Chapter 15: Zhou Cang's Twin Brother

  "Bang, bang, bang..." Someone was pounding on the inn's large gate: "Hurry up and open the door, don't make us old men take action, or else we'll wipe you all out! Hahaha..." The bandits were just outside the gate, their various laughs could be heard clearly.

  The noise on the street startled Wang Can and Hua Tuo, who had already fallen asleep. Wang Can came over from the backyard with a face full of anger, bending his waist to move to the door: "What's going on? What are those people outside doing?"

  "Oh? Big brother, there's a woman in this house!" One of the rascals had obviously heard Wang Qian's voice. Someone laughed loudly and said: "Big brother, your business has arrived! Haha, it's been a long time since we've met a woman, here's a fresh one!" This remark triggered a burst of lewd laughter.

  The sound of horseshoes came, and that weathered voice shouted loudly: "Break the door! Bring them all out!"

  The inn's gate shook violently, and Long Fei pulled Wang Qian behind him. Two hands tightly grasped the wooden stick. "Thud!" A dull sound, the door panel was knocked open and fell heavily to the ground. Several ruffians rushed in. Long Fei looked around, raised his wooden stick high like a baseball bat, and struck it down fiercely. A young man only walked inside without noticing the person behind the door. Long Fei's wooden stick hit the young man's head squarely.

  "Ah……!" A miserable cry, a black skull flew out and cut off a burning torch. Zhao Yun and Taren both took action, the three or five thugs who came in let out a burst of wailing and howling. Those who ran fast retreated to the outside of the door, few hesitated, either dead or injured, time was not long, it became quiet again, neither inside nor outside the door, no one spoke again.

  That black hole of a door was like a monster that swallowed people, five rascals went in and only one came out with his tail between his legs. The other four were nowhere to be found, dead or alive. The big king on horseback snorted coldly: "Oh? We've actually encountered some tough customers! Brothers, set fire to the store!"

  The shopkeeper, upon hearing the urgency, didn't care about life or death, and rushed out from his hiding place, shouting "Don't!" while rushing towards the door. Wang Wei hastily grabbed him and pinned him to the ground. "Clang!" It was the sound of a weapon hitting the stone road, and that weathered voice shouted into the shop: "Which night-wandering deity is inside, report your name?"

  Long Fei knew that was a slang, but what did "night tour god" mean. Then he heard Wang Qian reply: "No door, no faction, just passing by, I hope the land lord will open one side and let us pass!"

  "It's still a black whirlwind! Big brother, listen quietly, the appearance shouldn't be wrong!" But after listening, it was just a passerby, and another group of people started playing jokes, but the effect of this joke wasn't very good, and didn't achieve the expected result.

  Tsang's voice said: "No matter which road of immortals, show your true face! If you are really a friend on the Tao, we will not make it difficult for you!"

  Wang Jian got up and walked out the door. Long Fei pulled him back: "Are you crazy? There are so many of them, do you believe this?" Long Fei turned around and beckoned to Wang Wei to come over, indicating that he should protect the shopkeeper and Hua Tuo. He also whispered to Talan to be careful about the back of the house or the windows. He told Zhao Yun to pick up his bow and arrow, string the bow, and hide in the window by the door. If there was any movement, he would immediately shoot an arrow. Only then did he reach out and pull Wang Jian, shouting as they slowly slipped out.

  "Everyone, we're just passing by! Please spare us!" Long Fei raised his hands high in a gesture of surrender.

  A dozen or so thieves, dressed in strange attire, stood scattered about the street. There were Xianbei people and Han people. Their clothes were tattered, without armor, and the weapons in their hands were also varied and bizarre, with several holding farming hoes. A few torches made of pine wood flickered dimly, shining brightly in the dark night. In the center of the group stood a red horse, with a man standing before it, holding a large knife. The blade's width took up almost one-third of the entire length. The gleaming edge emitted a cold light. The man was tall and sturdy, his thick beard covering most of his face. His dark complexion made him nearly invisible in the darkness, except for his eyes, which shone like cowbells, looking particularly ferocious.

  "Was he a cripple?" A small henchman looked at Long Fei and smiled, glancing at Wang Qian beside him with a lewd expression: "This little girl is not bad, big brother, I was right, she's quite pretty!"

  Long Fei swiftly moved Wang Qian behind him. However, Wang Qian was unwilling and coldly stared at the ruffian, fiercely glaring at him: "What are you looking at? Look again and I'll dig out your eyes."

  The big bearded man looked up and down at Long Fei a few times, and asked strangely: "Was it you who killed several of my brothers just now?"

  Long Fei hastily laughed and said, "Your Majesty, don't misunderstand. It's just that it was too dark inside, someone tripped and fell, then they started fighting. My wife and I didn't do anything! Really, Your Majesty, we really didn't do anything!"

  "'Wife?' The big-bearded man's eyes rolled: 'This term is quite peculiar, is that woman your wife?'"

  "Right, right, it's my wife! Ah……！It hurts……！” Long Fei nodded repeatedly, and Wang Qian pinched the skin on his waist fiercely. Long Fei gritted his teeth and shouted in pain. The crowd burst into laughter.

