Chapter 43: Qin the Blockhead's Martial Prowess

It wasn't just the bandits who were stunned; Xu Mo and Xu Tieshu were equally astonished.

“Brothers, together!”
At that moment, a bandit quickly regained his senses and shouted, pointing at Qin Mute.

But before the four could even rush at him, Qin Mute took the initiative, swinging his staff as he charged forward.

In the next instant, Qin Mute began his performance.

An ordinary long staff, yet in Qin Mute’s hands it seemed almost alive. Sometimes he swept, chopped, thrust, or rammed; other times he jabbed, prodded, poked, or flicked. Every move was executed with perfect control and ease.

Though the bandits had the advantage in numbers, they were routed in an instant, driven back by Qin Mute’s relentless assault. Some fell to the ground, others fled in terror, and for a while, the mountain hollow echoed with their wails—truly a scene of misery.

“Uncle, who would have thought that Mute was so skilled!” Xu Mo couldn’t help but cheer.

Xu Tieshu’s jaw had already dropped in astonishment. Hearing Xu Mo’s words, he finally exclaimed, “Indeed! This... this is incredible!”

In the blink of an eye, the four bandits had been driven off by Qin Mute, leaving only one still unconscious on the ground.

Remembering there were still two ringleaders, Qin Mute spun around and dashed back.

“Master, I’ll go deal with those two!” Qin Mute called loudly.

Not far away, the fat and thin bandits had been scared out of their wits. Seeing Qin Mute charging toward them, they turned and fled in terror.

Seeing Qin Mute chasing after them, Xu Mo called out urgently, “Mute, don’t go after them!”

Hearing Xu Mo’s command, Qin Mute reluctantly turned back.

“Master, what should we do with this fellow?” Qin Mute asked, pointing at the unconscious bandit.

Xu Mo considered for a moment, then asked Xu Tieshu, “Uncle, since we’re heading to Yangjia Village, why don’t we tie him up and hand him over to Village Chief Yang?”

Xu Tieshu nodded. “Good idea! These scoundrels have plagued the countryside, and I’m sure Yangjia Village would want them caught. Handing him over to the village is best.”

“Mute, tie him up and toss him on the cart!” Xu Mo ordered.

Qin Mute nodded at once, put down his staff, grabbed a rope, and set about binding the bandit.

Soon, the bandit was securely tied and easily thrown onto the mule cart by Qin Mute.

Xu Tieshu retrieved the two silver ingots, handing one to Xu Mo and keeping the other for himself. Then, with a crack of his whip, he urged the mule forward to continue their journey.

As they traveled, Xu Mo asked curiously, “Mute, aren’t you a hammer user? How come you know staff techniques too?”

Qin Mute replied, “Master, my teacher knows both hammer and staff techniques, though he’s more skilled with the hammer. His staff skills are a bit weaker.”

“That’s what you call weak?” Xu Mo exclaimed in surprise.

Xu Tieshu agreed, “Indeed, Mute, your staff work is masterful. How could you call that weak?”

Pleased by their praise, Qin Mute scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.
“Master, Uncle Xu, I’ve never faced a real expert. If I did, my staff skills wouldn’t be worth much,” Qin Mute said.

Xu Mo nodded in understanding, then pointed at the bound bandit and asked, “Mute, if you were using your bronze hammer, how many of these types could you handle at once?”

Qin Mute thought for a moment. “At most, seven or eight, but none of them can have bows.”

“Wow! Seven or eight…” Xu Mo couldn’t help but gasp and gave a thumbs up.

At that moment, he felt that the five strings of cash he paid each month were more than worthwhile. To think he’d been so lucky as to encounter such a talented young warrior.

As they chatted, the bandit awoke.

Realizing he was tightly bound and unable to move, the bandit immediately began to beg for mercy.

Xu Tieshu, who was driving the cart, spat and said with contempt, “Serves you right! Able-bodied, yet you choose to steal!”

Xu Mo, annoyed by the man’s incessant whining, gave him a kick and shouted, “Shut up! If you keep making noise, I’ll cut off your ear!”

That did the trick—the bandit dared not make another sound.

Xu Mo immediately felt much more at peace.

After a while, Xu Mo asked, “Where are you all from, and why did you come here to rob travelers?”

The bandit complained bitterly, “Young master, I fled here from the north. Our whole village was burned by the Wei dogs. I didn’t want this life, but I had no choice. No one would hire me, so I joined these men just for a bite to eat.”

Xinzhou County lay at the northern edge of Liang, some three hundred li from the Liang-Wei border.

Though Liang and Wei were not engaged in full-scale war, small skirmishes never ceased along the border. Whenever they could, cavalry from both sides would cross over to raid or burn villages and kill civilians.

Xu Mo shook his head in silent sympathy for the plight of the border people.

He asked, “What about the fat and thin ones? Surely they didn’t flee here from the border?”

The bandit shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve only been with them about ten days. I just know the fat one is called Whitehair, and the thin one is Peng Dong. That’s all I know… Truly, I swear I’m telling the truth!”

Xu Mo replied coldly, “Whether you are or not, it doesn’t matter. Save your story for the people of Yangjia Village.”

He didn’t care if the bandit was lying; they’d hand him over to Village Chief Yang soon enough, and the matter would be out of his hands.

About an hour and a half later, the mule cart arrived at Yangjia Village.

Yangjia Village was far more prosperous and wealthy than Gushan Village. There were many shops and eateries lining the main street; the two villages weren’t even in the same league.

Xu Tieshu inquired of the villagers for the home of Yang Jinbao, then drove straight there.

At that very moment, Village Chief Yang Jinbao was in the fields, accompanying a very important guest.

That guest was none other than Miss Ning Yaxin, the eldest daughter of the Ning family from Xinzhou City.

Ning Yaxin had come to Yangjia Village that morning, intending to purchase farmland.

Standing on the ridge, she gazed at the broad fields ahead and said, “Village Chief Yang, I’m very satisfied with these fields. Tomorrow I’ll send people to measure the acreage. I’ll have to trouble you again then.”

“No trouble at all, Miss Ning! It’s an honor for our village that you wish to buy land here.”

Yang Jinbao was a portly man with a pair of drooping mustaches, his fawning smile reminiscent of a sly character from a drama.

At this, Ning Yaxin turned to her maid, Ling’er. “Ling’er, fetch me some water. I’m a bit thirsty.”

Ling’er was about to obey when Yang Jinbao hurried to say, “Miss Ling’er, allow me. You stay with Miss Ning; I’ll fetch the water myself!”

With that, he trotted off toward the distant carriage.

Ning Yaxin stood for a while, then turned and said, “Let’s go. Since there’s still time, we’ll have a look at Gushan Village.”

Ling’er protested immediately, “Miss, perhaps… perhaps we’d better not go to Gushan Village.”

“Why not?” Ning Yaxin was puzzled.

Ling’er explained anxiously, “Miss, earlier when you went to the fields, I heard the villagers say the road to Gushan Village has been dangerous lately—a group of bandits is robbing travelers there. And since we didn’t bring many people today, if we ran into them…”

“Bandits on the road?” Ning Yaxin frowned.

Ling’er quickly added, “Miss, better safe than sorry. Why don’t we stay in Yangjia Village for the night? Tomorrow, we can ask Village Chief Yang to send more men with us, and then head to Gushan Village.”

Ning Yaxin hesitated. She had traveled light today to save time, bringing only the driver, Ling’er, and two household servants. If they really encountered bandits, it would indeed be dangerous.

After a moment’s thought, she nodded. “Very well. Tell Village Chief Yang that I’ll stay here tonight and go to Gushan Village at first light tomorrow.”