Chapter 107: The Whistling Forest in the East

"Sir Li, what are you afraid of?"

"You aren't good at reading people's expressions and eloquent? Master Tang has been full of praise for you!"

Li Wenqing said with a bitter face:

"Mr. Jiang, stop teasing me."

"Those people are outlaws; if I went, I wouldn't even be enough to stuff between their teeth!"

Jiang Xiaomu smiled, walked to the window, and gazed at the distant mountains.

"Sir Li, do you want to live?"

"Yes! Of course I do!"

Li Wenqing quickly nodded.

"All right," Jiang Xiaomu turned around, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"I actually have an idea..."

Over the next few days, Li Wenqing, under Jiang Xiaomu's guidance, carried out a series of extraordinary preparations.

He gathered a pile of precious antiquities and calligraphy paintings.

"Mr. Jiang, are you sure this will work?"

Before setting out, Li Wenqing still couldn't help asking.

He always felt Jiang Xiaomu's idea was unreliable; this wasn't going to pacify the bandits, it was clearly just delivering gifts!

Jiang Xiaomu patted his shoulder and gave a mysterious smile.

"Don't worry, Sir Li, I guarantee you'll return safely."

Li Wenqing steeled himself, leading a mighty entourage toward Heifeng Valley.

The group walked for half a day before reaching the stronghold's gate.

Only to see the gate tightly shut, bristling with sharp swords and blades, a murderous aura blowing toward them.

Li Wenqing took a deep breath, following Jiang Xiaomu's instructions.

He ordered his men to lay out the gifts they had brought before the gate, then shouted loudly:

"Good heroes of Heifengzhai, I am Li Wenqing, sent by the Imperial Court to pacify you!"

Inside the gate there was silence; after a long while, a rough voice came out.

"Pacify? Those dog officials of the Imperial Court, what trick are they up to now?"

Li Wenqing quickly said:

"You heroes have misunderstood."

"This time I come bearing the Imperial Court's sincerity, hoping to turn swords and spears into jade and silk with you all!"

"Sincerity? Hmph! We've seen plenty of the Imperial Court's sincerity!"

That voice was full of contempt.

"If you want us to submit, show us some real skill!"

Following Jiang Xiaomu's instructions, Li Wenqing displayed the gold, silver, jewels, and antiquities and calligraphy paintings one by one.

And he loudly proclaimed the Imperial Court's pacification terms, offering high office and generous salaries, and promising to pardon past offenses.

Inside the gate there was a commotion, as if they were discussing.

After a while, the gate slowly opened, and a burly man with a face full of flesh walked out.

"Are you the imperial envoy sent by the Court?"

The burly man sized up Li Wenqing up and down, his eyes full of contempt.

Li Wenqing forced himself to stay calm, clasped his hands, and said:

"Exactly! I am Li Wenqing, I have met..."

"Cut the nonsense!" The burly man rudely interrupted him.

"If you want us to submit, fine! First beat me, then we'll talk!"

Having said that, the burly man raised his big sword and swung at Li Wenqing.

Li Wenqing was terrified out of his wits, hastily dodged, but still had his sleeve torn by the sword's wind.

"Hahaha! With your cowardly look, you still want to pacify us?"

The burly man laughed loudly, his eyes full of mockery.

Li Wenqing groaned inwardly; he didn't know any martial arts at all!

This Jiang Xiaomu is clearly setting him up!

At the critical moment, a black shadow flashed and blocked in front of Li Wenqing.

The comer was burly, wearing a ghost-face fang mask, indeed the leader of the Ghost-Faced Army—Lei Bao.

"Hmph! Courting death!"

Lei Bao let out a violent shout, shaking the valley with a hum.

That burly man first stared, then burst out laughing.

"Where did this wild brat come from, daring to meddle in my affairs?"

"Today I'll first kill you, then deal with that dog official!"

Having said that, the burly man swung his sword again.

Lei Bao did not dodge or evade; he gripped the blade with one hand, a powerful internal energy surged out, numbing the burly man's tiger's mouth, his hand.

The big sword almost flew from his hand.

"With just this bit of skill, you dare to come out and embarrass yourself?"

Lei Bao gave a cold snort, a heavy punch slammed into the burly man's chest; the man instantly flew backward, heavily hitting the ground, spitting blood.

The whole process happened extremely fast; Li Wenqing hadn't reacted yet, and the battle was already over.

He stared blankly at the scene before him, his heart filled with shock.

This Ghost Face Army commander is actually so formidable!

Jiang Xiaomu stood to the side, watching the battle with interest, a faint smile on his face.

He had long anticipated this scene, so he specially arranged for Lei Bao to secretly protect Li Wenqing.

Jiang Xiaomu walked up to the fallen strong man, extended his hand, and said in a gentle tone:

"This brother, can we sit down and have a proper talk now?"

The strong man struggled to get up, clutching his chest.

He never imagined he would be defeated so thoroughly.

"Who... who exactly are you?"

"I am Jiang Xiaomu, and this is Imperial Court-appointed official Sir Li."

Jiang Xiaomu smiled slightly, pointing at Li Wenqing and said:

The strong man looked at Jiang Xiaomu, then at Li Wenqing, finally sighed, and said:

"Fine, I admit defeat. Come with me."

Having said that, the strong man turned and walked toward the stronghold gate, gesturing for Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing to enter.

"The others wait outside."

The strong man said to the soldiers brought by Li Wenqing:

Li Wenqing hesitated a little, looking toward Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu nodded, indicating he could relax.

"Sir Li, don't worry, everything is under control."

Jiang Xiaomu said in a low voice:

Only then did Li Wenqing relax and follow the strong man into the stronghold.

Inside the stronghold, houses were staggered, roads winding; it looked far more orderly than imagined from outside.

The strong man brought Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing to a hall.

"Please, both of you, have a seat."

The strong man pointed to the chairs by the table and said:

Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing sat down, and the strong man also sat.

The hall's door creaked open, and a tall, broad-shouldered, thick-waisted man walked in.

He wore a full beard, and an aura of unangered majesty swept over them.

The strong man hastily rose and respectfully shouted: "Big Boss!"

This person is the stronghold's chief, Lin Xiaodong.

Li Wenqing hastily rose to salute, but almost tripped over his own official robes, looking rather embarrassed.

"This must be the imperial envoy sent by the court, right?"

Lin Xiaodong's voice was low, tinged with mockery.

Li Wenqing adjusted his robes again, forcing himself to stay calm and said:

"Exactly! I am Official Li Wenqing, and I have met Stronghold Chief."

"No need for formalities." Lin Xiaodong waved his hand.

"Sir Li, you've come a long way; what brings you here?"

Li Wenqing glanced secretly at Jiang Xiaomu, seeing his calm demeanor, as if he had everything under control, and then gathered his courage to say:

"Stronghold Chief, the court is currently in need of talent."

"The emperor values talent and has specially sent me to persuade you to surrender."

"As long as the stronghold chief submits to the court, wealth and honor await, inexhaustible!"

Li Wenqing spat extravagant praise, exaggerating the court's benefits to the heavens.

However, Lin Xiaodong merely listened silently, his face showing no reaction.

After Li Wenqing finished speaking, Lin Xiaodong slowly opened his mouth, his tone tinged with ridicule, and said:

"Sir Li, you speak very nicely."

"But the court's empty fame and profit—I, Lin Xiaodong, really don't care for them."