  Big Beard also chuckled twice: "Where are you from? A cripple actually killed four of my brothers, how do we settle this account?"

  "Big brother, don't waste words with them, kill these two dogs to avenge Xiao Sanzi!" One of the thugs began to get impatient, among the few people who rushed in earlier, there must be his friends. After saying this, he took two steps forward, tightly gripping the club in his hand.

  "Wait, wait, wait!" Long Fei waved his hands repeatedly and took two steps back, bumping into Wang Qian's body. Wang Qian's proud chest was pressed against Long Fei's back, and a warm current flowed through the point of contact, suddenly drilling into Long Fei's body. Wang Qian immediately took half a step back, moving away from Long Fei's body. Long Fei said: "Your Majesties, we really didn't kill anyone, look at me, can this cripple kill someone?" While speaking, he gave Big Beard a signal with his eyes, indicating that there was still someone in the house.

  The big-bearded man shouted into the house, "People inside listen up! Don't think that letting a cripple and a woman out will fool me. If you don't come out sensibly, I'll burn down the house!"

  The room was silent, eerily quiet without a sound. The big-bearded man took two steps forward and shouted again. Three times in a row, there was no response. The big-bearded man got angry, the large knife in his hand swung horizontally, taking two big strides forward, heavily chopping at the wooden door. The already shattered wooden door was chopped in half by the knife, making the dark hole even bigger.

  Long Fei suddenly took a step forward, and in his hand appeared a dagger. His powerful arm passed through the big bearded man's shoulder, tightly grasping his neck, with the dagger pressed against his throat. The smile on his face instantly turned into a cold killing intent. Eyes like an eagle stared at the dozen or so rascals still stunned on the street. Talen and Zhao Yun jumped out from the door, standing beside Long Fei with their respective weapons in hand.

  "Drop it!" Long Fei's arm tightened, adding a few more points of force to the grip on Big Beard's arm. Big Beard struggled hard, but unfortunately his neck was being strangled and he couldn't catch his breath. His body's strength suddenly seemed to disappear, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't pull open Long Fei's arm that was strangling his neck.

  "Didn't you hear? Put down your weapon, or I'll kill him!" A faint aura of killing intent began to emanate from Dragonfly's entire body. Looking into Dragonfly's eyes, anyone would feel that if he was willing, Big Beard would undoubtedly die.

  "Hold your hand, brave warrior!" A swift horse rushed towards this side, and a tall figure swayed in the faint torchlight, unable to see his face, only hearing a loud voice, should also be a burly man.

  As expected, the man who came was indeed a burly and robust fellow. What's strange is that he looked exactly like the one in Long Fei's hand. Same height, same build, same big beard, same dark face, even their voices sounded identical. The man jumped off his horse, bowed to Long Fei: "This strong warrior, please spare my life!"

  "Great Master!" The crowd cheered and gathered around the newcomer. The newcomer looked at Long Fei: "I am Zhou Cang, may I ask your esteemed name, brave warrior?"

  "Zhou Cang? Zhou Cang under Guan Yu's command?" Long Fei looked at the newcomer several times: "I am Long Fei, I have long admired your great name!"

  Zhou Cang was asked inexplicably: "I don't know any Guan Er Ye, I'm just the big leader of Wudao Mountain nearby. If you can let my brother go, I promise not to make it difficult for you!"

  "We can't let them go!" Wang Qiang suddenly stood out and said: "This gang of robbers must be lying!"

  Long Fei slowly loosened his grip on the dagger and put it down: "Other people's words can be doubted, but Zhou Cang is a big name I've long heard of, he values loyalty most, I believe him!"

  The big-bearded man rubbed his neck, coughed loudly, panted heavily, and glared at Long Fei fiercely. He walked to Zhou Cang's side, lowered his head and called out "Big Brother!" Zhou Cang looked at him and nodded to Long Fei: "Xie Zhuang Shi!"

  "Big brother, he killed our four brothers, this vendetta..." Big Beard said loudly: "I cannot swallow this breath"

  "Still not quickly thanking Dragon Strong for sparing your life!"

  "Big brother!" The big bearded man, unwilling to meet Zhou Cang's gaze, hastily lowered his head and turned his face to salute Long Fei.

  Long Fei smiled. Zhou Cang said, "My younger brother Zhou Lun has offended you, sir. Please forgive him. If you don't despise me, may I invite you to sit at my Wuniu Mountain and I will prepare wine and dishes to apologize for the offense?"

  "Haha... okay!" Long Fei burst out laughing, completely dropping his guard from earlier. Wang Qian couldn't understand how Long Fei's face could change so quickly, one moment smiling and the next furious, instantly transforming from a serious person to a ruthless and cunning one. His behavior was also strange, showing no caution towards this unknown bandit in front of him, seemingly different from his usual cautious nature.

  Long Fei did not hesitate, and with great enthusiasm, he led the somewhat reluctant Wang Qian and Zhao Yun, among others, to follow Zhou Cang and Zhou Lun out of the city.