Chapter 83

"Come back, Xiao Huo!"

Jiang Ye opened the jade box, and the fire centipede that was having fun on Zhou Laoguai's corpse crawled back obediently.

Its long, thin body twisted, seemingly still unsatisfied, and those two pairs of mandibles were still stained with flesh and blood, glowing with a cold light under the moonlight.

"Take the heads of the other few bandit leaders as well, we can go back."

Jiang Ye tore off the clothes on Zhou Laoguai's body casually, wrapped the bloody head, and carried it in his hand.

Then he turned around and walked toward the Black Wind Stronghold unhurriedly.

The mission required proof, and the heads of these few bandit leaders were the best proof.

Returning to the Black Wind Stronghold, the wooden houses were still brightly lit.

But the entire stronghold was eerily silent, without a single human voice, only the night wind sweeping past, blowing the half-open wooden doors, making a "creaking" light sound.

Corpses lay all over the ground in pools of blood, frozen in eerie postures under the moonlight, silently telling of the bloody slaughter that had happened not long ago.

"It seems Zhao Gang and Shi Lei have already gone down the mountain."

Jiang Ye nodded slightly, scanning those empty wooden houses.

Originally, Zhao Gang, Shi Lei, and those Su family guards also thought about checking the situation in the stronghold after being saved.

As a result, they didn't walk a few steps before they saw these corpses all over the ground.

At that moment, including Zhao Gang, the Transformation of Force martial artist, everyone was almost scared to death.

Only then did they realize belatedly how terrifying the gray-haired old man who saved them really was.

Everyone didn't dare to stay in this stronghold for another moment, took the goods that had been robbed from the Su family, and ran down the mountain quickly.

At the same time, halfway up Black Pine Mountain.

"Speak! What on earth happened on the mountain, why are you all running down the mountain!"

Liu Qingshi grabbed a bandit fleeing down the mountain with one hand and asked in a deep voice.

On his way up the mountain, he had already encountered several bandits fleeing for their lives.

Those people were familiar with the terrain and ran extremely fast, even he, a Transformation of Force martial artist, couldn't catch up.

Fortunately, he still caught an unlucky one.

"Hero, spare my life!!! I won't dare to be a bandit again, please spare my life......"

The bandit caught in his hand seemed to have seen some terrifying scene on the mountain, his spirit already close to collapse. He trembled all over, his face pale, and he only had one sentence repeating in his mouth.

"What on earth is this situation......"

Liu Qingshi frowned, the confusion in his eyes deepening.

Just at this moment.

"Liu Shi!!!"

A cry of disbelief suddenly came from not far away.

Liu Qingshi looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Zhao Gang and Shi Lei, covered in bloodstains, leading the way, followed by the Su family guards, laboriously pulling goods on a cart, rushing down the mountain.

Behind the team, there were also several sallow and thin women in tattered clothes, their bodies huddled, their eyes full of fear and confusion.

"Zhao Gang? Shi Lei? How... how did you escape from the Black Wind Stronghold!"

Liu Qingshi, who was usually steady, couldn't help but have his expression change drastically at this moment, looking like he had seen a ghost.

For a moment, Liu Qingshi even doubted if he had seen wrong.

Because he was too shocked, he didn't control the strength in his hand well.

Crack.

The bandit's neck was snapped by him, and his body slid to the ground softly.

About a cup of tea's time later.

Liu Qingshi finally understood the ins and outs of the matter from everyone's words.

Then, his expression became even more horrified.

"A mysterious gray-haired old man single-handedly killed all the leaders and those bandits in the Black Wind Stronghold... and then saved you all..."

He couldn't help but repeat these sentences in a low voice, and after the shock, his face was full of exclamation and disbelief.

What kind of luck was this.

At this moment, a strange thought flashed through his mind inexplicably, "Old Jiang, is it really you protecting me......"

"Liu Shi, that scene... was simply too... too terrifying."

Recalling the scene he had seen in the stronghold before, a trace of fear still uncontrollably flashed on the face of Zhao Gang, the Transformation of Force martial artist.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his voice trembling slightly:

"Corpses all over the ground... blood everywhere... those bandits were cut down like grass......"

"Yes... that scene..."

"It was simply too scary......"

"We have worked for the Su family for so many years and have never seen such a scene."

The few people behind him were no different, all nodding and swallowing saliva with lingering fear.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Liu Qingshi also took a deep breath.

Being able to easily wipe out the Black Wind Stronghold, that gray-haired old man must be an expert in the Embracing the Pill Realm, his strength unfathomable.

"Liu Shi, these women are all poor people who were caught on the mountain by those bandits......"

Shi Lei pointed at the women following behind the crowd, speaking with an unbearable expression: "I saw they were pitiful... so I decided to bring them down together......"

Liu Qingshi followed his gaze.

Those women felt his gaze and immediately huddled into a ball, leaning against each other, their eyes full of despair and helplessness.

They were in tattered clothes, sallow and thin, covered in bruises and scars, clearly having suffered all kinds of torture in the stronghold.

"Sigh......"

Liu Qingshi sighed secretly.

It was all the fault of this man-eating world.

He withdrew his gaze, looked at Shi Lei with an approving look, and nodded slightly: "Well done, living in troubled times, one should have a trace of benevolence."

When everyone returned to the prefecture city and stepped into the Su family's main gate, the sky was already slightly bright.

"Brother Liu!!!"

Su Chen rushed out from the hall, stumbling, when he saw this scene before him.

Liu Qingshi, Zhao Gang, Shi Lei, and those guards, one by one, covered in bloodstains but standing alive before him, with the Su family's goods neatly stacked on the cart behind them...

