Dealing with the Traitor, Martial Arts Manual

As the sun set, its evening glow spilled over Great Green Mountain behind Green Mountain Village.

In the distance, Lin Changqing rode a horse, leading four more by their reins as he swayed leisurely into Green Mountain Village.

The horses had been found in Qingfeng Stockade.

After Xu Maotian died, Lin Changqing had scoured the entire Qingfeng Stockade. These five horses were part of the spoils.

Of course, that was not all.

His greatest haul this time was the bundle strapped to his back.

At the thought of what was inside the bundle, a broad smile immediately spread across Lin Changqing's face.

"Changqing is back! Changqing is back..."

The moment he entered the village, villagers spotted Lin Changqing and shouted as they ran deeper into the village.

Very soon!

More and more people emerged from their homes and gathered at the village entrance.

Lin Hu had come as well, leading a group at the very front.

"Changqing, you're finally back. You had us worried sick..." Seeing Lin Changqing, Lin Hu broke into delighted laughter. Then he glanced at the horses Lin Changqing was riding and leading, his eyes lighting up as he asked instinctively, "Changqing, these horses?"

"Taken from Qingfeng Stockade."

Lin Changqing smiled faintly and asked in a deep voice, "Hu Zi, has everything been dealt with?"

"It's all taken care of. All the bodies have been burned and buried. Don't worry, there won't be any problems." Lin Hu nodded quickly, then his expression hardened as he said in a low voice, "Right, we found the traitor."

"Who was it?"

Lin Changqing immediately asked.

"Lin Dashan..."

Lin Hu gritted his teeth. "That bastard took silver from the bandits of Qingfeng Stockade. When he saw you kill over a hundred of their bandits, he was scared out of his wits and started packing to run away on the spot.

We happened to run right into him while I was leading the men..."

"So it really was him."

Lin Changqing nodded, not particularly surprised.

Lin Dashan was the sort who would open his eyes only for money.

If anyone in Green Mountain Village was most likely to have leaked information about him to Qingfeng Stockade, it had to be that man.

In fact, it was not only Lin Changqing who understood this. Lin Hu, Lin Yuntang, and the others all knew it perfectly well.

That was why, after Lin Changqing went to Qingfeng Stockade, the first person Lin Hu led men to find was Lin Dashan. Unexpectedly, they had caught the fellow red-handed just as he was trying to flee his punishment.

"Changqing, Lin Dashan is being held in the ancestral hall. My grandfather said that once you returned, you should go over there."

Lin Hu hurriedly said.

"Alright, let's go now..."

Lin Changqing nodded, a biting chill in his eyes as killing intent faintly seeped out.

Everyone quickly made way. Lin Changqing tossed the reins of the other three horses to Lin Hu, then rode straight for the ancestral hall.

Seeing this, everyone else immediately followed.

Green Mountain Village's ancestral hall was not large, and it stood at the center of the village.

By the time Lin Changqing arrived, the ancestral hall was already brightly lit. Lin Yuntang and the other clan elders had long been waiting.

Besides them, Lin Yongfan, Lin Yongteng, and other respected members of the middle generation were also present.

"Changqing..."

Lin Changqing dismounted and entered the ancestral hall.

Lin Yongfan immediately came up to him and said in a deep voice, "It was Lin Dashan. How do you plan to deal with him..."

"Mm!"

Lin Changqing nodded but did not answer Lin Yongfan. Only after paying his respects to Lin Yuntang and the other elders did he turn to look at Lin Dashan, who was tied to a pillar.

Lin Dashan was covered in bruises, with numerous wounds across his body. Even the blood had already dried.

He had clearly suffered quite a bit of torment.

He looked rather miserable.

But Lin Changqing remained unmoved. He merely narrowed his eyes at him, sharp killing intent flashing in his gaze.

"Changqing..."

Lin Yuntang had originally wanted to say something, but when he saw the killing intent in Lin Changqing's eyes, a chill ran through his entire body, and he instinctively shut his mouth.

