Chapter 81: The Free and Easy Young Marquis (14)
Snow fell silently, and the night was spent in peaceful slumber.
Emmmmmm……
The only one who slept peacefully was probably Huo Yuan. Huo Xian held him in his arms, covered by both of their thick cloaks, incredibly warm. Huo Yuan didn’t have as many complex thoughts as a real human, so naturally, he slept well.
Huo Xian was okay too, managing to sleep for a few hours. Ning Chen and Qingzhu, on the other hand, woke up freezing several times, sitting by the fire staring at each other until dawn.
Morning came, and the whole world was wrapped in silver. The snow had stopped, and it was a sunny day, but the temperature wasn’t very friendly. Fortunately, it was warmer than the night, so Ning Chen and Qingzhu didn’t have to resort to hugging each other for warmth.
The four didn’t waste time and immediately headed to where the army might arrive.
An hour later, Huo Xian saw the army from a distance.
A thousand people might seem like a lot in other contexts, but from afar, it was just a short line.
Ning Chen hadn’t put on disguise makeup. When they approached the procession and were stopped, he revealed his identity and stated that he knew of an ambush. Seeing that Ning Chen’s group consisted of only four people, they were taken to Marquis Huo.
Although Huo Xian’s appearance had changed, Marquis Huo recognized him at a glance. Not just him, but also Huo Yuan and Qingzhu. Marquis Huo frowned slightly, sensing something was wrong.
Ning Chen didn’t waste words. He directly informed them about the ambush at Giant Peak Canyon. However, he didn’t speak in absolutes because last night’s heavy snow and cold weather might have caused the enemy to change their plans. For safety’s sake, it was best to send someone to scout.
Marquis Huo frowned upon hearing this. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe it, but the accumulated snow would cover many traces, including ambushes and traps. Searching inch by inch would be physically exhausting work for the soldiers.
“We can take a detour,” Huo Xian suggested.
Marquis Huo’s eyes shifted slightly, meeting his gaze.
Ning Chen slapped his fan against his palm, agreeing, “Bypassing the canyon to take the small road and then returning to the official road might be time-consuming, but at least it’s safe.”
Naturally, Marquis Huo had thought of what they could think of. The problem was that while he believed Huo Xian and the others, would the vice-generals and the thousand soldiers believe them? After all, to most people, it was just Ning Chen’s one-sided word. Moreover, Marquis Huo suspected whether the appearance of the five bandits in front of Huo Xian was accidental. What if they deliberately leaked the news to Huo Xian to make him report it, delaying their march? The daily reports sent to the capital would then become “evidence” of his guilt.
Huo Xian had also thought of this problem, so he came up with a compromise: “There is no need to bypass the entire canyon. If we walk along the peaks on both sides of the canyon, we can search for ambushes and eliminate them at the same time.”
It was easy to say, but walking along the peaks was also an extremely time-consuming and laborious journey, possibly more troublesome than a direct detour. There were no paths on the mountains, and the danger of injury from slipping was doubled.
[Huo Xian, how about I directly scan the canyon peaks, snipe the ambushers, and clear the obstacles?] Huo Yuan suggested. This time he didn’t use his power without permission because a wide-range scan was a huge project. With the Administration Bureau’s black-heartedness, they would definitely deduct more than a thousand points.
As expected, Huo Xian rejected his proposal: [We can’t rely on you for everything. Besides, even if you point out the ambush locations, my dad will only get suspicious of you.]
[Then what should we do? Just stare blankly here?] Huo Yuan asked.
Huo Xian smiled: [I believe my dad won’t be trapped by such a small matter.]
After communicating with Huo Yuan, he signaled Ning Chen with his eyes. Ning Chen understood and bid farewell to Marquis Huo.
Marquis Huo was originally pondering, but hearing this, he was stunned. His gaze naturally fell on Huo Xian’s face, then quickly withdrew to meet Ning Chen’s eyes again. Ning Chen claimed that this trip was intended to experience the hardships of the common folk. Since he hadn’t experienced enough hardship yet, he wouldn’t travel with the General.
In short, Ning Chen spun a tale that sounded plausible. The vice-general in the team also knew of the capital’s famous number one silk-pants dandy. What “experiencing common hardships”? The capital probably just couldn’t contain him, and he wanted to find romance elsewhere, right?
