Chapter 83: Old Jiang, are you really watching over me?

“Come back, Little Fire!”

Jiang Ye opened the jade box, and the fire centipede, which had been frolicking on Zhou Laoguai’s corpse, obediently slithered back.

Its slender body wriggled slightly, as if reluctant to leave, its two pairs of mandibles still stained with flesh and blood, glinting coldly under the moonlight.

“Get the heads of the other bandit leaders too—we can go back now.”

Jiang Ye tore off Zhou Laoguai’s clothes and wrapped the bloody head in them, holding it in his hand.

He turned and walked steadily toward Heifeng Zhai .

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

Back at Heifeng Zhai , every wooden hut still glowed with light.

Yet the entire stronghold was eerily silent, not a single voice to be heard—only the night wind brushing past, rustling the half-open wooden doors with a creaking sound.

Corpses lay scattered across the ground in pools of blood, frozen into grotesque poses under the moonlight, silently recounting the bloody massacre that had just occurred.

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

Jiang Ye nodded slightly, glancing at the empty wooden huts.

Originally, after being rescued, Zhao Gang, Shi Lei, and the Su family guards had intended to check the condition of the stronghold.

But they hadn’t taken more than a few steps before they saw the corpses littering the ground.

At that moment, even Zhao Gang, a Hua Jing martial artist, nearly died of fright.

Only then did they realize just how terrifying the white-haired elder who had saved them truly was.

They dared not linger a moment longer in the stronghold, grabbed the Su family’s stolen goods, and fled down the mountain as fast as they could.

Meanwhile, halfway up Heisong Mountain.

“Speak! What happened on the mountain? Why are all of you running down?”

Liu Qingshi grabbed a bandit fleeing downhill and demanded in a deep voice.

Along his way up the mountain, he had already encountered several bandits fleeing in panic.

Those men knew the terrain well and escaped swiftly—even he, a Hua Jing martial artist, couldn’t catch them.

Fortunately, he had caught one unlucky fool.

“Spare my life, great hero!! I’ll never be a bandit again—please, spare me...”

The bandit in his grip looked as if he had witnessed something horrific—he was mentally shattered, trembling violently, his face pale, repeating the same phrase over and over.

“What on earth is going on...”

Liu Qingshi frowned deeply, his confusion growing.

At that moment.

“Master Liu!!!”

A voice of disbelief rang out from nearby.

Liu Qingshi turned to see Zhao Gang and Shi Lei, covered in blood, leading the way, followed by Su family guards laboriously dragging goods on a cart as they hurried down the mountain.

Behind them trailed several emaciated women with tattered clothes, huddling together, their eyes filled with terror and bewilderment.

“Zhao Gang? Shi Lei? You... you got out of Heifeng Zhai ?!”

Even the usually composed Liu Qingshi couldn’t hide his shock—he looked as if he’d seen a ghost.

For a moment, he wondered if he’d imagined it.

Overwhelmed by astonishment, he lost control of his grip.

Crack.

The bandit’s neck snapped under his hand, his body slumping lifelessly to the ground.

About a cup of tea’s time later.

Liu Qingshi finally learned the full story from the others.

His expression grew even more horrified.

“A mysterious white-haired elder single-handedly slaughtered every bandit leader and all the bandits in Heifeng Zhai ... and then saved you...”

He muttered those words under his breath, his horror giving way to awe and disbelief.

What kind of luck was this?

In that instant, a strange thought flashed through his mind: “Old Jiang... could it really be you watching over me...?”

“Master Liu, that scene... it was just too... too terrifying.”

Recalling the sight inside the stronghold, Zhao Gang’s face still flickered with fear—he was a Hua Jing martial artist, yet he couldn’t suppress it.

He swallowed hard, his voice trembling:

“Bodies everywhere... blood everywhere... those bandits were cut down like grass...”

“Yes... that scene...”

“It was just too horrifying...”

“We’ve worked for the Su family for years—we’ve never seen anything like this.”

Those behind them nodded in silent dread, swallowing hard.

Seeing their reactions, Liu Qingshi took a deep breath.

Whoever could wipe out Heifeng Zhai so easily must be a powerful Bao Dan cultivator—his strength was unfathomable.

“Master Liu, these women were all victims taken up the mountain by the bandits...”

Shi Lei pointed to the women trailing behind, his face filled with pity: “I felt sorry for them... so I brought them down too...”

Liu Qingshi followed his gaze.

The women, sensing his stare, huddled together, clinging to each other, their eyes filled with despair and helplessness.

Their clothes were torn, their bodies emaciated, covered in bruises and wounds—they had clearly suffered terribly in the stronghold.

“Sigh...”

Liu Qingshi sighed inwardly.

This cruel world was to blame.

He turned away, giving Shi Lei a look of approval and a slight nod: “Well done. In times like these, one must hold onto a shred of righteousness.”

When the group returned to Fucheng and stepped through the Su family’s gates, dawn was just breaking.

“Master Liu!!!”

Su Chen staggered out from the hall, and when he saw the scene before him—

Liu Qingshi, Zhao Gang, Shi Lei, the guards—all covered in blood but alive, the cart behind them neatly piled with Su family goods—

He grew weak in the knees, nearly collapsing to the ground.

