Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Bandit Suppression Across the County!

Blood Vine Castle, Stronghold Three.

"Did you hear? The brothers at the lower seven strongholds, they all got poisoned to death."

"Are you serious? This isn’t something to joke about."

"Why would I lie? I heard it was Blood Vine Castle’s sworn enemy. The Fortress Master has already led people to hunt him down."

"..."

In the shadows, The Medicine Maniac in his dark green robe listened, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Hunting me?

Then I’ll just go straight for your headquarters!

The Medicine Maniac spread poison with the wind, then immediately made his way toward Blood Vine Castle’s main fortress.

Red dawn light squeezed up from the ground, bathing the main fortress in crimson, making the entire place look like a blood-soaked castle.

The Medicine Maniac hid in the darkness for a moment, observing, then took out his poisons.

"Hmph, this is what you get for messing with me." He was just about to scatter the poison.

"No good!"

In an instant, two terrifying auras burst forth, rushing directly at him.

"Where do you think you’re going!"

The Medicine Maniac tried to flee, but two figures were already blocking his way, front and back.

"An Hengying!"

When he saw the one in front, his expression changed drastically.

"You’re with the Blood Evil Sect...!"

Before he could finish, An Hengying and Teng Sect attacked at the same time.

"I’m doomed!"

The Medicine Maniac was filled with deep regret, but it was too late.

They exchanged only a dozen moves before he was captured alive by An Hengying.

"Kill me or chop me up, do as you like!"

An Hengying squeezed the Medicine Maniac’s throat, voice ice cold: "Hand over the poison formulas and I’ll spare your life."

"You want the formulas?" The Medicine Maniac’s eyes flashed.

"Yes, as long as you hand over all the poison recipes, not only will I spare you, I’ll even help you find ingredients for refining the Life-Extending Elixir." An Hengying tempted him.

The Medicine Maniac fell silent, seemingly a bit moved.

"Old bastard, don’t be so ungrateful!" Teng Sect barked harshly.

Medicine Maniac was choking for air, but his mind was especially clear at this moment.

After what he did tonight, he’d forged a deep blood feud with Blood Vine Castle. If he handed over his poison formulas, he’d probably die even faster.

"Lord An, could you give me some time?" the Medicine Maniac feigned weakness.

"Fine, you have two days to think it over."

"..."

...

One day later.

Jingyan County, Mine, Main Office.

"Chu Grand Registrar, this time you’re really about to make it big."

"Right, Lord Chu, you were the one who discovered such a huge salt mine at Jingyan. That’s enormous credit."

The ones speaking were Feng Yuan—the Lord of the Classics from Baiyuan County—Shao Pengshu from the Criminal Defense Bureau, County Magistrate Liu Sitong, and others.

There’d been consecutive incidents at the mine, and Jingyan County’s officials had suffered heavy casualties, so they had to temporarily bring in extra hands from nearby counties.

At the main seat, Chu Ming just smiled without responding. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Alright, enough, Chu Ming’s busy. All of you, get back to your work."

Shen Yu waved a big hand, shooing the group from Baiyuan County away.

"Chu Ming, Old Xiao sent a letter. He wants you back in the commandery immediately."

Chu Ming stood up, walked to Shen Yu’s side, and his smile vanished.

"What’s wrong?" Shen Yu felt a chill seeing Chu Ming’s expression.

"There’s something I need to do. You and Commander Meng go back first," Chu Ming said.

"Huh? What are you going to do?"

Shen Yu looked at Chu Ming and, as if suddenly realizing something, his tone grew urgent: "You’re not thinking of doing what you did with Black Wind Stronghold again—going after Blood Vine Castle, are you?"

Chu Ming said nothing.

"Chu Ming, I know you’re strong, but Blood Vine Castle is an infamous bandit gang in Xirong County. If you go there alone..."

Shen Yu was worried.

"And if you don’t return to the county city, how am I supposed to explain to Old Xiao..."

"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely return to the county city within two days."

Two days was about how long it took by carriage from Jingyan County to the county city.

"I can have Old Xiao send troops to surround Blood Vine Castle." Shen Yu kept persuading him.

"Send who? The Inspectorate?" Chu Ming said darkly.

"..." Shen Yu could only stay silent, feeling helpless.

They couldn’t even wipe out Black Wind Stronghold; Blood Vine Castle was several times stronger.

The commandery mansion had tried assaulting Blood Vine Castle before, but the results were disastrous.

"Sigh..."

After a long pause, Shen Yu let out a sigh and said, "Chu Ming, I know you’re doing this to avenge those innocent miners, but you can’t just throw yourself into danger. Blood Vine Castle is a tiger’s den, if you go alone..."

But before Shen Yu could finish, Chu Ming smiled and said, "Brother Shen, if no one stands up to do these things, what would this world become?"

Back then, when he was weak, all he could do was protect himself.

But now, he had reached the Meridian Unlocking realm. After everything with Dahe Village’s massacre, Constable Shen Yi, Miner Tie Zheng sacrificing their lives, it all weighed on his heart.

Within his abilities, he would do what he believed was right.

Wiping out Blood Vine Castle, the scourge of the region, and avenging hundreds of innocent miners—these were things he was able to do, and he knew he should do.

Besides, since Liuu Town, the Blood Evil Sect kept showing up, multiple times trying to kill him. Was he supposed to stay passive forever?

Whether it was Black Wind Stronghold, already eliminated, or Blood Vine Castle, soon to be destroyed—they were all his counterattacks against the Blood Evil Sect!

"Chu Ming..." Shen Yu sighed again. "We’ll wait for you to come back."

"Alright."

"..."

...

Xirong County, Commandery Mansion.

The Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince sat in the upper seats, flanked by Xirong County’s officials.

