Chapter 53: Instigating the Bandits

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In a short time, the bandits had completely retreated from the Juyi Hall, leaving behind a total of more than thirty corpses. Among them were some who were not yet dead, lying on the ground wailing and groaning endlessly, including their leader, Zhao Guang. According to Jiang Yu’s intelligence, the bandits at Fierce Tiger Ridge had about two hundred combatants in total. Usually, about seventy or eighty of them would go out to conduct business. This meant that there were still about a hundred people remaining in Fierce Tiger Ridge now.

If this group of bandits went mad and a hundred of them charged at Lei Qing and his group together, it was very likely that they could wipe out Lei Qing and his party entirely. But the consequence of that would be that among these hundred men, probably no more than thirty would survive in the end.

However, if one wanted to unite over a hundred bandits to charge at Lei Qing, viewing death as a return home, and using their blood and lives to fill this bottomless pit, there were probably not many bandits willing to do so. Everyone came out to be a bandit; although it was a trade where one carried one’s head on one’s waist, when it really came to using one’s life to fill a hole, there would not be many people willing to die generously.

Lei Qing made a gesture, and the three Black Iron-rank men in front lifted their shields and advanced slowly outward in a complete formation. Lei Qing held his sword in one hand, looking calm and unhurried, like idle clouds, as he took the lead in walking out of the Juyi Hall. His face was indifferent, and he strolled as if he were in a courtyard.

There were already nearly a hundred bandits surrounding the outside. The smart ones had found safe positions and prepared their bows and arrows. However, just as Lei Qing stepped out of the Juyi Hall, not a single bandit dared to set an example by launching the first attack against him.

As for Lei Qing, facing a full hundred bandits, he was completely fearless, viewing them like dirt chickens and stray dogs. His sharp and revealing gaze swept across them. Those bandits, with ferocious faces and faces full of horizontal flesh, who were usually fierce and domineering towards the people they robbed, did not dare to meet his eyes. Feeling the sharp, blade-like aura on Lei Qing, and thinking that a small half of the dead in the Juyi Hall were his doing, they could not help but tremble slightly. Their hands holding their knives also became somewhat unsteady. This man’s sword was too fast and too ruthless. Among the people present, not a single one dared to guarantee they could take one move from him.

Most importantly, he was not alone; he had eleven subordinates, ten of whom wore heavy armor with amazing defense and held powerful heavy crossbows.

Comparing purely by strength, if these hundred or so bandits could not work together with one heart but engaged in a chaotic battle instead, and if both sides fought head-on, it was hard to say who would win.

“I know that everyone comes out to mix in this world, isn’t it just to make a living? If there were a better way out, who would be willing to become a bandit?” Lei Qing spoke, smiling faintly as he sheathed the precious Ice Flame. His gaze also became much softer.

These words struck a chord with most of the bandits. Although they still maintained hostility towards Lei Qing, the tension had somewhat disappeared, and there was a vague sense of expectation.

“Zhao Guang, who was tyrannical and unkind and was ready to lead you to a dead end, is already dead. Even if you fight with your lives, what is the use? Next, thinking about a way out is the right path.” Lei Qing put his hands behind his back and strolled into the group of bandits as if he were in a courtyard. He smiled as he examined their faces, as if he were not speaking to a group of enemies but inspecting his own subordinates. That powerful confidence made this group of bandits feel somewhat strange. At the same time, they also felt a vague admiration for him.

Bandits were humans too, and humans would respect those who had guts, blood, and strength. In particular, people would worship those who could do things they could not do. Moreover, Lei Qing’s words led them into deep thought. Indeed, Boss Zhao was dead, so where was the future for their group? Was it to continue guarding this Fierce Tiger Ridge as bandits? Or… for a moment, most people began to worry about their future, and the anger and hatred towards Zhao Guang’s death were greatly reduced.