“Such great kindness—I don’t know how to repay you.”

Su Chen’s voice cracked, his eyes reddened; this seasoned merchant, who had weathered decades in business, now stood helplessly like a child.

“Master Liu!! Thank you...”

Su Yan, following closely behind, had red-rimmed eyes, her beautiful gaze shimmering with tears of relief.

To break the heavy atmosphere, Liu Qingshi shook his head slightly and made a rare joke: “Too bad my Yiyi is a girl—if she weren’t, I’d have you marry her off to her.”

Su Chen blinked in surprise, then couldn’t help smiling, continuing the jest: “Master Liu, you can still have another child!”

Hearing this, Su Yan’s lingering emotion froze into a startled pause.

In the next instant, an image from that night involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

She and Liu Yiyi had both...

In a way, wasn’t that...

Whatever image she recalled made her ears suddenly flush crimson—the red spread from her ears to her cheeks.

She lowered her eyes, refusing to look at anyone, wishing she could vanish into a crack in the ground.

“All of you, you’ve suffered greatly this time.”

Su Chen, oblivious to his daughter’s reaction, turned solemnly to Zhao Gang, Shi Lei, and the guards, bowing deeply to them.

His back bent low, remaining so for a long time.

“I’ve prepared the finest healing herbs for you—go rest. Whatever you need, just say it.”

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

Zhao Gang and Shi Lei also bowed to Su Chen, then followed the group.

Though their figures were weary, they radiated the quiet relief of survivors.

After arranging for everyone, Su Chen and Su Yan’s gazes fell on the huddled figures at the end of the procession.

The emaciated, tattered women stood timidly by the gate, uncertain, unsure where to go.

“Who are these people...?” Su Chen blinked in surprise.

Liu Qingshi sighed softly, his eyes filled with compassion: “They’re all poor souls taken up the mountain by the bandits. Shi Lei, being kind-hearted, decided to bring them down with us.”

Su Yan stepped forward, studying the women closely.

Each was gaunt, cheekbones protruding, skin bruised purple and blue—they had clearly endured unspeakable torment in the stronghold.

Their eyes were filled with terror and confusion, like birds startled by the wind—every rustle made them tremble.

Su Yan’s eyes grew even redder.

She spoke softly, her voice gentle yet firm: “The Su family will pay for their care. First, house them, send for a physician to treat their wounds, and then... help them find a new path.”

Liu Qingshi nodded approvingly.

In truth, all his core disciples were kind-hearted people.

In this cruel world, holding onto such kindness was no small thing.

Then, Liu Qingshi recounted in detail to Su Chen and his daughter how the Black Wind Fortress had been destroyed.

“What...”

“The Black Wind Fortress was wiped out by a single white-haired elder?!”

Su Chen and Su Yan exchanged a glance, their faces filled with stunned disbelief.

They had assumed it was Liu Qingshi who persuaded his friend from the Azure Heaven Sect to intervene and save them.

But they never expected it was someone else entirely.

This... was too much of a coincidence.

After a long pause, Su Chen’s expression turned grave. “We must find out who this hero was that destroyed the Black Wind Fortress.”

Su Yan nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes brimming with gratitude and reverence: “If we ever get the chance, we must sincerely thank this elder.”

Though the one who wiped out the Black Wind Fortress may have had other motives, this unintended act had undoubtedly saved the Su family.

She would never forget this debt.

Azure Heaven Sect, Juding Peak.

In the Duty Hall.

Though it was early morning, the hall was already filled with inner-disciples who had arrived early to pick up assignments.

They gathered in small groups before the racks lined with task scrolls, whispering about which tasks were easy and which offered the best rewards, occasional soft laughter breaking through.

“Ah... ha...”

Cao Ying sat behind her desk, unable to resist stretching, her full curves clearly outlined beneath her steward’s robe.

She let out a light yawn, her eyes still heavy with sleep, glancing at the ordinary disciples around her as they discussed which tasks to take—she shook her head slightly.

These younglings always pick the easiest jobs—when will they ever rise?

Unbidden, the image of yesterday’s unfamiliar Jiang Elder flashed through her mind.

“Can he complete the mission to wipe out the Black Wind Fortress...?”

Cao Ying muttered to herself, then shook her head.

The previous Azure Heaven Sect elders had all failed—this unfamiliar Jiang Elder was likely only recently entered the Golden Core realm; with his strength, he probably couldn’t...

Thud.

A heavy footstep cut through Cao Ying’s thoughts.

She instinctively looked up, her pupils contracting sharply.

The man stepping into the hall was none other than the unfamiliar Jiang Elder—his hand gripping a bulging, heavy sack that emitted a strong, foul stench, making anyone nearby feel nauseous.

“Jiang Elder, you...”

Cao Ying sprang up from behind her desk and hurried forward, about to ask.

Jiang Ye casually tossed the sack onto the floor and said calmly, “Count it.”

Thump.

A dull thud echoed.

The sack hit the ground with a heavy thud.

“Count what...”

Cao Ying froze, her eyes instinctively dropping to the floor.

The next instant.

“Ahhhh—!!!”

Cao Ying’s scream pierced the entire Duty Hall.

Overwhelmed by shock, the steward, whose cultivation was at the Condensation realm, heaved her full chest violently.