lurking person, but it turned out to be a large wild dog, which was also a pleasant surprise. Thinking this, I sheathed my knife, wiped my face to remove the blood, took a couple of swigs of liquor, and looked at the moon in the sky. The moon is truly round tonight

The original master was a student, a serious scholar, and a reserve soldier. As long as one understands this point, even if one is incapable of fighting, there are still ways to recover. To have reached this point is truly foolish

In the future, due to outstanding achievements, faced with threats, I had no choice but to enter a large organization as a manipulator and a frontman. The entanglements of grievances and interests need not be elaborated upon, until that car came crashing in, soaring through the air

At this moment, on the earthen wall of the village, Zhang Dashan was furiously whittling the wooden stick in his hand. The sharp wooden stick had been shaved down several layers, yet it was still insufficient. Watching those damned Black Wind Bandits roasting the mountain chicken, he felt both fear and anger in his heart

The knife in hand was stained with blood as it cleaved through the thicket. At that moment, the creature hidden beneath the bushes revealed its true form; a wild dog lay within the underbrush, its body partially severed, convulsing on the ground.

This may be acceptable, but the timing is simply wrong; the original owner is truly a fool

These black wind bandits gathered around the campfire, and Pei Ziyun could not help but suppress his murderous intent. If he were to strike one person, he could do so violently; against two, he would be helpless; and against three, he would have no choice but to flee

In the bamboo forest, the young man's eyes suddenly opened wide, yet he had already absorbed this memory and emotion

The young man felt a sense of tranquility within, holding a gun in one hand and a knife in the other, running straight towards the outskirts of the village

At this moment, at the village entrance, the Black Wind Thief is turning and roasting a native chicken in his hands. The chicken is not large, its feathers have long been plucked, and its entrails were pulled out and casually discarded. Using a knife he carries, he made several cuts on the chicken, sprinkled some salt and chili on it, and is now grilling it over the fire, with the chicken fat dripping onto the firewood, producing a sizzling sound

Pei Ziyun let out a cold smile, having devised a plan in her heart. These scoundrels were truly beyond redemption. She glanced back for a moment and then quickly retreated, no longer longing for this place

When Pei Ziyun crawled out of the mud cave, his body was covered in dirt, and his face was as well. As Pei Ziyun passed by the pond outside the village, the moonlight was bright, illuminating the pond and revealing his appearance. Upon seeing himself, Pei Ziyun felt not fear but joy; the mud obscured his face, creating a disguise. Who could discern him, except for those who were close and familiar?

A mere three bandits managed to intimidate a village with fifty able-bodied men into submission, demanding both money and people, while the original owner, being a scholar, found himself utterly at a loss in the face of this situation

I have already died, yet the original owner somehow brought me into this world. As for this plum blossom innate spiritual treasure, according to my memory, it has transformed into a system

After a long while, the boy's gaze fell upon this task, and immediately, segments of information began to flow out from it

Although there are principles in this world, the law of officials is like a furnace; who dares to confront it directly

The trees before me have grown tall, reaching heights of three to four meters. The trees obscure the moon in the sky, casting large shadows. As the bandit gazes around, he sees nothing but the shadows and shrubs illuminated by the moonlight.

At this moment, a chicken had been roasted, its unique golden-brown color and glistening oil indicating its readiness. A mountain bandit was roasting a native chicken, and upon taking the chicken, he first tore off a small piece and tasted it to see how it was.

The girl's pleading voice reached the bamboo forest, and the young man heard it. In just a few moments, he sharpened the bamboo spear with a hatchet, murmuring: "The villagers will only deliver people and goods at dawn; trading with thieves at night makes these villagers uneasy"

"Third Master, what is it?" A bandit, who was gnawing on a chicken claw, looked at his Third Master heading towards the bushes and couldn't help but follow him.

The middle-aged bandit took the chicken, inhaled its aroma, and found it to be fragrant. He tore off a small piece, tossed it into his mouth to taste, and as the meat filled his mouth, the fragrance spread, making him unable to resist his appetite.

Fortunately, I did not rush in directly. Pei Ziyun steadied himself and arrived at the temple gate, gazing at the temple before him

In the distance, Pei Ziyun watched, unable to suppress a cold sweat. The Black Mountain bandits truly lived up to their reputation as fierce criminals; although they could not be said to possess martial skills, their techniques were simple and direct, honed through the experience of combat.

The voices of several mountain bandits echoed outside the temple, and Pei Ziyun felt a tinge of regret. With a turn, he concealed himself in the darkness, his figure vanishing without a trace

When the village chiefs arrived at the village entrance, the Black Wind Thief emerged from the nearby temple at the village entrance

As soon as they emerged, several shouts were heard; the Black Wind Bandits were at the village entrance. Not only did they show no fear of the dozens of able-bodied men in the village, but they also forced the villagers to hand over several chickens, and a fire was lit at night for roasting.