Before leaving, Huo Xian pretended to slip and secretly stuffed a note into the hand of Marquis Huo, who was quick to support him. He whispered inaudibly, “Dad, be careful in everything.”
Marquis Huo was moved. He tightened his grip on Huo Xian’s hand, responding silently: Take care of yourself.
Winter should be a time for rest and recuperation; even the Hu people on the grasslands wouldn’t invade. So, what kind of lively scene of eating meat and drinking wine should the bandits on Black Wind Mountain be enjoying?
Outsiders wouldn’t know, but seeing it with one’s own eyes made it crystal clear.
That’s right, Huo Xian and his three companions were currently inside the Black Wind Stronghold on Black Wind Mountain. This was his boldest decision yet—to infiltrate the bandit stronghold using the identity of the Southern Mountain Five Tigers.
They were lucky. Because of Black Wind Mountain’s “fame,” bandits from all over gathered to defect to them. After all, not all bandits could successfully rob homes and travelers. Black Wind Mountain didn’t accept just anyone; those who didn’t look like bandits or killers were killed on the spot with a single blade. At the time, many wanted to retreat, but they still lost their lives.
The “Southern Mountain Five Tigers” had some fame in the south of the mountain. Before coming, Huo Xian had trained the group in acting, so it wasn’t difficult to fool them. As for why the Five Tigers became Four Tigers, naturally, one tiger had died at the hands of government soldiers, so the remaining four brothers came to seek refuge. To add credibility, Huo Xian also mentioned the court sending troops. He believed Black Wind Stronghold must have received the news early on, so he could use this to gain trust.
Huo Xian asked, “Have you found out where the people kidnapped down the mountain are kept?”
Ning Chen shook his head. “It’s not that I didn’t find out, but that the people are gone.”
“…Gone?” Huo Xian frowned.
Ning Chen gritted his teeth. “Those animals don’t kidnap people. When they loot, they rape and then kill. This is a mountain of absolute bandits, a bunch of bastards who deserve to go to the eighteenth level of hell!”
Huo Xian’s hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into fists. Although he had heard early on that the Black Wind Mountain bandits committed arson, murder, and looting, only when he truly saw them kill did he realize how ruthless these bandits were. Human life was worth nothing in front of them, and they felt no guilt whatsoever; to them, it was just an everyday occurrence.
“Frenzied and mad, their deaths are not to be pitied,” Ning Chen said to Huo Xian.
Huo Xian said indifferently, “Then let’s send them all to hell.”
Ning Chen was stunned, then frowned. “What method do you actually have?”
A cold light flashed in Huo Xian’s eyes. “You’ll know in two days.”
They had ridden fast horses to reach Black Wind Mountain. Marquis Huo’s group wouldn’t be that fast, but based on the timeline, they should have arrived in Liangzhou by now. Huo Xian wanted to take everyone down before his father entered the mountain.
Initially, Huo Xian planned to use explosives directly. Regrettably, Black Wind Mountain was too large, and he didn’t bring enough materials. Flattening the entire mountain was a huge project. In that case, he could only resort to the inferior strategy—poisoning.
Although the method was despicable, effectiveness was what mattered.
Huo Xian had thought of this strategy before coming. Through Huo Yuan, he found a poison formula. Ordinary materials placed together could form a deadly poison. Ground into powder and put into wine and water, a small dose wouldn’t kill, but continuous consumption over several days would accumulate toxins, making it absolutely unbearable.
Therefore, the four were extremely busy in the middle of the night. Thanks to another heavy snowfall, the snowy night was silent and perfect for concealing their figures.
On their fifteenth day at Black Wind Stronghold, Huo Xian saw the current Chief of Black Wind Stronghold—Nie Wushuang—for the first time.
Nie Wushuang (Peerless), true to his name. Judging solely by appearance, no one could connect this person, who looked like a frail scholar or a peerless young master, with the ruthless Bandit Chief. Yet, he was indeed the current Chief of Black Wind Stronghold, a figure whose word was law.
Moreover, Nie Wushuang had dabbled in pharmacology. He detected something wrong after Huo Xian had been poisoning them for a few days. Even though it was a bit late, he immediately controlled the situation.
Consequently, the entire Black Wind Mountain began a comprehensive investigation, with the focus on the bandits who had recently defected to them.
