Chapter 164: Fifty Sentences of Bickering
One of her subordinates, frantic, cried, "Boss, your arm is still injured!"
Xing Honglang burst into laughter. "Does Idiot Two's arm not have an injury?"
The others hesitated, "Well..."
Xing Honglang declared, "No one is to interfere with my revenge!"
With that, she drew her waist saber with her uninjured left hand.
Idiot Two also roared, pulling his own saber with his left hand.
It turned out that during their previous chaotic clash, they had exchanged blows, each striking the other's right arm. Now, both were forced to wield their blades left-handed.
Idiot Two bellowed, "Xing Honglang, today, either you die, or I do!"
Xing Honglang roared back, "You wretched thief, without an ounce of jianghu honor! The reputation of true greenwood heroes is ruined by imbeciles like you!"
Xing Honglang met his strike with her own blade.
In a flash, the two locked in a furious duel, their sabers flashing, sparks flying. The salt smugglers nearby wanted to help but dared not disobey Xing Honglang's orders. They could only turn their heads, continuing to roll down logs and boulders, smashing them onto the bandit forces in the ravine.
The shouts and clash of battle quickly reached Cheng Xu's position.
Gao Chuwu felt a flicker of panic. He glanced in Xing Honglang's direction, then back, wanting desperately to blurt out, "I need to help her!"
But having spent every day recently learning discipline and rules from Gao Yiye, he was no longer the impulsive simpleton he once was. The phrase "obey commands" filled his mind, and he forcefully clamped his mouth shut.
Cheng Xu sensed Gao Chuwu's agitation. His eyebrow twitched as he glanced down at the "Mountain-Crossing Moon" forces below. Indeed, they were starting to move, large groups of bandit soldiers fanning out to climb the mountain.
Cheng Xu whispered, "Gao Chuwu, I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Go help Xing Honglang, and come back immediately. Don't dally. Can you do that?"
Gao Chuwu asked, "How long is 'the time it takes for an incense stick to burn'?"
The others looked bewildered, "..."
Cheng Xu clarified, "The time it takes for you and Zheng Daniu to bicker fifty sentences. Now go!"
This, Gao Chuwu understood perfectly. Fifty sentences of bickering? That was easy! He could just pretend to bicker with Daniu to keep track of the time.
He suddenly opened his mouth and exclaimed, "Daniu, you're so stupid! You don't even understand this!"
Everyone nearby was utterly dumbfounded.
Gao Chuwu then mimicked Zheng Daniu's tone, "You're the idiot! I'm very smart!"
The others stared, "..."
That counted as one sentence of bickering. As Gao Chuwu finished those two lines, he was already striding several yards away.
The onlookers gasped, "!!!"
Gao Chuwu yelled, "Daniu, you've got it wrong! This mechanism here is the correct one!"
After speaking, he darted another two or three yards forward.
"Mine is clearly correct... yours is the wrong one..."
By the time he finished this sentence, Gao Chuwu had vanished behind a small hill ahead.
Everyone collectively drew a sharp breath. "That fellow!"
Cheng Xu shouted, "Stop looking at that fool! Listen, the Mountain-Crossing Moon forces are climbing! Everyone, prepare the rolling logs and boulders!"
The militia responded, "Yes, sir!"
They all turned their heads to see the Mountain-Crossing Moon's men spreading out, beginning their ascent up the slope. The vanguard consisted of reckless, desperate bandits, scrambling upwards while constantly ducking behind large rocks for cover. If they saw no stones thrown from the summit, they'd swiftly dash further up, then hide behind another rock.
Cheng Xu laughed loudly. "Who cares if they hide or not? There are plenty of logs! Smash them!"
Padi Tu, as always, was the first to act. A massive log was pushed down the mountain by him, rumbling and crashing as it rolled down...
***
Xing Honglang and Idiot Two had already exchanged over a dozen blows.
