Chapter 1136: This Scholar Is So Brutal!
The environment of farming villages in the ancient days wasn’t that secure, leading to wild beasts being able to roam freely. Furthermore, there were no electric lights, and this led to there being no one outside when night came.
Despite this, Sun Mo was still very wary. He led a group of people with the best vision in front. Once they encountered strangers, they’d take them down immediately to avoid them from alerting the people.
Three lis of land pa.s.sed by very quickly
Sun Mo lay ambush at the bottom of a slope, looking at the Zhong Clan’s manor.
“I’ll repeat this one more time. We’re seeking money and not lives. Other than the guards, people who put up resistance, as well as Landlord Zhong’s family, try not to implicate the women and children. If I see anyone not being disciplined and trying to harm those women, my blade won’t show mercy.”
Sun Mo let out a low bellow, wearing a stern expression.
Some of the bandits didn’t think much of it.
“With money, we can go to the brothels. Don’t harm those pitiful women.”
Sun Erniang chipped in.
“Let’s stop talking and hurry up to get moving!”
Ye Biao urged.
“Go according to plan and split up. After the killing sounds from the front ring out, the other groups will then take action.”
Sun Mo said as he took a piece of red cloth to cover his nose and mouth.
“Go!”
Swoos.h.!.+ Swoos.h.!.+ Swoos.h.!.+
The bandits immediately crouched over and ran toward the locations they were respectively in charge of.
The Zhong Clan’s manor was covered with walls that were three meters tall. It looked very impressive but couldn’t stop the bandits.
Sun Mo quietly calculated the time. After everyone arrived at their spots and had a few minutes of rest, he took out the longbow he was carrying on his back.
“Brothers, come! Let’s go get rich!”
After saying that, Sun Mo took the lead and leaped out from behind the slope.
The Zhong Clan had guards on the night s.h.i.+ft. However, most of them only had their guards up against the wild beasts that had come from the mountains or foolish robbers who were here to steal. They didn’t expect that there’d be so many bandits attacking the manor.
Right now, they were all squatting by the door, throwing dice and betting money.
“I think I heard footsteps?”
A guard’s ears twitched and he probed his head out of the door to take a look. Seeing a group of bandits flipping across the walls, he was shocked.
“Thieves…”
Swoos.h.!.+
Before he finished shouting, an arrow shot into his eye, piercing through his head.
Ba-thump!
The corpse fell to the group.
“F*ck, isn’t his accuracy too good?”
Ye Biao was given a fright. There was a distance of over 40 meters and most importantly, it was nighttime with a small wind blowing. However, that guard still died the moment he probed his head out.
The other two guards panicked as they quickly went to grab the gong when they saw their companion die. However, they were next to be killed by arrows.
“F*ck your mom! Consecutive shots?”
A few of Ye Biao’s underlings were about to go over and kill the two guards to prevent them from raising the alarm. However, they were stunned by this scene.
“Why are you in a daze? Hurry up and move!”
Sun Mo urged.
The guards’ reactions were the fastest. Some of them had just fallen asleep. They didn’t have time to put on their clothes and came charging out with their weapons.
Those who didn’t see the bandits ran toward Landlord Zhong’s bedroom. Those who did gush forth with strong fighting wills.
Sun Mo raised his arms and sent out two consecutive shots, killing the one who took the lead first.
“Kill!”
Ye Biao was also a tough guy. He let out a loud bellow and led a few underlings to charge forth, engaging in a fight with the guards.
The situation was chaotic and Sun Mo was unable to continue shooting arrows for fear of hitting one of their own. He could only draw his Yanling Steel Blade and join in the fight.
If they weren’t short of time and afraid that the target might slip away, Sun Mo wouldn’t put in so much effort.
“Sigh, it’s just a bunch of NPCs in the Black-White Game anyway. There’s no need to care too much about them!”
Sun Mo looked at the guard who had half his arm chopped off by him and then tried to console himself.
“The guards aren’t easy to deal with!”
