Chapter 238: Action

Chapter 238: The Action

He stopped dead, scrutinizing Cheng Ge’s slender frame from head to toe, like he'd just heard the funniest joke ever.

“You? A weakling like you, who’d be blown over by a gust of wind, wants to hold people up?

Don’t get yourself trampled by a horse’s hooves, scared shitless, and piss your pants on the spot. Get the hell back inside!”

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he squinted suspiciously. “You little bastard… you’re not planning to slip off and run, are you?”

At that, Cheng Ge turned his head and let out a very faint but clearly audible snicker, like he was deeply insulted.

“That’s a joke, right? Chief, what are you saying? My loyalty’s as clear as day. I'd follow you to the end. Why would I run?”

Instead of backing off, he took another step forward, his stance resolute.

Lei Biao was caught off guard by his sudden stubbornness. “What can you do? You’re not even a mouthful!”

But Cheng Ge straightened his not-so-broad chest, his face serious, almost sacred as he declared, “I’m going to protect the Chief!”

Lei Biao: “……”

He stared at Cheng Ge, dumbfounded by the sheer absurdity.

Looking at Cheng Ge’s scrawny frame, he thought to himself, Who the hell's protecting who?!

Lei Biao’s head was already pounding with fever, and now Cheng Ge’s nonsensical loyalty was getting on his nerves even more.

His patience finally snapped. He waved his meaty hand like shooing a fly.

“Get lost! Cut the crap!” he growled, turning to stride out, boots thudding heavily.

Seeing this, Cheng Ge panicked and trotted after him without thinking, actually grabbing the sleeve of Lei Biao’s leather scabbard.

His pull was light, more like a kid tugging his dad's sleeve than actually stopping him. “Chief!”

Lei Biao, caught off guard by the tug on his sleeve, had no choice but to stop. Stopping made him even dizzier.

Annoyed and impatient, he looked down, only to meet Cheng Ge’s upturned face.

Those eyes were wide open, brimming with hope, devoid of any fear—just pure trust and eagerness.

Lei Biao had spent his life amidst swords and shadows, seeing fear, ferocity, flattery, greed…

But never had he seen a look like this—so pure, almost foolish.

“Chief, I’m really capable. I can kill without batting an eye…” Cheng Ge even bared his teeth a little, trying to show a hint of ferocity.

Watching that expression, Lei Biao’s iron will seemed to soften like it had been soaked in warm water, almost imperceptibly giving way.

He silently cursed himself for being an idiot, arguing with a pretty boy like this.

Might as well bring him along. At worst… at worst, he’d be like a mascot.

After a long pause, so long that Cheng Ge's fingers gripping the sleeve started to ache,

Lei Biao finally let out a heavy snort, as if giving in. He spoke in a gruff, irritable tone:

“Fine, fine, go! What a pain in the ass!” He shook off Cheng Ge’s hand impatiently.

Scowling, he pointed a finger at Cheng Ge’s nose and warned, “Stay sharp and keep your distance!

If anything happens, swords have no eyes. I won’t bother saving you. Whether you end up dead or crippled, don’t come crying to me!”

His intention was to scare Cheng Ge off, but Cheng Ge got even more excited.

“Don’t worry, Chief! I won’t cause any trouble!” Cheng Ge quickly promised.

And so, the brothers of the stronghold saw their mighty and valiant Chief, looking thoroughly annoyed, leading the way,

while that new, fair-skinned young lackey happily followed right behind.

And thus, a strange but tough-looking crew marched down the mountain to “work.”

A quiet trade road wound through the valley. Last night's heavy snow painted the world pure white.

A wagon train trudged along through the snow, wheels creaking and groaning.

The goods were piled high on the carts, covered tightly with oilcloth. The guards surrounding them were all burly, their steel blades in hand,

their eyes scanning the snow-covered woods on both sides with alertness—clearly veteran guards.

On the slope, the snow hid Lei Biao and his men perfectly.

Cheng Ge lay behind a snow-covered boulder, cold snow pressed against his cheek, but he seemed oblivious. His eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the prey below.

A few snowflakes landed silently on his head, adding specks of white to his jet-black hair.

He gently shook his head, shaking off the cold, and kept staring, focusing as if studying some legendary strategy guide.

He turned his head and, in a low voice filled with barely contained excitement, asked Lei Biao, who lurked like a snow leopard beside him, “Chief, they’re in the trap! Move in now?”

Lei Biao squinted, like an old wolf calculating the best moment to pounce. He exhaled a puff of white breath and replied in a low voice, “What’s the rush? Wait until their entire convoy passes through that narrow pass ahead. See that? The road behind is as narrow as a chicken’s gut, flanked by steep slopes. When the time comes, we block both ends—fish in a barrel. They want to run? Not a chance!”

Cheng Ge followed Lei Biao’s gaze and saw the treacherous terrain. His eyes widened even more, as if he had suddenly grasped a masterstroke.

He whipped his head back, staring at Lei Biao with undisguised amazement and adoration,

as if he'd just revealed a battle plan that could shake the sky rather than mere common knowledge of banditry.

Lei Biao: “……”

Under that blinding stare, Lei Biao felt his cheeks burn. He quickly looked away and swallowed hard.

The cold air filled his lungs, but it couldn't calm the thunder in his chest.

He cursed inwardly, *I’m fucking cursed! This pretty boy’s stare is sharper than a bodyguard’s blade—gives me the creeps… but also makes me dizzy.*

Just then, the last cart of the escort convoy slowly entered the narrow mountain gorge.

“Move!” Lei Biao’s eyes blazed with savage fury as he pulled out the Ghost-Head Saber from his back.

A thunderous roar shook snow off the trees.

“Kill!”

“Leave your toll money!”

The hidden bandits screamed down the snowy slope, shattering the quiet of the mountain path in an instant!

Lei Biao led the charge, racing down with his brothers like a tiger into the gorge.