1 Chapter 1: Leading the Horse, Walking_1

Chapter 1

Mount Qingniu, Frog Ridge, Frog Fort, a few red-faced burly men.

"When the head of our gang was alive, we Frog Fort were so formidable that all the bandits on Mount Qingniu listened to us. But once the head died, our brothers either died, left, or escaped. Now only we few remain."

"The imperial soldiers are about to launch an attack, we few alone can't defend it, it's best to disperse."

"Damn it, the head of our gang is dead, leaving behind our young master who is just eighteen and you want to disband. Whoever wants to leave, get the hell out of here now, I...will leave first."

"Leaving together, leaving together."

On the Taishi chair sat Cheng Dalei, the young master of Frog Fort. He looked around with a wooden face, full of confusion.

"Have I...time traveled?"

In his previous life, Cheng Dalei was an ordinary university student. When he was playing a strategy game called "Bandit's Heart" in his dormitory, he suddenly fainted and when he woke up, he was in this world. In the run-down mountain fortress, the earth-built house, he is the young master of the mountain fortress.

What has come, then just acclimate to it.

Cheng Dalei could only console himself this way.

The memories in his mind informed Cheng Dalei that the name of the country where he was currently located was Great Wu. Great Wu was established 120 years ago, governed 13 states and 108 cities, and its impact was felt far beyond its borders. However, that was a very long time ago. Now the power of the Great Wu was declining, the local lords held their own forces, contending continuously amongst each other.

Years of war left the people with no means of livelihood. People who couldn't survive had no choice but to become bandits, so this was a world full of bandits.

The Frog Fort where Cheng Dalei was located was one of them. When the previous head of our gang was alive, Frog Fort was quite famous on Mount Qingniu. However, not long ago, the previous head of our gang died, his brothers were either dead, left or escaped. Now almost the entire mountain fortress was left with Cheng Dalei alone.

"Young master, young master."

A voice interrupted Cheng Dalei's thoughts. He came back to his senses and saw a middle-aged man with a goatee standing in front of him.

"Adviser Xu, you...didn't leave…"

Cheng Dalei was taken aback, feeling somewhat moved. The memories in his mind told him that the man named Xu Shenji was the think tank of the mountain fortress. Although he is a think tank, he is embarrassingly lacking in intelligence. He didn't come up with a single good idea, but plenty of bad ones, the previous Cheng Dalei despised him. But unexpectedly, when the mountain fortress was about to disband, he was the only one left till the end.

"True colors are shown in trying times." Cheng Dalei firmly grasped Xu Shenji's hand: "Adviser Xu, I will remember your sincerity."

"It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding." Xu Shenji pulled Cheng Dalei's hand away: "Young master, all the belongings of the mountain fortress have been taken away by them. The last skinny horse was left unwanted, so they let me take it away?"

Like a bucket of cold water thrown over him, Cheng Dalei slumped into the Taishi chair, he helplessly waved his hand.

A delighted grin appeared on Xu Shenji's face, he briskly walked out of the door: "Ling'er, quickly lead the horse here, we still need to rely on it for our meals after descending from the mountain."

Cheng Dalei looked at the empty large room. The once glorious Frog Fort, with five to six hundred minions, twelve chairs in the hall, the Eight Great Generals, the Left and Right Think Tanks... it was once feared throughout Mount Qingniu, running wild without fear. But now, only one chair remains in the hall, and only he is left.

Lonely and helpless, how is he to survive in this strange world?

Ding, condition triggered, "Bandit's Heart" is activated.

Ding, "Bandit's Heart" is activating.

Ding, "Bandit's Heart" activated successfully....

Huh, Cheng Dalei opened his eyes wide, a line of information appeared in his mind.

Frog Fort: A primary mountain fort that is on the verge of disintegration.

Owner: Cheng Dalei

Population: 3 (Master: 1, Think Tank: 1, Coachman: 1)

Ding, full of vigour young man, you will start from here, build the most formidable mountain fort, plunge into the turbulent times, and leave your legend in the world.

Isn't this....the cheap dialogue filled with the essence of a second-rate game just like the strategy game "Bandit's Heart" that I was playing before I crossed over? It seems not only did I cross over to this world, but I also brought along the game system.

Ding, the current population of the mountain fortress is 3, if the population decreases to 1, the main mission fails, "Bandit's Heart" closes.

Ding, a new mission "Retain the Think Tank and Coachman" has appeared, your think tank and coachman are about to leave, stop them, in your sincerest way.

Just as the system has finally activated, how could Cheng Dalei allow it to disappear? He rushed out of the earth-built house, extending his hand towards Xu Shenji.

