Chapter 133: Chemen Mountain (4)

What masterful archery! Is this the legendary Cloud-Piercing Arrow?

Kong Sheng was startled. He watched as the woman in red, smiling, nocked an arrow and drew her bow while mounted. In a flash of lightning, two more arrows were released in quick succession, whistling through the air. One pierced Wu Jie’s headscarf, breaking him into a cold sweat and nearly causing him to tumble from his horse. The other streaked through the air with a menacing hiss, aimed directly at the vital spot on the head of Mu Changfeng’s mount.

In that instant, Kong Sheng had no time to think. Almost reflexively, he brandished his bright silver spear, parrying and deflecting the arrow. Had he been even a fraction of a second slower, the arrow would have surely pierced the horse’s neck, sealing its fate.

However, no sooner had he deflected that shot than another arrow shrieked toward them. Its speed was immense, and its angle incredibly tricky; not only was Kong Sheng unable to react in time, but even Mu Changfeng, already on high alert atop his horse, could not manage a defense in his haste.

The arrow plunged into the belly of Mu Changfeng’s mount. The horse let out a sky-shaking, agonizing neigh and reared up violently, throwing Mu Changfeng off. Fortunately, Mu Changfeng performed a mid-air somersault and landed lightly on the ground. The horse, however, bolted in pain, blood gushing from the wound in its stomach.

The surrounding bandits roared with laughter, making no move to stop the wounded horse as it galloped out of the encirclement and toward the dense forest.

The woman in red let out a silvery laugh and shouted, "Halt! Will you three not surrender? If you dare to move again, take care—my Cloud-Piercing Arrows show no mercy!"

Having had his mount crippled, Mu Changfeng, who had never suffered such a humiliation, was incensed. He was just about to rise with his sword to fight the woman and her bandits to the death when he heard Kong Sheng’s calm, clear voice: "Brother Mu, please, stay your hand!"

Mu Changfeng let out an angry howl, stamped his feet in frustration, and stood ready with his sword, braced for combat.

Kong Sheng patted the neck of his horse, Zhui Feng, calming the restless animal. He slowly rode forward, gazing steadily at the woman in red, and said with a faint smile, "Young lady, we four are merely passing through Chemen Mountain on our way to Suiyang. We carry no wealth, and robbing us would be a waste of time with no reward. It would be better to let us pass; I am willing to offer a hundred strings of cash as a token of my gratitude."

After saying this, Kong Sheng glanced back at Wu Jie.

Wu Jie let out a long breath, took the heavy bundle he was carrying, and threw it to the ground. Inside was the "cash" they had for their journey.

The woman in red sneered, "What, does this little attendant think I am here for your coin? Listen closely: our Chemen Mountain righteous army acts on behalf of Heaven, robbing the rich to help the poor. We kill corrupt officials and wicked bullies, but we never harass innocent commoners or travelers!"

Kong Sheng smiled slightly and cupped his hands. "That is excellent. In that case, pray let us pass. We are neither corrupt officials nor wicked merchants; since you act for Heaven, why trouble us passing travelers?"

The woman in red spat, "Spare me your glib tongue! Tell me, are you surnamed Kong, and did you come from Jiangning?"

As soon as she spoke, Kong Sheng’s heart sank. He realized the other party was not a common bandit but had come specifically for him. Yet, he wondered, how had they, as newcomers, offended a group of mountain bandits? It was truly baffling!

"I am indeed surnamed Kong, and I am a scholar from Jiangning. I do not understand what you mean, young lady," Kong Sheng said, his expression solemn. His grip on the silver spear tightened. He knew this would not end easily; if negotiation failed, he could not simply surrender, so he would have to fight these bandits to the end.

The woman in red fixed her clear, piercing gaze on Kong Sheng, who sat poised on his horse. Her thoughts raced. *A seventeen-year-old scholar, so frail-looking—I wonder if he can withstand one of my arrows. And he is rumored to possess innate divine strength, a reincarnation of Xuan Ba? It is ridiculous and inconceivable that Senior Brother Nangong, who thinks so highly of himself, actually suffered a defeat at the hands of such a whelp!*

With this thought, the woman in red raised her longbow and laughed out loud. "Kong Sheng! You whelp, you dared to harm my Hongze brothers. Now that you have fallen into the hands of our Chemen righteous army, will you not dismount and surrender? If you are willing to kneel before my horse and beg for mercy, perhaps I will spare your life!"

Although she wore soft chest armor, it could not hide her curvaceous, fiery figure. As she laughed, her chest heaved—she was truly a woman of ten thousand charms, and the surrounding bandits couldn't help but swallow hard. Even Kong Sheng couldn't help but take an extra look. This woman was an absolute enchantress; that such a living siren had not only become a bandit but a leader of bandits was truly shocking.

However, this was merely a fleeting thought of lust in the minds of the bandit underlings. They dared not show the slightest disrespect or lewdness toward their beautiful, cold-blooded, and highly skilled leader. There had been those who harbored improper intentions toward her before, but those lecherous fools were either dead or had been maimed. With such bloody lessons, who would dare to throw themselves onto her arrows?

In truth, to command a pack of wolfish, tiger-like outlaws, one needed extraordinary means and ability. Otherwise, the woman in red would likely have been devoured long ago.

Kong Sheng took a deep breath. *So, this concerns the Hongze water bandits!* He hadn't expected the water bandits to be in league with the Chemen mountain bandits. Yet, upon reflection, it made sense; Hongze and Chemen were not far apart, and as outlaws struggling to survive in a chaotic world, a union was logical.

His expression remained unchanged as he said coolly, "I understand now. You are here to settle scores for the Hongze water bandits... Let me tell you, we four have done no wrong, and even if we had, we would never bow our heads to the likes of you bandits!"

The woman in red was incensed. "You are arrogant and rude! Do you not fear that at my command, we will swarm you and slaughter you where you stand? I will give you one last chance: dismount and surrender, and beg for mercy before me, and I shall spare you!"

To kneel before a woman and beg a pack of bandits for mercy? Not only Kong Sheng, but Mu Changfeng and Wu Jie behind him were enraged. It was too great an insult; they would rather die in battle than suffer such humiliation!

Wu Jie spat and let out a thunderous curse: "You wretched curs, how dare you!"

Such an insult was considered quite severe in these times. Wu Jie’s outburst immediately caused a stir among the bandits. Had it not been for the woman’s authority—that none should move without her order—they would have long since rushed forward to tear Wu Jie to pieces.

Kong Sheng ignored Wu Jie behind him. He leveled his spear and gave a cold smile. "If you want me to bow my head, you must first ask the spear in my hand if it agrees!"

Almost simultaneously, to everyone's surprise, Kong Sheng launched his attack. His horse, Zhui Feng, let out a long neigh and leaped forward, charging like a bolt of lightning. The distance of several yards was crossed in an instant. The woman in red had no time to react before Kong Sheng’s gleaming spear lunged toward her throat.

A single strike for a life, with no mercy given!