Chapter Forty: Taking Action

"Let's move!"

Once everyone was ready, with a single shout from Hu San, the whole group surged down the ridge, heading straight for Wolfname Village.

By the time they arrived, dusk had settled, yet the village was more raucous than ever. The clamor of drums and gongs echoed endlessly, the festivities clearly in full swing.

Hu San ordered Rabbit Zhang to lead the way to the wedding banquet, held at Hu San's own home.

By now, the courtyard walls of Hu San’s house had been completely torn down. More than a dozen tables were scattered haphazardly across the yard, each crowded with burly men drinking, accompanied by young women and wives seized from the village.

Laughter and shouts filled the air.

As soon as Rabbit Zhang stepped into the courtyard, a man grabbed him by the collar.

Hu San recognized the fellow immediately—he was none other than the village elder’s youngest son, now in his twenties and quite respected.

"Where's the grey rabbit? Rabbit Zhang, let me tell you, once the chief's had his way with the new bride, he's asked specifically for that dish. If you can't serve it, your whole family will lose their heads."

The night was dim and the man had been drinking. He didn’t even notice the crowd gathering behind Rabbit Zhang.

Hu San discreetly signaled to his men. Instantly, a few fierce bandits stepped forward—one clapped a hand over the man's mouth, two others bound his limbs with hemp rope, and tossed him into a corner of the courtyard.

The speed and efficiency of their actions made Rabbit Zhang shudder.

At Hu San’s command, Zhao Feng swaggered into the yard, leading the bandit troop. At a glance, he spotted several familiar faces.

These were all elite members of Wolfheart Stronghold, akin to the trackers Zhao Feng had encountered at Black Bear Stronghold. There were only a few hundred such men in the whole stronghold.

Though there were just over twenty present, they were easily a match for a bandit squad of two hundred and could even hold their own against seasoned fighters.

Seeing these men, Zhao Feng felt surer than ever about the groom’s identity.

Naturally, their arrival drew the attention of the bandits. Soon, two squad leaders recognized Zhao Feng.

"So it’s Zhao Feng, Captain Hu’s man! What brings you here tonight?"

Though Zhao Feng was also a squad leader, these two held higher rank. If not for Hu San’s influence, they wouldn’t have bothered to greet him at all.

"Haha, no wonder it’s so lively. Turns out Captain Xing and Captain Liu are on duty here."

"To be honest, Third Brother is on an errand for the third chief. We happened by this village and thought to rest for the night—never expected to run into you. What a coincidence."

Zhao Feng smiled and gestured. Lin Hu and Tan Yue stepped forward to pay their respects.

But to these two, Lin Hu and Tan Yue were mere boys, unworthy of notice. In their minds, if not for Hu San’s favor, these two wouldn’t even qualify as bandits, much less squad leaders.

To become a squad leader, they’d struggled for years, yet these two upstarts had leaped ahead simply by being close to Hu San—it rankled them deeply.

"So Captain Hu is here too? Introduce us! We’ve admired him for a long time."

Upon hearing of Hu San, their attitude changed.

"Third Brother has urgent business tonight and isn’t in the village. I hope you’ll excuse him. We’ll drink in his stead—how’s that?"

Zhao Feng quickly cupped his hands in apology.

"All the better! Since you’re Captain Hu’s men, you’re our brothers too. Come, sit, make yourselves at home!"

The two squad leaders exchanged a glance and rose to welcome them.

Taking advantage, Zhao Feng scattered his men among the tables, while he, Lin Hu, and Tan Yue sat with the two squad leaders, drinking heartily.

Meanwhile, under cover of darkness, Hu San slipped quietly to the house. At a glance, he saw his parents serving the bandits, his older brother’s face stretched in a sycophantic grin. There was no sign of his younger siblings—where had they gone?

Hu San glanced around, pressed lightly on his toes, and vaulted over the low wall.

How could these village houses keep him out? In a shadowed corner, unseen by the bandits, he slipped through a side door.

"Who’s there?"