"Think Tank, wait."

Xu Shenji and his daughter Xu Ling'er were preparing to leave when he felt a jolt in his heart and instinctively stopped in front of the skinny horse. "Young Fortress Leader, you aren't having second thoughts, are you?"

Cheng Dalei's gaze was immediately drawn to Xu Ling'er. She was about sixteen years old, with a cute little pink face, and eyes that gleamed brightly, as sparkling as a dew-drenched cabbage.

"Adviser Xu, this is…"

As Cheng Dalei focused his attention on Xu Ling'er, a piece of information came to his mind.

Name: Xu Ling'er (An unknown ordinary coachman)

Age: 16

Skill: Horse feeding

Out of a father's protectiveness, Xu Shenji stepped guardedly in front of Xu Ling'er: "This is my daughter Xu Ling'er. She has always been feeding the horses in the back mountain. The Young Fortress Leader hasn't seen her."

Cheng Dalei had not expect Xu Shenji, a man with such a detestable face, to have such a lovely daughter. Having a daughter like this made even Xu Shenji's ugly face somewhat adorable.

"Adviser Xu, I was thinking, you've been contributing to the Mountain Fortress all these years, and without you, it wouldn't be what it is today. I can't let you leave the fortress alone," Cheng Dalei blurted out excitedly, almost revealing his true feelings, but he didn't lie. Without Xu Shenji's inexhaustible schemes, Frog Fort wouldn't have declined so quickly.

"I'm reluctant to leave the fortress as well, but as an old man, I really don't want to become a burden to the Young Fortress Leader and cause trouble for the fortress."

"Burden? Adviser Xu, are you mocking me? If you want to leave, just leave. But by saying this, I definitely can't let you go. As long as I have food, I will make sure you and your daughter never starve." Cheng Dalei was clear in his heart that Xu Ling'er, at her age, certainly needs nutritional support. He then switched his tone, "Besides, if you leave the fortress and go down the mountain, with all the chaos down there, which mountain fortress would take you in?"

This hit Xu Shenji's soft spot. His notorious reputation as a cunning adviser had echoed throughout Mount Qingniu, and no fortresses would welcome him. If there were any, he would have left long ago, instead of waiting until today. The world beneath the mountain is far from peaceful. Things are indeed tough for a father and daughter by themselves. Encountering either officials or bandits, they might even get killed on their first day out of the mountain.

"But there are only the three of us left on the mountain. Can we really survive here?"

"What's there to fear? Live off the mountain if there's a mountain, live off the water if there is water. Fetch my weapon, I'll go down the mountain and rob."

Xu Ling'er dragged out a Xuanhua Large Axe from the house. It was single-edged and weighed 50 to 60 jin. Cheng Dalei picked up the axe and was tongue-tied. Was this really his weapon in the past? With his personality and his looks, shouldn't he have been wielding a green-bladed precious sword instead?

A son of gentle birth in a white robe traveling with a sword in the world, meeting a maiden and saying, "Miss, how old are you, would you honor me by becoming my wife?"

With this axe in hand, he reckoned he could only encounter an old lady, whose first question would possibly be: "Ma'am, do you have any steamed buns at home?"

Beep, "Retain the Adviser and the Coachman" task complete, reward: Instruction manual of Three Board Axe.

Three Board Axe: An axe technique from Cheng Yaojin, rumored to be taught in a fairy's dream, including "Chopping Head, Picking Teeth, Scooping Ears".

A stream of information integrated into Cheng Dalei's mind, and he had fully mastered these three moves.

"Young Fortress Leader, it is too dangerous for you to go down the mountain alone."

"No, not alone, you're coming with me."

"I…"

"What, got any questions?" Cheng Dalei hoisted the axe onto his shoulder. This axe was really heavy; his pre-transmigration body couldn't even lift it.

Seeing the axe which was as big as his own head, Xu Shenji wisely puckered his lips together.

Cheng Dalei mounted the horse with the axe on his shoulder. "Lead the horse, let's go."

Beep, received task "Complete First Robbery Before Sunset", successful task: Reward lottery chances 1.

Beep, spirited young man, robbery is the start of becoming a qualified bandit. Take the first step bravely, and countless exciting adventures await you ahead.

Sigh, it's another line full of chuunibyou flavour.

...

As the sun set in the west, an old man, a skinny horse, and a young man carrying an axe walked away, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.

"Young Fortress Leader, shall we…"

"No." The young man cut the old man off: "Call me the Big Leader."

Facing the setting sun, the young man suddenly raised his axe and let out a wild cry.

The skinny horse lifted its head in response, letting out a loud neigh.