C28 Escape

The master swordsman had carved his way out of the bandit's encirclement several times, but now he was utterly spent. His only option was to take refuge among the dead and await his destiny.

But as fate would have it, his worst fears were about to be realized.

Puff! A sharp pain shot through him. Gao Shuai fought to keep his body from shaking.

"Man, after a whole night of this, my aim's gone to hell," grumbled the bandit behind him.

He yanked his long saber from its sheath and hoisted it high, targeting the back of the corpse.

"This must be what release feels like..." Gao Shuai sighed inwardly.

In the grand hall of Lee Mansion.

A one-eyed brute sat at the head of the room, his face twisted in a grimace. He smacked the wooden table with such force that it creaked and left an imprint of his hand.

"That scoundrel took out over thirty of my men. I swear I'll flay him alive to quell the fury in my heart."

The jade-faced scholar seated to his left was at a loss for words after learning the full story.

He hadn't anticipated that a single man and his maid could dispatch over thirty bandits undetected.

The wardrobe in the small room, under the bed, the grass outside the window, and even the bedcovers were all crammed with bodies.

Such a ragtag bunch, he thought disdainfully. Even with a mastermind at the helm, these fools were beyond help.

It was a shame, really. If only they could have recruited that man for their Master, this one-eyed thug would already be knocking on hell's door.

"Boss, there's a troop coming our way, about ten miles out," a bandit reported.

The one-eyed strongman demanded, "How many?"

"They stretch out for dozens of yards, a formidable force. The scouts estimate at least 500 strong."

The strongman shot a dissatisfied look at the scholar, "Your Master sure picked a fine time to show up."

The scholar, frowning in contemplation, replied, "Either something's gone awry in Qi Chang City, or those aren't our Master's men."

The strongman huffed, "Besides your Master, who else has the clout to rally such a force in Qi Chang City?"

He barked at the bandit, "What are you dawdling for? Get the men to pack up and move out. If we get outmaneuvered, we won't even see it coming."

"Yes!"

...

"What's the point of poking around these mangled corpses? It's just wasting my time when I could be collecting loot." The dark-faced bandit hoisted his long saber, ready to plunge it down.

"I've seen those jerks from the Azure Dragon Hall and the other factions loaded with loot, while our White Tiger Hall..."

Just then, a booming voice interrupted: "The Master commands everyone to the main gate immediately. Prepare to withdraw."

"Finally, we're pulling out. My damn hand's cramping from all the stabbing..."

The bandit eased up on his strike. With a soft thud, the body twitched, but he paid it no mind.

As the bandits' grumbling faded into the distance, Gao Shuai was drenched in a cold sweat.

He was so close—if that last blow hadn't been pulled, he'd be just another corpse.

...

Lee Cha and his men stormed into Lee Mansion, and the sight that met them was grim. His face darkened at the devastation.

"Quickly, check for survivors!"

Upon opening his bedroom door, his expression shifted.

The secret tunnel entrance was exposed, but the tunnel was unfinished—a dead end.

Then, a weak noise caught his attention. He turned to see a blood-soaked figure rising slowly from among the dead.

It was Gao Shuai.

Lee Cha exhaled in relief.

The scoundrel had a stroke of luck.

"Black Wind Ridge," Gao Shuai uttered.

"Black Wind Ridge again..." Lee Cha's eyes turned icy.

...

An hour later, the troops from Yingchang City finally arrived, led by the imposing Chief Eunuch Zhang.

Zhang Ming surveyed the wreckage of Lee Mansion, his gaze sharp.

The mansion was a scene of destruction, with several buildings burned and the stench of blood in the air—it was like a vision of hell.

"Is Boss Lee safe?" Zhang Ming called out.

Lee Cha emerged from the crowd, his tone cool. "I am unharmed. Thank you, Lord Zhang, for your timely rescue."

Zhang Ming bowed with a fist to his chest. "I regret arriving too late. Please forgive me, Boss Lee."

He paused, then his voice rose in fury, "Who would dare to strike at the Lee and Xiao Mansions with such violence? They must be brought to justice!"

Lee Cha spoke with measured calm, "They're a band of bandits, claiming to hail from Black Wind Ridge."

"Black Wind Ridge! Always Black Wind Ridge! Come morning, I shall inform the Viceroy and command a military campaign to root out the scourge of Black Wind Ridge!" Zhang Ming raged with indignation.

Lee Cha responded, "I am in your debt, Lord Zhang."

"It is my responsibility. Rest easy, Boss Lee. Justice will be served on your behalf," Zhang Ming assured with conviction.

With a grand gesture, he strode through the gates of Lee Mansion, calling out, "Brothers, assist Boss Lee in quelling the flames and rescuing the victims."

Lee Cha watched his departing figure, eyes narrowing slightly.

Soon after, another motley crew arrived in haste, their attire and armaments a mismatched array. These were the household guards of the remaining shareholders.