“If I take my men and leave here, letting you go free, your results will be nothing more than a few.” Lei Qing had already walked into the circle of bandits, scolding them as if they were his own subordinates: “First, you continue to be bandits, and in time, you will either be swallowed up by other bandits or wiped out by enemies who hear the news. Second, you cannot hold this Fierce Tiger Ridge, and when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; each will seek his own way out. I think if you already had a better way out, why would you stay here as bandits? So, in the future, your fate is either to die on the streets or to live a life of hardship forever.”

Some quick-witted bandits began to understand his meaning; he clearly wanted to recruit them. Among them, the smart ones started to respond: “Big Brother, then tell us, what should we do? How about you point out a way out for us?” Asking an enemy who had just killed their own boss to point out a way out, this bandit was really smart enough.

Lei Qing walked up to him and stared at him for a while. That man could not withstand Lei Qing’s aura and nodded with a forced smile.

“Look at you all.” Lei Qing suddenly flew into a rage, burning his Bronze Peak Fighting Qi, and blasted his voice out loudly: “Every one of you has a face full of horizontal flesh. To put it nicely, you are unruly; to put it ugly, you are full of bandit air. You are just short of writing four words on your faces: I am a bandit. Just based on you going out like this, which decent mercenary group would accept you? Which organization with some connections would dare to want you? Even if you stop mixing in this world and go back to your hometown to farm and honestly take a wife and have children, which good family would dare to marry their daughter to you? You, yes you, stand up straight for me. Tilting your head and twisting your neck, standing with no posture at all, do you think this makes you look tough? Do experts stand like this? Your legs are spread open like a woman who has worked in a brothel for ten or eight years; what do you want to do? Are you preparing to quit being a bandit and go work as a prostitute?”

Hahaha, the other bandits roared with laughter. Some bold ones laughed out loud, saying that with his looks, even if he wanted to be a prostitute, no one would want him. The bandit whom Lei Qing pointed at and scolded turned red with shame and hurriedly stood up straight.

Lei Qing’s crude words seemed to instantly close the distance between everyone, and the tense atmosphere between the two sides dissipated a lot.

“What are you laughing at?” Lei Qing’s voice was like a thunderclap, ringing in everyone’s ears. His eyes swept over them sharply, and everyone dared not laugh anymore, pursing their lips. He snorted coldly again: “I said he is bad, but are you guys any good? Some of you have been bandits for quite a few years, right? Look at you? You are all dressed in rags, not even wearing a suit of fitted leather armor. Do you have money in your pockets? Whoever has more than ten gold coins in their pocket, stand out and let me see? Even if you go to a brothel, with this poor and shabby look, wouldn’t you be looked down upon by the girls there?”

Lei Qing’s words seemed to poke right into their thoughts. The brothels in Qingshi Town all had backers. Even though they were bandits, if they wanted to go and have fun, they could not walk sideways. And those girls were so snobbish; they were like refined in the furnace of the Lord of Heaven. They were truly very sharp; they could tell at a glance whether one had money or not, or whether one had status or not. If they usually made a big deal and shared some money, those girls could hypocritically call them “Big Lord,” but once they turned around and the money was spent, they wouldn’t even recognize them. It was truly “actors have no loyalty, and prostitutes have no affection.”

“I, surnamed Lei, have nothing else to say. My background is different from Zhao Guang’s; I am a direct descendant of a prominent noble clan.” Lei Qing projected his voice, speaking with a righteous look: “This means it is destined that my starting point and ambition are many times stronger than that third-rate trash Zhao Guang. I dare not say that if you follow me, every one of you will step onto a path of glory and wealth. We will have battles, and there will be death. But, as long as we are willing to fight and struggle, I, Lei Qing, firmly believe that I will lead you brothers to fight out a road to the sky. I will let every one of you walk on the street with your heads held high, enjoying respectful gazes. I will let every one of you walk into a brothel without being discriminated against. Furthermore, some brothers will have the chance to make a name for themselves, dominate the world, and become local heroes. Even being granted a title of nobility is not impossible.”

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