"Zhao Wuya? Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Of course it does. He's the head of the Zhao Clan in the south of town, the martial champion from years ago!"
The middle-aged man at the same table slapped his thigh in sudden realization.
"So it was him! Now I remember!"
"Isn't he our county commandant's own father? No wonder he personally led troops here to put down the rebellion!"
Lin Yuan stood rooted to the spot, his brows knotted tight.
Zhao Wuya?
The county commandant's own father?
Then wasn't he Zhao Yan's own father?!
Lin Yuan's mind buzzed.
So what Lin Dafu had uncovered wasn't a lead on the adulterer at all.
But if it wasn't, why had Lin Dafu left only those two characters?
Lin Dafu couldn't have been shooting without a target.
Since this wasn't a lead on the adulterer, it could only be a lead on the murderer.
For what purpose had Zhao Wuya-or rather, the Zhao Clan-insisted on killing Lin Dafu?
Unless...
Lin Dafu had uncovered an earth-shattering secret of the Zhao Clan!
Lin Yuan suddenly recalled what Shen Qing had said two nights ago.
Zhao Yan had recently been secretly buying up vast quantities of grain and refined iron, and their destination was unknown!
Lin Yuan's heart gave a violent thump as a bold thought exploded in his mind.
Could the Zhao Clan be plotting rebellion?
Could that have brought the fatal disaster down on Lin Dafu?
If that deduction held true...
Lin Yuan's expression changed drastically.
No!
He whipped his head toward the northeast.
Black Wind Mountain, thirty li northeast of Ping'an County.
The mountain's terrain was treacherous, with hundred-zhang cliffs on either side and only a single narrow path leading to the summit.
At that moment, before a sheer cliff at the summit, battle cries shook the heavens.
Shen Qing stood on a three-zhang-high bluestone boulder, gripping her saber tightly, her black robes stained with blood.
Below, over a hundred saber-wielding bandits surrounded the place so tightly that not even water could seep through, yet none dared approach lightly.
Dozens of corpses lay strewn across the ground, their deaths gruesome.
Shen Qing's delicate, doll-like face was bloodless, the wisps of hair over her forehead long since soaked with sweat.
She gasped for breath, her full chest heaving violently with each rapid breath, rising and falling like great waves.
A path opened on its own at the back of the crowd.
A burly man eight chi tall with a face full of brutish flesh walked out.
He was none other than Xiong Ba, chief of Black Wind Stronghold, whose cultivation had reached the peak of the First Rank Qi and Blood Realm.
Xiong Ba's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared greedily at Shen Qing.
"Captain Shen, surrender!"
"You haven't slept for a whole day and night. I've still got several hundred brothers in my stronghold. Can you kill them all?"
Xiong Ba licked his cracked lips, his gaze glued to Shen Qing.
"As long as you put down your saber and give me a good time, I promise I'll be gentle with you!"
The surrounding bandits roared with laughter, a ceaseless stream of filthy remarks filling the air.
"Pah!"
Shen Qing clenched her teeth and spat a mouthful of bloody foam onto the ground.
She glared viciously at the dozens of armored figures nearby.
Those men held powerful crossbows and moved in unison. They were clearly well-trained military elites!
If not for them, how could a distinguished Second Rank Qi Gathering Realm expert like her have been trapped here by a disorganized rabble?
After parting with Lin Yuan two nights ago, she had secretly infiltrated the stronghold.
Not only had she discovered the vast stockpiles of provisions and refined iron the Lin Clan had hidden here, but she had also uncovered the background of these elite troops.
They were actually the private soldiers of County Commandant Zhao Meng!
The Zhao Clan was secretly amassing troops, buying provisions in secret, and forging weapons. They were clearly plotting rebellion!
She had to bring the news back!
Shen Qing drew a deep breath, suppressed the surging Qi and blood within her, and stamped down hard.
She dove off the bluestone boulder!
The saber in her hand hummed, and a streak of white saber Qi several chi long swept along the ground.
Slash!
The four bandits at the very front were cut in half at the waist!
Without pausing, Shen Qing was just about to charge through the opening.
"Loose!"
A cold shout came from behind the crowd.
Twang! Twang! Twang!
The vibrations of bowstrings rang out in an unbroken chorus.
Dozens of iron-fletched bolts glinting with cold light tore through the air, completely sealing off every route forward.
Military crossbows had tremendous penetrating power. Even as a Second Rank martial artist, she would certainly die if struck in a vital spot.
Seething inwardly, Shen Qing could only forcefully twist at the waist and retreat onto the bluestone boulder.
