Volume Two: Outlaws Here Chapter 101: Damn Him

A band of "raiders" fled from Anma City—compact and fierce.

Their fierceness was obvious; like a sharp dagger plunged deep into the heartland of the Weinan Mountain Pass, stirring up fierce winds and drowning wave after wave of sacrificial victims.

As for their small size, that was the result of constant curses from Kuisheng day and night.

Tsk, such cold-blooded tactics could only come from a lowly underling!

Yet, no matter how one spoke of it, the territory of Weinan Mountain Pass—whether merchants passing through or border soldiers—fell into a state of heightened anxiety, nerves fraying like cranes startled by the wind.

This tension spread to Sishan, where the generals lowered their heads, pondering bitterly over whose handiwork this troublesome threat might be.

They sat in silence for a long time, like awkward, dumb geese stretching their necks to sing to the sky.

In the end, either out of helplessness or submission, all their accusations pointed consistently to the one in Anma City.

When the news spread, many commanders in Sishan came to the marshal’s gate to apologize, their faces flushed with shame, as embarrassing as a monkey’s rear.

But Sishan’s only virtue was admitting mistakes—once admitted, they corrected what they could; if not, they simply took it to the grave.

Lin Changtian was pleased—not because his stance was accepted, but because he realized the foolishness of the people of Sishan hadn't yet reached the point of destroying their entire foundation.

He truly feared some fool would come up to him and foolishly say, “Marshal, can we talk this over?”

Talk my grandmother’s foot-binding cloth!

When predator and prey meet, no matter the size difference, one must think to knock out their teeth—not kneel begging for mercy.

Moreover, no one in Sishan wanted to be prey.

Thinking this, Lin Changtian summoned all the rough warriors, looking at the fiercely spirited men with a smile: “Gentlemen, how do you feel? Does it sit well with you that these raiders have turned the tables on us?”

“Marshal, point the way! I’ll gut those bastards! Even if I die in the fight, I won’t hold back!”

Qi Yong pounded his chest, his face full of resolve.

Lv Liang curled his lips, disapproving of this old comrade’s habit of throwing his life away at the drop of a hat.

Bravery without fear of death means having no attachments, but you, you damn fool, are still... a target to be marked.

“What’s the point of making such a fuss? It’s as if someone smashed our Sishan’s front gate. What are you afraid of? As long as I’m alive, there’s no need for you to play hero!”

“Marshal, when can I play hero then?” Qi Yong scratched his head, obviously eager for the answer.

Lin Changtian’s smile froze; he forced out a few words through clenched teeth: “Don’t rush. The time will come. When we fight Ma Hui, you’ll be the vanguard. But for now, get lost and play somewhere else.”

Qi Yong was delighted, retreating to a corner to greet his second brother.

Ah, the men of Sishan always execute orders with meticulous care.

“Someone in the North wants to force us into battle. This is not something to endure silently. So we...”

Lin Changtian pointed northward, his hand poised above his sword, awaiting his generals to continue.

The reason they were called ‘gentlemen’ was perhaps because they preferred silence over idle chatter.

So Lin Changtian resembled a sage pointing the way, while countless eyes stared at him—from cocked heels to trembling fingers.

It wasn’t that the generals of Sishan harbored rebellious thoughts to deliberately embarrass him; it was simply that in the northern realms, no leader’s words were expected to be echoed.

If Lin Changtian hadn’t come, they might not even bother flattering him.

That might seem peculiar in the Central Plains, but it was normal in the North.

Lin Changtian seemed like a performance artist lost in thought for a long while, finally trying to soothe his awkward spirit with the excuse of the region’s simple folk customs.

Tsk, no, I guess I’ll need a eunuch after all.

He thought this as he cleared his throat and spoke: “We must fight Ma Hui up close and fierce! Show the wolf spirit of Sishan and fight to the death!”

“What’s this wolf spirit?” The soldiers blinked, with no one leading a chant. They whispered among themselves, voices growing louder.

“Don’t you know the wolf spirit? How did we get through the mountain literacy classes?”

Lin Changtian’s face brightened; it seemed there were still learned men on the mountain.

“There’s an old saying: A wolf travels a thousand miles eating meat; a dog travels a thousand miles... eating that stuff. Marshal means we should value supplies well in battle, prepare provisions, and not be pushed to the brink.”

This was the last straw for Lin Changtian. His face flushed red, and he unwillingly shouted, “What I mean is... damn them!”

The commanders rejoiced wildly, waving their arms, echoing loudly, “Damn them!”

...

Lin Changtian thought long and hard but still couldn’t understand.

He assumed he knew these rough men well; today, he had prepared countless reward and punishment measures, with chests full of money in the rear hall—but not a single one was used.

A bunch of fools willingly risked their lives for a madman, stirred by nothing more than a slogan.

The people of the northern realm truly were... a rare breed.

It was unclear whether they were simple-minded or sincere.

Perhaps they were the remnants of countless survivors from heaps of corpses, still choosing to follow the code of loyalty.

Lin Changtian narrowed his eyes, feeling melancholy as the lord of Sishan. He didn’t even know what he should do.

