Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Second Young Master's Wedding

“Uncle Zhang, how is everything in the village? And how is my family?” Hu San asked again.

“All is well, all is well… May I ask, my lord, who might you be?” Rabbit Zhang nodded vigorously at first, but then realized the title was off. Thinking further about the questions, he suddenly looked up in surprise, scrutinizing Hu San closely, yet still not daring to recognize him.

“I’m Hu San. Don’t you remember me?” Hu San smiled, introducing himself. “It’s only been a little over half a year. Surely you haven’t forgotten me, Uncle Zhang? Since I left the village that day, I’ve been through much, but luckily survived. I am now the Chief Patrol Captain of Wolfheart Mountain Stronghold. Life is stable for the moment, and I was concerned about my family, so I came back to see how things were.”

“C-Chief Patrol Captain!?” Rabbit Zhang’s mouth fell open nearly to his ears, his face nearly splitting apart. Today’s events were so bizarre that he felt as if he were dreaming.

He opened his mouth, and though he now recognized Hu San, he dared not call him by name, only saying, “Captain, did Lin Hu and Tan Yue receive any promotions?”

“They’re both my squad leaders, each in charge of nine men,” Hu San answered without concealment.

“Do you know how my Zhang Jia and Zhang Hui are?” Rabbit Zhang rubbed his hands together, holding his breath in nervous hope.

Alas, they’re both dead. Of those who left the village that day, only me, Tan Yue, and Lin Hu survived. The rest all perished in the mountains. There’s a long story behind it, Uncle Zhang, but please accept my condolences.”

Upon hearing this, Rabbit Zhang’s face fell, though he had been mentally prepared beforehand. Hearing it now, the grief was less sharp.

After a moment’s silence, Rabbit Zhang looked up at Hu San, opened his mouth, but no sound came; he seemed hesitant.

“Uncle Zhang, is there something you want to say?” By this time, some of the roast meat and dried rations were ready. Knowing Hu San’s appetite, the bandits specially brought food to him. Hu San invited Rabbit Zhang to eat with him, but saw his hesitance, as if some grave matter weighed on his mind.

With a deep sigh, Rabbit Zhang looked at Hu San again and said in a low voice, “Captain, your family’s luck has certainly changed with you, but I must say, your family has also met with disaster.”

“What do you mean?” Hu San asked, startled, though he kept eating.

“Do you know why I came up the mountain today? It’s your elder brother’s wedding day. I only came to check the traps for game, hoping to add a dish to the table. Who would have thought I’d run into you all here?” Rabbit Zhang’s tone was helpless, as not far away, Tan Yue was roasting a rabbit over the campfire, its aroma drifting far.

“Add a dish?” Hu San was surprised. He knew Rabbit Zhang’s nature well; even if it were his own son marrying, he’d be reluctant to offer a rabbit for the feast, let alone for Hu San’s brother’s wedding.

This generosity was out of character.

Sensing Hu San’s thoughts, Rabbit Zhang nervously licked his lips and forced a bitter smile. “Captain, you know how hard life is for us. The only reason I’m adding a dish is because I have no choice.”

“Everyone was happy about your brother’s wedding, but who could have predicted that a group of mountain bandits would come to the village today? They claimed to be from Wolfheart Stronghold, and their leader, young and handsome, wanted to be the groom himself.”

“Now, it’s not your brother marrying, but this so-called lord of Wolfheart Stronghold. Your whole family is outside serving the guests. And I don’t know which wretch said the gray rabbits I catch are delicious, but the lord ordered me to bring back a gray rabbit no matter what.”

At this, Rabbit Zhang peeked at Hu San’s expression, but Hu San continued eating as if he hadn’t heard. Little did Rabbit Zhang know that after all Hu San had endured, he had cultivated a steady mind; not quite unshaken by the collapse of the heavens, but certainly unmoved by lesser shocks.

Still, Hu San’s eating quickened, and soon a whole large platter of food was gone.

With a long breath, Hu San’s demeanor shifted, cold and murderous. While calling for more food, he asked quietly, “The lord of Wolfheart Stronghold? Do you know who he is?”

Pressed by Hu San’s murderous aura, Rabbit Zhang broke out in a cold sweat, his whole body feeling as though exposed to winter winds.

Frightened, he stammered, “He only called himself the lord of Wolfheart Stronghold. His men called him the Second Young Master. The village elders might know more. It was on his persuasion that the wedding proceeded peacefully. He used a phrase… Oh yes, ‘turning swords into ploughshares.’”

“Second Young Master?” Hu San mused, picking up another bowl of rice and eating, asking, “How many men did he bring? Any elite troops among them?”

