15: Chapter 15 Zhao De's Wrath

Black Wind Mountain, Juyi Hall.

Though called Juyi Hall, it was actually a widened cave. Dozens of tallow torches were lit inside, filling the entire cave with a choking scent of smoke.

Unknown animal skins were spread across the ground, and several crude wooden tables were scattered about haphazardly.

Chen Fan sat boldly on the large tiger-skin chair at the very head of the hall, fiddling with a jade thumb ring he had looted from Zhao Long's carriage.

Below him, over a dozen bandit leaders stood in two rows, each bowing their heads, not even daring to breathe loudly.

The atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.

From Black Wind Demon's memories, Chen Fan knew that these people were the core members of Black Wind Mountain.

The Second-in-Command, Iron-Armed Monkey, was small and lean, and was skilled with throwing knives.

The Third Chief, Smiling Tiger, was a fat man who had originally been an accountant; he was responsible for the stronghold's logistics and the disposal of stolen goods.

The rest were all hardened bandits who had killed and seen blood.

In the entirety of Black Wind Mountain, those who could fight and those who couldn't added up to over two hundred people.

It was quite a significant force.

No wonder they dared to challenge the county magistrate's office.

“Where are the things?” Chen Fan spoke, his voice rough and echoing through the cave.

The Third Chief, Smiling Tiger, hurriedly took a step forward and bowed low.

“Reporting to the Chief, everything has been counted. From the Zhao family brat's carriage, the gold, silver, and valuables total about five hundred taels. There's also some fine silk and pastries, all of which have been put into the warehouse.”

Five hundred taels.

Chen Fan curled his lip.

When Zhao Long went to Qingyang Taoist Temple once, the incense money he gave was three thousand taels.

The bandit business didn't seem particularly profitable.

“Is that all?”

Smiling Tiger's fat face twitched. “There's... there's also that Zhao Long brat's corpse. According to your instructions, it was burned along with that Daoist.”

Chen Fan gave a grunt of affirmation and stopped speaking.

The cave fell back into a deathly silence.

He was now the Black Wind Demon; he didn't need to explain, and he certainly didn't need to offer comfort.

Violence and fear were the only bonds holding this gang together.

After a long while, he finally stood up.

“Everyone, pull yourselves together!”

“We made a big score today. Tonight, we eat meat in big bites and drink wine by the bowlful!”

Upon hearing this, the bandit leaders' eyes immediately lit up, and the oppressive atmosphere was swept away.

“Oh! The Chief is mighty!”

“Drink wine! Eat meat! Play with women!”

A thunderous cheer erupted within the cave.

Chen Fan looked at this group of fanatical bandits, turned around, and walked into the back hall of the cave.

That was the bandit leader's private domain.

Passing through a dark corridor, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

It was a hidden world within; it was actually a stone room that was kept quite clean.

Soft bedding was spread on the stone bed, tea sets were on the table, and there was even a small incense burner with curling blue smoke.

A woman wearing a water-blue dress was sitting by the bed, her head lowered as she mended a piece of clothing.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

She had a delicate face and looked to be in her early twenties; though she appeared a bit haggard, her beauty was hard to hide.

Seeing Chen Fan, she visibly recoiled, but she still stood up and gave a timid bow.

“Chief.”

Information about this woman automatically surfaced in Chen Fan's mind.

Yun Niang.

Black Wind Demon's 'bandit wife'.

No, there wasn't just one.

Besides her, there were two others.

They were top beauties snatched from a brothel, and had once even been courtesan queens.

Black Wind Demon didn't exactly mistreat them; he provided them with good food and drink, but he simply didn't allow them to leave this back hall by even a single step.

These three women were the private property of this mountain king.

“Mhm.”

Chen Fan gave a response, walked to the table, sat down, and poured himself a cup of water.

This body was incredibly thirsty.

Yun Niang looked at him, hesitating to speak.

“Is something the matter?” Chen Fan asked after gulping down a cup of water.

