Chapter 90: Pulling Out The Camp
Pei Yan looked up at the steep cliff that was almost impossible to see the top of: “Are we really going up from here?”
Pei Qinghe remained unfazed: “Yes. Climbing up from here, we can sneak into White Tiger Stockade without a single blade drawn. After we go up, we’ll wait until the dead of night when the mountain bandits are all asleep before making our move. This way, we can minimize casualties to the greatest extent.”
Mao Hongling also looked up for a moment, feeling somewhat dizzy, her voice trembling slightly: “Qinghe, your plan is good. However, this cliff is too steep. Are you sure we can all climb up?”
“We’ll know once we try.”
Pei Qinghe took the lead, climbing the mountain rocks with the agility of an ape.
Pei Yan closely followed behind Pei Qinghe. Mao Hongling voiced her fear, but her climbing speed was actually a bit faster than Pei Yan’s.
Over the past year or so, these two hundred people had focused solely on practicing martial arts and training, and had gone through several real combats, with everyone progressing rapidly. After the initial shock, the group quickly calmed down and followed behind Pei Qinghe, climbing up the cliff step by step.
Long ropes were tied around their waists, in groups of five, looking out for each other. When someone ran out of strength and couldn’t continue, the other four would pull on the rope to help.
It was precisely because of the treacherous terrain here that the mountain bandits of White Tiger Stockade hadn’t set up any sentry posts.
Three hours later, Pei Qinghe was the first to reach the mountaintop.
Mao Hongling was the second to climb up, her palms drenched, her forehead and back covered in cold sweat, still shaken: “We finally made it up.”
Pei Yan, the third to come up, curled her lips upon hearing this: “Second Sister-in-law, you’re always like this, saying ‘oh no, I can’t do it’ in your mouth, but when it comes down to it, you’re stronger than me.”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “Second Sister-in-law is modest by nature, unlike you who loves to brag.”
Mao Hongling was her consanguineous Second Sister-in-law, and Pei Yan was her cousin sister. The two were Pei Qinghe’s closest left and right arms, but their temperaments were completely different. Pei Yan was loyal, hot-blooded, and impulsive, while Mao Hongling was overly cautious and meticulous, occasionally appearing a bit timid.
Mao Hongling blushed prettily at the praise, pursed her lips in a smile, revealing two shallow dimples.
Next, the Pei Clan women climbed up to the mountaintop one after another. There were some close calls during this; someone didn’t step firmly and nearly fell, but fortunately, the rope around her waist saved her as the other four in the group pulled her back with all their strength. This group was also the last to reach the top.
Pei Qinghe, who had already rested for half an hour, reached out and pulled this group up one by one.
Cousin-in-law Zhou Shi, who came up last, looked embarrassed and ashamed: “Sorry, it’s all my fault. I held everyone back.”
Zhou Shi was thirty years old this year, her body somewhat weak, and her martial arts aptitude average. Among these two hundred people, her skills were at the bottom, and her reaction the slowest.
In terms of actual skill, Zhou Shi couldn’t even match Gu Lian, who had just started practicing martial arts a few months ago. However, Zhou Shi was a Pei Family daughter-in-law, loyal and reliable. For the raid on White Tiger Stockade, Pei Qinghe still brought her along.
Pei Qinghe smiled and comforted Zhou Shi: “Don’t talk anymore. Drink some water and eat some dry rations first, take a rest.”
Zhou Shi found a large tree and leaned against the trunk, ate a dry biscuit, and drank half a waterskin of water. She closed her eyes to rest and unknowingly fell asleep, letting out faint snores.
Pei Qinghe lowered her voice: “Everyone, sleep for a bit. I’ll wake you when it’s time to move.”
The moon gradually rose into the night sky.
Pei Qinghe first woke the soundly sleeping Pei Yan, then tugged at Mao Hongling’s sleeve.
