Chapter 908 - 908: The Sackcloth-Clad Ambush

Xiao Feng was unaware that in a cave three miles ahead, indeed someone was lying in ambush.

The leader was a man with rough skin and a face full of pockmarks, appearing just over thirty years old. His name was Tie Yanmin, the son of the village chief of Iron Village.

Gathered around him were seven or eight others, all similar in age to him.

"Let me go over it again, see if there's anything to add," Tie Yanmin said in a low voice. "Xiao Wu is watching from the mountain. When he sees the old mule, he'll throw down three stones as a signal.

Then we'll get ready. As soon as the old mule arrives, we rush out to grab the goods, then run in different directions.

Remember, never let the old mule see our faces!"

"What if the old mule resists?" someone asked.

Tie Yanmin cursed, "With so many strong young men, if we can't take down an old man, we might as well crawl back into our mother's wombs and be born again!

Besides, you know the old mule's character, he loves money but cherishes his life more."

After a moment of silence, someone else asked, "What if, I mean what if, the old mule happens to see one of our faces, then..."

A fierce glint flashed in Tie Yanmin's eyes as he viciously said, "Then we leave no loose ends, silence him directly!

After all, this damn mountain road has no surveillance. By then, push the cart into the field. If anyone finds it, they'll just think the old mule crashed, no one will suspect us."

"But if it looks like an accident, the goods on the cart..."

"Shut up!" Tie Yanmin, clearly lacking patience, said, "A man must be decisive. If you're afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, you can't accomplish anything big. Anyone not wanting in can back out now."

The cave fell silent.

Tie Yanmin nodded in satisfaction, "See? We're just getting some food and drink, nothing will happen, rest assured."

...

The mule cart moved steadily, with Sun Shijie and the old mule seeming to have a lot in common and chatting along the way.

Xiao Feng was also happy with the leisure, having seen enough hustle and bustle in the city; occasionally enjoying the countryside scenery was a pleasure of its own.

The next moment, he frowned sharply.

Because just as he looked up, he seemed to catch a glimpse of something moving atop the mountain.

Looking more closely, he found nothing there.

This phenomenon is quite common; sometimes you feel something moved, but it's actually just a visual illusion.

However, Xiao Feng decided not to dismiss it as an illusion.

In unfamiliar environments, it's always better to be cautious.

"We've been sitting so long, my back and waist are sore. Let's get off and walk a bit," Xiao Feng stretched and said lazily.

Sun Shijie pounded his waist and agreed, "Exactly, get off, have a smoke, and stretch a bit."

He didn't notice anything unusual, nor did he catch the meaning in Xiao Feng's words, but genuinely felt tired.

Even sitting in a car for too long can be uncomfortable, let alone a constantly shaking mule cart.

The old mule didn't object either and got off the cart to walk.

Xiao Feng walked at the rear, quietly surveying and taking note of movements around them.

Three minutes later, as the mule cart approached a cave, a group of eight people suddenly charged out, blocking the way.

Their clothes were all tightly covered in burlap sacks, including their heads. The sacks had two holes cut for the eyes, and the necks were tied with ropes to prevent the wind from blowing them off.

Xiao Feng looked up, realizing there was someone on the mountain top earlier, undoubtedly acting as a lookout.

Tie Yanmin was momentarily startled upon seeing the old mule with two others, but still said, "Stay put, we just want the goods!"

His tone and voice sounded deliberately contrived, clearly trying not to reveal his original voice.

"The cart holds goods for our entire village. If they're lost, I can't explain myself back home," the old mule pleaded, hands clasped in a begging gesture, "Could you take just half?"

"Shut the hell up! What right do you have to bargain with me?" Tie Yanmin cursed, waving his arm, and the seven others immediately lunged for the mule cart.

The old mule hurriedly ran to the side, watching helplessly as the goods on the cart were taken away.

"This old guy has some decent cigarettes!" someone said as they tossed a ten-Yuan-per-box cigarette into a sack.

Tie Yanmin kicked him, "What did I tell you?"

The man immediately lost his bravado, remembering Tie Yanmin's instructions to keep silent to avoid being recognized by the old mule.

At this moment, Xiao Feng stepped forward and said, "I don't care about the other stuff, but give me back those cigarettes.

None of my belongings have ever been stolen!"

The masked man packing the goods into a sack was momentarily stunned, unable to react.

Tie Yanmin picked up a sharp stone from the ground and strode towards Xiao Feng. "How about I give you this instead?"

"No, no, no, he's just joking, no need to get physical," the old mule stepped in to block Xiao Feng, desperately winking at him.

In fact, when it came to losses, he undoubtedly suffered the most.

Just that slab of pork was worth thousands, and with the grains and oil, it was about ten thousand Yuan.

But as the saying goes, better to bend than break, especially since the other side has eight strong guys, while on their side, only one person could fight. It was a fight without odds.

Selfishly speaking, the old mule also feared Xiao Feng acting on impulse and getting them both beaten up.

Xiao Feng gently pushed the old mule aside.

The old mule wanted to continue blocking but was pulled back by Sun Shijie first.

"Don't worry, the goods on the cart—none will be taken. How they took them is how they'll return them," Sun Shijie calmly said, as if discussing the most ordinary thing.

The old mule frowned slightly, seeing Sun Shijie didn't look like he was joking, thinking that this man wasn't simple.

One often only needs to see a person's composure in the face of big matters to judge them, and this old guy's calm demeanor closely resembled the hidden masters in movies.

At this moment, Xiao Feng was already taking action.

Tie Yanmin raised the stone to smash it on Xiao Feng's head but, before he could raise his hand, his wrist was gripped, and his abdomen received a heavy blow, making him scream and fall to the ground.

Seeing this, the others stopped and rushed to help.

One of them circled behind Xiao Feng, attempting a sneak attack.

But as he neared, he was discovered and kicked flying into the fields.

Xiao Feng coldly looked at the remaining six, not wasting words, walking over as if on a stroll. In less than a minute, all six were down, beaten so decisively that "shattered like glass" was not an exaggeration!