"The bandits haven't withdrawn," Cheng Xu said grimly as he pointed toward the slope below. "Look carefully. They're regrouping at the base of the mountain."
Everyone crawled to the edge of the cliff and peered down.
It was exactly as he said.
The three bandit chiefs, Fan Shanyue, Suifengtai, and the man nicknamed Second Idiot, stood at the center while dozens of minor leaders gathered scattered rebels around them. The bandits who had fled earlier were slowly reorganizing under their command. Once their formation stabilized, the chiefs raised their heads and stared toward the cliff, clearly discussing their next move.
Cheng Xu's expression darkened beneath his face covering.
Beside him, Xing Honglang spoke in a low voice. "This is troublesome. They have no intention of giving up."
Cheng Xu nodded.
"They saw our clothing and realized we aren't government troops. That is why they remain unafraid."
Bandits reacted very differently depending on their opponent. When facing official soldiers, they scattered instantly like frightened birds. But against militia forces, they showed no such fear.
To them, government authority carried legitimacy. Militia did not.
It was the difference between criminals fleeing from law enforcement and criminals fighting rival gangs without hesitation. Against another unlawful force, they would fight fiercely, determined to seize whatever advantage they could.
Flat Rabbit puffed out his chest confidently.
"If those scoundrels dare come again, we'll crush them completely."
Cheng Xu shot him an annoyed glare.
"It won't be so simple. After suffering losses from rolling logs and falling boulders, they won't foolishly attack the same way again. They will devise another plan."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"They will likely distract us from the front while sending several hundred men through a hidden gully to flank us."
He paused.
"I need to understand the terrain."
Cheng Xu grabbed Zheng Daniu by the shoulder.
"Daniu, Zhengjia Village was once your home. You should know the surrounding landscape well. Take a stick and draw the terrain for me."
Zheng Daniu blinked blankly.
"The terrain? It's mountains. And trees. Lots of mountains and trees."
Everyone fell silent.
Cheng Xu's patience snapped.
He kicked Zheng Daniu in frustration, aiming to knock him down.
Instead, Zheng Daniu remained completely unmoved.
Cheng Xu, on the other hand, bounced backward from the impact and landed awkwardly on the ground.
He sat there, stunned and miserable.
What kind of subordinates did he have?
Gao Chuwu was obsessed with martial arts. Zheng Daniu was strong but simple minded. Flat Rabbit was unreliable and boastful.
Had he committed some unforgivable sin in his past life to deserve such companions?
At that moment, he suddenly felt something.
A vast yet gentle force touched his body.
It withdrew immediately, but the sensation was unmistakable.
Cheng Xu froze, then turned his head sharply.
Nothing was visible.
Yet he immediately understood.
"Tianzun," he whispered.
His heart surged with excitement.
He carefully extended his hands forward.
His fingers brushed against something that felt real, like skin. Tianzun's invisible giant hand stood before him.
Understanding Tianzun's intention, Cheng Xu did not hesitate.
He lunged forward and grabbed hold of what felt like a massive finger. Using all his strength, he climbed upward, scrambling until he reached the fingertip.
Li Daoxuan watched with mild surprise.
Cheng Xu possessed remarkable intuition. He understood divine intent without needing words.
Li Daoxuan slowly raised his hand.
Cheng Xu rose into the sky.
Below, the militia stared in stunned silence.
Only a few had ever witnessed such a miracle before. Now, seeing Cheng Xu ascend like this left them completely speechless.
Xing Honglang and her salt smugglers stood frozen, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.
Cheng Xu continued rising until he hovered dozens of zhang above the ground.
His heart pounded violently.
He swallowed hard and glanced downward.
The people below had shrunk into tiny figures.
For a brief moment, a strange thought crossed his mind.
So this was how Tianzun saw the world.
He immediately corrected himself.
This was not a privilege granted for pride.
Tianzun had lifted him to fulfill a purpose.
To observe.
To understand.
To prepare.
Suppressing his emotions, Cheng Xu focused his attention on the terrain.
From this height, nothing obstructed his view.
Mountains, valleys, forests, hidden paths, and narrow gullies revealed themselves clearly.
Every strategic route became visible.
Every possible ambush point stood exposed.
An ordinary person might feel only awe.
But to a commander, this was priceless knowledge.
Cheng Xu carefully memorized every detail.
Only after he finished did he speak respectfully.
"Thank you, Tianzun. This humble one has fully surveyed the terrain."
Li Daoxuan slowly lowered his hand.
Cheng Xu descended gently, landing safely on the ground.
He jumped off Tianzun's invisible hand and stood upright, unable to suppress his excitement.
"Hahaha. This instructor has seen everything clearly. The bandits' next move is obvious."
He turned toward Xing Honglang.
"Lady Xing, I have an assignment for you."
She nodded immediately.
"Please give your orders."
Cheng Xu pointed toward a distant hill.
"Take your men around that hill. Continue forward for half a li. You will find a hidden gully concealed by trees. The bandits will likely use that path to flank us. Set up an ambush there. Once they begin climbing, crush them with rolling logs and falling boulders."
Xing Honglang smiled coldly.
"Understood. Leave it to me."
She was about to order her men to carry the logs when something astonishing happened.
The heavy logs suddenly rose into the air by themselves.
They floated forward, moving toward the exact direction Cheng Xu had indicated.
Xing Honglang froze briefly.
Then realization struck.
"Tianzun is helping us."
Her voice filled with reverence.
"Tianzun knows how difficult it would be for mortals like us to move these logs. He is assisting us personally."
The salt smugglers erupted with excitement.
"May Tianzun bless us!"
They had learned this phrase quickly.
Now, it came naturally.
Xing Honglang raised her hand.
"We follow the logs. Wherever they land is our ambush position."
The group moved swiftly.
They circled the hill and advanced forward.
Soon, they discovered a deep gully hidden beneath dense forest cover. Despite years of drought, the trees here remained lush and green, suggesting underground water still flowed beneath the surface.
Xing Honglang and her men positioned themselves along the edge, surrounded by the logs Tianzun had delivered.
She clenched her jaw tightly.
Second Idiot.
She still remembered the wound he had inflicted upon her.
Her eyes filled with cold anticipation.
Come.
This time, she would repay the debt in full.