The End

[Slaughter (Entry Level): 21%]

Effect: You have tasted the pleasure of killing, and Sha Qi surrounds your body. You can use Sha to break evil, and your mind cannot be led astray.

[Assassination Technique (Entry Level): proficiency 18%]

Effect: Presence reduced by 20%, speed increased by 20%

After killing his way through the entire Black Wind Mountain Stronghold, Qin Yan had raised the levels of all his skills.

Besides Slaughter and Assassination Technique, Unlimited Combat and Archery had also risen to Proficient Level and Proficient Level respectively.

It was an immense haul.

Among those at the same level, there were probably very few who could compare to him.

The Slaughter skill had also granted him a special ability: the power to gather his own Sha Qi.

With a thought, Qin Yan felt an icy chill emanate from his entire body, and a faint, dark red blood mist curled around him.

In this state, Qin Yan entered a state of absolute calm, and nothing could affect his emotions.

Moreover, this blood-colored Sha Qi seemed to have other uses.

Qin Yan just didn't know what they were yet. He would have to explore them slowly in the future.

Meanwhile, Qin Yan hadn't been idle either. He had gone straight to ransacking Black Wind Stronghold.

He had stripped Cao Lian, the other two chiefs, and the remaining bandits clean.

Before him lay more than 1,800 taels of silver, 27 taels of gold, and two manuals.

One was Cao Lian's family saber technique, the Wind-Crossing Saber Technique; the other was the second chief's flying-knife manual, Twelve Blood-Breaking Knives.

Qin Yan was somewhat disappointed with these things. After all, they had occupied Black Wind Mountain for so many years.

Yet this was all they had.

"What's your name?"

Qin Yan looked at the young woman he had rescued. She had delicate features and looked somewhat ill at ease.

"Xia E!"

"Mm. Go and call everyone who's still alive over here."

Xia E hurriedly nodded, and soon a group of women was brought before Qin Yan.

Every one of them was anxious and uneasy.

"I've wiped out the bandits here. I'll give each of you ten taels of silver to help you get settled.

You can choose to return home, or go somewhere no one knows you and start over."

Qin Yan looked at them and spoke in a low voice.

His words left them rooted to the spot. One by one, they excitedly fell to their knees again.

"Thank you, benefactor!"

Some even kowtowed directly to Qin Yan. This benefactor had not only saved them, but had also given them so much silver.

It gave them security for their lives going forward.

Such kindness was equal to giving them life anew.

A large portion of them took their silver and descended Black Wind Mountain, their hearts full of excitement and trepidation.

A few, however, remained standing there, unwilling to leave.

"Why are you staying here? Go home, all of you!"

Qin Yan looked at Xia E and the others, his brow slightly furrowed.

The others exchanged glances, then knelt before Qin Yan again.

"Benefactor, please take us in. We're fallen flowers and withered willows who've lost our chastity. If we go back, we're afraid we won't meet a good end."

Xia E sobbed softly.

In this era, a woman's chastity was more important than her life. Some obstinate people would even drown such women in pig cages.

Hearing this, Qin Yan frowned.

"Sorry!"

The house he lived in let the wind in everywhere, and it already felt cramped with just Qin Xiaoyi there.

There was even less chance he could let several women move in.

Qin Yan's words undoubtedly left Xia E and the others looking despairing. They exchanged glances, unsure what to do.

"The bandits on Black Wind Mountain have been wiped out by me now. If you have nowhere to go, you can stay here for the time being.

Things are chaotic outside right now, after all, and even if you women go back, you might not have anywhere good to go.

Once things have settled down, it shouldn't be hard to find a place to live and a job in Qinghe Town with the money I've given you."

Qin Yan thought for a moment, then said, "If I build a livelihood for myself in Qinghe Town someday, I could employ you."

Hearing that, Xia E and the others brightened. "Thank you, benefactor!"

"Stop calling me benefactor. It's a bother!"

Qin Yan waved a hand.

After spending some time on it, Qin Yan burned all the bandits in Black Wind Stronghold in a single fire.

Taking the wealth he had gained on Black Wind Mountain, along with various weapons, he promptly headed down the mountain!

This haul alone had increased his wealth more than tenfold.

Sure enough, a horse won't grow fat without night fodder. If I could make a few more fortunes like this, that would feel amazing.

The thought crossed Qin Yan's mind, and he even considered cutting down all the bandits in the surrounding area.

But he soon cast the idea to the back of his mind.

At the foot of the mountain!

"Why are you still here?"

Qin Yan looked at Zong Xiaoshan in surprise. Instead of going back to recover from his injuries, the fellow had actually been waiting here for him.

"You really did it!"

Zong Xiaoshan stared at Qin Yan, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"What is it?"

Qin Yan sized him up with a slight frown.

"Are those beasts Cao Lian and the others dead too?"

"They're dead!"

With a thud, Zong Xiaoshan immediately dropped to his knees before Qin Yan and knocked his head against the ground several times with a bang.

They were solid blows!

"You avenged my sister's murder. I, Zong Xiaoshan, will never forget this kindness as long as I live."

"Could you people stop kowtowing?"

Qin Yan couldn't help groaning inwardly, but he said, "I only did it for myself. You don't need to do this."

"No! As I see it, your kindness is weightier than heaven. From this day on, you're my benefactor.

My life is yours."

Zong Xiaoshan spoke with a solemn expression.

Seeing his expression, Qin Yan had a thought. The fellow was born with extraordinary strength.

If he could recruit him, wouldn't he gain a great asset?

Keeping him by his side wouldn't be as troublesome as keeping those women.

He thought it over again and again.

Qin Yan nodded slightly. "Follow me from now on. I promise you, as long as I have a mouthful of food, you'll have one too."

Zong Xiaoshan's eyes flickered, and then he nodded firmly.

"From now on, you're my boss!"

Having taken in a brother with extraordinary natural talent, Qin Yan was in high spirits.

"Xiaoshan, besides your sister, do you have any other family?"

"No!"

Zong Xiaoshan shook his head. "Both my parents died when I was very young. My sister raised me all by herself."

"Are your injuries all right?"

"Thanks for your concern, boss. The wounds have already scabbed over. They won't take long to heal."

"You're as sturdy as an ox, aren't you?"

Along the way, Qin Yan chatted with Zong Xiaoshan for a while.

Zong Xiaoshan had never learned any martial arts at all. He had cut down a whole squad of bandits through brute strength alone.

"Boss, you're back!"

As soon as they reached the village, Qin Xiaoyi came up to greet them, his face full of delighted surprise. He carefully examined Qin Yan.

"What happened at Black Wind Mountain?"

Seeing that Qin Yan was unhurt, Qin Xiaoyi breathed a sigh of relief, but then his heart couldn't help pounding wildly.

"I killed them all!"

Qin Yan said it in an offhand manner.

Hearing this, Qin Xiaoyi instantly clenched his fists, his expression full of excitement.

Boss really had wiped out all of Black Wind Mountain single-handedly.

Just how terrifyingly strong did one have to be to do that?

In Qin Xiaoyi's eyes, Qin Yan shone brilliantly, like a god!