Town Mountain Tiger

Deep within the mountains.

There lay a massive stronghold almost completely cut off from the world, perched at the most perilous point of the mountain range, its cliffs sheer as if carved by a blade.

Only a winding, twisting path led to the summit. It was the stronghold's sole entrance and exit, easy to defend and hard to assault.

A swiftly moving figure darted continuously through the dense forest.

Half an hour later.

He stopped before a cliff and called out in a ringing voice, "Li Yanzhao of the Li Family, acting on the Lineage's orders, has come to pay respects to the chief of Black Robe Stronghold!"

His booming voice echoed through the mountains, startling countless birds into flight.

After speaking, Li Yanzhao took a calling card from his sleeve and hurled it out. Like a bolt of lightning, it embedded itself directly into the smooth, precipitous cliff face.

A hidden figure revealed himself, took the calling card, and said, "Please wait. Allow me to report to the chief."

After some time...

A wooden cage slowly descended from the cliff.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yanzhao strode into the wooden cage.

Once he had steadied himself, the cage slowly rose, and Li Yanzhao's field of vision broadened more and more.

As he looked upon the steep terrain, Li Yanzhao's expression grew increasingly grave.

The dangerous terrain of Black Robe Stronghold far exceeded his expectations.

If they truly believed the Li Family could easily get a handle on Black Robe Stronghold, they would likely suffer a tremendous loss.

"Honored guest, you have arrived. Please cooperate with us and cover your eyes."

A bandit from Black Robe Stronghold spoke respectfully.

Li Yanzhao did not refuse. Having come onto another's territory, he naturally had to follow another's rules.

He obediently covered his eyes and, led by the bandit, headed deeper into Black Robe Stronghold.

The moment he entered the stronghold, he heard waves of drilling and battle cries.

They continued onward...

The sky gradually darkened.

A quarter of an hour later, the bandit leading the way removed the black cloth from Li Yanzhao's eyes.

"Honored guest, we have arrived. Please rest for a moment. The chief will be here shortly."

Li Yanzhao nodded.

"Sorry for the trouble."

Before long, two fairly pretty maidservants brought over tea and pastries.

Li Yanzhao quietly sipped his tea as he waited for Town Mountain Tiger to arrive.

He did not have to wait long before a loud, hearty laugh came from the rear entrance. "Hahaha! I was wondering why magpies had been chirping all day. So it turns out an honored guest has come to my door."

Immediately afterward, a towering, broad-shouldered, bear-waisted muscular man with a face full of whiskers emerged from the rear entrance.

Sensing the man's sharp and domineering aura, Li Yanzhao guessed that this was the legendary chief of Black Robe Stronghold, Town Mountain Tiger.

He rose to his feet and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Li Yanzhao, Sixth Elder of the Green Maple Li Clan, pays respects to Chief."

"Elder Li is too courteous. Hu has long admired the great name of the Green Maple Li Clan."

Town Mountain Tiger laughed heartily.

"Please sit." The two took their seats.

"Elder Li is indeed a rare guest. May I ask what guidance Elder Li has for Hu, coming all the way to this desolate place of poor mountains and foul waters today?"

Thinking of the purpose of his visit to Black Robe Stronghold, Li Yanzhao's spirits rose. He smiled and said, "Chief, you overstate it. I would not dare speak of guidance. I came on the Lineage's orders to inquire about one matter."

Upon hearing this, Town Mountain Tiger's expression became slightly grave. "Please speak, Elder Li. Hu will answer everything he knows without holding anything back."

"Good."

Li Yanzhao took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then slowly said, "Chief, today, a shipment of important goods from my Li Family was robbed while passing through your esteemed territory. One of our clansmen was also severely injured and now hangs between life and death. Should you not give the Li Family an explanation?"

Town Mountain Tiger's pupils contracted slightly, and he appeared somewhat shocked, but he quickly regained his composure.

Only, his attitude was no longer as warm as before. In a somewhat cold tone, he said, "So Elder Li has come to my door to demand an account?"

"I would not dare speak of demanding an account. Feilong Gorge is the Chief's territory. I merely wish for the Chief to give the Li Family an explanation."

Li Yanzhao spoke calmly.

"Hmph. The Li Family certainly throws its weight around. Something went missing on my territory, and you demand that I explain myself? What do you take Black Robe Stronghold for? A vassal of your Li Family? And if I refuse, what can you do to me?"

Town Mountain Tiger's gaze was icy, his tone incomparably domineering.

"Then the next ones to visit will be Qi and Blood Realm Cultivators from my Li Family."

Faced with Town Mountain Tiger's overbearing words, Li Yanzhao's expression did not change as he answered without the slightest fear.

