Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Four: The Deal

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Still in the same courtyard where they had been recuperating, Kong Sheng and his three companions remained in the yard.

As dawn broke, Wang Family Fort gradually fell silent. After a night filled with shouting, neighing horses, barking dogs, and chaotic commotion, the tumult surprisingly ceased as day approached. No one knew how the rebel forces outside the fortress were faring—whether they persisted in their relentless assaults, only to be repelled time and again by archers and rolling logs or stones.

Kong Sheng sat cross-legged on the carpet in the hall, a gleaming silver spear and a horn bow laid before him. The spear was seized from Tang Gen, a pirate leader of the Hongze water bandits, while the horn bow was picked up beneath the fortress gate tower last night—discarded in the chaos by some unknown hand.

With eyes tightly shut, Kong Sheng practiced the internal breath technique taught by Master Sima Chengzhen. He was astonished to feel, as the breath circulated smoothly through his meridians, a warm current gently flowing through every vein, sensing his wounds slowly healing.

This miraculous internal energy regulation strengthened Kong Sheng’s resolve to continue cultivation. Even more astonishing was the superb golden wound medicine of their era—a black powdery salve applied to his injury. In just one day and night, the wound itched with healing, its powerful blood-staunching and flesh-regenerating effects almost unbelievable to Kong Sheng.

He slowly opened his eyes, exhaled deliberately, gathered his energy into the dantian, completing the process with the ease of daily routine.

Mu Changfeng chuckled beside him: “Your mastery of internal breath regulation is truly remarkable, no wonder it is the authentic transmission of the Supreme Clarity Master Sima! Taoist mysteries are extraordinary indeed. If you persist, your internal energy will one day be able to be projected outward to harm others. That day is not far off.”

Kong Sheng smiled: “Mu brother, projecting internal energy to harm others—really? Or is that just a novelist’s fabrication?”

Mu Changfeng smiled faintly. Drawing his treasured sword slowly, he swung with great force and shouted: “Young master, watch this!”

Kong Sheng’s gaze followed the sword’s gleaming blade, light flowing along its edge. In an instant, a white flash streaked from the sword, lightning-fast, striking a folding screen behind Kong Sheng with a sharp “crack,” cleaving a roughly one-foot-long slit.

Kong Sheng gasped inwardly. If sword Qi that harms at a distance was real, then a swordsman like Mu Changfeng would be a walking nuclear weapon—who could stand against him? The ability to strike from afar was an incredibly powerful deterrent.

Mu Changfeng, understanding Kong Sheng’s thoughts, smiled wryly: “Young master, projecting sword Qi requires buildup and concentration; it cannot be done hastily. With my skill, I can barely manage three to five such strikes a day before my internal energy runs dry.”

Kong Sheng nodded in understanding. After cultivation, the body became like a reservoir, gradually accumulating internal energy. Upon reaching a certain threshold, it could be released outward through buildup to harm others. The more profound the skill, the more effective the release. But once depleted, replenishment took time, so such techniques were best reserved as surprise or decisive moves.

Kong Sheng turned his gaze to the silver spear and horn bow on the ground, his expression flickering.

After the fierce battles with the Hongze water bandits, especially witnessing last night’s astonishing archery counterattack led by Li Xuan, Kong Sheng deeply realized that in this ancient society, still reliant on cold weapons before the advent of firearms, bows and long weapons were crucial—more important than he had imagined.

This convinced Kong Sheng that mastering long weapons like spears and polearms, as well as archery, was vital—they were key chips for retreating under pressure and self-preservation.

He pointed to the silver spear and horn bow before him: “Mu brother, do you know spear techniques and archery?”

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Mu Changfeng shook his head: “Weapons and mounted archery are not my strengths. If you wish, young master, you can find instructors in the army to teach you.”

Suddenly, Wu Xian and Wu Jie hurried in, loudly reporting: “Young master, the rebel forces outside the fortress have not retreated. Exhausted from repeated failed assaults, they have encamped on a hillside less than a mile from the fortress, preparing for a prolonged siege.”

Kong Sheng sneered: “The Wang Family Fort’s defenses are tall and strong, easy to defend but hard to attack. This band of five or six hundred bandits has no siege equipment, so breaching the walls is impossible. If they lure Li Xuan out to fight, there might be a chance to break through. But if Li Xuan is not foolish, she won’t fall for it. It’s clear—if we hold out for ten days or half a month, the bandits will leave without a fight. After all, the rebels dare not stay long near Jiangbei territory, and as cavalry, they lack supplies.”