A sudden shout rang out amid breathless gasps, as a burly man rose from the table.

"The one delivering the grey rabbit," Hu San replied, scanning the room.

The furnishings were new, the place freshly cleaned—clearly refurbished as his brother’s bridal chamber.

The room was small, undivided. At the back stood a kang bed, a rope hung beside it, and a rough curtain shielded the bed entirely.

The bed itself was in tumult, the sounds of slapping flesh and a woman’s cries filling the air.

Hu San was no stranger to such scenes. Though inexperienced himself, among bandits he had seen enough to know their ways—abducting women and abusing them was a common pastime, one of their few entertainments. In these wild lands, Confucian ideals and chastity counted for little.

So Hu San didn’t find it difficult to accept—so long as it didn’t happen to him.

The room was thick with the stench of lust. The man sat close to the kang, with a jug of wine and some food on the table. Within arm’s reach lay a drawn steel blade, its cold gleam dancing in the lamplight—a fine weapon.

"This fellow’s got some nerve, drinking calmly in this heat. Or is he waiting for his turn?" Hu San wondered, eyes narrowed, as he walked forward.

"Where’s the grey rabbit?" the man repeated, frowning in confusion. He had seen this youth somewhere before but couldn’t recall where.

"The grey rabbit? Isn’t it right here in my hands? Chief, have you had too much to drink?"

Feigning surprise, Hu San mimed carrying a tray, edging closer—now just three steps from the man.

All the while, the noises from the bed continued—the pleasure within undisturbed by anyone’s arrival.

"Wait—who are you?" The man’s eyes narrowed in suspicion and darted for the blade.

Though not a true martial artist, he was a trusted bodyguard, handpicked for the second chief’s son, and renowned for his strength—a man who had saved his master from death many times.

"Can’t you see the grey rabbit? Really?" Hu San exclaimed, dropping low and gliding to the table, snatching the blade before retreating in a single, fluid motion.

His speed was uncanny—in the dim lamplight, it seemed he hadn’t moved at all.

Now, in Hu San’s hands, the blade replaced the empty air.

"You…" The man’s grasp found only emptiness. His face turned ashen as he finally recognized Hu San.

"Captain Hu San?" he ventured, snatching up a stool and stepping back.

"That’s right. Since you know my name, you must have a story yourself. Tell me—who’s inside? What are you doing here?"

Having been recognized, Hu San dropped the act, twirling the blade and smirking at the rocking kang.

"Captain Hu, perhaps there’s some misunderstanding. The second young master is conducting business here. If we could, perhaps we might speak outside?"

Now that Hu San’s identity was clear, the man dare not provoke him. Hu San was already famed in the stronghold as the mightiest below the true martial artists.

"Second young master? You mean that bastard who’s taken my brother’s bride?"

Hu San spat on the ground, flicked the blade with a resonant clang.

"Your brother’s bride?" The man faltered, his face twisting as he hissed, "Hu San, think carefully. The second young master is the second chief’s darling. Harm a hair on his head and your whole family will be wiped out. Can’t we settle this? It’s just a woman—whatever you want, the young master will compensate you."

"Just a woman? Pity she happens to be my brother’s fiancée. What do you think I should do?"

With a cold laugh, Hu San suddenly hurled the blade.

In a flash, the man felt a chill pierce him to his core. The blade had shot past him, burying itself in the curtain behind.

A sharp clang rang out, followed by a piercing scream from the kang, then silence.

"Hu San, you—"

The man barely had time to react before Hu San was on him, batting aside his fists, seizing him by the throat and hoisting him up.

Ripping aside the curtain, Hu San was confronted with the sight of two pale, intertwined bodies—yet both faces were now contorted in terror.

The blade had landed between their heads, sunk deep into the wall, its cold edge pressing against their lips—separating them utterly, paralyzed by fear.

"Ghh…ghh…" The man in Hu San’s grasp was choking, legs flailing, eyes rolling back—on the verge of death.

The commotion instantly drew the attention of the pair on the bed.