Chapter 21: It's Ruined!

The bandits looked as if they had swallowed flies; their faces were as green as bitter melons, looking as wretched as could be.

They were being ordered to investigate the destruction of Golden Peak Stronghold?

While their own Flowing Peak Stronghold was slightly larger and boasted a few more experts than Golden Peak, it was not significantly stronger. For someone to have wiped out Golden Peak in a single night without a single survivor escaping, such power surely belonged to a peerless master who had transcended the realm of ordinary martial artists!

"Great Chief, whoever slaughtered the entire Golden Peak Stronghold must be at least a master-level powerhouse. If we go to investigate and happen to offend them, we might be the next ones wiped out!"

"And this Magistrate Qin is really something. How could he task us with this? With all the experts within the imperial court, why doesn't he send one of them to investigate?"

The minor bandits were filled with shock and fear, many wearing sullen expressions, feeling that Magistrate Qin’s demand was excessive.

"Shut your mouths! Magistrate Qin is a man of noble status. Are his decisions something for the likes of you to gossip about?" Liu Jinyu let out a cold snort, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone present, as if he would strike down anyone who dared to speak further.

"A few of you, go and find out exactly who entered Bandit Mountain yesterday!" Liu Jinyu named a few men directly, ordering them to investigate.

The named bandits felt as though they had just lost their parents; their faces were as long and miserable as could be. Though they were unwilling, they dared not refuse and braced themselves to head down the mountain.

Beyond Flowing Peak, similar scenes were playing out in every bandit lair across Bandit Mountain. After all, everyone understood the principle of the fox mourning the death of the hare. With the Golden Peak Stronghold annihilated, it would be strange if the other strongholds weren't nervous—what if they were next?

...

Capital City. Inside the Chen residence.

Chen Tian was sipping tea comfortably, feeling quite pleased. After all, earlier that morning at the brothel, Sima Xi had promised that Chen Xuan’s corpse would be delivered by that evening at the latest. Thinking of how Chen Xuan had humiliated him in public two days ago, making him a laughingstock, he gritted his teeth in hatred.

"Chen Xuan, you piece of trash, what do you have to compare with me? Crushing you is as simple as crushing an ant!"

"The only pity is that I cannot finish you off with my own hands."

"Young Master, Master Sima is here!"

Just as Chen Tian was lost in his fantasies, a servant hurried in to report.

"Master Sima? Wasn't he heading to Jiangnan? Why is he back?" Chen Tian was surprised, but he didn't dwell on it. Since the man hadn't left and had come to visit in person, there must be a reason.

"Invite him in."

Soon, Sima Xi entered. However, his complexion was hideous—one might even say grim.

"Master Sima, what has happened?" Seeing his expression, Chen Tian felt an immediate sense of foreboding.

Sima Xi’s face was cold to the extreme; the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. He gritted his teeth and said, "The men I sent out... they are all dead!"

"But rest assured, I will give you an account. Since I have already accepted the money, Chen Xuan’s corpse will be delivered to you within three days at the latest!"

Previously, he had sworn that the body would arrive tonight. But with this turn of events, Sima Xi himself did not know how Golden Peak Stronghold had been razed. He had come in person only to reassure Chen Tian that he had not abandoned the capital; he would remain in the city to personally ensure the task was completed.

Though Sima Xi had spoken smoothly, Chen Tian was deeply displeased. He had been nursing a fire in his gut, intending to spend the night with Li Xiuning and An Ruxue. Now, with nowhere to vent his frustration, his mood grew even more irritable, and he felt the urge to lash out.

Reflecting, however, Chen Tian held back and forced a smile. "Master Sima, to forgo your trip to Jiangnan to oversee things personally in the capital—such resolve is truly admirable. I shall wait a few more days for your good news."

Even as a member of the Chen family, Chen Tian dared not offend the power behind Sima Xi.

"Rest assured, I will bring him to you." Sima Xi turned and left without even taking a sip of tea. He needed to investigate the true reason behind the slaughter at Golden Peak and determine whether Chen Xuan and his group were still alive.

"Then I shall wait here for your good news, Master Sima."

Chen Tian watched Sima Xi’s departure with a smile, his expression only turning cold and emotionless once the man had completely vanished from sight.

"Hmph, so much for the 'Young Master Ximen who never misses a target.' It seems he is a fraud with an empty reputation!" Chen Tian sneered.

Closing his eyes, the face of Chen Xuan surfaced in his mind, causing the muscles on Chen Tian's face to twitch violently.

"Damn you, Chen Xuan. Whether you are dead or alive, even if you turn to ash, I will drag you out and grind your bones into dust!" His hatred for Chen Xuan was absolute.

...

Meanwhile, at an inn near Bandit Mountain.

Chen Xuan woke up in his room. He had already bathed and changed into clean clothes. There were five rooms rented at the inn: one for Chen Xuan, one each for Li Xiuning, Yang Ying'er, and An Ruxue, and the last for the five concubines, Li Xuanxuan and Lu Qiqi.

Stepping out of his room, Chen Xuan realized the others were still asleep and decided not to disturb them. As he passed Yang Ying'er’s room, he suddenly heard the sound of sobbing from within.

She was crying.

A sense of guilt washed over Chen Xuan. Of the more than fifty people in the Ping An Security Firm, only Yang Ying'er had survived. If they hadn't taken this escort mission...

Knock, knock.

Chen Xuan tapped gently on the door. After a moment, it opened. Yang Ying'er had wiped her face clean, leaving no visible traces of tears, but her eyes were red and swollen—she had clearly been crying.

"What are you here for?" Yang Ying'er sat back down at the stool and turned her head away, not wanting him to see her face, as her swollen eyes were unsightly.

"Are you alright?" Chen Xuan asked with concern.

"That's none of your business!" Yang Ying'er sniffled.

"Sigh." Chen Xuan closed the door, let out a soft sigh, and walked over to her.

"My father has only just passed; what are you trying to do to me?" Yang Ying'er looked at him with the vigilance of a frightened rabbit.

Chen Xuan felt somewhat depressed. "Do I look like a beast to you?"

"You're barely twenty, yet you have seven concubines. If you aren't a beast, then you're worse than one!" she retorted scornfully.