Inside the spacious Hall of Righteousness of Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold.
Three groups had gathered here to discuss the major matter of dealing with Black Wind Stronghold.
If Jiang Dali had been here, he would have discovered that one of those three groups consisted of two players.
The other two groups were the two mountain lords of Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold and Blood Finger Condensing Suan, the Third Boss of Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold.
"Black Wind Mountain Stronghold's newly appointed mountain lord is actually this arrogant? He really dares to come kill his way to our Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold tomorrow? I'll personally see just how capable this man is tomorrow."
The speaker was Gu Sun, the Second Mountain Lord of Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold. Bald and without eyebrows, he had a vicious appearance and a booming, powerful voice that seemed to make the roof beams tremble with rage.
Of the two players, one wearing leather bracers, Green Ox Looks Up, said with a smile, "My information is absolutely reliable. All you mountain lords and bosses know that Black Wind Stronghold has recently been recruiting heavily. One of my brothers has already infiltrated Black Wind Stronghold, so all my intelligence is real and verified."
"Hmph! A snake trying to swallow an elephant! Jiang Dali thinks that because he fought Du Dajin to a draw, he can unify all the greenwood forces around Hui City. He truly doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
Blood Finger Condensing Suan, the Third Boss of Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold, spoke in a cold tone as he looked toward Ghost Blade Ji Ming, the Great Mountain Lord of Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold, whose face bore four saber scars and looked exceptionally savage.
"Mountain Lord Ji, since that Black Wind Stronghold Master is so ignorant of his place, why don't our two strongholds join forces and swallow up the entire Black Wind Stronghold together? We can divide the spoils afterward. What do you think? I have come here representing the wishes of our mountain lord, Juqiong."
"Join forces?"
Ghost Blade Ji Ming wore a false smile, and the four saber scars on his face seemed like four centipedes wriggling.
Gu Sun, the Second Mountain Lord, immediately said, "Big Brother, there's no need to join forces to deal with a mere Black Wind Mountain Stronghold. No matter how formidable that Black Wind Stronghold Master is, the two of us can take him down together. As for that Xiong Ba, hmph, he's nothing but an old, timid bastard."
"Idiot!"
The two players exchanged glances, feeling helpless.
These NPCs really had low IQs. At a time like this, they were still thinking of taking on Black Wind Stronghold alone. Did they truly think Jiang Dali, who had fought Shaolin Lay Disciple Du Dajin to a draw, was some nobody with an undeserved reputation?
Green Ox Looks Up was just about to dissuade them.
But Ghost Blade Ji Ming smiled and shook his head. "Second Brother, since Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold is offering such sincerity, naturally we cannot turn them away. Black Wind Stronghold has quite a few men after all. Even if we completely swallow them up, we would still end up mutually crippled. Having Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold's brothers come to our aid is a good thing."
Gu Sun froze, then immediately understood.
Even if Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold could truly swallow Black Wind Stronghold, they would certainly suffer considerable casualties.
Then, if both sides were crippled, Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold might end up profiting instead.
Blood Finger Condensing Suan chuckled and nodded. "Great Mountain Lord Ji truly is a wise man. It's just a pity that Feng Sihai, the mountain lord of Swift Wind Mountain Stronghold, is too cautious and timid to join forces with us. Still, this means we must be especially wary of them trying any tricks."
"If Feng Sihai dares to play tricks after our two strongholds join forces, he'll be courting death. Right now, he's merely watching and waiting."
Ji Ming shook his head, then turned his flickering gaze toward Green Ox Looks Up and the other player. "You two have been doing your utmost to bring our strongholds together against Black Wind Stronghold, and you even helped us gather intelligence. What exactly are you after?"
Green Ox Looks Up had long expected this question. "The two of us have always had a grudge against the Black Wind Stronghold Master. Unfortunately, Black Wind Stronghold has many men, and with just the two of us brothers, taking down the Black Wind Stronghold Master would be unimaginably difficult.
Only by seizing this opportunity and borrowing everyone's strength can we take down the Black Wind Stronghold Master.
Rest assured, the two of us only want Black Wind Stronghold Master Jiang Dali.
If you are willing to grant us this, we are willing to give our all in this battle. Afterward, we will not take a single share of the spoils, and we are even willing to offer five hundred taels of silver as thanks."
