Chapter 13: Borrow a Knife to Kill

The knife in Big Boss's hand had originally already been raised.

But when he heard Jiang Xiaomu's words, the force of his swinging blade suddenly withdrew, and that gleaming blade edge hovered directly above Jiang Xiaomu's head!

Just then, a breeze blew past outside the cave.

A strand of Jiang Xiaomu's black hair floated away in the wind.

This treasure blade truly cuts hair with a touch and slices iron like mud.

If it weren't that the other party had no intention to kill, merely wanting to test Jiang Xiaomu's courage.

He would probably be cut down with just this one strike.

He would be split in two!

But even facing such a threat, Jiang Xiaomu showed no flush, no racing heart, merely staring straight at his opponent!

Big Boss's face showed a hint of a smile: 'Not bad, kid, you're somewhat interesting…'

Speaking, he flicked a blade flourish, the sharp tip directly snapping the binding rope on Jiang Xiaomu's body: 'Get up and speak!'

Jiang Xiaomu's legs trembling, he rose from the ground and said to Big Boss: 'This time entering the mountains is not my wish; it is truly that Ying Tuzi has taken my sister hostage, forcing me to follow him into the mountains to suppress bandits!'

Upon hearing these words, Big Boss slightly narrowed his eyes, tightly staring at Jiang Xiaomu before him: 'You say you still have a sister?'

'Exactly!'

'Where is your sister now?'

'Right in the Guard Camp outside Wangzhou City!'

Hearing Jiang Xiaomu's answer, Big Boss couldn't help but snort: 'Guard Camp? That's a place that eats people and doesn't spit out bones; compared to my stronghold, it's not much better!'

My sister and I were refugees who had drifted here, with nowhere to go, about to die of cold and hunger; relying on my medical skills, I earned the approval of Hu San Dao, who then permitted my sister and me to join the military guard camp!

My sister's beauty attracted the covetousness of Ying Tuzi, who had constantly made things difficult for me before, wanting me to hand her over to him; but as her elder brother, entrusted by our parents, if I cannot keep her safe in this chaotic world, how could I face our parents in the underworld?

Jiang Xiaomu's words were half true, half false.

However, his hatred toward Ying Tuzi was genuine.

That guy repeatedly schemed to put him to death.

If he does not strike first, he will surely suffer persecution from this person in the future.

However, the Guard Camp strictly forbids internal fighting, and besides, he is weak and isolated; even if he sought Hu San Dao's support, the other side would likely not help him.

In that case, he could only rely on his own means to eliminate the menace of Ying Tuzi.

Coincidentally, the Big Boss of Mount Zhengyang now owed him a favor.

If he could truly borrow that side's hand to execute a 'borrowed blade to kill' maneuver.

Then he could not only completely eradicate Ying Tuzi, but also take advantage of the conflict between the two sides to escape with his life.

He still had some use for Hu San Dao after all.

Even if the other side noticed his intention, they would likely not readily turn against him.

Thinking this through, Jiang Xiaomu finally let out a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Big Boss also frowned and asked: 'Kid, I see your speech is mature, but your face still looks somewhat young; how old are you this year?'

'Replying to Big Boss, I am seventeen.'

'And your sister?'

'Seven years old!'

'Seven? Damn it, that Ying Tuzi dares to covet a seven-year-old girl? Given his age, he could practically be her grandfather!'

As soon as Big Boss said that, the bandits in the Hall of Righteous Gathering burst into laughter.

And immediately afterward, Big Boss said to Jiang Xiaomu: 'I don't care what kind of grudge you have with Ying Tuzi, nor whether what you just said is true or false; since you rescued my stronghold lady, I ought to help you!'

'However, one thing for another: I can help you kill Ying Tuzi, but you must also die!'

Big Boss said this, and a flicker of sinister killing intent flashed in his eyes: 'Anyone who dares to set foot on my Mount Zhengyang, no matter who, must die here today!'

Even his own benefactor could be struck down by his hand.

This shows that the system's earlier warning was genuine, not false.

This Big Boss truly is a ruthless, bloodthirsty person.

At the same time, Jiang Xiaomu secretly rejoiced in his own cleverness.

He was glad he had not begged for mercy like a coward.

This instead gave him a chance to survive.

If he had merely begged for mercy and used the excuse of treating the stronghold lady's illness, given the other's temperament, he would likely have been hacked to death on the spot!

Thinking this through, Jiang Xiaomu put on a solemn facade and said: 'As long as I can eliminate that bastard who covets my sister, and see him die before my eyes, even if I die, I will have no regrets!'

Jiang Xiaomu's declaration earned Big Boss's approval.

'I recall that when we just clashed, Ying Tuzi seemed to have already led some of his followers to scatter like birds and beasts; even if they haven't fled the mountain yet, given how vast Mount Zhengyang is, how do you expect me to track them down?'

'This is simple; that guard corps had already plotted a strategy before going up the mountain, and the two you just executed were both Ying Tuzi's lackeys; if I could get their help, perhaps I could lure Ying Tuzi up the mountain!'

Having already resolved to kill his opponent, he and Big Boss are now allies.

Hearing Jiang Xiaomu's proposal, Big Boss turned to look at his subordinate: 'Did you kill those two just now?'

'Only killed one; your dog is already full!'

'Bring the living one up here…'

After a moment, another surviving military cadet was brought up.

He had just witnessed his companion's gruesome death, dismembered, and then chopped up to feed the dogs.

Upon stepping into the Hall of Righteous Gathering, he was instantly frightened to the point of weak knees.

'Are you Ying Tuzi's subordinate?'

Faced with Big Boss's sinister gaze, this military guard was terrified to the point of his liver and gallbladder bursting, his voice trembling as he said: 'No, no, I am indeed Ying Tuzi's subordinate, Big Boss, please, spare my life!'

Faced with the other's bitter pleading, the Big Boss let out a cold laugh and said to them, "It's just that you, kid, have good luck, catching my dog after it's eaten its fill; otherwise I will have to chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"

"You don't want to live? Then I'll give you a way out: listen to his arrangements, lure Ying Tuzi and the others up the mountain; if Ying Tuzi dies, you can live; if Ying Tuzi runs away, I will cut you alive!"

Upon hearing the Big Boss's warning, this military cadet fell to their knees with a thud and said, "I-I-I, I'll listen to you, I will definitely bring Ying Tuzi to you!"

"Hmm, you're sensible, Jiang-surname; as for what to do, you tell him!"

While the Big Boss was speaking, they sat back down again in the grand master's chair.

Jiang Xiaomu approached this military cadet and asked at the same time, "Did you already work out a contact method before going up the mountain? Do you know where Ying Tuzi will be camping tonight?"

"I, I know everything!"

"If that's the case, then go down the mountain now to find Ying Tuzi and say that the bandits in the stronghold are all drunk, that you sneaked out taking the opportunity, have him quickly lead troops up the mountain to suppress the bandits and achieve a great merit; do you understand?"