Chapter 17: Even a Fool Knows Bigger Is More Fun

After breakfast, Gao Yuan took Wang Shuang to the stronghold hall. The bandits had already gathered and were waiting anxiously. At the sound of footsteps, they turned and hurried to clear a path.

One man failed to notice, still talking animatedly to a companion. Wang Shuang caught him by the neck like a chicken and tossed him seven or eight paces away. He hit the ground with his eyes rolling.

Gao’s mouth twitched. Wang really was strong. That breakfast had not been wasted.

Gao passed through the crowd and sat in the tiger-skin chair, with Shen Shuting and Mu Baizhi on either side. Wang stood behind him like an iron tower. Sun Shuanghu and Fourth Ding waited below, beside the chest of treasure set aside for distribution. The other two chests had been counted and hidden in Gao’s room.

Fourth Ding was neatly dressed, hands on his hips and nose in the air, the very picture of a petty man enjoying his new importance.

The hall fell silent. Gao pointed at the chest.

“As promised, we’ll divide this money among you. But understand something first: once you take it, you work as I say. I don’t want bandits who eat and wait to die. I want brothers who can fight!”

The men were taken aback. “Chief, we’re bandits,” one said quietly. “Who are we going to fight?”

Gao sneered. “Do you want to be bandits all your lives? Scraping by on this miserable mountain and worrying about soldiers coming to wipe you out? Haven’t you dreamed of wearing armor, riding into battle, and making your names known?”

Breathing quickened around the hall. What man had no ambition?

Gao rose and looked into the distance. “Follow me and work hard. I’ll lead you out of this stronghold, and we’ll conquer a realm of our own!”

It was a rebellious thing to say, but no one objected. The hall fell deathly quiet, then erupted like a tidal wave.

“Our chief is mighty!”

“Work hard and conquer a realm!”

Their cheers rolled out across the stronghold.

Outside, Feng Lingxue drew her fur cloak closer. Looking toward the hall, she said, “His ambition is considerable. There’s a tiger in his heart that wants to swallow the world.”

Lin Hongxiu raised an eyebrow. “Your Majesty, aren’t you giving him too much credit?”

Feng did not answer. A meaningful smile touched her lips.

……

More than two hours later, the chest had been emptied. Every bandit was delighted; none had received so much money in all their time at the stronghold.

Gao turned to Sun Shuanghu. “There are ten decent suits of leather armor in the storehouse, along with blades, bows, and crossbows. Take them and choose some strong men. I want a personal guard.”

Sun was delighted. “Thank you, Chief!” Everyone could see Gao was grooming him as a trusted lieutenant.

Fourth Ding edged over with a smile. “Chief, could you give me a job too?” He and Sun had joined Gao together. If Sun gained responsibility while he did nothing, Ding could easily be pushed aside.

Gao looked him over. “What are you good at?”

Ding thought frantically. “I can remember roads! No matter how complicated, I only need to travel a route once.”

Gao was surprised. He had kept the cowardly, lazy man mainly to set an example for the other bandits, showing how he rewarded those who joined him. He had not expected a useful skill.

“In that case, choose a few men. Over the next two days, learn the roads and terrain within a hundred li of Blackwind Stronghold, then draw a map. The more detail, the better. Do it well and you’ll be rewarded.”

Gao knew the value of a detailed map. Ding’s talent might prove useful after all. Ding agreed at once: no fighting required, and the work sounded easy.

The two men chose their teams and left. Alone in the quiet hall, Gao closed his eyes and gathered his energy. Then he spread his feet, sank at the waist, and began the breathing exercises of an ancient body-training method.

Time passed. His legs shook and sweat ran down his skin, wetting the ground. He did not stop until he was exhausted. After water and a rest, he picked up a blade and practiced.

Saber work rested on basic actions: hooking, twisting, chopping, rising cuts, and thrusts. More advanced techniques grew from variations of those movements. Gao drew his breath into his core, lowered his waist, and raised his wrist. His blade swept upward on a diagonal, then spun suddenly into a circle and drove forward like a tightening noose.

He had practiced the saber on Blue Star. Though his former strength was gone, his understanding and techniques remained. Once he had trained this body and brought it into harmony with his mind, he could return to his peak. His ancient martial arts might not make him invincible, but they could at least make him a prominent figure in the martial world.

When he finished, he found Wang Shuang sitting nearby, staring at him. Gao understood and smiled. “Want to learn?”

Wang nodded eagerly.

“Saber work requires finesse. It doesn’t suit you.” Then Gao remembered a large axe he had seen in the storehouse. “How about I teach you to use an axe?”

Wang grinned. “Yes! I like that. It’s big and fun to swing!”

Gao’s mouth twitched. Even a fool knew bigger was more fun. Men were alike at heart.