Ye Biao frowned and bellowed, telling everyone to be careful. However, after Sun Mo joined in the fight, he took the enemies down with each slash, bringing down a number of guards. He was really ferocious.
“That can’t be true. He’s not just amazing in archery but in his blade as well?”
The bunch of bandits thought back on how Sun Mow was looking like a scholar the day before. They almost thought that they were dreaming.
“Who is the real bandit here?”
Ye Biao was speechless. Were the scholars these days so brutal?
“Ye Biao, go ahead and charge forward first! I’ll pull back!”
Sun Mo instructed.
If it was any other time, Ye Biao would have flown into a rage if a newcomer dared to call out his name like this. But now, he didn’t say a word and charged forth.
Sun Mo’s performance had convinced him. Moreover, he knew that Sun Mo had superb archery skills. Rather than wasting his energy slas.h.i.+ng people, it’d be more meaningful for him to conserve his energy to shoot down important targets.
Right now, the Zhong Clan’s manor was in a complete mess. When the guards at the back heard the killing sounds coming from the front courtyard and came rus.h.i.+ng over, the other bandits who were lying in ambush started making their moves as well.
Very soon, Ye Biao arrived at Landlord Zhong’s manor while holding a maid hostage. The door was opened and a fat man stood there, giving out orders.
There were eight guards with burly figures around him.
“I’m going to kill you!”
When enemies met, their eyes would blaze with hatred. Zhong Xiaoliu’s eyes turned red, and he wanted to charge over.
Pa!
Sun Mo pulled Zhong Xiaoliu back. “Are you trying to court death?”
Both sides raised their longbows in unison when they met.
However, the bandits only had three who knew archery, including Sun Mo. Despite this, it was sufficient as Sun Mo was on their side.
Beng! Beng! Beng!
Each time the bowstring strummed, an arrow would shoot out like a shooting star, hitting on a guard’s face. It’d either be their mouth or their eyes.
The ones who were hit by the arrows died on the spot.
After both sides shot out two rounds of arrows, the guards started to panic.
This archery skill was too f*cking scary.
“Kill him! I’ll give a reward of 100 silver taels!”
When Landlord Zhong saw that the morale on their side had plunged, he quickly called out reward offerings. “I’ll pay ten taels for every bandit killed! I’ll give 100 taels for a bandit leader’s head!”
Ten silver taels were enough for a family of three from a farming background to live happily for an entire year. Therefore, the guards went crazy and charged forth while bellowing loudly.
Landlord Zhong, on the other hand, turned to run into the house.
There wasn’t a need to think about this. Sun Mo knew that there must be an escape route inside and he drew his bow once again.
Pffft!
The arrow pierced through Landlord Zhong’s upper thigh. He let out an agonizing cry and fell to the ground, hurting his mouth.
These guards were all elites, especially the leader. He impressively swung his blade, killing three bandits consecutively.
“Brother Sun! Come and help!”
Ye Biao was a schemer. He purposely called out Sun Mo’s name, wanting to expose his ident.i.ty and cutting off the possibility of him leaving the mountain stronghold.
Of course, Ye Biao wasn’t doing this with bad intentions either. He felt that the mountain stronghold would be able to develop better with someone like Sun Mo.
“Stupid! Go and catch the landlord first! Catch the ringleader to take down their followers!”
Sun Mo scolded.
Ye Biao’s adrenaline level was shooting up and he wasn’t thinking well. Hearing this, he felt that Sun Mo’s words made sense and immediately pounced for Landlord Zhong.
However, he didn’t consider that the leader of the guards wouldn’t agree to this.
Even if the manor were to fall, they must bring their master with them. Therefore, they started to go all out too.
“As expected of one who is called Brother Biao. He’s really a little stupid.”
Sun Mo’s mouth twitched.
Ye Biao and the opponent’s leader were on par with each other. After they were both seriously wounded and were a little worn out, Sun Mo suddenly came in, swung his blade, and slashed down.
Clank! Clank!
