The fastest fierce bandit was about to leap into the wheat field when suddenly, duang—he smashed headfirst into something extremely solid. The sensation felt little different from crashing against a brick wall.

The collision was too abrupt. Unable to slow his momentum, the fierce bandit lacked the strength to endure it. Instantly, his head was bleeding, and he toppled backward.

“Duang! Duang! Duang!”

Three more fierce bandits who couldn’t stop in time slammed into the invisible barrier.

All three collapsed.

“Halt! Don’t charge toward the wheat field!”

The other fierce bandits finally sensed something was wrong.

A massive, transparent wall separated them from the golden wheat field.

“What’s going on?”

“What evil sorcery is this?”

The bandit troops stared, dumbfounded.

The wheat field remained visible… yet untouchable.

Just then, a furious roar echoed from the southern mountain path: “Bandits dare to invade my Chengcheng?”

With rhythmic hoofbeats, Patrol Officer Fang Wushang arrived.

Hot-tempered and impatient, he spotted the bandits and spurred his horse forward before his foot soldiers could catch up.

The horse raced far ahead, leaving his troops far behind. Now, he was a lone commander charging solo onto the battlefield—facing two hundred fierce bandits alone.

Not a trace of fear in him. “Hyah!” he shouted, reins clutched in his left hand and a spear in his right. He charged straight at the fierce bandits.

Cheng Xu gasped. “How can a patrol officer be so fiercely brave?”

Beside him, Xing Honglang rolled her eyes. “Did you think everyone’s like that cowardly former Patrol Officer Cheng Xu? Officers who flee bandits? Truly bizarre.”

Cheng Xu coughed. “Well… Cheng Xu had his merits. He knew when to advance and retreat. He understood his enemy… He routed Wang Er, Bu Zhan Ni, and Zuo Guazi! Who else in Chengcheng matches him?”

Xing Honglang snorted. “That’s just talk! Before learning of the Deity’s power, I’d assumed those were Cheng Xu’s exploits. But now? Surely the Deity defeated those three foes with magic. Cheng Xu must’ve been a weakling—every rumor says so.”

Cheng Xu sighed. “…Enough. Let’s shift topics.” He pointed ahead. “Watch Fang Wushang now.”

Astride a galloping horse and spear leveled, Fang Wushang charged headlong toward the bandits.

Like rogue fighters encountering police, the fierce bandits panicked. Instead of fighting, they scattered toward the hillside—a move that unwittingly saved Fang Wushang. Otherwise, he’d have collided head-on with them and likely reported to Yama Wang.

Fang Wushang wheeled his horse toward the eastern slope near Zhengjia Village, without entering the village itself. His spear flashed once. Thwack! One fierce bandit dropped dead, pierced through. Just as he withdrew his spear, his horse had already bolted forward another few yards. Soon, he struck again. Thwack! Another fell with a lethal wound.

Xing Honglang watched, awestruck. “He’s merely a patrol officer… yet matches any forest hero I’ve seen. Quite a ruthless man.”

Cheng Xu snorted. “It’s nothing exceptional. Give me a horse and spear—I’d match him blow for blow, hmph! Those who rise from nothing must truly rely on their skills.”

Xing Honglang raised her eyebrows. “Oh? You can do that?”

Cheng Xu realized his blunder and immediately shut his mouth.

In truth, most Ming Dynasty military officers held positions through hereditary privilege. From the rank of captain upward, posts were hereditary. One didn’t have to be exceptional; having a competent father was enough.

Heriditary officers often treasured their lives, avoiding actual combat, thus their martial skills remained rudimentary.

Conversely, those who climbed the ranks through battlefield achievements likely earned their titles by decapitating foes in combat, becoming highly skilled in archery and horse riding.

Simply put.

If Yuan Chonghuan were to duel Cheng Xu, Yuan would likely lose nine times out of ten.

But if the two were to command large armies in battle, Cheng would likely lose to Yuan nine times out of ten.

By this time, Fang Wushang had already plunged into carnage. With just his steed and spear, he wheeled among the bandit troops. Those two hundred fierce bandits found none who could withstand a single thrust, and in the blink of an eye, seven or eight were run through.

Had the fierce bandits carried long spears, they might have barely countered a cavalry charge. But as the “climbing assault force,” each bore only a sword for mobility.

Hoping to oppose a mounted spearman with mere swords? That was simply wishful thinking.

Unable to form ranks, they were disoriented and outmaneuvered as Fang Wushang galloped circles around them.

Soon, Fang Wushang’s subordinates arrived. The deputy inspector led one hundred regular soldiers charging in. The two hundred fierce bandits turned: “Officials are coming!”

A single officer had already battered them. Now a large contingent of officials appeared – disaster struck.

Morale crumbled instantly.

The officials swept through unscathed. The fierce bandits fell dead or wounded, and in panic, tumbled back down the slope they had just scaled.

Fang Wushang galloped to the slope’s edge. Peering down, he saw the main force of the He Yang bandits climbing. He chuckled darkly. “Men! Quickly find rolling logs and stones. We’ll smash them to pulp.”

The deputy inspector pointed to a large pile nearby. “General Fang, many wooden posts are stacked here. Someone has prepared them for us.”

Fang Wushang turned, baffled. “Eh?”

But understanding dawned. “The militia local gentry of Gaojia Village must have planned to hold this ground against the bandit army, preparing rolling logs and stones to rain down. But those militia fellows are cowards. Seeing the bandits near the crest, they fled, abandoning this mess to us.”

His men grasped the truth. “So that’s it.”

Li Daoxuan inwardly applauded. Brilliant deduction! With wits like yours, even Sherlock Holmes would kneel in admiration.

Fang Wushang brightened. “Heaven aids us indeed! These rolling logs and stones left by the militia shall be ours gratefully. Men! Heave them downward!”

The soldiers promptly hoisted the rolling logs and stones, hurling them chaotically down the mountainside.

This spelled a world of misfortune for Fan Shanyue. Victory seemed within reach only moments ago. How could he expect the militia at the summit to transform into officials? Down came the logs again! His main force couldn’t nimbly duck behind rocks; there simply wasn’t space.

The logs tumbled, once again turning the mountain path into a scene of rearing horses, fallen men, and harrowing screams.

Fan Shanyue looked up, meeting the gaze of Fang Wushang looking down from the slope’s edge.

Fang Wushang roared, “Fool of a bandit! Remember your grandfather’s name: Fang Wushang, Patrol Officer of Chengcheng! As long as I guard Chengcheng County, not one step of its soil shall your kind tread!”

Fan Shanyue yelled back, “Damned, you’re not Cheng Xu! I’m not afraid of you at all!”

Fang Wushang: “?”

Rage!

Fury ignited in Fang Wushang. This scoundrel implies I’m inferior to that soft persimmon Cheng Xu who falsifies military merit? That fool fabricated reports of Wang Er’s death, exaggerated bandit numbers, deceived his superiors, obscured truths – not a shred of honesty in his memorials.

Every word of his merit is exaggerated!

That piece of trash, how dare his name be spoken alongside mine?

Fang Wushang uttered a guttural roar, raising his spear to charge downhill.

His deputy inspector desperately wrapped his arms around the general’s waist, shouting, “General, calm your wrath! Calm your wrath! Don’t demean yourself by grappling with bandit scum!”