Blackwind Stronghold

Them?

Zhao Zhi frowned slightly.

Why had these three softhearted fools appeared here?

Could it be?

He glanced at Blackwind Stronghold.

Playing the hero, upholding justice, and purging evil—this sort of drama was exactly what these young masters and ladies liked.

"Why are they here?"

He Peng pressed a hand against the long saber at his waist, quite curious about the appearance of Pan Hu, Zhou Jin, and Chen Nanxing.

The tea stall from earlier stood along the mountain road.

That road did not lead solely to Blackwind Stronghold. Following another path, one could also reach Mo Mountain Commandery.

Blackwind Stronghold's vicious reputation had spread far and wide. Most people chose to avoid it and would never come here of their own accord. Yet these three, dressed like young masters and a young lady, had come all the way here.

"Are you here to kill Xiahou Cheng, the chief of Blackwind Stronghold?"

Chen Nanxing stepped forward. Without any needless words, he directly stated his purpose.

"You can't handle Xiahou Cheng. Leave him to us."

He Peng's expression gradually darkened. "Since you know we are Profound Nether Guard, you should understand that when the Profound Nether Platform handles a case, no one is permitted to interfere."

"Hmph." Chen Nanxing snorted, a trace of mockery surfacing on his face. "Others may fear your Profound Nether Platform, but I do not. I am Chen Nanxing, the Third Young Master of the Chen Clan in Jing Prefecture City. This is Pan Hu, the Second Young Master of the Pan Clan, and this is Miss Zhou Jin of the Zhou Clan."

Hearing their identities, He Peng's brows drew together slightly.

The Chen Clan, Pan Clan, and Zhou Clan of Jing Prefecture City were not among the Great Yin Dynasty's foremost aristocratic houses, but they held considerable prestige within Jing Prefecture City. Even the Profound Nether Platform had to give them some degree of respect.

A Commander or a Pacification Commissioner would not care about these three clans, but Zhao Zhi and He Peng did not hold positions so lofty.

Zhao Zhi had yet to become a Formal Profound Nether Guard.

He Peng himself was merely a Formal Profound Nether Guard.

How could he stand on equal footing with the Chen Clan, Pan Clan, and Zhou Clan of Jing Prefecture? Even a Banner Officer or Chief Banner Officer of the Jing Prefecture Profound Nether Platform held less status than those three clans.

"Zhao Zhi." He Peng lowered his voice. "Those three are not easy to provoke. What should we do?"

Zhao Zhi cast the trio a sidelong glance and replied softly, "Since they want to bring suffering upon themselves, let them."

Seeing that the two made no further move, Chen Nanxing grinned. "You are not saying anything. Looks like you know who we are. Stay to the side and watch carefully. Once this young master captures Xiahou Cheng, I'll let you claim the credit."

As he spoke.

Chen Nanxing walked to the front of Blackwind Stronghold, raised his head toward the bandits on the watchtower, planted his hands on his hips, and barked imperiously, "Tell your chief, Xiahou Cheng, to come out."

Zhao Zhi: "..."

He Peng: "..."

The bandit on the watchtower froze when he saw Chen Nanxing acting like this, as though it had gone beyond his understanding.

The next moment.

He came back to his senses, drew his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming it straight at Chen Nanxing. Then he released the string. The arrow shrieked through the air and shot toward Chen Nanxing like a falling star.

"Bold!"

Chen Nanxing shouted and swiftly reached out, catching the incoming arrow firmly in his hand. Its fletching trembled faintly.

Then.

Chen Nanxing spun, twisting at the waist and turning his hips. The arrow traced an arc and flew back toward the bandit on the watchtower at an even faster speed.

Thud.

The arrow struck him squarely in the chest. Its powerful momentum hurled the bandit off the watchtower.

An uproar broke out within the stronghold.

Boom, boom, boom.

The towering wooden gates, three meters high, slowly opened, and a large group of bandits charged out with murderous force.