The temple, I can still clearly remember the side rooms inside, which can accommodate several people. These bandits, although they lit a bonfire at the village entrance and demanded fat chickens, flaunting their power, must inevitably go to the temple to rest at midnight

The original master only realized the extraordinary treasure of the plum blossom five years later, allowing him to begin his cultivation. Although he possessed martial skills and Taoist methods, he himself did not know them. It is said that these mountain bandits, being mere mortals, could not learn Taoist methods and martial skills; a single thrust of a bamboo spear would naturally lead to death—yet he too was an ordinary person

It drew closer, yet there was nothing. The middle-aged bandit did not relax in the slightest, instead tightening his grip on the knife. Having survived as a bandit for over ten years, he possessed considerable experience. As it drew nearer, he noticed the grass thicket suddenly stirring.

At this moment, Pei Ziyun had already concealed himself beneath the thicket. The trees were dense, with tall canopies above and thick underbrush below. He hid in the shadows of the trees, preparing for the assassination, but the distance was too great. In the intervals of waiting, Pei Ziyun alternately tightened and loosened his grip on the knife and bamboo spear in his hands, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Puff!

Moreover, Da Xu has already been established, with the focus on the core region, which is why there has not been an immediate crackdown on the remote bandits. However, this is only a matter of time—Black Wind Bandits cannot last long like a rabbit's tail.

Upon tasting it, one immediately realizes that the flavor is quite delightful. The chickens in this village are well-fed and possess the robust texture characteristic of free-range native chickens. It is truly delicious, and I dared not indulge too much, promptly offering it to the middle-aged bandit.

Watching the bandit sitting by the campfire, Pei Ziyun touched the bamboo spear, crouched down, realizing that this was not the right moment to act, he held still and quietly lay in ambush

As a skilled operator, though not a general, he has long been seasoned in the battlefield, possessing an abundance of decisiveness in killing. The young man methodically tied his clothes around himself, and with a chop of the machete, a green bamboo fell down.

"Hey, truly worthy of being the third in command, this knife technique is exceptional, a single strike is fatal, cutting from the neck towards the body, directly cleaving through most of it. We can have a hearty meal again tonight." The bandit followed up, his eyes darting, flattering with a smile as he weighed the wild dog in his hands, tossing it in front of the fire pit, and began to skin it: "Dog meat cannot be cut in just a few places, sprinkle some salt, it needs to be prepared properly back at the temple."

After a year of reflection at home, I then relied solely on my eloquence to borrow 50,000 from newly made friends, re-entering the stock market. Even in a bear market, I earned 3 million in three years, achieving a profit of 30 times.

This is a land temple, surrounded by walls, but it has not been maintained for many years, resulting in several large holes. It is truly a good place for murder. After surveying the terrain and preparing a few nooses, Tu Peizi Yun heard footsteps and quickly stopped, tilting his ear, cupping his hand, and listening carefully.

As Pei Ziyun approached the village entrance, he saw three Black Wind Bandits, and at a glance, memories from his past life were instantly stirred up.

Not far away, the girl inside the door was desperately trying to win a glimmer of hope for herself. She restrained her fear and showed her most vulnerable side to the man outside the door. She did not want to be some favored mistress; she pleaded, saying: "Uncles, please, let me go. I will die if I go there—"

With both hands, he fiercely tore at the free-range chicken, pulling off a large piece of the drumstick. He chewed heartily, and after a few bites, feeling unsatisfied, he reached into his bosom and pulled out a wine pouch. Raising the pouch and tilting his head back, he took a hearty swig and exclaimed, "Refreshing!"

Zhang Dashan thought resentfully, venting his anger on the wooden stick, continuously whittling it while cursing: "These bastards, these bastards!"

In a moment of daze, the young man has already recalled his original life, and he is called Pei Ziyun. However, compared to this waste, he is a somewhat significant legend.

Someone attacked this middle-aged bandit, his eyes turned cold as he swung his long knife down. With a sharp sound, it struck something, and a spray of blood erupted, splattering across the face of this black mountain thief, making him appear exceptionally ferocious

If the task fails, will we lose this plum blossom

Three days ago, I had a way to easily resolve this crisis with the help of the government, but now I can only fight desperately

The three members of the Black Wind Bandit, who were indulging in their feast, were suddenly startled by their leader, who quickly turned his head to glance at the woods where Pei Ziyun had retreated. He stood up with a knife in hand and walked over.

At the age of seventeen, after quarreling with my family, I took 10,000 yuan to Shenzhen. I ate boxed meals and slept in a basement while trading stocks. A year later, I became self-taught and made a profit of 500,000 yuan, but soon after, I faced a margin call and lost everything.

The village is not large, and at this moment the moon has set in the west. In the shadow of the northeast wall, there is darkness, which serves as a cover for lurking. Pei Ziyun holds a bamboo spear in one hand and a knife in the other, stealthily making his way towards the village entrance