Negotiation

After the man called Xiao Liu walked out the main gate, Poison Scholar turned to Hu Qiang, who sat in another grand chair, and asked, "Third Brother, how is Miss Zhou? You didn't rough her up, did you?"

Poison Scholar knew Hu Qiang well. He was quite capable and possessed astonishing strength, but he was greedy for money and lustful by nature, absolutely not the sort of heroic man one could befriend deeply. Over the years, the two had clashed in private more than once.

Hu Qiang was a long-haired, bare-chested burly man in his thirties. He looked imposing and powerfully built, but white gauze was wrapped around his chest, giving off whiffs of pungent medicine. His face was somewhat pale as well.

"Not yet. I saw that little girl was pretty enough, so I wanted to keep her for myself and have some fun once my injuries healed. But now it seems the Zhou family will get off cheap. How about it? Why don't you deflower the little girl tonight? Consider it this little brother's tribute to Second Brother."

Hu Qiang's voice was deep and resonant, but his injuries left him short of breath. Every time he spoke, it tugged at the wound on his chest. The weakness and pain left this vicious bandit, famed for his valor and divine strength, feeling distinctly unaccustomed.

"Absolutely not. Miss Zhou is of great use. Not only did our stronghold gain nothing from its last operation, we also lost two brothers and had more than ten wounded. Even you, Third Brother, were seriously injured. There's no guarantee we won't make another mistake next time. I say we use this chance to extort the Zhou family properly.

Zhou Fugui is a wealthy tea merchant with business spanning several counties. Once this deal goes through, will our brothers still have to worry about lacking women to sleep with?"

Poison Scholar knew full well that Black Wind Mountain Stronghold had become a thorn in the eyes and flesh of the nearby counties. They were difficult for the authorities to handle while hidden in Black Mountain, but once they went out to plunder, the danger rose sharply. It was all too easy for someone to lay a trap for them. Therefore, the less they went out, the better. This incident was the perfect opportunity.

"Mm, fine. I've long heard that Zhou Fugui is rich. This time, we'll slaughter him good and proper."

Hu Qiang was wounded. If he went out while injured and ran into another tough opponent, it would not be easy for him to get away, so he had no desire to leave the mountain.

Just then, the bandit leader Xiao Liu led Xiang Yang inside. When Poison Scholar and Hu Qiang saw the Thick-backed Saber in Xiang Yang's hand, they were initially displeased. Xiao Liu was becoming more and more unreliable in his work. But seeing Xiang Yang's youthful face, no more than a boy of fifteen or sixteen, they relaxed again.

"What is your name? Where do you come from? What is your relationship with the Zhou family? Why did Zhou Fugui send only you up the mountain to discuss ransom?"

Without even looking at Xiang Yang, Poison Scholar pulled a folding fan from his sleeve and waved it as he asked disdainfully. Hu Qiang, seated to the side, fixed Xiang Yang with a pair of fierce eyes. A more timid person would likely have been unable to speak clearly.

But Xiang Yang was no ordinary person. He first cupped his fists toward the two in greeting, then replied, "I am Yang Xiang of Kunning. I have no connection to the Zhou family. A few days ago, I came to Anyuan to visit a friend and heard that Lord Zhou had offered a heavy reward for a brave man willing to go up the mountain and ransom his captive, so I accepted the task.

Originally, Lord Zhou intended to choose one person from among the prominent figures of Anyuan County to come up the mountain and negotiate with you leaders. But Lord Zhou's luck was poor. Li Jin Hai had gone out to visit friends, Old Hero Qian was gravely ill and unable to leave home, and others refused the journey for various reasons. Only I knew that you heroes were not men who slaughtered innocents indiscriminately. Besides, my family circumstances are not good, so I agreed to earn this life-risking money."

As he spoke, Xiang Yang removed the bundle from his back and set it on the ground. "These are Lord Zhou's handwritten letter, seal, and banknotes, serving as proof of my identity.

When Lord Zhou heard that Second Leader enjoyed calligraphy and paintings, he specially selected a handscroll of hummingbirds painted by a Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy in his younger days from his collection. He offers it to Second Leader as a gift upon meeting.

As for Third Leader, Lord Zhou originally wished to send several beautiful women to serve you as wives and concubines. However, being in the county town, he had certain reservations in his dealings and was unable to accomplish it. I hope you will not take offense."

