Chapter 17

Su Peng and the other two were caught up in the Black Water Army. Although they had not practiced battle formations, the black steeds under them were well-trained and knew how to charge. They followed the Black Water Army, charging towards the Green Dragon Mountain bandits at the direction of the mountain stronghold, regardless of Su Peng and the others' wishes.

Two hundred knights riding black steeds seemed like a black steel flood, rapidly engaging the bandits at the front who had not yet reacted. Although these bandits also had many on horseback, their horsemanship and combat skills were far inferior to those of the Black Water Army.

"Charge!"

Hearing the roar of Han Tuo, who was leading the charge, Su Peng saw that this black-armored warrior, along with his horse, seemed to be enveloped in a layer of invisible, mist-like internal energy. The speed of his warhorse increased by more than thirty percent, and he raised his exaggerated iron spear. The spearhead continuously formed large, bowl-sized spear flowers, and the killing force of the internal energy seemed to have already penetrated through!

The first to be hit were a few bandits on foot. As Han Tuo charged with his horse, about a dozen bandits without horses were thrown into the air like paper figures by his iron spear. Their bodies were pierced through by the powerful internal energy on Han Tuo's spear, leaving transparent, head-sized holes!

"Is this the strength of a Black Water Army centurion? The bandits he speared felt like they were hit by heavy sniper bullets!"

Su Peng and the other two, not far behind Han Tuo, were momentarily stunned by the shocking scene of Han Tuo spearing the bandits.

"Charge!"

Behind Han Tuo, the two hundred Black Water Army soldiers were expressionless, like a group of cold-faced killing gods. Although they did not have Han Tuo's strength, each of them was not weak in martial arts. Their horsemanship and internal energy were well-developed. Their weapons continuously slaughtered the bandits on both sides of the Black Water Army's spear formation.

Su Peng and the other two, positioned within the Black Water Army, did not have to face the bandits on the sides, but they were still amazed by the Black Water Army's formidable abilities!

"Every other person among these two hundred has considerable combat strength... Compared to the Black Water Army, the bandit leaders we killed at the wooden bridge were nothing... A regular Black Water Army knight can take on eight and kill those bridge-guarding bandits!"

Su Peng was deeply impressed and calculated in his heart.

The Black Water Army charged and carved out a bloody path, cutting through the bandits attacking Green Dragon Mountain. They killed no less than sixty to seventy bandits along the way.

Although the Green Dragon Mountain bandits were fierce, they were somewhat disorganized in the face of this one-sided slaughter.

"Who is killing my men?" At this moment, a shout echoed among the bandits. A general with slightly dark red hair and wearing a green armor appeared among them. Behind him were forty fierce bandits, armed with horse combat weapons, glaring fiercely at the black-armored army!

Han Tuo, the Black Water Army centurion, snorted coldly, turned his horse, and the entire Black Water Army circled around, forming the tip of a spear once again, pointing at these bandits. Han Tuo shouted, "Green Dragon Mountain's Ling Tian! Today is the day of your execution!"

As he shouted, Han Tuo led the Black Water Army and charged again.

"Do not think I, the chief of this stronghold, fear you!" In front, the red-haired Ling Tian shouted fiercely. He suddenly took off his strong bow from his horse, drew an arrow, and shot it at Han Tuo!

"Bang!"

The arrow was shot, and the bowstring made a sound like a sniper rifle. Han Tuo sneered, raised his iron spear, and with a speed that made the spear invisible, he struck the incoming arrow!

"Boom!"

The powerful internal energy shattered Ling Tian's arrow into splinters, turning it into a cloud of wood dust, and the arrowhead was deflected. The arrow was destroyed.

Ling Tian let out a strange cry and shot three more arrows in quick succession, but Han Tuo struck them all with his spear, shattering them.

"Does he have such ability?" Su Peng and Ji Ming were both shocked!

"Scoundrel, today is the day of your death!" At this moment, Han Tuo led the Black Water Army, already charging. The Black Water Army faced the forty bandits led by Ling Tian, their momentum unstoppable.