"The Inspectorate did well eradicating Black Wind Stronghold; you deserve a reward." The Fifth Prince turned to the Inspectorate General, Zhou Xi. "Lord Zhou, you’re Senior Fifth Grade now, right? I’ve already submitted a petition to Father. It won’t be long before your post changes."

"Thank you, Your Fifth Highness, Thank you, Your Seventh Highness."

The Fifth Prince nodded slightly, then looked to the other side. "Lord An."

"Your servant is here." The Governor’s Office, An Hengying, bowed low.

"Banditry has been rampant in the county lately—first Black Wind Stronghold ambushed officials, then Blood Vine Castle attacked our Great Qin Dynasty salt mine. What do you think should be done?" The Fifth Prince squinted at him.

"Your Highness, I believe we should send troops and wipe them out!" An Hengying kept his head down, voice full of deference.

"How exactly? Should I ask Commander Xiang to lend us the Tiger Armor Army?" the Fifth Prince pressed.

"..." An Hengying hesitated, a chill flickering in his hidden gaze.

Then, bowing even lower, he said, "Your Fifth Highness, there’s no need for the Tiger Armor Army. I will personally lead men to wipe out Blood Vine Castle."

"Good!" The Fifth Prince leisurely stood up, as if he had waited for this answer. "If Lord An takes charge, I feel at ease."

"Lord An, as long as you can destroy Blood Vine Castle, I will personally ask for a royal commendation for you."

"Thank you, Your Fifth Highness." An Hengying showed no emotion.

"So, Seventh Brother, do you have anything to add?" The Fifth Prince looked at the Seventh Prince.

Unlike the Fifth Prince’s cheerful air, ever since the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Seventh Prince rarely smiled.

"Lord Xiao," the Seventh Prince said after a moment, turning to Xiao He, "Lord Xiao, as far as I know, Blood Vine Castle is the number one brutal bandit force in Xirong County, correct?"

"...Your Seventh Highness..." Xiao He didn’t know how to answer.

He was the County Magistrate. Having such banditry on his watch—he couldn’t avoid blame.

"Is it?" The Seventh Prince’s voice weighted with authority.

"Yes, Your Highness." Xiao He had no choice but to answer.

Hearing this, the Seventh Prince nodded slightly, not reproaching him, instead turning back to the Fifth Prince.

"Fifth Brother, I think that relying just on Lord An and the Inspectorate won’t be enough to get rid of Blood Vine Castle. If any bandits slip through, it’s still the common folk who suffer."

"Do you have a better idea, Seventh Brother?"

"Put out a public bounty: kill a bandit, get five taels of silver; kill a bandit leader, ten taels; the higher the ranking, the higher the reward."

"And if anyone manages to kill one of Blood Vine Castle’s main leaders, they’ll be granted an official post and land."

"This method..." The Fifth Prince’s eyes flashed, then he suddenly smiled, "Not bad."

"Anyone capable of killing a Fortress Master of Blood Vine Castle must be at least Refining Organ Realm. Such talent belongs working for the Great Qin Dynasty..."

"Alright then, whoever kills a Fortress Master, I’ll take him as my personal guard."

"..."

...

Wind Vine County, a restaurant.

"Did you see the Bandit Bounty Board?"

"Yeah, why? You interested?"

"Kill a bandit, five taels of silver. A bandit leader, that’s ten..."

At a table in the corner, two men in loose clothes, looking like they’ve trained in martial arts, whispered quietly.

"Tsk tsk... This is a big opportunity to make money."

"Not only that—if you can kill one of Blood Vine Castle’s big names, you can even become an official at the commandery mansion."

"Forget about that..." One man suddenly lowered his voice, leaning in, "We’ll just pick off a few unlucky bastards, grab some quick silver and that’s it. The bigger the bounty, the stricter the checks from the authorities."

"True enough..." A vicious glint flashed in the other man’s eyes. "Got anyone picked out?"

"Heh, a couple street beggars. Already got them tied up. Once we finish eating, let’s go collect the reward."

"Haha! Come on, drink up."

"..."

Another table.

"You know about Teng Family Manor?"

"Of course, biggest merchant family in the county. Who doesn’t know them?"

"Well, did you hear something big is happening at Teng Family Manor?"

"What?"

"I heard they’re hiring house servants. If you’re strong, starting monthly salary is three taels. If you know martial arts..."

"How much if you know martial arts?"

"If you know martial arts, monthly salary starts at ten taels!"

"For real?"

"Of course it’s real. Loads of young men from our county set off first thing this morning straight for Teng Family Manor."

"Really? Eat up, eat up, let’s go see what it’s about."

"Weren’t you going after bandits?"

"Screw that—just the two of us, barely any skills at all. We’d be lucky to survive a bandit, let alone kill one! Better off trying at Teng Family Manor. Ten taels a month—safer, and steady."

"True enough..."

"..."

On the second floor by the window, Chu Ming, disguised as a burly man and dressed in black hero attire, looked every bit the martial world wanderer.

Sitting across from him was a man built like an iron tower.

"Come on, Brother Fang, let’s drink." The man raised his cup heartily.

He’s using the surname Fang—borrowed from Fang Xiao.

"Alright." Chu Ming clinked cups and drank everything in one gulp.

The man called himself Black Bear, someone Chu Ming had just met an hour ago upon arriving in the county.

Jingyan County was a ways from this Wind Vine County; they’d traveled hard day and night and were resting here.

"Good wine!" Black Bear grabbed a chunk of beef, tossed it in his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed. "Good meat."

"Brother Fang, you seem pretty extraordinary, huh? Bet you’ve practiced martial arts?" Black Bear’s quiet voice was a stark contrast to his rough appearance.

"Yeah, practiced a bit," Chu Ming replied.

"So why not get a job at the county government?" Black Bear asked.