When she landed, she stumbled and nearly lost her footing.
Seeing this, Xiong Ba waved his large hand, signaling his men to stop firing.
He strode two steps forward, threw back his head, and laughed.
"Oh? You've still got the strength to charge our ranks!"
"Bring my weapon up here! Your granddaddy will play with you himself!"
Four bandits slowly approached, straining to carry a spiked mace weighing two hundred jin.
Xiong Ba grabbed the spiked mace with one hand.
With a savage laugh, he drove through his legs and leaped over a zhang into the air.
Gripping the spiked mace in both hands, he brought it smashing down toward Shen Qing's head!
Shen Qing's eyelids twitched.
She was already exhausted and dared not take that immensely powerful blow head-on. She could only use her lightness skill to dodge and weave atop the bluestone boulder.
Boom!
Shattered stone flew everywhere as a huge crater was smashed into the bluestone beneath her feet.
Xiong Ba planted his spiked mace on the ground and looked mockingly at Shen Qing, whose breathing was in disarray.
"Captain Shen, you can't escape. Why waste your strength?"
Shen Qing bit her lip hard without saying a word, her gaze passing over the crowd toward the foot of the mountain.
She was waiting.
Uncle Fu would surely bring men to find her.
Xiong Ba followed her gaze and sneered in disdain.
"Stop dreaming! I've got over a hundred brothers guarding the foot of the mountain. Nobody can save you today!"
Before his words had faded, Xiong Ba swung his spiked mace again, smashing it toward Shen Qing's waist.
Enduring the waves of stabbing pain from her meridians, Shen Qing took several rapid steps and narrowly evaded the blow.
Just as her old strength was spent and new strength had yet to rise.
"Get down!"
Xiong Ba suddenly opened his mouth and roared!
His voice was like a thunderclap.
Shen Qing's mind buzzed, her vision blurred, and her steps faltered slightly.
"Got you!"
Xiong Ba's mouth stretched into a grin reaching toward his ears, and his palm-fan-sized hand clawed viciously at Shen Qing's chest!
Horror seized Shen Qing's heart. She tried to retreat, but it was already too late.
"Kill!"
At that critical instant, a burst of heaven-shaking battle cries suddenly erupted at the foot of the mountain.
Screams rose one after another.
Xiong Ba's movement stalled, and he instinctively turned to look down the mountain.
Shen Qing seized the chance to retreat, putting distance between them.
She looked down the mountain, and a flash of joy instantly rose on her previously despairing face.
On the mountain path, a dozen or so black-robed Dragon Guards were fighting their way forward with sabers. Leading them was none other than Uncle Fu, the proprietor of Wang's Tea House!
"Miss! This old servant is here!"
His beard and hair bristling, Uncle Fu led the mounted guards under his command in a desperate charge toward the summit.
"Uncle Fu!"
Shen Qing's eyes grew hot.
Xiong Ba's face instantly darkened, and he turned his head and cursed.
"Fucking useless trash down there!"
He waved his hand sharply and roared at the private soldiers behind him.
"What are you standing around for? Shoot them dead!"
The dozens of private soldiers turned in unison, raised their military crossbows, and aimed at the mountain path.
"Uncle Fu, watch out! They have military crossbows!"
Shen Qing cried out.
But it was already too late.
A dense rain of bolts poured down. There was nowhere to hide on the narrow mountain path.
"No!"
Uncle Fu was, after all, an early First Rank martial artist. Reacting extremely quickly, he hurled himself diagonally to the side.
Thud! Thud!
The sounds of sharp weapons piercing flesh rang out in succession.
Several mounted Dragon Guards following Uncle Fu were instantly shot full of bolts like hedgehogs and tumbled over the cliff.
After three volleys, blood flowed like a river along the mountain path.
Only Uncle Fu reached the summit, two bolts lodged in his left shoulder and his entire body bathed in blood.
He dropped to one knee before Shen Qing, old tears streaming down his face, his expression filled with guilt.
"Miss, this old servant came too late..."
Shen Qing helped Uncle Fu up, her chest so tight she felt distraught.
Only after a long while did she shake her head and speak in a low voice.
"Uncle Fu, you shouldn't have come."
Over a hundred bandits closed in again, forcing the two of them to the edge of the cliff.
With his spiked mace resting on his shoulder, Xiong Ba advanced step by step, a cruel, savage grin on his face.
Shen Qing glanced back at the cliff. The mountain wind howled, lifting the bloodstained hem of her robes.
So be it.
Even if she died, she absolutely could not fall into the hands of these beasts!