Ling Tian also roared loudly, took a long spear from his horse, and led the forty bandits to charge. When the two armies were about ten meters apart, Ling Tian suddenly jumped off his horse, leaping about four to five meters high, and thrust his spear directly at Han Tuo.

Han Tuo sneered, his internal energy burst, and he also flew off his horse. The two warriors met in the air, their spears clashing!

"Boom!"

The clash of the spears sent a shockwave that even Su Peng and the others felt on their faces.

"Poof!"

Ling Tian, the leader of the Green Dragon Mountain bandits, was ultimately inferior in internal energy. After the clash, he could no longer control his body in the air, spitting out a mouthful of blood and flying backward!

Han Tuo, on the other hand, landed straight, just as his warhorse rushed over. He landed on the horse, which staggered slightly, seemingly under great strain.

"Continue the charge!" Han Tuo shouted, his internal energy quickly recovering. He led the charge towards the forty bandits on horseback...

...

...

The battle did not last long. Although the Green Dragon Mountain bandits were fierce, their actual combat strength was far inferior to the Black Water Army.

If the combat strength of an ordinary Green Dragon Mountain bandit was one, then each Black Water Army soldier was at least ten, and the two hundred Black Water Army soldiers in formation were not something these bandits could resist.

Soon, the bandits besieging Green Dragon Mountain were almost completely slaughtered by the Black Water Army. The bandit leader Ling Tian was beaten to the point of spitting blood by Han Tuo, but he was rescued by the other bandits on horseback and escaped, leaving most of the bandits behind. Of the remaining three hundred bandits, about seventy percent were killed by the Black Water Army, and the remaining thirty percent, having lost their morale, knelt and surrendered.

"Surrendered bandits are still bandits, kill them all, not a single one left!"

Han Tuo, a ruthless man, gave the order to kill all the bandits when the Black Water Army soldiers asked him what to do with them. Not a single one was left alive.

At this moment, the gate of Green Dragon Mountain opened.

Thirty or so villagers walked out. Su Peng saw that the leader was the village chief, Doctor Han, followed by the old hunter, carpenter Cao, butcher Zhang, and a few young men. Behind them were some farmers.

Han Tuo saw them, rode over, and dismounted in front of Doctor Han, asking, "Uncle, are you alright?"

"I'm fine... But those damned bandits actually attacked at midnight and used flaming arrows to burn the village. Fortunately, the gate was fire-treated and did not catch fire... But even so, about a dozen people in the village died, all killed by Ling Tian's arrows. What a pity, they were all good men," the village chief said with a pained expression to Han Tuo.

"I'm glad you're safe. By the way, I saw in your letter that you caught a spy?" Han Tuo asked the village chief.

"Yes... It was all thanks to young friend Su's alertness that we discovered the spy. Otherwise, if this spy had opened the gate, the consequences would have been unimaginable," the village chief said. At this moment, Su Peng and the other two had also dismounted and walked over, seeing the village chief's grateful look.

"They rode through the night to Jiangning County to send the message, which is also a considerable military achievement," Han Tuo said, looking back at Su Peng, his gaze slightly softer.

"Lang, I'll take you to see the spy, to get the full story," the village chief said to Han Tuo, who nodded and replied, "I need to report in detail to the commander and the city lord. Take me there."

"We'll all go," Su Peng said, and Doctor Han nodded. The group entered Green Dragon Mountain together.

They walked to Xu Guohan's house, opened the door, and went in. As soon as they entered, Doctor Han's face changed, and he exclaimed, "Not good!"

Su Peng, Han Tuo, and the others' faces also changed. Inside Xu Guohan's house, the seemingly honest Xu Guohan was tied up like a dumpling with hemp rope. However, a dagger was stuck in his neck, and a pool of blood was below him. His eyes were wide open, as if trying to pop out, but he was already dead.

"How could he be killed... He was a spy, and his martial arts were not bad. How could he be killed?" the village chief said, puzzled.

"There are other suspicious people in the village besides him!" Han Tuo said expressionlessly, seeing the scene.

"Uncle, didn't you assign someone to watch this spy?" Han Tuo turned to Doctor Han and asked.

