Chapter Twenty-Eight: Suppressing Bandits at Black Wind Ridge
As the year draws to a close, the Jianghuai region is covered in a blanket of white snow, with continuous heavy snowfall.
Looking out, the fertile plains were covered with deep snow, the canals were frozen solid, boats were no longer able to sail, and everything was desolate.
A biting wind howled from the north, whipping up countless snowflakes, leaving only a vast expanse of white between heaven and earth.
Black Wind Ridge is located 30 miles north of Yangzhou City. The mountain is steep, with strange rocks and ancient trees reaching the sky.
Due to its complex terrain, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, it has been a place where strongmen have been active since ancient times. Ordinary merchants traveling through this place are always on tenterhooks.
On this day, the heavy snow continued to fall, like fluffy feathers, enveloping the entire mountain range in a vast snow curtain.
At 3:45 AM, a group of people braved the wind and snow, making their way along the treacherous mountain path of Black Wind Ridge.
The leading "young man" was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, wearing a black sable cloak with a collar trimmed with silver fox fur, which trembled slightly in the cold wind. He had a handsome face and exquisite features, and although he was dressed as a man, he could not hide his innate noble air.
This person was none other than Shen Rulan, the young master of the Shen family in Yangzhou.
Behind him were twenty guards, all exceptionally skilled, wearing indigo cotton cloaks, with a thin layer of ice on their saddles and bridles.
The weapons hanging beside the saddle gleamed coldly in the snow, clearly exquisitely crafted weapons.
The snow was knee-deep, making each step forward extremely difficult.
The horses' hooves sank into the snow with a dull creak, quickly disappearing under the fresh snow after the caravan passed, leaving no trace. Their breath condensed instantly into frost in the sub-zero air, dampening their thick eyelashes and shimmering in the thin winter sunlight like countless tiny diamonds.
The guard leader, Chen Feng, spurred his horse forward. His bronze face was purple from the cold, and his eyelashes were covered in frost. "Young Master," he said, "Tiger Leaping Gorge is just ahead. This snow is vicious; judging by the sky, it looks like it will continue for several more hours. The snow is even deeper inside the gorge, and the steep cliffs on both sides make it an ideal place for an ambush. Perhaps we should find a sheltered spot to rest for now and wait for the snow to subside a bit before continuing?"
Shen Rulan looked up at the sky, where the gray clouds hung low, seemingly within reach. She shook her head slightly, her voice as steady as ever, yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness: "Since someone is so eager to ambush us here, how can we keep them waiting? Pass down the order: everyone be on alert, bows and arrows nocked, swords drawn."
Shen Feng accepted the order and left. Soon after, a soft click of a mechanism was heard.
The guards drew their powerful bows and crossbows, the arrowheads gleaming coldly in the snow.
The group continued forward, everyone on high alert, their right hands always on their weapons, ready to respond to any unexpected situation.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is indeed a treacherous place, with steep cliffs on both sides that look as if they were cut by a knife and axe, towering into the clouds.
The middle section is only wide enough for three horses to ride abreast, forming a natural pass.
The snow here was so deep that it reached the horses' bellies, forcing them to slow down.
The canyon was eerily quiet; not even the chirping of birds could be heard. Only the howling wind swept through, whipping up a flurry of snowflakes that stung our faces.
Just as the group reached the narrowest part of the canyon, a sudden change occurred.
But then a sharp whistle pierced the sky, and more than ten figures dressed in white and masked suddenly rose from the snow, as if the snowdrifts had come to life.
These people had clearly been lying in wait in the snow for a long time; their white clothes blended seamlessly with the snow, making them virtually undetectable unless they revealed themselves.
The leader was a burly man who wielded a nine-ringed steel sword. The nine copper rings on the back of the blade jingled in the silent valley, a sound that disturbed the mind: "This mountain is mine, these trees are mine! If you want to pass, leave your toll!"
