Chapter Twenty-Six: Lost Heart!

"I see now. It must have been him who wiped out the Golden Peak Stronghold. Their leader was only a seventh-tier martial artist; he would have had no chance at all against an eighth-tier expert!"

"No wonder he dared to charge into our Liufeng Stronghold all by himself. He wasn't some hot-headed fool—he really has the skills!"

The bandits grew quiet, none of them daring to even breathe too loudly.

"Brother, let’s talk this over. Actually, we’re practically fellow countrymen. I’m from the capital too. I got into some trouble, the imperial court issued a warrant for my arrest and sentenced me to death, and I escaped while on my way to the execution grounds."

Seeing that Chen Xuan kept his grip firmly on his throat with no intention of letting go, Liu Jinyu began trying to build rapport. Whatever the cost, he had to steady Chen Xuan and save his own skin first.

Chen Xuan said indifferently, "I tried talking to you nicely, and you wouldn't listen. Did you really want me to use force?"

Liu Jinyu quickly forced a smile, "Yes, yes, you’re right, brother. I shouldn't have been so stubborn. It’s my fault, old man."

"Who’s your brother? Don't try to get familiar with me!" Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes.

Liu Jinyu waved his hands frantically. "I misspoke. Young Master Chen, please don't hold it against a brute like me. I'll slap my own face, I'll slap my own face." He proceeded to slap himself twice, not daring to touch Chen Xuan’s hand.

Both were eighth-tier martial artists, and Liu Jinyu knew clearly that if he dared to play any tricks, his neck would be snapped instantly with no hope of survival.

"From now on, I ask, you answer. If I get the answers I want, I can spare your life. If the answers aren't satisfying, you know the consequences." Chen Xuan spoke coldly, having no patience for nonsense.

"Yes, yes, yes! You ask, and I will tell you everything I know." Liu Jinyu was more obedient than anyone right now.

Chen Xuan asked, "Back to the same question: who is Mr. Sima?"

Liu Jinyu replied in a rush, "As far as I know, Mr. Sima should be Sima Xiba, the son of Lord Sima, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. I know this because I am one of Lord Qin’s men. Lord Qin is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and has some history with Lord Sima."

"In fact, all the bandit strongholds in the Bandit Mountains—while we call ourselves bandits—are essentially kept by the lords of the imperial court. Why can't the imperial army wipe us out? It’s because we’re on the same side. How could they attack their own people?"

Chen Xuan hadn't probed that deeply, only asking about Mr. Sima, but Liu Jinyu, fearing for his life, confessed everything, even the parts he hadn't been asked about.

"The son of the Vice Minister of Personnel, Sima Xiba? What a ridiculous name." Chen Xuan frowned, quickly searching his predecessor's memories.

He soon found a lead. In his memory, Lord Sima of the Ministry of Personnel would visit the Chen family every year; after all, as one of the three great families in the capital, the Chen family's status was almost on par with imperial royalty. Many members of the Chen family also held high positions in the imperial court. This Lord Sima had several sons, and there was indeed one named Sima Xiba, who seemed to have a decent relationship with Chen Tian. His predecessor had even seen them together in private.

However, back then, his status had been too low to ask any questions.

"What is Sima Xiba's relationship with the Golden Peak Stronghold?" Chen Xuan continued to ask. He already had the answer in his heart, but some things needed to be made crystal clear.

"All the bandits at Golden Peak are just dogs raised by Sima Xiba to do his dirty work. For instance, your caravan passing through the Bandit Mountains—was it ambushed? As far as I know, it was Sima Xiba who ordered Golden Peak to ambush you!"

Liu Jinyu did not hesitate, his spit flying as he spoke, terrified that if he were too slow, his life would be forfeit. Hearing this, Chen Xuan had his answer. When all was said and done, the mastermind behind the attempt on his life was Chen Tian!

*Bang!*

Chen Xuan tossed him aside like trash, and Liu Jinyu hit the ground hard.

"Cough, cough, cough—" Liu Jinyu clutched his throat, breaking into a fit of violent coughing. There were five deep finger marks on his neck. He felt a surge of excitement at having survived, but was simultaneously shocked and incredulous—had Chen Xuan really just let him go so easily?

"Big Boss!"

"Big Boss, are you alright?" The surrounding bandit underlings rushed over to check on him.

One of them gritted his teeth and shouted, "Men! Surround him!" A group of them blocked the path of retreat, clearly not intending to let Chen Xuan leave so easily.

"So, you don't intend to let me leave?" Chen Xuan smiled.

"Hmph! You only caught our Big Boss because you took advantage of his lack of awareness and used a cowardly sneak attack! If our Big Boss hadn't been using his broadsword and had fought you fist-to-fist, you wouldn't have been his match!" Xiao Liuzi said, looking utterly unconvinced.

Chen Xuan shook his head and said calmly, "Since you don't intend to let me leave, I suppose I’ll just have to repeat the process of wiping out the Golden Peak Stronghold."

At these words, everyone present felt their hair stand on end. Chen Xuan meant he was going to wash the Liufeng Stronghold in blood as well?

"You... stop bluffing! Our Liufeng Stronghold isn't some second-rate place like Golden Peak." One bandit tried to protest, but his voice lacked conviction. He couldn't help it; Chen Xuan was so calm that it made it seem as if wiping out their stronghold would be as effortless as turning over his hand.

"Don't believe me? Then let's find out." Chen Xuan couldn't be bothered with small talk. Since these bandits refused a toast only to drink a forfeit, he would just send them all to meet the King of Hell! Besides, if he killed them all and word got out, people wouldn't curse him; they would praise him for acting on behalf of heaven!

"No! Young Master Chen, these idiots under my command don't know any better! Please, don't listen to them!" Just as Chen Xuan was about to strike, a terrified Liu Jinyu scrambled to stop him, bowing his hands in apology. "Young Master Chen, show mercy! Please, show mercy!"

His underlings hadn't backed down, but the Big Boss himself had crumbled.

"Big Boss, you are..." The bandit underlings were stunned. In their memory, Liu Jinyu was a ruthless killer who never blinked. He was wanted by the court and sentenced to death because he had wiped out the entire thirty-member household of a sixth-rank official in a single night! A few years ago, when he escaped prison and came to the Bandit Mountains, he had become the leader of Liufeng by hacking the previous boss to pieces. He had kept the entire stronghold in line with an iron fist. Even bandits from other mountains gave him respect—they called him "Madman Liu."

And now, he was actually cowering?