“No... it's nothing.” Yun Niang lowered her head. “It's just... I heard that when you went down the mountain today, you... you took the magistrate's son and...”

“Killed him.”

Chen Fan finished the sentence for her.

Yun Niang's body trembled slightly.

She bit her lip, and after a moment, she seemed to summon great courage.

“Chief, you dared to kill the magistrate's son... this is a disaster that has pierced the heavens! The magistrate's office will surely send a large army to wipe us out!”

“We... we should make plans early!”

Chen Fan looked at her.

This woman actually had some insight.

“Plans?”

Chen Fan smiled; imitating Black Wind Demon's manner, he showed a disdainful expression.

“Soldiers will be blocked by generals, and water will be covered by earth.”

“If that Zhao De dares to send troops, I'll slaughter him along with them!”

The color drained completely from Yun Niang's face.

...

At the same time, in the rear quarters of the Qinghe County magistrate's office.

The Zhao Residence.

“Smash!”

A precious Ru ware teacup was slammed onto the ground, shattering into pieces.

Zhao De was dressed in his official robes, his hair and beard disheveled. His face, which usually maintained a dignified appearance, was now covered in tear stains and madness.

“Dead... Long'er... my Long'er is dead!”

He roared like a wounded beast.

Below him, County Lieutenant Zhang Cheng and a group of county officials were as silent as cicadas in winter.

Just half an hour ago, Zhao Long's carriage had been found abandoned on the West Mountain official road.

The bodies of the driver and the two guards were already cold.

As for Zhao Long himself, he was neither found alive nor was his body recovered.

But everyone knew that this only son of the Qinghe County Magistrate was more likely dead than alive.

“Black Wind Mountain! It's Black Wind Mountain!” Zhao De's eyes were bloodshot as he tightly grabbed County Lieutenant Zhang Cheng's collar. “I want you to immediately! Right now! Mobilize all county soldiers! Raze Black Wind Mountain to the ground!”

“Avenge my Long'er!”

Zhang Cheng looked troubled. “Sir, Black Wind Mountain's terrain is treacherous, easy to defend and hard to attack. That Black Wind Demon is even more fierce and brave, we...”

“I don't care!” Zhao De roared, interrupting him. “I'm giving you three days! Within three days, if I don't see Black Wind Demon's head, you can bring your own head to see me!”

“The military funds for the suppression will be provided by my Zhao family!”

“For all killed or wounded county soldiers, my Zhao family will increase the pension ten times over!”

“I only want results!”

This usually gentle and refined magistrate was now completely insane.

...

Tingtao Pavilion.

The news of Zhao Long's death spread like a gust of wind to every corner of the Zhao Residence.

Liu Ruyan sat before her dressing table, looking at her still-beautiful face in the mirror, suddenly feeling a sense of bewilderment.

The man who had possessed her, given her wealth, and also given her humiliation—was he just dead like that?

Her backer had fallen.

In the room next door, Su Qingyu hid under her covers, her body shaking uncontrollably.

She wasn't afraid; she was excited, she was joyful.

That demon was finally dead!

She was free!

And in the main room.

Lin Waner sat by the window, holding a book she had been reading all afternoon, yet she hadn't processed a single word.

When the maid came in to report the news, she merely gave a faint “Mhm” and dismissed her.

Dead?

That beast who had ruined her life was dead.

She should be happy.

She should laugh out loud and celebrate that she had finally escaped her cage.

But why did her heart feel so empty?

Involuntarily, her mind filled with the various changes in that man over the past month.

He was no longer that idiot who only knew how to use violence.

He would barge into her room overbearingly, yet only sit quietly nearby and watch her read.

He would pinch her chin and say vulgar things, yet in those eyes, there was a calm that she couldn't understand.

He would even... instruct the servants in her courtyard on how to do horse stances.

Everything had become so strange.

But it was good that he was dead. Zhao Long had normally bullied the market and committed all sorts of evil; dying at the hands of bandits was a well-deserved fate.

And she had finally gained her liberation...