Chapter 290: The Raid

Chapter 290: The Raid

The atmosphere in the Wuyun Village meeting hall was heavy.

The Sixth Boss looked uneasy. "The North Town Supervising Envoy said that they would be able to mobilize the Ning Mountain Guard in seven or eight days at the latest. Second Brother, we can't just sit and wait for death!"

"What's your opinion, Sixth Brother?" Second Boss's eyes lit up.

"Of course, we fight them!" Sixth Boss slapped his hand on the table. "We have so many brothers and the advantage of terrain. If they want to take down the stronghold, they'll have to fill it with their lives. With 300 to 400 men, they'll need at least 1,000 to stand a chance."

"Do you mean to fight to the end, Sixth Brother?" asked the Third Boss.

Sixth Boss gave Third Boss a surprised look. "Wuyun Village is our home. If they're going to destroy our home, what choice do we have but to resist with all our might?"

"That's right, fight them! Even if we die, we'll make sure they suffer. For every one of us they take down, they'll lose three!" Sixth Boss's supporters echoed his sentiment.

Second Boss nodded. "We'll count the number of men who can fight and make a plan later."

Once those supporting Sixth Boss had left, Third Boss sneered. "What's the point of worrying about how many of them die? We only have one life!"

Second Boss raised his hand. "We'll wait until Fifth Brother returns before discussing further."

Late at night, Fifth Boss quietly returned, having replaced the guards with his own men to ensure nothing would reach the ears of those supporting Sixth Boss.

Seeing Fifth Boss's expression, Second Boss felt a sinking in his heart. "How is the situation in the city?"

"It's very bad!" Fifth Boss relayed what he had seen and heard after entering the city. "It's said that they will mobilize 2,000 Ning Mountain Guard soldiers to attack Wuyun Village!"

"Can they really mobilize that many people?" Third Boss was incredulous.

Unlike the bandits of Wuyun Village, they were born in the capital garrison and had much more experience. They knew that mobilizing 2,000 soldiers was not an easy task.

"The Jinlin Guard North Town Supervising Envoy holds a military token. And that Miss Xin, her identity is not simple. I paid a guard to inquire, and it's said that Miss Xin is of noble status. The Jinlin Guard's mission this time, with the military token, is to protect her. The decision to suppress Wuyun Village was solely advocated by Miss Xin."

Second Boss and Third Boss exchanged a glance, both with serious expressions.

"What about the county magistrate's office?" Second Boss asked.

Fifth Boss's expression became even more troubled. "As soon as I entered the city, I saw Magistrate Zheng's head hanging on the city wall. I heard from the guards that Clerk Wang has been imprisoned, and now County Magistrate Yang is in charge of the county office. That despicable person is even more eager than the Jinlin Guard officers, having summoned many guards for daily training and hiring numerous civilians for logistical support."

After gathering all the necessary information, Second Boss fell into silence.

Fifth Boss was impatient. "Second Brother, what did you discuss today? What did the people from Wuyun Village say?"

Third Boss explained what had been discussed and also looked at Second Boss. "Second Brother, you're not planning to go down with Wuyun Village like Sixth Brother and his group, are you?"

"What do you think, Third Brother?"

Since they were all family, Third Boss spoke directly. "What relation do we have to Wuyun Village? We chose this place as a safe haven to enjoy ourselves. Now that this haven can no longer protect us, we just need to find another place."

Fifth Boss nodded in agreement. "I think the same. Those in Wuyun Village may call us brothers on the surface, but it's because we killed several of their leaders and intimidated them. They probably resent us. If the government soldiers want to attack Wuyun Village, let them try. Where will they find us?"

Second Boss agreed and, seeing that his two brothers were of the same mind, carefully planned the evacuation with them.

The mountain roads were treacherous, making a nighttime evacuation too dangerous. However, if done during the day, there would inevitably be a conflict if Sixth Boss and the other key original members of Wuyun Village discovered the plan. After discussing, they decided to get Sixth Boss and the other prominent original members of Wuyun Village drunk.

The next day, all the significant figures in the stronghold gathered in the meeting hall.

Second Boss raised his cup to everyone. "A fierce battle is imminent. Let's not talk about discouraging things. Let's drink well, brothers. After we've taken down those despicable government soldiers, we'll drink to our hearts' content again!"

"Good!"

Everyone drank happily and raised their cups again.

After a few more drinks, the Sixth Boss swayed, and the cup in his hand fell to the ground as he slumped over.

Coldly watching the people from Wuyun Village fall into a drugged sleep, the Second Boss rose expressionlessly. "Let's go!"

Wuyun Village had about two hundred bandits capable of fighting. They had gone to the back mountain early in the morning to train for the upcoming battle. Over a hundred people with the Second Boss left in several groups. With their own men guarding the village gate, they left smoothly.

Just then, the Sixth Boss opened his eyes, having fallen into a drugged sleep.

"Wake up."

He patted two of his brothers who'd taken the antidote earlier. The rest, who hadn't taken the antidote and were faking it poorly, had really been knocked out but were now awake after a bucket of cold water was thrown on them.

"Are they really gone?"

"Yes."

The bandit wiped a handful of cold water on his face and cursed, "Goddamn it!"

"Sixth Boss, you were right. These bastards will never see eye to eye with our brothers in the village. When it matters most, they'll be the first to stab us in the back, even after pretending to be friendly."

The Sixth Boss's expression turned fierce, and he felt fortunate that he'd made his decision once again. "So we don't have to hold back."

Not long after, a hidden sentry reported as planned, "Sixth Boss, they've passed Safe Slope."

The people of Wuyun Village called that section of the mountain road 'Safe Slope.' The unique terrain was why Wuyun Village had stayed safe for so many years.

Hearing that the Second Boss and the others had passed Safe Slope, the Sixth Boss let out a loud laugh and gave the order. "Hoist the red banners to send the signal."

The large red banners were hung on tall poles, standing out clearly against the green mountains and brown earth.

As the group led by the Second Boss walked past Safe Slope, one of them looked back and saw the red banners fluttering in the wind. He was puzzled. "What's that?"

The Second Boss turned around, and his expression suddenly changed. "Not good!"

As soon as he spoke, countless arrows flew from the sky.

Screams echoed through the air. This volley of arrows killed over a dozen men, ruthlessly and effortlessly.

"Quick, fall back! Retreat to the village!"

Realizing the danger, the Second Boss's first choice was to return to Wuyun Village. No one knew how many ambushers there were, but returning to take advantage of the terrain offered the only chance of survival.

Over a hundred people were packed on the mountain road. At the Second Boss's command, they turned back and ran. Countless rocks rolled down from above.

"Ah!"

Screams echoed. Some tumbled down the steep slopes, while others were instantly crushed to a bloody pulp. In panic, some continued running back, but more chose to rush down the mountain, causing further chaos. The road, once called Safe Slope, had become a hellish scene under the rain of rocks and arrows.

As he watched his brothers fall one by one, with fewer and fewer left standing, the Second Boss lost all will to fight and shouted, "I am the Second Boss of Wuyun Village, I surrender!"

The falling rocks and arrows stopped.

The Second Boss involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief, but his pupils suddenly shrank.

An arrow abruptly loomed large in his vision and struck him square in the forehead.

As the Second Boss's body fell, Xin You emerged, carrying a bow.