Chapter 16: A Storm Approaches

Watching the departing figures of the bandits, the bandit with the surname Zhong’s expression gradually darkened. Then, he forced a slight smile and shook his head, muttering to himself, “Forget it. Anyone who can survive in an environment like this is hardly easy prey!”

“Langxin Stronghold has made quite an effort this time. Clearly, this place has become their reserve base. Once Hu San’s matter is settled, I must send word back at once.”

Three days later, atop Elder Peak, a sheer cliff by the rear valley of Wolf Fang Mountain, a group of bandits was laboriously mining stone.

For reasons unknown, all the rocks here were a deep brown-black, incredibly solid, and could only be split with great force—making them the material of choice for the defensive structures of Wolf Fang Mountain.

In the heat and bustle of labor, a youth wielding a massive hammer was particularly striking. Each time his hammer fell, his figure seemed almost illusory.

A faint mist swirled, as though behind the youth there was a strange apparition, the head of a fish upon the body of a bird.

Yet, as the haze dispersed, the trace vanished into the air.

The youth was none other than Hu San. For the past three days, his group—Group Nine of the Second Band—had been assigned to quarry stone here. With them was Group Three of the First Band, said to be the strongest team among the first.

The mining here was shrouded in secrecy, as though something unspeakable lay hidden, and the work came with extraordinary benefits. Every meal was accompanied by generous portions of meat—a far cry from the coarse grain dotted with scraps of gristle served in the training yard.

Even ordinary bandits were not treated so well.

Though none knew why they’d been chosen for this task, the abundance of meat alone was reason enough for their contentment.

Hu San seized the opportunity, incorporating the essence of “Bird Strike” into his movements, carefully studying its variations and purifying the technique further.

After several days of training, he found his mastery of Bird Strike much improved. He no longer struggled as before; though the side effects remained, they were now far less daunting.

With hope in sight, Hu San immersed himself in the technique at every opportunity, determined to make it his own signature move.

Compared to Hu San’s almost artistic motions, the others were brutish and forceful, stone chips flying as Group Nine of the Second Band and Group Three of the First Band blended together in their toil.

Across the quarry, the two groups mingled freely. Peng Fei, leader of Group Three, had grown familiar with Tan Yue, Xiang Bao, Lei Ming, and the others.

Even Hu San had exchanged a few words with Peng Fei.

Yet, despite Peng Fei’s seemingly boisterous and open nature, Hu San sensed something amiss—a subtle wariness from deep within himself.

Never one to concern himself with others, Hu San dismissed the thought. So long as no one provoked him, he saw no need to pay them any mind.

As Hu San lost himself in the spirit of Bird Strike, Peng Fei, who had also been laboring nearby for some time, suddenly stopped, set down his hammer, wiped his brow, and glanced up at the midday sun. His heart tightened.

“It’s time.”

Having convinced himself his aim had been achieved, Peng Fei’s face showed a hint of anxiety. He glanced about furtively, then strode purposefully toward Hu San, catching his movements from the corner of his eye.

“What does he want?”

Frowning, Hu San paused mid-swing, then set his hammer down by his feet, pondering briefly.

Peng Fei’s expression was anything but subtle, as though something important pressed on his mind.

“Brother Peng, what brings you here?”

Hu San’s sharp gaze seemed to pierce straight into Peng Fei’s eyes. The latter, who’d come wearing a troubled look, shuddered under that stare and instinctively glanced away.

Realizing his own awkwardness, Peng Fei hurried over, grabbed Hu San’s arm, and whispered, “Brother Hu, something’s wrong. I overheard some guards say they’re after you—to avenge a fellow bandit. They spoke with certainty!”

With Peng Fei’s urgent words came the pounding rhythm of his heartbeat.

Hu San’s brows knit as he noted Peng Fei’s sweat-drenched face. Nodding thoughtfully, he pointed toward a rock at the cliff’s edge and said, “Is that so? Tell me the details, please, Brother Peng. This isn’t something to discuss openly—let’s talk behind that stone.”

“Of course! Of course!” Relief flickered across Peng Fei’s anxious face—gone in a heartbeat, but not missed by Hu San.

“Something is wrong here. That spot, though secluded, is treacherously steep. At this hour, the guards are all napping under the trees. Wouldn’t talking somewhere so remote be more suspicious than staying put?”

“And after all, I’ve only known this man for three days, exchanged fewer than ten words. Why is he so concerned for me? Is he just a naturally good person?”

