Earth-Drilling Centipede

Juyi Tower was brightly lit.

More than forty men stood guard outside the tower. They were seasoned bandits of the mountains, commonly known as "old brothers," and deeply trusted by Cao Long. They wore the thickest cotton-padded jackets, ate the finest meat, wielded the best weapons, and enjoyed every privilege.

Second floor.

Two men sat in the hall, while eight burly men stood on either side below.

"Three thousand taels?"

"The harvest hasn't been good these past six months. That's all there is."

"I'm afraid the master won't be pleased."

"There are more than two hundred brothers in Black Wind Stockade, and every mouth needs feeding. Cao truly has no choice."

Zhang Yu moved slowly along the eaves until he reached a window. He pierced the paper covering and peered inside through the tiny hole.

The man who called himself "Cao" was around forty, with a yellowish complexion and a long beard.

Sitting opposite him was a middle-aged man who looked like a scholar. He wore a blue round-collared robe, and three silver notes lay before him. His expression was somewhat displeased.

The scholar in blue continued, "Master Huang has occupied the herb gardens and tea plantations around Cloud Mist Mountain. I hear they bring in more than seventy or eighty thousand taels a year, yet he pays Black Wind Stockade only two thousand taels in rent. Isn't that too little?"

Cao Long lifted his teacup and said with a smile, "That old dog Master Huang has the Shennong Gang behind him. As long as the master wipes out those poison-playing bastards, I wouldn't mind raising the rent thirtyfold."

The scholar in blue sneered. "Don't forget your position. How dare you make demands of the master? Do you think recruiting those fifty convicts has given you wings? Believe me, whether you're a dragon or a worm depends entirely on a single thought from the master!"

The eight burly men all took a step forward and drew their long sabers halfway with a clang, their bodies radiating the aura of hardened elites.

Cao Long chuckled. "Master Tang, before the master, Cao Long will always be a worm. But even a worm has to eat. It can't be a dead worm. And how can a dead worm help the master make money?"

Master Tang sneered. "You'd better not be playing tricks. Don't forget how you became the chieftain."

"I haven't forgotten. I wouldn't dare forget."

Cao Long took a silver note from his sleeve, pressed it beneath his teacup, then smilingly pushed it in front of the scholar in blue. "Cao is an honest man, and even more sincere with his friends. It's been eight years, Master Tang. You know me."

Master Tang lifted the teacup and took a sip before clearing his throat softly. "It seems Chieftain Cao truly is in a difficult position. Then... after I return, shall I report the matter to the master?"

Cao Long smiled. "It's late, and the weather is bitterly cold. The mountain road is difficult to travel. Why don't you and these brothers spend the night at my humble stockade? I'll find two first-rate foot-warmers for each of you, so you can have a good time. How does that sound?"

Master Tang glanced over and saw that his eight followers were all somewhat tempted. After all, no one received the slightest benefit from this trip. Who would want to travel out in the dead of winter for nothing? He smiled. "Chieftain Cao, with so many brothers, two foot-warmers won't be enough."

Cao Long laughed heartily. "I meant two foot-warmers for every brother. Of course, Master Tang is in good health, so you can handle four."

"Oh, is that so? I had no idea I was in such fine shape. In that case, I'll accept your offer."

The two men looked at each other and burst out laughing. Cao Long escorted Master Tang and his group outside, arranged for people to entertain them, then returned to his seat. His expression gradually darkened. After a while, he clapped his hands, and two men entered from the outer room.

One was a coarse martial man named Li Zhong.

The other was a scholar in white named Chen Xiulun.

Cao Long asked the two men, "What do you think?"

Li Zhong extended his palm and chopped it downward. "In my opinion, kill Master Tang! Given Cloud Mist Mountain's terrain, even if all the constables from Bailuo County and the Wan Family Militia came, they couldn't do anything. Besides, the collusion between officials and bandits cannot see the light of day. The master may not dare to use force."

"Kill Master Tang?"

Cao Long pondered, somewhat tempted. Then he looked toward the middle-aged scholar who had come to seek refuge at Black Wind Stockade the previous winter, nearly starving to death. He was one of the few educated men in the stockade and occasionally came up with dubious schemes.

"Master, what do you think?"

Chen Xiulun stroked his beard. "Chief Li's words do have merit. But in my humble opinion, it would still be too hasty. The master is deeply entrenched in Bailuo County. To fall out completely would be equivalent to cutting off our support from the official side."

Li Zhong sneered and cursed, "Damn it! Every year, five or six thousand taels—eighty percent of the stockade's surplus—just to buy support from the officials?"

Chen Xiulun chuckled. "The sages said that one should leave a thread of leeway in everything, so that one may meet again in the future. Whether these five or six thousand taels are well spent, the chieftain knows best."

Cao Long was caught in a dilemma and could not make up his mind. He simply kept thinking of the three-thousand-tael note, and his heart ached.