"Hehehe, your timing is impeccable," Lee Cha murmured, his face shrouded in shadow.

Gao Shuai remained silent.

Lee Cha continued thoughtfully, "You see? External help is just that—external. Ultimately, we must fend for ourselves."

He inquired, "Why would Black Wind Ridge target Lee Mansion now? Have your adversaries discovered your whereabouts?"

Gao Shuai shook his head, "Since arriving in Yingchang Prefecture, I've kept a low profile. Had they come for me, I'd be dead already. No, they weren't here for me."

Lee Cha's brow creased in concern.

Were they after me?

Damn, good thing I wasn't at the mansion.

Ding! Side Mission Triggered: Eradicate Black Wind Ridge! Mission Reward: Lucky Roulette Draw. Will you accept?

"Accept."

Internally, he queried, "What prizes does the Lucky Roulette offer?"

"The rewards encompass all medicines, techniques, and Cultivation Techniques cataloged by the system," came the reply.

"Such as?"

"Items like the Advanced Cell Repairing Fluid and Aye Grass leaves."

Lee Cha: ...

So, a stroke of luck could mean a swift rise to landowner status, while misfortune might yield nothing more than a common weed?

Days later, the massacre of Lee Mansion by the Black Wind Ridge bandits was the talk of the town. The city's outskirts were paralyzed with fear, the citizens dreading a visit from the marauders, and even the bustling markets of Yingchang City felt the ripple of unease.

Buckling under public opinion, the Capital West Road Metropolitan Governor convened the army's generals to strategize the suppression of the Black Wind Ridge bandits.

Yet, due to the treacherous, easily defended paths of Black Wind Ridge, the Capital West Road Army hadn't even departed before their scouts returned, having suffered grievous losses. Ultimately, the issue remained unresolved.

Upon receiving the intelligence, a flicker of malice sparked in Lee Cha's eyes.

They were feudal bureaucrats through and through, masquerading in capitalist garb but bureaucrats nonetheless.

Lee Cha had since returned to Lee Mansion within Yingchang City. Until Black Wind Ridge was dealt with, the city's outskirts remained perilous.

He fetched a sheet of white paper and penned: "Saltpeter, Sulfur, Charcoal..."

Lee's Trading House began to clandestinely acquire supplies, while Gao Shuai, undeterred by the death toll, reinforced his scouts to probe the reality of Black Wind Ridge.

That same evening, plump rats scurried from the Xiao family's ancestral tomb at the arrival of unexpected visitors.

The flickering orange-yellow flames cast light upon the vast burial site, where a branch stood planted atop the mound, a pristine white note tied to its end. The earth of the grave was freshly turned, with white and yellow paper money strewn about, indicating recent construction.

The tomb itself was crafted from polished marble slabs, the ground before it laid with offerings of fruit, chicken, and duck.

The candles and incense had long since died out, and the tombstone bore the inscription: "The Tomb of the Xiao family's esteemed Duke Liang Zhu," with smaller script flanking either side.

More than a dozen enigmatic figures had gathered, three men standing prominently before the tomb, while the others, torches in hand, encircled them.

In the dim torchlight, the trio at the forefront appeared unremarkable and lean, yet their eyes shone with an extraordinary intensity.

The man to the left bore a scar across his face, his icy demeanor warning off any who might approach.

To the right stood a figure in a white robe, his left cheek marred by deep red scars, his right swathed in white bandages.

Lee Cha, Gao Shuai, and Xiao Qingsong were the three men in question.

"Why have you insisted on coming here in the dead of night, third brother?" Lee Cha inquired.

Wrapped in white gauze, Xiao Qingsong replied softly, "Aren't you curious why Black Wind Ridge has laid siege to both Xiao Mansion and Lee Mansion?"

Lee Cha responded with a curious, "Oh?"

"Someone, excavate this grave," commanded Xiao Qingsong.

Startled, Lee Cha exclaimed, "Wait, you mean to desecrate your own grandfather's grave?"

Xiao Qingsong burst into laughter, his dark red scars contorting with each chuckle, giving him an even more menacing appearance.

"Exactly, I intend to unearth my ancestral grave."

Lee Cha and Gao Shuai exchanged uneasy glances, a chill running down their spines. Xiao Qingsong's eerie smile seemed to cast a sinister pall over the entire cemetery.

It was a rare and grave matter for someone to dig up an ancestral grave, even in the face of deep hatred, much less their own family's.

In Huaxia culture, the belief in honoring one's ancestral land is deeply ingrained.

Exhuming a grave was a last resort, traditionally preceded by a series of rituals including Feng Shui consultation, shamanic rites, and prayers to heaven and earth.

Taking a deep breath, Lee Cha asked, "Are you serious?"

With a smile, Xiao Qingsong answered, "Why wouldn't I be?"