Chapter 127 - 122: Adopted Son

With the Drilling Mountain Leopard and his gang of bandits wiped out, a joyous atmosphere swept through Qinghe County. From the common folk to the martial artists, everyone felt as if a great stone that had weighed on their hearts for years had finally been lifted.

The villagers living near Baitou Mountain, in particular, were all clapping and cheering.

Upon learning that some bandits were still roaming the mountains, many villages and towns organized their own patrol teams to search the mountains and hunt them down. The county magistrate also sent constables and militia to help.

In just over ten days, several dozen more fugitives were either killed or captured.

Many accomplices who had once served as the bandits’ eyes and ears were also reported one by one and thrown into the county jail.

And just like that, the bandit scourge that had plagued Qinghe County for nearly twenty years was finally put to rest.

Since Zhu Huaishan had personally killed Drilling Mountain Leopard, the primary credit for eliminating the bandits naturally went to the Liuhe Sect.

The county magistrate’s office returned the favor, providing many policy-related benefits both openly and behind the scenes. Numerous lesser powers came to pledge their allegiance, and for a time, the Liuhe Sect’s prestige was unrivaled.

However, some felt that something was amiss. Although Zhu Huaishan’s cultivation was profound, he was, after all, getting on in years.

Ordinary people in their seventies or eighties find even walking to be a struggle. A Blood Realm master was no exception; retaining even thirty percent of one’s strength at that age would be considered remarkable.

No one suspected Zhao Lin, however, as the gap between his realm and Drilling Mountain Leopard’s was considered far too great. Zhao Lin had personally overseen the interrogations and erased any testimony that could have exposed his true abilities.

"There’s an armed escort heading to Changliu City tomorrow. If you think the time is right, you should go with the convoy and bring your parents and brother back. It’s time for your family to be reunited."

With the bandits no longer a threat, Zhu Huaishan suggested that Zhao Lin bring his family back home.

Zhao Lin pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Thank you for the kind thought, Master, but I think I’d like to wait a little longer."

Zhu Huaishan asked, puzzled, "Why? Are you worried there are still some bandits left?"

"I am."

Zhao Lin gave a firm nod. "I’ve been interrogating many of the bandits at the county office these past few days. According to their testimony, two of the high-ranking leaders in Drilling Mountain Leopard’s gang are still alive."

"One is named Chairman Li, the other Wang Cui. They were the so-called Director Dong and Chief Enforcer within the ’Four Beams and Eight Pillars.’ On the day we eliminated the bandits, neither of them was in Fuli Valley, and no one knows what they were sent to do."

Zhu Huaishan’s eyebrow twitched. "You’re worried the two of them will retaliate?"

Zhao Lin said gravely, "Their individual strength may be ordinary, but their status was high. I heard they were Drilling Mountain Leopard’s adopted sons."

"Normally, bandits aren’t as fiercely loyal as they claim to be, so those two have probably already fled to distant lands."

"But it’s better to be safe than sorry. I think it’s best to be cautious. We can’t afford to be complacent in a matter like this."

Zhu Huaishan nodded slightly in approval. "It is good to be prudent. There’s no rush. I’ll ask Chief Escort Pan to send word for you tomorrow."

A smile spread across Zhao Lin’s face. "Thank you, Master."

In fact, Zhao Lin’s concerns were not unfounded. Chairman Li and Wang Cui were in Qinghe County at that very moment.

「North City, Fragrance Pavilion.」

Chairman Li and Wang Cui sat in a private room, drinking across from each other for some time. The feast of dishes on the table between them remained untouched.

Although they were notorious bandits everyone wanted to see brought to justice, the two weren’t worried about being recognized.

Wang Cui was in charge of logistics and never showed his face to outsiders. Chairman Li was responsible for dealing with the legitimate authorities, but because he was too young to command the necessary presence, he only ever schemed from behind the scenes, letting his underlings handle face-to-face matters.

Moreover, they had deliberately disguised themselves and altered their mannerisms. No one would ever guess that these two gentle, refined young men were actually bandits.

Chairman Li raised his cup for a sip. "Brother Wang," he said, "you’ve been watching that old crone for over a week now. Have you figured out how to assassinate her?"

