Chapter Eighteen: The First Tribulation

In the grand hall, Zhou Xing sat upright, his posture formal and imposing. Though he had ascended through the ranks of the bandit stronghold at a meteoric pace, he possessed a confidence that allowed him to savor it all. If one did not understand the situation, much might be misunderstood; but if plainly spoken, the truth was worth little. The simple fact was that Zhou Xing was the Great Chief’s man—this was the true reason he could rise steadily without arousing suspicion.

Of course, the suspicions referred to here were those of the higher-ups—chiefs and commanders. As for the ordinary bandits, whether they suspected him or not was of no consequence; no one paid any real attention to that.

Once everyone was assembled, Zhou Xing cleared his throat and spoke in a deep voice, “Gentlemen, I am grateful for the Third Chief’s trust. I will temporarily act as the leader of the stronghold. Please forgive my limited abilities and lack of bold plans; everything will remain as it was before the Third Chief’s departure. All operations will go on as usual. When the Third Chief returns, I intend to hand him back a stronghold that is whole and stable.”

“Is that clear to everyone?”

The assembled men exchanged glances, then nodded in unison, “Rest assured, Captain Zhou. Should anyone dare make trouble at a time like this, we shall see him cut to pieces.”

“Excellent!” Though Zhou Xing knew these were only words, he was satisfied with such an effect for a first meeting. He pressed his hands down, signaling for calm, and continued, “Now for the second matter. Before leaving, the Third Chief instructed me to lead a select group of elites from the rear-mountain training camp into battle.”

“I imagine the intention is to let them gain firsthand experience and accumulate some real combat knowledge, to prepare for future fights.”

“These individuals are the foundation of our stronghold’s future and of great importance. It must be said that the Third Chief’s foresight in this matter is profound. I am ashamed to say I cannot compare. I fully support this decision. I have not been here long and do not know which elites the training camp boasts—gentlemen, I ask you to enlighten me.”

As his words faded, the hall fell into a silence so deep that one might hear a pin drop.

Seeing everyone glancing at one another, hesitant to speak, a bandit surnamed Zhong stepped out from the ranks and said with a laugh, “As for these rear-mountain elites, there is one name we all know: Hu San. When he first joined, facing the Tianya Stronghold, he came straight out of a mountain village and slew ten foes in a single sweep. His talent is nothing short of terrifying.”

“Oh, Hu San? I have heard much of him lately but have yet to meet him. Which group does he belong to?” Zhou Xing’s interest was piqued. He saw a man with a wry smile emerge from the crowd—it was Zhao Feng, leader of the second group.

Zhao Feng cupped his hands and said, “He is under my group. But the truth is, he is so gifted that my presence is barely needed—he has led the second group well on his own. To be honest, I have not visited the rear-mountain group in some time, and I know little more about them than the rest of you.”

“But Captain Zhong is right—if Hu San doesn’t count as an elite, then our Langya Stronghold has no elites at all.”

After Zhao Feng spoke, the others echoed his sentiment. The mention of Hu San seemed to open the floodgates; soon, Zhou Xing had a list of many elite names, including three more stalwarts from the ninth group.

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Xing clapped his hands with a sharp crack, silencing the room. He smiled, “Very well. In that case, have them join us tomorrow for the ambush.”

The message quickly spread through the ranks. Those chosen were elated—for this meant their skills were acknowledged, and once the campaign was over, they might be promoted to squad leaders at any moment.

Those not chosen were left envious, but secretly resolved to try harder. Their fighting spirit surged; the same was true in the ninth group, where four had been selected. That night, they held a small celebration—not with fine wine, but with some meat they had stashed away.

Everyone ate heartily. At the end, Hu San looked at Tan Yue and the other three, their cheeks flushed in the firelight, and said gravely, “This is a good opportunity, but safety comes first. I expect tomorrow’s battle will only require us to observe from the rear. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not rush forward.”

“Do you understand?”

Hu San’s stern tone brought the three out of their excitement. They nodded vigorously, vowing, “Don’t worry, third brother. We always remember your teachings—if nothing else, we’re the best at running away. One of our ninth group is worth three of theirs when it comes to escape.”

“Good. Go to bed, then.” Hu San nodded, and everyone scattered. As the status of the ninth group rose and Hu San’s strength continued to grow, his prestige increased without anyone noticing.

At this point, in the hearts of the ninth group’s youths, Hu San’s image nearly rivaled that of the Third Chief himself.