Upon hearing this, Town Mountain Tiger's face immediately became exceedingly unsightly.

Although Black Robe Stronghold possessed natural defenses, they could not stop Qi and Blood Realm Cultivators. This was also why Town Mountain Tiger had never provoked Qi-Blood Realm families over all these years.

Able to become the chief of a stronghold and command several thousand men of Black Robe Stronghold, Town Mountain Tiger was naturally not as simple-minded as he appeared.

A smile rose on his face once more as he said with a laugh, "Elder Li, do not be angry. Hu was merely making a little joke."

"It would be best to make fewer jokes like that. If the one who came today had been the Young Patriarch of my Li Family, I fear this joke would not have ended well."

Li Yanzhao said in an eerie tone.

Town Mountain Tiger's mouth twitched. By now, who did not know that the Li Family's Young Patriarch was famous for repaying every grievance, with a black heart and ruthless hands?

At that thought, Town Mountain Tiger forced a smile and said, "Yes, yes. Elder Li, please do not take offense. Please rest here for a while. I will immediately summon the men of the stronghold, investigate this matter, and give Elder Li an explanation."

Li Yanzhao nodded in satisfaction. "Then sorry for the trouble, Chief. That shipment is of critical importance to the Li Family. If it cannot be recovered, my Li Family will certainly not let the matter rest."

The threat in his words was laid bare beyond doubt.

"Hu understands."

Town Mountain Tiger smiled as he turned around. The instant he did, the smile vanished from his face.

Watching Town Mountain Tiger stride away, Li Yanzhao took a sip of tea, a trace of disdain appearing in his eyes.

He was merely a bandit, yet he truly thought himself some great figure.

Within Black Robe Stronghold, a resounding horn sounded, tearing through the silent night.

Bandit leaders of every rank hurried toward the central stronghold.

After about the time it took to burn an incense stick, dozens of large and small leaders from Black Robe Stronghold had gathered in the central stronghold.

"Brother, it is so late. Why has the chief summoned us?"

One leader asked in confusion.

"I do not know either. I was just having fun in bed with that little woman I snatched, right at the damned crucial moment. It scared me so badly I shuddered. Damn it..."

His words drew roaring laughter from the crowd.

"Stop fooling around. The chief is coming."

A sharp-eyed minor leader said in a low voice, and the stronghold immediately fell deathly silent.

Sure enough, after a few breaths...

The chief, dressed in coarse cloth, walked over expressionlessly and sat upright in a tiger-hide armchair.

Everyone rose in unison, cupped their fists, and saluted. "Greetings, Chief."

Town Mountain Tiger said nothing, merely staring coldly at everyone. The crowd was utterly bewildered, yet none dared make any rash move. They could only stand there stiffly.

Just as the atmosphere became exceptionally oppressive, Town Mountain Tiger finally spoke. "Do you still have any regard for me as your chief?"

At these words, everyone was even more at a loss.

A leader of fairly high standing gathered his courage and said ingratiatingly, "Chief, what do you mean by that? We are all utterly loyal to you!"

Town Mountain Tiger snorted coldly and roared, "Utterly loyal? What fine utter loyalty! Then tell me, who intercepted the Li Family's goods? Step forward of your own accord right now."

The leaders looked at one another.

Finally, an ugly one-eyed man stepped forward and said, "Chief, a man must bear the consequences of his own deeds. I was the one who took the goods!"

Town Mountain Tiger's vision darkened. He had never expected that it truly had been one of his own men who robbed the Li Family's shipment.

Now the matter was troublesome. Thinking of the Li Family's Sixth Elder pressing him step by step earlier and costing him face, a nameless fury surged into his heart.

His mountain-like body shot forth like thunder. Then he smashed a fist into the one-eyed man. The terrifying force sent the latter flying, and he only stopped after crashing heavily into the wall.

The one-eyed man struggled to rise from the ground, wiped away the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, and gave a miserable smile. "Thank you, Chief, for sparing my life."

After venting a little, the fury in Town Mountain Tiger's heart finally subsided somewhat.

He coldly demanded, "Why did you rob the Li Family's goods?"

"A source reported that it was a cart of valuable medicinal ingredients, worth several thousand taels of gold. If we pulled off this job, the men in the stronghold would no longer have to worry about medicinal ingredients for the Body Tempering Realm."

The one-eyed man answered truthfully.

"Medicinal ingredients worth several thousand taels of gold?"

Town Mountain Tiger licked his lips. Even he was tempted by that.

But he immediately thought of something suspicious.

"Where is that source?"

"This subordinate does not know. He came masked, and I do not know his identity. He only told us the shipment's route and the strength of its guards."