After speaking, Green Ox Looks Up pulled out a fifty-tael silver ingot from his robes and set it on the table. "How about this as a deposit?"
Ji Ming and Blood Finger Condensing Suan exchanged glances, both smiling.
Ji Ming nodded. "Since we all share the same goal, we are all on the same side. With the aid of you two valiant men, Black Wind Stronghold Master Jiang Dali is merely coming to his death."
They did not care about a mere fifty-tael silver deposit.
But an enemy's enemy was a friend. Gaining extra assistance was a profit in itself.
Green Ox Looks Up and his companion sneered inwardly.
Their goal was not simply to take down Jiang Dali. Not a single one of these foolish NPCs would escape when the time came.
Meanwhile.
Over forty li away, inside Swift Wind Mountain Stronghold, Feng Sihai, the mountain lord who had only just dealt with a group of players, was speaking with Sky Wolf Dawn Moon, a player dressed in blue and carrying a curved saber.
"You want me to lead my brothers in taking advantage of the opportunity to raid Black Wind Stronghold's lair? Hehehe, little brother, I'm afraid you misunderstand. Black Wind Stronghold Master Jiang Dali is not someone to provoke. Feng has no intention of offending such a man for a little profit."
"Great Mountain Lord Feng is being overly cautious. Though Black Wind Stronghold Master Jiang Dali is formidable, with Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold and Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold joining forces this time, he surely cannot escape death.
When these three sides fall into chaotic battle, it will be like a snipe and clam fighting while the fisherman profits. Your Swift Wind Mountain Stronghold now has the chance to be that fisherman, so why not take it?
If Great Mountain Lord Feng agrees, I am willing to lend you a hand. I only hope that the mountain lord will share some of the spoils with me afterward."
The next day.
Over a hundred bandits had gathered inside the stronghold, awaiting Jiang Dali's orders.
Jiang Dali wore leather armor with a layer of Golden Silk Armor beneath it. Draped in a tiger-skin cloak and carrying the Nine-Ringed Golden Saber on his back, he ascended the platform surrounded by several close-guard bandits.
Under the excited, expectant gazes of the players, Jiang Dali swept his eyes around and waved his hand. "Brothers joining the battle, step forward and prepare to depart!"
Rumble—
Nearly more than half the surrounding bandits immediately stepped out in a scattered fashion. Some were nervous, while others were excited.
Xiong Ba stepped forward and nervously asked beside Jiang Dali's ear, "Brother, you really don't plan to bring everyone? That old ghost Ji from Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold isn't a simple character."
Jiang Dali shot Xiong Ba a look and patted his shoulder with a broad hand. "No need to worry. The stronghold will be entrusted to you and the brothers staying behind, in case Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold takes the opportunity to attack."
Xiong Ba could only say righteously, "Rest easy, Brother. As long as I'm guarding the home, the home stands with me."
Yeah, right.
Jiang Dali rolled his eyes inwardly.
An old hand like Xiong Ba might be able to hold his ground in a favorable battle.
But if anything went wrong and the battle turned against them, he would definitely be the first to run.
After stepping down from the platform, Jiang Dali directly led his men down the mountain.
There were already forty horses waiting at the foot of the mountain.
More than thirty of those horses had been purchased by Jiang Dali through Green Robe Pavilion's channels, from horse dealers, at a cost of nearly two thousand taels in silver notes.
Without these horses as transportation, launching an expedition against other mountain strongholds would have been a joke. By the time the bandits ran there, they would all have collapsed from exhaustion.
"Two men to a horse. Move out!"
Jiang Dali gave the order.
All the bandits followed his command and began moving.
Soon, the forty horses set off in a thunderous rush. Their hooves pounded the ground with booming echoes, creating quite an imposing spectacle.
When had the players ever seen such a scene in their daily lives? Now that they were part of it, all of them were thrilled beyond measure. They immediately recorded videos and posted them on the forums to show off.
Jiang Dali rode the fine Ferghana horse alone. His gaze swept across the three particularly conspicuous red-named players, and the corner of his lips curled into a faintly mocking smile.
Looks like I'll get to meet the official Overlord Hall people this time. I hope the current official experts won't disappoint me too much.
Black Wind Stronghold robs nothing but recommendation votes! Also, thanks to the brothers who tipped enough for a meal yesterday.
Before you continue