Colluding with Bandits-This City Lord Was Truly Criminal!

"Ordinary citizens..."

Li Yan murmured the words once, then immediately understood.

That day, it had been the citizens who stormed the Shangguan Family, allowing someone to blend into the crowd and abduct Shangguan Xiyun while ambushing Shangguan Feiyun.

Since they had been able to manipulate the citizens once, they could very well manipulate them a second time.

Attacking the Shangguan Family was a minor matter. If they made an even bigger move, all of Dongjiang would fall into chaos. Once the matter reached the imperial court, both he and the Shangguan Family would be in real trouble.

"This matter requires careful, long-term planning. During the day, I'll walk around the city and see whether I can gather any information. We can make a judgment afterward?"

Mo Cheng thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, that won't do. There isn't enough time."

"How about this? We act separately. I'll deal with the Fierce Wind Bandits. You need to quickly figure out the situation in the city and come up with a solution."

After giving it some thought, Mo Cheng quickly saw the logic. "That works. Leave this matter to me. Not far from Dongjiang City is the Western Frontier Camp. Once I understand the situation here, if things cannot be handled otherwise, I'll mobilize troops. So long as two thousand elite soldiers arrive, Dongjiang City won't descend into chaos!"

With a decision made, Li Yan left again just as dawn was breaking, turning away beneath the dim light of early morning.

Beneath the City Lord's Mansion, within an enormous ice cellar, Huang Lingyan slowly finished his cultivation after meditating through the night.

His North Wind Chilling Art had now reached a crucial juncture. So long as he crossed this hurdle, he could break through the Ninth Level of Meridian Opening and enter the ranks of Gang Condensation.

By then, what would Shangguan Liuyun amount to? With his cultivation alone, he could make Dongjiang City obediently submit.

When he emerged from the cellar, one of his subordinates hurried over to report, "City Lord, an honored guest has arrived."

"Mm... he came rather quickly. It's fine. Have him wait in the side hall. I'll eat breakfast first."

"Yes."

A short while later, when Huang Lingyan arrived at the side hall, a scholar in a Confucian robe was pouring tea and drinking by himself.

Upon seeing Huang Lingyan arrive, the scholar unhurriedly rose to his feet. After straightening his clothes, he cupped his hands in salute. "Liu He, the White Scholar, greets City Lord Huang."

"Oh? You are Liu He, the White Scholar?"

Liu He, the White Scholar, was considered a notable figure in Great Wu's martial world. His martial arts were not particularly formidable; at nearly fifty, he had only barely reached the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation. What truly made the martial world remember him was his silver tongue.

He loved reading and was skilled at it as well, especially at picking out arguments from books and taking passages out of context.

When debating others verbally, he could often turn black into white and right into wrong, transforming disadvantage into advantage and subduing the enemy without fighting.

"That would be Liu. I never imagined that Liu, a mere scholar with such a trifling reputation, would be known to City Lord Huang."

"Heh heh heh, your reputation is far from trifling. That mouth of yours is famous throughout Great Wu... Speak. What brings you here today?"

"Hahaha, City Lord, you speak swiftly and directly, so Bai will not beat around the bush. Liu came today only as a mediator, to discuss a business deal with the City Lord."

"Oh? A mediator... Are you delivering a message for Wang Dingtian?"

At those words, Liu He narrowed his eyes slightly. This City Lord truly was not as indolent as the rumors claimed. He was adept at hiding himself and quick-witted besides—certainly not someone easy to deal with.

He promptly cupped his hands again. "City Lord, please do not misunderstand. Liu merely had some dealings with Wang Dingtian years ago. This time, I came to repay a favor and negotiate certain matters with the City Lord on his behalf."

Glancing at Liu He, Huang Lingyan laughed. "Mr. Liu, you jest. Whatever it is, you may as well say it plainly."

"Since that is the case, then I shall speak frankly..."

