Chapter 18: Wu Xiaolong

  The contract has been signed, everyone can rest assured and collect it, throw some flowers!

  The boy buried his head in the woman's bosom and sobbed loudly, with a slight tremble in his crying voice.

  A twelve-year-old boy, surprisingly fearless, picked up a stone and charged at a robust man in his thirties. His bravery was beyond compare, even among many adult men and boys. However, after venting his emotions, the only thing left in the boy's mind was fear, with a timid expression on his face.

  Wang Can smiled to himself, and for a moment, he looked like a child again. If he had really killed someone and could still remain calm, it would make him suspect that the boy was also a time-traveler. His gaze turned to the bandit with a shocked face, and Wang Can's eyes were filled with cold intent. With his left hand grasping the longbow, his right hand drew out a black arrow from the quiver on his back, aiming at the Dog Head Military Advisor who wore a sky-blue robe among the bandits.

  The middle-aged Dog Head Military Advisor's expression changed suddenly, and then a look of fear appeared in his eyes.

  Without thinking, Dog Head Military Advisor turned around and ran away, in the chaos even throwing down the fan in his hand on the road.

  The dog-headed military advisor was afraid in his heart, and he also knew that the archer behind him had accurate archery skills. He thought of a plan and ran forward while shaking his body left and right to disturb Wang Can's line of sight. However, Wang Can smiled coldly, thinking that if this little difficulty could affect his archery skills, then he didn't deserve to be a sniper and kill enemies.

  Wang Can's gaze stayed on Dog Head Military Advisor, his slightly closed eyes suddenly opened wide, and he let out a loud shout: "Kill!"

  In an instant, the bow and arrow shot out with a whizzing sound, the arrowhead aiming at Dog Head Military Advisor who was running rapidly.

  "Pffft!"

  A clear and crisp sound like a knife cutting through bone came, a black arrow pierced into the neck of Gou Tou Jun Shi, passing through it, after the arrow passed through the neck, it flew for a while before falling to the ground. After Wang Can shot the arrow, he didn't even glance at Gou Tou Jun Shi, and continued to draw his bow and shoot arrows, aiming at another group of mountain bandits who were still standing still on the spot.

  "Hmm... Hmm... Hmm..."

  One after another, black arrows shot out, each one fatal, and with every arrow that flew out, a life was taken away.

  That woman with a shocked face and a clear complexion held a little boy in her arms who had stopped crying, occasionally letting out a sob. The boy opened his eyes wide, with a strong curiosity in them, as well as a hint of admiration. The boy's big black eyes kept turning around, following the shooting of Wang Cang's bow and arrow, looking at each arrow hitting a mountain bandit, and after each hit, a flash of excitement would appear in the boy's eyes.

  A group of mountain bandits were shot and killed one by one by Wang Can. The remaining bandits fled in a hurry, trying to escape.

  Wang Can nodded slightly, and pointed to Zhou Cang and Pei Yuan Shao beside him. Immediately, Zhou Cang and Pei Yuan Shao called out to the soldiers under their command to charge towards the fleeing mountain bandits. Those who fled far were shot dead by Wang Can's bow and arrow, while those who had not yet escaped were cut down by the Yellow Turban soldiers who rushed up.

  In just one moment, all the mountain bandits were killed.

  On the official road, fresh blood flowed and splashed on the ground, causing the sand and stones on the ground to be dyed red.

  Wang Can put away the bow and arrow in his hand, glanced at the woman holding the boy, and then put it back. After dealing with the mountain bandits, Wang Can gave an order, and the soldiers under him gathered together. Wang Can pointed to the group of women whose bodies were still trembling with fear and said to Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao: "Zhou Cang, Pei Yuanshao, what do you two think should be done with these women?"

  Zhou Cang heard this and a hint of astonishment flashed across his eyes, while his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

  "Could it be that Master wants to take all these women away?" Zhou Cang fell silent for a moment, and finally shook his head, sighing: "Master, these people have just arrived here and were robbed by mountain bandits, suffering unprovoked disaster. The men are all dead, the children who survived were frightened out of their wits, leaving only widows and orphans, pitifully lonely... I think we should give them some silver to let them go!"

  "Your Excellency," said Pei Yuanshao in a low voice, "the calamity will not extend to their wives and children. These people are ordinary civilians, let them go!"

