Chapter Fifty-Two: Taking Command of Wolf Fang

“It will last all through the winter, until the spring of the following year. I remember that very clearly.”
A bald bandit captain suddenly interjected.
“Well, that’s not bad,” Hu San nodded, a bitter smile on his lips. “This is precisely why I don’t wish to govern Wolf Fang Mountain. Gentlemen, do you think, with this handful of people, we could possibly defend the stronghold?”
Zhao Feng shook his head, his expression somewhat grim. He sighed, “That’s impossible, unless we gain the backing of a state and become a stronghold like Wolf Heart Mountain. Otherwise, we’re doomed. Even Wolf Heart Mountain, if it makes a wrong move in such turbulent times, could be wiped out with no trace left.”
“Third Brother, what do you plan to do? Whether you want to or not, you must take charge of Wolf Fang Mountain now.”
“I know. That’s why I’ve decided to train troops,” Hu San’s eyes flashed with a cold light. “The chief only placed ten bandit squads under my command to govern, but he didn’t restrict the number of people I could have.”
“If the stronghold won’t provide, then I’ll train troops privately. These thousand men are nowhere near enough to hold Wolf Fang Mountain. If we want to survive the coming chaos, we must increase our numbers.”
“Third Brother, are you planning to set up a new training camp?”
Lin Hu looked troubled and shook his head, “Never mind the cost in food and supplies. There’s simply not enough time.”
“Ha, who said anything about a training camp? The vast Qilian Mountains are teeming with bandits like ants. With so many bandits, are we really short of manpower?”
Hu San’s eyes glinted coldly as he sneered, “We can’t provoke the big strongholds like Wolf Heart Mountain, but small ones like Wolf Fang Mountain are everywhere. Even if there aren’t idle bandits, we just scatter them and recruit from their ranks. What’s so hard about that?”
With Hu San and his seven men, all at the third stage of internal energy, wiping out a small stronghold without martial artists was child’s play for him.
“Zhou Zhu! After you bring in the captured bandits, the training will be up to you.”
“Don’t feel any pressure; train them just as the military manuals instruct. We don’t have much time.”
Last time, everyone returned home for a visit, Zhou Zhu included. He had organized several useful books to bring into the mountains, among them a basic military manual.
Hu San had studied it for a time and gained some insight, but Zhou Zhu was more adept, hence his assignment.
“Rest assured, Third Brother. Zhou Zhu will go through fire and water.”
Zhou Zhu stepped forward, saluting with his fists. No longer the frail youth he once was, he had grown dark and sturdy after a year among bandits—a scholar now forged by hardship.
“We’ve solved the troop training issue, but what about provisions and weapons? Does Third Brother think Wolf Heart Mountain will allocate extra arms to us?”
Lei Ming pursed his lips, his brow still furrowed.
“That’s actually easier to resolve,” Zhao Feng tugged at his beard, answering for Hu San. “Since Wolf Heart Mountain is sending us out as cannon fodder, they won’t give us extra weapons. But we can supplement from the small groups of bandits we conquer—that’s one way. Besides, I remember that whenever a major war looms, supply convoys always come in from outside the Qilian Mountains.”

