24: Chapter 24 Rebellion and Uprising

"We have come to find you."

Chiliarch Zhou Tong's voice was not loud, yet it was like a stone dropped into a calm pond, creating invisible ripples throughout Juyi Hall.

Iron-Armed Monkey tightened his grip on his sword hilt, took half a step forward, and blocked Chen Fan's path, exuding intense Evil Qi.

"Looking for our Chief? Who do you think you are!"

The bandits behind him also raised their weapons, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense and ready for battle.

Chiliarch Zhou Tong and the dozen or so men behind him remained completely unfazed. They didn't even glance at the ferocious bandits, focusing their gaze solely on the man sitting in the tiger-skin chair.

Chen Fan handed the peeled apple to Honge beside him, then took the wet cloth she offered and wiped his hands in a leisurely manner.

"Speak if you have something to say."

His reaction was so calm that he didn't seem like a bandit leader at all.

Chiliarch Zhou Tong cupped his fists again, this time with a hint of respect in his words.

"I have heard that Chief Black Wind Demon has recently been performing righteous deeds in Qinghe County, robbing the rich to help the poor. You punish corrupt gentry and aid the disaster-stricken refugees."

"Such breadth of mind and such courage are truly beyond the reach of ordinary outlaws."

As soon as he said this, the bandits in Juyi Hall were stunned.

Iron-Armed Monkey looked particularly perplexed. Robbing the rich to help the poor? Wasn't that just a lousy rule the Chief had set? How had it become something to be praised for?

Chiliarch Zhou Tong ignored their reactions, stepped forward, and raised his voice, full of incitement.

"The incompetent ruler of the Great Shang is devoid of Dao, obsessed with immortality and Alchemy, causing chaos throughout the world and leaving the people in misery!"

"My Yellow Robe Army acts in accordance with Heaven and humanity, raising the banner of justice in Jing Province solely to overthrow the tyranny and restore peace to the world!"

"Since the Chief possesses such a chivalrous heart, why not join us in raising a righteous army in Xiushan Prefecture! Let us achieve this great cause together!"

He raised his arm in a call to action, and the dozen men behind him puffed out their chests in unison.

"Achieve this great cause together!"

There was a deathly silence in Juyi Hall.

All the bandits, including Iron-Armed Monkey and Smiling Tiger, were dumbfounded.

Raise a righteous army?

This... this is rebellion!

After the brief shock came an irrepressible ecstasy that surged from the bottom of every bandit's heart.

Being a bandit was ultimately a disreputable trade, hiding here and there all day, despised by everyone.

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

That would be a legitimate force! They could capture county towns, expand their territory, and even... even become kings and high-ranking officials in the future!

"Ch-Chief!" Iron-Armed Monkey was trembling with excitement. He turned his head sharply 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 become a righteous army!"

"Follow the Chief, storm the county town, and seize the official position of that old dog Magistrate Zhao De!"

The bandits were completely stirred up, waving their knives as if they could already see a bright future where they became generals and possessed mountains of gold and silver.

Watching this scene, Chiliarch Zhou Tong wore a satisfied smile.

He knew that no ambitious person could refuse such a temptation.

"Chief, as long as you nod, my Yellow Robe Army is willing to immediately provide three thousand shi of military grain, plus five hundred sets of armor and weapons! To help you achieve victory from the start!"

He threw out his final bargaining chip.

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

Smiling Tiger's fat face twitched violently from extreme excitement; this wealth was more than what they would get from robbing ten wealthy households!

Everyone's gaze was fanatically fixed on Chen Fan, waiting for his call to action.

However, Chen Fan simply leaned back in the tiger-skin chair, took back the peeled apple from Honge's hand, and took a light bite.

"Crunch."

The crisp sound was particularly jarring in the noisy cave.

Rebellion?

Being a leader of a righteous army?

It sounded like a lot of trouble.

Being a mountain king, having wine and meat every day, having three wives to warm the bed, and occasionally going down the mountain to experience robbing the rich to help the poor—isn't this kind of life sweet?

Why get involved in the chaotic waters of the world?

This Yellow Robe Army clearly wanted to use him as a pawn to cause trouble for the imperial court in Xiushan Prefecture, so as to reduce the pressure on them in Jing Province.

He wouldn't do such a losing business that only benefited others.

He just wanted to live a stable life and experience the world.

As for becoming a king or a high-ranking official, holding the power of the world in his hands?

If one day he accidentally gets killed by the Emperor, he could just use Possession and reach the goal in one step. Isn't that faster than struggling to build an empire?

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

He looked at the expectant Chiliarch Zhou Tong and his group of seemingly crazed subordinates, and slowly spat out three words.

"Not interested."

The entire Juyi Hall seemed to have been hit with a pause button.

All the clamor, all the fanaticism, all the fantasies, all came to an abrupt end at this moment.

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

"Ch-Chief? Wh-what did you say?"

The smile on Chiliarch Zhou Tong's face also solidified. He had anticipated that the other party would haggle or propose various conditions, but he had never expected to receive such a clean and straightforward rejection.

"Chief, you must think clearly! This is an opportunity to bring honor to your ancestors and go down in history!" Chiliarch Zhou Tong still wanted to persuade him.

"I said, I'm not interested."

Chen Fan interrupted him and casually threw the half-eaten apple on the ground.

He stood up, and the shadow cast by his burly figure instantly enveloped Chiliarch Zhou Tong and his men.

He lifted the massive ghost-head broadsword with one hand.

"Smiling Tiger."

"Y-yes, I am here!" Smiling Tiger shuddered and hurriedly bowed to respond.

"See them out."

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

"Chief! You can't! Such a good opportunity..." Iron-Armed Monkey was anxious and wanted to argue further.

Chen Fan just glanced at him.

That glance was very calm.

Iron-Armed Monkey immediately shut his mouth; that fear originating from his Soul made him swallow all his words back.

Chiliarch Zhou Tong looked deeply at Chen Fan, as if wanting to see something on that face covered by a beard.

But he failed.

On that face, there was only indifference.

"Good, a very good Black Wind Demon." Chiliarch Zhou Tong suddenly laughed, cupped his fists at Chen Fan, turned around, and walked away. "Let's go!"

Smiling Tiger hurriedly took a few sharp-witted bandits and followed behind, "escorting" this group of uninvited guests away.

In Juyi Hall, only a group of bandits remained, looking at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what to do.

They didn't understand why the Chief threw away such a heaven-sent fortune that had fallen right into their laps without even blinking an eye.

Chen Fan carried his sword on his shoulder and turned to walk back to the back hall.

He didn't want to explain.

There was no need.

Rebellion and uprising and such were too much trouble.

Just then, Chiliarch Zhou Tong, who had already reached the entrance of the cave, suddenly stopped.

He did not turn back, facing away from everyone in Juyi Hall, and left behind a faint remark.

"Do you think that if you don't wade into these muddy waters, you can stay out of it?"

"The imperial army arrived in Jing Province a few days ago, suppressing countless bandits along the way. We cannot hold Jing Province, but we can just retreat."

"But your Black Wind Mountain, a small stronghold, can be destroyed by the imperial army in an instant. If you refuse to accept my request, then just wait for death!"

After saying this, he turned and left!