by Tony Tran
After giving them the message he left as quick as the wind to go meet up with his companions.
The rest of the group was waiting for Zhang roughly three miles away on top of a small hill. Once Zhang arrived they would continue to their next destination a small village located at the entrance into the Dragon’s Maw.
Red Mist city was located on the upper south western coast of the warring states region while Aurora city was located toward the center of the region. And to go from Red Mist city to Aurora city one would have to pass a series of valleys called the Dragon’s Maw.
The Dragon’s Maw stretched hundreds of miles and was fill with snaking valleys. The reason it was called the Dragon’s Maw was due to its entrance being a cave shaped much like a mouth filled with rocks shaped like fangs. After entering the cave and travelling a short distance people would find themselves in a valley.
The town the group was headed towards situated itself right by the entrance to the Dragon’s Maw. And this town was the only town within miles of the entrance so many travelers would have to visit here before moving on.
This village was called Haven village because it was a safe haven compared to the dangers within the dragon’s maw.
The group galloped on top of their horses for hours until it was time to make camp. Jian Wei needed to return to Aurora City as soon as possible because as the city’s lord the longer he was away the more troubles may arise.
After tethering the horse to a sturdy looking tree with lots of fresh green grass by it. The group started pitching camp. Naturally Zhang, Yuying, and Ai would sleep in the same tent. The group still believed the trio was married to each other so it was normal for them to sleep in the same tent. The trio did not bother telling the rest of the group they were in fact no married because they did not want any unforeseen issues to happen within the group.
This is of course because if the rest of the group knew the two beauties were not taken of course as men they would try to woo them and then that most likely would lead to internal strife within the group.
Zhang had bought a particularly large tent one that an army’s commander would use. Within the tent was the bed Ai had bought. Having interspatial rings, they were able to store and bring many things with them which made camping out very comfortable.
When everyone was done pitching tents everyone gathered around a campfire and ate their rations. The group had grown relatively familiar with each other which made the air around camp very harmonious. Jokes were shared and stories were told to pass the time.
While sitting under the sparkling starry night and surrounded by vast wilderness it seemed as if they were in a world of their own.
However, one’s world often intersects with another person’s. As the Zhang’s group sat by the campfire they saw what seemed to be lit torches in the woods. On light turned into two and two turned into four until there were hundreds of them.
“Welcome to my forest!” A voice rang out.
A man holding onto a touch walked out of the woods and following him were hundreds of people also holding torches. The campsite had been surrounded but the odd thing was that no one was able to sense these hundreds of people coming. They had let their guards down too much and immersed themselves within their own world for too long.
The man was in his late twenties and had short brownish black hair.
Jian Wei took the initiative and got up to speak to the man.
“Hello we are just travelers and did not mean to intrude onto your forest. If you wish, we will pack up our things and leave.” Jian Wei did not want to cause unwanted conflicts if he could. Being a ruler of a city sometimes one must be strong but other times one must be able to pretend to be weak.
“You may leave.” The man replied
“Yes we will go pack our things and go now.” Jian Wei replied as he started to walk toward the rest of his group.
“No need to pack.”
“No need to pack?” Jian Wei questioned.
“Those things all belong to the White Tiger bandits now. Also empty your pockets and hand over all your valuables and you may leave. We only take things not lives.” The man said as he placed his hand on top of his sword.
“Those horse look like fine horses leave them also.”
“Hmph give someone an inch and they'll take a mile.” Zhang chuckled as he stood up.
“Senior I’ll handle this.” Zhang said as he walked up and placed his hand on Jian Wei’s shoulder.
Seeing Zhang, the man was somewhat confused this was the first time someone did not just hand over their valuables and leave.
The White Tiger bandits were famous within these parts for never killing if they did not have to. It was not that they were weak and did not wish to fight but it was because most of them were forced to become bandits due to how much poverty there was in these parts. The city lords and nobility gobbled up all of the wealth and left only a few scraps for the rest of the people.
So it was no odd that some good decent people became bandits to survive. But that’s not to say that all bandits are good this group was just one of the few who were good.
“So you’ll let us go if we hand over all of our valuables?” Zhang asked.
“Yes, I’ll let you keep some your rations and a map of the area that’ll give you the quickest way to the nearest village.” The man replied.
“How kind of you, how about you leave now and I’ll spare your lives.” Zhang said with a sneer.
“Hmph, impudent.” The man sneered back as he drew his sword.