The leader wasn’t able to block the attack and had his hair chopped off.
“How is it? Do you want to come to our mountain stronghold to become an outlaw?”
Sun Mo invited.
The leader’s countenance flashed between red and green. He knew that Sun Mo had held back. Otherwise, if this attack were to hit him, his head would have rolled on the ground.
“I have a wife and children!”
The leader explained.
“I understand. You can leave!”
Sun Mo let him off and then looked toward the other guards. “You guys won’t be able to win. If you don’t wish to die, hurry up and throw away your weapons to surrender!”
“Brother Sun, we mustn’t let them go! They’ll report this!”
Ye Biao couldn’t understand. (You’re clearly much stronger than they are. Wouldn’t it be less ha.s.sle if you were to kill them?)
Sun Mo glared at him. “Who calls the shots here?”
“Uhh!”
Ye Biao quickly lowered his head, not daring to look Sun Mo in the eyes.
On the other side, Zhong Xiaoliu had caught Landlord Zhong.
“You guys are biting the hand that feeds you! I spent a lot of money on you guys every month!”
Landlord Zhong cursed.
Zhong Xiaoliu raised his hand and gave him three punches.
“Brother Biao, act according to plan!”
Sun Mo urged, telling him not to cling to this leader.
“May I ask for your name?”
The leader cupped his fists together. “I’ll repay the favor of you sparing my life today!”
“Swallow Li San!”
Sun Mo said half-heartedly, but his words caused all the guards to draw in a cold gasp. Even Landlord Zhong couldn’t help but look over.
This nickname was the most well-known in Jiangzhou at the moment. It was the person who had taken the lives of Pang Jili as well as several tens of others’ in the Baimei Tower.
Not long later, Landlord Zhong’s wife, concubines, and seven children were all caught and brought over.
“Tell us where you hide your money!”
Sun Mo persuaded, “You don’t wish to see your entire family going down to h.e.l.l together, right?”
Landlord Zhong put up a struggle. That was the wealth that his ancestors had acc.u.mulated over many generations.
“After you tell me, your family will be able to live and have a chance to start afresh. If you don’t, your entire family will die and this wealth will benefit others for no reason.”
Sun Mo a.n.a.lyzed the pros and cons for him.
Landlord Zhong couldn’t bear to part with his wealth.
“I have limited time. Men, light an incense! After the incense is done burning, kill his entire family!”
Sun Mo’s tone was very cold.
There were sounds of crying for help at the manor’s residential area.
“Brother Biao, I’m going to clean things up. Do you want to join me?”
Sun Mo invited.
“Huh?”
Ye Biao was stunned. After understanding Sun Mo’s meaning, he felt that Sun Mo was making a big deal out of this. Wasn’t it normal for them to sleep with a few women?
“I said that we’re seeking wealth and not lives! Since there are people who don’t listen, then they’ll die!”
Sun Mo said this and headed out of the door.
Ye Biao wanted to persuade him. After all, things like this were very normal amongst bandits. However, his underling pulled him back.
“Big Brother, don’t provoke him! His eyes are filled with killing intent!”
“Brother Sun is a good person. If he wasn’t forced by Pang Jili, how could he have become an outlaw?”
“With money, how would it be a problem to get women? There’s no need to infuriate Brother Sun for such a small matter!”
All the underlings had switched sides.
They had killed all the way together with Sun Mo, and they had seen how amazing he was. All of them felt great admiration toward him.
In a room, three bandits were violating two maids.
“Go on and cry! Cry louder! I like that!”
A bandit teased while taking off his clothes. However, he suddenly saw the head of the companion next to him rolling off his neck. Then, warm blood splattered on his face.
“That’s such a coincidence! I like girls who can cry very loudly too!”
Sun Mo chuckled.
The two bandits were stunned. One of them dropped to his knees with a plop, while the other one gritted his teeth then bellowed.
“I’m one of the First Boss’s men! The first batch of men who came to Mount Zhao…”
Before this guy finished his words, Sun Mo sent his blade slas.h.i.+ng down.
