Chapter Eight: Capturing Even More Money Alive!

“Listen up, you lot!”
“Soon, there will be plenty of grain, fine wine, and women—enough for all of you!”
“As for the men, slaughter every last one of them!”

The barbarian chieftain at the forefront cracked his whip with a bold flourish, his voice ringing with confidence.

Hearing this, the others broke into broad, gleaming smiles.

“Excellent! Last time at that village, there were hardly any people—I didn’t get my fill of killing!”
“Exactly! That village was too small, barely any women. This time, we’ll have our fill for sure!”

The barbarians bared their teeth in savage grins, raising their blades in eager anticipation.

Their eyes fixed on the campfire flickering in the distant village, they looked like hunters eyeing their prey.

At that moment—whizz!

An arrow suddenly flew from nearby, and before one of the barbarians could react, it pierced through his throat. He tumbled from his horse.

The barbarian leader’s face darkened instantly at this unexpected attack.

“Enemy assault!”

Everyone swiftly drew their heavy blades, cautious and alert.

But to their shock, another arrow streaked through the air.

Like a harbinger of death, it claimed a second victim with ease.

“From the east!”

The chieftain’s expression grew grim as he charged eastward, blade in hand.

In that instant, only one thought consumed him:
He must kill the treacherous coward firing these hidden arrows!

They’d barely caught sight of any grain or spoils on this raid, yet two of their own had already fallen.

If word of this spread, how could he continue leading his men?

As the barbarians closed in, Su Mu stood poised atop a treetop, his expression utterly serene.

Drawing another arrow from his quiver, he nocked it swiftly and released in one fluid motion.

In his hands, the bow was a weapon of terrifying lethality.

Each arrow found its mark, inflicting casualties without fail.

Within mere breaths, the barbarians had lost five men.

Now only eight remained.

Seeing the eight approaching beneath the trees, Su Mu furrowed his brow.

At this range, with branches obstructing his aim, continuing to snipe with the bow would be impractical.

However, the enemy’s numbers had been sharply reduced.

Eight foes were still manageable.

“Scoundrel shooting from above, come down here!”

The barbarian leader brandished his blade, cursing fiercely.

Su Mu raised an eyebrow, noticing several barbarians starting to climb the trees. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

—

Grasping a rope secured to a nearby tree, Su Mu leapt gracefully through the air, swinging in an arc before landing steadily on another branch.

Surveying the barbarians gathered below, he carefully dropped down to the ground.

Picking up his bow, he took advantage of the night’s shadows and thick foliage to fire another arrow.

With a sharp thud, another barbarian collapsed, pierced through the body by the deadly shaft.

The chieftain was on the verge of madness.

Since the encounter began, they had lost half their men without ever glimpsing their assailant!

Frustration boiled within him.

“Rats from the Great Liang! If you’ve got the guts, come out and face us head-on!”
“What kind of hero hides like a coward?”

He made a signal, and his warriors scattered, ducking behind tree trunks for cover.

Ignoring their jeers, Su Mu set aside his bow and drew his long sword, cautiously advancing.

At this stage, carrying a bow would only make him an easy target, revealing his position.

In his mind, Su Mu reviewed the barbarians’ movements carefully.

In an instant, the general area where they hid took shape in his thoughts.

Moving silently, he crept forward without a sound.

Spotting a barbarian poised behind a tree with a raised blade, Su Mu sprang forward, slashing the long sword across the man’s throat in a swift, deadly arc.

Under the cloak of night, Su Mu was like a ghostly spirit—vanishing without a trace.

Thud, thud, thud!

The barbarian chief felt the torment keenly.

Now he knew for certain: this was no ordinary opponent.

This man fought with ruthless precision and possessed masterful control over the battle.

Most crucially, they were exposed in the open while their enemy lurked unseen.

If this continued, not a single barbarian might escape.

The chieftain shoved one of his men aside and, using the cover, vaulted into his saddle, spurring his horse to flee.

As the saying goes, better to live and fight another day.

Just as the leader urged his men onward, Su Mu emerged from the shadows behind a barbarian, delivering a clean stroke that severed the man’s neck.

Surveying the corpses strewn around, Su Mu exhaled deeply.

Only the barbarian chieftain remained.

He had to be captured or killed—otherwise, the mission would be incomplete.

Mounting a horse, Su Mu gave chase.

Narrowing his eyes at the fleeing leader, he withdrew a dagger from his cloak.

After a moment’s aim, he hurled it, striking the horse’s leg.

—

In the darkness, a thrown dagger was unlikely to kill the chieftain outright.

Armor protected him, making a direct hit nearly impossible.

But the horse was another matter entirely.

If the steed was disabled, the barbarian’s escape would be a mere fantasy.

Sure enough, the wounded horse slowed drastically.

Before long, Su Mu caught up.

Bathed in moonlight, the chieftain finally made out the young man pursuing him.

Recognition stunned him—this gang had been almost wiped out by such a green youth?

Ridiculous!

“Don’t bother trying to run. You’re trapped.”

Su Mu leapt from his mount, standing squarely before the chieftain.

His long sword glinted coldly in the night.

“I’ll give you a chance—join us, and you’ll have plenty of silver and women waiting for you.”

The barbarian eyed him cautiously, ready to strike.

“No thanks. I’m more interested in your head.”

With that, Su Mu lunged forward, the sword flashing like lightning.

In just a few swift exchanges, the chieftain was struck multiple times.

“I’ll fight to the death!”

Cursing fiercely, the barbarian charged.

Seeing this, Su Mu narrowed his eyes and slammed his blade onto the enemy’s wrist.

The chieftain howled in pain, dropping his weapon.

In a heartbeat, Su Mu seized his arms and dislocated his shoulders.

“Ah!”

The chieftain’s scream was cut short as Su Mu struck his jaw, dislocating it as well.

Thinking of dying? Not so fast.

Alive, the chieftain was worth far more in silver than dead.

Su Mu exhaled, a faint smile spreading across his lips.

“Twelve killed, one captured alive—this raid should bring in a good haul.”