Chen Xiulun guessed some of the chieftain's thoughts and said, "Chieftain, your fortieth birthday is in two days. Why not invite Master Huang and the leaders of the surrounding stockades to gather at Black Wind Stockade and collect gifts to make up for the loss?"

Li Zhong laughed. "Master Chen's idea isn't bad. I say we do it! Most importantly, we have to make Master Huang bleed properly."

The three men reached an agreement and sent underlings down the mountain with invitations. Cao Long felt slightly comforted.

Zhang Yu withdrew his gaze from the gap in the window. He had heard everything clearly. It seemed that Black Wind Stockade was backed by some official from Bailuo County, while Cao Long, the chieftain on the surface, was merely a puppet.

"Officials and bandits have always been one family since ancient times."

"It seems this 'Earth-Drilling Centipede' has ulterior motives. He's unwilling to remain a puppet. As for that master, even his own adviser dares to deceive him. He probably has no means strong enough to truly intimidate Cao Long."

The black shadow leaped down from the second floor and landed in the rear courtyard. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed the enormous stone block beside the well, weighing at least four or five hundred pounds.

"Judging from Cao Long's breathing and movements, he doesn't seem to possess profound Internal Energy."

Zhang Yu looked around. Seeing no one, he did not hurry to leave. He walked to the stone block and exerted strength with both arms, but it did not move at all.

"Could Cao Long truly be Xiang Yu reborn, gifted with divine strength?"

He lowered into a horse stance and circulated Internal Energy through his meridians. His face flushed red, and after much effort, he managed to move the stone half a step. Then he heard a faint sound coming from inside it.

"As expected, something's fishy!"

Zhang Yu felt around for a moment and found a latch. After pulling it halfway out, iron sand immediately poured from the hole. Understanding dawned on him, and he put the latch back.

"So it's an illusion. The stone block is hollow, filled with iron sand."

Twenty li from Cloud Mist Mountain, inside a ruined temple.

"Your Excellency."

The two Wild Wolf Gang disciples patrolling outside the temple saw Zhang Yu return and hurriedly clasped their hands in salute.

"Have you arranged hidden sentries?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, one is in the tree and one is in the forest. A ringing gong is the signal."

"Good. Continue patrolling."

When he entered the temple, more than thirty Wild Wolf Gang disciples rose and saluted him.

"Your Excellency has returned."

"Your Excellency..."

"Your Excellency..."

After plotting to kill Zhao Huaien at Martial Saint Temple, forcing Peng Canghu back in Black Pine Forest, and leading the surviving sparks of the Wild Wolf Gang out of desperation to the south of Pingyang Prefecture, Zhang Yu had already earned their respect.

"Your Excellency, you've worked hard. Have a goose leg."

Liu Dachui was rough and sturdy. After applying golden wound medicine, the injuries on his back had already scabbed over. He was sitting beside the fire roasting a goose leg. When he saw Zhang Yu approach, he smilingly handed it over.

"How are your injuries?" Zhang Yu did not stand on ceremony. He took the goose leg and began wolfing it down.

"Your Excellency, rest assured. The nickname 'Iron Head Wolf' wasn't given to me for nothing. Just give the order and tell me whom to cut down. Old Liu will cut them down! It won't delay a thing."

Steam billowed from the iron pot over the bonfire. Zhao Xia ladled out Drunken Ox, poured it into a clay bowl, and handed it to Zhang Yu, saying softly, "Your Excellency, have some wine to drive away the cold."

Zhang Yu took the wine and drained it in one gulp.

Liu Dachui watched the two of them, a trace of a smile appearing on his face.

When Brother Zhao was alive, his greatest wish had been for his daughter to find a good husband. The Young Gang Leader was already twenty-two this year.

Over the years, Zhao Xia had managed the gang's affairs on one hand, while ordinary men did not catch her eye on the other. As a result, she had remained unmarried into adulthood.

Liu Dachui thought, His Excellency is handsome, highly skilled, and possessed of great talent and vision. He'd make a fine match. Judging by the Young Gang Leader's manner, she may not be without interest in that regard. But she's too reserved. The fish will get away at this rate. Old Liu has to find a chance to give them a push!

Zhao Xia smiled. "According to what Your Excellency said, Cao Long was just a paper tiger."

After finishing the food and wine, Zhang Yu wiped his mouth and continued to the two of them, "Cloud Mist Mountain is steep and difficult to attack, with many tea plantations and herb gardens nearby. If we manage them properly, we won't lack money or provisions."

"Black Wind Stockade at the summit is an established foundation ready for the taking. As long as we seize it, we won't have to wander everywhere this winter."

After speaking, he saw both of them staring at him and asked,

"What do you think?"

Zhao Xia's eyes shone brightly. "We'll follow your orders."

"I agree to this... brilliant plan!"

When Liu Dachui saw the two of them looking at him, he panicked for a moment and nearly blurted out, "I agree to this marriage."