Chapter Seventeen: Atrocities

  "Xiao Chen? Ah, little brother, didn't you already agree to join us? Why are you still thinking of leaving?" Hong Feng chuckled and placed one hand on Xiao Chen's shoulder.

  "This big brother is joking, that's just your one-sided wish. I didn't agree to it!" Xiao Chen smiled and lightly removed his shoulder from Hong Feng's hand, "Big brother, I have an urgent matter to return home, I'll take my leave first!"

  "Something that doesn't know how to show respect, giving face but not wanting face." The originally smiling Hong Feng suddenly changed his expression, and with a swift kick, he flew towards Xiao Chen's chest. Faced with this sudden kick, Xiao Chen couldn't react in time. The intense pain from his chest made Xiao Chen feel dizzy, and his body involuntarily flew out.

  "It's so fast." This was Xiao Chen's only feeling when facing Hong Feng's attack.

  "Kid, we're letting you join us because we think highly of you, don't be ungrateful." Hong Feng took a big step forward and viciously kicked Xiao Chen's back, completely crushing any thoughts he had of getting up.

  At this time, the battle was slowly approaching its end. Under the powerful attack of a group led by Ma Yidao, all those who tried to resist in Jiayuan County had been killed. And those who survived were either seriously injured and lost their resistance or were captured. Of course, except for County Magistrate Li Fang, Li Fang was only a weak scholar with no martial arts skills, and the one who knocked him down was Wei Zhongyong, the military advisor of Panshan Mountain bandits.

  After exhausting the strength of nine cows and two tigers, Li Fang's military advisor Wei Zhongyong finally defeated him with a proud smile. From now on, who can still say that they are the weakest? Look, isn't there someone even weaker than oneself right before one's eyes?

  "Dog officer, aren't you being arrogant? You've eaten leopard's gall and dare to cause trouble for Master Ma?" Ma Yidao stepped forward with big strides and slapped him in the face. Li Fang stumbled and barely managed to steady himself. But Li Fang, whose mouth was bleeding, still glared at Ma Yidao angrily.

  "Dog official, where is your arrogance when you first caught me? Come on, call out 'grandfather' and let's hear it. Maybe I'll spare your life." Ma Yidao burst into laughter. He opened his large hands, which were like a winnowing tray, and lifted Li Fang up into the air as if he was holding a small chicken.

  "Ptui!" A mouthful of bloody phlegm landed squarely on Liu Yidao's nose. Although Li Fang was only a weak and feeble scholar with no strength to truss a chicken, he was a man of honor and integrity.

  "You're looking for death, dog official!" Ma Yidao was furious, and with a fierce glare, he violently threw Li Fang heavily to the ground.

  "Ah." Li Fang let out an extremely painful scream, he clearly heard the sound of his own ribs breaking.

  "Big brother, what's next?" Ma Yidao ignored Li Fang and turned to look at Hong Feng.

  "What to do? My brothers have been tired for a night to save you, and they should get some return too." Hong Feng looked at Xiao Chen who was struggling under his feet with disdain, and finally moved his foot away.

  "Brothers, I, Hong Feng, have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Brothers, for helping me to repay the kindness of saving a brother's life, I thank you in advance. However, please rest assured that your efforts will definitely be rewarded accordingly. Now, give yourselves an hour, everyone can do whatever they want without any restrictions." Hong Feng shouted loudly.

  "Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss!" The bandits of Mount Baoxiao were in an uproar. Unrestrained, they could do whatever they wanted to do, wasn't that saying...

  "That's right." Looking at the emotionally excited crowd, Hongfeng first nodded with a smile, then his face sank, "However, let's get straight to the point, there is only one hour of time. If you don't appear before me within an hour, humph!" Hongfeng suddenly kicked the ground heavily. The earth shook and dust flew everywhere.

  "I understand." Looking at the spider web that spread out from Hong Feng's right foot, everyone was shocked. What a terrifying strength.

  "You bunch of kids, aren't you leaving yet? An hour is neither short nor long. Don't waste it, or you'll regret it!" Ma Yidao also chuckled.

  "Hurry up, or there will be nothing left!" A quick-witted guy was the first to react, panting heavily as he took off in a sprint. The crowd soon followed suit, their eyes turning green with excitement as they dashed forward. What do bandits love to do most? Isn't it killing and looting? The tragic scene finally unfolded before Xiao Chen's eyes.

  "You treacherous thieves, don't be too arrogant. When the imperial army arrives, it will be your death sentence." County Magistrate Li Fang struggled to get up from the ground.

  "Preposterous!" Wei Zhongyong slapped his palm, "The imperial court's great army? Those soldiers of the imperial court are barely better than beggars. I'm telling you, corrupt officials, if they don't come, then so be it. But if they don't know their place, my heroes from Panshan Mountain can kill them with just a raise of our hands."