Kong Sheng rose, grasped the horn bow, and smiled: “Do either of you understand archery?”

Wu Xian eyed the horn bow with a frown: “This is a common ‘one-stone’ bow. Why, young master, do you want to learn archery?”

Wu Jie also frowned, thinking that with the siege ongoing and Li Xuan likely to target them next after the rebels are repelled, Kong Sheng should be thinking about escape rather than leisurely learning archery.

A ‘one-stone’ bow weighs nearly a hundred pounds—typical for ordinary soldiers. Specially trained archers can use ‘three-stone’ bows. Six-stone and ten-stone bows are legendary, only the mightiest warriors can draw them.

Kong Sheng stretched his arms and tried to pull the bowstring; it was indeed light and gave little resistance. Increasing his force, a snap echoed—the bow broke, and the elastic string whipped toward his cheek, but he dodged.

Wu Xian and the others knew Kong Sheng possessed tremendous strength, so breaking a one-stone bow was not surprising, and they showed no alarm. Most soldiers carried one-stone bows; trained archers wielded three-stone bows.

Kong Sheng estimated he could probably draw a three-stone bow with his strength, possibly even a six-stone bow.

He stepped out of the flower hall into the courtyard, spotting shadowy figures outside—guards sent by Li Xuan to watch him. Without changing expression, he waved to Mu Changfeng and the others to prepare their packs and get ready to depart.

Mu Changfeng was startled. The fortress gates were sealed, rebels controlled the outside—how could they possibly escape? Yet he was accustomed to Kong Sheng’s unconventional ways. Despite his doubts, he ordered Wu Xian and Wu Jie to gather their belongings and loosened the horses’ reins, following behind.

Kong Sheng led the way out of the gate. Suddenly, seven or eight soldiers sent by Li Xuan emerged from the shadows, brandishing polearms and glaring fiercely: “What are you doing? The Princess has ordered no one may leave the fortress. Return immediately!”

Kong Sheng clasped his fists: “Soldier, please inform Princess Fengyang that Kong requests an audience on urgent business.”

One soldier sneered but turned to report nonetheless. The others, blades at the ready, tightly encircled Kong Sheng’s group, prepared to strike at the slightest movement.

Within moments, Li Xuan appeared, face cold, flanked by her fierce and burly guards including Li Hu and Li Bao—at least several dozen men. Clearly, if Kong Sheng could not provide a satisfactory explanation, Li Xuan would act ruthlessly. With the rebels unable to breach the fortress for now, eliminating these four troublesome individuals to prevent internal strife was her priority.

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“What do you want to see me about?” Li Xuan asked coldly.

Kong Sheng smiled slightly, undaunted despite being surrounded by dozens of soldiers and watchful archers: “I wish to make a deal with you, Princess.”

Li Xuan was taken aback: “You little thief, what do you mean?”

“From my observation,” Kong Sheng’s calm voice reached her ears, “you command just over two hundred men inside the fortress, while the rebels number five or six hundred outside. This means your forces barely suffice to defend the fortress, but would be insufficient if you venture out to confront the rebels.”

Li Xuan’s eyes narrowed sharply: “You little thief are quite perceptive, having uncovered my fortress’s strength. But my men are enough to hold this place; why should I risk a battle outside? Smart commanders know to play to their strengths.”

“But in my view,” Kong Sheng smiled wryly at Li Xuan, “you will eventually have no choice but to fight the rebels outside. Judging by the timing, your supply caravan is due to arrive at Wang Family Fort in the next day or two. Yet the rebels have occupied the main road. If Li Biao’s grain convoy is ambushed and plundered by the rebels lying in wait, the consequences would be disastrous.”

Li Xuan’s expression darkened, her gaze killing: “You little thief, no matter how cunning, you won’t escape my grasp!”

Kong Sheng laughed: “Princess, there is no deep hatred between us. Why must we resort to fighting to the death?”

“In my humble opinion,” Kong Sheng continued, “you will either sally forth to decisively defeat the rebels, eliminating this threat to your supplies; or abandon the fortress altogether, linking up with Li Biao’s convoy to protect the grain. Am I right in my guess?”

Frost covered Li Xuan’s beautiful face as she said firmly: “You little thief, so what? I am decisive and have my plans! As for you four—your journey ends here!”

Li Xuan sneered and slowly raised her hand.

Surrounding soldiers pointed their polearms forward, archers nocked their arrows, ready to strike.

To Li Xuan, Kong Sheng was a devilish mind too dangerous to be left alive. If he could not be turned to her cause, he must be eliminated to prevent future troubles. (To be continued.)