"I did assign two young men to watch him... But when the Green Dragon Mountain bandits attacked the village, those two young men ran out to help defend the village, and this spy was killed by someone else..." Doctor Han said, his eyes looking at Su Peng.

"Hmm? This friend surnamed Su also knew about this?" Han Tuo saw the village chief's unusual gaze and immediately looked at Su Peng with a cold expression.

"Not exactly. When young friend Su left the village, he warned me that there might be other suspicious people in the village who might try to kill this spy. He suggested I assign two more guards in addition to the ones in the room," Doctor Han said thoughtfully.

"This young friend Su is quite perceptive. Did you add the guards, Uncle?" Han Tuo asked Doctor Han.

"At the time, I didn't think much of it, but because young friend Su had accurately identified the spy in the village, I kept a closer eye on things... I instructed two children in the neighboring house to watch the door of this house. I think they are still there, and I'll go ask them now," Doctor Han said.

Upon hearing this, one of the people behind Doctor Han had a changing expression.

"Chief, I'll go see those two children," Butcher Zhang said, stepping forward. Before Doctor Han could answer, Carpenter Cao also said, "I'll go."

"Haha, the two of you don't go. What if the killer is one of you, and this is the perfect opportunity for you to escape or kill those children?" Han Tuo sneered and said to a Black Water Army soldier behind him, "You go."

"Yes!" The soldier took the order and left.

Butcher Zhang and Carpenter Cao's faces changed, seemingly angry at being suspected.

Soon, the Black Water Army soldier brought two children. As soon as they entered the room, they looked at... Carpenter Cao!

"Chief Uncle, we saw Carpenter Cao enter that house and then come out," one of the children said, pointing at Carpenter Cao.

"It was you?" The village chief frowned, and Butcher Zhang and the old hunter, standing nearby, each took a step back in disbelief.

"Haha... I never thought that after hiding in Green Dragon Mountain for ten years... I would be discovered by a child at the last moment!" Carpenter Cao suddenly laughed strangely, and a strange energy seemed to surge around him.

"You are the second spy... What is your identity? I doubt you will tell us now... But it doesn't matter. Soon, you will confess everything in the Black Water Army's torture chamber."

Han Tuo's face turned cold as he looked at Carpenter Cao and said coldly.

"Just you? You can't keep me... Open!" Carpenter Cao suddenly shouted, raised his hand, and punched the Black Water Army soldier rushing towards him. The soldier flew backward like a sandbag and crashed into the wall!

"Can't keep me!" Carpenter Cao shouted, and two streaks of light shot out, one towards Han Tuo and the other towards the old hunter. At the same time, Carpenter Cao's body shot out, breaking through the window and leaping out!

Han Tuo and the old hunter both reached out and intercepted the streaks of light, which turned out to be two shiny throwing knives!

"Chase!" Han Tuo shouted and rushed out the door. Two Black Water Army soldiers behind him also rushed out.

Su Peng and the others followed out and saw Carpenter Cao leaping like a large bird on the rooftops, each jump covering six to seven meters. Han Tuo shouted, "Bow!"

A Black Water Army soldier immediately took off his black longbow, loaded an arrow, and handed it to Han Tuo, who drew the bow and released the arrow with a "bang."

"Whoosh..."

The arrow shot towards Carpenter Cao, who was already at the edge of the village. But Carpenter Cao, as if he had foreknowledge, kicked the arrow without turning his head!

He seemed to use the force of Han Tuo's arrow to float out of the village like a leaf, his voice echoing in the air, "Who I am, what I came for, you will never understand, hahahaha..."

"Hmph!" Han Tuo, seeing his arrow not only failed but also helped the man escape, coldly snorted and threw the bow to the ground.

"Who is this man? His martial arts seem even better than Ling Tian's!" Ji Ming whispered to Su Peng.

"Carpenter Cao has been in Green Dragon Mountain for ten years... With such martial arts, why did he hide his identity and stay in Green Dragon Mountain? What was his purpose, to avoid trouble?" The old hunter, looking in the direction Carpenter Cao had fled, said with a complex expression.

Su Peng glanced in the direction Carpenter Cao had fled, then narrowed his eyes and looked at Carpenter Cao's house, as if there was something significant hidden there...

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