Chapter 46

Zhao Futu threw away the head of the Yellow Turban leader and then twisted his neck to loosen it. In the intense battle just now, he was also seriously injured. His arm had suffered a minor fracture due to the accumulated loss of over 20% of his health points, reducing the sensitivity of his attacks. Each collision of weapons also caused internal injuries due to the shock, but fortunately, the deducted health points were only in the single digits, and no corresponding injuries appeared.

The most troublesome part was the final blow from the Yellow Turban leader. Zhao Futu deliberately exposed a weakness to directly kill him! However, although the Yellow Turban leader did not hit his neck's vital point, he struck Zhao Futu's neck with his arm. The opponent's strength was at least 25 points, and even a bare-handed strike to his neck caused a critical hit. The Nightmare Space even prompted a 'dizziness resistance check,' but fortunately, Zhao Futu's will and spirit allowed him to pass the check without hesitation.

However, his neck suffered 20% cumulative damage, resulting in a dislocation of the cervical vertebrae. He had to correct it first, otherwise, his health recovery speed would decrease by more than 30%. Different injuries would affect his health recovery speed to varying degrees, such as fractures and bleeding, which required some treatment first.

...

The recovery ability of the contractee was abnormal. Despite Zhao Futu's rather pitiful appearance, with his hands bloody and his palms severely cracked, he could still unleash about 70-80% of his strength if he were to fight again. The data-driven body greatly enhanced his damage resistance, especially the 70% pain reduction when entering the battlefield space, which significantly boosted his on-site burst ability.

"Here!" Zhao Futu picked up the two flat short axes on the ground. They were white equipment, which could be exchanged for 300 survival points when sold to the space. Zhao Futu did not intend to exchange them but threw them directly to the Yellow Turban warrior who had been fighting alongside him, helping to hold off the Yellow Turban elite guards and giving Zhao Futu the time to kill the leader.

The Yellow Turban warrior's weapon was almost worn out when he emerged from the camp. He caught the two short axes, tested them, and nodded to Zhao Futu without any intention of thanking him.

After Zhao Futu killed the Yellow Turban leader in ten moves, the ordinary Yellow Turbans had already lost their courage. The morale of the remaining Yellow Turban troops soared, and they quickly made the others surrender, handing over their weapons and equipment. Even the Yellow Turban warrior's attitude towards Zhao Futu showed a bit more respect, as in this chaotic era, strength was the most important.

"Speak! Why are you here?" Zhao Futu picked up a Yellow Turban leader and forced him to answer. His current strength was 21 points, and lifting a man weighing 120 to 130 pounds was like lifting a chicken. He lifted the Yellow Turban leader off the ground, his feet dangling in the air. The Yellow Turban leader was already terrified by the lingering killing aura and the strong smell of blood, and he immediately revealed everything he knew.

They were originally a group of bandits from Hu Xiaoshan. In this era, the Eastern Han regime was corrupt, with heavy taxes and greedy officials colluding with local strongmen to seize land, leaving many farmers with no means of survival. Taxes were increasing, and the annual harvest was not enough to pay them. Before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, many farmers with martial skills had already started to become bandits.

This era was different from later times. Many large family villages had some inherited martial skills, and once they became bandits, the entire village would move into the mountains. Before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there were already a large number of bandits in various regions. After the rebellion, these bandits quickly joined the Yellow Turban army, attacking counties and local strongmen to plunder food and wealth.

This group of bandits from Hu Xiaoshan was one such group. Composed of ten or more mountain groups, they numbered about 3,000 people. They plundered their way south, planning to join the Yellow Turban leader Zhang Mancheng, who had occupied Nanyang Wancheng. Unlike other bandits who robbed for a noble cause, these people had some vision and ambition, believing that if they succeeded in rebellion, they could achieve the status of "kings and generals are not born but made."

Thus, they plundered their way to Wancheng, and the bandit leaders had already planned to join Zhang Mancheng, hoping to become officers like colonels or generals. They had been on the road for half a month, plundering several wealthy landlords and capturing a poorly defended county, gaining a large amount of wealth and equipment to arm their men.

However, they became overconfident.

