You Step Down, I'll Be Great Mountain Lord

After urging his horse onward, he returned to the stronghold.

Jiang Dali headed straight for the stronghold atop Black Wind Mountain.

Black Wind Mountain rose abruptly from a gently rolling plain. The entire mountain stood out from the flatlands with considerable grandeur. The stones on the mountain were also unusual: one kind was black basalt, while the other was white quartz.

The summit commanded an extremely broad view in all directions and had large stretches of level ground. Black Wind Stronghold was built atop the peak.

Around the foot of the mountain lay more than a dozen natural villages.

Ordinarily, the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold survived on the grain supplied each season by those several dozen villages. The rest came from the occasional merchants and escort agencies passing through, who paid tolls.

Thus, although the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold lived as outlaws who licked blood from the edge of a blade, they ate and drank well enough, living more comfortably than ordinary commoners.

As Jiang Dali returned to the stronghold, every bandit who saw him immediately greeted him respectfully as "Third Boss." Those on better terms with him came over to make conversation and share recent news.

Seeing that none of these bandits bore the red glow that signified hostility, Jiang Dali felt somewhat relieved.

"Looks like Great Mountain Lord hasn't developed any hostility toward me? Or perhaps the matter hasn't leaked to these underlings?"

He immediately headed for the courtyard residence of Xiong Ba, the Great Mountain Lord.

The moment he reached the courtyard gate, he saw the two bandits standing guard there grow flustered at the sight of him. A faint red glow even emerged from their bodies.

"Third Boss, you're back so soon?"

"Where is Great Mountain Lord?"

Jiang Dali approached with an indifferent expression.

"Th-Third Boss, Great Mountain Lord seems to have some private business. He told us to guard the entrance and ordered that no one be allowed inside."

The two guards forced dry smiles as they blocked his way.

"Move!"

Jiang Dali barked coldly, his face as icy as forged steel.

"Third Boss!"

The two bandits were alarmed and hurriedly tried to stop him.

"Insolence!"

Jiang Dali snorted, his gaze dark and cold. He suddenly reached out, his five fingers snapping open like a tiger baring its claws.

Bang!

The bandit screamed as his collar was ripped apart. Then Jiang Dali struck him with a palm, sending him crashing through the courtyard gate and tumbling inside.

The other bandit had just tried to intervene.

"Get lost!"

A fierce glint flashed in Jiang Dali's eyes as he flicked his wrist and thrust forward.

The other bandit also screamed. One shove sent him flying into his companion, and the two crashed together like a human stack. Their bones collided with sharp cracking sounds.

This was precisely the Boat-Pushing Force of the Eight Directions Palm!

When a boatman planted his pole and pushed, the boat shot forward over a great distance. Once that force was perfected, its explosive power was tremendous.

"Third Boss!"

"Third Boss!"

Several bandits who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion stared at the scene in shock.

"What are you standing around for? Tie up these two traitors at once. Later, Great Mountain Lord and I will interrogate them with Three Slashes, Six Holes."

Jiang Dali gave the order in a low voice, his eyes sharp and naturally imposing even without anger.

Though puzzled, the bandits did not dare disobey and immediately complied.

Over the past two years, Jiang Dali had drawn even more attention than the Great Mountain Lord and Second Boss. He had rendered many merits and possessed formidable martial arts. Bandits naturally revered the strong, so Jiang Dali held great authority among them.

Bang!

Jiang Dali strode into the house within the courtyard. Just then, a pretty woman rushed out of the house in a panic, and her expression turned even more frantic when she saw him.

"Th-Third Master!"

"Second Wife, where are you going? Why are you so flustered?"

Jiang Dali narrowed his eyes at the beautiful young matron before him. The faint red glow on her body had already thoroughly exposed her.

She was involved too.

"Third Master, I-I heard fighting and came out to see what was happening. I didn't expect you to be back. It's good that you've returned, Third Master. You must seek justice for us!"

As she spoke, the young matron looked on the verge of tears. She suddenly threw herself into Jiang Dali's arms and sobbed, "Just yesterday, Second Boss suddenly attacked Great Mountain Lord and imprisoned us in this house. Great Mountain Lord is still—"

Shing!

A sharp cold gleam suddenly darted from her sleeve, stabbing fiercely toward Jiang Dali like a fish flashing through moonlight in the dark night.

Yet there came a dull clang.

The sharp dagger seemed to strike hard ironwood and was abruptly stopped. It only pierced through his clothing and hit the Golden Silk Armor, unable to advance another inch.

A number appeared above Jiang Dali's head: "-1."

The young matron froze abruptly. Stiffly, she stared at the dagger in her hand, then barely raised her head and forced a smile at the expressionless Jiang Dali.

"Three—"

"Poisonous wench!"

Jiang Dali viciously slapped the young matron across the face, sending her screaming and flying to the ground. Her neck cracked sharply, and several bloodied teeth shot from her mouth before clattering onto the ground.

The several bandits who had arrived behind him all shuddered, staring fearfully at the Second Wife sprawled on the ground. She was the Great Mountain Lord's most favored Second Wife.

"Restrain her!"

Jiang Dali's voice immediately put the underlings back to work.

So what if she was the Second Wife?

The Third Boss was the boss now.

Jiang Dali entered the house and immediately saw Xiong Ba lying on the bed like a black bear.

Xiong Ba's eyeballs could still move, and his lips trembled continuously. His face was ashen, yet he could not speak.

"Great Mountain Lord, from the looks of you, it seems you've fallen victim to Deathly Scholar's poisonous scheme."

Jiang Dali frowned and walked over.

At that moment, an invisible notification was triggered.

You now have two choices:
1: Kill Great Mountain Lord Xiong Ba, become the new Great Mountain Lord of Black Wind Stronghold, and deal with the aftermath;
2: Save Great Mountain Lord Xiong Ba and remain Third Boss. Xiong Ba may reward you.

"What kind of bullshit choices are these? If I'm choosing, I'll choose the third option: make my own choice!"

Jiang Dali snorted inwardly. Under Xiong Ba's flickering gaze, which sent all sorts of signals, he expressionlessly took out the poison antidote he had found on Deathly Scholar. "Second Boss intended to harm me, and I've already killed him. This is the antidote I found on him. It should be able to save you."

Xiong Ba seemed to immediately breathe a sigh of relief, amusement and relaxation appearing in his eyes.

But Jiang Dali continued, "Still, Second Boss managed to take you down so easily before moving against me. It makes me feel that you, boss, have truly gone downhill.

"I can give you the antidote now, but after I save you, you have two choices.

"First, step down and let me become Great Mountain Lord. You can take Second Boss's position. From now on, I will decide the stronghold's development, and you will only assist me.

"Second, step down and let me become Great Mountain Lord, then leave the stronghold."

After speaking, Jiang Dali circulated the inner qi in his dantian. The aura of the Inner Qi Realm immediately erupted from him.

"Inner Qi Realm? Third Brother reached the Inner Qi Realm so quickly?"

Xiong Ba froze. Then the corners of his eyes suddenly creased with a smile, and he blinked repeatedly to show his agreement.

Black Wind Stronghold's Great Mountain Lord Xiong Ba believes you possess exceptional ability and are highly suited to the position of Great Mountain Lord of Black Wind Stronghold. You may choose to assume the position at any time.

Jiang Dali was surprised.

He had not expected Great Mountain Lord Xiong Ba to be so straightforward and decisive. It seemed he had long thought highly of him.

But this was good too. It saved him the trouble.

He immediately opened the bottle and poured the antidote into Xiong Ba's mouth.