Nighttime Climb up West Ridge Mountain!

The Cao Gang's influence in Yangzhou City was once again confirmed.

In just a single day, the whereabouts of the Flower Picking Bandit had been uncovered.

"A hunter passing through said he thought he recognized this man's face."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. One of our brothers took the bandit's portrait to confirm with the hunter, and the hunter was certain he'd seen the man on the mountain this evening!"

Li Xian asked, "Which mountain?"

Brother Xin pointed across the docks. "West Ridge Mountain. It's ten li that way."

There was no time to waste. Li Xian made the call at once. "Come on, we're heading over now."

By the time the moon rose above the treetops, Li Xian and his group finally reached West Ridge Mountain.

The mountain was bustling with activity.

The Cao Gang's bounty had brought many stewards and Hall Masters rushing over to take the job.

After all, the reward was a thousand Merit Points and a hundred taels of gold.

There were also constables from Yangzhou City.

But they were no match for the others; they were just here to make an appearance.

"Anyone below the Mid-grade Martial Artist Realm, stand down. This isn't something you can get involved in."

"Why?"

"The one who kidnapped Miss Huang is Bai Shaofei of the Flying Flower Sect."

"The Flying Flower Sect? That Evil Dao Sect that specializes in ruining young women's reputations?"

"Exactly. The Flying Flower Sect mainly cultivates Dual Cultivation techniques."

"Oh, I have a friend who wanted to ask how you join the Flying Flower Sect."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. I meant, what's Bai Shaofei's cultivation level?"

"Mid-sixth Grade Martialist Realm. If you're below the mid-grade realm, don't come here to die."

Despite the warning, plenty of people in the lower grades refused to leave.

What if they happened upon a badly wounded Bai Shaofei trying to escape? Wouldn't that be a Merit Point handed to them on a silver platter?

Looking at the torches dotting the mountainside, Li Xian felt a headache coming on.

"Boss Li, with so many people here, where should we go?"

It was a very good question, and Li Xian had no idea how to answer.

Once the Cao Gang learned Bai Shaofei was hiding on West Ridge Mountain, they had sent countless disciples to surround it until not even a drop of water could get through.

People were streaming into the mountain. Finding Bai Shaofei was only a matter of time.

Sure enough, before the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, someone shouted from the darkness.

"Bai Shaofei is here!"

"Ah!"

A short, sharp scream followed, then silence.

When everyone rushed to the scene, they found only a corpse with its throat slit, eyes wide open in death.

"Does Bai Shaofei use a sword?"

"He dared lay a hand on one of ours. We'll dig three feet into the ground if that's what it takes to find him."

"Did anyone see which way he ran?"

"He was already dead when I got here. I didn't see."

Just then, another shout came from farther away.

"Bai Shaofei, you're not getting away!"

"He's over there!"

The crowd surged toward the sound in a flurry.

But when they reached the scene, all they found was a corpse with its heart pierced by a palm strike.

"What's going on? Bai Shaofei knows swordplay and palm techniques?"

"Not just that. He's fast, too. He got here in no time, killed someone, then vanished right away. He moves like lightning!"

"Is he really only Mid-sixth Grade?"

"I'd say he's higher!"

After everyone had spent a few moments discussing Bai Shaofei's strength, something began to feel off.

Some people were already wavering.

"Ah!"

Another scream rang out through the darkness of West Ridge Mountain.

This time, half the people retreated down the mountain, while a third stood frozen in indecision.

Only a handful plunged headlong into the darkness without hesitation.

"A-Xin, Wan Cai, head back first. This isn't something you can get involved in."

Li Xian left them with those words and chased after the others.

"Boss Li, you..."

Brother Xin tried to say more, but Li Xian had already vanished into the night.

With no other choice, the two of them followed the crowd back down the mountain.

"Is Bai Shaofei really that strong? He's only a Mid-sixth Grade Martialist."

"Evil Dao techniques are fast to cultivate in the first place, and he specializes in Dual Cultivation, one of the most depraved techniques out there."

"Exactly. Evil Dao techniques are easy to cultivate at first, but their potential is limited. At most, you can reach Mid-fourth Grade. You'll never have a chance of reaching the threshold of the Upper Three Ranks in your lifetime."

"Bai Shaofei must be cultivating several techniques, which is why he's so difficult to deal with."

"Let's stick together, Hall Masters. We'll attack as one and make sure the bastard dies without a burial place."

"Just what I had in mind."

In the darkness, Li Xian heard them talking.

He followed behind them at an unhurried pace, focused and on his guard.

It seemed the Cao Gang's higher-ups had underestimated Bai Shaofei's strength. The highest-ranking people involved in tonight's mission were only Hall Masters.

After all, those above the External Affairs Envoy rank wouldn't bother with so little gold and so few Merit Points.

Before long, they finally spotted their target on a hillside.

Beneath the moonlight, Bai Shaofei stood dressed in white, his clothes speckled with crimson. He had handsome features and fair skin.

Beside him was a young woman with disheveled hair, bound and teary-eyed.

She must be Huang Xiuxiu, the Huang family's precious daughter.

Bai Shaofei looked down at the Cao Gang's Hall Masters and smiled.

"Gentlemen, I've been waiting here for you for quite some time!"