Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

"Alright, big brother, that's enough. He can't fight back anymore." Zhang Xuan shook his own numbed arm; that blow had really taken a toll. He bent down to pick up the knife that had fallen to the ground and glanced over at Zhang Yan, who was frowning, lost in thought, then turned to look at their assailant before walking over to stand beside him.

Zhang Yan was stunned, rooted to the spot. Everything had happened so quickly that he hadn't even had time to react. He simply stared blankly at the scene unfolding before him, not even noticing Zhang Xuan's glance.

Zhang Xuan crouched beside the attacker, gently patting his cheek. "You've got promise, you really know how to seize an opportunity. If I hadn't had this knife in my hand, either my arm would be crippled by now, or I'd be dead. That's the truth." The attacker curled up, clutching his wounded wrist with his other hand, brow furrowed, sweat beading on his forehead.

"So, tell me—who sent you? Are you here to avenge a fallen comrade? Or did someone dear to you die at our hands today? Say something. If you talk, I can make your pain a little less. But if you stay silent, well, I'm sorry—because I can't have someone out there plotting after my life. After all, a man only has one life, right? Have you heard of 'collective punishment'?"

The attacker looked at Zhang Xuan and, with some effort, forced out two words: "Collective punishment?"

Zhang Xuan had spoken softly; none of the other bandits nearby heard, only Yang Zaixing and Zhang Yan, who stood close, caught his words.

"Don't know what it means? Zhang Yan, do you know? Maybe, as a leader, you can explain the concept of 'collective punishment' to him." Zhang Yan shook his head. "Big brother, do you?"

"Xuan, are you really going to do this?" Yang Zaixing frowned as he spoke.

Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow at him, then stepped closer to whisper, "Go explain it to him first. As for whether I'll do it or not, let's see what this 'warrior's' attitude is. After all, we were about to leave, and then this happened—it's infuriating. If he's really just seeking revenge for his brothers, so be it. If my own brothers were killed, I'd probably do the same. But if someone put him up to this, then I won't hold back."

Neither Zhang Yan nor the attacker knew what Zhang Xuan and Yang Zaixing were muttering about. Zhang Yan eyed the attacker, feeling a vague sense of familiarity, but couldn't place him. This man wasn't under his command, and he didn't recall seeing him around Old Li either. Zhang Yan and Old Li were both major leaders, rivals but often together, and their relationship was fair—after all, Old Li had brought Zhang Yan into the ranks, though Zhang Yan had since surpassed his mentor. Over time, friction and fights were inevitable. While they didn't know every subordinate, they could remember faces. Zhang Yan was certain he'd seen the man before, but the memory was too hazy to grasp.

"You decide for yourself, but as your elder brother, I have to remind you—" Yang Zaixing started, but Zhang Yan interrupted him.

"Whose man are you?"

Hearing Zhang Yan recognize the attacker, Zhang Xuan quickly moved over. "Whose man did you say he is?"

"He's one of Boss Chen's men. Boss Chen is a minor leader under us. When Boss Chen came to see us today, I vaguely remember seeing this guy with him."

"Boss Chen?" Zhang Xuan frowned, turning to Yang Zaixing. "Brother, do you know him? Is he an enemy of yours? I don't recall meeting him."

Yang Zaixing shook his head, indicating he had never heard of Boss Chen.

"Boss Chen is the one you 'robbed' this morning. After you took his things, he was indignant and came to us. He is, after all, one of our own, always paying his dues on time. If our own man gets beaten and robbed, we have to at least do something, or we lose face among our peers. That's why he sought revenge on you. But..." Zhang Yan trailed off with a heavy sigh.

Zhang Xuan turned to the attacker, crouching beside him. "Is what Zhang Yan said true? Are you Boss Chen's man? Did he send you to kill me?"

The attacker snorted coldly.

"Oh, still have some backbone, do you? I hope you can keep it up." Zhang Xuan looked at him coldly, then picked up the spear still lodged in the attacker's hand.

"What are you going to do?" The attacker became visibly nervous at Zhang Xuan's actions.

"Nothing much. Just thought I'd spice things up for a man with backbone—otherwise, things get dull, don't they? Tiger, go check among that group over there and see if the little leader we met this morning is there. If he is, bring him over. Zhang Yan, have your men keep quiet and behave. At least don't cause more trouble, you hear?" As Zhang Xuan spoke, he pulled the spear from the attacker's hand. A scream echoed through the forest.

"That's rough. Look at all this blood. I should stop the bleeding, or you'll die from blood loss—that'd be no fun." With that, Zhang Xuan grabbed a handful of dirt and pressed it into the wound. When that wasn't enough, he grabbed more, packing the hole until it was filled, though the blood kept seeping out.

Afterward, Zhang Xuan placed the attacker's hand on the ground, stood up, and looked down at him. "So, will you talk? Did Boss Chen send you? Look at the state you're in—where's your Boss Chen now? How can he bear to see you like this? At least I'm trying to help you stop the bleeding."

Zhang Yan watched Zhang Xuan's methods for a while, then lowered his head and walked away. Yang Zaixing, noticing this, worried that Zhang Yan might try something—especially inciting his own men to act rashly—so he followed after him.

Zhang Yan sensed someone behind him and glanced back, understanding Yang Zaixing's concerns but not minding. "Brother, what should I call you? You've trained hard, haven't you? You've got some skill. Don't worry, I won't go against you anymore—not because I'm afraid, but because I don't want to see all my brothers killed. They've had it hard enough."

Yang Zaixing replied, "My name is Yang Zaixing. No wonder you became their leader at such a young age. Even though you're a bandit, I have to say, I admire you a little."

"Admire me? Forget it. You won. We can't beat you. It's that simple. I just don't want to lose more brothers. If I'd died back there, so be it. But to watch my brothers die one by one before my eyes? I can't do it." Zhang Yan wanted to say, they truly couldn't win. If they could, there was no way he'd have backed down. Since defeat was certain, why sacrifice his men in vain? After all, only the living can hope for a better future.