Lying Wind Ridge chieftain Qian Song sneered,"And who, pray, is this man we face?"
Tiger Ridge's first chief, Chen Chong, barked,"Have you not heard the saying? North Jia Yong, South Wu Tong! This is none other than Wu Tong, twelfth lord of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness!"
At once, murmurs rippled through the outlaws."North Jia Yong, South Wu Tong…""They say Wu Tong gained the Wolong Blade Manual—his knife unmatched, first under heaven!""Even the Black Dragon Sect fears him threefold!"
Just then, the thunder of hooves split the air. Horses neighed wildly, shaking the forested slopes. A cloud of dust rose as several dozen riders swept in like a storm. The leader: Ma Rulong, chief of Rat Ridge Fortress.
Ma Rulong was a towering figure, in his forties, hawk-eyed with a hooked nose and thick beard, exuding savage dominance. Draped in a black robe, a massive demon-headed saber hung at his waist. His eagle's gaze swept the scene as he demanded in a thunderous voice:"What's all this? Do we three strongholds truly need to join hands here? Who dares cause such havoc on our ground?"
Madam Liang, bedraggled and panicked, staggered toward him, shrieking,"Brother Long! Save me! For the sake of our… bond, protect me!"
It was by leaning on her intimate ties with the three fortress lords that she had dared run her black inn so brazenly. Now she clung to that connection, desperate to escape death.
But Wu Tong, even as enemies swelled in number, stood unshaken. The Wolong Blade quivered in his hand, its steel flashing cold light. His voice rang sharp and unwavering:"Today, no matter who comes—none may meddle! Whoever dares block my path, this blade will show no mercy!"
The Rat Ridge men shifted uneasily. Even Ma Rulong felt a chill ripple through his chest. Could this truly be the youth spoken of in whispers—the peerless inheritor of the Wolong Blade?
Ma Rulong knew the rumors: Wu Tong had risen like a comet, slaying countless villains, his knife unmatched, his fame spreading across rivers and lakes. He hesitated—this was no foe to dismiss lightly. Yet with so many eyes upon him, how could he retreat without disgrace?
He forced a smile, clasped his fists politely, and tested the waters:"Hero Wu, perhaps this matter could end here? Why shed blood and leave both sides wounded?"
Wu Tong's gaze hardened, his tone like iron:"This woman has butchered innocents and turned their flesh into buns! Such evil defies heaven itself. If she is not slain today, what justice remains under the sky?"
The words struck Ma Rulong like a hammer. He knew Wu Tong's prowess; victory was not assured. Yet as chieftain, to yield now meant losing face, losing men's loyalty. His eyes darkened, his voice boomed with fury:"You flaunt your skill and scorn us three strongholds! Brothers, you heard him—he holds us for nothing! Will we swallow this insult?"
A roar of anger rose from the brigands:"Kill the arrogant whelp!""A mere boy, daring to challenge three strongholds—he seeks death!""Such insolence must be cut down!"
But Wu Tong only stepped forward. His killing aura surged like a storm, the Wolong Blade glowing like lightning. Even before the edge fell, the pressure alone made hardened men blanch. Subconsciously, many outlaws shuffled back, the riot of voices stilled into taut silence. A battle of life and death loomed.
Then Zhao Rou stepped lightly forth. Calm and smiling faintly, she called out,"Tell me, brothers of the mountain strongholds—have you ever eaten buns from the Wild Flavor Inn?"
A chorus answered without hesitation:"Of course! Who hasn't? They're delicious—rich, savory, the best!"Some even licked their lips at the memory.
Zhao Rou's smile turned mysterious. Her eyes cut toward Madam Liang."Then perhaps Madam Liang should tell them herself… what meat fills those buns?"
Madam Liang blanched, her eyes darting, sweat streaming. She dared not speak. Suspicion rippled among the bandits.
Suddenly, "Wind Bell" Deng Ling stepped forward, voice sharp as a whip:"Shall I say it? Those buns you've eaten for years—human flesh! Every bite, the flesh of murdered travelers!"
Her words fell like thunder. The brigands froze, then pandemonium broke out.
"Wha—?!""Uuugh!""By the gods—!"
Men doubled over, clutching their bellies, retching violently. Vomit splattered the dirt. Chen Chong himself, who earlier had carted off a basket of buns, fell to his knees gagging, face green as ash. The entire host reeled in nausea and horror.
Zhao Rou's voice cut through the din, hard and clear:"Such a demoness—should she not be slain this day?"
Rage flared among the brigands."Whore!""She fed us human flesh!""Monster! Inhuman fiend!"
Blades flashed in trembling hands, many ready to cut her down then and there.
But Madam Liang threw back her head in wild laughter, eyes bloodshot, shrieking:"Shut up! Answer me this—did any of you ever pay for those buns?!"
Silence slammed down.
She spun, stabbing her finger toward the three fortress lords, voice shrill with venom:"Ma Rulong of Rat Ridge! Did you ever pay?""Qian Song of Lying Wind Ridge! Did you?""Chen Chong of Tiger Ridge! Did you pay for the buns you took today?"
The truth was laid bare. For years, the three chiefs had eaten their fill without silver, her "buns" serving as tribute in exchange for their protection.
The brigands muttered darkly:"No wonder the chiefs never ate them before us—always saying they'd had enough already…""No wonder they told us to enjoy them freely…""Damn—it was all a sham!"
Hero Fang Xiong raised his voice:"Brothers of the mountains! Leave this place—lest you be minced into bun-filling yourselves. Turn back while you can!"
Wu Tong then raised the Wolong Blade high, sunlight blazing upon its steel. His voice rolled like thunder:"If you remain, I shall cut you all down and make you into buns!"
Terror-stricken, the brigands scattered. One after another, they fled into the forest, unwilling to pit their lives against the famed Wolong Blade—or face the horror of what they had consumed.
Ma Rulong roared after them, beard bristling,"Get back here! Cowards! You never complained when the buns were plenty—yet now you run?"
Qian Song stamped in fury, shouting,"Return, all of you! Would you rather starve than eat your fill?"
Ma Rulong's voice cracked with rage,"Fools! Brigands live by blood and plunder! Since when do outlaws prattle of morality? Eating human flesh—that's the mark of true men of the greenwood! Drop this charade and get back here!"
But it was too late. The men had already broken.
"I've been eating human flesh for years?!""I'd rather starve than touch another bite!""Madam Liang is a demon—curse her!""Our chiefs are devils too—we're finished!"
One by one, they hurled down weapons and fled, vomiting, cursing, swearing never to return. The once-mighty three strongholds dissolved in chaos.
The three lords stood stricken, faces iron-blue, watching their armies scatter like sand before the tide—furious, yet powerless to halt it.