Chapter Thirteen: The First Brilliant Battle

Witnessing such a scene, Liu Susu couldn’t help but feel frightened. She instinctively hid behind Xiao Fei, reaching out to grasp his arm, which gave her a much-needed sense of security.

“Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. I’m here,” Xiao Fei comforted her.

But to be honest, Xiao Fei’s heart was pounding. Such a grand battle was something he’d only seen in television dramas. Born and raised in the peaceful era of the twenty-first century, someone like him from the eighties had never experienced anything like this. Real guns, real bullets—everyone was fighting for their lives. It was either them or us! Xiao Fei would be lying if he said he wasn’t scared.

However, seeing that his sister-in-law was now much less wary of him, he realized she no longer saw him as an irresponsible eighteen-year-old young master. He had to be strong, to give her a sense of security.

“Brother Tianbao, I’m scared,” Chen Xiangyi also said, trembling as she clung tightly to the Fourth Chief.

Qin Tianbao, the Fourth Chief, exchanged a look with Zheng Xiaoyan, who understood instantly and, without hesitation, injected Chen Xiangyi with a syringe. They feared she would be a hindrance.

Damn, this sissy is ruthless, Xiao Fei thought. Clearly, she’s not your real sister, yet you still jab her delicate skin with a needle!

Opportunity was life—hundreds of lives hung in the balance, and everyone was tense.

“Brother Xiao, originally I wanted to bring you to visit Qinglong Mountain, but now, facing grave danger, you are an outsider. Perhaps you should take your sister-in-law and retreat first,” Zhen Sanjiang said sincerely, glancing at Liu Susu as he spoke.

“Chief, what are you saying? Do you think I, Xiao Fei, am someone who shirks duty and flees in the face of danger? I must stay and fight alongside you!” Xiao Fei declared resolutely.

“Good! My brother, I knew I judged you correctly. But, your sister-in-law?” Zhen Sanjiang had witnessed Xiao Fei’s superb marksmanship, so he had little to worry about him, but his sister-in-law was another matter.

“Chief, I have only one request: please assign a brother to escort my sister-in-law down the mountain to safety,” Xiao Fei said.

“No, I won’t leave. Wherever you go, Uncle, I will be there,” Liu Susu replied solemnly.

This warmed Xiao Fei’s heart. “Sister-in-law!”

“In that case, Brother Xiao, take good care of her,” Zhen Sanjiang instructed.

“Chief, I’m out of bullets. Could I get another gun?” Xiao Fei asked.

“Of course. Someone, bring a gun!” Zhen Sanjiang ordered.

Receiving the weapon from one of Zhen Sanjiang’s men, Xiao Fei felt a twinge of annoyance. This shotgun couldn’t compare to his Browning, but it was the best pistol among the bandits.

“Brother Xiao, among us, your marksmanship is the most precise. I believe your command skills are equally impressive. So, I will entrust these men to your direction. Give the orders as you see fit,” Zhen Sanjiang said.

“Big Brother!”

“Chief!”

The Second and Fourth Chiefs cried out in protest. How could they entrust their lives to an outsider?

Xiao Fei intended to decline—after all, he had no experience with military tactics. But to prove himself, and since time was short, he had no choice but to accept.

“Very well, gather around. Though the soldiers outnumber us, capturing the leader is key. Their commander is probably in the rear and won’t expect anyone to flank them. I’ll target the commanding officer first. Chief, you lead two men from the left to draw their attention. Second and Fourth Chiefs, attack from the right to scatter them. The remaining three will go down to the rocky slope and set the mountain ablaze.”

If the first part sounded like a proper plan, the later suggestion was almost reckless. It was autumn, dry and crisp, and setting the mountain on fire would not only kill the soldiers but also threaten the bandits—wasn’t this digging their own graves?

Even Zhen Sanjiang was skeptical. “Fire? Brother Xiao, wouldn’t that doom us all?”

“Chief, listen. When we came up from below, I studied the terrain. There’s a river at the base, above which is a winding mountain path. With our three-pronged attack and the brothers on the mountain, plus raging fires on both sides, where do you think the soldiers will flee?” Xiao Fei prompted.

“You mean the stone path?” Zhen Sanjiang began to understand.