  Wang Can's cold and stern smile gleamed with satisfaction as he said, "Very good, you understand clearly. Although we are called Yellow Turbans bandits, we cannot indulge in self-destruction and do things that harm the heavens and reason. We are bandits, but different from wandering thieves and mountain robbers. Mountain robbers can recklessly burn, kill, and plunder, but we cannot. We only kill our enemies, not unarmed civilians. As the saying goes, 'those who follow the Tao have many helpers, while those who lose their way have few.' To establish a foundation in a chaotic world requires not only a strong army, but also the support of the people. The hearts of the people are the foundation upon which we stand."

  Zhou Cang's expression was stunned for a moment, and he immediately reacted that Wang Can was testing him. He looked serious, with a solemn expression, and bowed to Wang Can: "Your Majesty is benevolent, I, the general, admire you!"

  Pei Yuanshao looked at Zhou Cang and then at Wang Can, a hint of understanding and confusion in his eyes.

  Wang Can glanced at Bae Won-seo, who was still dazed and confused, and sighed inwardly. This guy was simply a fool. He walked slowly to the women standing together and had the soldiers hand out some silver coins to the surviving women. In a gentle tone, he said: "Wait for another four or five hours, and it will be dark soon. You should hurry on your way. The road ahead is desolate with mountains and forests, so it's best if you can reach a place to rest before nightfall. Don't stay in the mountains, or you might run into bandits again."

  "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

  "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

  "Good people will be rewarded with good fortune!"

  …………

  One by one, the women knelt on the ground, ceaselessly kowtowing to thank Wang Can, then left with their children.

  For a moment, the crowd of women with children left in a flurry, but the beautiful woman and the boy stayed behind, standing on the road without leaving. The boy had a stubborn face, his eyes full of thick expectation, while the woman's face was full of helpless expression, looking at the boy who stood still on the spot, sighing and shaking her head.

  "Alright Amun, since it's all decided, let's go!"

  The elegant woman gently rubbed the boy's little head and said softly.

  The boy nodded and said, "Mother, don't worry, I won't give up easily."

  After finishing speaking, the boy walked quickly towards Wang Can and knelt down in front of him with a thud. He said loudly: "General, Lv Meng's family moved to a new place, but encountered mountain bandits on the way. Fortunately, General saved them, so Lv Meng and his mother were lucky enough to escape disaster. Lv Meng witnessed the general's divine skills and wants to become the general's apprentice. I beg the general to accept me as your disciple."

  "Wang Can was shocked and said: 'You want me to be your master?'"

  Lü Meng said: "Yes, I sincerely ask General to accept me as his disciple and take me in."

  Wang Can's face was shocked, staring at Lü Meng's tender small face and the strong eyes in his big eyes. His heart trembled for a moment, but suddenly thought of a question, "Is this kid Lü Meng?" Wang Can's pupils shrank, and this child turned out to be White Robe Crossing the River, who had killed Guan Yu with one move. A hint of incredulity flashed in Wang Can's eyes, but he calmed down instantly. He hastily asked: "Is your name really Lü Meng?"

  Lü Meng nodded resolutely and said: "Of course, a great man does not change his name when he acts, nor does he change his surname when he sits. I am naturally Lü Meng."

  Wang Canguo burst out laughing and said, "This kid is so young, yet he's got such a big mouth!"

  However, a satisfied smile flashed across Wang Can's face. The little devil was quite good, and his eyes sparkled with a teasing smile as he asked, "You'd better tell me, what makes you want to take me as your master?"

  Lü Meng's face turned bright red as soon as he heard it, and he stuttered and couldn't say a word.

  After a long time, Lü Meng said: "I am not afraid of death, I listen carefully, I work diligently, and I can endure hardship."

  Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao burst out laughing, their eyes filled with amusement. Although they were just looking at Lü Meng, their gaze was full of admiration. Wang Can smiled in satisfaction, reached out to hold up Lü Meng, and said, "Lü Meng's answer is quite fair." He chuckled: "Good, well said! At such a young age, he's quite extraordinary. This person isn't afraid of not being clever; what he fears is not being able to endure hardship or being diligent enough."

  "Student pays respects to teacher!" When Wang Can helped him up, Lü Meng's small face was full of smiles.

  Lü Meng was young in years but his thoughts were not small. He understood Wang Can's words, bowed and respectfully saluted him.