Former Brigade General Luo Xi was currently acting as their guide.
He led a contingent that included one hundred and fifty household guards, Flat Rabbit, Zheng Gouzi, two thousand militia soldiers—and, unexpectedly, an Elder Li.
Yes.
An Elder Li.
Specifically, one of the mass-produced Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun, Unit Three.
However, this Elder Li spent most of his time "resting" inside a covered carriage. He was transported by militia soldiers, rarely emerged, and gave no instructions. To anyone unfamiliar with the truth, he appeared like a wealthy but eccentric old gentleman tagging along for reasons unknown.
Luo Xi found this… unsettling.
Lowering his voice, he leaned toward Zheng Gouzi. "Brother Zheng, this Elder Li feels… strange. He must be a person of great status and wealth, correct? Why would someone like that involve himself in something so dangerous? Every important person I've ever known treasures their life above all else."
Zheng Gouzi smiled faintly. "Elder Li is different. He likes to experience life among the common folk."
Luo Xi muttered, "I've seen people 'experience life' before—but never to the point of joining the front lines of a bandit suppression campaign."
As they spoke quietly, Flat Rabbit was in exceptionally high spirits.
He pointed toward the continuous mountain ranges ahead and burst into loud laughter.
"I've been stuck doing desk work in Xi'an for far too long! My bones were practically rotting! Turns out, fighting is what suits this Lord Rabbit best!" He slapped his chest. "Chuang bandits—just wait! This Lord Rabbit will personally take your heads!"
A nearby militia soldier could not help himself. He spoke quietly, but honestly.
"Lord Rabbit, a rebel chieftain's head isn't that easy to take. Most of them can be beaten back, but rarely wiped out completely. It's very troublesome."
Flat Rabbit rolled up his sleeve and flexed his arm, revealing a muscle that… existed, at least in theory.
"That's because you are weak," he said confidently. "Look at this strength! One sword stroke chills forty prefectures! Within a hundred paces, my sword qi slays! Any scoundrel who blocks my path will not escape!"
The militia soldier replied flatly, "Lord Rabbit, that line about 'sword qi within a hundred paces' might have worked a few years ago. But our rifles shoot several hundred paces now. If rifles can't handle an enemy, sword qi won't help either."
Flat Rabbit froze.
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
He had no rebuttal.
From a distance, Luo Xi glanced over, then whispered to Zheng Gouzi, "Brother Zheng… your companion, Flat Rabbit, seems rather unreliable. He speaks endlessly, but not a word of it sounds solid."
Zheng Gouzi chuckled. "You've learned quickly. That phrase—'mouth runs like a train'—you picked it up fast."
Luo Xi stiffened. "…I did."
"That's his real talent," Zheng Gouzi said. "He confuses people by sheer volume."
Luo Xi hurriedly clapped a hand over his mouth. This was bad. Very bad. Ever since seeing the giant iron trains in Xi'an, strange phrases had started slipping into his speech.
If this continued, who knew what nonsense he'd start saying next?
As the group continued forward, a large manor gradually appeared at the foot of the mountains ahead.
Luo Xi's eyes brightened. "We've arrived. That's my home."
The Luo family estate lay at the foot of Tianzhu Mountain, in Shanyang County, Shaanxi.
The Luo family were local gentry. As the saying went: Scholarship for the poor, martial arts for the rich. A man who had risen to the rank of third-grade Brigade General could not possibly come from a poor household.
The fertile fields spreading across the mountain's base all belonged to the Luo family. Tenant farmers cultivated the land, and over time, villages clustered around the estate, forming a bustling settlement.
The place was called Luojia Gully.
As Luo Xi returned, the entire gully stirred. Tenant farmers peeked from roadsides and village paths, whispering among themselves.
Meanwhile, the Luo family patriarch—leaning on a staff—emerged with a large group of clan members to welcome him.
The moment father and son met—
Thwack!
The patriarch's staff came down squarely on Luo Xi's head.
"You unfilial bastard!" the old man roared, swinging his staff again and again with startling precision. "What disgraceful crime did you commit to get yourself stripped of office? My Luo family has produced this kind of shame?"
Luo Xi dared not resist. He crouched, shielding his head.
"Father, please stop! I didn't do anything wrong! I only wrote a memorial—truthfully! The emperor became angry, that's all! I swear I committed no evil deeds!"
The patriarch barked, "What did you write?"
"I wrote that a thousand firearm soldiers fired four volleys within ten breaths, driving back Mongol troops—"
The old man exploded. "Nonsense! Absolute nonsense! What kind of firearm fires four volleys in ten breaths? Are you trying to anger your father to death?"
Thwack!
This blow landed hard.
Luo Xi collapsed and went still.
The patriarch froze. Did I hit him too hard? He prodded him anxiously. "Hey! Get up! Are you dead?"
Luo Xi remained motionless.
After a moment, he stirred—slowly, carefully—and stood up.
"Father… I truly wasn't lying. It really was four volleys."
"Say that again," the patriarch warned, "and I'll switch to the iron staff."
Zheng Gouzi finally stepped forward, no longer able to suppress his laughter.
"Elder Luo, Brigade General Luo is telling the truth."
The patriarch snorted. "And who are you, conspiring with him to fool me?"
"You'll know in a few days," Zheng Gouzi replied calmly. "There will be a battle soon."
The old man's expression changed. He looked at the two thousand firearm soldiers behind them, then toward Tianzhu Mountain.
"So many troops…" he murmured. "Then something serious truly is coming."
Luo Xi briefly explained the rebels crossing the Yellow River, bypassing Luoyang, and pressing toward the border of the four provinces.
The patriarch had once served in the army himself. He understood immediately. His brow furrowed deeply.
"Tianzhu Mountain…" he said slowly. "A perfect place for rebels to establish a base."
He turned to Luo Xi. "So that's why you rushed back."
"Yes," Luo Xi replied. "These are Zheng Gouzi and Flat Rabbit, household guards of Shi Jian, the Garrison Commander of Hejin. I… shamelessly begged them to help."
The patriarch immediately bowed deeply to Zheng Gouzi and Flat Rabbit.
"Thank you for your aid. But the rebels are vast—often tens of thousands. For you to risk yourselves for my Luo family is too dangerous. Please, I beg you, return. We cannot burden others."
Flat Rabbit burst into laughter.
"Elder Luo, just hearing you say that," he said, slapping his thigh, "we're definitely helping."