Now, it seems the convoys are to prepare for this war, and for Wolf Heart Mountain, the supply train is the Big Bend Caravan. If anyone wants to reach Wolf Heart Mountain, they must pass through Wolf Fang Mountain’s territory. Then, Third Brother, you can simply intercept them. Of course, that carries some risk.”
“Third Brother may face questioning from the chief or the third leader.”
“That’s settled then. We’ll worry about risks later. Gather your belongings, follow me out of Wolf Heart Mountain, and head to Wolf Fang Mountain.”
Hu San made his decision. Even if the others had objections, they could only hold their tongues and disperse to prepare.
Less than half an hour later, Hu San’s original squad of a hundred men was ready, and they marched out of Wolf Heart Mountain in a mighty procession.
Atop the towering peak of the stronghold, the chief and the third leader stood silently for a long time, watching the departing group. The third leader finally sighed, “I wonder if Hu San will survive and return to Wolf Heart Mountain. Brother, was our decision unwise?”
“No matter.”
A deep, emotionless voice resonated like it came from the underworld—the chief’s unique tone echoed around. “This one brings too much trouble with him. Even if we can’t confirm he’s the cause, he’s certainly involved. For the sake of stability in Wolf Heart Mountain, we can only send him to Wolf Fang Mountain.”
“If he survives the coming war, so be it. If he doesn’t, let’s not dwell on it.”
“The war approaches. Pay extra attention to matters in the stronghold. When time permits, I’ll raise your internal energy to the peak of the fourth stage, so you’ll be ready for the future conflict.”
With that, a cloud of black smoke rose around the chief, engulfing him until he melted into it. A gust of wild wind swept by, and he vanished without a trace.
The third leader was not surprised. Instead, his face betrayed barely concealed joy—not only for the promise of greater internal energy, but also for the power within the stronghold.
He knew his elder brother’s temperament well: except for major events, he seldom appeared and spent his days hidden away cultivating, leaving all authority to his subordinates.
Previously, the second leader shared power with him, and so the third leader had to endure in the shadows. After the second leader’s death, he’d been waiting for this opportunity, and now it was finally here.
Banishing Hu San to Wolf Fang Mountain may have seemed justified, but in truth, there was no small measure of jealousy involved.
Hu San’s rise was too rapid. With him in Wolf Heart Mountain, all news revolved around him. The third leader watched with envy, unwilling to have another rival for power, so Hu San’s fate seemed inevitable.
Suppressing his excitement, the third leader calmed himself, shook out his sleeves, and descended the mountain to handle affairs.
In the great hall atop Wolf Fang Mountain, Zhou Xing was briefing Hu San on the layout of the stronghold. Though Hu San had lived here before, it was his first time as its leader.
He knew little of the traps and mechanisms until Zhou Xing carefully explained them, finally giving him an understanding of their intricacies.
When Zhou Xing finished, he took the transfer order from Hu San—signed by the third leader—thus concluding the formalities. With a complicated expression, he said, “Congratulations, Commander Hu. If you have no further orders, I’ll lead the remaining ten squads back to Wolf Heart Mountain.”
Originally, Wolf Heart Mountain’s bandits stationed at Wolf Fang Mountain numbered over thirty squads. But after the bloodshed caused by Hu San, many were killed or scattered—now, at most, there were twenty squads left.
Zhou Xing let Hu San choose ten squads freely and prepared to lead the rest back.
To outsiders, at least to Zhou Xing, Hu San’s promotion seemed smooth and enviable. Jealousy was natural, and Zhou Xing was no exception.
Being sent to Wolf Fang Mountain was seen as cannon fodder by those in the know, but to the uninformed, it was a blessing.

Wolf Fang Mountain was far from Wolf Heart Mountain. Governing it was, in some sense, akin to ruling a stronghold.
To hold power of life and death is not something one could compare to the cautious existence in Wolf Heart Mountain.
Thus, Zhou Xing’s feelings toward Hu San were complex—envy mixed with admiration.
“Captain Zhou, most of the remaining brothers at Wolf Fang Mountain are injured or disabled. They seem accustomed to life here. If you take them back to Wolf Heart Mountain, it would neither benefit the stronghold nor sit well with them.”
“If Captain Zhou would grant this favor, I would be deeply grateful.”
Hu San stopped Zhou Xing and signaled to Lin Hu. Soon, under Zhou Xing’s curious gaze, Lin Hu directed two bandits to carry out two chests of gold and silver from a side chamber.
Zhou Xing recognized them instantly—they were the spoils recently seized by Wolf Fang Mountain. Now that Hu San was in charge, Zhou Xing had no authority over them.
“Commander Hu, what is this?”
Zhou Xing swallowed, his eyes fixated on the chests, both impressed by Hu San’s boldness and tempted by the riches.
“Just a small token of my appreciation, Captain Zhou. You’ve contributed much to Wolf Fang Mountain, and now you’re leaving so abruptly. We brothers feel uneasy. Please accept this gesture.”
Hu San smiled, patting his chest as if to take responsibility.
“How could I accept?”
Though Zhou Xing protested, he quickly called two trusted bandits to carry the gold and silver away.
He slapped his forehead, remembering, “With the chaos caused by Black Bear, only fourteen or fifteen squads remain intact. The weapons are scattered, and the journey will be troublesome. If Commander Hu doesn’t mind, I’ll leave the injured squads here.”
“They can depart when they’ve recovered, how about that?”
“Captain Zhou’s generosity will be appreciated by all.”
Hu San nodded contentedly, “Please select the intact squads first. Don’t rush to leave—I've already prepared a banquet in your honor.”
“Then I shall gladly accept.”
Zhou Xing agreed readily and, accompanied by Hu San, personally selected the remaining bandits.
In the end, aside from his two trusted squads, he chose only one made up entirely of the old, sick, and disabled—the rest, those in good health, he left for Hu San.
After the banquet, host and guest were pleased. During the meal, Hu San again mentioned his concerns over the lack of weapons in the stronghold. After the feast, he had his men gift Zhou Xing more gold and silver.
Zhou Xing caught the hint—not only did he leave behind surplus weapons, but also most of the arms from his own trusted squads, effectively selling them to Hu San.