Inside the simple wooden hut Hu San had built himself, all the basic living necessities were present. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Hu San quietly savored the sensation of the warm current within strengthening his body. Suddenly, his expression changed; his brows arched as he called toward the door, “Is that you, Tiger? If you have something to say, come in.”

Creak, creak.

The crude wooden door was pushed open. In the pale moonlight, a sturdy youth with short chestnut hair strode in. His face, angular and defined, still bore traces of the old Lin Hu, but he was now nothing like the chubby, round boy he used to be.

Of all the ninth group, Lin Hu had changed the most—apart from Hu San himself. Tan Yue, Xiang Bao, and Lei Ming had also grown stronger, but not nearly as dramatically as the former chubby boy.

With enough food and Hu San as his role model, Lin Hu had trained with desperate determination. His body grew as if inflated, and his brute strength now surpassed even Tan Yue and the others.

“Th-third brother, sorry to disturb your rest!” Though his face was now resolute, Lin Hu’s cheeks showed a hint of guilt. He had grown stronger, but his respect for Hu San had only deepened.

Seeing this, Hu San couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia—the chubby boy was still the same at heart.

“Come now, our relationship is different from others. We’ve grown up together, closer than brothers since we could walk. No need to stand on ceremony with me.”

He stood and made room for Lin Hu to sit, clapping him on the shoulder before asking, “Are you here about the selection?”

Lin Hu nodded awkwardly, pressing his lips together. “Third brother, it’s not that I’m dissatisfied—I just don’t think I’m any weaker than the others. This doesn’t really show what our ninth group can do.”

Hu San laughed. “You, you can’t even tell a convincing lie.”

He shook his head at Lin Hu’s flushed face. “This is only the beginning—there will be plenty of chances in the future. Don’t be impatient. I know you’re stronger than Tan Yue and the rest, but others don’t know it yet. So, first, you need to prove yourself—let everyone see your strength.”

“Second, our group leader hasn’t kept in touch for a long while. To be honest, the fact that he remembers Tan Yue and the others’ names is impressive. When I get the chance, I’ll bring it up with him—our second group can’t go on like this.”

“Any other concerns?”

Lin Hu shook his head furiously, like a rattle drum. Hu San wasn’t sure if he had really listened, but with all the troubles outside, he didn’t have time to worry about minor squabbles within the ninth group. In the end, it was just youthful bluster and swelling pride.

“Then go to bed, third brother needs rest,” Lin Hu said hurriedly. He slipped out of the hut, his posture hunched. He’d come in worried, but left with a spring in his step, nearly humming a tune.

It was all a matter of rivalry and youthful pride. So long as Hu San was close to him, everything would work out.

The following morning, the group leaders gathered at the base, and Zhao Feng returned to the second group’s territory after a long absence.

With matters at hand, Hu San and the others merely greeted Zhao Feng and joined him as he led them to the main peak.

Zhou Xing, as the acting chief, made no rousing speech. After a few strange glances at Hu San, prompted by his confidants, he waved his hand, and the bandit host surged down the mountain.

While the newcomers raced ahead in excitement, Hu San and his companions, though somewhat stirred, kept their enthusiasm in check.

Reaching the foot of the mountain, Hu San deliberately fell back in the ranks. Though Tan Yue and the others were excited, seeing Hu San’s caution, they remembered his advice and kept their blood from running too hot.

At the vanguard, among the bandits already lying in ambush, the bandit surnamed Zhong noticed Hu San’s caution and smirked coldly to himself: “So cautious—looks like killing him in the chaos won’t be possible. Well, let him live a little longer. Now that he’s out, does he really think he’ll ever go back?”

Soon, the target reported by their scouts appeared. The bandits tensed. Zhou Xing led a squad of elites into the front ambush, while the main force and the new recruits waited in the rear, ready to move at a signal. The mountain pass was silent as death—a pin could be heard dropping—yet a simmering violence hovered in the air, ready to explode.

Standing halfway up the mountainside, Hu San hid behind a great tree, peering down the path. The approaching party was well-prepared: the rumble of carriage wheels, the glint of weapons, and a group of hardened guards came into view.

Behind them, five gilded carriages rolled slowly forward, surrounded by a few mounted riders, each alert and vigilant, casting wary glances at the woods.

As the caravan advanced, a semicircular crest gradually became visible to Hu San’s sharp eyes.

“So, it’s a merchant caravan. But is it under the protection of Wolfheart Stronghold?” Hu San wondered. Thanks to his experience in the village, he instantly recognized the significance of those insignia. He quickly withdrew his gaze and looked toward Zhou Xing and the main force.

The ranks, already drawn tight, grew even tenser—no sign of relaxing, only further tightening.