“Everyone back I will fight him personally.” The man said to his followers.
With his sword drawn the man charged at Zhang.
Two chained daggers appeared in Zhang’s palms and shot out toward the man. The daggers pierced through the air and caused it to whistle. Moments later they were in front of the charging man and inches away from him.
However, with a sweep of his sword the man knocked the daggers upward into the air. Then using one of his hands the man grabbed onto the two chains and began to tug.
The man’s physical strength was clearly above Zhang’s when the two began pulling the chains back and forth. Knowing that in terms of strength he was lacking Zhang made a white light appear in his palm.
The man continued to tug on the chain something odd happened. The chain began getting longer and longer and because he was pulling back so hard the man fell over once the chain extended.
As once as the man started falling over with a flick of his wrist Zhang made the chains dance about and loop around the man’s arms. Zhang began pulling and with his hands bound the man could not do anything but be dragged.
Zhang pulled the man as he weaved through the trees within the forest and after a short while he looped the chains around a tree and bound the man to the tree.
“You had your chance to leave but now only death awaits you.” Zhang said.
“Enough words do what you will!” The man barked back.
“STOP!!!” a voice rang out.
“Please spare my uncle!”
A small figure could be seen coming out of the woods. A little boy appeared holding a torch.
“Little Yan what are you doing here! Go home now!” The man yelled.
“Please spare my uncle, He isn’t a bad person.” The boy cried with trails of tears falling down his cheeks.
“Not a bad person? He’s a bandit!” Zhang yelled back.
“He’s not doing this because he wants to. He’s only doing it to feed us and the rest of the village.” The boy cried out.
“Please spare our leader.” Many voices rang out as many figures holding touches emerged from the forest.
Hundreds of people filed out from the shadows all dressed in shabby looking clothes. Although they looked physically fit one could tell that all these people lived a harsh life on the edge of survival and death.
“What’s about. Explain.” Zhang said coldly to the man.
“All of you go back! Do not beg! Me
n shed blood not tears!” The man yelled.
“I will explain just please don’t kill him.” A middle aged man spoke out.
The man told Zhang that originally the White Tiger bandits was a group of soldiers that was of the army of Red Mist city. However, their leader did not agree with the views of the city’s lord and often clashed with him.
Their leader was named Xi Ning, he had eventually offended Jin Sho and was to be executed. However due to huge public disapprove he decided to exile Xi Ning. Once Xi Ning was gone the Jin clan once more had total control of the city within any disturbances.
Seeing their leader and his family exile Xi Ning, his loyal men packed their things and along with their own families followed him. The group established a small village a few miles away from Red Mist city. At first everyone was filled with hope of making something better for themselves and their families.
Now they were no longer oppressed by the nobility and rulers of the city. However, they soon found out that although they were no longer within the city they would still be oppressed. Red Mist city’s lord ordered a trade ban upon the small village they established.
No villages or cities within Red Mist city’s domain was to trade with their village. Soon the village fell into utter poverty and had no means of generating revenue to support its population. Many people secretly helped them with rations and small funds but charity did not last forever. Eventually help stopped and the villagers were left to their own devices.
That was when they decided to move the village and go elsewhere however when they tried to the city lord ordered the Red Mist army to block their path. He did not permit them to leave.
Xi Ning took to begging Jin Sho as a means for survival for his people. After many days Jin Sho agreed to lift the trade ban upon the village but he had one condition that village would have to pay taxes to the city.
By taxes he meant thousands of gold coins each year. How could a small village such as theirs be able to afford this?
Without the means to leave or generate the gold to pay the taxes the soldiers who followed Xi Ning suggest that they split off from the village and become bandits. Of course they would not allow anyone to make a connection between them and the village.
“I Understand.” Zhang said as he released his grip on the chains binding Xi Ning.
“Here consider this as a gift, seeing that you are only doing this for survival of the village.” With a wave of his hand a few thousand gold coins appeared on the ground.
Seeing this Xi Ning was stunned.
“No we can’t accept this.” He said.
“Indeed you can, how about this. You take the gold and consider it as me employing you.” Zhang said.
“Employ?” Xi Ning asked.
Chapter 26: Destination
“Yes I wish to employ you and your man. Working for me would obviously be better than being bandits wouldn’t it?” Zhang replied.
A hint of hesitation could be seen on Xi Ning’s face.
“That or you can continue to be bandits.” Zhang said.
