Chapter Sixty-Four: Restraint
This time, he did not use the Dugu Nine Swords; instead, he picked up a bamboo pole from the side and wielded the Luo family spear technique. The Luo family spear was effective against scythes. He only needed to be careful not to let them get close.
Clang!
Luo Tong was quickly forced into close quarters, three scythes flashing toward his chest. In that critical moment, Luo Tong unleashed the Luo family's lifesaving move: the Inch Spear.
As the name suggests, within an inch, he could explode with tremendous force and drive the enemy back!
He had practiced it for seven years!
He had reached mastery!
He had tested it before—the power he could unleash within an inch was almost no different from that of a long-range attack. Now, this seemingly casual counterattack was in fact his strongest strike.
Luo Tong gripped the bamboo pole with one hand and met the scythes head-on without hesitation.
Crack, crack, crack—
Three sharp sounds echoed.
The scythes were knocked back.
The bamboo pole shattered.
“Luo Tong, watch out!” Li Zhi cried out anxiously and rushed forward.
Just as the three scythes were repelled and the bamboo pole splintered, three more scythes appeared behind Luo Tong, about to pierce his back.
“Stop!”
Not far from Luo Tong, a man in black shouted, “Everyone stop, stop...”
All the black-clad men retreated swiftly.
The scythes shifted forward, forming a defensive array.
It was clear they were well-trained and all skilled fighters.
Luo Tong broke out in a cold sweat, but his heart was defiant: “Hmph! Bullying me because I use a bamboo pole? Wait until I fetch my silver spear, then I’ll fight you again!”
“Please wait, young master! May I ask, where did you learn this Inch Spear technique?” the man in black who had called for a halt asked.
“Do I need to tell you?” Luo Tong replied.
...
While they argued, Li Zhi walked over.
Luo Tong stood behind Li Zhi and whispered, “Your Highness, these men are all highly skilled. We don’t know who they are; best not to provoke them. Let’s return to the city and come back another day!”
“Have you forgotten why we came to Luo Village?”
To recruit bodyguards!
And not just any bodyguards—experts!
The dozen men before them were all top-tier fighters. If they could be brought into their service, there would be no need to fear assassins.
Luo Tong understood and answered, “Very well, let me probe them further!”
He stepped forward and declared, “This spear technique is passed down in my family!”
“I neither change my name nor my surname—Luo Tong of the Duke of Yue’s household! Who are you?”
Although Luo Cheng had died, he was posthumously honored as the Duke of Yue.
The title was hereditary.
Luo Tong, from birth, was a young lord.
All the villagers present were astonished by Luo Tong’s identity, worried they would be held accountable, and quickly stepped back. The black-clad men, however, reacted entirely differently. Not only were they unafraid, they were deeply moved.
“Young master...”
“Subordinate Lou Yi pays respects to the young master!” The man in black knelt to the ground.
The others followed suit.
All prostrated themselves.
Luo Tong was utterly confused...
Li Zhi was also baffled: “Why do you call him young master? Do you know him from before?”
“We are the descendants of the Eighteen Riders. Because of ancestral instructions, we could not seek out the Luo family’s descendants and have wandered for years. Meeting the young master today is fate indeed. We beg the young master to take us in. We are willing to risk life and limb for you!”
The descendants of the Eighteen Riders?
Could it be...
Li Zhi's eyes widened as if struck by a revelation: “Your fathers—were they the Yan Yun Eighteen Riders of the past?”
“Yes!” Lou Yi replied.
The others nodded as well!
The Yan Yun Eighteen Riders were an elite special forces unit established by Luo Tong’s grandfather, Luo Yi.
There were eighteen members in total.
They operated mainly in the northern regions, rarely entering the heartland.
They were elusive and possessed exceptional combat prowess.
They could face ten thousand enemies and remain unflustered.
When the Turks invaded, Luo Yi led the Eighteen Riders into battle. In a single night, they slew thousands, terrifying the fierce Turkish army into retreat. The next day, they pursued and defeated over ten thousand more!
Remember—they were only eighteen men!
Such remarkable achievements were rarely seen in history!
But they accomplished them!
“Young master, please accept us! Even if there is no war now, we are willing to lead your horses, to serve you in any way!” Lou Yi pleaded.
Luo Tong was still in shock.
Li Zhi whispered, “We searched everywhere and finally stumbled upon what we needed, without any effort. Quickly accept them! That way I won’t have to recruit bodyguards again...”
“Very well!” Luo Tong waved his hand, “Rise, all of you. I accept you!”
“Thank you, young master!”
Luo Tong stepped forward, “Let me introduce you. This is His Highness, Prince Jin. I am currently serving as his bodyguard. From now on, you will follow me and protect the Prince together!”
“Your subordinates obey!”
The descendants of the Eighteen Riders pledged their loyalty, so there was no need to recruit further bodyguards. But the matter was not yet settled. Luo Village had been targeted by a group of bandits, leaving the villagers destitute.
Thus, the villagers set an ambush late at night, hoping to intercept the bandits at the village entrance.
“Under the emperor’s nose, in the capital’s territory, they dare to plunder?”
“What manner of bandits could be so bold?” Li Zhi asked.
“Alas!”
“Those bandits reside thirty miles away on Bao’er Mountain. All the nearby villages have suffered from their raids. Luo Village was forced into self-defense!”
...
Luo Tong frowned, “Isn’t anyone dealing with them?”
“What about the authorities?”
“The authorities have tried several times but failed! These bandits are extremely cunning. They only steal valuables and never harm lives. As such, the authorities have become complacent!”
Li Zhi snorted, “If the authorities won’t act, then we shall!”
“Such petty bandits dare to run amok in my territory—they clearly don’t respect me!”
“When will they come?” Li Zhi asked a nearby villager.
“Most likely tonight!”
Li Zhi instructed Luo Tong to clear the corpses from the road.
They prepared to ambush the bandits.
Night fell.
The moon was hidden, the wind high.
Not even a hand could be seen before one’s face.
At the silent village entrance, as the breeze passed, the air was tinged with the faint scent of blood.
All the villagers and the descendants of the Eighteen Riders hid inside the wooden houses flanking the road.
Until midnight.
The long-awaited bandits appeared.
There were about fifty of them, all mounted on warhorses, wielding spears and carrying bows and arrows. Even their clothes were identical—every one clad in dark garb.
They looked less like bandits and more like a trained army!
Li Zhi whispered, “Is it them?”
“Yes.”
“These don’t look like bandits. Their equipment must have cost tens of thousands, at the very least. Would bandits be so well-off?” Li Zhi observed carefully, sensing something amiss.
“Your Highness means...someone is posing as bandits, plundering the people to amass wealth?” Luo Tong was astonished. Were there truly some so bold as to risk death?
...
As the bandits drew near.
Luo Tong ordered everyone to prepare for battle!
“Loose arrows!”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
As the bandits passed the village entrance, they were ambushed.
Over fifty riders—half fell in an instant.
Just as when Luo Tong’s group entered the village at first.
Thud, thud, thud...
“Careful, it’s an ambush!”
“Ah!” One by one, the bandits fell, and soon only a dozen remained.