Bounty

When Shen Mu arrived at the valley entrance, a number of Guardians had already gathered there.

Not far away, Ren Yunzhao wore a gloomy expression. The past few days had clearly been anything but peaceful for him.

As for the two Market Masters, Kong Mingyuan and Lin Xiao, they stood behind Ren Yunzhao with sheepish expressions, as if he had just given them a thorough scolding.

Seeing this, Shen Mu couldn't help feeling secretly amused.

This was quite different from what he'd seen a few days ago. Back then, Ren Yunzhao had just acquired a tiger penis and had been positively beaming.

Who would've thought the situation would change so quickly in just a few days?

"What do you think the Incense Master summoned everyone here for?"

"Probably because someone sneaked in and picked the Origin Mulberry Fruit in Emerald Cloud Valley."

"Those bastards used to sneak in and pick the fruit, and we always turned a blind eye. Even if they stole a little, it wasn't a big deal. At most, we'd fire a warning arrow to scare them off. Who knew they'd lure a demonic beast off the cliff to cause a disturbance and get so many of our brothers killed? They really went too far!"

"Those rats who skulk in the dark deserve to die for stealing a little Origin Mulberry Fruit!"

"I think every Guardian should be given a bow from now on. If we catch anyone sneaking into the valley, we should shoot them full of arrows on the spot!"

"Isn't killing them outright a bit much? They only stole a little Origin Mulberry Fruit. It doesn't warrant that."

"Hmph, they only stole a little Origin Mulberry Fruit? How many of our brothers died a few days ago because those bastards lured the Dark Gold Red Tiger off the cliff?"

"In my opinion, shooting them isn't enough. We should capture them alive and subject them to the hammer punishment—beat them to death, hammer blow by hammer blow!"

"What if the authorities find out we've used private punishment?"

"Hey, once they're dead, just bury them somewhere in the valley. Who'll know anyone died? Even if those thieves report us to the authorities, let the yamen come looking!"

"..."

The Guardians who had gathered there early were all talking at once, clearly still brooding over the incident from a few days ago.

Shen Mu stood among them, quietly listening without joining the argument.

"Brother Shen."

Luo Tao arrived at the valley entrance and craned his neck to peer through the crowd. As soon as he spotted Shen Mu, he hurried over to greet him.

He asked, "Brother Shen, what did they summon us for?"

Shen Mu shook his head. "I don't know either, but we'll find out soon enough."

Hearing this, Luo Tao said nothing more. Like Shen Mu, he simply waited in silence.

About half an hour later, all the Guardians in Emerald Cloud Valley had arrived at the entrance.

"Ahem."

Lin Xiao cleared his throat and stepped forward, respectfully addressing him. "Incense Master, everyone's here."

Ren Yunzhao glanced around and cleared his throat. The previously noisy crowd fell silent at once.

"I assume you've all been wondering why I've called you here today."

"A few days ago, the first-rank demonic beast, the Dark Gold Red Tiger, accidentally fell off the cliff, causing many members of the Firewood Gang to lose their lives."

"An investigation revealed that the Dark Gold Red Tiger's fall wasn't an accident. Someone deliberately set a trap above the cliff, luring the beast over the edge to cause a disturbance, then sneaking into the valley to pick the Origin Mulberry Fruit."

Ren Yunzhao spoke loudly. "This incident cost the Firewood Gang at least fifty thousand taels of silver."

"Whoa!"

At the mention of fifty thousand taels, the crowd erupted in shock, and everyone began whispering among themselves.

Shen Mu's mouth twitched. He understood that Ren Yunzhao had deliberately exaggerated the losses.

By his estimate, the losses from the Dark Gold Red Tiger incident wouldn't exceed twenty thousand taels at most.

That included the stolen Origin Mulberry Fruit and the compensation paid to the families of the dead and injured members.

The Dark Gold Red Tiger they'd killed alone could fetch at least ten thousand taels, which would offset part of the losses.

But Shen Mu could also guess why Ren Yunzhao had inflated the amount. How else could he balance the books?

"Silence!"

Kong Mingyuan barked, and the noisy crowd fell silent again.

Meeting their gazes, Ren Yunzhao continued, "This incident has enraged the Gang Leader, who has ordered a thorough investigation. We must identify the culprit within a month and make an example of them!"

"I, Ren, will be in charge of this incident. The Gang Leader has also entrusted me with full authority over the investigation."

"Yet these thieves are like rats hiding in their holes. To drag them out, everyone in Emerald Cloud Valley must work together."

"Therefore, I hereby announce: anyone who provides a lead that helps us find these thieves will receive a reward of one hundred taels!"

"Anyone who captures one person involved in the incident that night will receive a reward of five hundred taels!"

"There is no limit to the reward. If you capture two thieves, you'll receive one thousand taels!"

"Whoa!"

At Ren Yunzhao's words, the crowd erupted in shock once more. Some people's eyes were already bloodshot with excitement.

Shen Mu couldn't help being secretly impressed.

Ren Yunzhao was sparing no expense to capture the people involved in that night's incident.

Even just providing a useful lead would earn a hundred taels of silver. The reward was undeniably generous.

"It seems the higher-ups were truly furious about the Dark Gold Red Tiger incident a few days ago."

"But can they really flush out the thieves by offering a bounty?"

Shen Mu couldn't help wondering.

Still, he knew that for Ren Yunzhao, this was certainly one way to handle it.

After all, the higher-ups had given him only a month to investigate.

Shen Mu didn't know what would happen to Ren Yunzhao if he failed to catch these rats within a month, but the outcome probably wouldn't be good.

That was likely the main reason Ren Yunzhao looked so troubled.

As for the Guardians, they had nothing to do at the moment anyway.

Putting them to work investigating the incident was a way to make the best use of them.

"For the next month, you may leave Emerald Cloud Valley to pursue leads."

Ren Yunzhao spoke loudly. "As long as your lead is verified, you'll receive the reward."

"Whether you make a fortune is entirely up to your own abilities."

Having said his piece, Ren Yunzhao said no more. He turned and left with Lin Xiao and Kong Mingyuan.

After Ren Yunzhao left, the Guardians gathered there whooped with excitement.

"Brother Shen, are we going to help with the investigation?"

Luo Tao looked eager to give it a try, but still asked Shen Mu.

"No."

Shen Mu shook his head. Rather than waste time investigating, he would be better off using it to temper his body and increase his blood energy.

Seeing how the Firewood Gang had been investigating all over the place and making such a commotion, those people would probably lie low and stay well hidden.

Shen Mu didn't want to waste an entire month hoping to strike it rich.

The most important thing for him now was to turn the silver he already had into cultivation.