Hu San immediately dismissed the thought. No one could rise to a leadership position among thousands of bandits by being a good man.

So, what was Peng Fei after? And why take him to such a dangerous spot?

Though this analysis took only an instant, a thousand thoughts flashed through Hu San’s mind. He betrayed no sign, allowing Peng Fei to drag him behind the stone, where the cliff dropped into a bottomless abyss.

“Brother Peng, there’s no one here. Please, tell me everything. Honestly, I must thank you—without your warning, who knows how I might have died today?”

Feigning ignorance of Peng Fei’s true intentions, Hu San thoughtfully stepped in front of him, leaving Peng Fei the side closest to the rock face.

A gleam of wild joy flashed in Peng Fei’s eyes. “No need to thank me—what are friends for? Someday, I might even burn you a paper offering myself!” he said, grinning savagely.

With that, Peng Fei’s large hands shot out, aiming to shove Hu San over the precipice. Eighteen years old and in his prime, with powerful strength and the perfect angle—he was certain Hu San was as good as dead.

But before he could savor his triumph, the scene before him blurred. When he looked again, Hu San’s body was no longer within reach of his hands.

“Did you want me dead so badly?”

Unnoticed, Hu San had circled to Peng Fei’s side, his thin arms like iron clamps, locking onto Peng Fei’s arm with a grip that made the bones creak.

“You… how can this be?”

Cold sweat streamed down Peng Fei’s face. He never imagined things would turn out like this—so far from his expectations.

With a wrench of his arm, Hu San swung Peng Fei bodily aside. Even if Peng Fei had caught him off guard, with his mastery of the Fish Step, Hu San could never be easily pushed over the cliff.

With a single twist, Peng Fei’s hulking body was flung toward the abyss, left dangling in midair, his only support Hu San’s unyielding grip on his arm.

“Speak. Who sent you?”

Hu San’s fingers tightened, brutal force digging into Peng Fei’s flesh.

Agony exploded through Peng Fei, his screams lost in the howling mountain wind—a perfect place for murder.

“You refuse to talk?”

Seeing Peng Fei bite his lip till it bled but remain silent, Hu San was momentarily surprised by his tenacity.

But this was no time for stubbornness. Hu San raised his arm, exposing Peng Fei’s fingers, and began snapping them, one by one.

By the fifth, Peng Fei had fainted several times from pain, yet still he kept his silence.

“A man of resolve, at least.”

With a word of praise, Hu San ceased his torment. Watching the stubborn light in Peng Fei’s eyes, he smiled. “I didn’t want things to go this far, but if you don’t talk, I’ll kill your entire family whenever I have the chance. Believe me, here, I have that power.”

This time, Hu San didn’t have to wait long. Peng Fei finally spoke, coughing blood, his voice weak. “I hope you keep your word. It was a bandit named Jin Li who found me. If I killed you, he promised to make me squad leader and put me in temporary charge of the entire training camp.”

“Jin Li? What’s his background?”

Hu San couldn’t recall having such an enemy.

“He didn’t say, and I didn’t dare ask. But I think he works for someone else. Go ahead, kill me. After offending someone so powerful, you won’t live long yourself. I’ll be waiting for you on the other side.”

Peng Fei spat more blood. Wracked by pain and terror, the light of life in the young man’s eyes was rapidly fading.

“Jin Li, Jin Li… He can’t be after the Cotton Candy, or it wouldn’t be so complicated. Nor could he be from Tianya Stronghold. That leaves only that bandit with the surname Zhang.”

“But is this about avenging a fallen comrade, or is it the mysterious man seeking the secret manual?”

Ignoring Peng Fei’s curses, Hu San simply let go, sending the capable youth plunging into the abyss. By now, with over a dozen lives on his hands, Hu San held his own fate firmly and cared nothing for curses.

“A storm is coming.”

With a sigh, Hu San turned away, picked up his hammer, and resumed immersing himself in Bird Strike. As for Peng Fei’s death, no one seemed to notice.

Even if someone suspected him, it mattered not—Hu San had nothing left to fear.

And so, the leader of the strongest group in the First Band vanished without a trace, on an ordinary noon, seen by none in life or death.

The remaining members of Group Three made a cursory search, then reported to their captain—the long-haired bandit.

To their surprise, the long-haired bandit seemed unsurprised, immediately declaring Peng Fei guilty of desertion and executing his brothers in reprisal, ending the matter without further investigation.