The men Hu San had selected were all formidable, if not the top elite of Wolfheart Stronghold, certainly notable. Most were men who had failed elsewhere and joined under Hu San’s renown.

“About twenty or so. From what I saw, their skill is probably on par with yours,” Rabbit Zhang replied.

Hu San’s heart stirred. Rabbit Zhang tended to exaggerate, so if he said their strength was equal, they were likely superior to his men. Such formidable bandits were rare even in Wolfheart Stronghold.

That meant this Second Young Master was no ordinary figure.

“All right, you may withdraw and have something to eat,” Hu San nodded, ordering someone to take Rabbit Zhang away and summon Zhao Feng.

“Third Brother, you’re looking for me?” Zhao Feng sat down, gnawing on an unfamiliar animal leg.

“I want to ask you about someone. Is there a ‘Second Young Master’ in Wolfheart Stronghold, a man of some power?” Hu San’s gaze was deep, and for the first time, he stopped eating.

“Second Young Master? Why do you ask about him?” Zhao Feng sensed something amiss and set down his food. “Everyone in the stronghold knows the Second Young Master. He’s none other than the second son of the Second Chief, who styles himself the ‘Second Young Master.’”

“The Second Chief’s second son? Is there only one Second Young Master in the stronghold?” Hu San’s brow creased.

“Who else would dare use that title? The Chief has no children, only the Second Chief has two sons: the elder is naturally the First Young Master, and the younger is the Second Young Master. Who would risk their neck by claiming the title? Strangely, though, it’s as if only the Second Young Master exists—there’s no sign of the elder brother anywhere, only rumors about the Second Young Master. No one knows where the other is.”

“Oh!” Hu San blinked, then asked, “What sort of person is this Second Young Master? Is he in the stronghold now?”

“Dressed in finery, fond of pleasure, idle and dissipated—a typical wastrel. I heard that after Langya Stronghold’s recent victory made this area safe, the Second Young Master grew bored and went to garrison Langya, traveling about for amusement.”

“Third Brother, why do you ask?” Zhao Feng grew more suspicious; Hu San and the Second Young Master should have no cause to cross paths. His behavior was odd.

“Why do I ask?” Hu San chuckled softly. “Zhao Feng, if I told you the Second Young Master is at the village below, marrying, would you believe it? If I said he seized my brother’s bride just to experience a wedding, would you believe it? If I said that none of my kin may be insulted, and that this time I’ll surely crush him, would you believe it?”

“Uh…” Zhao Feng looked over helplessly at Rabbit Zhang, who was eating nervously by the fire. “Isn’t this a bit too much of a coincidence?”

“Coincidence or not, what’s your choice?” Hu San smiled, setting his empty bowl aside and slowly drawing his long blade. In the firelight, a faint streak of blood gleamed along the blue hilt.

“Do I have a choice?” Zhao Feng gave a bitter smile. “Whatever Third Brother decides, I, Zhao Feng, will follow, come fire or flood.”

“Good. Tell the men to eat quickly. We’ll set out in fifteen minutes. Tell them there’s a group of bandits in the village who are my enemies. We’ll pretend to join the festivities, drink with them, and at my signal, kill them all—do not let a single one escape. Understood?”

“Understood!” Zhao Feng nodded, determination settling in his eyes. He knew Hu San’s capabilities well—defiance was not an option.

Soon, the order was given. The bandits all looked uneasy, and the camp grew quieter.

Hu San said little more, only urging them to finish eating.

Before long, everyone had eaten their fill and were energized.

Standing atop a boulder, Hu San gathered the thirty men and declared sternly, “I’ll be brief. If anyone makes a mistake on this raid, I’ll kill his entire family. If you don’t believe me, you can try.”

The bandits wondered why such harsh words were necessary for a private vendetta. Surely no one would dare defy Hu San’s command? Only Zhao Feng, Lin Hu, and Tan Yue understood the gravity of the situation.

If anyone but Hu San were leading, once the men learned who they were to face, there would be trouble. But Hu San’s fearsome reputation was the sole guarantee that no such trouble would arise.

“Everyone’s heard of Third Brother’s prowess. Remember White Bear from Black Bear Stronghold? He died, indirectly, by Third Brother’s hand. The fierce Captain Xiong Ba too was slain by him. Even the Black Bear tracking team, led by White Bear himself, was mostly wiped out by Third Brother alone.”

“So, no matter what happens, never doubt Third Brother’s ability. At the very least, he can wipe out your entire family without difficulty.”

After Hu San’s words, Zhao Feng added a few more, deepening the men’s unease—though none dared question him.

And so, the orders were set.