Xiang Yang took out the tokens one by one and had Xiao Liu pass them to Poison Scholar and Hu Qiang for inspection. He himself narrowed his eyes and seemingly casually glanced at Hu Qiang. Sure enough, his injuries were severe.

Though Hu Qiang's eyes showed some displeasure, he could barely accept it. The Zhou family were not bandits; they could not possibly seize several innocent women by force just to curry favor with him.

Poison Scholar, on the other hand, tossed the letter and seal aside and only spread out the hummingbird painting to admire it. The delight in his eyes was undisguised, and his expression toward Xiang Yang gained a measure of warmth.

"Not bad. Truly the work of a Grand Academician. The composition surges like galloping waves, while the brushwork is delicate without lacking bold abandon. Truly splendid."

Poison Scholar rambled on in praise, but the more Xiang Yang looked, the more he felt this man was merely putting on airs of elegance. Boasting cost nothing, and everyone in the hall was a rough martial man. He could put on whatever performance he pleased, and none of them would see through it.

At last, Poison Scholar set down the painting and opened the letter. At times he nodded, at times he frowned, making Xiang Yang unconsciously tighten his grip on the Thick-backed Saber. He stared blankly at Poison Scholar's refined hand and the folding fan beside it.

The world only knew Poison Scholar for his schemes and tricks. They did not know that if he were truly a weak scholar, he could at most serve as a dog-headed military adviser. How could he possibly keep a savage man like Hu Qiang in line and become the second leader of Black Wind Mountain Stronghold?

On the way up the mountain, Xiang Yang had coaxed information out of Xiao Liu and learned that Poison Scholar had indeed once been a scholar. However, he had been fortunate enough to obtain a fragment of a martial art manual and trained in an eighteen-style acupoint-striking art. Using his folding fan, he could strike a person's acupoints, rendering people immobile, killing them, or torturing them—proficient in all three. Even Hu Qiang, despite his natural divine strength, feared him greatly. That showed just how formidable he was.

After a long while, Poison Scholar set the letter aside. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Yang Xiang, I can reveal one thing to you first. Miss Zhou is currently completely unharmed and intact. She has not suffered humiliation or abuse.

Therefore, the ten thousand taels of silver Lord Zhou mentioned will likely not be enough. How about this: since you have already converted three thousand taels' worth into provisions such as grain, meat, and vegetables, add another three thousand taels in cash, making it thirteen thousand taels in total.

Furthermore, we brothers on the mountain lack clothing and weapons. Have Zhou Fugui add three hundred new sets of clothes and five hundred jin of pig iron. Finished sabers, swords, and other weapons would be even better."

Poison Scholar's words made Xiang Yang suck in a breath of cold air. This was truly a lion opening its jaws wide. Grain, silver, even clothing could be discussed, but the crucial matter was five hundred jin of pig iron. If it were forged into weapons, how many arrows could it make? More importantly, it was military material, forbidden for ordinary people to buy, sell, or use. Could Zhou Fugui gather it?

"Um, Leaders, this lowly one can agree to all the other conditions on Lord Zhou's behalf, but I cannot make the decision regarding the five hundred jin of pig iron. How about this? Please allow me to go down the mountain and discuss it with Lord Zhou first. If it can be done, he will send someone else to contact you. What do you think?"

"Can't make the decision? Then what use are you? Men, drag this little brat out and chop him down."

Hu Qiang snorted coldly and slapped the armrest of his chair. Upon hearing him, two men outside immediately came in to seize Xiang Yang and drag him away.

A cold glint flashed through Xiang Yang's eyes, and he was about to resist. But seeing the smile on Poison Scholar's face, he restrained himself and shouted, "Third Leader, spare my life! This lowly one will certainly persuade Lord Zhou to accept your conditions when I return. There will be no going back on our word."

So long as he could return safely, it would be a good thing. As for Zhou Fugui, the man was a major tea merchant with connections everywhere. It was not Xiang Yang's place to worry about him.

In his heart, Xiang Yang was also considering whether he could use this ransom exchange to kill Hu Qiang without anyone knowing. Hu Qiang was injured now, so his fighting strength had surely fallen sharply. If he found the right opportunity, success might not be impossible.