Chapter Sixty-Five: The Call

Li Zhi ordered his men to stop.

“Surround those bandits and take them alive! I want to see who dares to impersonate mountain bandits!” Li Zhi shouted.

Luo Tong led his men forward, enclosing the remaining outlaws.

“Who… who are you people?” The bandits were clearly bewildered. They had thought the village would be an easy target, only to fall into an ambush and lose most of their men in a single encounter.

What troubled them further was that Li Zhi and Luo Tong did not resemble ordinary villagers. Their attire and bearing set them apart—they seemed extraordinary. Though they were just children, it was clear the villagers deferred to them.

Could they be from the capital?

“Take them away!” Li Zhi commanded sharply.

In no time, more than ten bandits were captured.

At that moment, the Chang’an garrison arrived to inspect the situation. Li Zhi handed the captives over to them. “Investigate thoroughly. They don’t seem like real bandits—most likely, some powerful family is behind this. Get to the bottom of it. In a few days, I’ll come for a report myself.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Your Highness, this place is extremely dangerous. Please return to the palace at once!” urged the officer of the garrison.

“You all go back. I’ll spend the night here in Loujia Village.”

“Then we will stay as well!”

…

Cheng Yaojin had repeatedly emphasized the need to ensure Li Zhi’s safety. The village had just suffered a bandit attack and narrowly escaped disaster. If anything else happened, their heads would not be safe.

“Luo Tong, since Loujia Village is not far from the capital, why not return?” Luo Tong suggested.

“What about them?” Li Zhi cast a glance at the eighteen men behind him.

“They’ll come with us, of course! Judging by their state, they don’t have much to pack. Let’s head straight back to the city!” Luo Tong turned to seek their opinion.

Indeed, they were all paupers, with barely a change of clothes among them.

After bidding farewell to the villagers, they returned directly to Chang’an.

…

The next day.

At dawn, Cheng Yaojin, not even attending court, hurried to the city gate.

He had received word that Li Zhi had been ambushed again the previous night. There was fighting in Loujia Village outside the city, with dozens dead or wounded.

This was even more serious than an ordinary assassination attempt.

Cheng Yaojin was wracked with regret. Why had he agreed to cover for Li Zhi and Luo Tong’s excursion beyond the city? Now the responsibility was entirely his. If Emperor Taizong questioned him, how could he possibly answer?

At the city gate—

There were several tents pitched in the corner. The city’s guards lived here, taking shifts around the clock.

Li Zhi and Luo Tong, having returned from Loujia Village, found the city under curfew. To avoid arousing suspicion, they spent the night in one of the tents by the gate.

The descendants of the Eighteen Riders did not sleep at all. They split into two groups: one guarded Li Zhi, the other Luo Tong, remaining on high alert, fearful of another ambush.

“Young prince, Your Highness, Luo Tong, are you two still alive? I’ve worried all night—come out at once!” Cheng Yaojin galloped up and shouted toward the tents.

“Who are you, making such a racket here?” shouted Lou Yi.

“You don’t recognize me?”

“Why should I? Move along!”

“Well, well, you dare talk to me like that—”

“If you keep yelling and disturb His Highness and the master’s rest, I’ll throw you out myself!” Lou Yi retorted unceremoniously.

Cheng Yaojin was taken aback. What was going on? He had been in Chang’an for years—who didn’t know him? Who didn’t greet him respectfully as ‘General’? And now someone threatened to throw him out of the camp!

Had he woken up on the wrong side of the bed?

Unconvinced, Cheng Yaojin retorted, “You little brat, you dare throw me out? Go on, try it!”

With a swish, Lou Yi drew the sickle at his waist and struck at the belly of Cheng Yaojin’s horse, hoping to startle it.

Cheng Yaojin quickly drew a dagger to block the blow. “You really mean to fight, do you?”

“If you don’t leave, I won’t be polite…”

“Hah! Who are you trying to scare?” Cheng Yaojin feigned indifference, but his demeanor was certainly inviting a beating.

Lou Yi’s patience snapped. He looked around and shouted, “Second, Third, throw this brat out! Don’t let him disturb His Highness’s rest!”

“Yes, sir!”

The two had long disliked Cheng Yaojin. It was early morning—everyone was resting—and here he was, bellowing. He needed a lesson!

Clang!

Sickles drawn, the two swept them in a cross from left and right.

From the horse’s head to the tail, they swung in a flat arc.

Cheng Yaojin, caught off guard, dodged quickly but fell off his horse, landing face-first in the dirt.

Clang, clang, clang…

Veteran that he was, Cheng Yaojin rolled several times to create distance, seizing the chance to draw his dagger and fend off Lou Er and Lou San’s attacks.

Their weapons were superior; he was nearly struck several times and was forced to rely on agility to evade.

“Hmph!” Lou Da snorted, striding forward to join Lou Er and Lou San. The three formed a triangular formation, attacking in unison.

It was the same tactic they’d used against Luo Tong the previous night—three as a team, advancing and retreating together, their moves perfectly synchronized. Their combined force made their offense overwhelming and their defense impenetrable. No matter the number of foes, they stood firm as a rock, ready to counterattack fiercely.

Such was the terror of the Eighteen Riders.

Never before had Cheng Yaojin faced such troublesome opponents. Without his signature halberd, he was no match for them. Within four or five exchanges, he was forced into chaos; by ten moves, Lou Da had him pinned to the ground.

“Hahaha…” Li Zhi and Luo Tong lifted the tent flap, clutching their stomachs in laughter. “Cheng… Fatty Cheng, to think you’d end up like this!”

Li Zhi squatted beside him. “I’ve always heard you boast of your prowess—I almost believed you! Yet, you can’t even best two of my guards!”

“Tsk, tsk, from today on, I’ll see you in a new light!” Luo Tong leaned beside Li Zhi, looking him up and down in mock disdain. “You have much to improve!”

Struggling free, Cheng Yaojin leapt up and roared, “You brats, you’re clearly out to get me! What’s with these guards—where did they come from?”

Li Zhi smiled. “My guards—do I owe you an explanation?”

“Fine! I don’t care to hear it anyway!”

“You little guards, just you wait. Sooner or later, I’ll teach you a lesson!” With this threat, seeing Li Zhi unharmed, he mounted his horse and rode off in a huff.

“We should return to the palace now. Luo Tong, gather the Eighteen Riders and head to the Hall of Splendid Rectitude!” Li Zhi jumped into the nearby carriage.

“Yes, sir!” Luo Tong gave the order personally and drove the carriage toward the imperial palace.

Inside, Li Zhi lay deep in thought. After a moment, he lifted the curtain and said, “Luo Tong, how about I give these eighteen a new name?”

“A name?”

“Yes! Their fathers were the Eighteen Cavaliers of Yan Yun, disbanded over a decade ago. Now that their descendants have returned, we can’t keep calling them the Eighteen Riders. I thought of a fitting name—how about the Eighteen Golden Blade Guards? What do you think?”