Also, Uncle’s family—Chu Tang was a clever person who knew her backing was Chu Zhao. If she died, Chu Tang would immediately lead the whole family to retreat to the wilderness as she had previously instructed.
She could calmly go to her death now.
After dying, she’d first reunite with Mother, then wait for Father to arrive. The family of three could finally be together.
However, she had never seen Mother and didn’t even know what she looked like. When they met, would she even recognize her?
She actually didn’t really know how to interact with Mother either.
Chu Zhao felt somewhat nervous and forcefully pushed down a mountain rock.
……
……
It seemed all the fierce beasts of Falling Eagle Mountain had run here—tigers, wolves, wild boars, even wild chickens and mountain rabbits. The entire mountain forest was shaking, the ground flying with dirt and rocks.
Even Ding Dachui couldn’t help swallowing, gripping his repaired hunting bow, his palms sweating.
This job was quite substantial. The fighting was too intense.
The new boss had even directly told them that manpower was insufficient and had them drive out all the wild beasts from across the mountains.
“Boss.” The brothers following behind had trembling voices. “This, this—if we charge in, isn’t that seeking death?”
What was this new boss thinking? Even robbery required weighing and considering. Sometimes no matter how fat the sheep, not every one could be snatched.
With this commotion before their eyes, where was the fat sheep? This was a monster.
Sharp bird calls rang in his ears. Ding Dachui couldn’t help but shiver.
Bird call after bird call, urging.
In Ding Dachui’s ears also rang the words the new boss had just said when assembling everyone.
“At the gate of Chen County’s county office hangs portraits of you bandits.”
“That you’ve survived until now isn’t because the authorities can’t deal with you, but simply because they can’t be bothered.”
“Once the authorities need achievements, they’ll immediately eliminate you.”
“Do you people really think you can hunt in the mountains for a lifetime?”
“You’re not hunters. You’re the prey.”
“Do this big job with me today. Afterward, people, money, goods—you’ll have it all. Then, you’ll be true hunters.”
What hunters? They’d already said—they were bandits!
Ding Dachui’s feet trembled. He lifted his foot and stomped it hard on the ground, raised his hunting bow, nocked three arrows, and shouted.
“I opened this mountain—”
……
……
No matter the spear throws, rolling rocks, or even their own people’s corpses blocking, more than ten people still broke through the defense.
These dozen people were light as swallows, nimble as apes, getting closer and closer—close enough that Chu Zhao could see their ferocious smiles.
Old Bai was one step faster than them, gripping his long blade and leaping out. The blade light danced wildly, and the first five bandits to charge over rolled to the ground, heads separated from bodies.
Following Old Bai, more people rushed out—Dragon Might Army soldiers and people Xiao Man had left behind—using weapons and their own bodies to engage in battle. This was also the last line of defense.
A’Le gripped the blade in her hand and blocked Chu Zhao: “Now is not the time yet.”
Chu Zhao had been about to charge forward.
“Miss, if you charge forward and die, everyone will die even faster,” A’Le said seriously. “The longer you live, the longer everyone can live.”
All the desperate fighting was to protect Chu Zhao. If she died, everyone’s fighting spirit would also dissipate.
Chu Zhao naturally knew this, but watching people die for her one by one—it truly made life worse than death—
A bandit pounced from behind and with one blade severed both hands of a Dragon Might Army soldier. The soldier let out a painful wail but didn’t fall. Instead, using his handless arms, he tightly embraced the bandit and crashed toward another bandit raising a blade. The long blade pierced through both of them—
Chu Zhao wanted to close her eyes, but instead she stared wide, forcing herself to see clearly, to see clearly how these people died for her.
She couldn’t be like that previous life—in that life, so many people died for her and she didn’t even know about it.
“Miss.” A’Le called out, raising her blade and standing before her. “Even if they all die, there’s still me.”
Chu Zhao was just about to say something when suddenly she heard the sound of slaughter in the distance abruptly rise, mixed with “Enemy attack!” “Quickly go back!” “There’s an enemy attack!”
Enemy attack—this was what the bandits were shouting. The bandits’ enemies were naturally their reinforcements!
Reinforcements had arrived!
“Xiao Man called for reinforcements!” Chu Zhao shouted. “Xiao Man brought reinforcements!”
There was hope!
She shouted again and again “Reinforcements have arrived! Reinforcements have arrived!” sending hope outward.