Chapter 229: Spineless

Chapter 229: So Pathetic

Cheng Ge pointed at the thick fur vest the Third Chief was wearing and said matter-of-factly, "Lend me that one."

Without thinking, the Third Chief snapped, "Like hell you will!" This was a nice piece of fur he'd just scored.

Cheng Ge said nothing, just shrugged a little and sniffed, his nose looking pretty red.

The Third Chief looked at him, seeing this soft, pampered young master who looked like a breeze could knock him over, and fought with himself for a second.

In the end, he yanked off his fur vest in annoyance and threw it at Cheng Ge. "Put it on! Now! You're such a damn nuisance!"

Cheng Ge caught it with a smile, the fur rough but warm to the touch.

He said sweetly, "Thanks, you're a real nice guy."

The Third Chief was caught off guard by this sudden 'good guy' label, his expression twisting further.

But then, in the next instant, he saw that Cheng Ge did not put the vest on.

Instead, he folded it up and tucked it onto the hard saddle.

He fiddled with it until it was nice and flat.

Only then did he pat it with satisfaction and explain, "This saddle's got no padding—way too hard on the rear."

Third Chief: "???"

I thought you were cold! You're using it as a seat?! My fur vest?!

The Third Chief felt blood rush to his head, everything going black.

He was so mad his fingers shook, pointing at Cheng Ge, "You... you..." unable to get a word out.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would truly be unable to resist taking this menace down with his saber.

Finally, he threw his hands down with a furious yell, rushed to the side, and yanked a subordinate off his horse.

Then he swung onto the horse, dug in his heels, and charged toward the stronghold without a backward glance.

His back, no matter how you looked at it, exuded an indescribable sense of frustration and... pure humiliation.

Cheng Ge leisurely rode on his horse, followed by his three lovely wives, hips swaying with every step, as they were 'escorted' by a group of bandits back to the stronghold of Axe Ridge.

The stronghold was located at a strategic spot halfway up, easy to defend and tough to assault, with its back against a steep cliff.

Ahead, a narrow trail barely wide enough for two horses abreast led to the gate, with deep ravines and dense forests on both sides. Without a guide, you'd easily get lost or ambushed.

From a distance, the first thing you'd see was a towering wall of thick logs and sharp stakes.

On the top of the wall, there were crude watchtowers and arrow slits, and you could vaguely make out bandits with bows standing guard.

The wall followed the contours of the mountain, enclosing a large area, impressive—not just some random bandit camp.

The gate was thick wooden planks reinforced with iron sheets. Several underlings armed with weapons stood at the entrance.

When they saw the Third Chief and his group returning, especially the young master in a flashy red fox fur robe on horseback and the three eye-popping 'ladies' behind him, they all wore indescribable expressions.

Entering the gate, the view opened up. The interior was not the filthy, chaotic dump you'd expect, but rather quite organized.

In the center was a tamped-down training ground, with stone weights and weapon racks placed at the edges.

Around it, wooden houses and thatched sheds were built in a staggered pattern along the mountain slope. Some had smoke rising from the roofs, likely kitchens and dining halls.

Others gave off the clanging sound of forging, presumably a smithy. The biggest and most numerous buildings were the bandits' barracks.

Some caves were also utilized as storage or prison cells.

Everywhere, groups of bandits could be seen; some were cleaning weapons, others drinking and gambling.

Still others were sizing up the newly arrived 'fat sheep,' with undisguised curiosity in their eyes.

The entire stronghold stank of a raw mix of sweat, booze, and animal smells.

Cheng Ge, on horseback, seemed to be just casually checking things out, but he was actually memorizing the paths, guard posts, building layout, and routines.

He noticed that deeper in the stronghold, there seemed to be even taller buildings, probably the bandit leaders' quarters.

The mountain trails were rough, but the roads inside were clearly maintained. Though still dirt, they were much smoother and passable for carts.

The Third Chief had long since disappeared, presumably having gone in anger to report this lousy job to the Big Chief.

The bandits guarding them still looked mean, but perhaps Cheng Ge's claim of a wealthy family had taken effect.

Or maybe they were still thrown off by his earlier stunts, so they didn't give him a hard time.

They merely urged them deeper into the stronghold, clearly planning to lock them up and wait for instructions.

Cheng Ge bounced comfortably on his fur-vest cushion, like he was a big shot on an inspection trip.

He even commented with interest, "Mmm, nice spot—good feng shui."

Cheng Ge, Ling Feng, and the three women were shoved into a prison cell deep inside a cave.

---

The prison was not a single cell, but a huge natural cave that was converted. Inside, thick wooden bars divided it into a dozen or so cages of different sizes.

A foul stench of mold, sweat, and a trace of blood hit them, almost nauseating.

There were quite a few people locked up here, mostly women.

They were ragged, pale, empty-eyed, sitting or lying around like lifeless dolls.

A few men were also scarred and beaten beyond recognition.

But judging from their tattered clothes, they'd probably been well-off or respectable before getting caught.

Cheng Ge's gaze quickly swept across the prison area, discreetly surveying the surroundings. Ling Feng and the three women protectively closed in around him.

Just then, heavy footsteps and the clanking of dragging chains came from the entrance of the cell.

Two thuggish bandits with Ghost-Head Sabers came in, cussing, heading straight for the cage opposite Cheng Ge's group.

With a loud clang, the cage door was yanked open.

One reached in and dragged out a man who was barely skin and bones.

The man seemed to have been tortured until he had no strength left, only letting out weak groans.

"Husband!" A similarly haggard woman in the cage suddenly rushed to the fence, crying out in panic and despair, her voice hoarse and desperate.

"Please vote for Dian Dian with love ooo—"