Wu Chuanzong

"Thank you, benefactor, for saving my life!"

The Water Monkey led the boy over, and the boy was about to kneel and kowtow, but was stopped by the Water Monkey.

Qin Sang looked around and signaled Zheng Kun to be vigilant. They led the children into the nearby woods.

Qin Sang sized up the boy. "What's your name? How old are you?"

"My name is Little Liu Zi. I'm fifteen this year. I've been an orphan since I was young, without a name or family."

"Have you been to school?"

"When I was begging, a scholar took me in to sleep at his school. I listened to him teach for three years. Later, the scholar died, and I was kicked out."

"Are you all from the north?"

"Yes, it's dry in the north, so everyone is fleeing south. Their parents died on the road. I've been leading them to beg."

"You're begging yourself, so why are you willing to take so many burdens?"

"When the scholar took me in, he said that saving a life accumulates merit, and in the next life, I'll be reborn into a good family."

Qin Sang nodded and glanced outside the woods. "Those people are gone. You should leave too. Don't go north, lest you run into them again."

"Please, benefactor, take us in!"

Little Liu Zi knelt down with a thud. The other children followed his lead, and they all knelt down in a rush, begging in unison.

Qin Sang shook his head. "I can barely feed myself, why would I take you in?"

Little Liu Zi remained kneeling on the ground. "We can do anything. My sister can wash clothes and cook. We can do manual labor. Just give us enough to eat, benefactor, and we'll listen to whatever you say!"

Qin Sang chuckled. "Would you kill if I told you to?"

Little Liu Zi hesitated. "I would! My younger siblings lost their parents and were almost cooked and eaten. If others can kill, so can I."

"How can killing accumulate merit?"

"Then we'll save more people. If we save more than we kill, we'll accumulate merit."

Qin Sang and the Water Monkey exchanged a look.

The Water Monkey pulled Qin Sang aside. "Hall Master, are you really going to take them in?"

Qin Sang pondered. "It's time to start building a killer echelon..."

Without waiting to see if the Water Monkey understood, Qin Sang walked back and said to Little Liu Zi, "If you want to follow me, you can, but you have to recognize a dead person as your father first. His name is Wu the Mute. His grave is in Zhenshui Commandery, and I'll take you there later. You don't need to know his identity, just remember he's Wu the Mute. You will be called Wu Chuanzong, and you must burn paper for him every year to carry on the Wu family line. Are you willing?"

"Yes!"

Little Liu Zi was overjoyed. "I'll be called Wu Chuanzong from now on, and my father is Wu the Mute. I have a name!"

The other children also jumped for joy.

Qin Sang nodded slightly. He didn't care who Old Wu was originally. He had promised to find a son for Old Wu, so letting him take the surname Wu wouldn't break his promise.

"Zhang Wenkui, take these children, find a place to settle them, rest for a bit, and immediately inform General Mu of my decision."

"Yes!"

As soon as Zhang Wenkui and his men left, Zheng Kun ran in. "Hall Master, Liu Ji has left the city!"

The Liu family was a prominent local clan with property outside the county town. After confirming their identities, Qin Sang and the other two washed up outside the city, changed out of their refugee clothes, disguised themselves as Liu family retainers, and entered the city. It was almost dark.

Liu Ji had purchased his own property and was running a business to conceal his activities.

The group quietly arrived at the backyard. After confirming they were not being followed, Liu Ji closed the double doors and reported the situation in the city to Qin Sang.

"Reporting to Hall Master Qin, I have investigated and found that there are currently three main figures in charge in Hening County. The county magistrate is named Li Ji. He is only twenty-one years old and quite capable. In less than two years since taking office, he has won the hearts of the people. The common folk in the county all call him Li Qingtian. However, this man is a confidant of the Governor of Jiang Prefecture. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be transferred to a prefecture after his three-year term, with a bright future. It is unlikely he can be persuaded to surrender. Since Hening County is a simple and small county, there is only one Chief Clerk, named Ma. He is slick and worldly, following Li Ji's lead in everything, and is not to be taken seriously. Then there is a man named Zhu Dazhuang. This man is not an official, but he currently commands the county constables and militia. To break through the city, we must take down this person. We must be cautious..."

Qin Sang asked in surprise, "This Zhu Dazhuang is not an official? How can he command respect?"

Liu Ji replied, "There are two reasons for this. Firstly, this man has a sister of exceptional beauty who married Li Ji as a concubine. Secondly, this man is a disciple of Xuanji Temple and is a direct disciple of the head of the Arhat Hall of Xuanji Temple. He has mastered true teachings and possesses formidable martial arts skills. He is known in the martial arts world as The Reckless Monk. After his sister married Li Ji, The Reckless Monk changed his secular name and brought several of his fellow disciples to Hening County. He doesn't even pay attention to the Patrol Commander. This time, when the Hening County garrison was withdrawn and the Patrol Commander left, there was no one left to restrain him."

So it was him!

Qin Sang secretly thought that it was no wonder Liu Ji looked so grim.

Since joining the Blood-Clad Tower, Qin Sang had become well-informed about martial arts affairs. Famous martial artists in the martial arts world were all registered with the Blood-Clad Tower. Every person on the list was a top expert.

His 'master,' Yang Zhen, was considered a martial arts expert by ordinary people, but he didn't qualify to be on the list.

However, The Reckless Monk was different. Not only was he on the list, but he was in the first tier. His martial arts skills were probably not much worse than Bai Jianglan's.

However, what was most daunting was not The Reckless Monk's martial arts, but his sect, Xuanji Temple.

In the martial arts world of Great Sui, there were two renowned places: one was Yanlan Mountain Villa, and the other was Xuanji Temple. They were known as the two great martial arts holy lands, with countless experts.

Yanlan Mountain Villa was located on Yanlan Mountain in the imperial capital, while Xuanji Temple's mountain gate was in Jiang Prefecture.

Legend had it that both sects had innate masters, holding transcendent status, and even the government had to show them respect.

Qin Sang knew more inside information. Xuanji Temple and Yanlan Mountain Villa were not just martial arts sects. Many of the imperial guards in the pseudo-emperor's court came from these two holy lands.

Currently, there were many Xuanji Temple experts providing close protection to the commanders of the Duling County garrison.

The Reckless Monk hailed from the Arhat Hall of Xuanji Temple. With only the manpower of the Blood-Clad Tower in Hening County, it might not be possible to defeat him.

Since King Dongyang rebelled, his success in conquering Yingnan Prefecture within a year was mainly because King Dongyang was the Emperor's own brother, both of royal blood. It was not an invasion by foreign tribes, so the defending imperial troops, seeing that the situation was hopeless, surrendered without any burden.

However, the Prefect of Jiang Prefecture was different. When King Dongyang was the Crown Prince, he was the current Emperor's lackey and had rendered meritorious service during the succession struggle, making surrender impossible.

Since Li Ji was the Prefect's confidant, there was no need to discuss surrender further.

Since taking the city by force was not feasible and surrender was impossible, Qin Sang asked Liu Ji what his plans were.

"Your subordinate has two strategies. One is to take the County Magistrate Li Ji hostage to coerce Zhu Dazhuang into opening the city gates. The other is poison. As long as Zhu Dazhuang is poisoned, the great cause can be achieved, but..."

Liu Ji glanced at Qin Sang, "Both these strategies require the right timing to ensure they are foolproof. Your subordinate learned today that Li Ji intends to host a banquet for the elders of Hening County the night after tomorrow to discuss matters such as the refugee rebellion and local stability. At that time, your subordinate can bring men to blend into the banquet and, amidst the chaos..."