One hundred and ten people were brought to Nie Wushuang’s Hall of Righteousness at the mountaintop. Bandits whose faces were already purple with signs of poisoning surrounded the hall heavily. Huo Xian’s group of four mixed among the one hundred and ten people, showing the same shock and panic as the others.
Nie Wushuang wore red clothes with a pure white mink fur draped over his shoulders as he slowly walked to the main seat. His face was so pale it was almost transparent, his lip color extremely faint. Although handsome, his eyes were sinister.
After an imposing welcome, one of the one hundred and ten people slowly took a step forward, cupped his hands, and asked, “Chief, may I ask…” Just as he started speaking, a man about a meter away from him drew a blade and swung it, instantly splashing blood three feet high.
“Gasp—” Everyone was shocked, watching helplessly as the speaker clutched his neck, retreating step by step, before crashing to the ground after a few steps. His eyes stared as wide as copper bells, dying with grievances unresolved.
Fresh blood spilled from under his hands, quickly dyeing the ground red.
No one dared to speak again. Nie Wushuang’s display of power was terrifying. Many people fell to the ground, legs weak from fear and poisoning.
But Huo Xian felt that Nie Wushuang’s move wasn’t as simple as a show of force.
Sure enough, once the crowd was silent as cicadas in winter, Nie Wushuang spoke slowly, “Recently, someone in the stronghold has poisoned the wine and water. I have no intention of finding the poisoner.” Hearing this, someone’s face lit up with joy, but after Nie Wushuang’s next sentence, the smile froze and quickly turned to terror.
The corners of Nie Wushuang’s lips curved into a thin smile. He said unhurriedly, “I intend to use your fresh blood to kill the chicken to warn the monkey.”
As his words fell, the circle of bandits mercilessly aimed their blade points at them and thrust them into their bodies.
“Young Master, what do we do?” Qingzhu asked nervously, his face tense.
Huo Xian’s heart skipped a beat hearing this. He looked up at the main seat, locking eyes with a pair of sharp eyes. Startled, he immediately said, “Prepare to retreat!”
“Southern Mountain Five Tigers!” Almost simultaneously, Nie Wushuang’s hand pointed at them in the crowd.
Nie Wushuang’s subordinates in Black Wind Stronghold were swift in action, striking wherever he pointed. But their prowess was limited; Ning Chen kicked out, not using much force, yet he sent a burly man stumbling and spitting black blood.
Ning Chen was stunned for a moment before reacting: “They are all poisoned; it’s just bravado.”
Up above, Nie Wushuang sneered, “So what if we are poisoned? It is more than enough to kill you lot.”
His words seemed to be a command. The bandits, whose legs were originally weak, gritted their teeth. Ignoring the smell of blood permeating the air, eyes bloodshot, their only target was the “Southern Mountain Five Tigers.” There was no doubt that if Huo Xian and the others were caught, they would face death by a thousand cuts.
Huo Xian snatched a blade from a charging attacker and slashed him in return, while communicating in his consciousness: [Yuanyuan, are you ready?]
[Ready.] Huo Yuan took out the explosives stored earlier from his emergency space. Huo Xian had specially made the explosives into spheres with external fuses.
“Ning Chen!” Huo Xian shouted.
Ning Chen turned and saw the “baby” Huo Xian had told him about in his hand. He immediately understood it was time to use it. He instantly joined Huo Xian to provide cover for Huo Yuan so he could light the fuse.
At this critical moment, Huo Yuan’s hands didn’t shake, nor was he nervous. After lighting the fuse, he didn’t rush to throw it. Instead, he counted the time—as a consciousness who had seen broad horizons in movies where grenades were batted away with brooms, he absolutely wouldn’t give his target a chance to escape.
However, as he counted down, a hand took the bomb.
“Chief Nie, I send you a New Year’s gift. May you have a good New Year down below.” It was Huo Xian. As the last syllable fell, the bomb left his hand amidst the shouts of killing, flying toward Nie Wushuang. Meanwhile, he pulled Huo Yuan, Ning Chen, and Qingzhu to fight their way out of this so-called Hall of Righteousness.
How could a mob like this deserve the word “Righteousness”?
“You spout…” Before Nie Wushuang could finish his sentence, a massive noise and an impact he had never imagined fixed the last thought of his life on “immense pain.”
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