154: Crossbow Cart Shows Its Power

“They’re here!” The old man went out to greet them, and Lin Yue followed him out as a precaution.

“I heard from Old Man Chen that you had a stranger at your house, and I was worried you might be in danger, so I came to check,” the burly man said to the old man.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” the old man said. Then, seeing Lin Yue had also come out, he said to the burly man, “It’s too cold outside. Please come in and have a cup of hot water.”

The burly man thought for a moment and then said, “Alright.”

The two then returned to the house, and the old man poured two bowls of water, placing them in front of them.

“This is Song Yi. Thanks to him, we’ve repelled the Mountain Bandits’ incursions several times,” the old man introduced.

Song Yi stared at Lin Yue warily, so Lin Yue used his Art of Recognizing People to observe him.

【name: Song Yi

Martial Power: 83

Intelligence: 71

Command: 63

Politics: 61

Charm: 73】

A Third-rate Military General?

This small village that Lin Yue stumbled into actually had a Third-rate Military General?

That’s too much of a coincidence!

“This guest is staying for one night. He’s not a bad person. His name is… his name is…” The old man introduced to Song Yi, but then realized he didn’t even know the guest’s name.

“Lin Yue!” Lin Yue cupped his hands in greeting.

Song Yi, with ill intent, asked, “Where do you come from, and where are you going?”

“I came from Xiangping Commandery City and am going to Heya City,” Lin Yue said with a smile.

“When did you leave Xiangping Commandery City? What are you going to Heya City for?” Song Yi continued to ask, the atmosphere becoming somewhat tense.

The old man pulled Song Yi’s hand, gesturing for him to not be so hostile.

Ever since Lin Yue threw him an ounce of silver, he felt that Lin Yue was not a bad person.

Of course, it wasn’t because of the ounce of silver, but his demeanor! He was definitely not someone a Mountain Bandit could impersonate, and the warhorse he led—even a farmer like him knew it was no ordinary horse!

Such a person, to harm an old man in the countryside without reason, he himself didn’t believe it.

“I left Xiangping Commandery City after noon, heading to a village near Heya City. As it was getting late, I came to your house, old sir, to stay for the night,” Lin Yue explained calmly to Song Yi, without showing any anger.

Song Yi also breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. The timing matched, and the other party’s demeanor did not seem like something a Mountain Bandit could impersonate.

“I apologize, Brother Lin. There have been many Mountain Bandits around the village today, and I was a bit too tense,” Song Yi said with an apologetic look.

“It’s alright,” Lin Yue shook his head.

Just as the atmosphere in the room began to ease, shouts of killing suddenly erupted outside. Song Yi and the old man abruptly stood up.

“The Mountain Bandits are here!” the old man exclaimed in panic, gripping his blade.

Song Yi immediately stared at Lin Yue, his longsword looking as if it would plunge into Lin Yue’s body at any moment!

Lin Yue stood up, picked up his Miao Blade, and said, “It has nothing to do with me, and arguing about this now is meaningless. Driving them away is the right thing to do.”

Then, Lin Yue, holding his blade, walked outside. Song Yi and the old man exchanged a look and followed him out.

Outside, about a hundred Mountain Bandits were seen rushing into the village. Several houses at the village entrance had already suffered, and the Mountain Bandits were filled with excited and ferocious laughter.

They rushed into these houses, ransacking them, but found little. Then they ran further into the village.

Lin Yue was now on the main road in the village. When the Mountain Bandits saw someone unafraid of death waiting for them, they snarled, baring their fangs and claws, and charged at him!

“Whoosh!”

A sound rang out. The leading Mountain Bandit was about to dodge when he felt his body suddenly fly up, as if someone was stuck to his back.

Lin Yue looked at the crossbow, which had struck two targets with one arrow, and smiled with satisfaction.

With his own strength, he could fully operate this crossbow single-handedly, so he found the right moment to fire another arrow!

Another arrow was shot, this time carrying three Mountain Bandits into the air!

Lin Yue was very satisfied. Although the crossbow was expensive and he had been scammed, the power of this crossbow was not to be underestimated!

While the Mountain Bandits were still in shock, Song Yi arrived. A longsword moved like a phantom through the crowd, and wherever Song Yi went, the Mountain Bandits silently fell to the ground!

Lin Yue looked over; in the dark night, Song Yi’s face had turned pale green, like a vengeful ghost, harvesting the lives of the Mountain Bandits!

“Do you know Jing Ke?” Lin Yue suddenly asked.

Song Yi either didn’t hear him, too engrossed, or deliberately ignored him, continuing to fight the Mountain Bandits. Lin Yue was not discouraged. Seeing the villagers constantly coming to support them with their blades, he put the crossbow into his spatial ring and charged towards the Mountain Bandits with his blade.

Soon, the ragtag group of Mountain Bandits was intimidated by the strength of the two, and they immediately scattered and fled outwards.

Neither of them pursued, letting them escape. This was because they were unsure if the Mountain Bandits had a backup plan or if it was a ploy to lure them away.

The old man ran into the houses at the village entrance to check, and a moment later, he walked out dejectedly and said, “Fifteen people from three households, all tragically died by the blade.”

Song Yi was even more enraged upon hearing this, but there was nothing he could do.

“Ten died today, and five more will die tomorrow. When will these days end!”

“That was Old Man Wang’s house, right? His second son was supposed to retire and come back in two months. Now, where is his home!” Some villagers threw their blades to the ground, crying and sobbing.

These days, Mountain Bandits always came to plunder them, and each time, villagers suffered tragically. The already sparsely populated village was gradually dwindling.

Moreover, it was only early winter, with several months until spring, yet the Mountain Bandits were coming more and more frequently. How would they endure the days ahead!

Lin Yue heard their words and somewhat understood their predicament, so he said to Brother Song, “Brother Song, as you can see, no matter how capable you are, there are times when you are powerless.”

“Who are you, and why do you know Jing Ke?” Song Yi interrupted Lin Yue, asking!

Looking at the enraged Song Yi, Lin Yue sighed and said,

“Jing Ke’s assassination of Qin has already spread widely across this land. It would be difficult not to know about it, wouldn’t it?”

“It has spread widely?” Song Yi murmured to himself.

“Yes, Brother Song, you must have been present by the Yi River back then, right?” Lin Yue smiled.

Song Yi fell into recollection, and after a moment, he asked,

“Are you an enforcer of King Zheng of Qin?

If Ying Zheng has the energy to investigate me, why doesn’t he have the energy to investigate the Mountain Bandits and provide the people with peace and prosperity!”

Lin Yue shook his head and said, “If I were his enforcer, I wouldn’t come alone. I can’t beat you, so what’s the difference between this and seeking death?”

“Then who are you? If you’re not his man, why do you have a crossbow?” Song Yi asked.

“I am a Soldier of the Great Wall Legion. Today, I merely passed through this place by chance and am not here for you,” Lin Yue explained.

“Then how do you know that I know Jing Ke?” Song Yi was now full of suspicion.

“In the past, Tian Guang of Yan State once told Crown Prince Dan: Xia Fu turns red with anger; Song Yi turns pale green with anger; Wu Yang turns white with anger. Jing Ke’s expression does not change with anger.

Your name is Song Yi, a Third-rate Military General, but these alone are not enough for me to guess your identity.

It wasn’t until you learned that the households at the village entrance had suffered at the hands of the Mountain Bandits, and your face turned pale green as you charged towards the Mountain Bandits. All these signs combined allowed me to know that you are that Song Yi!”