When Madam Qi was mentioned, Zhang Yi assigned Zhang Jian a task.
He asked Zhang Jian to prepare gifts and head to the Commandery City.
A month and a half later would be the grand sixtieth birthday of his maternal grandfather, General Wei Yuan, Qi Yi.
Of course, Zhang Jian was also given several tasks to accomplish early, one of which was to eradicate bandits.
Zhang Yi said, "Between Fengxi and Lingyang, a group of bandits has long occupied Phoenix Tail Mountain. This is one of the two main routes from Fengxi to Lingyang. They frequently loot caravans, harass the people, committing countless arsons and murders. I originally intended to wait until the situation in Fengxi stabilized before dealing with them, but since you’re heading to the Commandery City, you might as well assist your fourth uncle. I’ll allocate five hundred soldiers for you, so you can conveniently wipe them out!"
"Five hundred soldiers?"
Zhang Jian blinked. He wanted to refuse, but quickly held back, understanding Zhang Yi’s intention. This was to let him command troops and gain prestige within the private army.
As the future patriarch, if he does not lead soldiers, how can he command respect from these warriors?
Zhang Jian immediately agreed. With assistance from these private soldiers, many tasks would become easier.
Zhang Yi also brought up another purpose, which was matchmaking. To meet a few noblewomen in advance and fulfill Madam Qi’s wishes, so she wouldn’t constantly worry.
...
Just before setting out, Zhang Jian, as was customary, visited a funeral parlor in the western alley of the city and bought a sizable amount of Gold Yuanbao for the ritual.
After visiting several shops, he found that compared to Paperman Zhang, these funeral parlors were clearly more ’perfunctory’. It wasn’t that their products were worse, but they lacked ’innovation’.
Zhang Jian rather missed Paperman Zhang.
Unfortunately, Zhang’s Paper Mache Shop had turned to ashes, Paperman Zhang had disappeared, and even the land had been temporarily reclaimed by the Government Office.
As the sacks of cinnabar treasure notes and Cinnabar Yuanbao burned in the ancestral shrine, engulfed in flames, Zhang Jian turned and left.
The next day, Zhang Jian, leading the five hundred soldiers, set off, accompanied by Zhang Kui and Jian Yao.
The party headed straight for Phoenix Tail Mountain, at the edge of the Shuangfeng Mountain Range.
At this moment, deep within his Spiritual Sense, Zhang Jian perceived a new milky-white orb.
This was the treasure, the "ancestor" had bestowed upon him last night.
Upon closer inspection, it resembled a ’toy’!
The Ten Thousand Realms Spiritual Consciousness Ball, capable of nurturing the soul and understanding the language of all things.
In Zhang Jian’s view, this item seemed a bit superfluous.
He had tried using the Ten Thousand Realms Spiritual Consciousness Ball to eavesdrop on animal communication, but most animals were ignorant, driven only by instinct, without much spiritual wisdom, thus having limited practical use.
However, with this item, there was no need to worry about not understanding foreign languages...
Thinking of this, Zhang Jian had a peculiar expression on his face.
...
Phoenix Tail Mountain was located in the southwestern section of the Shuangfeng Mountain Range, at the tail of Xiong Feng Mountain. The rugged terrain made it easily defensible but difficult to attack.
It was also a good place to establish a hideout, avoiding pursuit from the Government Office. Historically, refugees and bandits would flee here, bringing harm to the two counties.
Just because its location was at the junction of the two counties, it was difficult for the counties to unite, and thus, it had never been eradicated.
Currently, within the mountain stronghold, a group of bandits were noisily drinking. The long table was filled with preserved fruits, fish, mountain chicken, wild rabbits, and various game meats. The bandits were devouring meat and wine in large mouthfuls, while holding several women with numb expressions and disheveled clothes.
At this moment, a hearty voice rang out from below: "Big brother, our recent haul was truly beautiful. Not only did we get plenty of gold and silver, but also many women. It’s all thanks to the leadership of our big brother. Brothers, we must toast a bowl of wine to our big brother!"
The speaker was a tall, burly man with a broad back and shoulders, fierce eyes, and round brows. He was Zhang Bao, the third in command of the hive, second only in martial prowess to the leader Song Heihu.
The second in command, White-faced Fox, dressed in white, was slender and had a fawning smile, standing up.
"Big brother was born exceptional, with grand ambitions. This is just the beginning; good days have just begun. Once big brother consolidates the other refugees within Shuangfeng Mountain, perhaps we’ll even take over the nearby counties. Then, the gold and silver belonging to the major families, and their beautiful women, will truly be at our disposal!"
Seated on the tiger-skin Master’s Chair, Song Heihu looked around at the many fierce bandits and laughed heartily: "Rest assured, once I finish clearing Shuangfeng Mountain Range, what you see now is nothing; the good days are still to come!"
The group of fierce bandits, motivated by Song Heihu, had eyes filled with lust and desire, many instantly tearing off the clothing from the young women in their grasp.
Watching this scene, Song Heihu felt no indignation; rather, his eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Just then, a sudden cold wind swept in, making the torches inside the hall flicker.
Seeing this, Song Heihu’s face changed, he suddenly stood up, only to hear a succession of screams from outside the hall.
The onlookers, witnessing the terrifying scene, were bewildered and momentarily scared stiff.
Just then, a figure holding a cloth banner slowly walked in from outside the hall, surrounded by an invisible aura of blood. The group of fierce bandits, however, looked past him in terror at the figures behind him, two blue-faced, fang-bearing creatures hopping along.
On the cloth banner were inscribed several large words.
Foretell fortune and catastrophe, determine success and decline!
The figure holding the cloth banner opened his mouth, revealing two fangs, his gaze swept over everyone, making the bandits’ faces freeze, afraid to move. Finally, his gaze fell on the figure seated on the tiger-skin Master’s Chair, and he rasped, "Are you Song Heihu?"
"And who might you be?"
Faced with such a sight, Song Heihu was initially taken aback, his courage and bravado vanishing silently, the veins on his hands gripping the weapon bulging.
The black-clad Divination Master laughed: "Sect Master Song, I observe a malevolent aura at your brow today, with dark clouds over your head, indicating extreme ill fortune and early death. I have a word of advice for you. Do you wish to hear it?"
The other fierce bandits, hearing this, looked at each other, their eyes collectively turning to Song Heihu. Song Heihu, with a sullen expression, saw the two creatures behind the black-clad Divination Master open their bloody mouths, and quickly said, "I wish to hear it!"
"Smart man."
The black-clad Divination Master nodded.
Although he nodded, his figure flashed, appearing in front of Song Heihu like a bolt of lightning, one hand gripping Song Heihu’s throat with great force. Song Heihu, in horror, couldn’t break free, helplessly watching as the black-clad Divination Master fetched a centipede from his sleeve and forced it into his mouth.
...
Meanwhile, on the official road of Shuangfeng Mountain, Zhang Jian and his group were making a forced march. After some time of integration and intentional guidance from Zhang Kui, Zhang Jian quickly grasped several nuances of leading troops.
Having elders in the family indeed saves many unnecessary processes.
As soon as they arrived at Phoenix Tail Mountain, Zhang Jian suddenly reined in his horse, gazing upward. Zhang Kui and Jian Yao looked up, seeing two hawks flying across the sky, seemingly ordinary.
However, Zhang Jian, through the World Spirit Consciousness Pearl within him, heard a different message.
"So frightening, so frightening, get away quickly!"