Targeted

The next day.

When Zhao Tiankuo walked back to his own courtyard along Willow Leaf Lane, he was still carrying a bag of freshly bought pastries, intending to bring breakfast to the three men staying in his home.

He pushed open the courtyard gate with a cordial smile on his face, already prepared with what he would say shortly.

But that easy smile froze the instant he saw the scene in the courtyard.

The three guards lay sprawled all over the ground, unconscious.

At the sight, the pastries in Zhao Tiankuo's hand fell to the ground with a slap.

"Damn it!"

He did not bend down to pick them up. His right hand instinctively drew a short blade from inside his lapel as he cautiously approached the main house. The door stood ajar, and a thick stench of blood wafted out from within.

Holding his breath and focusing his mind, he slowly stepped inside.

Then he saw the bloody sight before him.

Three headless corpses lay on the floor, the pools of blood beneath them already congealed into thick, dark-brown scabs.

A chill shot straight to the crown of his head...

"Who the hell did this?"

The three leaders of the Big-Ears Gang had all been Bone Tempering martial artists.

Yet someone had broken into his home last night and killed all three alone... No.

Perhaps more than one person had entered his courtyard...

No matter what, their strength had to be on par with the Big-Ears Gang's chief.

If he had been the one staying in that room under those circumstances last night, Zhao Tiankuo feared he would have been hard-pressed to escape death...

Put another way.

His act of kindness had indirectly saved his life.

Those three from the Big-Ears Gang had taken a calamity for him...

Zhao Tiankuo's expression became complicated for a moment...

"The people who came last night were probably after me..."

No. This house could no longer be lived in.

The deputy leader...

He had to tell the deputy leader about this.

He would say that someone was targeting the Four-Ping Gang...

Zhao Tiankuo hurriedly left the house. After hesitating in the courtyard for a moment, he decided not to wake the guards and let them sleep until they woke naturally.

After all, even if he woke them, he would not be able to get any information from them. Why waste the effort?

Besides, if the thieves were lurking nearby at this very moment, leaving even one step later might cost him his life.

It was better to leave this unlucky place as soon as possible.

Half an hour later.

Four-Ping Gang headquarters.

Zhao Tiankuo quickly found Huo Changgeng and explained what had happened.

Huo Changgeng frowned slightly. Sitting in his chair, he tapped the armrest twice with his fingertips.

"He Jiayi and the other two are dead?"

"Deputy Leader, do you remember the deaths of Huang Xuan and Yang Zheng? I suspect this murderer may be connected to the ones from before..."

Zhao Tiankuo brought up the matter.

"Perhaps it is Wei He retaliating against our Four-Ping Gang in secret..." Huo Changgeng said uncertainly.

"Hard to say. But I do have a few leads regarding Huang Xuan's killer..."

Zhao Tiankuo had been holding back some resentment.

"Let's hear it..."

Huo Changgeng said.

Zhao Tiankuo then launched into a lengthy explanation. His reasoning was sound and orderly, every point clearly laid out.

"Now that you put it that way, the possibility that the murderer was that genius is much greater..."

Huo Changgeng could not help nodding.

"But he is only a genius. A genius who has not yet grown up is nothing to fear."

A vicious glint flashed in Zhao Tiankuo's eyes.

"And if he truly was the one who killed Huang Xuan... then perhaps he also knows something about the deaths of Yang Zheng and He Jiayi..."

Huo Changgeng saw through Zhao Tiankuo's thoughts.

"It seems you already have a plan to deal with this person..."

"I ask that Deputy Leader grant it." Zhao Tiankuo spoke with a solemn expression.

"Go ahead and do it. Wei He, the only one who still posed a threat to our Four-Ping Gang, is now severely injured. That little Chen Clan Martial Hall is nothing to fear." Huo Changgeng made his stance clear.

"Thank you for your support, Deputy Leader..." Zhao Tiankuo's face brightened with joy.

"Tell me your plan. Perhaps I can give you some advice." Huo Changgeng's tone carried a touch of arrogance.

He came from the prefectural city. Naturally, his perspective and vision were beyond comparison with a local from a small county like Zhao Tiankuo.

