novelraw Chapter 459 Bandit Lair
Chapter 459 Bandit Lair
The next day, early in the morning, Xia Tingfeng bid farewell to the Emperor and hurried off toward the bandit-infested region with a small detachment of five hundred men!When Tiger heard that his Big Brother had gone to suppress the bandits, he wanted to join as well. However, he had no idea how to get involved and was anxiously scratching his head in frustration.
Rat actually wanted to go too.
Having been a hoodlum for so many years, this was the first time he’d ever encounter bandits.
He really did want to meet them!
As they talked, both of them looked at Monster at the same time.
Monster was preening in the mirror, sensing their gazes upon him.
He rolled his eyes.
"Why are you looking at me? There aren’t any beautiful ladies among the bandits. I’m only interested in beautiful ladies!"
Rat grinned mischievously.
"Monster, old buddy? Are you really not going? It’s been a long time since we hung out with Big Brother. Aren’t your hands itching for some action?"
Monster stroked his long hair and lied through his teeth.
"My hands aren’t itching! I don’t want to deal with those stinking men!"
After saying that, he continued to groom himself in the mirror!
Rat was getting a little impatient and shot him a glare.
"All day long, all you do is look at your Monster-Reflecting Mirror! Go if you want, or don’t. If you’re not going, then forget it!"
With that, he grabbed Tiger.
"Tiger, let’s go!"
Without further ado, the two of them really did return to their room to pack.
Moments later, each emerged with a small bundle and left.
Monster panicked. "Hey, are you really going?"
Tiger and Rat said in unison, "What do you think!"
Monster: "..."
He swayed his hips, turned, and went inside, not forgetting to roar, "If you dare to leave without me, I’ll make you pay!"
Tiger: "..."
Women are so troublesome... Oh no, I meant men are so troublesome!
「...」
The site of the bandit suppression was along the canal waterway, more than a hundred miles away from the Capital City.
Xia Tingfeng rode his horse, leading a group of his trusted followers, and left the Capital City early in the morning.
They covered a hundred miles a day on the official road and reached their destination by dusk.
After the wearying ride, upon arrival, everyone was too tired to move.
Xia Tingfeng ordered his men to set up camp and rest there for the night, planning to take action the next day!
Suppressing bandits was not an overnight affair.
They hadn’t even located the bandits’ lair yet, so preserving their strength was the priority.
Besides, a bandit’s lair is usually extremely well-hidden.
They take advantage of the terrain and natural defenses, places that are easy to defend but hard to attack.
A sly rabbit has three burrows. Rashly attacking would only alert the enemy, so there was no need to rush!
「That night.」
The five hundred men of the Imperial Forest Army encamped in an open area beside the canal and took a brief rest.
After the tents were set up and guards deployed for patrol, Xia Tingfeng went alone to the riverbank, illuminated by the light of torches burning not far away.
His brows furrowed, he intently observed the map in his hand.
The surroundings were quiet, save for the intermittent chirping of insects and calls of birds in the distance.
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from not far off, faint and nearly imperceptible!
Xia Tingfeng immediately became alert, but he didn’t move, maintaining his original posture as he continued to look at the map in his hands.
However, his attention had already shifted to those faint noises.
After a moment of silence, the sound resumed.
And it was approaching him, getting closer and faster!
Xia Tingfeng closed his eyes to listen carefully.
This sound... there are approximately... three people?
Just as he thought this, he sensed the sound drawing nearer.
He suddenly put away the map, and at the same time, his body shot up into the air as he drew two short daggers hidden in his sleeves.
One in each hand, by the time his body landed, the daggers were already at the throats of the people hiding in the bushes—one on each side. As for the third, Xia Tingfeng’s foot was already pressed against the man’s Adam’s apple, rendering him immobile!
Such lightning-fast speed, such incredibly precise hearing. If these were enemies, it would have been a fatal strike!
Unfortunately... it turned out to be a false alarm after all.
"Big... Big Brother! Please, show mercy!"
Tiger was the first to chicken out; Big Brother’s martial arts had improved even further, becoming simply divine.
Rat and Monster weren’t worried; they didn’t know any martial arts. Generally, experts wouldn’t kill those unskilled in combat!
Indeed, Xia Tingfeng recognized Tiger’s voice and glanced at the others.
"Rat? Monster? What are you guys doing here?"
Tiger chuckled sheepishly. "Well, you see, my hands were itching for some action!"
"I managed to become the Martial Champion and even got myself an official post, but who knew they’d make me report to the Yamen for duty every single day!"
"They say it involves wielding blades and staffs, but I’ve never been in a real fight with actual weapons! It’s just like kids playing house!"
"Big Brother, my hands have been itching for action for a long time!"
Tiger, a big fellow, actually managed to make himself sound quite pitiful.
Even though Xia Tingfeng was angry, he found it hard to reprimand them at this moment.
He just asked, "So, what about your duties at the Yamen?"
Tiger said, "I’ve already notified my superiors, Big Brother. You can rest assured!"
Xia Tingfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"At least you have some sense and didn’t lose your official post over a few bandits!"
Tiger quickly tried to curry favor. "Of course not, Big Brother! Your little brother here still hopes to... someday... get married, you know!"
If I lost my official position, what beautiful delicate lady would ever want to marry me? I’m not about to do something so foolish!
The mere mention of marriage reminded Xia Tingfeng of his own irresponsible parents. Annoyance flared up, and he said impatiently, "Alright, alright, enough nonsense!"
"Since you’re already here, I can’t very well send you away."
"However, suppressing bandits is no game. No messing around! You must follow orders. This is the army, so no special treatment either!"
The three of them quickly agreed. "Yes, yes, yes! Whatever you say, Big Brother!"
As long as you don’t send us away, anything is fine!
Xia Tingfeng glanced at them, his expression finally easing somewhat.
「...」
The next day, Xia Tingfeng tossed each of them a set of Imperial Forest Army clothes.
"Put these on, so you won’t stand out too much!"
Otherwise, their mismatched attire would arouse suspicion.
The three quickly changed into the uniforms. Now they could openly accompany Xia Tingfeng, without needing to hide.
That day, the Imperial Forest Army split into several squads, each searching for the bandits’ lair.
Xia Tingfeng led fifty men, with his three brothers in tow, consulting the map and searching along the riverbank.
Along the way, Rat didn’t look at the map; instead, he observed the lay of the land.
By midday, the group stopped at a spot to rest.
As soon as Rat sat down, he noticed a strange hole behind a few large trees not far away.
Tiger wanted to go take a look, but Rat suddenly shouted, "Stay away!!"
Tiger broke out in a cold sweat from the shock.
"I say, Rat, it’s such a tiny hole. Surely bandits wouldn’t crawl through there?"
After speaking, he unintentionally glanced into the hole a few times.
He hadn’t thought much of it, but one look gave him a fright.
Huh? Why is there light inside the hole? This clearly isn’t an ordinary cave; it’s a passage!
"Big Brother!"
Xia Tingfeng also sensed something was off and hurried over to take a look.
Rat, however, didn’t even need to look to make his assertion. "This is an escape route left by the bandits. If they’re attacked from the front, this is their lifeline!"
"The bandits’ lair must be close by!"
Xia Tingfeng’s gaze suddenly sharpened.