"According to the information we've gathered, Wei Jie is a protector of the Rebirth Sect. He's powerful, and there's a good chance he's a Practice Force Warrior.
"On top of that, he's elusive and difficult to capture. If Yang Zhuangshi can bring him in, the County Office is willing to pay two hundred taels.
"If Yang Zhuangshi can kill him, I'll personally pay him another hundred taels!"
Tao Wenxuan told Su Chen what he knew about Wei Jie. Clearly, he hoped Su Chen would take the job; otherwise, he wouldn't have raised the reward.
Faced with the lure of three hundred taels, Su Chen didn't agree right away. A high reward meant high risk.
Tao Wenxuan had made it clear that Wei Jie was a Practice Force Warrior. Practice Force Warriors had four stages, and there was a vast difference in strength between each one.
With Su Chen's current strength, he had to be cautious even when facing two warriors of equal strength. How much more so against someone who might be stronger than him?
This wasn't mere speculation. Wei Jie was a protector of the Rebirth Sect. Even if he hadn't reached Practice Force Great Accomplishment, he was at least a Practice Force Minor Accomplishment warrior.
After all, even Chu Ming, who hadn't reached Practice Force, had two newly initiated Practice Force Warriors protecting him. That was enough to show that warriors of this level might be no more than slightly tougher hired muscle in the Rebirth Sect.
As a protector, surely Wei Jie couldn't be weaker than a hired thug, could he?
"I'll need to think it over. Is there a deadline for this bounty?" Su Chen replied after a moment's thought.
Tao Wenxuan breathed a sigh of relief. Su Chen hadn't refused outright, which meant there was still a chance.
Still, he was secretly astonished. This Yang Zhuangshi seemed far more formidable than he'd expected.
"No." Tao Wenxuan shook his head. The bounty had been an idea that had just occurred to him. How could it have a deadline?
Su Chen nodded, then looked at the two men. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Yang Zhuangshi, if you decide to go after Wei Jie, I have some news. He may appear in Blue Leaf Town in five days."
As he spoke, Tao Wenxuan had his adviser bring out a portrait of Wei Jie. Su Chen studied it for a moment, then said, "All right."
He didn't say whether he would go, and Tao Wenxuan didn't press him. Instead, he had his adviser see Su Chen out.
After Su Chen had left, the adviser returned to the hall. Tao Wenxuan asked, "Did you bring back the bodies of Chu Ming and the others?"
The adviser replied, "They've been brought back."
"Then have their bodies hung up in the marketplace as a warning to others!"
The adviser hesitated, but still nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Where do you think this Yang Guo is from?" Tao Wenxuan asked after a pause.
The adviser shook his head. "He doesn't seem to be from White Stone City. It's as if he appeared out of thin air. If I had to guess, 'Yang Guo' is an assumed name. He's living in hiding somewhere near White Stone City."
"That would make sense. His skill is indeed formidable. It's a shame I can't bring him to my side." Tao Wenxuan paid it little mind and murmured to himself.
The adviser said, "If you want to recruit him, sir, why not offer him a generous sum? He seems extremely fond of money. It might well work."
"No. Let's see if he survives first." Tao Wenxuan shook his head.
Hearing this, the adviser rubbed his chin, as if he'd guessed something. "Are you worried he won't be a match for Wei Jie, sir?"
Tao Wenxuan didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Do you think he'll go to Blue Leaf Town in five days?"
"Well..." The adviser considered it. "He might go, but he may not fight. He seems to have his own way of doing things."
As he spoke, he thought of Su Chen's killing of Chu Ming. Su Chen had waited five days before acting, which showed he wasn't impulsive and was extremely cautious.
"However..." The adviser seemed to think of something, but hesitated.
"However what?"
"Sir, the news that Wei Jie will appear in Blue Leaf Town seems far too convenient. We received it as soon as Chu Ming died. I'm worried it's a trap!"
At that, Tao Wenxuan chuckled. "Of course it's a trap. He's probably already guessed that we were behind it."
"Then why would you still..."
"The situation in White Stone City has been frozen for far too long. It's time someone came along to break the deadlock."
Tao Wenxuan shook his head and offered no further explanation.
If Su Chen killed Wei Jie, it would suit him perfectly. It might even draw out the Rebirth Sect's band of rebels, allowing him to wipe them all out.
If Wei Jie killed Su Chen, there would be no great loss. Tao Wenxuan didn't care whether Su Chen lived or died.
After a moment of silence, the adviser said, "Sir, bandits have been running rampant outside the city lately, leaving the people inside in a state of panic. If this continues, something may happen."
Tao Wenxuan waved a hand. "They're nothing but a rabble. Pay them no mind. If the people rebel, crush them by force."
With that, he turned and left.
Blue Leaf Town.
A dilapidated courtyard.
As the wind stirred the grass, several blurry figures could just be seen lurking in the shadows.
Tap, tap, tap.
Rapid footsteps sounded. A figure lingered furtively at the courtyard gate, then entered a moment later.
"Protector Wei."
Seeing a lean man practicing martial arts in the middle of the courtyard, the newcomer knelt and spoke respectfully.
The man seemed not to hear him. He continued practicing, suddenly kicking out with one foot. Five or six sharp whooshes tore through the air.
A moment later, the man lowered his foot, accidentally stepping on a stone. With a crack, it split apart.
"How did it go?"
The lean man glanced at the newcomer and asked softly.
"Reporting to the protector, I've finished investigating. Chu Ming and the Zhao Brothers were killed by a one-armed man. He's suspected to be a Blade Catcher working for the authorities, and goes by the name Yang Guo.
"Yang Guo often works for the authorities, killing fugitives. He's extremely skilled and is suspected to be a Practice Force Warrior.
"But he's very mysterious, appearing and disappearing without a trace. We haven't been able to find out where he lives."
"Oh? Yang Guo?" The lean man murmured the name. "What about the other matter?"
"Reporting to the protector, I've spread the news that you'll be coming to Blue Leaf Town in five days." The man replied.
"Good. Keep a close eye on Yang Guo and the authorities. Report back to me at once."
The lean man waved him away. Once his subordinate had left, a smile suddenly spread across his face. "Heh. Mysterious? Appearing and disappearing without a trace? He dared to kill my men. Let's see if he can stand the heat of my fury!"
Meanwhile.
Back home, Su Chen looked at the more than one hundred taels of silver in front of him and pondered.
Should I choose Ape Arm Skill or Iron Cloth Skill? The former might only strengthen my arms, but the latter could perhaps strengthen my force.
After thinking it over, he made up his mind and gritted his teeth. "If my force gets stronger, my strength will surely surge. I should improve Iron Cloth Skill first."
So Su Chen deposited one hundred taels and activated Easy Mode for Iron Cloth Skill Fragment:
Easy Mode activated: Bathe in warm water for twenty minutes to train Iron Cloth Skill Fragment to the second layer.
Before you continue