In truth, the root of all this was Shangguan Xiyun. After an accidental meeting, Xu Sanqiang, the Third Boss of the Fierce Wind Bandits, had fallen for the Shangguan Family's youngest daughter and begun pursuing her.

But what sort of family was the Shangguan Family? How could they possibly think highly of Xu Sanqiang? That was why Xu Sanqiang had tried to seize her directly.

Although Xu Sanqiang was dead, Wang Dingtian still intended to take the woman back alive, since she had been the cause of everything.

His third brother had failed to claim this woman, so as his elder brother, he would do it in his place. When the time came, he would have her bear a child and adopt it into his third brother's line with the surname Xu, thus fulfilling this brotherly bond.

"So long as City Lord Huang truly hands over Shangguan Xiyun, the Fierce Wind Bandits will become City Lord Huang's vanguard from this day onward. Of all future plunder, City Lord Huang may take thirty percent. Whenever there are matters inconvenient for City Lord Huang to handle personally, the First Boss will act on his behalf."

After hearing this, Huang Lingyan narrowed his eyes slightly, and a cold gleam flashed through them before vanishing.

What status did Shangguan Xiyun possess? How dared a mere bandit chief covet her? The fact that Xu Sanqiang had lived so long was already due to the Shangguan Family showing mercy.

Now that Xu Sanqiang was dead, Wang Dingtian actually intended to take his place?

A toad lusting after swan flesh!

Shangguan Xiyun's beauty was peerless not only in Dongjiang City, but even across all of Great Wu. Wang Dingtian was not the only one who desired her—Huang Lingyan had coveted her for more than a day or two.

It was only that his mind had previously been focused on seizing authority over Dongjiang City, leaving him with no thoughts to spare for such matters.

But now, so long as he could bring down the Shangguan Family, would Shangguan Xiyun not become a plaything in his palm? How could he possibly hand her over to someone else?

Still, he needed the Fierce Wind Bandits for the moment. He needed Wang Dingtian to restrain Shangguan Liuyun, so rejecting him outright would not be wise.

Huang Lingyan immediately laughed. "First Boss Wang truly shares deep brotherly affection with his brothers. This matter is not difficult. Once the Shangguan Family falls, Shangguan Xiyun can naturally be handed over to the First Boss. But before that, I will need the First Boss's full support in helping me deal with the Shangguan Family."

"Hahahahaha, City Lord Huang, rest assured. The First Boss has already dispatched men to constantly monitor merchants connected to the Shangguan Family's shops and businesses."

"Once we sort out these managers and seize them, the Shangguan Family will no longer be anything to fear."

"Then I hope you can complete this matter as soon as possible."

After the two exchanged opinions on various matters concerning both sides, Liu He rose and took his leave.

Outside the City Lord's Mansion, Mo Cheng was wandering about aimlessly, investigating any suspicious clues.

Just then, Mo Cheng happened to see Liu He emerging from the City Lord's Mansion.

"Liu He, the White Scholar? What was he doing here?"

While Mo Cheng was still puzzled, he immediately hurried after him.

Before long, in a secluded alley, Mo Cheng saw Liu He meeting with someone. Though that person was dressed like an ordinary citizen, the bandit air about him was impossible to conceal.

"This is... one of the Fierce Wind Bandits?"

"Hmph... A dignified City Lord actually colluding with bandits. Since that is the case, there is no need to keep you alive!"

After snorting coldly, Mo Cheng turned and left.

Earlier, while wandering around town, he had used bits of silver to have several beggar children gather information. He had now more or less understood the situation in the city.

The incident of citizens storming the Shangguan Family had been instigated by Xu San, an old man in the city with considerable prestige. However, not long ago, Xu San had begun associating closely with Huang Lingyan and now followed Huang Lingyan's lead in everything.

Since these facts had been confirmed, there was no need to wait on many matters any longer.

The place he was heading for now was precisely the Western Frontier Camp. Its garrison commander was an old subordinate from his General's Manor. He would find an excuse to borrow some troops; once soldiers entered the city, nothing could go wrong within it!