“Yes, exactly,” Xiao Fei replied.

“Hmph, but if the fire grows, we’ll be trapped; if it dies down, they’ll attack again—won’t we still lose?” the Fourth Chief retorted.

“Oh, come on, you sissy! Try using your head for once. If we force them onto the narrow mountain path, our forces can advance or retreat at will. If we can set the fire, we can extinguish it. Look, that mountain spring—can’t we use it? Once we open the spring, the fire will be doused!” Xiao Fei continued.

“So, either the soldiers burn or drown?” the Fourth Chief said, excited.

“Finally, you get it!” Xiao Fei laughed.

“You—hmph!” The Fourth Chief was no longer angry, amazed that the young man before him possessed such intelligence.

“Wonderful, truly brilliant, Brother Xiao! You are heaven’s savior for us!” Zhen Sanjiang exclaimed in awe.

The Second Chief also gasped inwardly at the ruthless plan.

Liu Susu, listening nearby, nodded repeatedly. Though she knew little of military matters, Xiao Fei’s explanation convinced her of his wisdom.

“All right, time is short. Everyone, move out!” Xiao Fei assumed the role of military commander, issuing orders coldly.

“Yes, let’s go!” Zhen Sanjiang led the way.

The Second Chief sprang into action.

The Fourth Chief quickly moved to Chen Xiangyi’s side, instructing two subordinates to protect her and keep her from moving.

Xiao Fei seized the opportunity to pull the Fourth Chief aside and whispered, “Watch out for the Second Chief!”

The Fourth Chief seemed annoyed by Xiao Fei’s gesture but was even more startled by his words. Still, seeing Xiao Fei’s determined tone, she decided to remember it and hurried after the Second Chief.

Xiao Fei wasn’t idle either; with one hand shielding Liu Susu behind him, he began firing. Though the pistol couldn’t compare to the Browning, it was deadly enough.

“Ah…”

“Ah…”

With each death, Liu Susu cried out, covering her eyes with one hand and clinging to Xiao Fei’s waist with the other.

Feeling his sister-in-law’s warmth and scent, Xiao Fei grew even more excited, his shooting becoming increasingly fluid.

So this is what ‘shooting’ really means, he thought mischievously.

With Xiao Fei’s meticulous strategy, hundreds of soldiers, despite their numbers, suddenly found themselves overwhelmed. Surrounded, with raging fires on both sides, many began to scatter and flee.

The Second Chief, seeing this, sensed disaster.

“No, Commander Hu gave me so many benefits. If I can achieve another great feat now, I’ll be even more favored,” he thought.

He knew Xiao Fei’s plan was vicious; if no one warned the soldiers, they’d all be doomed. If he could notify them to avoid being deceived and either attack fiercely or retreat quickly, there was still hope.

But with the Fourth Chief nearby, how could he deliver the message? He pondered.

Fine, I’ll just kill him!

With that, the Second Chief suddenly shoved the Fourth Chief.

“Ah… what are you doing?” The Fourth Chief, though remembering Xiao Fei’s warning, hadn’t taken it seriously, and now regretted it.

“Die!” The Second Chief fired at the Fourth Chief.

“Ah…” The Fourth Chief was shot and tumbled down the cliff, saved only by a large tree.

The Second Chief hurried to fire again, but was shot from behind. Blood spurted from his mouth as he struggled to turn, seeing Xiao Fei not far away.

“Traitor!” Xiao Fei spat.

Seeing Zhao Erkui fall, Xiao Fei rushed over, carefully climbing down to rescue the Fourth Chief.

Though he disliked the sissy, he couldn’t leave him to die.

“Uncle, be careful,” Liu Susu called from above.

Xiao Fei reached the bottom, grabbed the Fourth Chief, and checked his breath. Thankfully, he was alive—the bullet had only grazed his shoulder. He’d fainted mostly from hitting the rocks during the fall.

Xiao Fei tried to lift him but found him heavy.

“You really are heavy for a sissy,” Xiao Fei muttered, pulling harder. With a rip, the Fourth Chief’s shirt tore, revealing two round bulges on his chest.

“Huh? Why does this sissy have two buns hidden in his chest?” Xiao Fei wondered.