Rebellion and Uprising

"We're here to see you."

Zhou Tong's voice was not loud, but it was like a stone thrown into a still pond, sending invisible ripples through the gathering hall.

Iron-Armed Monkey tightened his grip on his saber and took half a step forward, blocking Chen Fan with a murderous look.

"Looking for our boss? Who the hell do you think you are?"

The bandits behind him raised their weapons one after another, and the tension in the air was instantly drawn as taut as a bowstring.

Yet Zhou Tong and the dozen or so men behind him showed no fear. They did not even look at the ferocious bandits, fixing their gazes instead on the man in the great tiger-skin chair.

Chen Fan handed the peeled apple to Hong'e beside him, then took the damp cloth she offered and leisurely wiped his hands.

"If you have something to say, say it."

His reaction was far too mild for a bandit chief.

Zhou Tong cupped his fists again, a trace of respect entering his words this time.

"I've heard that lately, Chief Black Wind Baleful Intent has been performing righteous deeds in Qinghe County, robbing the rich to help the poor. You punish wicked gentry and provide relief to disaster victims."

"Such breadth of spirit and such boldness are far beyond the reach of ordinary outlaws."

The bandits in the gathering hall were stunned by his words.

Iron-Armed Monkey's expression was especially strange. Robbing the rich to help the poor? Wasn't that the lousy rule Boss laid down? How was someone praising him for it?

Zhou Tong ignored their reactions. He stepped forward, his voice suddenly rising, full of rousing fervor.

"Today, the foolish ruler of Great Shang is a tyrant without virtue, obsessed with cultivating immortality and refining pills. He has thrown the realm into chaos and left the people without a means to live!"

"We of the Yellow Robe Army have followed Heaven's will and answered the people's call, raising the banner of righteousness in Jing Province, all to overthrow tyranny and restore a bright, clear sky to the realm!"

"Since you possess such a chivalrous heart, Chief, why not join us and raise a righteous army in Xiushan Province? Together, we can accomplish this great undertaking!"

He raised an arm and cried out, and the dozen or so men behind him all thrust out their chests.

"Together, we'll accomplish this great undertaking!"

A deathly silence fell over the gathering hall.

Every bandit, including Iron-Armed Monkey and Smiling Tiger, was dumbfounded.

Raise a righteous army?

Th-this was rebellion!

After the brief shock, an irrepressible elation came gushing out of every bandit's heart.

Being a bandit was, after all, a disreputable trade. They spent their days hiding from place to place, despised by everyone.

But if they became a righteous army, that would be different!

That would be a proper force! They could conquer county seats, expand their territory, and even... even become kings and prime ministers someday!

"B-boss!" Iron-Armed Monkey trembled all over with excitement. He whipped around to look at Chen Fan, his eyes red. "Th-this is a heaven-sent opportunity!"

"That's right, Chief! Let's stop being bandits! Let's join the righteous army!"

"We'll follow you into the county seat, Chief, and snatch that old dog Zhao De's official post!"

The bandits erupted. They waved their sabers, as though they could already see a glorious future in which they became generals and possessed mountains of gold and silver.

Zhou Tong watched the scene with a satisfied smile.

He knew that no ambitious man could refuse such temptation.

"Chief, you need only nod. The Yellow Robe Army will immediately provide three thousand shi of military grain and five hundred sets of arms and armor besides, to help you win victory at the first raising of your banner!"

He played his final card.

Three thousand shi of military grain! Five hundred sets of arms and armor!

Smiling Tiger's fat face twitched violently with excitement. This fortune was greater than what they could get from robbing ten wealthy households!

Everyone's gaze fixed fervently on Chen Fan, waiting for him to ascend the heights and issue the call.

Yet Chen Fan merely leaned back in the great tiger-skin chair, took the apple he had peeled back from Hong'e, and bit into it gently.

"Crunch."

The crisp sound was particularly jarring in the noisy cavern.

Rebellion?

Become the leader of a righteous army?

That sounded like a lot of trouble.

Wasn't life as a mountain king great? He had wine and meat every day, three wives to warm his bed, and could occasionally go down the mountain to experience robbing the rich to help the poor.

Why wade into the muddy waters of a realm in chaos?

The Yellow Robe Army clearly wanted to use him as a weapon, making trouble for the imperial court in Xiushan Province to relieve the pressure on themselves in Jing Province.

He had no intention of taking a loss to sew someone else's wedding dress.

He only wanted to live on in peace and experience life.

As for becoming a king or prime minister, or waking to wield power over the realm?

If the emperor happened to kill him one day, couldn't he just seize the emperor's body and reach his goal in one step? Wouldn't that be faster than struggling to conquer the realm?

Chen Fan swallowed the apple in his mouth and raised his head.

He looked at the expectant Zhou Tong and his frenzied subordinates, then slowly uttered two words.

"Not interested."

It was as though someone had pressed pause on the entire gathering hall.

All the clamor, all the fervor, and all the fantasies came to an abrupt halt.

The excitement on Iron-Armed Monkey's face froze into a comical mask.

"B-boss? Wh-what did you say?"

The smile on Zhou Tong's face froze as well. He had anticipated that Chen Fan might bargain or make all manner of demands, but he had never imagined he would receive such a blunt rejection.

"Chief, think this through! This is a chance to bring glory to your ancestors and leave your name in the annals of history!" Zhou Tong tried to persuade him again.

"I said, I'm not interested."

Chen Fan cut him off and casually tossed the half-eaten apple onto the ground.

He rose to his feet, and the shadow cast by his burly figure instantly enveloped Zhou Tong and the others.

He lifted the enormous ghost-headed saber with one hand.

"Smiling Tiger."

"Y-yes, sir!" Smiling Tiger jolted and hastily bowed as he answered.

"See the guests out."

Chen Fan's tone was calm, but it left no room for discussion.

"Boss! You can't! An opportunity this good..." Iron-Armed Monkey grew anxious and tried to argue.

Chen Fan merely glanced at him.

That glance was perfectly calm.

Iron-Armed Monkey shut his mouth at once. The fear that rose from his soul made him swallow everything he had to say.

Zhou Tong looked deeply at Chen Fan, as though trying to read something from the face covered in a full beard.

But he failed.

There was nothing but indifference on that face.

"Fine. So this is Black Wind Baleful Intent." Zhou Tong suddenly smiled. He cupped his fists at Chen Fan and turned to leave. "Let's go!"

Smiling Tiger hurried after them with several quick-witted bandits, "escorting" the uninvited guests out.

Only a group of bandits remained in the gathering hall, looking at one another at a loss.

They could not understand why the chief had thrown away a heaven-sent fortune that had landed right in his face without so much as blinking.

Chen Fan slung his saber over his shoulder and turned to go back to the rear hall.

He did not want to explain.

There was no need.

Rebellion and uprisings were too much trouble.

Just then, Zhou Tong, who had reached the cavern entrance, suddenly stopped.

Without turning around, his back to everyone in the gathering hall, he left them with a few words in a quiet voice.

"Do you think that by refusing to wade into these muddy waters, you can stay out of it?"

"The imperial army reached Jing Province a few days ago and wiped out countless bandits along the way. We can't hold Jing Province, but at worst, we can simply retreat."

"But your Black Wind Mountain is just a small mountain stronghold. The imperial army can wipe it out in an instant. If you refuse to accept my proposal, then all you can do is wait for death!"

With that, he turned and left!