Chapter 65
Chapter 65
While the bandit stood frozen, Shengsheng assumed her stance and rammed into him.
The guards at the stronghold gate saw an object arc through the air. A moment later, something enormous struck the ground with a crash.
The two bandits looked at each other, unable to decide whether to go down and kill the intruders or rush over to enjoy the spectacle.
Shengsheng swaggered through the gate with San following behind her.
San had no idea how to praise what he had just witnessed.
All he could say was: Damn.
He had not been able to watch when he was the one getting beaten. Seeing it happen to someone else with his own eyes made his gaze toward Shengsheng even more worshipful.
There is no need to waste words describing what followed. Our war correspondent San Zhang will report on the scene at Blackwind Stronghold.
“You cannot imagine the hellscape that unfolded.
“The air rang with countless screams of agony and disbelief.
“That day, humanity remembered the terror of being ruled by an unknown power.
“The ‘person’ who invaded this land single-handedly–no, single-headedly–destroyed the weapons of all eight hundred and eighty bandits in the stronghold and successfully captured its chief, Dahu Jiang.”
Now, let us return to the story.
The woman’s thighs beneath Shengsheng were soft and comfortable, offering both physical and emotional bliss.
“Chief, here. Let this humble woman feed you a grape.” A pale, delicate hand lifted a translucent grape to her lips.
Shengsheng bit it eagerly. “Fank you, beautiful.”
“Oh, Chief, you’re such a sweet talker.” The beauty raised a dainty fist to thump Shengsheng’s chest, but the girl was too tiny. Helplessly, she settled for poking her with one finger.
The former chief of Blackwind Stronghold, bound from head to toe, glared at the scene until his eyes nearly split. Angry roars kept coming from behind the filthy rag stuffed in his mouth.
No matter how furious he became, it was useless.
Only half an hour ago, this creature disguised as a little girl had attacked Blackwind Stronghold and captured him.
Now the hateful brat had stolen all his wealth and his beauty!
Dahu wondered whether things might have ended differently if he had warmly welcomed the people asking to join his stronghold.
Had Shengsheng heard his thoughts, she would have looked upon him tenderly and answered–
No.
At most, she would have kindly left him one pair of underpants.
“San Zhang, summon my strategist.”
Shengsheng leaned comfortably against the beauty behind her and accepted another grape.
San marveled at how naturally she had adopted her new title, then obediently went to fetch the man.
Outside, a crowd of bound men lay wriggling across the ground. Merely looking at them made San’s hands ache.
Damn it. Tying all those men had nearly given him cramps.
He cleared his throat, pinched his voice, and assumed the arrogant, insufferable manner of a chief eunuch serving beside some foolish emperor in a storybook.
“Which of you is the strategist? The Chief summons you!”
A “silkworm cocoon” in the third row wriggled furiously, demonstrating his identity with great enthusiasm.
San untied him and pulled the cloth from his mouth.
The strategist stood and straightened his clothes. “Eunuch Zhang, that would be me.”
San’s face went black as the bottom of a pot.
To hell with Eunuch Zhang. Who was he calling a eunuch? What part of San resembled some castrated servant?
Seeing no answer, the strategist tried again.
“Eunuch Zhang?”
Tearfully accepting the title, San drew a deep breath and led the man inside.
“Chief, he says he is the strategist,” he reported respectfully to Shengsheng, who sat above them with one leg crossed over the other.
The strategist hurriedly cupped his hands. “Ch-Chief, I am the strategist of Blackwind Stronghold.”
At the title, the former chief Dahu Jiang’s already bloodshot eyes bulged still farther. He looked ready to tear the traitor apart on the spot.
The strategist pretended not to see.
Forgive me, Chief. You may be a vicious dog, but this child is genuinely inhuman.
Shengsheng dismissed the beauty. The woman departed reluctantly, looking back every three steps. Before leaving, she “accidentally” kicked Dahu, who had finally wriggled upright, and knocked him flat again.
Dahu had spent half an hour on that.
The strategist appeared educated. Though somewhat advanced in years, he had a refined air. Everyone else wore narrow sleeves tied back for ease of movement, while he alone dressed in a long robe. He looked exactly like the scheming adviser from a television drama.
“Tell me. Besides Blackwind Stronghold, how many other bandit dens are nearby?”
The strategist’s expression sharpened.
“Chief, Blackwind alone controls this mountain. But on the neighboring mountain, there are no fewer than several dozen bandit–no, strongholds, to my knowledge.”
Shengsheng considered this. “How is business?”
The strategist naturally understood which business she meant. Young as she was, he did not dare slight her.
“Individually, none can compare to Blackwind. Taken together, however…”
He left the rest unspoken and conveyed it with his eyes.
Shengsheng nodded knowingly. Filthy rich, then.
The strategist nearly wept with emotion. He was a scholar. If his family had not fallen into ruin and if he had not repeatedly failed the examinations, how could he have ended up here?
Whenever he spoke to Dahu, his words carried subtle implications that the brute never understood. Dahu had beaten and cursed him more times than he could count.
Dealing with an intelligent leader was so much more pleasant.
Moved by gratitude of a gradually questionable nature, he continued, “Chief, the neighboring mountain has no supreme chief to govern it, but the leaders of those dozens of small strongholds are sworn brothers. They appear divided, yet if an enemy attacks, they will certainly come to one another’s aid.”
In other words, they were not particularly strong, but they traveled in a pack.
Shengsheng nodded and stated her intention without wasting words.
“Release the brothers in a while. Feed everyone well tonight, then have them prepare for tomorrow. We’re going to rob the robbers.” She smiled, her voice light.
Those words ignited the strategist’s hot blood. He sprinted outside to announce the wonderful news.
Then he saw the mass of cocoons writhing across the ground and fell silent.
Remembering an extremely important problem, he returned with a pained expression.
“Chief,” he whispered, “through the power of your divine might, all our brothers’ weapons… broke.”
Shengsheng stared.
She had nearly forgotten.
“Tomorrow, we’ll steal ready-made weapons from the other strongholds,” she said darkly.
The strategist could only agree.
“San Zhang, help the strategist untie the brothers.” The one who tied the knot ought to untie it. Do your best, San.
San swallowed his bitterness and obeyed.
Ever courteous, the strategist said, “Many thanks, Eunuch Zhang.”
Shengsheng burst out laughing.
Eunuch Zhang?
What kind of cursed nickname was that?