Chapter 8

Originally, when there was a funeral in the village, distant relatives and neighbors would help each other; this had been a long-standing custom.

However, after Yang Guanjun's parents passed away, the villagers ignored the matter.

Even when Yang Guanjun placed his parents in coffins and the villagers carried the coffins up the mountain, they only watched from a distance.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu and his group, despite their great efforts, managed to bury Yang Guanjun's parents on the mountain.

"Father, Mother! I am an unfilial son! I could not let you enjoy your old age, but I promise you, I will avenge this wrong. I will place Zhao's head here to honor your spirits," Yang Guanjun said through gritted teeth.

After he and Yang Xin bowed deeply several times, he stood up.

After everything was arranged, everyone went down the mountain together.

Back in the thatched cottage, Yang Xin, seeing everything familiar, couldn't help but choke up again.

From now on, only she and her younger brother would be left to rely on each other in this world.

She wiped away her tears as she tidied up.

At this moment, Zhang Yu and Yang Guanjun were sitting not far from the door.

"Sister is really crying non-stop," Yang Guanjun pouted.

"She is a woman, and this time, after we pack up and go up the mountain, we will rarely come back," Zhang Yu said, patting Yang Guanjun's shoulder.

"Brother, if we hide in the mountains in the future, what's the difference from being bandits?" Yang Guanjun asked curiously.

"That's different. Bandits plunder and kill, but we will rely on our own efforts to survive. And! We won't stay in the mountains forever," Zhang Yu assured him.

"Alright, I'll follow Brother! But can I play with that crossbow?" Yang Guanjun asked with bright eyes.

He had been thinking about this for days, feeling like his heart was being clawed by a cat.

This time, Zhang Yu was not stingy. He took out the crossbow, carefully loaded it, and handed it to Yang Guanjun.

"Remember, don't aim at your own people. Stand properly and aim at the three points in a line," Zhang Yu said, standing behind Yang Guanjun and teaching him carefully.

Seeing this, the others gathered around, looking at Yang Guanjun with envy.

Everyone wanted to play with this new gadget.

The moment Yang Guanjun pulled the trigger, he felt the powerful force of the crossbow. An arrow was shot out and firmly embedded in a crack in the wall of the courtyard.

He had originally aimed at a piece of dry wood, but he missed.

Yang Guanjun felt a bit dejected.

"No one is born a marksman. Just practice more," Zhang Yu consoled him.

"I want to become a marksman, Brother, teach me!" Yang Guanjun turned to look at Zhang Yu, speaking with enthusiasm.

Before he could answer, Zhang Yu's expression suddenly changed.

"Take your sister, climb over the back wall, and hide in the mountains," Zhang Yu said nervously.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Yang Guanjun asked, confused.

Not only him, but the others were also bewildered.

"Follow the order, move quickly!" Zhang Yu shouted.

Although they didn't know what was happening, they started to act under Zhang Yu's command. Yang Guanjun immediately rushed into the house, pulling his sister and leaving.

He didn't care if Yang Xin had finished packing.

At this moment, Zhang Yu lay on the ground, his ear close to the ground, hearing a sound like distant thunder.

This was the sound of horses galloping, and there were many, at least dozens.

Soon, faint screams could be heard from inside the village.

"Bandits have entered the village, move quickly!" Zhang Yu said anxiously. These people were not yet ready for battle, and if they were surrounded by bandits, they would be doomed.

Only then did everyone understand Zhang Yu's intention and quickly climbed over the back wall of the Yang family's yard, heading into the forest behind the mountain.

"Brother, move quickly!" Yang Guanjun shouted anxiously, seeing Zhang Yu still standing in the yard.

Just as Zhang Yu was about to turn and move, he heard a loud bang, and the door of the Yang family's house was kicked open.

A bandit rode a horse into the yard.

"Ha! There's still one here!" the bandit shouted excitedly.

"You won't hurt my brother!" Yang Guanjun roared.

He only needed to jump over the wall to escape into the forest behind the mountain.

But seeing Zhang Yu being cornered by the bandit, he turned back in a hurry.

He still held the crossbow in his hand. In a panic, he loaded it and immediately pulled the trigger. The arrow, with a sharp whistling sound, accurately pierced the bandit's chest.

The bandit screamed and fell off the horse, quickly losing consciousness.

Zhang Yu immediately stepped forward, taking the bandit's machete, a dagger, a light bow and quiver, and some silver coins.

"Brother, this crossbow is really powerful!" Yang Guanjun, who had killed for the first time, showed no fear but instead played with the crossbow, his face filled with excitement.

He was simply born to be a soldier.

Such a person, if born in a peaceful era, would join the military for free meals, but if born in a chaotic era, would surely achieve great things.

"Go to the back mountain and find your sister. I'll go to get Huang Ji," Zhang Yu called out.

"Brother, I want to go with you!" Yang Guanjun insisted.

"You have only one task now: take your sister and the 20-odd brothers and safely return to our camp. This is an order!" Zhang Yu grabbed Yang Guanjun's neck firmly, his gaze resolute.

"Yes!" Although Yang Guanjun was very unwilling, he couldn't disobey Zhang Yu's gaze and could only turn and climb over the wall into the forest behind the mountain.

With no more worries, Zhang Yu immediately changed into the bandit's clothes, mounted the horse, and headed straight for Huang Ji's shop.

At this moment, Huang Ji was crouched in a corner of the shop, extremely panicked.

He had already packed his things and was waiting for Zhang Yu to come and get him, but he heard the sound of bandits outside.

When bandits enter a village, there is no good news. At best, they plunder, and at worst, they kill indiscriminately.

His carpentry shop, which was one of the better-earning businesses in the village, was always a target for bandits.

Every time bandits entered the village, he would lose a year's work.

With a bang, he heard the shop's door being kicked open and immediately trembled.

He kept muttering in his heart, hoping the bandits wouldn't find him.

"Huang Ji! Where are you?"

Zhang Yu's voice came from outside.

"Sir!" Huang Ji, overjoyed, quickly ran out.

But seeing Zhang Yu dressed like a bandit, he was startled and took a step back.

"It's me! Come with me quickly!" Zhang Yu extended his hand.

Huang Ji, upon recognizing Zhang Yu, finally took his hand.

Zhang Yu pulled Huang Ji onto the horse, and the two galloped away.

They didn't stop until they reached the top of a hill in the back mountain. Looking back, they saw Ma Tou Village engulfed in flames, all the thatched cottages burning.