Kacha!
A head rolled.
“Noisy!”
Sun Mo frowned.
Ah!
The last bandit s.h.i.+vered in fear and kept on kowtowing, begging for mercy.
“Carry the two heads and follow me!”
Sun Mo ordered. He took a look at the maids who were curled up together and left.
“My G.o.d, what kind of killer G.o.d has our mountain stronghold got involved with?”
The bandit who managed to survive didn’t dare to say a word. He carried the two heads, clenched his b.u.t.t tightly, and then followed behind Sun Mo, feeling unsettled.
On the way, Sun Mo would just chop off the heads of the bandits who were violating women, not listening to their excuses. After going one round, he returned to the main residence. The bandit behind him was already holding 11 heads.
At the sight of this scene, Ye Biao and the others broke out in cold sweat.
Did he need to be so vicious?
These were their brothers!
“Did he confess?”
Sun Mo asked.
“No!”
If it wasn’t because Sun Mo didn’t allow them to kill, Ye Biao would have started killing the landlord’s family members to force him to confess.
“Time is very tight. I’m not going to wait anymore. So are you going to confess? Or are you going to seek death?”
Sun Mo’s tone was very calm, unlike how the other bandits were filled with desire toward gold and silver.
“I… I’ll confess!”
Landlord Zhong gave in. A bandit leader who killed even his own men was too brutal. However, he had a bottomline. Maybe he could trust this person.
Landlord Zhong confessed where he hid his money.
“Bring everything onto the horse carriages and mule carts! Hurry up!”
Sun Mo urged and then looked toward Landlord Zhong. “I’ll let your family off, but you’ve done too much evil. It’ll be left to your fate to see if you’ll be able to survive. Brother Biao, hand him a blade!”
“Xiaoliu! It’s your own revenge, it doesn’t matter if he lives or dies!”
…
The people from the Zhong Clan’s estate weren’t blind and had seen long ago that a fire had broken out in the manor and agonizing cries for help kept ringing out. However, they didn’t dare to go over to help. Furthermore, Landlord Zhong had always been oppressing and exploiting them too much. As a result, the villagers hoped to see the Zhong Clan be gotten rid of.
It’d be even better if the promissory notes and t.i.tle deeds were all burned!
Many people were praying that these bandits would burn the entire Zhong Clan’s manor and their debts would all disappear.
The village chief wanted to report to the officials, but his path was blocked before he even stepped out.
“Are you guys crazy? Aren’t you guys afraid that those bandits would come targeting us after they are done with Landlord Zhong?”
The village chief scolded.
“We’re all poor people who can’t fill our stomachs. What’s there to s.n.a.t.c.h from us?”
The men said in self-mockery.
The reason why these people blocked the village chief was because Sun Mo had Zhong Xiaoliu come here to persuade them.
After the robbery was a success, they’d burn down all the promissory notes. However, if someone were to report them, then they could forget about it and he’d hand the promissory notes to the landlord from the neighboring village.
With Zhong Xiaoliu, who was an extremely filial son, as the guarantor, these men decided to bet on this and had taken control over the village’s entrances as well as holding back the village chief.
Two hours later, the Mount Zhao’s bandits started to retreat.
“Brother Sun!”
Zhong Xiaoliu, who was covered in blood, found Sun Mo. Other than the exhilaration of having sought revenge, there was also a feeling of loss on his face.
“In the future, we’ll kill all the evil landlords so that kind people like you won’t get bullied!”
Sun Mo gave him a pointer.
When Zhong Xiaoliu heard this, his eyes lit up. It was as if he had found a new life goal and he nodded vigorously.
“If Brother Sun asks me to head to the east, I’ll definitely not head to the west!”
“Alright!”
Sun Mo wiped away the blood on Zhong Xiaoliu then patted him on the back. “Go on! We’ll go according to plan!”
“En!”
Zhong Xiaoliu ran toward the village.
“Brother Sun, what are you getting him to do?”
Ye Biao was curious..