Chapter 162: Capture Her First

Hidden behind the trees, two men quietly observed the fire at the foot of the mountain, speaking in hushed tones. Though their voices were barely audible, every word reached Zhou Qing’s ears.

“It’s been years since I’ve been with a woman. Tonight, I’ll finally get a taste,” murmured the one called Qiangzi. Then, in a low voice, he said, “You stay here and keep watch. I’ll go back to the camp and tell Deputy Xie, bring a small squad over.”

“Alright, but remember to bring plenty of gear. I saw them holding swords during the day. They’re clearly not ordinary people.”

“I know. Just wait and see,” Qiangzi replied, leaving those words behind before slipping into the darkness of the woods.

Having listened to their conversation in full, Zhou Qing understood their intentions. From their words, he could also discern their identities.

“So these are the so-called righteous rebels? Whether it’s the soldiers under Cao Linliang, the three who brought ruin to the woman in Peach Blossom Village, or these two tonight—their actions differ little from those of bandits and marauders.”

He sighed inwardly, thinking that while such deeds reflected the nature of these lowly soldiers, much blame lay with those who led and taught them. If a force upheld strict discipline and clear rewards and punishments, even the most wicked among them would lack the courage for such crimes.

It was no wonder these rebels were but a rabble. If only a truly disciplined and benevolent force emerged among them, would there be any fear that their righteous cause would falter?

Though Zhou Qing, perched in the tree, had learned of the soldiers’ plan, he made no move to intervene. In his eyes, the members of the Laoshan Sect were practitioners of the Dao; their skills were surely formidable enough to deal with a few ordinary soldiers. There was no need for him to act.

Despite his disdain for the soldiers’ conduct, Zhou Qing felt a certain anticipation for the drama about to unfold.

After Qiangzi departed, about the time it takes for incense to burn passed, and sounds from the distant woods signaled the arrival of reinforcements. Zhou Qing knew the soldier had summoned help.

Indeed, soon after, a squad of forty or fifty men passed beneath Zhou Qing’s tree, hiding at the edge of the woods not far from the mountain’s base.

“I heard from Qiangzi that the woman is a real beauty. Is it true, Yang Wei?”

“It’s true, Deputy Xie. I saw her myself today—she’s quite something,” replied Yang Wei, who had hidden in the forest.

He glanced at the assembled squad and whispered, “There are too many of us. How could that woman bear all these men?”

“Whether she can or not is for later. First, let’s capture her,” the deputy drew his blade from his waist and said, “Brothers, follow me—let’s seize that beauty and enjoy ourselves together.”

With the deputy’s shout, dozens of soldiers raised their weapons and charged toward the mountain’s foot.

At the fire, Kong Hai, who had been dozing, saw the soldiers rushing from the woods. He immediately rose, drew his long sword, and shouted, “Senior Brother, wake up!”

Kong Ning, roused by Kong Hai’s cry, opened his eyes to see the approaching soldiers. He swiftly stood and gripped his sword.

The soldiers rushed in groups—some toward Kong Hai, some toward Kong Ning, and another squad headed straight for the tents.

As Kong Ning and Kong Hai resisted the attackers, Deputy Xie slashed open the tent’s roof with his blade and saw Kong Xue lying inside.

“She’s stunning, just as promised. Tonight is worth it,” Deputy Xie said gleefully, lowering his blade to Kong Xue’s neck as she awakened.

Yang Wei and Qiangzi quickly dragged the groggy Kong Xue up, and under the threat of Deputy Xie’s blade, led her toward the woods.

“Junior Sister!” Seeing this, Kong Hai drove his sword through a soldier’s heart, ending him. He called out to Kong Ning, “Senior Brother, they’ve taken Junior Sister!”

“I saw,” Kong Ning replied, slashing a soldier’s throat, then spinning his blade to dispatch three more before pursuing into the forest.

Deputy Xie, holding his blade to Kong Xue, saw Kong Ning approaching and shouted at the soldiers, “What are you fools waiting for? Go stab that brat! Clear the trouble so we can properly enjoy the woman!”

With a roar, Deputy Xie struck Kong Xue’s head with the hilt, knocking her unconscious. He shoved Yang Wei and Qiangzi aside, hoisting the woman onto his shoulder.

“You two idiots, what are you staring at? Go finish him!” he shouted, pushing the soldiers away and carrying the woman into the pitch-black woods.

Though Kong Ning was skilled, he was blocked by more than ten soldiers. By the time he had dispatched them all, his junior sister had vanished into the darkness.

“Senior Brother, where’s Junior Sister?” Kong Hai, sweating and panting after slaying twenty men, rushed to his brother’s side and asked.

“She’s been taken into the woods, Kong Hai. We’ll split up and chase them,” Kong Ning replied urgently, and the brothers, swords in hand, plunged into the dark forest.

The two raced through the night and soon, both arrived at the edge of a military camp. There, they saw that the uniforms of the soldiers matched those they had just slain.

“Hand over my junior sister, or all of you will die today!” Kong Ning shouted at a commanding officer. Kong Hai, arriving from the side, drove his sword into a soldier’s heart and hurled the corpse at the officer.

The conflict erupted instantly. After a few heated words, the officer drew his weapon and charged at the brothers. More squads poured out from the camp.

In no time, the brothers found themselves surrounded by nearly a thousand soldiers, layer upon layer.

“Who are you, really? You may have some skill, but do you truly think you can overcome our thousands?” called a burly warrior in golden armor from the crowd.

At his shout, Kong Hai flung his sword, striking the golden-armored general squarely and killing him outright.

With the general dead, the soldiers raised their weapons and stabbed at the brothers.

Though the two possessed protective arts, every blade and arrow that struck their shields drained their spiritual energy bit by bit.

Soon, the brothers’ strength was greatly diminished, and they began to retreat, battered and weary.