More than a year of construction had forged a tacit understanding between the mountain and the valley.

Xu Yong and others were arranging plans; the troops were coordinated by Chen Ziliang; provisions traveled along the paved road, continuously reaching the border.

It all looked so beautiful, carried out strictly and orderly under the constraints of rules.

Yet, deep down, he always harbored worry.

The inevitable result would be collisions between rules. In the end, the fight would be a battle of resources.

Rising stars would clearly need miracles to favor them.

“Ma Hui’s territory boasts the cunning Du Zhaolin and the martial Chu Ji. To the left is Mount Luoyou’s protection; to the right, the northern Dang River city. Seventeen invincible warriors wielding swords like tigers pouncing on stones—whoever comes to this fight dares not provoke them.”

Lin Changtian muttered, folding his sleeves as he squatted at the cliff’s edge, swinging his legs carelessly, unafraid that someone might suddenly push him off.

Footsteps approached behind him; a man came up and mimicked his stance, sleeves folded, legs dangling.

Lin Changtian glanced at him, finding it hard to imagine such childish antics from an old man.

It was Liu Shiyong.

“What brings you here? To take Lin Peiyou far from trouble? I heard someone already prepared a swift horse. No matter what, you must not be implicated.”

Lin Changtian didn’t turn his head, staring at the distant horizon.

“It’s rude to leave so abruptly. I’m here to deliver an important message for Sishan.”

Liu Shiyong smiled slyly, deliberately teasing.

“See, there’s no one around, right?” Lin Changtian put his arm around him seriously: “If I pushed you off, no one would gossip about me, right?”

The old man shivered, nearly forgetting that this lord was no gentle listener.

“Don’t! Be careful! My old bones can’t take fright. It’s Marshal Lin Yuan who sent me with a message.”

“What is it? I knew Marshal Lin Yuan was righteous. Is he sending troops to help me?”

Lin Changtian rubbed his hands, eyes gleaming strangely.

Liu Shiyong tidied his attire, speaking with utmost respect: “He hasn’t said that.”

“I see you’re really asking for a fall today.” Lin Changtian suddenly stood, hoisting Liu Shiyong off the ground, his expression dark.

“Please calm down. May I ask, Marshal, which warrior in Anma City do you fear most?”

Lin Changtian stroked his chin. He had the answer long ago but feigned deep thought before speaking: “Naturally... Chu Ji.”

“No others?”

“The rest are just stepping stones for Kuisheng,” Lin Changtian said softly, calmly, as if it were not arrogance but an inevitable fact.

Unquestionably so.

“Then, without Chu Ji’s presence, the western border is calm. If the bandits move, we’ll deploy one hundred thousand tigers and wolves outside Mount Luoyou immediately!”

Liu Shiyong smiled as if commanding an army of a hundred thousand was casual talk.

This old man was always nagging and weak, yet when conveying Marshal Lin Yuan’s words, he showed a calm and commanding demeanor.

For a moment, Lin Changtian believed that even under the weight of war, not a single crease would mar his brow.

He bowed, intending to set Liu Shiyong ashore.

But as he clasped his hands, a pang struck him—he realized he had reversed the order.

Closing his eyes, he looked down, his heart settling as Liu Shiyong dangled from a tree branch, pale and curled up, unmindful of scholarly manners, cursing Lin Changtian as a “scoundrel.”

Raised in strict etiquette, the old man struggled to utter curses.

Even when Lin Changtian pulled him up, his eyes showed pity.

Tsk, the poor old fellow couldn’t even say a proper curse.

Yet, he put on a face of sincere apology, and after much coaxing and scolding, finally wiped his tears and bowed properly to Lin Changtian, apologizing for calling him a scoundrel.

Scholars truly fear encountering a rogue with an education.

“Rest well, old sir. Don’t go to that place again. Falling off a cliff at your age—what would people say? Even if you don’t want to live, don’t smash flowers and grass.”

Lin Changtian supported Liu Shiyong earnestly, as if the old man had merely stumbled by accident.

“I won’t argue with you, but don’t think Marshal Lin Yuan promised you anything! Aside from Chu Ji, Sishan faces many fierce warriors. Don’t lose Weinan Pass in a few days and allow the enemy to reach Sishan’s doorstep!”

Liu Shiyong grumbled. If not for this brat’s disrespect for elders, he might have kicked him.

“Rest assured, even if I die in Sishan, I won’t drag you or Lin Peiyou down with me.”

Lin Changtian still wore his playful grin, utterly dismissing the looming war.

Yet, his eyes betrayed him.

Liu Shiyong pursed his lips, unwilling to say more, lacking any real military skill.

“Lin, if you’re truly overwhelmed, take a few light cavalry—no more than three—and retreat west along Weinan Pass. If luck favors, you might reach Mount Luoyou territory. It’s foggy now; if you can circle around from the rear, head to the western border. If you fail... well, that’s a decent place to rest.”

“Alright, thank you, sir.”

Lin Changtian dropped his smile, respectfully bowing to Liu Shiyong.

Still the same carefree rogue, as if the weight of the world were nothing but an external thing.