In combat, victory or defeat is often decided in two or three moves, but since both were using their left hands, their movements lacked their usual agility, making the fight seem somewhat drawn out.
Idiot Two roared wildly with each swing of his saber.
Xing Honglang, however, remained remarkably calm, neither shouting nor screaming, delivering her strikes with collected precision.
After more than ten exchanges, Xing Honglang finally seized an opening in Idiot Two's defense. Her left-handed saber flashed, and with a sickening thud, it cut into his side.
Idiot Two howled in pain and toppled backward.
Xing Honglang rejoiced, stepping forward to bring her saber down on his neck.
Just as she was about to end Idiot Two with a single strike, a furious roar erupted nearby. A burly man, as sturdy as a bear, charged forward. Two salt smugglers attempted to block him but were knocked flying with two resounding 'thuds.'
The next instant, the man was before Xing Honglang, swinging a club directly at her head.
"Wind-Following Bear!" Xing Honglang gasped in alarm, quickly bringing her saber up to parry. *Clang!* She blocked the blow, but she was wielding her saber with her left hand, lacking sufficient strength. Wind-Following Bear, however, swung his club with both hands, and their forces were incomparable.
Xing Honglang felt a jolt run up her wrist, and her waist saber flew from her grasp.
Wind-Following Bear let out a furious "Aargh!" and raised his long club, sweeping it horizontally towards Xing Honglang's waist.
Xing Honglang's heart sank. *This strike... I won't have time to dodge...*
Judging by the power behind that blow, she was surely in for a significant injury.
Li Daoxuan also extended his hand, ready to intervene.
Just then, a roar echoed from behind, "Daniu, you idiot! You've knocked over the water bucket again!"
Xing Honglang blinked, "???"
Wind-Following Bear froze, "???"
*What was the meaning of that nonsensical line?*
Before either could react, a colossal, bear-like man, whose build rivaled Wind-Following Bear's, crashed into the battle, charging in with a mighty *thump* and slamming into Wind-Following Bear.
The collision between the two strongmen produced a deafening thud.
Wind-Following Bear staggered back five steps before regaining his footing. He stared intently, seeing a man in iron armor, even brawnier than a bear, standing before him.
Wind-Following Bear demanded, "Who are you?"
Gao Chuwu retorted, "I'm not an idiot! You're the one who knocked over the water bucket!"
Wind-Following Bear stared blankly, "???"
Xing Honglang blinked again, "???"
Wind-Following Bear snarled, "Are you out of your damned mind?"
Gao Chuwu continued, "Daniu, lift your side steadily."
Wind-Following Bear was utterly bewildered, "???"
Gao Chuwu took a massive step forward, unleashing a powerful punch toward Wind-Following Bear. The blow carried immense force; even before his fist landed, the sheer momentum would have terrified an ordinary person. Crucially, as he threw the punch, he muttered, "Chuwu, there's an earthworm in your toe crack."
Wind-Following Bear saw a ferocious fist heading for him, but his ears were assailed by completely disconnected and bizarre dialogue. For a moment, he felt a tearing sensation, unable to think normally. His sanity score dropped by 999, his mind froze for half a second, rendering him unable to properly defend against Gao Chuwu's punch.
Gao Chuwu's fist *thudded* right in the center of Wind-Following Bear's face.
The single blow shattered Wind-Following Bear's face and fractured his neck. In the instant he collapsed, he heard the other man add, in a strange tone, "Daniu, I've lifted my side, you need to exert some force too."
Wind-Following Bear's vision went black as he reported to the King of Hell.
Xing Honglang, meanwhile, brought her saber down, severing Idiot Two's head.
She turned, intending to thank Gao Chuwu.
Gao Chuwu spoke first, gazing deeply into her eyes, his face etched with concern, "Daniu, you truly are brilliant."
Xing Honglang's rage instantly surged to its peak. "What in the hell are you talking about, you scoundrel?!"
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