Murderous Intent

Inside the office at the militia barracks.

Qin Tianbao pushed the document across the desk. "Mengzi, take a look at this."

Qin Meng sat down opposite him and scanned the document. It listed remarks such as "excessive drinking and gambling," "poor character," and "insubordinate," all topped off with the glaring red seal of the Heishui City magistrate's office.

He was not surprised; his expression did not even flicker.

For him, being part of the fort's militia—aside from being registered and under their control—meant a monthly pittance of silver and rations that he no longer cared for.

Not being in the squad was, in fact, more liberating.

Qin Tianbao, however, felt differently. His face was so dark it could drip water; when he had bought the velvet antler, he had thumped his chest and promised to handle this matter.

His cheeks burned with embarrassment. "This is Qin Lai's doing. He used Qin Wang's connections at the magistrate's office to manufacture this 'evaluation' from the military affairs office. They're just afraid that if you join the militia and gain military status, they won't be able to push you around in the future."

Qin Tianbao paused, lowering his voice. "Mengzi, Qin Lai is no good. Be careful lately. When you go hunting in the mountains, don't go alone."

"Uncle Tianbao, I know my limits." Qin Meng placed the document back on the desk. "Actually, when I fell into the irrigation ditch while drunk a few days ago, it wasn't an accident."

"What?" Qin Tianbao's pupils constricted.

"I had a good haul for three days in a row, and someone got anxious." Qin Meng raised his eyes, his gaze as calm as still water. "Those five men, Song Zhong and his group—they weren't hunting that day. They were tailing me..."

Before he could finish, the room fell into a sudden, heavy silence.

Qin Tianbao swallowed hard. How could he not understand the implication? Song Zhong and his four companions had never returned from the mountains, and rumors were already circulating in the fort that they had been taken by monsters. But now, with what Qin Meng was saying...

"This isn't a grudge that can be resolved with a few words." Qin Meng suddenly stood up. "Some scum cannot be changed; they can only be killed."

As his voice fell, an aura of murderous intent permeated the room. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was bone-chillingly cold, like a blade hidden in its sheath, revealing only a sliver of its edge.

Qin Tianbao stared blankly at Qin Meng's back.

This boy, whom he had watched grow up, had become a stranger at some point. Beneath that calm face lay something he could not fathom.

"Mengzi, you—"

"I have my limits." Qin Meng turned around, a faint smile appearing on his face. "I'm not used to being targeted, and I won't drag Luming Fort into this."

His smile was terrifyingly calm.

Qin Tianbao remained silent for a long time before finally nodding. "Fine. You have your own path."

He stopped trying to persuade him.

This was the frontier. Some grudges and hatreds were destined to be washed away only with blood.

"One more thing." Qin Tianbao seemed to recall something, his expression grave. "You cannot underestimate Qin Wang. Seven or eight years ago, he was already in the bone forging realm."

Having spent all these years knocking about the Heishui City yamen, he's reached at least the organ refining step, if not stronger. I don't know the depth of his strength, so you must be careful."

The organ refining step of the body forging realm. That was a stage where one tempered the five viscera and six bowels, turning the blood as dense as mercury. The body would be incredibly formidable, far beyond what the early or middle stages of body forging could compare to.

"Understood." Qin Meng showed no fear, responding with only a single word.

He walked back to the table and suddenly said, "Uncle Qin Tianbao, the militia has good horses, right? Sell me one. I've earned some money recently; I'll pay the market price."

Qin Tianbao was stunned for a moment, then agreed, "Fine. The team does have horses, all allocated by the Border Army Governor's Office. They are much better than standard post horses."

Half an hour later, the horse purchase procedures were all completed.

Qin Meng led a Wuzhui horse out of the militia barracks. This was the fine steed he had bought for three hundred taels of silver, complete with saddle and whip.

He agilely vaulted onto the horse and flicked the reins, turning the animal onto the streets of the fortress. The iron horseshoes clicked crisply against the bluestone pavement.

At first, he was a bit stiff; the original owner barely knew how to ride, but as he moved with the rhythm of the horse's back, the memories of Qin Meng's past life—of fighting on the battlefield—began to resurface.

Whipping the horse into a gallop, charging into the fray.

Qin Meng clamped his legs against the horse's belly and gave the reins a light flick. The black horse understood and suddenly accelerated!

The wind whistled past his ears, and the houses on both sides blurred as they retreated. He leaned low, feeling the rhythm of horse and rider as one: how to leverage the horse's momentum to strike, how to steady himself amidst the jolting, how to draw a bow while at a full gallop...

Various techniques surged forth like a tide, repeating and deepening in his mind.

A few lines of golden text suddenly appeared before his eyes:

[Comprehended unranked martial skill: Iron Cavalry Charge]

[Iron Cavalry Charge - Novice (1/100)]

[Martial skill progress: 1%]

[Special effects: None]

"As expected!" Qin Meng was no longer surprised by the comprehension of a martial skill. He reined the horse in front of his courtyard gate, the Wuzhui horse looking as if it still had energy to spare.

