Mountain Stronghold

The idea Chen Luo had come up with was not exactly a good option. After all, in this era, the Imperial Court was still the mainstream.

Becoming bandits was a choice only made by people forced into a corner with no way to survive. Besides, even if they truly went into the mountains, it would not necessarily be safe. If the people behind Eunuch Wei were a little more insane, they might directly send a great army to sweep the area clean. By then, Uncle and Nephew would not merely fail to escape—their fate might be even worse than it was now.

"We're not really becoming bandits by seeking them out. We're going to the mountain stronghold to find a way to live."

Seeing Third Uncle hesitate somewhat, Chen Luo spoke up to explain.

"Eunuch Wei's group is clearly planning something major. Disputes involving the Imperial Clan have never been small. Uncle and Nephew are merely insignificant people. In a storm this vast, all we can do is preserve our lives. And when it comes to staying alive, no one nearby has more connections than those bandits in the mountain stronghold."

"Fine!"

Chen Laosan gritted his teeth and agreed to his nephew's plan.

They had already reached this point. How much worse could things get?

Thus, Uncle and Nephew immediately changed direction and headed for the nearest mountain stronghold. Fortunately, they were both locals of Qingya County and knew something about the nearby strongholds. From what they knew, there was a stockade on Barren Mountain Ridge called Fierce Tiger Stockade.

They followed the mountain path for half an hour. By the time Uncle and Nephew reached the stockade entrance, dawn had fully broken.

"Stop!"

Before the two could approach, an arrow shot down and lodged diagonally at their feet. Looking in its direction, they saw a bandit standing atop the stronghold gate with a bow in hand. He was dressed like a Hunter and was likely a nearby villager who had taken to banditry.

"Please trouble this good man to announce us. Tell them that fellow villager Chen Dahe has come to visit."

Chen Laosan put on a smile, stopped at the Original Spot, and called out loudly. At the same time, he took out a money pouch from his robe, showing that he understood the Rules. In Fierce Tiger Stockade, this money was called Toll Money. As long as one paid the Toll Money, one was considered a Guest of the stockade and could receive its protection.

When Chen Laosan and the others had buried corpses before, they had dealt with Fierce Tiger Stockade, so he knew how things worked here.

At the sight of the money, the Hunter above swiftly flipped down.

The stronghold gate was not particularly high to begin with. For someone with skill, it was easy enough to vault down.

"Not bad. You know the ropes."

Taking the money pouch, the Hunter weighed it twice in his hand. After confirming that nothing was missing, he nodded in satisfaction. Chen Luo stood behind Third Uncle and sized up the Hunter. Judging from that arrow shot just now, this gatekeeper was no ordinary man. He could easily handle three to five burly men alone; Chen Luo just did not know whether he had practiced martial arts.

From a mere gatekeeper, one could roughly judge the foundation of a mountain stronghold.

For Fierce Tiger Stockade to become a famed stronghold throughout the region and survive several campaigns by the Authorities to Encircle and Annihilate it, it certainly had qualities worthy of praise.

"Go on in. Just follow the road straight ahead. Remember, don't wander around."

Having taken the money, the Hunter flipped back onto the stronghold gate.

"Many thanks, good man."

Chen Laosan let out a breath of relief and quickly led Chen Luo into the mountain stronghold.

He was extremely anxious now. It was already broad daylight, and the matter in Qingya County must have come to light. Whether it was the people behind Eunuch Wei or the Qingya County magistrate, both were Important Figures Uncle and Nephew could not afford to provoke. They had to escape the encirclement before either side reacted.

After entering the stockade, the two did not wander about. They proceeded along the route the bandit at the entrance had indicated.

Mountain strongholds had their own Rules. Those who paid to enter had to First Time pay respects to the Great Chieftain and offer him a gift as a show of respect.

Beyond the front hall lay a martial training ground.

When Chen Luo and his uncle arrived, some of the men from the stronghold were practicing fist techniques in the courtyard. Chen Luo swept his gaze over them and found that they were all practicing crude forms, commonly known as External Training. Such skills were adequate for dealing with ordinary people, but in a world with the Martial Dao, they inevitably lacked staying power. Most importantly, External Training drained one's life force the most. It was fine when one was young, but once age caught up, all sorts of ailments would emerge.

After walking farther, they arrived at the only respectable building in the stockade.

Fierce Tiger Hall.

Several chieftains were drinking inside. When they saw people enter, none of them rose. Someone had presumably already informed them.

"You're Chen Dahe? Why don't I remember having a fellow villager like you?"

The Great Chieftain sat in a tiger-hide chair, lounging sideways against its back. His black Short Shirt could not conceal his Hardened Muscles. Simply sitting there gave off a vicious, baleful air. He truly was a man like a fierce tiger. The Bandit Followers beside him were also imposing, every one of them tall and powerfully built. One look was enough to tell they were experts at robbing homes and plundering travelers.

"The Great Chieftain is an important man and forgets many things."

This was not Chen Laosan's first time dealing with these people, so he naturally would not be bluffed by the Great Chieftain's few words.

Calmly, he took out the silver he had prepared long ago and placed it on the table.

A full thirty taels!

This was money ordinary commoners could not earn in an entire year! If they did not need these bandits to survive now, Chen Laosan would never have been so generous.

"Two months ago, I even drank with you."

After putting down the silver, Chen Laosan stepped back and cupped his hands.

"Not bad, not bad. I remember you now." The bandit chief in the Head Seat grabbed the silver and laughed heartily.

From his expression, it seemed as though he truly remembered such a friend.

Whether that was true or false, only he himself knew.

"Speak. What did you come to me for? Thirty taels of silver is enough for me to drink a good round." Fierce Tiger Chieftain said generously.

The meaning behind his words was obvious: whatever they asked of him could not be worth more than thirty taels.

"We want to leave Qingya County. We hope the Great Chieftain can make it convenient for us and take us by water."

"Leave Qingya County?"

Fierce Tiger Chieftain straightened up, and his tone was no longer as relaxed as before. The bandits laughing beside him also fell silent, knowing their Eldest Brother was considering something.

"Did you hear some kind of rumor?"

Fierce Tiger Chieftain was not stupid. In fact, he had also been watching the movements in Qingya County recently. Ever since the lockdown began several days ago, he had Detected that something was wrong. Over this period, he had ordered all the brothers of the stockade to pull back and had strengthened the stockade's patrols and defenses. In the past, Chen Laosan and the others would never have encountered patrols upon entering the stockade's territory.

"We—"

"Third Uncle, let me speak."

Chen Luo stepped forward and pressed down on Third Uncle's shoulder.

He knew this matter could not be explained clearly in just a few words. Even if they did explain it, Fierce Tiger Chieftain would need a great deal of time to verify it. By the time everything was understood and they Wanted To Escape, it might be Too Late.

So Chen Luo intended to use his own method to reason with these bandits.

"You can handle it?"

Seeing this, Chen Laosan could only swallow his words and retreat to the side alone. After what had happened last night, Chen Laosan no longer regarded his nephew as some ignorant junior.

"Fierce Tiger Chieftain should have sensed it as well, right?"

As he spoke, Chen Luo deliberately released his aura. With his current Internal Training strength, once he released it, even ordinary people could clearly feel it.

An Internal Training Master?

The moment his aura spread, everyone in the hall became wary. Some of the bandit chieftains even placed their hands on their weapons.

They were all Desperados who licked blood from their blades, so they naturally understood what an Internal Training Master represented.

"Cai Mou misjudged you."

Fierce Tiger Chieftain narrowed his eyes, while the five fingers resting on the armrest quietly clenched a little tighter.