Chapter Fifty-Two: Even a Broken Sleeve Can Be Straightened

The Tianmen Mountain range stretches east and west, without treacherous terrain or many traps, making it not difficult to infiltrate. However, the mountain is teeming with lackeys, and patrols are frequent, making it easy to be discovered.

The main peak, Tianmen Peak, is surrounded by mountains and serves as the base of Tianmen Fortress, the place where the bandits hold their councils.

Tianmen Peak is the tallest among the Tianmen mountains, nestled amidst the range, and thus it is easy to spot outsiders—this is why Lin Ruhai and the other chieftains have long enjoyed peace of mind.

Gazing at Tianmen Mountain before them, the faces of Luo Changning and his companions were grave: Su Meng had indeed been abducted by the bandits.

“Now that we know Aunt Su is on the mountain, what should we do? Do we storm the mountain and snatch her back, or sneak up and rescue her secretly?” Ma Xue’e asked, torn with indecision.

It was the first time she had encountered such a situation. She had no idea how to handle it, and this Tianmen Mountain, which she had never visited, held no appeal for her, playful as she was.

“We should split up. That way, we’ll be less conspicuous and harder to detect,” Luo Changning said, lowering his gaze and thinking for a moment.

Ma Qingyun, standing nearby, exchanged a glance with Luo Changning and nodded in tacit agreement; it was clear the two had the same idea.

“How exactly do we split up?” Ma Xue’e asked, her almond eyes wide.

Soon, as if struck by inspiration, excitement bloomed across her face.

She clapped her hands together and exclaimed, “I get it! Isn’t it like those military treatises say? One group openly confronts the bandits to distract them, while another sneaks in and rescues Aunt Su! That’s called ‘striking east while attacking west, covertly crossing the warehouse,’ right, Brother Changning?”

Ma Xue’e’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Luo Changning, seeking his praise and affection.

It must be said, Ma Xue’e truly was the joy-bringer of the group, far more genuine than the calculating and two-faced Mo Feng.

Luo Changning thought: If one day this cheerful soul were no longer by his side, how dull life would be, how many joys would vanish!

Though his path ahead was arduous and he had no need for such amusements, after the day his great vengeance was fulfilled, would his life still hold a vibrant, lovable girl like Ma Xue’e?

“Yes, Xue’e, your guess is almost spot on. The direction is right, though the process differs a bit,” Luo Changning smiled gently at her, his eyes filled with appreciative encouragement.

“Yay, I knew it!” she cheered.

At this moment, the quiet and honest Zhong Bo, barely noticed, spoke up anxiously, “Young master, do you mean…”

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Watching Zhong Bo’s furrowed brow, Luo Changning knew he had guessed his intentions.

He nodded and said candidly, “Among those present, the strongest martial artists are myself and Brother Ma, so tonight, we will infiltrate Tianmen Mountain to gather information. As for the rest of you, return to the inn, and send someone to find Ying Long and bring him and his men to Dingjia Village. Tomorrow, you will confront the bandits openly at the foot of the mountain.”

“Yes, tonight Luo Changning and I will scout the mountain. If we find we cannot bring Su Meng out, we’ll hide in the mountain. If tomorrow you fail to retrieve her, we’ll strike from within and without. If all goes smoothly, there’s no need for direct confrontation.”

Yet there was one thing Ma Qingyun did not say: once Su Meng was rescued, it would be time to settle accounts with the bandits of Tianmen Mountain.

It was not that he could not contend with Lin Ruhai or dared not storm the mountain. Rather, with Su Meng in the bandits’ hands, any conflict would constrain them, risking her becoming a hostage.

The score must be settled, but the person must remain unharmed.

Ma Xue’e wholeheartedly agreed with their plan, never considering the dangers of scouting the mountain. She trusted her brother and Luo Changning implicitly.

But Qing Gu and Zhong Bo clearly did not share her confidence. Zhong Bo merely frowned in silent disapproval.

Qing Gu, however, argued, “No! How can we let the young master scout the mountain? If discovered, this isn’t a game—what happens if you’re caught?”

Anyone captured outside the mountain was safe for three days, but once inside the bandits’ territory, it was an act of provocation, and the consequences were entirely different—discovery meant immediate execution, with no room for negotiation.

Moreover, Luo Changning and Ma Qingyun were not simply passing outsiders; they intended to probe deep into the bandits’ stronghold.

For those who dared such a grave challenge to the bandits’ authority, even the greatest powers would meet fierce resistance.

“Yes, this matter needs further consideration. If negotiations fail, then we send someone to infiltrate. After all, Lin Ruhai must show some regard for the master of the martial academy.”

“Yes, husband is right. Young master, let’s try negotiating with the Tianmen Mountain people first,” Qing Gu hurriedly agreed.

“If they refuse to release her, we risk alerting them, making it harder to scout the mountain later. Aunt will be tightly controlled,” Luo Changning insisted on his plan.

Judging by the manure collector’s account, Su Meng was likely seized by mere lackeys—otherwise, they would have used an ox cart, not a donkey cart. Lin Ruhai’s character suggested that if it weren’t for subordinates acting on their own, there would be no need for secrecy.

Thus, Su Meng was in the hands of lackeys, which greatly eased their rescue. If they alerted the bandits, she would be moved to a place with tighter security.

Normally, if Su Meng was merely abducted by a few lackeys, the chieftain Lin Ruhai, out of respect for the Luoyang Martial Academy and the Su family’s medical hall, would surely release her.

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But Luo Changning dared not gamble—not even on a one-in-ten-thousand chance.

After all, no one knew if Lin Ruhai might suddenly act irrationally and insist on keeping Su Meng in Tianmen Mountain. With a woman as beautiful as Su Meng, even those who favored men might be tempted to straighten their ways!

Qing Gu, now calmer, weighed the risks and stamped her foot in a final attempt, “Even if someone must scout the mountain, it should be my husband and me, not the young master and Brother Ma.”

“No need for further discussion, Qing Gu. My mind is made up—this is the best arrangement. Besides, with Brother Ma, a master of innate martial arts, I am confident we won’t be discovered by those bandits. You two would only hinder us.”

Seeing Luo Changning’s resolve, Qing Gu could do nothing but abandon her objections.

“Young master, we’ll go back and prepare then,” Zhong Bo said.

The group turned toward Dingjia Village. The hour was still early, and Luo Changning and Ma Qingyun needed to return to the inn to prepare for the night’s mission.

They had barely walked a hundred paces when Ma Qingyun suddenly stopped and called out, “Someone’s here!”

“Who?” Luo Changning demanded.

They had been so absorbed in planning Su Meng’s rescue they hadn’t noticed anyone nearby. If someone had overheard, it could spell trouble.

They stood waiting, but all was quiet.

Ma Xue’e scratched her head, puzzled. “Maybe you heard wrong, brother. There’s no one around here, is there?”

They were in a patch of scrubby woods, their sight obstructed, relying only on hearing and intuition.

Luo Changning, lacking sufficient skill, could sense movement only within thirty paces; anything beyond was beyond him.

Suddenly, Ma Qingyun leapt toward the left, landing a hundred paces away in an instant. There, among a cluster of low shrubs, nothing seemed amiss from their vantage point.

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