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Chapter 156: His Legend Lived On

Heyang County, northwest, Yongning Village.

Suifeng Xiong stood before a large crowd of villagers, a ferocious grin plastered across his face. He was a bandit chief—a fact evident from his very name.

He was tall and powerfully built, his frame hulking with muscle and fat. In these famine-stricken times, to still boast such a physique, it was evident that his philosophy of "taking what you want" had been exceptionally successful.

"I am Suifeng Xiong, and I am a good man," he declared, raising the great saber in his hand and chortling at the trembling villagers. "I'm just like you, poor common folk. That's why I won't kill you. I'll offer you a chance to survive."

The villagers looked up in astonishment. They had been certain they were doomed, yet Suifeng Xiong was actually offering them a chance to live?

Suifeng Xiong chuckled. "Join me, and we'll plunder to our heart's content. But when I get hungry, I'll come to you for grain."

The villagers fell silent.

"Don't stare at me like that," Suifeng Xiong pressed. "I'm doing this for your own good. The next time you conquer a village, just tell the newcomers the same thing and demand grain from them to feed yourselves. That way, won't everyone be able to survive?"

This time, the villagers understood. Simply put, it was a system of tiered sustenance, feeding those above them.

The villagers instantly joined, shouting, "The King is wise!"

"Don't call me King," Suifeng Xiong chuckled. "Call me Captain Xiong. I have a boss above me, named Fan Shan Yao. When you see him, call him King Yao, alright?"

Everyone thought to themselves: *So, he also has to feed those above him.*

Understood, understood, it all made sense now.

With a grand sweep of his hand, Suifeng Xiong accepted over a hundred villagers from Yongning Village as his new subordinates. His forces swelled to over two thousand two hundred men. Heh, this felt truly exhilarating.

Just as he was basking in satisfaction, he saw a bandit army descending from the eastern hillside. It was none other than his boss, Fan Shan Yao, arriving. Accompanying him was another captain under his boss, named Er Chun.

Suifeng Xiong quickly went to greet them. "Big Brother, Third Brother, I've gained another hundred-plus subordinates here in Yongning Village. What about your haul?"

At his question, a flicker of displeasure crossed Er Chun's face. "I also have over a thousand men now."

Suifeng Xiong was greatly surprised. "With over a thousand men, why isn't Third Brother happy?"

Er Chun said, "I was attacked."

He showed a bandaged, injured arm. "A few days ago, when I only had three hundred men, I saw a group of merchants in a small village. The leader was a woman, very burly, and she looked quite wealthy. Of course, I went to rob them. Who'd have thought that woman actually had some real skill? With only thirty or forty people, she defeated my three hundred men and even hacked me twice. Good thing I managed to return one blow, so it wasn't a total loss. These past few days, I've been desperately recruiting subordinates, swearing to avenge this humiliation."

Suifeng Xiong was startled. "A burly woman? Could it be... the notorious salt smuggler from Shanxi, Xing Honglang?"

"Exactly, it must be her," Big Brother Fan Shan Yao spoke up. "Xing Honglang injured Third Brother and cut down dozens of our brothers. Then she fled west, slipping into Chengcheng County."

"Damn it!" Suifeng Xiong roared. "To cut down our men and then just run? Unthinkable!"

Fan Shan Yao said, "I heard that the Heyang County Inspector has already led troops in our direction. The local gentry and wealthy households have also organized militia groups, joining forces with the inspector, and their momentum is considerable. We can't stay in Heyang County any longer. So, we might as well seize this opportunity to head west into Chengcheng County. On one hand, we'll evade the Heyang County Inspector's pursuers. On the other hand, we can also chase after Xing Honglang and avenge Third Brother."

Suifeng Xiong hesitated. "The Chengcheng County Inspector, Cheng Xu—I hear he's a ruthless character. Rumors in the underworld used to paint him as a coward, but who'd have thought that was just a smokescreen he put out? The real Cheng Xu could truly be called a god of war. First, he defeated Wang Er of Baishui County, killing Zheng Yanfu and Zhong Guangdao. Then he defeated Bu Zhan Ni of Luochuan and Wang Zuogua of Yichuan, killing so many that no outlaw dared step foot in Chengcheng County. If we go stirring trouble in Chengcheng County and happen to run into the God of War Cheng Xu, wouldn't we be..."

Fan Shan Yao burst out laughing. "No worries! That Cheng Xu has already been killed by the Jinyiwei. Hahaha, the imperial court is truly hilarious! Chengcheng County finally gets a capable inspector, and the Jinyiwei go and kill him for us. Hahaha, the old emperor is on our side!"

"Oh? Big Brother, where did you hear this news?"

"I heard it from an express messenger," Fan Shan Yao replied. "This news is absolutely reliable."

"Then what are we waiting for? To Chengcheng! Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

"Hahaha, Wang Er of Baishui, Bu Zhan Ni of Luochuan, and Wang Zuogua of Yichuan were nothing special. To take Chengcheng, you still need to see the might of Heyang's Fan Shan Yao!"

In the first year of Chongzhen, Cheng Xu, the God of War of Chengcheng, had already departed from "this world." Yet his name, the God of War, still echoed through the underworld.

Li Daoxuan was contemplating the "entertainment industry."

The enthusiastic crowds who watched Xing Honglang and Gao Chuwu's last martial arts bout proved one thing: with Gao Family Village's population already in the thousands, a lack of entertainment would soon impact productivity.

He had to find some amusement for these villagers with full bellies and nothing to do.

But this entertainment industry business wasn't easy to develop. Where should he even begin?

Give them books to read? A crowd of illiterates wouldn't understand them.

It wasn't practical to make the village's few literate individuals into storytellers either.

Li Daoxuan cradled his head, deep in thought...

Just then, from the southwest of Gao Family Village, along the road to the county town, people were approaching.

Leading them was a man on a tall horse, dressed in official robes: Magistrate Liang Shixian. Beside him rode a military officer in armor, who appeared to be the newly appointed inspector, replacing Cheng Xu.

They were followed by a staff advisor, a deputy inspector, bailiffs, and soldiers, a formidable procession.

Li Daoxuan couldn't help but exclaim "Oh?" Interesting, more entertainment to watch.

The people of Gao Family Village buzzed with excitement as soon as they saw the officials approaching. Ordinary citizens immediately shifted into 'spectator mode'.

Xing Honglang led her salt smugglers back into the plastic manor, not daring to emerge.

Cheng Xu adjusted his masked scarf and swiftly retreated into the main fortress, hiding himself.

San Shier straightened his clothes, adopting the imposing demeanor of a "grand family steward," and stepped out from the fortress to greet them. "Ah, it's been a while! Magistrate, your complexion is as good as ever. Truly delightful!"

Liang Shixian dismounted and cupped his fist in salute. "Steward San!"

The new inspector beside him also dismounted, casting a strange glance at Li Family Fortress.

Liang Shixian introduced them. "This is the newly appointed Chengcheng County Inspector, Fang Wushang. And this is Steward San of the Li family."

With introductions made.

San Shier exchanged greetings, observing all proper courtesies, before finally asking, "May I ask, Magistrate Liang and General Fang, what brings you here today?"

Liang Shixian let out a long sigh. "This official has come to borrow weapons again."

San Shier understood immediately: News of the bandit activity in Heyang County had reached the Magistrate's ears.