Chapter 208: I Am Your Opponent
Chapter 208: I Am Your Opponent
The hunter was let into Bai Family Fortress. Upon seeing Zhao Sheng, he immediately ran over to him.
He was indeed a bit worried that Zhao Sheng had met with some misfortune at the foot of the mountain. Upon seeing him standing whole and unharmed in Bai Family Fortress, he breathed a sigh of relief and said: “Sir, big trouble, big trouble.”
Zhao Sheng: “What happened?”
The hunter said: “Ye Bu Shou from the Seventh Team suddenly led his troops up Huanglong Mountain from the western slope. Village Chief Jie ran to talk to him and asked him what he was here for, but he refused to say. He also eyed the provisions Lord Bai sent us for ourselves and demanded that we share them with him.”
Bai Yuan’s brow furrowed deeply.
Cheng Xu snorted.
Zhao Sheng lowered his head and thought for a moment: “The Seventh Team shouldn’t have come to Huanglong Mountain. For them to suddenly come to follow us, they must have met with setbacks on other paths. It’s just as well that he came. I just followed Lord Bai and found an excellent place where we can settle down and live our lives. We might as well call Ye Bu Shou along.”
Having said that, he intended to leave the fortress and return to the mountain.
Cheng Xu moved closer to Bai Yuan: “Has this person gone to Gaojia Village to see for himself?”
Bai Yuan nodded: “He has seen it. He is willing to stay, and the Deity has arranged everything suitable for him.”
Cheng Xu said: “I don’t think he may live long enough to reach Gaojia Village.”
Bai Yuan was startled: “Why?”
Cheng Xu said: “That Ye Bu Shou from the Seventh Team, from his name alone, is a ruthless character.”
Bai Yuan furrowed his brow: “What do you mean…”
Cheng Xu nodded lightly: “Ye Bu Shou is the title of elite scouts in the border army. Those who work as scouts are all clever, decisive in battle, and ruthless. Dian Deng Zi, a frail scholar, went up to the mountain to invite that Ye Bu Shou down to live a stable life. How do you think that will turn out?”
Bai Yuan said: “What if that Ye Bu Shou also hopes for a stable life? Soldiers also have those who wish to return to civilian life.”
Cheng Xu spoke softly: “If that person really had such a temperament, why would he, upon arriving at the mountain, immediately ask people of Qingjian County for grain? Clearly, he is a troublemaker. The reason he didn’t turn hostile and seize the grain was probably that he feared Bu Zhan Ni! Anyway, he didn’t regard Dian Deng Zi as important.”
Bai Yuan thought carefully: Wasn’t that right? If Ye Bu Shou had a shred of friendliness towards Dian Deng Zi, he wouldn’t have come to crowd his path. Much less would he immediately demand grain. It was clear that he had sized up, right from the start, that among Bu Zhan Ni’s subordinates in the Seventh Teams, the path led by Dian Deng Zi Zhao Sheng was the weakest. So he came to squeeze his weaker companion and even thought about taking over Dian Deng Zi.
Given that, Dian Deng Zi went back to the mountain to persuade Ye Bu Shou to turn to goodness. That was fraught with peril.
Bai Yuan said: “Instructor He, you seem quite experienced in this aspect. What do you think we should do?”
Cheng Xu looked up towards the mountaintop.
There, the Seventh Team had 1,500 bandits, and their leader was likely an elite border army scout. If he himself led the militia and the servants of Bai Family Fortress to engage them, their chance of victory was less than 20%. With an 80% chance of seeing grandmother.
But Dian Deng Zi Zhao Sheng was also on their side. Even though his 3,000 followers were a mob, so many people, together with his militia and Bai Family Fortress servants, charging forward—in such a calculation, the chance of victory was 100%.
Cheng Xu chuckled.
His gaze swept over the mountaintop.
He couldn’t see grandmother’s figure at all.
In battles he was sure to lose, Cheng Xu was cowardly like an old dog.
In battles he was sure to win, Cheng Xu was brave like a War God.
Cheng Xu said seriously: “I will accompany Zhao Sheng up the mountain. You, lead the militia and the Bai Family Fortress servants and sneak up after us under the cover of night. When you hear the sounds of fighting on the mountain, charge up immediately to provide backup.”
Bai Yuan said: “Good!”
