"Hey! Kid, you alive? Seems like he’s breathing", a voice reached him, cutting through the rustle of leaves and the distant splash of water.

  "Lin Bin, take his legs, I’ll take his arms. Put him on the cart. Xiao Bai, give him a hand".

  "We’re taking him with us? Brother Bo, remember where we’re going".

  "Can’t just leave him here for the beasts to eat!"

  "Right".

  They saved me, Zhang Min thought, and then slipped back into darkness.

  The sky was growing dim; night was coming. His head struck the wooden planks with a dull thud, the boards smelling of old wood and manure, jolting him awake. The rattling cart creaked to a halt. He could hear footsteps and people’s voices nearby. Despite the pain, Zhang Min couldn’t fully wake up; his eyelids felt heavy as lead when he tried to open them.

  From the sounds, it seemed they were no longer in the forest. More people had gathered around the cart. Zhang Min sighed in relief, he had made it out of the woods. A small, cozy village would be perfect for rest and recovery.

  "You say Tan Gui himself invited you?" a rough voice grunted nearby, followed by a loud spit.

  "That’s right. We met him in Puyang".

  "Hmm. And this one?"

  "Fell into the river. He’ll come around soon".

  "Hey! Open the gate! I brought recruits for the Brown Boar squad! What, have you fallen asleep over there?!" the same rough voice bellowed.

  Ahead came the groan of heavy gates opening. The cart lurched forward, bumping over a rut. Zhang Min finally cracked his eyes open and saw the evening sky above, where the first faint stars were glimmering. He had no idea how much time had passed, hours or days, but he was simply glad to be alive.

  People talked all around him, yet he still lacked the strength to turn his head and look. Overhead loomed an archway and tall gates, and in sight were watchtowers where armed men in filthy clothes peered down at him. Smoke from campfires drifted above the walls, trailing into the sky and mingling with thin clouds.

  After passing through the gates, the cart stopped. A fly landed on Zhang Min’s forehead, another buzzed nearby.

  Where have they brought me? he thought. Looks like a fortified place.

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  "You’re on your own from here," the rough-voiced man said. "Take the newcomers. Heh".

  "So you’ve come to join our Earth Dragon fortress?" — the gate guard rasped.

  "That’s right, master!" one of Zhang Min’s rescuers replied.

  "Mmm. Five of you. All former peasants?"

  "Yes, master".

  "That fellow on the cart — alive? Not sick?"

  "Alive and well. Nearly drowned in the river…"

  "Then follow me. I’ll take you to Commander Tan Gui. He invited you for a reason, let him decide what to do with you".

  Earth Dragon fortress? That sounds familiar… Zhang Min tried to recall.

  The cart jolted again, wheels creaking over rocky ground. His head hit the boards several times. Roofs came into view, flimsy, hastily built houses, though here and there stood sturdier two-story ones. It looked like a small village.

  Soon they stopped before a fairly decent house with a gate. The same exchange repeated, then everything went quiet except for the approaching footsteps of one man from deeper in the yard.

  "Ha! Brother Lin Bo, is that you? We met in Puyang!" came an authoritative yet friendly voice.

  "That’s right! You remember us, Brother Tan Gui?"

  "Of course! We had a fine drink together. So, you finally decided to accept my invitation".

  "Yes. As soon as we packed, we came straight to you".

  "Good! As promised, I’ll give you work".

  "We’re ready to work hard! But Brother Tan Gui, what do you need from us?"

  "Nothing hard. Just keep an eye on the coops and the pigsty. Think you can handle that?"

  "We won’t let you down!" the former peasants answered in unison.

  "That’s the spirit. Chang Li, take them to the barracks, get them settled. Don’t look down on these lads — they beat their landlord to death! Ha-ha-ha!"

  Maybe it’s just me, but everyone went quiet when that man showed up, Zhang Min noticed. He talks friendly enough, but something about him feels off.

  While he pondered that, the cart reached the barracks. They dumped him onto the ground like a sack of potatoes, and he finally got a clear look at his rescuers — four men of different ages, plainly dressed, axes at their belts. Around them gathered a crowd of ragged men, noisily discussing the newcomers without holding back, while the peasants just smiled politely, avoiding any trouble.

  Damn it! This looks like a bandit den! Zhang Min glanced around at the buildings and people. Shit! I remember now — Earth Dragon! That’s what the bandits at the ferry called themselves, the ones who shook us down for money!

  "Lucky you ran into us", said the eldest of his rescuers with a smile. "My name’s Lin Bo, this is my younger brother Lin Bin, my neighbor Lu Han, and Xiao Bai".

  "Drink".

  "Ah, sorry. Here, take it".

  "My name is Zhang Min. Where are we?"

  "Mmm. You probably won’t like it, but we’re in the Earth Dragon fortress. They’re bandits, but good fellows".

  How would you know, Zhang Min thought, but aloud he said, "Thank you for saving me, Brother Lin Bo. I owe you. I’ll repay you someday".

  "Don’t be silly. What debt?" Lin Bo, pleased with himself, scratched his nose. "Oh! By the way, we got here just in time for dinner. I’ll bring you something to eat. You’ll feel better right away!"

  "Uh-huh".

  I’m screwed! Zhang Min thought, watching him leave. I wanted to celebrate my miraculous rescue, and instead I’ve ended up in the middle of a bandit camp. Once I regain some strength, I need to get out of here! What if someone recognizes me? I’m still a mercenary, after all.

  When Lin Bo left, Zhang Min stared into the darkness. Smoke from campfires hung over the camp; the air hummed with noise, laughter, shouting, the clatter of weapons. In the distance croaked frogs and chirred cicadas.

  "Damn it…"