Chapter Seven: Mending the Pen After the Sheep Are Lost
Having made up his mind, he immediately put his plan into action. First, he went up to the kitchen at the mountaintop to fetch some food, filled his waterskin, and hurriedly descended the mountain once more.
The forests were teeming with wild beasts, but over time, they had learned to fear the people of North Spirit Mountain, and now would rather flee at the mere sound of footsteps than risk attacking a human. Thus, hunting for food was no easy task, and relying solely on game to fill one’s belly was a challenge. The mountain paths were steep and treacherous, and he had only explored a small part of the deep woods before. The bandits, wary of soldiers searching the area and fearful of a massed assault by North Spirit Sect disciples, kept themselves hidden in the most secret places. Bu Jingxian spent two days searching without finding any trace of their lair. On the third day, he finally spotted two men—here, it was unlikely to encounter anyone but bandits, so he approached them cautiously.
The two men had heard someone coming, but seeing it was only a beggar, their guard dropped and they cursed their luck. They had hoped for a fat, clueless traveler, but instead got a penniless vagabond. As Bu Jingxian drew nearer, still crawling along the mountain path, they shouted impatiently from afar, “Head north past North Spirit Mountain—there’s a town where you can beg!” When Bu Jingxian paid no heed and continued toward them, they muttered in annoyance, “Damn it! A deaf fool!”
Finally reaching them, Bu Jingxian cupped his hands and asked, “May I inquire, noble gentlemen of the greenwood, where your stronghold lies?”
The two were stunned, thinking they had misheard. After sizing him up for a moment, one sneered, “Get lost! We don’t take in beggars like you. Not just anyone can be a greenwood hero!”
Bu Jingxian pleaded, “Please, good sirs, lend me your aid. I would be grateful for your introduction, and offer all my rations for the first two months as thanks!”
Hearing this, the bandits were tempted. One said, “That’s your own promise—if you try to renege, you’ll regret it!”
“Of course, sirs! I’m joining the greenwood to help however I can, just hoping to eat a few full meals. How could I not be grateful for your kindness?”
The two bandits, still impatient, stood and said, “Follow us!” As they walked, they added, “You’re young, but sturdy. If you serve the Chief well, you won’t be mistreated! We’re not after your rations—our stronghold isn’t like others, we don’t take just anyone. Letting you stay takes some effort and favors, you understand?”
Bu Jingxian assured them he understood, thanked them profusely, promising to remember their kindness. He truly knew they had no real standing to vouch for him; they were simply making it sound difficult to claim credit and earn his gratitude. Once in the stronghold, he’d be one of them, and it was wise to leave room for future favors, so the rations would be theirs by right.
The bandits’ lair was indeed well hidden. In what seemed an impassable thicket, they parted dense low branches to reveal a hole. Inside, they asked for a password, and after passing, he saw a sentry. The path was still winding and rough; after two more miles, another cave entrance appeared. Inside was the heart of the stronghold.
Lit by torches, it was still hard to see clearly.
The cave was vast, with chambers branching off, and as he went deeper, he saw about a hundred people.
One bandit stayed with Bu Jingxian, while the other went ahead, claiming he needed to plead his case for Bu Jingxian to be admitted—in truth, he simply didn’t want his charge to know how easy it actually was.
Soon, the bandit returned and said, “The Chief didn’t want to keep you, but for our sake, he agreed. You’d better work hard!”
“Certainly, certainly. Thank you for your trouble, brothers.”
“No need to mention it.”
They led him in to pay respects to the bandit chief.
The chief was a burly, rough-looking man, tall and strong, clearly possessing brute strength but lacking refined martial skill. Being chief was both difficult and easy; if one could beat the others, he could intimidate the bandit horde. Most bandits weren’t fearless warriors—they followed, fought, and sought a meal. If the enemy was too formidable and the few brave ones among them fell, the rest had no desire to die.
Few dared attempt audacious feats like kidnapping a princess; behind such acts was always someone pulling the strings, and the bandits were mere intermediaries, handing over their prize for a reward.
As Bu Jingxian looked around, the two bandits shouted, “Kneel before the Chief!”
Bu Jingxian ignored them, still surveying his surroundings. The bandit who brought him cursed his stupidity, pushed him, and hissed, “Hurry—pay your respects! What are you staring at?”
Bu Jingxian smiled, “I’m looking to see where you keep your treasure.”
The bandit, not suspecting anything, snapped, “Don’t talk nonsense! Kneel before the Chief!”
The chief, however, was no fool. Hearing this, he realized Bu Jingxian’s intentions were hostile. He slammed his cup down, glared, and barked, “What, you want to steal my treasure?”
“Yes, I’m here to rob you.” With those words, Bu Jingxian swung his arm and sent the guiding bandit flying.
The other bandits watched in shock as the man was hurled several yards, crashing into the wall with a loud thud. They were secretly afraid, waiting for their leader’s command, unwilling to rush forward.
The chief, startled by Bu Jingxian’s strength, saw the others hesitate and understood their reluctance.