A Favor Granted

The convoy guards were seasoned travelers, skilled in combat, and certainly not intimidated by a few words from bandits. The middle-aged man leading them brandished an iron rod, while the others drew their weapons, preparing for a fierce battle.

Third Master Zhu, a decisive man, saw the situation clearly. Realizing a fight was inevitable, he wasted no more words. With a wave of his hand, he ordered his men to attack.

The moment the two sides clashed, the middle-aged man's long rod moved like a python, striking left and right, swiftly knocking down the two leading bandits.

This middle-aged man was also a martial artist!

It seemed these weren't ordinary merchants. Qin Shuang mused inwardly. He emerged from the shadows, his left foot tapping lightly, and in a few breaths, he had plunged into the fray.

Qin Shuang channeled his Heavenly Frost Qi into his fists, condensing frost energy that enveloped them, turning them ice-blue. With a move called Face of Wind and Frost, he struck a bandit in the chest, instantly freezing him into an ice statue.

However, the force of Qin Shuang's punch didn't diminish. The ice statue was shattered into pieces.

"Gulp," Qin Shuang was startled by his own move and swallowed hard.

But that was all. Having spent two years in the Dragon Guard, Qin Shuang had taken lives before. His hands moved ceaselessly, deliberately controlling his strength. Facing the surrounding bandits, he unleashed another move, Numerous Frost Scars. His frost-infused fists struck like a violent storm, leaving anyone hit with grievous wounds and frozen solid.

Fist shadows flew, frost energy chilled the air. The bandits struck by the Heavenly Frost Fist had their wounds shatter like glass with a "clang," a sight that chilled the bone.

In an instant, under the Heavenly Frost Fist, no one was left alive, and no corpse remained whole!

Yet, due to the frozen Blood Essence, the scene wasn't overly gory.

With a "clang," Third Master Zhu dropped his saber and stammered, "Young... Master, Great... Hero, spare... spare my life!"

Qin Shuang's figure flickered, appearing beside Third Master Zhu. He gently placed his right hand on the man's shoulder, causing his legs to buckle, and he collapsed to his knees.

"I'm taking this man. You," Qin Shuang said to the apparent leader, "report this to the authorities. After all, so many people were killed, there needs to be a reason."

"Thank you, young hero. I am Cheng Feng of the Changfeng Escort Agency of Chenliu, Yanzhou. I will not forget your assistance. May I ask your name? If you ever have the chance to visit Chenliu, please do visit the Changfeng Escort Agency. I'd like to host you!" the middle-aged man said, bowing to Qin Shuang with sincere respect.

Cheng Feng's martial arts weren't exceptional, but years of escorting had honed his judgment. The young man before him, despite his age, possessed skills far surpassing his own, and his future achievements would undoubtedly be extraordinary. If he could forge a connection now, it would only benefit himself and the escort agency.

"I am Qin Shuang. No need for formalities!" Since the other party was polite, Qin Shuang saw no reason to be aloof. He returned the bow. "I must be going now. Until we meet again!"

"Until we meet again!"

After bidding farewell to Cheng Feng, Qin Shuang used his Qinggong to leave with Third Master Zhu, heading into a nearby forest.

"Third Master Zhu?" Qin Shuang teased.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare, great hero. My name is Zhu Tieshou. You can call me Tieshou. If you have any commands, just give them, and I'll do it even if it costs me this dog's life!" Zhu Tieshou collapsed on the ground, unable to stand, and could only kowtow repeatedly.

"You, call yourself Tieshou!" Qin Shuang heard this Third Master Zhu's name and thought he was impersonating the renowned Great Constables of the West from Chaoge City. Seeing his pathetic state, he couldn't help but kick him.

"Ah, I'm sorry, great hero, spare me, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it, great hero, spare me!" Zhu Tieshou, though confused about how his name had offended this terrifying figure, didn't dare to think further and just begged for mercy.

"Shut up. Now, I ask one question, you answer it. If you hide anything, I'll send you to join your brothers immediately," Qin Shuang said coldly.

"Great hero, please ask. I'll tell you everything I know, and I absolutely won't dare to deceive you!" Zhu Tieshou raised his right hand, swearing an oath.

"Tell me about your stronghold."

"Yes, yes, our stronghold... our stronghold is called Black Cloud Stronghold, located on Mount Dawen. There are five leaders in the stronghold. I am third. The other three are the First Leader, Black-Haired Tiger Xie Baoqing; the Second Leader, White-Eyed Tiger Xue Wujing; and the Fourth Leader, Flowery-Pelted Tiger Liang Shancat. There were originally one hundred and eighty-seven subordinates. Twelve of them came down the mountain with me, and they... they were all killed by the great hero." By the end, Zhu Tieshou's teeth were chattering.

"Who is the patron behind your stronghold?"

"Patron? Ah... ah... ah!" Zhu Tieshou paused for only a moment before his left hand was twisted by Qin Shuang.

"Great hero, spare me, great hero, spare me!" Zhu Tieshou's tears flowed from the pain.

"I'll say it again: I ask, you answer. No nonsense. This time it's a hand; next time it'll be your neck!"

"Yes... yes..." Zhu Tieshou endured the pain, nodding continuously.

"Do you remember my question from before?"

"Yes... ah... no... ah, I remember. Our patron, our patron, I don't know who it is, great hero, I really don't know, great hero, spare me, I really, ah, I don't know who it is, but it must be someone in the government!"

"Why do you say it's someone in the government?"

"Because Xue Lao Er, ah, that is Xue Wujing, he used to be a strategist in the government. Once, during a celebration feast after a raid, I heard the First Leader address him like that, with great respect. They all thought I was drunk, but I was actually pretending."

"Continue."

"We were originally just a small stronghold of forty to fifty people. As soon as Xue Wujing arrived, he immediately became the Second Leader. Since then, the First Leader has always received various pieces of information from down the mountain, ensuring our raids were always successful. In just half a year, we grew to nearly two hundred people. If our stronghold has a hidden patron, then only the First Leader and Xue Wujing would know!" Zhu Tieshou said confidently.

"Are Xie Baoqing and Xue Wujing at the stronghold now?"

"When I brought my men down the mountain, they were still there!"

"Take me to your stronghold!"

"Now?"

Qin Shuang's cold gaze swept over him. He didn't speak, but his icy stare sent a chill down Zhu Tieshou's spine. He immediately pointed in a direction and began to lead the way.

The sun slowly rose from the horizon. Rays of morning light pierced through the mist, casting golden hues upon Black Cloud Stronghold.

In the main hall, Xie Baoqing sat at the head of the long table, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease. He looked at Xue Wujing, seated below him, and said respectfully, "Strategist, Third Master Zhu hasn't sent anyone back with a message yet. Could something have happened?"