Immortality Begins by Taking Care of Master’s Wife – Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Attacking the Mountain

“What? The County Magistrate’s daughter has been kidnapped?”

Zhang Long shot to his feet, his face paling. He couldn’t believe someone dared to stir up trouble right under the nose of the authorities.

But whoever dared to do this couldn’t be ordinary.

Fallen Phoenix Slope was located on the border of Qing He County, still within its jurisdiction. He remembered there was a group of bandits entrenched nearby.

“Let’s go, to the County Yamen!”

Zhang Long, along with Zhou Chen, Zhao Hu, and others, rushed towards the County Yamen.

The County Magistrate Chen Fan, County Assistant Chen Dao, and others were all present.

“County Captain Zhang, immediately lead one hundred constables to Fallen Phoenix Slope to investigate. You must rescue Chen Feng!”

Chen Fan’s face was grim as he issued the order.

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

Zhang Long left the County Yamen with Zhou Chen and began to gather men.

The yamen runners and constables were already assembling quickly.

Zhou Chen went back home to inform Qin Hong Yu, then returned to the city gate with his bow and arrows, his saber at his side, to meet up with Zhang Long and the others!

Zhang Hu helped Zhou Chen secure a warhorse. Once everyone was assembled, Zhang Long shouted, “Depart!”

Zhou Chen, riding alongside Zhang Long, led the imposing procession towards Fallen Phoenix Slope.

“Whoa, such a grand display, what happened?”

“It must be something big!”

“I’d better sell my wares and head home, best to stay indoors for now!”

Watching the departing procession with a mix of curiosity and fear, the commoners whispered amongst themselves, worry etched on their faces.

They didn’t know what had happened.

But something definitely had.

And they were most afraid of becoming collateral damage.

Zhou Chen and his company traveled swiftly, reaching Fallen Phoenix Slope in under half an hour. Scattered corpses littered the ground.

The bodies belonged to the guards who had escorted Chen Feng. Some were pierced with arrows, while others had been killed by a variety of weapons, including swords, spears, and halberds.

It was evident that Chen Feng’s group had been ambushed. A volley of arrows had taken out most of the guards, crushing their morale.

Then, a large number of bandits had swarmed in, killing the remaining guards and abducting Chen Feng.

“Sir, based on the scene, footprints, and other traces, the bandits seem to have left in this direction!”

Zhou Chen spoke after a careful examination.

“Hmm!”

Zhang Long nodded, agreeing with his assessment.

“That direction leads to Crouching Dragon Mountain. A group of bandits, about a hundred strong, are holed up there. Their leader is Tie Xiong, nicknamed ‘Tyrannosaurus’, a Body Refinement Second Level cultivator!”

“Their second-in-command is Lü Xiao, nicknamed ‘Ghost Tiger’. His cultivation level is unknown, some say he doesn’t practice martial arts, no one’s ever seen him fight!”

Zhang Long frowned, puzzled. “The bandits of Crouching Dragon Mountain, though they rob passing merchant caravans, never provoke the authorities. And given the mountain’s easily defensible position, we’ve left them alone!”

“Yet this time they dared to kidnap the County Magistrate’s daughter?”

“Could there be a conspiracy behind this?”

Zhou Chen interjected.

“That’s possible. Either Tie Xiong’s cultivation has broken through, making him arrogant, or someone is backing him, or perhaps it’s a misunderstanding?”

Zhang Long’s brow furrowed. Without concrete clues, the possibilities were too numerous.

“It’s also possible that the bandits of Crouching Dragon Mountain weren’t responsible. Maybe someone else framed them, wanting to divert our attention and make them take the fall!”

Zhou Chen added.

“Well said.”

Zhang Long nodded, then waved his hand. “Whatever the case, we must go to Crouching Dragon Mountain. Even if they’re not responsible, we’ll make an example of them!”

Without other leads, they could only take action against Crouching Dragon Mountain.

“Our target, Crouching Dragon Mountain, let’s move!”

Zhang Long led the group towards Crouching Dragon Mountain.

…

Crouching Dragon Mountain.

Gathering of Heroes Hall.

Tie Xiong, the leader, built like a bear, entered the hall carrying a young woman with a delicate figure and fair skin.

Lü Xiao, the second-in-command, and a group of lieutenants followed behind.