Shen Rulan reined in the horses, snowflakes gradually piling up on the brocade cloud pattern on her shoulders. Her gaze swept over the snow at the other's feet, and she suddenly chuckled, a clear and melodious laugh echoing through the valley: "What a fine ambush in the snow. You've all been lying in wait in this icy wilderness for quite some time; you must be exhausted. I wonder how much silver Cao An promised you, to make it worth risking your lives like this?"
The bandit leader was taken aback upon hearing this, clearly not expecting the other party to not only remain calm but also identify the mastermind behind it all.
In that split second, Shen Rulan drew the sword from her waist. The sword emitted a dragon-like hum as it was drawn; its long, slightly curved blade gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light in the snow, clearly indicating it was no ordinary weapon.
Almost at the same moment, the guards rode up to meet the enemy.
The sound of horses' hooves crushing the snow and the clatter of swords cutting through the air broke the silence of the canyon.
These bandits were clearly skilled in snow warfare, their specially made snowshoes allowing them to move freely in the deep snow. For a moment, the glint of swords and the swirling snowflakes created a breathtaking scene.
Shen Rulan spurred her horse, and the mount shot straight at the bandit leader like an arrow.
The bandit leader raised his knife to meet the attack, and the two blades clashed, sparking dazzling sparks that caused the surrounding snow to fall in a flurry.
In that fleeting moment, Shen Rulan suddenly dodged to the side and with a backhand slash, precisely ripped open the other person's mask.
The face mask fell away, revealing a face covered in scars, with a hideous scar running from the brow bone to the corner of the mouth on the right cheek.
"The third leader of Black Wind Ridge?" Shen Rulan sneered, her tone laced with mockery. "No wonder you were able to set up an ambush in this kind of weather. You escaped when the government launched its encirclement last year, but I didn't expect you to walk right into their trap today."
The third leader of Black Wind Ridge's expression changed drastically, clearly not expecting the other party to recognize him at a glance. He roared, brandishing his nine-ringed steel saber with ferocious speed, the copper rings on the back of the blade clanging and disturbing the mind.
Shen Rulan remained unmoved. Her Frost Blade transformed into a streak of light, each strike aimed directly at a vital point. Her swordsmanship, passed down from a master, was both fast and accurate. In just over ten rounds, the third leader of Black Wind Ridge was already showing signs of defeat.
On the other side, the guards were also engaged in a fierce battle with the bandits.
Chen Feng took the lead, his spear like a dragon, each thrust bringing forth a spray of blood, scattering crimson spots on the snow.
A young guard tripped over a rope in the snow and was about to be killed when his companion saved him in time.
These Shen family guards worked together seamlessly, often understanding each other's intentions with just a glance. They stood in groups of three, back to back, supporting each other, and quickly divided and surrounded the bandits.
The fierce battle lasted for nearly an hour, and the snow was stained with blood, which looked particularly glaring in the pure white world.
The bandits gradually lost ground and began to retreat into the forest.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the third leader of Black Wind Ridge made a feint with his sword and turned to escape.
Shen Rulan had anticipated this. She reached for the iron-framed bow beside the saddle, nocked an arrow, and drew the string to its full length. The bowstring twanged, and a feathered arrow pierced the air, precisely striking the bandit leader's right shoulder.
The third leader of Black Wind Ridge screamed and collapsed to the ground, his blood instantly staining the snow beneath him like a blooming red plum blossom. Shen Rulan slowly stepped forward, the tips of her black boots shattering the glistening ice. With a flick of her frost-covered blade, she completely subdued him: "Speak. Who ordered this?"
The third leader of Black Wind Ridge was ashen-faced, his teeth chattering: "It's...it's Young Master Cao An! He gave us five hundred taels of silver to rob Yong Sheng Escort Agency's goods, and he even said he wanted to...to take your life to avenge Young Master Cao Jin!"
"Do you have any proof?" Shen Rulan's voice was icy, as cold as the snow-covered landscape.