  "They're nothing but beasts, they're nothing but animals, scum!" Xiao Chen's breathing became more and more urgent. Xiao Chen saw with his own eyes that a bandit from Panshan Mountain rushed into a civilian residence with a laugh. Immediately after, the sounds of dogs barking and chickens flapping their wings came out. The wails, cries, and pleas for mercy were endless. But these voices eventually turned into miserable screams, until they slowly disappeared.

  When the first thug reappeared in front of Xiao Chen, he was all smiles, but his body had inexplicably acquired several large and small packages. Behind him, a house was burning fiercely. Bastard, damn it.

  "Let go, you beasts! Release my granddaughter!" An elderly man with white hair and a stooping figure tightly grasped the arm of General Wei Zhongyong of the Penglai Mountain army, pleading bitterly. Meanwhile, in General Wei's hand was a young girl who was desperately crying and struggling to break free. With a ripping sound, the girl's sleeve tore open, revealing a pale and delicate arm as white as a lotus root.

  The girl who had managed to break free was desperately running forward. How could Wei Zhongyong, whose blood vessels were bulging with beastly desire, let this delicious food slip from his mouth? Wei Zhongyong let out a loud roar and was about to chase after her. But just then, the white-haired old man was still pestering him. In extreme annoyance, Wei Zhongyong kicked the old man to the ground with one foot.

  "Damn it!" Ke Wei Zhongyong never expected that even after falling to the ground, the old man still had not given up on his idea of stopping him.

  The old man tightly hugged Wei Zhongyong's leg, "Granddaughter, don't care about Grandpa, run quickly!"

  As he gazed at the girl running further and further away, Wei Zhongyong became anxious. "Beauty, don't run!" However, his legs were still tightly held by the old man and couldn't be shaken off. What to do? Wei Zhongyong looked around frantically, finally spotting a broken brick on the ground. Without hesitation, he bent down, picked up the brick, and viciously slammed it onto the old man's forehead.

  "Ahh!" A faint cry escaped his lips as blood trickled down the old man's weathered face, and his hand finally relaxed.

  "Good granddaughter, hurry up!" Until this moment, the old man was still worried about his granddaughter's safety.

  "Grandfather!" The old man's mournful cry made the fleeing girl stop in her tracks. When she saw everything clearly, she was shocked and lost color.

  "You scoundrel, return my grandfather!" The tearful girl turned around again. She rushed to the front of Wei Zhongyong, clenched her small fist and wildly pounded on him. But how could this weak girl, with just this bit of strength, harm Wei Zhongyong who was consumed by lust?

  "Come here, beauty!" Wei Zhongyong burst out laughing and pulled the girl into his own arms. At such a close distance, Wei Zhongyong discovered that this girl was not only beautiful but also a rare beauty. Her light and elegant eyes, delicate nose, and cherry-like lips were all so captivating. Her skin was as tender as it could be broken by a breath of air, and the faint fragrance emanating from her body made Wei Zhongyong's breathing become even more urgent.

  The poor girl struggled desperately in Wei Zhongyong's arms. But all this only stimulated the secretion of Wei Zhongyong's male hormones. After taking a deep breath of the girl's intoxicating fragrance, Wei Zhongyong lowered his head and kissed the girl's tempting red lips.

  "Damn you, go to hell!" A loud shout came, and immediately, a severe pain spread throughout Wei Zhongyong's body. With great difficulty, Wei Zhongyong pushed away the girl in his arms and lowered his head. He suddenly found that a sharp blade was protruding from his chest, and all his strength was gone like the tide. Who is it? What a big nerve! Wei Zhongyong stumbled and turned around to see Li Fang's extremely angry face.

  "General!" Ma Yidao was shocked, he had never thought that Li Fang, the county magistrate of Jiayuan County who was as weak as a chicken, would actually kill his own military advisor. Enraged, Ma Yidao rushed over and swung a fist at Li Fang's head, instantly causing blood to splatter everywhere and brains to spill out.

  "You bunch of beasts will never have a good ending!" After saying the last sentence, Li Fang swallowed his last breath with strong unwillingness.

  "Save me, save me quickly!" Wei Zhongyong struggled to stretch out his bloody hand towards Ma Yichao.

  "Big brother, quickly save Jun Shi!" Ma Yidao also became anxious.

  Hongfeng slowly walked over, carefully examined Wei Zhongyong, and finally shook his head and sighed, "Military strategist, your injuries are too severe, there's no way to save you. Let me help you resolve this last bit of suffering!"

  "No, I still have a way to save him!" Looking at Hong Feng's icy face, Wei Zhongyong panicked. But Hong Feng didn't pay attention to him anymore, and with one hand, he pulled out the knife on Wei Zhongyong's back, and suddenly blood gushed out like a spring. Wei Zhongyong fell silent, his head tilted to one side, never making another sound again.