Chapter Thirty-Nine: From Bandit to Warrior

Yang Xiaolin was a man who had served as a soldier in the twenty-first century. Though he could hardly be called a qualified general—his command skills at best reaching the level of a squad leader—he was, in truth, a real soldier. Here lay the difference between a true soldier and a bandit: when faced with a blow, a real soldier could bravely confront his enemy, while a bandit's first thought was always to escape.

When the others heard that Yang Xiaolin intended to attack again, these bandits were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances in silence. This was wholly out of character for them.

Over two hundred men instantly fell quiet. Yang Xiaolin pointed toward the mine where the battle had just taken place. “Those Russians must be celebrating their victory right now. They will never expect that we haven’t left! They can’t possibly know we still have our eyes on them! If we fight again, perhaps we could win and avenge our fallen brothers. We still have a chance!”

While everyone was still trapped in the terror brought by the Russian regular army’s violent artillery, Golden Broadsword slowly rose to his feet. “Chief, you’re our leader. All actions follow your orders—you said this just a few days ago, and the brothers all agreed. We remember.”

With these words, he hefted his rifle and walked over to Yang Xiaolin’s side. Gu Tianming and the others, naturally, gave their steadfast support to Yang Xiaolin at this moment, and one by one, the bandits on Gulu Mountain came forward.

Yang Xiaolin glanced at Tang Yulin, whose eyes showed hesitation, and asked, “Brother Yang, this mine was difficult to attack even before, and now with the Russian army here, shouldn’t we consider another way?”

Yang Xiaolin did not answer him directly. He stepped down from the rock and walked to Tang Yulin’s side, lowering his voice. “Will you fight, or not? If you do, we’ll rescue Feng Delin together. If not, you’ll go alone.”

Tang Yulin avoided his gaze. The failure this time had indeed stemmed from his own misleading directions, and guilt gnawed at him. Hearing Yang Xiaolin’s words, he found there was nothing left to consider and nodded. “I’ll fight.”

Yang Xiaolin smiled. “Good. Then let’s first go scout the Russian camp.”

Yang Xiaolin’s determination to fight again sprang from his sense that there was no other choice, from his unwillingness to admit defeat. Even he did not realize that this battle truly changed the fighting spirit of these bandits.

What forges an iron army? Not equipment and training, but the repeated tempering by blood and fire—the men who charge through enemy artillery and over the bodies of their fallen comrades! Equipment and training serve only to improve their chances of survival.

Now, they would face the Russian artillery’s baptism of fire. For the first time, they were advancing voluntarily into the barrage. No matter how fearful they might still be, by following Yang Xiaolin into the fray, they were finally transforming from bandits into true soldiers.

Just as Yang Xiaolin predicted, due to their habitual contempt for the Chinese, the Russian officers inside the mine never imagined these bandits would dare return. The officer wore a faint smile as he gazed at the flower-like Domlikshava before him, thinking it hardly gentlemanly to refuse such a beautiful young lady's request.

Especially upon learning she was the daughter of a Russian general from Gan Zi Tun, the officer immediately ordered that Second Pole be tied up.

“Miss, he is yours now. All you need do is raise the pistol, aim at his head, and pull the trigger. Go on, avenge your father. But please, step back a few paces—three or four should suffice—otherwise, the blood might stain your dress.” Even now, he was concerned about the lady’s attire—a true gentleman indeed.

Domlikshava slowly approached Second Pole with the pistol. Second Pole, seeing a strikingly beautiful Russian woman coming his way, was first taken aback, then laughed boisterously. “All right! If I die at the hands of a woman, I’ll never lack for women in my next life! Listen, lady, make it quick and aim true for your brother here!”

Domlikshava stopped three or four steps away as the officer instructed, raised the pistol, and aimed at Second Pole. Her hands trembled violently.

Bang!

Amid the anticipation of several hundred Russians, she finally squeezed the trigger. The bullet struck Second Pole in the shoulder, and he grunted in pain. Domlikshava’s hands shook even more, and the pistol fell to the ground.

The Russian officer seized the opportunity to get closer to the beauty, striding forward to pick up the pistol and gently placing it back in her hands. He supported her delicate arm with his large hand, pressing his head to her shoulder and taking in her alluring scent as he whispered softly, “Don’t be nervous; let me help you aim.”

Tied up, Second Pole twisted and struggled, shouting, “You silly woman, can’t you shoot straight? If you miss again, I swear I’ll haunt you every night after I’m dead!”

Domlikshava had only just begun learning Chinese and could not understand Second Pole’s northeastern dialect, but his expression alone unsettled her, making her tremble even harder, her face a mask of terror.

Seeing he could not help her aim, and noticing the jealous stares from the men around him, the officer realized it might not be appropriate to hold the beauty any longer. He let go of her arm. “Kind-hearted lady, you truly can’t bring yourself to do such a thing. Don’t force yourself. I swear, if someone as gentle as you were to kill with your own hands, you’d be haunted by nightmares for a long time—it would torment you.”

At this moment, the mine owner came over and said, “Let it be, child. This man will die for certain. We’ll put him to death in ways you can hardly imagine. I think it’s enough for you to see his corpse afterwards.”

The pistol hung limply from Domlikshava’s hand as she squatted down and burst into tears. Her sobbing drew the sympathy of many Russian men; even Second Pole, bound to a post, felt an uncontrollable urge to comfort this beautiful woman, to hold her and let her cry on his shoulder.

The officer helped her to her feet. The mine owner smiled at the officer. “General, we are preparing the grandest banquet to celebrate this victory. On behalf of all Russian citizens at this mine, I warmly invite you and your men to stay—you are our most honored guests.”

“A banquet?” The officer hesitated. The scent of vodka seemed to fill his nostrils. There was wine in the camp, of course, but ever since the incident at Gan Zi Tun, it had been nearly two months since their last proper banquet.

“I’m not sure that’s appropriate,” he said. “You know, our battle at the front isn’t over, and those bandits were only routed—I haven’t captured them.”

The mine owner smiled. “Precisely why we hope you’ll stay a little longer. Only with the valiant Russian army here can we enjoy the banquet in peace. What do you say, General? Once again, I sincerely ask you to stay.”

The Russian officer, truth be told, did not want to leave. Here were beautiful women and fine wine, and the mine owner—known for being notoriously stingy—was offering up hospitality for once, which was a pleasure in itself. “But the commander has forbidden all banquets for Russian troops.”

“I know—the commander meant within the barracks. This is not the camp, and you are here solely to protect us. Surely the commander would not forbid the protection of Russian citizens so we may finish our banquet?”

At last, the officer found his excuse to deceive his superiors, and a smile spread across his face. “Very well, sir, you are far too gracious. I cannot refuse your hospitality.”