Chapter 19: Call Break Heaven Calls for Reinforcements

Pants Crotch Mountain, a mountain true to its name.

Two mountains sandwiching a gully, like a pair of cotton pants, and Call Break Heaven’s stronghold was located within this gully.

Even with Li Qiuchen’s limited knowledge, he could tell that this place was by no means a strategic stronghold; at most, it was just well-hidden and not easily discovered.

Call Break Heaven was a capable man. Relying on his own two legs, he ran wildly for a day and a night, escaping back to his stronghold. He then ordered the gates to be tightly shut, defending to the death.

He was probably scared witless.

Li Qiuchen squatted on a nearby hilltop, squinting as he surveyed the layout of the stronghold from a distance.

A dozen thatched huts, two stables, forty or fifty men and horses… on the surface, that was all there was.

“What do you say?”

After weighing it for a moment in his mind, Li Qiuchen turned to look at White Crane.

“Caw?”

White Crane looked bewildered.

“These bandits usually don’t engage in production; they just live off the land. Even if they close their gates, they can’t do so for long; they’ll have to go out and rob.”

Li Qiuchen’s experience came from reading Water Margin in his previous life.

Song Gongming would often go down the mountain to ‘borrow’ grain. Some people thought he was looking for excuses to establish prestige and gather followers, but in reality, there simply wasn’t enough food. The daily consumption of people and horses was astonishing; how could they survive without robbing?

There was also another factor to consider: the moral standards of the bandits.

Judging from their behavior, they had none whatsoever.

Now that King Chao returned injured from attacking Zeng Family Village, didn’t Brother Gongming have any thoughts?

So Li Qiuchen judged that whether Call Break Heaven wanted to re-establish his prestige or the stronghold lacked provisions, it wouldn’t be long before they went out to plunder.

Although dealing with them now wasn’t impossible, wouldn’t it be safer to act when they split their forces?

…While Li Qiuchen was contemplating how to eradicate this bandit lair and completely eliminate future troubles, Call Break Heaven, lying on his bed, was also silently pondering his life and future.

After much thought… wasn’t this completely ruined?

Even regular armies would collapse if their casualty rate exceeded fifty percent, let alone these unsavory bandits.

Call Break Heaven claimed to have over a hundred men and horses under him, but in reality, there weren’t that many. Besides those who went out to plunder with him this time, the rest were almost all old, weak, sick, or disabled, with no fighting capability whatsoever.

Nonsense, following the Leader out, you could still grab some things and get some food and drink. What could you do staying at home? Anyone with a bit of strength or ambition wouldn’t stay in the old nest gnawing on tree bark.

As a result, all his brothers were lost in the mountains, and only he escaped back. Call Break Heaven felt as if the sky was falling.

After much thought, he sat up, pulled out two silver ingots from under his buttocks, called his confidant, and whispered, “Xiao Shengzi, take these two ingots, ride a fast horse to Song Family Village, and invite Old Third Song over. Absolutely do not tell him we lost so many brothers; just say I’ve encountered difficulties and need his advice.”

The camp gate opened wide, and a fast horse galloped out. Li Qiuchen, who was Cultivating under a tree, opened his eyes and silently watched the rider leave.

“Caw?”

White Crane asked softly.

“Don’t chase.”

Li Qiuchen shook his head, “Either he’s going to invite a Physician, or he’s going to bring in reinforcements. If he happens to invite some reclusive master, and you follow and get discovered, you’ll just be serving yourself up. Let’s stay here; if the situation looks bad, we can always run.”

White Crane looked at him askance, wanting to speak but holding back.

Are you a bit too cowardly?

Li Qiuchen was unmoved by the Stupid Bird’s disdainful gaze.

Immature.

Why shouldn’t I be cowardly?

Let’s turn our attention to Song Family Village, fifty li away.

Old Third Song was a Mountain Guest.

Such people have different names in different places, such as blade-wielders, wheat harvesters, mercenaries… Simply put, they are strong and skilled, not content with toiling in the fields, wandering around doing all sorts of odd jobs.

The Mountain Guests of the Northern Territory are an extremely loose group, with no particularly close ties to each other. Of course, this is also related to the vast and sparsely populated environment of the North.

The mountains are full of jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards. Those who dare to enter the mountains mostly possess extraordinary courage and skill. But even more treacherous than jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards are human hearts. Sometimes, to compete for valuable mountain goods, Mountain Guests would also clash and kill each other.

In short, they can be described in two words: ruthless people.

This day, after receiving Call Break Heaven’s message, Old Third Song sat at home pondering for a long time, then called his two sons to his side.

His eldest son, Song Gang, and youngest son, Song Yu, were both adults now, skilled with sabers and horses, and remarkably strong.

“Do you think I should go?”

“Father, what’s this Call Break Heaven’s background? Why haven’t I heard his name?”

Old Third Song sighed, “This man only became a bandit a couple of years ago, so of course, his name isn’t known in the Jianghu. However, he used to be quite a formidable figure. He was a jailer in the county, ruthless and cunning, but also had a bit of loyalty. When I was arrested back then, it was through his connections that I managed to get out alive. He saved my life, so if he truly encounters trouble and asks for my help, and I don’t assist him, it would be a laughingstock if word got out.”

