「The next day.」
In the center of the village, at Xiao Jing's residence.
The village was rustic and lacked proper accommodations. To win over Zhou Cang, Xiao Jing took a page from Liu Bei's book after the banquet, sharing his food and lodgings with the general in a show of camaraderie.
As expected, the gesture significantly increased Zhou Cang's loyalty. It was now at 71, meaning he wouldn't be leaving Xiao Jing's side anytime soon.
At that moment, he was in the courtyard, sparring with Zhou Cang.
Though it was called sparring, it was more accurate to say Zhou Cang was just feeding him moves. After all, Xiao Jing's strength was so low he was no match for the general.
+2, +1, +1...
Although training with Zhou Cang yielded very little experience, the gains were constant.
Over the course of the morning, he had already gained over 50 experience points and was about to reach level six. It was a fruitful session.
"My lord, this fist technique isn't bad! But it feels like a part of it is missing, making it soft and weak!"
After their session, Zhou Cang had identified the strengths and weaknesses of Xiao Jing's Bajiquan at a single glance, his voice rumbling as he spoke.
Xiao Jing lowered his fists and nodded with a sigh. Just as he was about to speak, a series of system notifications began to buzz in his ear.
He opened his panel and saw someone was pinging him on the forums.
He put down his weapon and said to Zhou Cang:
"Zhou Cang, let's take a break for now!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Even without opening the forums, he had a good idea who was contacting him.
And sure enough, it was the same person who had pleaded for his help on the forums two days ago—the one who told him about the Ancient Qin Secret Realm.
'I can't believe he actually managed to survive for this long while those bandits were searching for him.'
"Boss, help! I'm almost out of food... I really... I can't hold on much longer!"
Reading the player's message, Xiao Jing felt a pang of guilt.
He calmed himself and weighed his options for a moment.
'It really is time to get rid of this threat near the village. Guo Yun was right. The refugee attraction scroll is still active, constantly drawing in more people. We can't support everyone just by hunting; we'll have to trade with nearby villages for grain. These bandits have to die!'
With that thought, he immediately replied, "I'm moving out now!!"
"*Sob*... That's great! Boss, you finally replied! There are a bunch of Soldier Terracotta Warriors in the Secret Realm. The bandits don't dare go too deep, so they're just guarding the entrance. Be careful when you come, Boss."
"Got it. Understood."
After replying to the player, Xiao Jing glanced at Zhou Cang and shook his head.
'My original plan was to wait until my one hundred Soldier Terracotta Warriors had leveled up some more, then use our superior numbers to wipe out the bandits. But who could have predicted I'd recruit Zhou Cang, a 7th-tier, second-rate historical general?'
'A 7th-tier general against a bunch of bandits who are barely 2nd-tier? It would be a slaughter.'
Therefore, Xiao Jing was no longer willing to drag his feet and let the bandits roam free outside his village.
His decision was driven by two factors: the safety and development of his village, and the Ancient Qin Secret Realm. Although neither the bandits nor the other player had recognized the true nature of the Ancient Qin Secret Realm, thinking it was just a single-level cave, he couldn't take any chances. It was better to be safe than sorry. If word got out, it would be a disaster.
"Zhou Cang, get ready. Take some of the Soldier Terracotta Warriors. We're heading into the mountains to exterminate those bandits!"
Upon hearing the order, Zhou Cang clasped his fist in acknowledgment and went to gather some of the Soldier Terracotta Warriors.
...
「At the entrance to the Ancient Qin Secret Realm's cave.」
The bandit chief stared into the cave, his face dark.
His voice was low and menacing. "You useless fools. So many of you, and you can't even find one person? You let him play you for a fool and lost so many of our brothers!"
One of the bandits looked uneasy. "Chief, the cave is pitch-black. We can't see a thing in there. Plus, it's full of those Soldier Terracotta Warriors. It's too dangerous, and all our skills are for fighting on horseback..."
"Hmph?"
A single glare from the one-eyed bandit chief was enough to make the subordinate fall silent.
Just as he was about to unleash a tirade, a scout's shout came from down the mountain.
"Chief, trouble! There are troops at the foot of the mountain! Looks like they're headed for us!"
"Troops?!" The one-eyed chief's eyes narrowed. "The county garrison?" he asked quickly.
"No, it looks like the garrison from that new village in the mountains—the one our brothers scouted yesterday!" the bandit replied.