"And you dared rob someone's goods just like that? Do you fucking know you were being used? The Li Family has already come to me looking for trouble. He is waiting in the reception hall right now."

The chief roared, "Even if you were going to rob them, could you not have done the job cleanly? You even left survivors to go back and report it, you useless trash!"

"This subordinate was incompetent."

The one-eyed man said, red with shame.

"Where are the goods?"

"Hidden in a cave at the foot of the mountain."

"Find people to return them tomorrow."

"Why? Chief, more than twenty brothers died to obtain those goods."

The one-eyed man abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"The current Li Family is not someone we can afford to provoke."

Though he was tempted by those valuable medicinal ingredients, reason ultimately overcame greed.

Second Leader also asked in confusion, "Chief, I do not understand. With your current strength, even if the Li Family learns that we took their goods, what can they do to us?"

Several of Black Robe Stronghold's highest-ranked leaders knew their chief's true strength.

Two years ago, he had already broken through the Qi and Blood Heavenly Pass and advanced into the Qi and Blood Realm. He had merely concealed it.

In their view, Black Robe Stronghold, which likewise possessed a Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator, had no need to fear the Li Family at all.

Town Mountain Tiger shook his head.

Somewhat helplessly, he said, "This time, Fourth robbed the Li Family—the Li Family with two Qi-Blood Realm cultivators. The Li Family's Young Patriarch is also a renowned young prodigy, capable of crossing realms to strike down stronger foes. If we truly clashed, I am afraid I would be the one to die. Beyond the heavens are other heavens; beyond men are other men."

This was the part of the Li Family that Town Mountain Tiger feared most.

A young prodigy's future was what was truly terrifying, because one simply had no idea how far he could grow.

"Moreover, there may be something else suspicious about this matter. Fourth, I fear you became a blade in someone else's hand."

Town Mountain Tiger sighed.

"Chief, I... I..."

Fourth Leader said, his face somewhat pale.

"You are a grown man, so stop hemming and hawing. Even if the sky falls, I am still here. In the future, you must be careful and cautious in all you do."

Having uncovered the full sequence of events, Town Mountain Tiger finally relaxed somewhat. At least he could now give the Li Family an explanation.

He dismissed the leaders and returned to the reception hall.

Over there, Li Yanzhao was resting with his eyes closed. Hearing footsteps outside, he slowly opened them.

When he saw Li Yanzhao again, Town Mountain Tiger knew that he was in the wrong. He gave an awkward laugh and said, "Elder Li, I have investigated it. This matter was entirely a misunderstanding. A newly joined minor leader under me intercepted the wrong people. I will immediately arrange for someone to send that shipment back."

With the medicinal ingredients recovered, the stone hanging over Li Yanzhao's heart finally fell to the ground.

However...

"Chief, so many people from my Li Family died. Is it not a little inappropriate to think a mere 'intercepted the wrong people' can simply brush the matter aside?"

Li Yanzhao sneered.

Town Mountain Tiger's expression changed, but he gave a light laugh. "Elder Li, do not be angry. I have already cleaned house and dealt with that culprit. He was chopped to pieces and fed to the dogs."

Li Yanzhao meant for him to hand over the culprit, but how could that be possible?

One-Eye was not only Fourth Leader of Black Robe Stronghold, but his Minor Accomplishment in Body Cultivation also made him one of Black Robe Stronghold's few high-level combatants. He also held some prestige within Black Robe Stronghold.

If he handed One-Eye over to the Li Family for punishment over this matter, how could he retain the face to lead Black Robe Stronghold afterward?

Hearing this, Li Yanzhao could not help sneering repeatedly.

Town Mountain Tiger's words were riddled with holes.

Could a minor leader mobilize that many black-robed bandits?

Could a minor leader severely injure Seventeenth Brother, who was in the Body Realm?

It was utterly laughable.

Judging from Town Mountain Tiger's attitude, he was determined not to hand over the culprit.

Since the medicinal ingredients had already been recovered, Li Yanzhao did not continue applying pressure. This was, after all, the black-robed bandits' headquarters. If he truly enraged Town Mountain Tiger and drove a dog into a desperate leap over the wall, he feared he would not be able to leave Black Robe Stronghold alive.

This debt could be settled another day.

"Since that is the case, Li will not linger to disturb you further. Thank you, Chief. Li shall take his leave first."

Li Yanzhao said with a smile that did not reach his eyes. With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode away.

How could Town Mountain Tiger not know that Li Yanzhao was dissatisfied with how the matter had been handled? Yet he had no choice.

In the end, he had offended the Li Family.

As he watched Li Yanzhao's departing back, Town Mountain Tiger's expression gradually darkened.