Chapter Twenty: A World Gone Mad

Yang Xiaolin was greatly shocked by what he heard. Zhang Zuolin? Could this be the same man as the King of the Northeast? He was skeptical. In history, Zhang Zuolin was a notorious bandit chief, ruthless and merciless. Yet this Zhang Zuolin before him looked refined and gentle, with not a trace of a bandit’s air.

At this moment, Golden Broadsword clasped his fists and said, “Brother Zhang, you are truly generous, and I am deeply impressed. At present, I am troubled by some affairs and it is inconvenient for me to stay longer, but I will certainly pay you a proper visit another day.”

Zhang Zuolin responded politely and didn’t press further. “Old Hu, prepare some medicinal supplies for me—enough to treat gunshot wounds, knife wounds, and frostbite. However much you have, I’ll take it all.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaolin frowned. What did Zhang Zuolin need these medicines for? He sensed something was off. As this thought arose, his sharp gaze swept over Zhang Zuolin again, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

Old Hu was also a bit suspicious. “Captain Zhang, are the bandits coming to attack you again?”

Zhang Zuolin chuckled, showing no concern that Yang Xiaolin and Golden Broadsword, as outsiders, might overhear. “Not this time. I’m not being attacked; I’m going to attack the bandits! The trouble caused by the bandits on Gu Lun Mountain has grown too great. The prefect has ordered me to eliminate them.”

His face radiated pride—serving the authorities meant a chance to bring honor to his ancestors. Yang Xiaolin knew well that suppressing bandits was Zhang Zuolin’s first step to power, the opportunity that allowed him to amass his strength and eventually become the King of the Northeast.

Yet now, despite Yang Xiaolin’s arrival, Zhang Zuolin was still preparing to wipe out his gang! What a twist of fate—enemies truly meet on narrow roads.

If he wanted to make something of himself here, his first task would be to remove the future King of the Northeast standing in his way! A sly glint flashed in Yang Xiaolin’s eyes. Suddenly, he stepped forward and addressed Zhang Zuolin: “Captain Zhang, I have an unworthy request, and I hope you’ll grant it. My brother and I are deeply indebted to you, and if you would allow us to serve under your command, it would be our greatest honor!”

Zhang Zuolin glanced at the two of them. “It was a trifling matter, not worth mentioning. There’s no need to be so formal. This campaign to suppress the bandits will be extremely dangerous. The Yang Xiaolin on Gu Lun Mountain is a ruthless devil who kills without blinking—this is no child’s game.”

Yang Xiaolin found it amusing to hear Zhang Zuolin describe himself this way, but he pressed on. “Captain, my brother and I are accustomed to hardship and danger. My elder brother here is an excellent marksman—I’m certain we can be of help to you. Moreover—” A hint of embarrassment appeared on Yang Xiaolin’s face. “We have no means to live at the moment—not just for medicine, but even for food. If you could grant us a meal, we’d be eternally grateful.”

Zhang Zuolin turned his gaze to Golden Broadsword. “Oh? Is that so? You can shoot?”

Golden Broadsword, seeing Yang Xiaolin’s cue, thumped his chest. “I’m not boasting, but at a hundred paces, I can shoot a sparrow off a tree!”

Zhang Zuolin’s eyes lit up. He pulled out the Russian-made revolver at his waist and tossed it to Golden Broadsword. “See that small stone on the roof across the way? Shoot it down for me!”

Golden Broadsword took aim and fired. The stone disappeared instantly. The gunshot startled the people on the street. Zhang Zuolin exclaimed, “Superb marksmanship! With you two at my side, I’m sure this expedition will be a resounding success!”

Yang Xiaolin quickly added, “I am Yang San, and this is my brother, Yang Er. From this day forward, we pledge to follow you, Captain Zhang, and serve to the best of our ability!”

As he spoke, he made as if to kneel, but Zhang Zuolin would not allow it. He hurriedly reached out to help him up. “No, no, from now on we’re brothers—there’s no need for such ceremony, you’ll put me to shame.”

Liu Xianhe remained in the pharmacy. With Zhang Zuolin’s reputation to rely on, Yang Xiaolin was confident the physician would do all he could.

The two of them followed Zhang Zuolin all the way to Haicheng County—a distance of forty li, not too far. Along the way, Zhang Zuolin deliberately quickened his pace to see if they could keep up, and was pleased to find that both Yang Xiaolin and Golden Broadsword were swift and tireless.

Yang Xiaolin asked, “Captain, what’s the story of this Yang Xiaolin on Gu Lun Mountain?”

Zhang Zuolin shook his head. “I don’t know much. We’ve just been through a major war here, and many new figures have emerged whom I’ve never heard of. The prefect said earlier that he used to be a small squad leader in the army.”

Yang Xiaolin snorted, “To abandon his post as a soldier and become a bandit—such a man must be beyond redemption!”

Golden Broadsword almost burst out laughing behind them, but nudged Yang Xiaolin with his elbow. Yang Xiaolin shot him a look, signaling him to keep quiet—he was digging for information.

Zhang Zuolin noticed none of this and continued, “To be honest, the man’s got guts. For daring to attack the Russians at Ganzi Village, beheading Liu Yikun, and then slaughtering the Russians without mercy, he must be bold, meticulous, loyal, and yet utterly ruthless!”

He paused for a moment. “If he hadn’t made such a mess and lost all protection, I’d actually like to make friends with a man like that.”

Feigning surprise, Yang Xiaolin asked, “He dared to kill foreigners?”

Zhang Zuolin glanced back at him, seeing genuine astonishment—and perhaps a touch of admiration—on Yang Xiaolin’s face, and laughed heartily. “I was just as shocked when I heard! Over five hundred Russians killed at Ganzi Village—it truly lifted the weight off my chest! But this time, the prefect has ordered me to lead the militia to surround him—what a shame!”

Yang Xiaolin said, “Captain, there’s no need to regret it. He killed foreigners—even if the imperial court forgives him, the Russians will want revenge. His death is only a matter of time. If you can use his head to win yourself fortune and glory, that’s not a bad bargain.”

Zhang Zuolin’s lips twitched. “Do you take me for someone who covets wealth? The Russians have given us one month to capture Yang Xiaolin, or they won’t withdraw their troops. They also demand compensation for the five hundred deaths—two thousand taels of silver for each. The prefect has already