The two concluded their discussion.
Cheng Xu walked to Zhao Sheng’s side: “I’ll accompany you up the mountain to ensure your safety.”
Zhao Sheng turned to look.
This masked instructor wore cotton armor with a sword at his waist, looking formidable.
He couldn’t help but feel greatly relieved and said: “I am grateful to you, brave warrior.”
At this moment, it was already late. The sun was about to set. The mountain slopes were dim. Visibility was not good enough to see far.
Zhao Sheng, Cheng Xu, two underlings, and a hunter—the five formed a small team—rapidly climbed up along the mountain slope.
Meanwhile, Bai Yuan waved and led the local gentry, stealthily slipping out of the Bai Family Fortress. Crouching down and using the field ridges as cover, he made his way all the way to the foot of Huanglong Mountain. Extremely familiar with the terrain, he soon entered a mountain ravine and climbed upward via a hidden path.
On top of the mountain slope, Ye Bu Shou had grown rather impatient. He’d sent men to question the Second Team several times, each time being told the Second Leader hadn’t yet returned, so his frustration mounted.
Suddenly, word came from an underling: “Dian Deng Zi has returned!”
Ye Bu Shou rushed with pride, instructed his subordinates behind him briefly, took a team of confidants, and walked toward the Second Team.
“Hey, Second Leader, where’d you go to find grain?” Ye Bu Shou began sarcastically as soon as they met: “You barely brought anyone, just four or five men wandering around downhill. Weren’t you afraid of being caught by officials or the local gentry and hauled off to the authorities?”
Dian Deng Zi, entirely naive, clueless about the bandits’ dangers, failed to pick up the sarcasm. He replied with slight cheer: “I found a perfect spot downhill—a wealthy village eager to lend us a hand, giving us refuge and providing food. Seventh Leader, you’ve come just in time. Join me to that village, and we can all enjoy some peaceful days.”
“Oh?”
Ye Bu Shou revealed a peculiar expression: “So you found a wealthy village, did you? If they can give us piles of grain, then that village must be loaded with supplies. Why grovel under their roof? Why not just plunder such prime real estate?”
Startled in his mind, Dian Deng Zi said: “They’re friendly toward us; how could we start by robbing them?”
Ye Bu Shou: “Hahaha! What kind of world is this? Second Leader, don’t pretend ignorance.”
Dian Deng Zi’s expression fell; he realized he’d been overly naive.
Ye Bu Shou: “Where’s this village?”
Dian Deng Zi shook his head: “I cannot tell you.”
Ye Bu Shou: “Looks like the Second Leader intends to betray big brother Bu Zhan Ni.”
Dian Deng Zi: “I have no plans to betray anyone. I simply crave a stable life.”
Ye Bu Shou: “Shut up. That is betrayal.”
He suddenly raised his voice, shouting loudly: “Everyone just heard it! Captain of the Second Team, Dian Deng Zi, harbors disloyalty toward big brother Bu Zhan Ni. I, Ye Bu Shou, Captain of the Seventh Team, now act on heaven’s behalf to help big brother weed out this troublemaker.”
Dian Deng Zi: “I’m not… I didn’t…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Ye Bu Shou drew his waist knife with a swish and slashed directly at Dian Deng Zi’s face.
The strike was fierce and swift—even a skilled fighter would struggle to dodge it, not to mention the frail scholar Dian Deng Zi Zhao Sheng.
As death seemed imminent, Cheng Xu, standing half a step behind him, suddenly reached out. With one hand, he yanked Dian Deng Zi sideways; with the other, he swiftly drew his waist knife. Clang! It blocked Ye Bu Shou’s fast blow.
Cheng Xu chuckled: “Your opponent is me!”
…
Lately, some readers had voiced concerns that the book’s viewpoint focused too much on the little people, not the Deity, making it dull.
The eunuch acknowledged their argument was sound—after all, readers naturally craved more of the main character—but he suggested people reconsider their perspective.
This novel was actually an “ensemble cast” work. An ensemble cast spotlighted many characters, and all were part of the “protagonist faction.” In essence, readers could treat every minor character as integral to the protagonist.
Li Daoxuan and these minor figures collectively formed the “Gaojia Village” system—a system that truly served as the central protagonist.
Viewed this way, it became clear the book’s focus rarely drifted from the protagonist.