Woo Them First, Kill If Unsuccessful

Qingshi Inn.

Ning Chuan held Xiao Hua in his arms and teased her while he pondered to himself.

After so many twists and turns, he had begun looking forward to joining the Imperial Guard.

In these chaotic times, no matter how strong I am, I'm still alone. It's inconvenient to do anything. First, I need to get myself an Imperial Guard identity and build up my own power.

Once I'm in the government, with an organization behind me and underlings at my command, I'll train all my underlings into Martial Gods. Whenever something happens, I can just let Big Dog loose on them. All I'll need to do is sit at home and drink tea!

With that in mind, he took Big Dog by one hand and Xiao Hua by the other, heading down to the inn's main hall. He was about to ask Shopkeeper Huang for directions to Qingshan County when—

Seeing Ning Chuan come downstairs, Shopkeeper Huang hurried forward with nods and bows.

"My lord, this humble one has prepared a table of food and wine and was just about to invite you!"

"What a coincidence. I happen to have something to ask Shopkeeper Huang as well, so I won't stand on ceremony."

Shopkeeper Huang was overjoyed. He led Ning Chuan to the third floor and into a private room, where an exceptionally lavish feast had already been laid out. Shopkeeper Huang offered him the seat of honor.

After they sat down, Shopkeeper Huang naturally showered him with thanks again and again, constantly urging him to drink.

After Ning Chuan had shared several cups with Shopkeeper Huang, he finally asked, "May I ask Shopkeeper Huang, I wish to travel to Qingshan County. Which way should I go?"

"My lord doesn't know?" Shopkeeper Huang asked in surprise.

Ning Chuan did not answer. Shopkeeper Huang did not dare press him further. After downing a cup of wine, he sighed and said, "My lord, the road from Qingshi Town to the county seat is not an easy one!"

"Oh? How is it difficult?" Ning Chuan asked.

"Qingshi Town is a thousand li from the county seat, and there are two routes. One is the most convenient, but it passes through the Black Cloud Mountain Range."

As he spoke, fear appeared in Shopkeeper Huang's eyes. After a pause, he continued, "More than ten years ago, a merchant caravan of a hundred people spent the night in the Black Cloud Mountain Range and was devoured by Demonic Beasts overnight. That road was abandoned after that."

"Demonic Beasts? They eat people? Could Shopkeeper Huang tell me what these Demonic Beasts look like?"

Ning Chuan was astonished. This world actually had Demonic Beasts.

Shopkeeper Huang shook his head with a bitter smile. "My lord jests. If this old man had ever seen a Demonic Beast, I would not have the chance to be speaking with you here."

"However, I've heard that Demonic Beasts are ranked just like martial artists, also divided into Ninth Grades.

"Even the weakest Ninth Grade ones are far more formidable than human Ninth Grade martial artists."

This world actually had Demonic Beasts. It was becoming more and more interesting!

"What about the other route?" Ning Chuan continued.

Shopkeeper Huang sighed. "The other route has to go around the Black Cloud Mountain Range. Not only does it add several hundred li out of thin air, but bandits run rampant along the way. Those with bad luck are often killed and robbed of their goods. Ah...!"

When Shopkeeper Huang finished, he let out a long sigh, filled with endless bitterness.

He continued, "My lord is highly skilled. If you wish to go to the county seat, you may travel with a merchant caravan. You'll have someone to look after one another on the road, and you can even collect a little protection money along the way!"

"The merchant caravans of Qingshi Town head to the county seat together every seven days. Today happens to be departure day. If my lord goes over after breakfast, you'll make it in time."

After breakfast, he bid farewell to Shopkeeper Huang.

He still used the iron staff as a shoulder pole, hanging Big Dog and Xiao Hua in a pair of baskets.

He first went to the blacksmith's shop and bought several dozen jin of iron, having the blacksmith cut it into thumb-sized iron lumps to use as concealed weapons on the road.

Carrying a large bag of iron lumps, Ning Chuan immediately felt the confidence of being well supplied with ammunition.

At the northern exit of Qingshi Town stood a plaza about the size of a football field.

On the plaza, fifty or sixty horse-drawn carts formed a long single-file line.

Many bare-chested laborers jogged back and forth loading goods, while stewards stood nearby with account books, taking inventory.

Every cart bore a flag with the name of its merchant house written on it.