"Lin Changqing... it's you... You actually came back alive from Qingfeng Stockade? How is that possible..."

At that moment, Lin Dashan, whose mind had been somewhat muddled, finally regained a measure of clarity. As he watched Lin Changqing walk toward him step by step and stare coldly at him, he was utterly shocked.

He learned from Lin Hu and the others that Lin Changqing had gone to Qingfeng Stockade alone, armed with nothing but a saber.

For a while, he had even been thrilled, hoping Lin Changqing would die at Qingfeng Stockade.

Now, seeing Lin Changqing return alive and completely unharmed, his last shred of hope had utterly turned into despair.

Then terror and panic flooded his entire being.

"I came back alive. You seem rather disappointed."

Lin Changqing said coldly, "You've got some nerve, colluding with Qingfeng Stockade. Do you know that because of you, Green Mountain Village nearly got wiped out?

How do you intend to die..."

The moment the word "die" left his mouth, the killing intent in Lin Changqing's eyes grew ever sharper, and his aura became even colder.

The icy chill seemed to drag down the temperature all around them.

Lin Dashan was Shivering with Cold, as though he had fallen into an ice cellar. He almost instinctively begged for mercy. "No... I don't want to die. Lin Changqing, no... Qing Ge, please spare me, I'm begging you.

I'll never dare again. I was forced into it too.

They held blades to my neck!"

Clang...

Before Lin Dashan had even finished speaking, the Jingzhe Saber was already out of its sheath. A flash of Blade Light swept past.

The next instant, a round head flew straight into the sky.

"This is the fate of those who betray Green Mountain Village and betray me. I can lead Green Mountain Village out of poverty and lead everyone to prosperity together.

But... I have no wish to raise a pack of white-eyed wolves..."

Lin Changqing sheathed his saber, his icy voice ringing through the entire ancestral hall.

Yet he had already turned and walked out of the ancestral hall.

Everywhere he passed, everyone's eyes were filled with awe. They lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet Lin Changqing's gaze.

At this moment, Lin Changqing was a god of slaughter in their eyes.

Lin Changqing paid no heed to their stares. After leaving the ancestral hall, he headed straight back to his residence.

He knew very well that after today, everyone in the village would fear and respect him even more.

That was precisely the effect he wanted.

Mercy could not command troops, nor righteousness manage wealth. He was cultivating Green Mountain Village so that he could keep it firmly in his grasp.

Otherwise, if he raised a pack of ungovernable white-eyed wolves who knew no gratitude, why would he bother going to such lengths?

After returning to his own courtyard, Lin Changqing first washed himself clean before carrying the bundle into his room.

The bundle was not large. Besides some gold and silver, it contained a stack of Silver notes and Gold notes.

Altogether, they amounted to nearly one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver.

"So much... It seems Qingfeng Stockade had grand plans indeed!"

Looking at the Gold notes and Silver notes in his hands, Lin Changqing inwardly clicked his tongue. When he had looted the place earlier, he had not bothered counting them. The moment he saw the Gold notes and Silver notes, he had simply stuffed them all together in one go.

He had never expected there to be nearly one hundred and fifty thousand taels.

Such a vast sum must have been given to them by that so-called master behind Qingfeng Stockade to carry out some task.

Now that he had uprooted Qingfeng Stockade, it had all fallen into his hands instead.

However!

Lin Changqing also knew very well that he had already invited trouble. He had destroyed Qingfeng Stockade and taken these one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver; the people behind Qingfeng Stockade would certainly come seeking revenge.

But Lin Changqing did not regret it. In this life, all he wanted was to seek the Dao and pursue immortality.

He did not stir up trouble, but neither did he fear it.

Qingfeng Stockade had already set its sights on him. If he had remained unmoved, then there would truly have been something wrong with him.

As for whether the people behind Qingfeng Stockade would retaliate—

Hmph!

Then let them come! He would be waiting.

"White Lotus Sect..."

Lin Changqing murmured to himself. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. After setting down the Gold notes and Silver notes in his hands, he turned his gaze to three books.

These were Martial Arts Manuals.