Zhou Jin retreated behind Pan Hu.

At the sight of so many people appearing, Chen Nanxing's heart suddenly clenched. His throat bobbed unconsciously. The corner of his eye swept over Zhao Zhi, and he forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart, putting on a fierce front despite his inner weakness. "Who is Xiahou Cheng?"

Gao Sheng, the second chief, held an Eight-Zhang Serpent Spear as his gaze slowly shifted, passing one by one over Zhao Zhi and the other four before settling on Chen Nanxing, who had spoken.

With just one glance.

The worldly Gao Sheng knew these five were no ordinary people. To remain so calm before Blackwind Stronghold, they clearly had some skills.

After pondering briefly, he slowly said, "I am Gao Sheng, the second chief of Blackwind Stronghold. May I ask why you have come looking for our chief?"

"Second chief?" Chen Nanxing raised a brow. "This young master came for your chief, Xiahou Cheng, not you. Now hurry up and tell Xiahou Cheng to get out here."

Gao Sheng tightened his grip on the Eight-Zhang Serpent Spear, suppressing the rage in his heart. "The chief is inside the stronghold. If you have the guts, then come in."

"Go in?"

Chen Nanxing muttered softly, turning to glance at the impassive Zhao Zhi before puffing out his chest.

"Then in we go. What does this young master have to fear?"

Gao Sheng stepped aside and opened a path.

Chen Nanxing strode inside.

"Brother Pan."

Zhou Jin spoke softly.

"Don't worry."

Pan Hu patted Zhou Jin's arm and murmured a reassurance before following behind Chen Nanxing into the stronghold.

Watching the three, He Peng felt rather helpless toward these young masters from Jing Prefecture City's great clans. He asked softly, "Zhao Zhi, what should we do?"

"Follow them in and take a look."

Zhao Zhi truly had not expected matters to develop to this point.

These idiots were truly reckless beyond measure.

Still, this saved Zhao Zhi quite a bit of trouble. After all, forcibly breaking through the stronghold gates would not have been easy.

The five entered the stronghold.

The massive wooden gates slowly closed. All around them, Blackwind Stronghold bandits who had been lying down, sitting, or hanging from poles rose to their feet and began walking toward the five.

Invisibly, it was as though waves were continuously sweeping toward them.

Chen Nanxing abruptly halted, his Adam's apple bobbing as he instinctively swallowed. Once again, he glanced from the corner of his eye at the calm and composed Zhao Zhi, clenched his hands, and continued onward.

Before long.

The five arrived at Blackwind Stronghold's main hall.

A burly middle-aged man with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, a rough face, and gray short clothes sat imposingly on a large tiger-hide chair. His eyes were sharp, and fierce light shot straight toward the five below.

"You came looking for me?"

When the middle-aged man's savage gaze swept over him, Chen Nanxing's hands could not help trembling.

He gritted his teeth hard, raised his head, and pretended to fear nothing as his eyes met the middle-aged man's. "You are Xiahou Cheng?"

"Yes."

Xiahou Cheng nodded.

"Good." Chen Nanxing swallowed, gathered his words, and spoke loudly. "Xiahou Cheng, you occupy Blackwind Mountain and established Blackwind Stronghold, burning, killing, looting, and ravaging the people everywhere. Your crimes are heinous beyond measure. Today, surrender with your hands bound, and this young master may spare your life."

"What did you say?"

Xiahou Cheng's tiger eyes widened, as if he could scarcely believe what he had heard.

Chen Nanxing repeated, "Surrender with your hands bound, and I will spare your life."

"Bold indeed." Xiahou Cheng's eyelids lowered, vicious light surging in his eyes. "Let this old man see whether you have the skill to back those words. Second Brother, kill him for me."

"Yes, Big Brother."

Gao Sheng answered, raised the Eight-Zhang Serpent Spear in his hand, and suddenly lunged straight at Chen Nanxing.