They had already received news of Drilling Mountain Leopard’s death, but they were still determined to carry out this "final wish" of their adoptive father.

Wang Cui took a large gulp of wine and mumbled, "That old broad is a complete recluse. On the rare occasion she goes out, she’s always escorted by disciples from the Liuhe Sect. What are we supposed to do?"

He sighed. "This is going to be tough."

Chairman Li shot him a glance and chuckled. "What’s the matter? Getting cold feet?"

Wang Cui’s expression flickered. He slammed his cup down on the table, his voice laced with grim resolve. "Adoptive Father’s kindness to me was as immense as a mountain. I will see his final task done, even if it costs me my life!"

Chairman Li clapped his hands together in praise. "Well said! But we’re just killing an old crone, there’s no need to lay down our lives for it."

"I’ve thought of a way we can kill her and make a clean getaway."

Wang Cui’s eyes lit up. "What’s the plan?"

Chairman Li paused thoughtfully before speaking. "Assassination generally boils down to a few methods: killing in the open, ambush, ranged attack, or poison."

"The Liuhe Sect inspects their food rigorously, so poison is out of the question. With our level of skill, a stealthy assassination or an ambush would be extremely difficult, to say nothing of a public attack on the street."

Wang Cui stared, dumbfounded. "Then what’s left? You said you had a plan, didn’t you?"

Chairman Li gave a faint smile. "Don’t be so hasty. Hear me out. We have to find an opportunity to strike when her disciples aren’t by her side."

’When they aren’t by her side?’

"Don’t you remember? That old crone has visited Yun Shang Pavilion twice."

Wang Cui recalled for a moment. "Yun Shang Pavilion... that’s a dress shop, isn’t it?"

Chairman Li nodded. "That’s right, a dress shop. Men and women are kept separate, so the shop is divided into men’s and women’s sections. While the old woman is choosing her clothes, her disciples can only wait in the men’s section. That will be our opportunity."

Realization dawned on Wang Cui. "We’ll charge in and kill her!"

Chairman Li shook his head vigorously. "That won’t work! Two men entering the women’s section would be far too conspicuous. Forget about whether we could even kill the old crone—even if we did, have you given up on living?"

Wang Cui said sheepishly, "Of course I want to live."

He had put on a brave front just moments ago, but when it came to actually sacrificing his own life for the kill, he wasn’t truly willing.

Chairman Li continued, "My plan is for you to dress as a woman, follow her directly into the women’s section, and kill her while she’s trying on clothes."

"It’ll be done without anyone the wiser, which will buy us time to get away. By the time they discover the body, we’ll already be far away from Qinghe County."

"You want *me* to dress as a woman?"

Wang Cui’s face darkened, and he looked on the verge of erupting in anger.

Ever since he was a child, he’d had delicate features—full lips and fine brows. He was often mocked for it, told he looked more like a girl than a boy, so he despised anyone mentioning it.

As an adult, he had intentionally grown a beard and adopted an increasingly coarse and blunt personality. Chairman Li’s suggestion that he dress as a woman instinctively triggered his deep-seated resentment.

Chairman Li didn’t press the issue, only saying lightly, "If you’re unwilling, Brother Wang, I won’t force you. However, I’m out of ideas. You’ll have to come up with another way."

Wang Cui was silent for a long while. Suddenly, he grabbed the wine pot, poured himself a full cup, and downed it in one go. "Fine! I’ll do it!"

Chairman Li clapped his hands. "Excellent. My thanks, Brother Wang."

Wang Cui suddenly thought of something. "Adoptive Father said we need to leave our mark on the body after the kill. How am I supposed to do that?"

Chairman Li laughed. "That’s simple. Over the next two days, I’ll carve a knife. I’ll put ’Baitou Mountain’ on one side of the blade and ’Drilling Mountain Leopard’ on the other. After the deed is done, you just leave the knife with the body."

He finished with a snort. "Adoptive Father’s life’s work, built over decades, was destroyed in a single day. Our own skills are limited, so we can’t kill that bastard Zhao for revenge. But we can at least collect some interest. Let him have a taste of regret."