Song Gang asked in confusion, “Why did he stop being a perfectly good jailer and become a bandit?”

“Who knows? I only heard he made a mistake while on duty, perhaps he killed someone in jail who shouldn’t have died… Now that he’s asking for help, I can’t refuse, but I’m also worried he has ill intentions and wants to drag me into his gang.”

“Why be afraid of him?”

Song Yu was more impetuous, and immediately slammed the table, loudly declaring, “Brother and I will go with you. If he truly has ill intentions, the three of us will just fight our way out.”

Old Third Song nodded, “They say one should not harbor malicious intent, but one must guard against the malicious intent of others. That’s actually what I was thinking. This time, I’ll take you two with me to test Call Break Heaven’s true colors.”

The three discussed and agreed, packed their weapons and gear, mounted their fast horses, and headed towards Pants Crotch Mountain.

Two days later, the father and sons led their horses into the stronghold. Seeing the desolate state of the place, Old Third Song thought to himself, ‘It seems they’ve truly run into trouble.’

Call Break Heaven didn’t come out to greet them; not that he didn’t want to, but his body had collapsed, and he was lying in bed unable to get up. When Old Third Song saw him, the once robust man, built like a bear, was now gaunt and emaciated.

Old Third Song exclaimed in shock, “Leader, what… what has brought you to this?”

“Third Brother!”

Call Break Heaven grabbed Old Third Song’s arm, tears streaming down his face.

After listening to Call Break Heaven recount the events, Old Third Song opened his mouth but didn’t have the heart to scold him.

“So… Leader, what’s your plan for calling me here?”

Call Break Heaven cried, “To tell you the truth, Third Brother, every time I close my eyes now, I dream of the mountain god killing people. That mountain god doesn’t want to let me go; he wants to torture me to death! Third Brother, you’re a man who roams the mountains; you must think of a way to save your brother!”

“Mountain gods don’t kill people.”

“Ah?”

Old Third Song shook his head, “Leader, you used to be in the city; you don’t know the rules of the mountains. Mountain gods guard a region and protect living beings; they wouldn’t casually kill for such a small matter. What you’re describing sounds more like you’ve offended a mountain evil spirit.”

“Ah? An evil spirit?”

Call Break Heaven became even more frightened: “Then what should I do?”

Old Third Song quickly comforted him, “Leader, there’s no need to be afraid. Your current sleeplessness has nothing to do with evil spirits. Go down the mountain and find a Physician to prescribe two doses of calming herbal medicine; you’ll be fine after drinking them. There’s only one thing I don’t understand: why did you insist on getting that mysterious pearl?”

While mysterious pearls are precious, the true pearl-producing areas are by the Black Water River and Jinlin River. A small village in the mountains like this wouldn’t yield many pearls even if they went to the river to collect them. If there really were a consistent output, would such a good thing fall to you?

Call Break Heaven smiled bitterly, “Third Brother, you don’t know. Your family only has a few mouths to feed, so you can ensure food and clothing. But I have over a hundred brothers under me, hiding in this mountain gully, digging wild vegetables, gnawing on tree bark, their eyes turning green from hunger. How can that compare to the happy life in the city?”

“I sent someone to inquire in the county. Actually, the crime I committed back then wasn’t that serious; it’s just that I had no connections at the time, no one to speak up for me, so I had no choice but to escape and become a bandit.”

“Currently, the County Magistrate has taken another concubine whom he dotes on greatly. That woman has a younger brother who is a formidable figure. My friend told me that this person is secretly buying mysterious pearls at a high price. If I can find a few high-quality ones and send them over, perhaps I can ask him to put in a good word for me with the County Magistrate, get my charges dropped, and go back to my previous work.”

Call Break Heaven paused here, glanced at Old Third Song, and lowered his voice, “I remember your children are also grown, Third Brother. If we can get through this connection, maybe we can send them to the county to get a proper job…”

Old Third Song’s heart stirred.

No wonder they say Call Break Heaven is loyal; he immediately touched Old Third Song’s heart.

The title of Mountain Guest might sound intimidating, but it wasn’t a respectable profession; it was merely living by the blade, gambling life for wealth. His two sons were already adults but still single, making it hard to find wives.

If they could secure a livelihood in the county town… Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Old Third Song’s face. He supported Call Break Heaven and chuckled, “Leader, is this true?”

“This concerns my life and fortune, and your sons’ bright future. Do you think I’m joking with you?”

The two discussed back and forth, completely oblivious to the tender green leaves of the creeping fig on the outer wall, gently swaying in the wind.

The creeping fig’s roots were buried deep in the ground, extending all the way out of the stronghold and continuing into the mountain forest.

On a nearby hilltop, Li Qiuchen, who was meditating under a tree, his body covered in roots and branches, slowly opened his eyes.

So that’s how it is; that makes sense now.

The mysterious pearl is a stepping stone; with it, one can bribe the County Magistrate’s brother-in-law.

If this path is open to bandits and Mountain Guests, why shouldn’t it be open to me?