Without hesitation, Zhao Tiankuo told Huo Changgeng his entire plan.

After hearing it, Huo Changgeng smiled knowingly.

"You intend to use that lad from the Peaceful Reach Escort Bureau to force Cheng Yang into submission? Heh... What a coincidence. I just finished speaking with the Peaceful Reach Escort Bureau's chief escort yesterday, and I obtained his support..."

"Since he has offered his support, he must show some sincerity. Getting that lad into your hands should not be much of a problem."

"If that is truly the case, it will save me quite a bit of trouble."

Zhao Tiankuo could not help feeling doubtful.

"But will the Peaceful Reach Escort Bureau really do such a thing?"

"Rest assured, they will. Their chief escort is a practical man. The situation in Qinglin County is plain as day now. He knows which side to stand with. Besides, Wei He has the Five Elements Sect behind him, but does our Four-Ping Gang not also have powerful backing behind us..."

"And the Five Elements Sect is too busy looking after itself right now. Where would it find the time to concern itself with matters in some small county..."

Huo Changgeng's words finally put Zhao Tiankuo completely at ease.

At that moment, he could not help feeling fortunate that joining the Four-Ping Gang had been such a wise choice.

As the Four-Ping Gang's status grew ever greater in the future, the value of his position as hall master would only rise as well.

Huo Changgeng patted Zhao Tiankuo on the shoulder, painting him a grand vision.

"Work hard! If you truly uncover the organization or murderer behind the attacks on our Four-Ping Gang, the gang leader and I will richly reward you..."

"Of course. I will not disappoint the deputy leader or the gang leader."

Zhao Tiankuo was somewhat carried away, his tone fervent.

That afternoon, he brought two trusted subordinates directly to the Peaceful Reach Escort Bureau.

Chief Escort Wu Zhanhong received him in the main hall. After the two exchanged a few polite words across the tea table, Zhao Tiankuo laid out his purpose.

After hearing him out, Wu Zhanhong did not agree immediately. He held his teacup and pondered for a long while before finally setting it down and nodding. "I can give you the man, but this matter carries no small consequences. Hall Master Zhao must handle it properly and leave no loose ends."

"Of course." Zhao Tiankuo rose with a smile and took his leave.

After he left, Wu Zhanhong sat alone in the hall for a long time.

The escort bureau's second-in-command, who had stood silently at the side the entire time, finally spoke. Obvious indignation lay buried in his voice. "Brother Wu, are we really going to trade one of our own for the Four-Ping Gang's trust?"

Wu Zhanhong set his teacup on the table with more force than usual. "You do not understand. The Peaceful Reach Escort Bureau has been in Qinglin County for so many years, yet there is no road left for us to rise any higher.

Now that the Four-Ping Gang has opened this door, it is my only opportunity."

"But this will chill the brothers' hearts."

"I have no choice." Wu Zhanhong's voice was very low, so low it seemed to be squeezed out of his chest. "Compared to that, I am even less willing to watch the escort bureau remain cooped up in this little county for the rest of its life, never able to turn itself around."

The second-in-command let out a heavy sigh. He said nothing more and turned to leave the hall.

Not long afterward, a bearded man named Ma Guobao was summoned inside and stood before Wu Zhanhong, waiting for him to speak.

Wu Zhanhong finished explaining the matter.

Ma Guobao's expression slowly changed from initial confusion into something complicated. After hesitating for a long while, he finally forced out, "Chief Escort, this matter may not be quite..."

"The pay for this escort job will be doubled."

"Chief Escort..." Ma Guobao sounded even more hesitant.

"Tripled." Wu Zhanhong stared into his eyes, speaking each word distinctly. Ma Guobao's Adam's apple bobbed. His expression shifted several times before he finally gritted his teeth and said in a muffled voice, "Chief Escort... I'll take this job."

When he walked out of the hall, his footsteps were much heavier than when he had entered.

A faint breeze swept in through the courtyard, stirring the stray hairs in his beard.

He looked back toward the main hall, then shifted his gaze to the distant gray-white horizon and muttered something too quiet to hear clearly:

"...Money that costs you your conscience is the easiest to earn."

"Dear readers, please tap for more updates. Could you send the author a few free little gifts to show your support?"