Chapter Sixty-Six: Are There Really Those Unafraid of Death?

"Zhao Ming, I've heard your sister is as beautiful as a flower. Why don't you introduce her to me?"
Bored out of his mind, Li Han was pestering Zhao Ming.

"Your sister is already of marriageable age, isn't she? If you don't find her a husband soon, you'll have to pay a tax. Look at me—I'm single, your sister's single. How could the world be so coincidentally generous?"
As a member of the fishing team, Zhao Ming had volunteered to join this expedition.

The reason was simple: Qin Zhen offered too much.

Besides, he'd never left the mountains in his whole life. Now that he finally had the chance, he wanted to see the world beyond.

Faced with Li Han's shameless persistence, Zhao Ming truly wasn't sure if the guy was joking or serious. He opened his mouth, then swallowed his words and replied with forced patience, "You're too dark-skinned. My sister doesn't like dark. She prefers someone fair and clean like Zhen."

"What do you mean she likes someone fair and clean like Zhen? Just say she likes Zhen! There's nothing to be ashamed of! Plenty of girls in the village like Zhen!" Li Han said loudly, making everyone laugh. "You don't know it, but the widow Li who lives next door to Zhen said she likes his youthful vigor—can't sleep all night because of it!"

"How do you know that?" Qin Zhen felt his scalp tingle.

"All that racket you made the other night—I could hear it from the village entrance!" Li Han blurted. "My dad even praised you for being impressive!"

Building a house!

He must build a house! His current home let in the wind from all sides, barely muffling any sound. Qin Zhen resolved that, once he returned, he would build a large, soundproof house.

The villagers spoke their minds, unconcerned with taboos, daring to say anything. Especially the women, who loved gossip; who knew what stories they spun about him!

No wonder Liu Juan had looked so aggrieved last night, timid and reluctant to speak. Surely it was the women's chatter!

"Liu Yan, Miao Yun, Widow Li, and Zhao Ming's sister..." Li Han counted on his fingers. "Zhen, why don't you just take all of them? Otherwise, you'll have to pay the tax soon—and it's expensive."

"But Widow Li is already fifty, isn't she?" Zhao Ming was dumbfounded.

"Fifty means nothing! My dad says women are like wine—the older, the richer the flavor! Widow Li is just the sort who can cool your fire!" Li Han declared confidently.

Qin Zhen's face darkened. He really feared this clown Li Han.

At that moment, Chen Shu squinted and suddenly spoke in a cold voice.

"Quiet!"

"What is it?" Qin Zhen immediately grew alert.

Chen Shu was not a talkative man—steady and reserved. If he spoke, there was a reason.

He pointed toward the woods ahead, his voice grave. "There's something strange up ahead."

Chen Head Constable squinted, revealing the crux: "All along the way, we've heard birds. But now, in this stretch, not a single bird call."

Qin Zhen understood instantly.

In the deep mountains, the absence of birds meant people were present.

A lot of people.

"This area, strictly speaking, belongs to Mao'er Mountain. Bandits from Mao'er Mountain often come here to ambush travelers," Chen Head Constable said calmly, without a trace of panic.

If he were alone, perhaps he'd be nervous.

But he was not alone.

These seemingly gentle villagers had all fought pirates hand-to-hand! Armed with repeating crossbows and Japanese swords! If it came to a fight, dealing with a few bandits would be like slicing melons!

He only hoped the bandits wouldn't act rashly, lest they bring disaster upon themselves.

"Mao'er Mountain?"

The name made Qin Zhen instantly wary.

Scarface was under San Biao, the third boss of Mao'er Mountain, and Qin Zhen had unfinished business with San Biao.

"What's there to be afraid of? San Biao doesn't know that Scarface has already been killed by you," Chen Head Constable laughed leisurely, sensing Qin Zhen's unease. "Even if he finds out, so what? You've got dozens of men with you—afraid of mountain bandits? And if things get tough, you've got me! I'm now a city guard of Coastal City!"

"A ninth-grade official! Even the county magistrate is only a bit higher than me!"

Seeing Chen Head Constable's smug face, Qin Zhen couldn't help but laugh.

He was indeed being too cautious.

With his current strength, mountain bandits were nothing but paper tigers!

Still, out of prudence, Qin Zhen ordered his brothers to stay alert.

Though the crossbows and swords gave him confidence to face the bandits head-on, he preferred to avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary.

After all, conflict meant bloodshed and sacrifice.

The villagers trusted him, followed him out to trade, and he was responsible for bringing them home safely.

Unfortunately—

The bandits on the mountain had other ideas.

"Boss, that's Qin Zhen!" Wang Yuan, acting as the lackey, pointed to Qin Zhen at the head of the convoy and said to San Biao, "That guy's the leader of Little Fishing Village. If he's personally escorting the goods, they're surely worth a fortune! If we rob him, Little Fishing Village will be thrown into chaos! We cut off his head, charge straight into the village, burn, kill, and pillage to our heart's content!"

Damn, this guy was born to be a bandit!

San Biao looked at Wang Yuan, unable to help but marvel.

This was what a real bandit sounded like! Compared to Wang Yuan, San Biao felt he was too soft-hearted!

He only wanted to rob the goods, but this guy wanted to slaughter the whole village!

Yet Wang Yuan's words gave him a reminder: Little Fishing Village was famous—everyone in Coastal County knew it was a treasure. If he really robbed the village, San Biao could establish his own faction and rival Mao'er Mountain!

Thinking of this, San Biao grew excited.

"Boss, they're not carrying iron weapons! I don't see any repeating crossbows either!" The shout from his underling sealed San Biao's resolve.

He gave a ruthless order, "Everyone, take off your masks and show your blades!"

Hearing this, Wang Yuan was startled, then overjoyed!

The rule of the road: masked robbers only robbed, never killed.

Unmasked, it meant murder and plunder!

San Biao swung his arm.

"Attack!"

A dense swarm of figures surged from the woods—over two hundred strong!

Some wielded rusty swords, others brandished broken farming tools, and still others carried sharpened wooden sticks, fierce and ragged, intimidating in their numbers!

"So there are some fools who aren't afraid of death?"

Chen Head Constable laughed.

He had just taken office and was worrying about not having any achievements. Who would've thought these bandits would deliver themselves!

Bandit suppression—now that was a meritorious deed!

He grinned and shouted to Qin Zhen, "Brother Qin, form up! Shoot them down!"

He needn't have spoken; as soon as the bandits appeared, Chen Shu had already given the order.

Twenty elite village guards immediately formed a triple-line formation: first rank volley fire, second rank single shots, third rank loading and standby.

The repeating crossbows thundered, whistling through the air—bandits fell wailing in droves!

Qin Zhen drew the Japanese sword hidden under the haystack and growled,

"Everyone, follow me—engage the enemy!"