Chapter 139: Isn't This Just Too Pathetic?

Hoping deep down that the bandits would return to Baiyue Village, Zhou Zhi had made preparations in advance, keeping an axe close at hand. A pair of sharp, starry eyes flashed with a piercing, icy glare as he silently slipped behind the door.

Zhou Zhi thought to himself, judging by the sounds, there aren't many of them this time. To capture the bandits, one must first capture their leader. I'll stick to the old plan: go all out against a single person first. If I can actually capture or hack one of them, things will be much easier to handle.

According to his expectations, the outlaws outside would act just like Qi Yanwu did last time—gently lifting the door latch or forcefully ramming the door open.

Yet, after waiting quietly behind the door for roughly the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, there was not a single sound from the door, nor any movement outside whatsoever. Zhou Zhi was utterly bewildered. What is this? Could they have left?

Just as he was pondering this, a voice suddenly shouted from outside, "Zhou Zhi, you little punk, come out! Today, we lords have come specifically to deal with you."

Though the voice wasn't loud, it was exceptionally deep and carried a formidable aura.

Damn it! They've got some nerve, openly shouting right here in the courtyard. Do they really think they can come and go as they please in Baiyue Village? Do they really think I, Zhou Zhi, am afraid of them?

Blood rushed to Zhou Zhi's head, and he made to throw the door open and charge out.

Yet, the moment his hand touched the door latch, he stopped. A sudden thought occurred to him: although he had resolved tonight not to let them easily escape and was determined to capture one or two of them, there were many people outside. Rushing out like this was still unwise—it would be no different from walking right into a trap.

Furthermore, once the door was opened, what if they forced their way in? What would happen to his father, mother, and little brother? He must not let them harm his family.

While Zhou Zhi was hesitating, his father, Zhou Tie, clearly heard the noise outside as well. Panic-stricken and dressed only in a single layer of tunic, he hurried out and said with a trembling voice, "Xiao Zhi, the bandits are back again. This time, they've clearly come solely for our Zhou family. What are we going to do?"

Though Zhou Tie was a robust farm laborer, he was trembling all over with fright at this moment, which broke Zhou Zhi's heart. Putting on a composed front of absolute confidence, Zhou Zhi said, "Father, you needn't worry. There are only three or five of them. Since they are shouting like that outside, the neighbors will soon come to help. Our Zhou family will be fine."

Despite saying this, Zhou Zhi knew very well in his heart—rely on the neighbors for help? Ha! Right now, almost everyone in Baiyue Village believed he was in league with the bandits, and that he was the one who had brought the bandits to Baiyue Village, plunging them into disaster.

The villagers had long detested him to the core and were wishing for his early demise. Even if he screamed himself hoarse inside the house, absolutely no one from Baiyue Village would lift a finger to rescue him.

At this very moment, the only thing he could rely on was himself to face them alone.

Seeing Zhou Zhi's unconcerned demeanor, Zhou Tie's inner tension eased slightly. His son was now the pillar of the household, their ultimate reliance; with Zhou Zhi around, it seemed there was no problem that could not be solved.

Zhou Zhi then lowered his voice and said, "Father, guard the doorway. No matter what happens outside, absolutely do not open the door. Xiao Zhi has his own ways of dealing with them."

Zhou Tie gave a slight nod in agreement.

Zhou Zhi turned back from the outer room into the bedroom.

His little brother, Zhou Shaocheng, was already awake, curled up under the covers with a pair of terrified, wide eyes, scarcely daring to move a muscle. Seeing Zhou Zhi enter, Zhou Shaocheng was on the verge of tears as he whimpered, "Brother, the thieves have come to our house. Xiao Cheng is scared. What are we going to do?"

Gently patting Zhou Shaocheng's little head, Zhou Zhi consoled him in a low voice, "Xiao Cheng, with your brother here, they won't dare do anything to us."

With those words, Zhou Zhi grabbed his axe and climbed onto the kang.

The people in the courtyard seemed to have grown impatient from waiting and continued to holler, "Zhou Zhi, you brat, aren't you the 'Cold-Faced Butcher'? Do you only have this much courage? Are you going to play the coward and hide like a turtle?

We lords are telling you today, we aren't here to plunder goods; we're here to capture you. If you don't come out right now, we lords are going to set fire to this house and burn your whole family to ashes, damn it!"

The cursing from the deep voice outside made Zhou Zhi thoroughly furious.

Damn it, you came for me, and I was just looking to catch you lot anyway.

There was no need for further thought. Zhou Zhi fiercely shoved the window open and vaulted straight out.

A vicious battle tonight was inevitable—it was either them or him. At this moment, it boiled down to two words: desperation.

"Oh ho! The brat actually has some guts," the same deep voice remarked.

Upon leaping out, Zhou Zhi immediately steadied his stance and swiftly scanned the courtyard.

There were four of them in total. Though there was no moonlight, Zhou Zhi could see clearly; one of them was none other than the Weasel. The fellow was short and scrawny, and upon seeing Zhou Zhi, he actually shrank behind a robust man, peeking out at Zhou Zhi with a darting gaze.

The other three were burly fellows wielding broadswords, surrounding Zhou Zhi in a triangular formation. One of them said, "Little brat, drop the axe in your hand and come with us, and we lords won't make things difficult for you. If you persist in your delusion—humph! These broadswords have no eyes!"

The more he listened to them speak, the more Zhou Zhi had a vague feeling that they did not harbor any intent to harm him at this moment. His mind settled somewhat. Locking his sights on one of them, he suddenly lunged forward and swung his axe down in a fierce chop.

"Watch out, brothers!" the Weasel shrieked in alarm.

That fellow had been dealt with quite severely by Zhou Zhi last time and clearly still harbored lingering fears. Knowing Zhou Zhi's tactic of desperately entangling a single opponent, and terrified of becoming Zhou Zhi's target once again, he had already leaped far out of the way.

"Oh! This brat really isn't weak!" Just as Zhou Zhi's axe descended, the man directly in front of him met it with his broadsword, blocking the blow.

Even from this brief exchange, Zhou Zhi received a tremendous shock; the man's strength was so immense that he could barely keep his grip on the axe.

The three burly men swarmed Zhou Zhi. Clearly, they had undergone training, possessed some martial arts, and moved with agility.

Despite the fact that Zhou Zhi's current body was robust and his movements were not slow, the three burly men were obviously not ordinary thugs. Had it not seemed as though they lacked the intent to harm him, Zhou Zhi reckoned he would have already been slashed by their broadswords.

Within mere moments, Zhou Zhi took two kicks to the body and finally lost his footing, tumbling to the ground.

He wanted to keep a tight, desperate grip on the axe, but as he fell, another burly man struck it with his broadsword, knocking the weapon from his hand.

The three burly men stepped forward and immediately pinned Zhou Zhi down. Without a word, someone produced a rope and bound him tightly. At the same time, they deftly shoved a rag into his mouth to silence him, while another placed a hood over his head. In an instant, pitch darkness descended upon Zhou Zhi, blocking out all sight.

Zhou Zhi cursed his luck inwardly. To be captured just like that—wasn't this utterly humiliating? Fine! Fortunately, they didn't want to hurt him; I'll just wait and see where they're taking me.

"Hoist him up and let's go. We'll let the boss deal with him back at the base!" the deep voice ordered the burly man beside him.

Without hesitation, the burly man grabbed Zhou Zhi, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and strode swiftly out of Baiyue Village.

Four horses waited outside the village. The burly man placed Zhou Zhi onto a horse and then leaped into the saddle himself. With a few shouts, four galloping horses surged away at a frantic pace toward the southeast.