In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

As the sun rose high in the sky, a convoy of five large carts emerged from the hidden workshops in the west of the city and slowly made its way towards Qing'ao Well outside the city.

Pei Zhao rode a black horse at the front, with Lu Cheng and Chen Ye protecting the two flanks of the caravan.

Thirty salt guards, freshly dressed in the uniforms of county yamen runners and carrying new swords at their waists, closely protected the convoy.

Although the group was small in number, the chilling aura emanating from them caused the local people and merchants along the way to give way.

In the high pavilion of the Tian family mansion, Tian Boyong watched the convoy leave the city with a gloomy face.

"Finally out." A cruel sneer curled at the corner of Tian Boyong's mouth. "Notify One-Eyed Dragon that the fat sheep has escaped. Tell him to be quick and decisive, and leave no survivors."

"Yes, Elder Tian." The steward behind him acknowledged the order and left.

……

There is a mountain road of more than ten miles from Yaozhou City to Qing'ao Well.

One of these places is called "Black Wind Gorge," which is surrounded by dense pine forests on both sides and has only a rugged dirt road in the middle. The terrain is treacherous, and it has always been a favorite ambush spot for bandits.

As Pei Zhao's convoy entered Black Wind Gorge, the previously clear sky suddenly darkened, and the mountain wind howled through the gorge with a chilling sound.

Pei Zhao suddenly pulled on the reins and raised his right hand.

"stop!"

The entire convoy came to an instant.

Although the thirty salt protectors were still a little nervous, their long-term training had conditioned them to immediately draw their swords and quickly form a defensive formation.

"Brother Pei, what's wrong?" Chen Ye gripped his spear tightly, looking around warily.

"It's too quiet." Pei Zhao's gaze swept across the pine forest on both sides like a hawk's. "There isn't even a bird chirping in this forest."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a sharp "whoosh" was heard!

A stray arrow shot out from the pine forest on the right, heading straight for Pei Zhao's face!

Pei Zhao snorted coldly, drew his sword horizontally, and with a "clang," cleaved the cold arrow away in mid-air.

"There's an ambush! Form ranks and defend!"

With Pei Zhao's roar, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from the pine forests on both sides of Black Wind Gorge.

"Kill them!"

"Kill these lackeys dressed in official robes!"

Hundreds of ruthless bandits, armed with knives and guns and with ferocious faces, poured out of the pine forest like a flood bursting its banks, instantly surrounding Pei Zhao's convoy.

The leader of the bandits rode a tall yellow horse, carrying a nine-ringed broadsword, and wore a black eye patch.

It's none other than the leader of Black Wind Stronghold, One-Eyed Dragon!

"Hahahaha!" The one-eyed man laughed wildly, pointing his large cleaver at Pei Zhao. "Brothers, Master Tian said these corrupt officials' heads are worth ten strings of cash each! Chop them all to death!"

Faced with three times their number of ruthless bandits, the thirty salt guards, who were new to the job, turned deathly pale, and their hands gripping their knives began to tremble slightly.

Although they had undergone two weeks of hellish training, they had not yet experienced a real life-or-death battle.

Looking at the ferocious bandits around them, many people felt a sense of retreat.

"What's the panic!"

Pei Zhao pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up.

The horizontal sword in his hand pointed diagonally at the sky, making him stand at the front of the battle like a war god.

"You're nothing but a rabble! Have you forgotten how the young master taught you?"

Pei Zhao's voice boomed like thunder through Black Wind Gorge.

"Anyone who retreats even one step will be killed!"

"Anyone who leaves formation will be killed!"

"Kill one enemy, and you'll be rewarded with five strings of cash! Kill three enemies, and you'll be promoted one rank!"

Faced with the threat of death and the lure of a hefty reward, the ferocity inherent in this pack of "wild dogs" was finally unleashed.

They gritted their teeth, staring intently at the charging bandits, their trembling hands gripping the knife hilts tightly once more.

"kill!"

At the one-eyed man's command, the thugs surged toward the convoy like a tidal wave.

A bloody battle erupted instantly.

Pei Zhao took the lead, spurring his horse forward like an arrow and charging into the bandit group.

The horizontal blade transformed into streaks of deathly lightning; each strike brought with it a chilling flash of blood.

"Those who block my way shall die!"

Pei Zhao sliced ​​through enemy lines like chopping melons and vegetables, instantly killing four or five bandits and tearing a bloody path through the enemy ranks, heading straight for the one-eyed man.

Lu Cheng and Chen Ye stood guard on both sides of the convoy.

Lu Cheng's thick-backed longsword moved with wide, sweeping motions, like a meat grinder, cutting down the approaching bandits one by one.

Chen Ye wielded his spear like a dragon emerging from its cave, targeting the enemy's throat and heart with deadly accuracy.

However, the number of ruthless bandits was simply too large.

Despite the bravery of Pei Zhao and his two companions, dozens of bandits still managed to break through their defenses and reach the thirty salt guards.

"Brothers, let's fight them!"

One of the salt guards roared and brandished his knife to meet a ruthless bandit.

"clang!"

The two swords clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

The bandit was incredibly strong. With one slash, he forced the salt guard back half a step, then swung his sword back to slash at the guard's shoulder.

If it were half a month ago, this salt protector would have instinctively dodged, thus revealing an opening and being killed.

But now, he's not hiding!

"Three-man formation, strangle them!"

The two salt guards beside him stepped forward in perfect unison, one to the left and one to the right, simultaneously thrusting out two horizontal knives, precisely blocking the bandit's retreat, and then viciously stabbing him in the abdomen!

"Pfft!"

Blood gushed out, and the ruthless bandit screamed as he collapsed into a pool of blood.

"pretty!"

This kind of small-scale coordinated strangulation began to take place in every corner of the convoy.

Although these thirty salt protectors were not as individually capable as those ruthless bandits who had been living on the edge for years, they had a tight formation and tacit cooperation.

They worked in groups of three, taking turns to attack and defend, like a group of porcupines covered in sharp thorns, making it impossible for the ruthless bandits who were used to fighting alone to find a way to attack them.

Blood stained the land of Black Wind Gorge, and severed limbs were scattered all over the ground.

The battle was exceptionally fierce.

People kept falling on the salt protectors' side, but not a single one of them retreated even half a step.

Because they knew that retreat meant death!

"Damn it, how come these officials in their official robes are so tough!"

One-Eyed Dragon was deeply shocked as he watched his men fall one by one.

He originally thought they were just a bunch of greenhorns who had never seen blood, and that a single charge would end the battle.

Unexpectedly, this group of people was even more ruthless and fearless than the thugs under his command!

Just as the one-eyed dragon was distracted, Pei Zhao had already arrived in front of him.

"Bandit leader, prepare to die!"

Pei Zhao roared, and his warhorse, propelled by the momentum, leaped high into the air.

Using the momentum of his descent, the horizontal sword in his hand cleaved down with immense force, like splitting a mountain, towards the one-eyed man's head.

The one-eyed man was terrified and hurriedly raised his nine-ringed broadsword to parry.

"Clang—Snap!"

A deafening roar.

The one-eyed dragon's prized nine-ringed broadsword was actually cleaved in two by Pei Zhao's thunderous strike!

The sword continued its momentum, and with a "whoosh," it cleaved half of the one-eyed dragon's body in two!

Blood and internal organs sprayed onto the ground instantly.