Chapter 417: Dare You Speak Your Name?
Xing Honglang rode forward with the cavalry unit, but she quickly realized that she seemed to be of no use in this kind of mounted combat.
She could ride a horse, yes, but she couldn't "fight from horseback."
Ahead of her, Zao Ying expertly unseated a fierce bandit with a single spear thrust. But when Xing Honglang drew her own saber, she found herself completely at a loss on how to strike from a galloping horse; she simply couldn't get any leverage.
"Indeed, specialization is key!" she muttered to herself.
*Damn it*, she thought. *I might as well dismount.*
Xing Honglang braced her hands on the horse's back and launched herself into the air.
Leaping from a galloping horse was incredibly dangerous, yet she showed no fear. She hit the ground with a thud, rolling several times to dissipate the momentum, then sprang to her feet in a fluid motion.
Just as she rose, she saw the bandit chief, who had also been sent tumbling, simultaneously getting to his feet, bringing them face to face.
And so, Xiao Zhang Bao and Xing Honglang stood opposite each other!
Xing Honglang sidestepped, dodging past the spear's tip, then closed the distance in a single swift movement, entering his guard. A spear was useless at such close quarters. Xiao Zhang Bao, without hesitation, dropped his spear and drew his saber.
Saber clashed against saber, *clang, clang, clang*, as they exchanged three to five blows in rapid succession.
But in the time it took for those few blows, Xiao Zhang Bao's subordinates met with utter misfortune. Zao Ying and her bandit cavalry swept through Xiao Zhang Bao's main formation like a gale, unleashing a devastating barrage of hand crossbow bolts, spears, and cavalry sabers. In an instant, barely two men in Xiao Zhang Bao's ranks were left standing.
Someone bellowed in rage, "You up front, come back... Augh!"
A long spear burst from his chest.
The rebels in the vanguard glanced back to see their main formation overrun by cavalry, and chaos instantly erupted. Masses of them began to flee rearward. However, the leading bandits, who had already reached the red walls of the temple, were so engrossed in their assault – facing down the villagers' bamboo spears and farming tools on the front lines – that they had no time to look behind. They remained oblivious to the disaster unfolding, still intent on their attack.
The rebel army abruptly split in two.
One half pressed forward, the other retreated.
The half that was still advancing only realized what was happening when they heard the retreating half's collective shouts. They turned their heads just in time to see Xing Honglang's saber slice across Xiao Zhang Bao's neck, sending blood spraying a good half-zhang into the air.......
"AUGH!"
With that single, horrifying cry, the rebels broke. Everyone began to scramble wildly backward.
Zao Ying urgently called out, "Honglang, get on your horse! Those fellows are returning, and you'll be easily surrounded on foot."
After Xing Honglang had dismounted, her warhorse, with surprising intelligence, had circled around and returned to a spot not far from her. She swiftly vaulted onto its back and, alongside Zao Ying, galloped away into the distance.
A large, clamoring group of rebels rushed back. Some knelt beside Xiao Zhang Bao's corpse, shouting:
"This is bad! The Young Chief has been killed!"
"Quick, notify the Great Chief!"
"Damn it, where did these cavalry come from?"
"Pursue them! Avenge the Young Chief!"
The rebels roared and blustered, but attempting to chase warhorses on foot was pure fantasy. Zao Ying and Xing Honglang vanished dozens of *zhang* away in an instant; not even arrows could reach them, let alone men running on their own two feet.
The cavalry unit halted dozens of *zhang* away, ceasing their pursuit, and watched the rebel band from a distance.
The rebels, left with no other option, roared furiously at the cavalry, "Who are you scoundrels? Dare you speak your names?!"
Xing Honglang shouted back, her voice ringing out clearly, "I don't hide my name, nor do I hide my surname! I am Xing Honglang of Yongji! Remember it well!"
"Xing Honglang of Yongji?"
"I've heard that name. She's the great salt smuggler around here."
"Damn it, why is a salt smuggler attacking us? We're all fighting the court; we should be rebelling against the imperial authority together!"
Xing Honglang declared, "This is my territory! Anyone who dares to burn, kill, loot, or plunder here will have their entire lineage cursed for eighteen generations by me!"
A fierce bandit, cradling Xiao Zhang Bao's corpse, roared back, "You wretched woman, stop your boasting! You're nothing but a petty salt smuggler. Do you think you can be so arrogant just because you have a few dozen horses? If you have the guts, don't rely on your fast horses to run away, and I, your father, will personally tear that little salt smuggler to shreds!"
No sooner had the man finished bellowing his threat than he spotted a large group of cavalry approaching from the west. It was Zao Ying's main cavalry battalion, who, unable to find Pujiu Temple on their own, had enlisted Tie Niaofei as their guide.
Tie Niaofei, dressed in merchant's clothes, rode at the very front. Behind him, two hundred and fifty cavalrymen galloped in unison, a formidable display of force. Being at the head of such a powerful contingent made Tie Niaofei feel exceptionally grand, and his demeanor was utterly brazen.
Upon reaching the spot, he rode up to Xing Honglang, laughing heartily. "It's truly magnificent, leading so many cavalry! Oh, I want my own cavalry unit now. Where did you get so many horses? Can you sell me some? Name your price!"
No one paid him any mind!
The moment the cavalry arrived, they moved to position themselves behind Zao Ying, no longer lending their imposing presence to Tie Niaofei.
The fierce bandit who had just threatened to tear Xing Honglang to shreds saw the several hundred additional cavalry and his face darkened. He couldn't utter another word of arrogance, instead swiftly leading the other rebel soldiers to retreat north.
Zao Ying sneered, "Boast your bravado and then run? Not so fast. Chief Xing, go to Pujiu Temple and speak with your old acquaintances. I'll go have some fun with these idiotic ruffians."
Xing Honglang cupped her fist in salute. "Good!"
Zao Ying spurred her horse, galloping after the retreating rebels. "Cavalry Battalion, follow me! Let's have a real game with these foot-slogging ruffians!"
Behind her, three hundred cavalrymen roared their assent and rode in pursuit.
Only then did Xing Honglang wave at Tie Niaofei. "Come, let's go to Pujiu Temple."
Tie Niaofei shrugged. "I guided the cavalry, and they didn't give me a single reward. Chief Xing, you should at least offer me a price for my services as a guide, shouldn't you?"
Xing Honglang shot back, "Are the words 'Hedong' in 'Tie Niaofei of Hedong' just for show? You expect payment for doing a small favor for the elders and folks of Hedong?"
Tie Niaofei muttered, "At least a single coin should be given."
Xing Honglang could only smile wryly. She pulled out a single copper coin, flicked it into the air, and watched it tumble and spin. Tie Niaofei snatched it mid-air, bursting into laughter. "Excellent! Payment has been duly received! Let's go, Pujiu Temple!"
The two of them slowly approached Pujiu Temple.
Those inside Pujiu Temple, having watched the recent events unfold from their elevated position, knew these two were allies. They had already opened the temple gates.
A crowd from Sunjia Village surged out of the gates. "It's Xing Honglang! It's our Xing Honglang from Sunjia Village!"
"Honglang, it's been years since we last saw you!"
"Where have you been all these years?"
"You've returned just in time! Without you, we would have been utterly ruined."
Besides the people from Sunjia Village, there were many others from different villages gathered in the temple. They stood a little further away, whispering amongst themselves, "Who is that woman? The Sunjia villagers seem very familiar with her."
"She's the great salt smuggler. Haven't you heard of her? Everyone who 'mixes' in these parts knows her."
"Well, I don't 'mix' out there. All I know is how to farm."
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