"Tian Wang Gai Di Hu, Bao Ta Zhen He Yao!"
Inside a large house built of wood and stone within the bandit stronghold on Feilong Mountain, Zhou Fugui stood tall and spoke loudly.
Torches burned on both sides of the room, illuminating the leaders and followers of the Feilong Mountain bandits, who lined the walls, their eyes fixed on Zhou Fugui standing in the center of the hall.
On the tiered platform sat two middle-aged leaders and a young girl in red. One leader was burly, around fifty, with a full beard, a mix of white and black hair, and a commanding presence. He was the Grand Leader of Feilong Mountain, Yuan Bolong, known as "Overturning Mountain Dragon." The other leader, Zhu Qing, wore a plain cloth scholar's robe, with a fair complexion, and served as the Second Leader and strategist of Feilong Mountain, known as "Creek Side Snake." The girl in red was Yuan Bolong's only daughter, nicknamed Mei'er, and holding the bandit title "Golden Flying Swallow"...
Yuan Bolong had lived a life of danger, and it wasn't until middle age that he had a daughter. He cherished her dearly and doted on her immensely. While Mei'er was not officially a leader of Feilong Mountain, she was effectively the second-in-command, her orders unquestioned by all the bandits on Feilong Mountain.
Feilong Mountain was a significant force in the region, primarily composed of Han Chinese bandits.
"Pfft!" Yuan Bolong, mid-drink, spat out his wine. He turned to Zhu Qing, puzzled, and asked, "What does he mean? Has he gone mad?"
"I don't know..." Zhu Qing shook his head. "But those two lines are quite imposing!"
"Boy, your father asks your name, your surname, where you're from, and why you've come to Feilong Mountain. What nonsense are you spouting?" Mei'er, younger than Zhou Fugui, addressed him as "boy" and, pointing at him, asked with a suppressed laugh.
"Oh, oh, so these aren't password challenges?" Zhou Fugui chuckled sheepishly before replying, "My surname is Zhou, my given name is Fugui. I am from Yan Yun, and I was exiled to Xue Lin City as a soldier due to a crime."
"Zhou Fugui?" Zhu Qing exclaimed, "The General Zhou Fugui who killed over two hundred Hu in Youzhou?"
"That is I!" Zhou Fugui nodded, a mix of confusion and pride. *Has my great name truly spread so far?* he thought, disbelieving.
"You are Zhou Fugui?" Yuan Bolong also asked, surprised and puzzled. "They say the General Zhou who killed over two hundred Xianbei has eyes like copper bells, a head like ać, is tall with long arms, a waist like a yellow barrel, hands as big as bear paws, and legs like wooden stakes. How can this pale face have killed over two hundred Xianbei?"
"Grand Leader, that's from a play, a rumor that got out of hand..." Before Zhou Fugui could answer, Zhu Qing said with a wry smile, "It should be him."
"How can you say that?" Yuan Bolong asked.
"To fight tigers and wrestle bears, he cannot be an ordinary person," Zhu Qing replied.
"Mei'er, did you truly see this person fight a bear?" Yuan Bolong asked Mei'er, nodding.
"Yes, daughter saw it with her own eyes. It is indeed true..." Mei'er stood up, walking towards Zhou Fugui as she spoke. "But daughter doesn't believe he has such great skill."
As Mei'er spoke, she suddenly leaped up, kicking out with both feet in the air, striking towards Zhou Fugui.
Mei'er had received excellent training since childhood and was quite skilled in martial arts. She couldn't believe this "pale face" could have killed over two hundred Xianbei. After all, the total number of people Feilong Mountain had killed since gathering in the mountains was less than two hundred. Thus, Mei'er intended to test Zhou Fugui.
Mei'er's sudden attack caught Zhou Fugui off guard. Seeing a red cloud flying towards him, Zhou Fugui quickly retreated, raising his left arm to block.
"Pa Pa!"
"Thump!"
Zhou Fugui's left arm blocked Mei'er's two kicks. His third kick landed on his chest. The force was considerable, and Zhou Fugui flipped backward, flying several feet before landing with a "thump."
Zhou Fugui, alone on his horse, had ridden for a full day and night. He had also fought with pigs and a white bear, and his shoulder was injured. He was already exhausted, and being caught off guard, he was knocked down by Mei'er.
"Hahahaha!"
"What kind of loser is this?"
"This pale face is all talk and no substance!"
"Where is he all talk and no substance? He must be impersonating General Zhou!"
"..."
The bandits burst into loud laughter.
Golden Flying Swallow Mei'er landed, clapped her hands, and looked at Zhou Fugui with disdain, saying, "Shameless person, to impersonate General Zhou? Humph, utterly defenseless..."
"This humble Zhou has an injury, otherwise..." Zhou Fugui awkwardly got to his feet, feeling unbearable pain. He supported his right arm and slowly walked towards Mei'er, sneering, "There's an old saying, 'A good man does not fight with a woman.' How could I, a dignified man of seven feet, bother with a mere young girl like you? If word got out, people would laugh their teeth out! Miss, I was letting you win, please don't misunderstand..."
"Hahahaha!"
Zhou Fugui grumbled incessantly, trying to save face, which only made the bandits laugh even harder. Yuan Bolong and Zhu Qing also couldn't help but chuckle. Even Mei'er's eyes showed a hint of a smile and a trace of apology.