After the women woke, they each drew their long sabers and quietly followed behind Pei Qinghe. In the dark night, they were like a group of grim reapers come to claim souls, sneaking into White Tiger Stockade.
On the wooden tower, the mountain bandit on watch yawned.
The next moment, an arrow whistled through the air, piercing his throat. The mountain bandit collapsed limply.
Pei Qinghe scouted ahead, taking out three sentry posts in succession. Using bird calls as signals, she led everyone to sneak into the living quarters of the White Tiger Stockade mountain bandits.
Sharp blades broke through doors, and once inside, they killed silently with saber swings. The mountain bandits, deep in sleep, had their heads chopped off before they could even cry out.
Some were not as quick in their movements. For example, Zhou Shi’s saber strikes lacked power, and the half-dead mountain bandit let out a shrill cry. Zhou Shi gritted her teeth and stabbed again.
This cry finally alerted some mountain bandits. Some woke up, grabbed weapons from under their pillows, and rushed out without even putting on shoes, only to be stabbed through the chest.
Pei Qinghe remained silent, continuously swinging her saber to kill.
During the days traveling the mountain roads, she had repeatedly instructed everyone that once inside White Tiger Stockade, the top priority was to kill mountain bandits. Kill as many as possible. White Tiger Stockade had five or six hundred mountain bandits, while they only had two hundred people. This battle required surprise, defeating more with fewer numbers, and striking cleanly and impressively.
Pei Qinghe held a key position; anyone wanting to rush out had to get past her.
She lost count of how many times she swung her saber or how many mountain bandits she killed.
Pei Yan also killed fiercely until she encountered a master wielding a spear.
Pei Yan couldn’t help shouting: “There’s a tough opponent here!”
Pei Qinghe’s eyes sharpened, and she advanced with a cold laugh, saber in hand. This tough opponent was of average male build, not particularly tall or sturdy, but his skills were exceptionally powerful.
This man was none other than the Great Chieftain of White Tiger Stockade, Luo Hu.
Luo Hu felt both shocked and angry. Since entering the mountains to become a bandit five years ago, everything had gone smoothly: killing, robbing money, living carefree. White Tiger Stockade was hidden, backed by sheer cliffs; not only was it impossible to find, but even if imperial court troops came, as long as he sealed the stockade gate and hunkered down, he would be safe.
Where the hell did these people come from?
Judging by their figures, they were all women!
And each one more skilled than the last!
As the gleaming blade edge came straight at him, Luo Hu raised his spear to block, his right wrist shaking, his shock deepening.
Who was this?
Luo Hu had no time for more thoughts. The long saber came like a gale, each strike faster than the last. Blood soon appeared on his body.
“Who are you!” Luo Hu roared: “State your name!”
Pei Yan wanted to sneer and shout back, “The one here to take your dog life, Pei Yan!” Unfortunately, Cousin Sister Qinghe had instructed that tonight they were only allowed to kill, not speak. Moreover, the one now pressing Luo Hu back step by step with saber strikes like the wind was not her, but Cousin Sister Qinghe.
Mao Hongling gripped a spear as well and suddenly thrust it out; Luo Hu’s right leg exploded in pain, his spear trembling in his hand.
Pei Qinghe seized the opening and chopped off Luo Hu’s right arm with one saber strike.
Luo Hu’s agonized scream shattered the sky, and along with his falling right arm came the spear.
Pei Qinghe didn’t hesitate and chopped off Luo Hu’s head with one strike.
Mao Hongling stepped forward, picked up Luo Hu’s spear, weighed it appreciatively, and promptly replaced her own weapon with it.
Pei Qinghe used her long saber to pick up Luo Hu’s head and suddenly shouted loudly: “Luo Hu is dead! Drop your weapons and kneel, and you won’t be killed.”
Pei Yan raised her arm and shouted, and Mao Hongling and the others shouted along.
Luo Hu is dead!
Drop your weapons!
Kneel and you won’t be killed!