“Tie Xiong, how dare you kidnap me! Do you have a death wish?”

Chen Feng struggled and cursed. “You better release me now, I can pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, when my father arrives, he’ll raze this Crouching Dragon Mountain to the ground, and you’ll all die!”

Slap!
A slap landed on Chen Feng’s buttocks. Tie Xiong’s immense strength echoed with a loud crack. Chen Feng trembled, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain.

“Since I’ve already kidnapped you, why would I fear your father?”

Tie Xiong’s voice boomed like a bell. He set Chen Feng down, turned to face the lieutenants before him, and shouted, “Brothers, are you afraid?”

“No!” “No!”

“No!”

They roared in unison. Some were afraid, but as the atmosphere intensified, their fear subsided.

“Good, worthy of being the heroes of Crouching Dragon Mountain!”

A smile spread across Tie Xiong’s face. He reached out, pinching Chen Feng’s delicate chin, and lifted her face towards the crowd.

“Tell me, brothers, is this little lady beautiful?”

“Beautiful!”

“Do you want her?”

The men fell silent, exchanging glances, none daring to speak.

“凸（艹皿艹）! Are the heroes of Crouching Dragon Mountain all spineless women?”

Tie Xiong roared, asking again,

“Do you want her?”

“Yes!”

Their bloodlust ignited, the bandit lieutenants opened their mouths wide and roared.

“If you want her, then line up!”

Tie Xiong laughed, hoisting Chen Feng back onto his shoulder.

“Roar!”

“The leader is mighty!”

“Long live the leader!”

All the bandit lieutenants cheered excitedly, quickly forming a line!
“What are you doing, I’m in front!”

“Don’t push, I was here first!”

“Get back, to the back of the line!”

Amidst the pushing and shoving, a long queue quickly formed at the entrance of the Gathering of Heroes Hall.

Some of the smarter lieutenants knew that the leader was cutting off their retreat. Once they had been with Chen Feng, there would be no turning back.

But no one backed down, nor dared to.

Besides, for these bandits, to have even a taste of the County Magistrate’s daughter would be worth dying for.

To die under the peony flower, even as a ghost, one would still be a romantic.

Half an hour later.

Tie Xiong and Lü Xiao emerged, adjusting their belts. The bandit lieutenant at the head of the line was overjoyed. After bowing, he rushed inside eagerly.

Tie Xiong and Lü Xiao paid them no mind, heading to the top of the stockade gate.

“The authorities should reach the foot of the mountain in a few hours. I wonder if Chen Fan will come himself?”

Tie Xiong gazed into the distance, worry in his eyes.

“Chen Fan is stationed at the County Yamen, he probably won’t come personally. It should be Zhang Long leading the charge.”

Lü Xiao, acting as strategist and advisor, mused, “If Zhang Long can’t break through and Chen Fan has no other choice, only then might he come himself!”

“Then we must first withstand Zhang Long’s attack!”

Tie Xiong and Lü Xiao began making their arrangements.

…

Meanwhile.

Zhang Long, leading Zhou Chen and the others, rushed towards Crouching Dragon Mountain. It was already two in the afternoon when they arrived.

“Rest for half an hour, then we attack the mountain!”

Speed was essential in warfare, especially since the County Magistrate’s daughter was in the bandits’ hands. Every moment wasted meant she suffered more.

Zhang Long couldn’t afford to delay.

Besides, he was now at Body Refinement Third Level, and with the Body Refinement Second Level divine archer Zhou Chen assisting him, he believed conquering Crouching Dragon Mountain wouldn’t be difficult!

“Feng Xia, pay attention and help me keep watch.”

Zhou Chen didn’t dare to be careless. Even when hunting a rabbit, a lion should use its full strength.

Ji Feng Xia was now at Qi Refinement Fourth Level. As a ghost, her senses were far more acute than a martial artist’s.

“Don’t worry, Master. This servant will definitely protect you!”

Ji Feng Xia, reclining on the grand bed in the Wind and Moon Mirror, exposed her ample and alluring figure. She smiled charmingly, her voice seductive.

Zhou Chen said no more, closing his eyes to rest.

Half an hour passed quickly.

Zhang Long drew his saber and ordered,

“Attack the mountain!”