He was so moved that his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down on the spot.

"For such great kindness, I truly don't know how to repay you."

Su Chen's voice choked, his eyes reddened; this man who had been struggling in the business world for many years was now at a loss like a child.

"Liu Shi!!! Thank you..."

Su Yan, who followed closely behind, had even redder eyes, excited tears sparkling in her beautiful eyes.

To break this heavy atmosphere, Liu Qingshi shook his head slightly and rarely made a joke: "It's a pity my Yiyi is a girl, otherwise you could marry this Su girl to Yiyi."

Hearing this, Su Chen was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but show a smile on his face, following the topic: "Brother Liu, it's not too late for you to have another one now!"

Su Yan, who was on the side, heard this, and the emotion on her face hadn't faded yet before she was slightly stunned by these words.

The next instant, the scene of that night couldn't help but appear in her mind involuntarily.

She and Liu Yiyi, both......

To some extent, does this count as......

Not knowing what scene she thought of, Su Yan's ears suddenly turned red, that blush spreading from her ears to her cheeks.

She lowered her eyes, not daring to look at anyone, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Everyone, you have really suffered this time."

Su Chen didn't notice his daughter's abnormality; he turned to Zhao Gang, Shi Lei, and those guards, who were covered in bloodstains, with a solemn expression, and bowed deeply to them.

That waist was bent very low and didn't straighten for a long time.

"I have prepared the best healing herbs for you, everyone go and rest quickly. If you need anything, just say it."

The guards thanked him repeatedly, supporting each other as they walked toward the side courtyard.

Zhao Gang and Shi Lei also arched their hands toward Su Chen, then followed the team.

Their backs, although tired, carried the joy of survival.

After arranging for everyone, the gazes of Su Chen and Su Yan fell on the few huddled figures at the end of the team.

Those sallow, thin women in tattered clothes were now standing timidly by the door, at a loss, not knowing where to go.

"These people are......" Su Chen was slightly stunned.

Liu Qingshi sighed lightly, his eyes full of pity: "They are all poor people who were caught on the mountain by bandits. That child Shi Lei is kind-hearted, so he decided to bring them down together."

Su Yan walked up and examined those women carefully.

They were all sallow and thin, with prominent cheekbones, covered in blue and purple bruises, clearly having suffered all kinds of torture in the stronghold.

Their eyes were full of fear and confusion, like frightened birds, any movement could make them tremble all over.

Su Yan's eyes reddened a bit more.

She spoke softly, her tone gentle and firm: "My Su family will pay to help them. First arrange for them to stay, invite a physician to see their injuries, and then... then help them find a way out."

Liu Qingshi nodded in appreciation.

Speaking of which, these few core disciples of his were all kind-hearted people.

In this man-eating world, being able to keep this kindness was truly not easy.

Afterward, Liu Qingshi told Su Chen and his daughter the whole process of the Black Wind Stronghold's destruction.

"What......"

"The Black Wind Stronghold was wiped out single-handedly by a gray-haired old man?!"

Su Chen and Su Yan looked at each other, their faces full of disbelief and horror.

They had originally thought that Liu Qingshi had persuaded that good friend in the Profound Heaven Sect to take action, which was why everyone was saved.

But they didn't expect it to be someone else.

This was also... too coincidental, right?

Su Chen was stunned for a good while before saying with a solemn expression: "That must be inquired about properly, which expert performed chivalry and wiped out the Black Wind Stronghold."

Su Yan also nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes full of gratitude and reverence: "If there is a chance, I must thank this senior solemnly."

Although the other party might have had other reasons for wiping out the Black Wind Stronghold, this unintentional act undoubtedly saved the Su family.

She kept this kindness in her heart.

Profound Heaven Sect, Juding Peak.

Inside the Hall of Affairs.

Although it was early morning, there were already many inner disciples who had come early to pick up missions.

They gathered in twos and threes in front of the racks full of commission letters, discussing in low voices which mission was simple, which mission had high rewards, occasionally bursting into light laughter.

"Ah... ha..."

Cao Ying sat behind the desk and couldn't help but stretch, her full curves clearly visible under the deacon's robe.

She yawned lightly, scanned the ordinary disciples in the hall with sleepy eyes, and hearing them discuss which mission was simpler to take, couldn't help but shake her head slightly.

These young people, picking missions only to pick soft persimmons, when would they ever get ahead.

Her mind inexplicably flashed to that somewhat unfamiliar Elder Jiang from yesterday.

"Wiping out the Black Wind Stronghold, can he complete this mission..."

Cao Ying muttered in her heart, then shook her head slightly.

Those Profound Heaven Sect Elders before had all returned empty-handed; this unfamiliar Elder Jiang was probably someone who had only recently stepped into the Embracing the Pill Realm, with his strength, he should also......

Thud.

A heavy footstep interrupted Cao Ying's thoughts.

She looked up subconsciously, her pupils contracting suddenly.

The person stepping into the hall was indeed that somewhat unfamiliar Elder Jiang, holding a bulging bag in his hand, which was heavy and faintly emitted a strong, fishy stench, making one want to vomit.

"Elder Jiang, you......"

Cao Ying hurriedly stood up from behind the desk and walked up to greet him, just about to open her mouth to ask.

Jiang Ye threw the bag in his hand onto the ground casually and said faintly: "You count them."

Bang.

A dull sound.

The bag hit the ground, making a dull sound.

"Count what......"

Cao Ying was slightly stunned, looking at the ground subconsciously.

The next instant.

"Ah——!!!"

Cao Ying's scream resounded through the entire Hall of Affairs.

Because she was too shocked, the full chest of this deacon with Transformation of Force strength heaved violently, shaking fiercely.