“The bandit army hasn’t left,” Cheng Xu pointed downhill at the bandit army. “Look, those worthless thieves are reorganizing the scattered troops at the foot of the mountain.”

Everyone crouched at the cliff edge and peered down. Indeed, it was true.

The big bosses Fan Shanyue, Sui Fengxiong, and Erchun were leading sixty or seventy minor bosses to regroup the fleeing scattered troops. Once gathered, they tilted their heads to gaze up the cliff, whispering from afar as if discussing something.

Cheng Xu’s expression darkened. Thankfully, he was masked, so no one could see it.

Xing Honglang beside him murmured, “Trouble. They haven’t given up yet.”

Cheng Xu nodded. “They saw our clothes and know we’re not officials. So… even after suffering losses, they’re not afraid of us.”

When bandits encounter government troops, they scatter like startled birds, fleeing at the slightest touch. But bandits never fear militias.

This principle is clear: rogue fighters run wildly when police show up, yet facing rival gangs, they whip out machetes to battle to the death—ready to tear your flesh off, fully embodying the jianghu spirit.

That’s just how differently the orthodox and unofficial get treated.

Ground Rabbit shouted, “So the villains dare come back? We’ll smash ’em all over again!”

“Not so simple,” Cheng Xu glared at him. “Those fools learned their lesson with the rolling logs and stones last time. They won’t climb straight at us again blindly. They’ll scheme a new tactic… What could it be? Hmm, I bet they’ll distract us frontally while sending hundreds through the small mountain path to flank us.”

“I need to understand the surrounding terrain!”

Cheng Xu grabbed Zheng Daniu. “Daniu, Zhengjia Village is your hometown, right?”

Zheng Daniu nodded. “Yeah!”

Cheng Xu beamed. “Grab a twig. Draw the nearby terrain on the ground for me.”

Zheng Daniu blinked. “Terrain? It’s mountains. So many trees. So many peaks.”

Cheng Xu sighed. “I meant map everything within several li—where hills, trees, gullies are.”

Zheng Daniu grinned goofily. “Who’d remember stuff like that?”

Everyone: “…”

Damn this idiot!

Cheng Xu kicked Zheng Daniu’s waist. He’d meant to topple him but only recoiled himself, landing flat on his rear with a thud.

Sitting hurt and humiliated. Such frustration!

Why were men like Gao Chuwu, Zheng Daniu, and Ground Rabbit his subordinates? What sin had he committed in a past life?

As he pondered, something large nudged his back gently yet emphatically—clearly pulling its force.

Cheng Xu whirled around. Seeing nothing, realization struck. “Deity!”

He tentatively stretched his hands forward. Skilled fingers grazed what felt like skin—the Deity’s invisible giant hand!

Cheng Xu instantly grasped it. Lunging forward, he hugged something like the Deity’s finger and scrambled upward till he perched at Li Daoxuan’s fingertip. Li Daoxuan silently admired Cheng Xu’s shrewdness—truly adept at comprehending divine will.

His hand lifted gently, bearing Cheng Xu skyward.

Few militiamen had witnessed “Li Da leaping off walls, caught by Deity to fly.” Salt smugglers stared like wooden puppets as Cheng Xu ascended.

Higher and higher Cheng Xu soared… Until he hung suspended fifty zhang high.

Trembling, Cheng Xu gulped loudly enough to hear. Peeking down, people appeared Lilliputian-sized. Tsk, so this was Deity’s view of us.

Focus, fool! The Deity sent you up to survey terrain, not daydream of godhood. You’re mortal—stay humble!

Cheng Xu snapped alert and scanned the topography.

The aerial vista proved breathtaking!

At summit level, trees impeded sightlines, but from midair, every detail lay bare as fields. Simply magnificent!

Ordinary men might only gawk, but a troop leader gleaned vital intelligence.

Memorizing every ridge and ravine, Cheng Xu finally called upward, “Gratitude, Deity. I’ve secured the terrain now.”

Li Daoxuan’s hand descended slowly.

Watching Cheng Xu glide down soundlessly, spectators marveled as he hopped off the invisible hand to land poised. Triumphant, he crowed, “Haha! This instructor… ahem… grasps the whole layout! Heh heh. No guessing required about bandit moves. Miss Xing, I need your help.”

Xing Honglang replied, “Speak.”

“Take your people around that small mountain ahead,” Cheng Xu directed. “Half a li onward lies a tree-hidden gully. I suspect they’ll sneak through there. Ambush them; rain rolling logs and stones once they climb up.”

Xing Honglang grinned savagely. “Heh, roger that! Leave it to me.”

She turned to order log transport when piled logs near her levitated and floated toward her destination… Xing Honglang instantly understood.

“Deity knows we mere mortals lack strength to haul these. So the divine hand delivers.”

Salt smugglers cheered: “Deity bless us!” These rookies mastered the Gaojia Village mantra astonishingly fast.

“Now we don’t even need directions,” Xing Honglang waved. “Follow where the logs land—that’s Instructor He’s chosen spot. Move out!”

Racing the hovering logs, salt smugglers rounded the small mountain, traveled another li, and discovered the deep gully—its forest surprisingly lush despite years-long drought, hinting at underground water reserves.

Xing Honglang’s band settled atop one gully slope, surrounded by heaped logs. Silently, she willed: Come, vermin! Bring Erchun to me… Time to repay this wounded arm.