Smiling Leopard

He Ping naturally did not resist the orders issued by the woman named Qi Huiying from the Thirteen Flying Cloud Riders.

He had made inquiries and learned that for this period, Sheng Qingzhi had appointed this so-called Thirteen Flying Cloud Riders to oversee the encirclement and suppression of Four Peaks Mountain.

Following this, he summoned the leaders of the various factions—Chi Ling Daoist of the Flying Fish Sect, Master Zhao of the Iron Heart Martial Hall, as well as the heads of the Long Wind Society, the Heavy Axe Gang, and the Bamboo Flower Society—to explain the situation to them.

The steward, He Fusheng, had arrived early; he had ordered men to set up a simple grass shed in the open space and arranged several seats. Once everyone had taken their places as hosts and guests, they began to discuss the logistics of entering the mountains.

"We shall divide our forces into three prongs: the east, south, and west routes to enter the mountains."

Inside the grass shed, He Ping took out a silk map and pointed to it.

"I will take the central east route. I must trouble Chi Ling Daoist to lead another team along the south route, while Master Zhao shall advance from the west..."

Immediately after, he advised the other factions to select a direction based on their headcount, ensuring that each team entering the mountains had sufficient numbers.

Four Peaks Mountain was not merely a single mountain, but a vast region dominated by four peculiar peaks. Beyond the Mountain Demon that plagued the area, the forests were filled with tigers, leopards, bears, and wild boars. Even without the man-eating Mountain Demon, local mountain folk and woodcutters would never dare to enter the mountains alone.

Chi Ling Daoist and Zhao Chen exchanged a look after hearing this, and Zhao Chen, master of the Iron Heart Martial Hall, cleared his throat and spoke up.

"Young Master He, regarding the search for that Mountain Demon, why must you risk yourself? I believe you would be better off staying on the perimeter, while I, Chi Ling Daoist, and President Xiao of the Long Wind Society lead the teams."

"No, this is the instruction of the Prefect. I cannot go against it. The fifth seat of the 'Thirteen Flying Cloud Riders' specifically requested my presence in the mountains, and I find it difficult to refuse her intent."

"In that case, I shall accompany Young Master He on the east route."

Chi Ling Daoist proposed.

Both he and Zhao Chen had close personal ties with the He Family and did not wish for He Ping to put himself in danger. If he stayed with them, both sides could look out for one another along the way; if He Ping led his own team, they would be unable to assist if an accident occurred.

"Chi Ling Daoist, that is a poor choice of words. Are you implying that my Long Wind Society would be detrimental to Young Master He?"

Xiao Hao, the leader of the Long Wind Society, was a burly man with a dark face and a ring of whiskers. He let out a hearty laugh and said, "As for Young Master He's safety, you may rest assured; leave it to our Long Wind Society."

Chi Ling Daoist frowned and did not reply. The Long Wind Society was a well-known horse-trading guild in North Prefecture. Originally a small local faction that dealt in horse trading, they had gradually expanded until they controlled the majority of the horse market.

The horse market had no fixed trading grounds; it relied on horse dealers dragging their livestock from shop to shop, or buyers traveling around to inspect the horses.

Xiao Hao of the Long Wind Society had curried favor with Sheng Qingzhi, managing a large open space outside Suian City to act as a middleman for buyers and sellers coming from the north and south.

Later, the Long Wind Society grew ever larger. The veterinarians, blacksmiths, horse-tail collectors, harness makers, restaurants, and gambling dens that relied on the horse market all lived off the patronage of the Long Wind Society, and their influence was quite significant...

Xiao Hao had a nickname in the martial world: "Smiling Leopard." He appeared cheerful and magnanimous, but he was the most ruthless and cold-blooded of men.

At present, rumors were rife in the streets that the murderer of Sheng Qinghong was He Ping, and since Xiao Hao was a sycophant of Prefect Sheng, if he were to harbor ill intent toward He Ping, the situation would become troublesome.

"Why would President Xiao say such a thing?"

He Ping smiled at this...

"Chi Ling Daoist is merely worried that my constitution is too frail and that the long trek might cause some trouble. President Xiao, do not overthink it."

Xiao Hao was an old hand in the martial world; he looked up and let out a laugh, no longer wasting words on the matter.

"Oh, there is one more thing."

He Ping instructed the group.

"The depths of Four Peaks Mountain are filled with miasma and hidden with venomous snakes and insects. It is inevitable that you will encounter them upon entering. I have specifically sought out hunters who live in the vicinity and purchased some insect-repellent formulas from them, preparing several doses. You might as well take them and distribute them to your subordinates."

He produced a type of medicinal powder, claiming it had the effect of repelling filth and insects, and then handed out several gourds filled with the powder to those present.

The leaders of the various factions all praised him, saying that the young master of the He Family was truly thorough, having even prepared for such minor details. They accepted the repellent powder and the gourds before dispersing.

"I shall bid you all farewell here."

He Ping took his leave of Chi Ling Daoist and Master Zhao, climbed back into his sedan chair, and was carried away by his servants.

"Boss Xiao, are we really going to make a move later?"

Beside Xiao Hao of the Long Wind Society, a burly, ugly man asked in a low voice.

"The young master of the He Family has always treated us quite well. Doing this feels a bit unjustifiable..."

"Yan Laosan, what are you trying to say?"

Xiao Hao's leopard-like eyes turned cold, and he snapped, "Who does our Long Wind Society rely on for its business? Is it the charity of the He Family, or the favor of Lord Sheng? Offending the He Family would mean nothing more than disbanding here and now, but if we anger the Prefect, do you think you and I have a tomorrow?"

"But, isn't the one secretly orchestrating this He Jin of the He Family?"

The ugly man flinched under his glare and instinctively took a step back.

"Furthermore, the Prefect hasn't ordered us to kill anyone. This matter is really..."

"Yet, you accepted the gold and silver that He Jin gave you."

Xiao Hao's single sentence cut off whatever Yan Laosan was about to say next.

"This... I didn't know that was money for a man's life."

Yan Laosan tried to defend himself.

"Are you truly ignorant, or just playing the fool?"

Xiao Hao let out a cold snort.

"Let me put it plainly: He Jin of the He Family is far more steady and cautious than that brat He Ping. If he becomes the head of the He Family, it aligns better with Lord Sheng's wishes. Those of us who work for others must learn to grasp the intentions of those above. Lord Sheng is not fond of this Young Master He; as the Prefect, does he really need to say such things openly? These matters do not need to be spoken aloud; it is enough that we handle them."

"But?"

The ugly man didn't know what to say for a moment.

"This opportunity is rare. That brat from the He Family doesn't even understand the principle that 'a child of a thousand gold should not sit in a dangerous hall,' yet he insists on coming to this Four Peaks Mountain to throw his life away. How could you and I not fulfill his wish? By the way, is his group still trailing behind?"

Xiao Hao asked.

"Yes, this mountain path is rugged and difficult to traverse. That He Ping insists on being carried in a sedan chair; he was originally in the lead, but now he has fallen behind."

"That works out perfectly."

A sliver of killing intent erupted from Xiao Hao's slightly narrowed, sharp eyes.

"Once we find a desolate spot up ahead, we'll make our move and finish him off... After all, this is Four Peaks Mountain. If anything happens, we can just blame it on the Mountain Demon. Even a seasoned goose hunter can get his eyes pecked out by a goose; if they want to come up the mountain to slay the demon but get slaughtered by the Mountain Demon instead, that is only to be expected."