Outside Dongling City.
Beside the Si River.
"Cao Rong, why did you let me go?" A rugged man with a face full of beard showed a puzzled expression.
Cao Rong said, "I heard that although your name, Tian Buyi, means 'not righteous,' you are very loyal and place great weight on your word!"
Hearing Cao Rong's praise, the bearded man immediately said with pride, "Naturally! What I, the River-Roaming Dragon, value in the martial world is loyalty. I have always meant what I said and never gone back on my word."
"Good!" Cao Rong said. "I spared your life today, so you owe me a favor! Is that fair?"
Tian Buyi said, "Entirely fair!"
Cao Rong said, "I will use this favor to have you do something for me!"
"No problem!" Tian Buyi, his face covered in beard, heavily slapped his chest. "You spared me, so you have saved my life! Just say the word. If I can do it, I'll stake my life to get it done."
Cao Rong nodded. "I want you to kill someone!"
"Who?" Tian Buyi asked.
"See for yourself!" A roll of white paper slipped from Cao Rong's sleeve, and he tossed it to the bearded man before him named Tian Buyi.
Tian Buyi hurriedly caught the rolled-up sheet and opened it.
A few breaths later, he had finished reading it.
He nodded. "Easy. He's just some brat whose martial arts haven't even entered the ranks. I could kill him instantly by throwing a stone!"
Cao Rong said, "Once you have done this, the favor you owe me will be settled. You and I will have nothing more to do with each other!"
Tian Buyi grinned at that, exposing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "I understand. Lord Cao's official career is soaring, so naturally you