"Good! Good! Excellent!" The one-eyed chief laughed, his voice dripping with fury. "I hadn't even bothered with them yet, and here they are, coming to offer up their own lives!"
"Brothers! If someone's looking for death, then we'll be happy to oblige!"
"YEAH!!"
...
In the forest, Zhou Cang led the soldiers forward, with Xiao Jing positioned in the middle of the formation.
Zhou Cang was in command because Xiao Jing knew his own limitations. He had fumbled the encirclement of mere wild wolves; how could he possibly lead a campaign to exterminate bandits?
"Halt! Movement ahead!"
Zhou Cang halted the troops, his gaze impassive as he watched a group of bandits emerge from the woods.
"Well now, little whelp. Heaven has a path, but you refuse to walk it. Hell has no gate, yet you come barging in. Are you looking to die?!"
The bandit chief sneered, his eyes immediately locking onto Xiao Jing, who was protected in the center by the Soldier Terracotta Warriors.
"Hahaha, that's right! Fuck your mother! Where did this little mutt come from? Don't go crying for your mommy in a minute!"
...
"Insolence! How dare you insult my lord!"
As Zhou Cang listened to the bandits' vulgar curses, fury mounted in his eyes. When the lord is insulted, his vassals must be ready to die.
'These bandits are courting death!'
"You're courting death! Eat my blade!"
Enraged, Zhou Cang exploded into action. He drew his bronze saber in an instant, swinging it at the bandit chief with the speed of lightning.
The bandit chief's face was a mask of horror. He had no time to react, only able to watch as the bronze saber grew larger and larger in his eyes.
Until... THUD!
A large head, its face frozen in shock, fell to the ground with a heavy thud!
The blade's speed was so incredible that no one had time to react. The bandits saw only a flash of light, and in the next instant, their chief's head was on the ground.
"Ch-ch-chief..."
Seeing their powerful chief get instantly killed by the dark, burly man, the bandits stared as if they had seen a ghost.
A second later, a cry went up, "Run! Run for your lives!"
Fear spread through the ranks of the bandits. In that moment, their only regret was that their parents hadn't given them an extra pair of legs.
"Hmph. You think you can escape?!"
Zhou Cang snorted. His skill, 'God-Speed,' activated, and his movement speed increased dramatically.
With his saber in hand, Zhou Cang moved like a bolt of lightning, reaping the lives of the fleeing bandits.
These bandits, who had always been so vicious, were as helpless as chickens before Zhou Cang. Utterly feeble!
Xiao Jing, meanwhile, could only watch Zhou Cang's performance in utter shock.
'I thought I had already overestimated Zhou Cang's strength, but it looks like I still underestimated him.'
In the blink of an eye, more than half of the bandits who had charged in so aggressively were dead. Seeing this, Xiao Jing quickly shouted, "Commander Zhou, leave one alive!"
「A short while later.」
Zhou Cang dragged a bandit before Xiao Jing. The man's face was a mask of terror, and his legs were trembling uncontrollably.
Noticing the foul-smelling stain spreading across the man's crotch, Xiao Jing frowned before beginning his interrogation.
"Do you know where all the money and treasure you've plundered is hidden?"
Seeing that Xiao Jing hadn't killed him, the bandit slowly regained his composure. His eyes darted about shiftily as he tried to bargain:
"I know where it is. But if I tell you, will you let me go?"
Seeing the bandit try to haggle, Zhou Cang grew furious. "Spit it out," he snarled, "or I'll cleave you in two!"
As he spoke, he brandished his bronze saber menacingly.
The bandit's face went pale at the sight, but a moment later, his cowardice was replaced by defiance. He stuck out his neck and declared, "If you won't let me go, I won't say a thing! I'll die either way!"
"You're asking for it!!"
Zhou Cang was getting angry.
'How dare this prisoner try to bargain?'
Xiao Jing raised a hand, stopping Zhou Cang with a meaningful look.
Zhou Cang understood instantly. He sheathed his saber and stood to the side, coldly watching the bandit's performance.
Xiao Jing said, "I can let you live, but you have to lead us to the treasure."
The bandit was overjoyed to hear this, his face beaming with the relief of a man who had just escaped death. He nodded and bowed profusely.
"Yes, yes, yes! This humble one understands! I'll take you there right now!"
Under Zhou Cang's cold, watchful gaze, the bandit didn't dare try any tricks. He led them on a winding path through the mountains, soon arriving at a hidden cave.