Xi Ning looked around at his men all wearing rags and his nephew beside him. Once a part of a mighty army now reduced to this.
Just thinking about how they got here he cursed at himself. Had he known how to back down instead of always pushing forward blindly they wouldn’t be in such a situation.
“Fi-fine my men and I will be in your service.” Xi Ning said as he bent down on one knee.
“Good from today on I’ll be your lord and you will be my men!” Zhang yelled so all of the bandit could hear him.
“Uncle does this mean we don’t have to be bandits anymore!?” Xi Yan yelled out with joyful tears falling from the corner of his eyes.
“Ye-yes.” Xi Ning said as his eyes moistened. However, no tears fell.
Cheers from the men rang out and some even broke out in tears.
The entire time they were bandits ate away at their conscience but sadly there was nothing they could do. They tried to run but there was nowhere to run to.
However, now they had a chance to start anew. With the gold Zhang presented they would be able to pay this year’s tax that was placed on the village and with the extra bit left over they may be able to spend it on their families.
“My lord if you would come with me.” Xi Ning said respectfully to Zhang.
Xi Ning has a naturally stubborn personality which caused him to clash to with the Jin clan however he was a loyal man so once he bent his knee to Zhang he had pledged his loyalty to Zhang. Before his loyalty was only to his brothers in arms but now it was extended to Zhang.
In his eyes Zhang has given him and the entire village a possible way out of their misery.
“Let us go pack our things.” Yan Li said.
“No need I will have some men do it.” Xi Ning said.
“Alright lead the way.” Zhang said.
“Is it alright to follow them just like this?” Jian Wei asked as he caught up to Zhang.
“We won’t know until we get there. If anything they will be the ones in trouble, I have some tricks left in my sleeve.”
“Okay good. I can tell these men although somewhat out of shape are all veteran soldiers. And their leader most likely is a very experienced general.” Jian Wei said.
Xi Ning lead Zhang and his party through the forest and then on a narrow pass up a small mountain.
Their village was built in a very strategic location. It overlooked a vast area of land and only had two possible ways to enter or exit. This allowed for it to be easily defendable.
The village has high walls made of logs to keep wild animals out and provide a bit of protection to its people. Sentry towers were placed from the top of the walls and on the sides of the mountain.
“Welcome to our village.” Xi Ning said as he pulled out a horn from a pouch he was carrying.
“I knew it was a trap!” One of the sailors yelled as Xi Ning blew the horn.
“He’s calling for reinforcements from the village.” The sailor yelled.
Smack*
“Calm down man.” Jian Wei yelled after slapping the man to calm him down.
Moments later the front gate of the village opened and from within many shadows walked out.
Once they got closer many women, children and elderly people could be seen. These were the families of Xi Ning and his men.
The horn simply signaled their return and it was safe to open the gates. They were obviously not the only bandit group in this area so naturally they had to keep their loved ones safe.
Once the women, children and elderly saw the men return they were filled with joy. Young wives running to husbands. Children running to fathers. Parents running to their kids.
Xi Ning preceded to guide Zhang’s group into the village and arrange places for them to sleep.
He then gathered all of the members of the village at the center of the village.
“As of today we will no longer have to be bandits.” He yelled.
Many of those who did not know looked toward their loved ones in disbelief and then those looked quickly changed to looks of joy. They knew that the men did not wish for this but had to.
These men would rather fight and die honorable deaths on the battlefield then this. But to keep their loved ones fed and to pay the unbelievably high tax they had to.
After the news was announced everyone went back to their own homes.
Xi Ning and Zhang walked to what seemed like a meeting hall. Once inside Xi Ning thanked Zhang.
“How many men do you have under your command.” Zhang asked.
“My lord we have roughly five thousand men.” Xi Ning replied respectfully.
“Five thousand?” Zhang asked somewhat confused. He was expecting more along the lines of five hundred towards a thousand men.
“Yes when I was in Red Mist city I commanded a regiment of soldiers and when I left most of the men left with me. Most of the people in the city are fed up with the lord of the city. However, they
are too afraid to do anything.”
“Is that so. Here take this and use it to equip the men with armor and weapons.” Zhang said as he waved his hand and made thousands of gold coins appear.
” I will be traveling toward Aurora city but afterwards I will be back. There’s a score to settle with that Jin clan.” Zhang said as he slammed his palm onto s table.
“Make sure no one knows about your preparations.” Zhang added.
“Milord you are going to Aurora city?”
“Yes what of it.”