Those horse bandits and brigands parted from the main road, letting the convoy pass unhindered.

No one dared to stop them! This time, their Great Chieftain, a figure of some renown in Xuyang Prefecture, had suffered a crushing humiliation! The Chieftain sternly ordered that nothing of today's events was to be spread.

However...

There were five thousand bandits gathered today, and every last one of them was a heavy drinker—how could this possibly remain a secret? ...

Good news travels slowly, but bad news travels a thousand li! The news that the 'Wushan Gang,' the number one faction in Fancheng of Xuyang Prefecture, numbering five thousand bandits, had failed in their robbery attempt only to be robbed themselves of treasures worth over a million taels of silver, spread like wildfire across every city and major power in Xuyang Prefecture! The Wushan Gang could mobilize five thousand bandits for a single raid; their inherent strength was considerable.

In terms of actual power, they were even slightly stronger than the 'White Horse Gang' back in Teng Qingshan's hometown of Yicheng.

But this time, they had fallen hard! Many of those treasures were conservatively valued, with the true worth estimated around seven to eight hundred thousand taels of silver.

But rumors always exaggerate as they spread! Xuyang Prefecture was truly chaotic! The Wushan Gang’s ability to establish a foothold and maintain such a vast force was not due to any weakness on their part, but solely because Teng Qingshan was too formidable.

Armies numbering in the thousands were utterly useless against him.

Capturing his leader seemed as easy as taking something from one's own pocket! Because of the Wushan Gang's failure, coupled with the existing reputation of the Black Armored Army, the major gangs and several sects within Xuyang Prefecture dared not attempt any further plunder.

...

The convoy proceeded slowly along the official road, guarded by seventy or eighty cavalry escorts and over twenty soldiers of the Black Armored Army protecting the cargo.

Along the way, not a single bandit dared to make a move.

“Commander, everyone says Xuyang Prefecture is lawless! But since you asserted your authority last time, Commander, we haven't encountered a single robbery attempt in the last two days,” Du Hong remarked with a smile.

“Haha, if any more show up, Qingshan can shake them down for another fee!” Teng Qinghu laughed heartily.

Following Teng Qingshan’s decisive action previously, which revealed his astonishing strength, his standing within the convoy had risen even higher.

That time, Teng Qingshan had secured thirteen million taels in gold and bank notes combined! Although the Jingyu Buddha statue, the sturdy bow, the war saber, and the Golden Silkworm Silk Vest were more precious, they could not be immediately converted into silver.

The Black Armored Army soldiers were envious, yet they never considered demanding a share of the spoils.

After all...

This was acquired purely through Teng Qingshan’s personal might.

Within the Black Armored Army, if a contingent wiped out a bandit group, even if the officers contributed nothing, the commanding officer typically claimed the majority of the gold and silver.

In this battle, the Black Armored Army soldiers had not exerted themselves at all.

Yet, Teng Qingshan still distributed some silver.

Two Centurions each received ten thousand taels of silver.

Twenty soldiers, including Corporals, each received one thousand taels of silver.

This amount of silver surpassed what everyone normally received in a year’s salary.

With their pouches full, the Black Armored Army soldiers naturally became even more loyal to Teng Qingshan.

As for the seventy or eighty convoy guards, they were covetous, but Teng Qingshan disdained sharing even a single tael with them.

This was a benefit reserved for the Black Armored Army! “Increase the Black Armored Army’s sense of superiority! This will foster a stronger sense of belonging,” Teng Qingshan understood this point clearly.

He glanced toward a carriage where Zhu Chongsht was currently sequestered with his three children.

Thinking of the children, a pang of pain shot through Teng Qingshan’s heart.

He still vividly recalled memories from his previous life.

“Wolf, once we leave the organization, we absolutely must have a pair of children, a boy and a girl.” “Mhm, okay.” “We’ll let them learn painting, piano… live the life of ordinary people! We won't let them learn to kill anymore; I’m truly tired of that kind of life.” “Mhm, soon.

We will break away from the organization, we will.

Little Cat!” ...

“Little Cat!” Teng Qingshan still remembered his wife from his past life—a woman whose exterior was cool and machine-like, but who became soft and tender when she was with him.

She was the only woman he had ever truly loved.

Originally, according to his plan, once he broke through to SS-rank, he would be able to sever ties with the organization.

And have children with Little Cat.

Unfortunately, Little Cat died.

Only after her death, during his frenzied revenge against the RED organization, did he comprehend the 'Sorrowful Slash,' whereupon he devoted himself entirely to the martial path, finally stepping into the Grandmaster realm.

Alas, it was all too late.

“Little Cat…” Teng Qingshan murmured.

Shaking his head, he forcefully pushed these memories of past-life love deep into the furthest recesses of his heart.

Teng Qingshan deliberately tried to forget it all, as this was his new life.

Only occasional stirrings would bring them to the surface.

“In this life, I have parents, a sister, and kinsmen.

I am already content,” Teng Qingshan quickly stabilized his emotions.

“I will pursue the pinnacle of the martial way! The legendary Emperor Yu could split a high mountain with five strikes.

The Heavenly Emperor of Qinling could halt the flow of a hundred-zhang-wide river with a single palm.

I am still so very far from them.

The path of martial arts is long and arduous, worthy of a lifetime of exploration!” Teng Qingshan’s heart was as firm as bedrock! ...