"Hoo!"
In reality, Zhou Fugui was employing a strategy to confuse or lull his opponent. At that moment, he had moved close to Mei'er. He suddenly sprang up, let out a low shout, took two quick steps forward, and appeared before Mei'er. His left arm swung, and he powerfully punched towards Mei'er's face. Mei'er was startled and hastily raised her hand to block. Zhou Fugui seized the opportunity to grab her wrist, then, while her attention was on her upper body, he hooked her ankle with his left foot. With a twist of his waist and hips, he threw Mei'er to the ground.
Mei'er finally realized what was happening. This guy, who claimed a good man wouldn't fight a woman, was resorting to sneak attacks! As she fell to the side, seeing Zhou Fugui about to pin her down, she hastily bent her right knee and aimed for Zhou Fugui's groin.
If this strike had landed, Zhou Fugui's lineage would be in jeopardy...
Close-quarters grappling and fighting were Zhou Fugui's specialty, with few rivals in his time. How could Mei'er, a girl not yet twenty, possibly threaten his lineage? Zhou Fugui smoothly rolled to the side, ending up over Mei'er's head. His right knee landed on her chest, and his left hand still tightly gripped her wrist, but...
Zhou Fugui had used too much force, and with a "rip," Mei'er's sleeve was torn off, revealing her delicate, lotus-root-like arm...
"Wah... Let me go!" Mei'er was in pain, feeling both shame, anger, and panic. She even started to cry out of desperation.
In the blink of an eye, the bandits were all aghast, unable to believe their eyes. The Golden Flying Swallow, who usually fought everyone without defeat, had been subdued by this man?
The bandits, brandishing their sabers, charged forward, intending to hack Zhou Fugui to death and rescue their young lady of Feilong Mountain...
"I yield!"
Zhou Fugui smiled slightly. Before the bandits could reach him, he released Mei'er, stepped back three paces, and said with a smile.
Zhou Fugui's actions were not out of pettiness or an inability to tolerate insult and argue with this overbearing girl. Rather, it was to awe the bandits, to let them know there were always greater men beyond the horizon, and that his reputation was not undeserved...
In a place like the chaotic Feilong Mountain stronghold, reasoning with them was completely useless.
"Canglang!" With a clang, Mei'er, filled with shame and anger, drew the short sword from her waist. She knelt on the ground, glaring at Zhou Fugui. If she couldn't win with fists and feet, Golden Flying Swallow Mei'er intended to use weapons, or even a crossbow to win.
"Mei'er, stop!" At that moment, the Grand Leader Yuan Bolong's voice halted Mei'er, and also stopped the charging bandits.
"Father..." Mei'er turned to Yuan Bolong, unwillingly saying.
"Come back. You are no match for the world-renowned General Zhou," Yuan Bolong reprimanded Mei'er.
"Humph!" Mei'er snorted, flashing her short sword at Zhou Fugui as a show of defiance, then turned her slender waist and returned to Yuan Bolong's side.
"Someone, prepare wine and a seat. You all may withdraw," Yuan Bolong then instructed his subordinates.
Only Yuan Bolong, Zhu Qing, Mei'er, and a few other leaders remained in the great hall, along with Zhou Fugui.
The bandits withdrew outside. A few underlings set up a feast and brought a wooden stump to serve as a stool, inviting Zhou Fugui to sit.
"General Zhou is injured? Someone, tend to General Zhou's wounds."
As Zhou Fugui sat down, the pain from his shoulder wound became unbearable, and he couldn't help but grimace. Yuan Bolong saw this and ordered a physician from the mountain, who was skilled in treating humans or horses, to tend to Zhou Fugui's wounds and apply medicine.
"General Zhou is indeed worthy of his reputation," Yuan Bolong said to Zhou Fugui, raising a bowl of wine. "This leader has always admired heroes and brave men. General Zhou, at such a young age, has already made a name for himself. Come, come, this leader offers you a toast."
"This humble Zhou does not deserve such praise from the Grand Leader. I am ashamed!" Zhou Fugui replied, holding his wine bowl with his left hand. "As the saying goes, there are always men beyond men. Feilong Mountain is also a place where dragons and tigers hide. Therefore, this humble Zhou dares not consider himself a hero, but merely a criminal."
Zhou Fugui's statement had two layers of meaning. Firstly, it was a subtle warning to Mei'er. Secondly, it was a compliment to Yuan Bolong. Zhou Fugui had ventured alone into Bear Mountain and was unfamiliar with the territory. If the local power, Feilong Mountain, were willing to assist, their task would be twice as effective with half the effort. However, Zhou Fugui was secretly contemplating how to gain Feilong Mountain's willing cooperation.
"Humph!" Mei'er, having understood his meaning, snorted at Zhou Fugui again.
"Hehe..." Yuan Bolong ignored Mei'er and said with a smile, "General Zhou killed over two hundred Xianbei, making your name known throughout the land. Was it for this reason you were exiled to Xue Lin City as a soldier?"
"Everything is as the Grand Leader has said," Zhou Fugui nodded.
"General Zhou is Han, correct?" Yuan Bolong asked again.
"Yes, I am Han, from Yan Yun, where my family has resided for generations," Zhou Fugui replied. *My surname is clearly Han, why is he asking the obvious?* Zhou Fugui mused.