"Oh, Mengzi, you bought a horse?" Shen Qiuyue opened the courtyard gate, surprised and delighted to see the magnificent Wuzhui horse Qin Meng was leading.

She knew her man had gone to the militia barracks, so this must have been what he bought.

"That's right," Qin Meng nodded, patting the horse's neck as the Wuzhui gave a gentle snort. "In the future, I'll teach you how to use a blade, and how to ride and shoot arrows as well."

A spark of light flickered in Shen Qiuyue's eyes, but she immediately noticed that Qin Meng's expression was unusual.

Before she could dwell on it, Qin Meng lowered the horse's head and led it into the yard by the reins. "Sister Qiuyue, prepare some food early. Cook plenty of meat; I have things to attend to."

Afraid she might worry, he added, "Uncle Tianbao told me to practice my horsemanship more and get familiar with the horse's temperament."

"Alright." Shen Qiuyue nodded. She didn't ask any further questions and turned to walk quickly toward the kitchen.

Qin Meng tied his black steed in the shed in the courtyard, adding hay and fresh water. Returning inside, he began to prepare methodically:

He checked the tension of his bowstring, counted every arrow in his quiver, and drew a steel saber he had taken as spoils of war, sharpening it against a whetstone with a rhythmic hiss-hiss sound.

Cold light danced along the blade with his movements, the edge growing increasingly sharp and menacing.

Eliminating the scourge that was Qin Lai could not be delayed any longer.

The man was like a maggot in the bone, always tripping him up from behind. This time, he had even cut off his path to joining the militia.

He didn't care about the militia itself, but no one was allowed to block his way. He needed to practice martial arts and grow strong quickly; he had no time to tangle with such a petty person or engage in their schemes.

Now that his strength was beginning to take shape, he had secured a core cultivation technique and possessed the aid of his talent. There was no need to endure and grovel as he had in the past. There are a thousand reasons, but none as effective as the edge of a blade; there are ten thousand calculations, but in the end, raw power creates miracles.

Since they were now mortal enemies, he would settle it once and for all—he would find an opportunity to kill him!

Before noon, the scent of meat filled the small courtyard.

Qin Meng finished his lunch in silence, patted the head of the little fox that had nuzzled up to him, and gave simple instructions to Shen Qiuyue as she cleared the dishes: "I'm going out to train the horse. I might be back late, so don't worry."

"Mm, you... be careful in everything." Shen Qiuyue looked up, her eyes filled with concern.

Qin Meng nodded, shouldered a pack containing about ten pounds of snake meat, nimbly untied the reins, vaulted onto the horse, and left the house.

He first searched the areas in Luming Fort where Qin Lai often frequented but found no sign of him. Assuming the man had not yet returned from Heishui City, he spurred his horse out of Luming Fort and galloped toward the main road to Heishui City.

Throughout the journey, Qin Meng practiced his horsemanship while scanning the terrain with a hunter's eye.

The main road wound ahead, flanked by wilderness, low hills, and several patches of sparse forest. He silently scouted, looking for spots suitable for observation and ambush.

As he traveled, his riding skills grew increasingly proficient, and a few lines of text appeared:

[Iron Cavalry Charge - Dengtang (15/200)]

[Special Effect: Horse Treading on Flying Swallow]

[Horse Treading on Flying Swallow]: Slightly increases body lightness and running speed; the effect can be transferred to the mount.

With the special effect quietly applied to his body, Qin Meng felt lighter and more coordinated, his sprinting speed increasing by a notch. The black steed beneath him was also full of vigor, its explosive power during sprints and endurance during long-distance travel significantly enhanced.

As the sun began to set, Qin Meng found an excellent ambush point—

A stone arch bridge spanning the Baihan River, a mandatory passage between Luming Fort and Heishui City. The pine forest north of the bridge offered a vantage point overlooking the entire main road.

He hid his horse in the pine forest and stood at the edge of the trees, looking out. The road ahead was completely unobstructed. His transformed eyesight allowed him to clearly see movement from several miles away.

Qin Meng was certain that Qin Lai would take this route on his return and would not detour a hundred miles out of his way. Seeing that night was falling, he spurred his horse and returned to Luming Fort under the cover of dusk.

Luming Fort and Heishui City are separated by only a few dozen miles; a fast horse can cover the distance in half a day.

At this moment, with the return of the merchant caravans for the winter, Heishui City was bustling yet held an underlying tension. The border army patrolled frequently, making the atmosphere taut.

After Qin Lai finished his business in the county town, he inquired and learned that the cavalry commander Chen Chao had already returned to Luming Fort. Confirming that his scheme had succeeded, he felt smug.

He finished purchasing his miscellaneous supplies and decided to return the following morning.

That evening, Qin Lai's elder brother, Qin Wang, hosted a banquet at Zuixian Pavilion to thank Chen Chao and the others.

Qin Lai understood that his brother was intentionally trying to build bridges and expand his connections. During the banquet, with fine wine and delicacies, everyone toasted and drank until they were intoxicated, refusing to leave. In their conversation, the topic inevitably turned to the onset of winter and the return of the caravans from beyond the pass.