"I...I have silver notes!" the third leader of Black Wind Ridge said hastily, as if grasping at the last straw. "The silver notes Cao An gave me are from Baotong Money Exchange, I remember the exchange number! They're...they're sewn into my undergarments!"
Shen Rulan gestured for Shen Feng to search the area, and sure enough, they found five hundred-tael silver notes with clearly identifiable serial numbers. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and she immediately ordered all the thieves to be bound. She then dispatched a team of men to rush back to the city to capture Cao An.
By the time the bandits were escorted back to Yangzhou City, it was already late afternoon, the sun was setting, and dusk was deepening.
Shen Rulan ordered his men to escort him directly to the prefectural government office, and at the same time sent someone to Baotong Money Shop to verify the bank's information.
As expected, these banknotes were withdrawn from Cao An's account three days ago.
Caught red-handed, Cao An turned ashen-faced and had no way to deny it. He had no choice but to confess that he was instructed by Cao Jin's former subordinates to undermine the Shen family's foundation by robbing the caravan and spreading rumors, thus paving the way for a future reversal of the verdict.
The prefect of Yangzhou carefully reviewed the case file and found that the facts of the case were clear and the evidence was conclusive. He immediately sentenced Cao An to exile in Ningguta and to serve as a slave to the armored soldiers.
The bandits were all imprisoned and awaited execution in the autumn.
With the case closed, the people of Yangzhou praised the young master of the Shen family for his wisdom and courage, and the Shen family's reputation grew even more illustrious.
By the time everything was settled, the moon was high in the sky, its clear light shining on the ground.
Shen Rulan returned to the Shen residence under the chilly night sky, only to find the lakeside villa still lit by warm yellow lights, which seemed especially warm in the cold night, like a guiding light on her way home.
A slender figure was reflected in the window paper, pacing back and forth, clearly having been waiting for a long time.
Su Moqing came out to greet her upon hearing the sound, and rushed forward to help her upon seeing her return. When her slender fingers touched the abrasion on her shoulder, which had already clotted blood, her eyes suddenly reddened, and her voice choked with sobs: "Why didn't you tell me you were injured? You don't take care of yourself at all... What if you catch a cold, or the wound worsens?"
Shen Rulan chuckled and gently stroked her cloud-like black hair. "It's just a minor injury, no need to bother you." As she spoke, she took out the amulet embroidered with twin lotus flowers from her body. The jade tassel was still warm from her body. "Look, with the amulet you embroidered protecting me, I've come back safe and sound."
Su Moqing smiled through her tears and turned to fetch the wound medicine and a white silk handkerchief. The flickering candlelight illuminated her focused profile, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath her eyes. She first gently washed the wound with warm water, then carefully applied the finest wound medicine. Every movement was extremely gentle, as if handling a rare treasure.
Shen Rulan gazed at her, noticing the candlelight casting a soft glow on her delicate skin, and a few wisps of hair swaying gently with her movements. A surge of tenderness welled up within her, and she couldn't help but reach out and grasp her busy, slender fingers: "With you like me, I ask for nothing more."
Su Moqing's cheeks flushed, and she said softly, "I have no other wish but for your safety." As she spoke, she continued to bandage her wounds, and her fingertips inadvertently touched her palm, causing both of them to tremble.
The cold wind still howled outside the window, but the room was warm as spring.
At this moment, all power struggles and conspiracies seemed so distant. Only the warmth of the person's fingertips felt real enough to make one's heart tremble.
After an unknown amount of time, the wound was finally properly bandaged.
Su Moqing carefully put away the wound medicine and then poured Shen Rulan a cup of hot tea.
The steam from the tea rose gently, blurring the line of sight between the two, and the aroma of tea filled the air, refreshing and delightful.
The most precious thing in this world is that when you return home on a snowy night, there is always a light shining for you, and someone waiting for you, turning all your worries and concerns into the gentlest touch of your fingertips.
Even if it's freezing cold outside, as long as you have this warmth, it's the warmest place in the world.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