In this chaotic era, being low-key and quietly making a fortune was the best strategy. Those who lacked strength but acted arrogantly would either be struck by lightning or have their butts kicked!

And they had their butts kicked.

Not long ago, these bandits who had captured a county were too arrogant. They were soon discovered by a nearby government army. The commander of the government army, although not a famous historical general, used a simple trick to ambush and attack them, brutally kicking their butts and making them flee in panic!

Suddenly, a group of 3,000 people was scattered.

The Yellow Turban leader barely managed to gather 300 people, planning to continue to Wancheng to seek a new identity. However, he was shocked to hear the news:

"Zhang Mancheng is dead!"

"During the recent battle in Wancheng, the governor of Nanyang, Qin Jie, fought and killed Zhang Mancheng!"

With Zhang Mancheng dead, the Yellow Turbans were hesitant. They were unsure whether to go to Wancheng to join the newly appointed leader Zhao Hong or return to their old hideout to continue being bandits. They met Zhao Futu's defeated Yellow Turban army and decided to loot one more time before returning. However, they did not expect to kick a steel plate, and the Yellow Turban leader was killed by Zhao Futu in ten moves.

"Seize all their equipment and rations!" Zhao Futu waved his hand, and the soldiers began to confiscate the Yellow Turbans' equipment and rations.

They had intended to loot, but instead, they were looted.

The Yellow Turbans had already planned to return to their hideouts, so the Yellow Turban soldiers had no qualms about stripping them of everything useful and then guarding them in a pile.

Zhao Futu's previous Yellow Turban army was also heading to Wancheng to join Zhang Mancheng. Now that Zhang Mancheng was dead, the soldiers were demoralized and unsure whether to continue to Wancheng. They all looked to Zhao Futu, who had gained some authority and was now their nominal leader.

The difference between the Yellow Turbans and the Yellow Turban army was clear.

The Yellow Turbans thought of returning to their hideouts to continue being bandits, while the Yellow Turban soldiers were considering where to go next.

They were more determined and had no retreat!

...

"Zhang Mancheng is dead? Should I still go to Wancheng?" Zhao Futu closed his eyes and pondered.

His current battlefield mission was an "encounter battle," the simplest of all battlefield missions. This type of "encounter battle" mission had no mandatory mainline, allowing the contractee to act freely based on their strength. However, acting freely also meant easily going off track. The mandatory mainline missions arranged by the Nightmare Space were difficult but did not lead to certain death, while acting freely on the battlefield could easily result in a certain death situation!

He had to be extremely cautious!

Zhao Futu couldn't decide whether to stay or leave and began to tally his gains.

Since he had used the strength of the Yellow Turban army, the gains of the small leaders were not high, and there were no item drops. However, the gains from the Yellow Turban leader were rich, making Zhao Futu suspect that the space had concentrated the gains on him. In this battle, he gained 1,500 survival points, two large soul fragments, and a deep blue key.

There were also two strange set items: "Bandit Wristguard" and "Bandit Leg Wraps."

These two items added one point of strength and one point of agility, respectively, with interesting special effects as follows:

"Bandit Wristguard." (Condition: Average)

"Origin: Central Plains region."

"Rarity: Light blue."

"Material: Linen."

"Weight: 100 grams. (The weight of the item affects the wearing requirements.)"

"Equipment slot: Wrist."

"Effect: Strength +1."

"Requirements: None."

"Description: A special wristguard for bandits. It is said that completing the set will grant additional abilities."

...

"Bandit Leg Wraps." (Condition: Average)

"Origin: Central Plains region."

"Rarity: Light blue."

"Material: Linen."

"Weight: 200 grams. (The weight of the item affects the wearing requirements.)"

"Equipment slot: Legs."

"Effect: Agility +1."

"Requirements: None."

"Description: A special leg wrap for bandits. It is said that completing the set will grant additional abilities."

...

"Obtaining two special set items, automatically activates related hidden attributes."

Subsequently, several additional attributes appeared below the two bandit set items:

"Collecting two bandit set items increases 2 points of stamina."

"Collecting three bandit set items increases 2 points of strength."

"Collecting four bandit set items increases 2 points of agility and automatically grants the identity of a bandit in some story worlds."

...