I'll Take This Bounty

The Zhao family was the richest in Hengnan County, and their residence was naturally grand and imposing, located at the easternmost edge of the county town.

Su Chen walked along the bluestone street and spotted the two large characters "Zhao Residence" from afar, set against vermilion lacquer and traced in gold powder.

Beneath the large "Zhao Residence" plaque stood two vermilion gates over ten feet tall.

At that moment, several servants in blue stood on either side of the gates, welcoming guests and seeing them off.

Most of those entering and leaving were wandering martial artists carrying sabers or swords.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who wants this job." Su Chen chuckled to himself before quickening his pace toward the entrance of Zhao Residence.

Seeing Su Chen's black fitted clothes and the Ring-Pommel Saber hanging at his waist, one of the gatekeepers asked, "Hero, are you here to...?"

"To claim the bounty," Su Chen replied softly.

A smile immediately appeared on the servant's face. He nodded and said, "Please come in."

As he spoke, he led Su Chen into the residence.

The two passed through the outer courtyard, crossed the screen wall, and only then truly entered the main courtyard of the Zhao Residence.

Torches burned in the courtyard, while several dozen martial artists sat scattered across the chairs on both sides.

A middle-aged man dressed in brocade sat in an armchair at the front. He was the master of the Zhao family.

The servant announced loudly, "Master, another hero has come to claim the bounty."

That announcement drew everyone's attention in the courtyard.

The martial artists gave Su Chen a casual once-over. Seeing his thin and frail appearance, which did not seem to suggest profound martial skills, they lowered their guard and looked away.

"Hero, please take a seat first." Master Zhao raised a hand, inviting Su Chen to sit.

Su Chen nodded and walked to the last chair on the right before sitting down.

The moment he sat, a sharp-faced fellow beside him leaned closer.

"Brother, are you here to sponge off them too?"

Sponging off others was also a piece of jianghu slang. It roughly meant using influence or trickery to swindle a little silver from wealthy households or local gentry.

"Too?" Su Chen smiled at the man. "So you aren't here for the bounty, but merely to sponge off them?"

Hearing Su Chen's question, the sharp-faced fellow swayed his head and replied, "I don't know about the others, but I'm just planning to grab a few taels of silver and run."

As he spoke, he looked over the martial artists in the courtyard with a trace of disdain. "These people have had their hearts blinded by greed."

"They haven't stopped to think. Master Zhao is usually stingy as iron. Why would he suddenly become so generous today and offer ten thousand taels of silver as a bounty?"

"I'd wager that flower thief he wants caught is definitely a ruthless character."

"Every last one of these people will probably not even know how they died if they dare accept this bounty."

"I advise you to be careful too, brother. Just muddle through and get a few taels of silver. Don't let ten thousand taels blind you and throw your life away for nothing."

Hearing that, Su Chen could not help but chuckle. "Thank you."

Yet inwardly, he praised the man.

His martial arts are average, but his brain works fairly well.

If this bunch really faced Tian Boguang, I'm afraid not one of them could withstand even a single strike.

Just then, Master Zhao spoke from the seat of honor.

"Thank you all for gracing me with your presence. Zhao is deeply grateful."

"No need for excessive words. Let us show everyone the silver first."

As he spoke, Master Zhao clapped his hands.

The next moment, a group of servants in blue carried ten large chests into the courtyard.

The chests hit the ground with a series of dull thuds.

"Open the chests!" Master Zhao shouted.

The next moment, all ten chests were opened at once.

In an instant, silver light filled the courtyard, followed by the sound of people swallowing one after another.

A full ten thousand taels of silver lay right before their eyes.

The impact on these martial artists was enormous.

Everyone's eyes were fixed firmly on the silver, unable to move away in the slightest.

Excitement also gleamed in Su Chen's eyes.

Soon, this silver will be mine...

Master Zhao was quite pleased with everyone's reaction.

"Gentlemen, the silver is right here. Whoever has the ability may take it."

At that moment, a bare-chested burly man at the front spoke. "Master Zhao, hurry up and tell us who the target is. I'm taking these ten thousand taels of silver."

Before his voice faded, another voice suddenly rang out. "You're taking it? Heh, did you ask me?" The speaker was a man gripping a pair of bronze hammers.

The bare-chested man glared fiercely at him. "What, you want to trade a few moves with me first?"

At the same time, the others began arguing as well.

The scene grew increasingly chaotic, as though a full-scale brawl might break out at any moment.

Master Zhao had no choice but to speak up and calm them.

"Gentlemen, please do not argue. Listen to me first..."

As Master Zhao tried to soothe them, the atmosphere in the courtyard became somewhat more peaceful. Still, everyone glared at one another, occasionally spitting out insults.

Master Zhao stopped keeping them in suspense and immediately said, "I invited you all here this time to deal with a flower thief. His name is Tian Boguang!"

The instant the name Tian Boguang left his mouth, the previously noisy courtyard fell silent, utterly deathly still.

Those martial artists who had just been shouting and arguing did not even dare breathe loudly.

Only after a long while did someone ask in a trembling voice, "Tian Boguang? The Tian Boguang known as the Lone Walker of Ten Thousand Miles?"

"That's right!" Master Zhao nodded.

The moment those words were spoken, several people immediately rose to their feet and walked out of the courtyard without looking back.

Of the remaining several dozen people, everyone except Su Chen wore expressions of terror.

"Master Zhao, farewell. We can't take this job." Another dozen or so people hurriedly stood and fled in panic.

The sharp-faced fellow beside Su Chen was also utterly horrified.

"My goodness, I knew this silver wouldn't be easy to earn. Just as I thought—he wants us to deal with Tian Boguang. What difference is there between that and sending us to our deaths? No, I need to get out of here too."

As he spoke, the fellow also stood to leave. When he saw Su Chen still sitting in his chair without moving, he could not help stopping.

He said with some confusion, "Brother, why are you still here? Hurry and leave. Tian Boguang isn't someone we can handle."

Su Chen merely shook his head and remained unmoved.

The man sighed and did not try to persuade him further, assuming that Su Chen was a novice wanderer fresh to the jianghu, blinded by silver.

Another person is about to die for nothing.

Then he dashed out of the courtyard in a flash.

Seeing that only a dozen or so people remained, Master Zhao looked anxious. He hurriedly rose, wanting to keep them from leaving.

"Gentlemen, why are you all leaving?"

"If the silver isn't enough, we can discuss it further..."

Just then, the bare-chested man stopped and replied.

"Master Zhao, for the sake of our old acquaintance, let me offer you one piece of advice. Do not keep this bounty posted. Take it down as soon as possible."

"Tian Boguang is known as the Lone Walker of Ten Thousand Miles. He is one of the top experts in the jianghu."

"Even if all of us attacked him together, we probably would not be able to withstand a single strike from him."

"If you want to deal with him, you would need to invite someone like Second Master Liu from Hengyang City."

"If you can't invite him, then give up as soon as possible. Don't keep these ten thousand taels up as a bounty. Give them to Tian Boguang instead—perhaps you can buy your life back..."

Only after hearing this did Master Zhao finally understand what kind of formidable person Tian Boguang was.

His face turned pale, and all strength left his body as he collapsed into his chair. He muttered unconsciously, "It's over, it's over. What should I do now...?"

But just then, Su Chen stood and declared loudly, "I'll take this bounty!"