The carriage wheels creaked and rolled.

Inside the spacious carriage, this vehicle contained only Zhu Chongsht and his two wives; the children were with the servants in a carriage following behind.

“Master!” a beautiful woman dressed in green said anxiously, “We have been in Xuyang Prefecture for four full days now.

It should be another two or three days before we exit.

Once we reach Chu Prefecture, we will be safe.

But… won’t Master’s brothers make a move?” “Big sister is right; I feel uneasy too,” said the other beautiful woman, dressed in purple.

Zhu Chongsht leaned back, eating fruit, and laughed, “Haha, you two women, don't worry.

We just returned from overseas.

We entered Jiangning City directly from the East Sea, stayed only a few days, and now we are rushing toward Chu Prefecture! My brothers, like me, have been developing independently.

Gathering information takes time… Perhaps, even now, at most two or three of my brothers know I have returned!” Jiangning City was a coastal hub.

This was the reason Zhu Chongsht had stopped in Jiangning City.

“Master, what happens if they find out?” the green-clad woman asked worriedly.

“Didn’t you already guess?” Zhu Chongsht replied, “They wouldn't dare kill me and the children.

After all, we are descendants of the Zhu family! My father hates fratricide the most.

If they did such a thing, with my father’s intelligence network, he would surely know everything.

At that point, father would never allow the one who killed his brother to become the family head! He might even be disinherited and cast out of the Zhu family!” The two women relaxed slightly.

Indeed, their father-in-law, revered as the 'God of Wealth,' carried immense deterrent power.

“They wouldn’t dare kill me and the children, but destroying or stealing my cargo—that they would still dare to do,” Zhu Chongsht frowned.

“If the cargo is snatched away, my probability of taking the headship when the ten-year term expires drops to perhaps twenty percent.” His two wives understood the cargo’s critical importance.

Their husband had spent years overseas specifically for this shipment.

“With this cargo, my chance of seizing the family head position when the ten years are up is at least ninety percent!” Zhu Chongsht smiled confidently.

* Of the thirteen prefectures of Yangzhou, the south was the wealthiest and the north the poorest.

Yet, even the poorest, 'Chu Prefecture,' was considered relatively prosperous across the entire Nine Provinces.

On the northern official road, human activity was sparse, and inns were rare.

Inns are scarce in the wilderness along the official roads because a single, isolated establishment is an easy target for robbery.

Any inn capable of surviving in such desolate areas must possess powerful backing and influence! The 'Three Stones Inn' (San Shi Kezhan)! It stood on the northern official road of Xuyang Prefecture, with no other inn found within sixty li to its south or north.

In a room within the backyard of the Three Stones Inn.

“Old Meng!” a sturdy man in a short, earth-yellow tunic entered the room, “Lord Zhu Jiu’s retinue is now only about fifty li from us! But it is already late afternoon.

They likely won't reach our inn before nightfall.

Perhaps they’ll have to spend the night out in the wilderness.

If that happens, Master’s plan…” In the room, a middle-aged man with exceptionally thick eyebrows was meticulously polishing a long, slightly curved sabre.

The blade itself was a deep, blood-red color all over.

“Hmph, what is there to worry about,” the middle-aged man grunted.

“The Three Stones Inn is certainly marked on the maps.

Young Master Jiu may have spent years overseas, but he is still a young master from a wealthy family.

Even if he travels an extra dozen li after dark, it’s normal for him to struggle on until he reaches us.

Even if Young Master Jiu doesn't arrive, we can still move to intercept them ourselves!” The tunic-clad man flattered him with a smile, “With Old Meng making a move, success is guaranteed.

However, Old Meng, it is widely rumored in Xuyang Prefecture that the Commander hired by Lord Zhu Jiu is an extremely skilled master!” “Alright, you can leave now,” the middle-aged man said coldly.

Throughout the exchange, he never looked up from the long sabre in his hands, not sparing the short-tunic man a single glance.

“Yes, yes.” The short-tunic man backed out respectfully.

The short-tunic man felt no resentment toward the elder’s dismissive attitude, because this ‘Old Meng’ was the foremost expert under his master, the ‘Thirteenth Young Master of the Zhu Family.’ Though this man appeared middle-aged, he was actually over eighty years old.

He maintained this appearance only due to his profound internal energy and skill in vitalizing his body.

“With Old Meng taking action, the cargo will certainly be seized.

If those people actually reach the inn, hmph, Old Meng wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.” The short-tunic man stepped out, filled with confidence.

They had purchased this Three Stones Inn just two days prior, specifically to wait for Zhu Chongsht and his party here.

Old Meng, whose actual name was ‘Meng Tian,’ If one were to consult the recent 'Earth Ranking,' they would find that Meng Tian was a powerhouse ranked sixty-first! Do not underestimate this 'sixty-first' ranking.

It must be noted that even the four commanders of the Black Armored Army were unqualified to be listed on the 'Earth Ranking.' There are far too many peak Houtian masters in this world.

Any individual who makes the 'Earth Ranking' possesses terrifying ultimate techniques.

Even masters who have just entered the Xiantian realm must be wary of those listed on the 'Earth Ranking.' Although their internal energy is far inferior to Xiantian realm experts, Earth Ranking masters all possess game-changing trump cards.

To secure the service of an 'Earth Ranking' master, that Thirteenth Young Master of the Zhu family certainly possessed considerable means.

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