Ning Chuan counted them. There were no fewer than six merchant houses, and Qingshi Merchant House had the most carts—thirty-five in all.

There were also quite a few ordinary people in worn-out clothes, bringing only one or two mules or carrying a shoulder pole laden with goods.

With just one load of goods, carrying it all the way to a county seat a thousand li away to sell... could they even earn back their travel costs?

To make a living, they really are going all out. The common folk at the bottom have it hard in any world!

At the edge of the plaza, more than fifty burlap-clad men from the Joint Defense Camp stood in a row, sabers hanging at their waists.

They were responsible for guarding this merchant caravan. At their head stood Zhang Dashan, the Joint Defense Camp's other deputy captain.

When he saw Ning Chuan approach, Zhang Dashan's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart began pounding like a drum.

Why has this ruthless man come? What does he want?

He hurried over at a jog, wearing a fawning smile.

"May I ask what orders Lord Ning has? This lowly one is willing to share Your Lordship's burdens."

"Who calls the shots in this caravan?" Ning Chuan asked.

"Shopkeeper Li of Qingshi Merchant House!" Zhang Dashan promptly answered with a bow.

"Bring him here. This Official has something to ask."

Ning Chuan showed not the slightest embarrassment as he put on an official air. After all, he had Leng Hanshuang's Imperial Guard token in hand.

He was going to join the Imperial Guard on this trip anyway. Calling himself This Official ahead of time was not excessive, was it?

With an official title in hand, not only would things be more convenient, but it would also spare him quite a bit of trouble.

"Yes, sir. This lowly one will go at once. Please wait a moment, my lord!"

Zhang Dashan let out a breath of relief and ran off in a flash.

Before long, he came jogging back with a pot-bellied, round-faced merchant.

The round-faced merchant hurried over and asked nervously, "This lowly one is Li Youcai, shopkeeper of Qingshi Merchant House. May I ask what instructions my lord has for this lowly one?"

Ning Chuan cupped his hands and asked, "Greetings, Shopkeeper Li. This Official wishes to travel with the caravan to the county seat. Would that be convenient?"

The moment Shopkeeper Li heard this, delight bloomed in his heart, and his face split into a chrysanthemum-like grin.

"Convenient! Of course it's convenient! Having my lord travel with us is a great blessing for the caravan! Our caravan will provide food and lodging, and we are also willing to offer ten taels of silver as Your Lordship's remuneration!"

"Very good."

Qingshan County, County Yamen.

County Magistrate Han Zhang sat in a grand armchair while the Strategist stood beside him with his head lowered, delivering his report.

"My lord, there has been famine this year. The cattle and horses have either died or fled, so there are not many leeks left to harvest."

"Three Tiger Mountain has also suffered one mishap after another lately. Not only must we pay out consolation money, but the stronghold's strength has been greatly reduced. The dividends it turns over in the coming years will likely decrease sharply."

Han Zhang's face was so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water. He slammed a hand heavily against the armrest.

"Has that troublemaking commoner Ning Chuan been caught? Has he been killed?"

No matter how weakened Three Tiger Mountain was, it was still a card in his hand.

With the stronghold's submitted income reduced and its strength diminished, how was he supposed to explain this to his family?

If he did not kill the chief culprit behind all this, he would feel thoroughly ill at ease!

Seeing the County Magistrate's fury, the Strategist broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly bent even lower and said softly, "The First Boss was no match for him. He suffered serious injuries and fled back to Three Tiger Mountain.

"The Chief Constable had both legs crippled. I fear he will be unable to serve my lord from now on."

Bang! Han Zhang slapped the armrest.

"Useless trash! So many of you, yet you couldn't even kill one insignificant troublemaking commoner. What use are you! This Official truly did not expect a place as impoverished and harsh as Ning Family Village to produce a troublemaking commoner like Ning Chuan. Gather skilled fighters for This Official and spare no effort in encircling and suppressing that brat!"

"My lord, please wait. This man has some martial prowess; it would be a pity to kill him. Better to win him over and have him serve my lord.

"If we succeed in recruiting him, so much the better. If not, it will not be too late to kill him then."

The gloom on Han Zhang's face gradually eased, revealing a trace of a smile.

"Win him over?

"That plan will work. You will take full responsibility for it!"

"Yes. This one will not disappoint my lord!"

The Strategist bowed and withdrew.