Chapter 14: New Grudges, Old Resentments

Facing Jiang Xiaomu's warning, the military cadet just kept nodding.

He had just come to know the tactics of this bandit group on Mount Zhengyang.

He feared that if he offended them, he would invite a fate of being struck by blades and axes.

Yet facing the other's obedient appearance, Jiang Xiaomu still felt uneasy.

This person is a staunch subordinate of Ying Tuzi.

Who knows whether, once he finds Ying Tuzi, he will turn traitor and betray himself?

Now that he has conspired with the Big Boss, he must certainly put Ying Tuzi to death.

His sister is still hiding in the Guard Camp; he cannot allow the plan to fail, lest he earn the infamy of harming his comrades.

If that happens, his sister's life will likely be impossible to preserve!

Thinking of this, a flash of cold light passed through Jiang Xiaomu's eyes.

He reached out, pinched the cadet's jaw, and slipped a pill into his mouth.

The cadet swallowed the pill but wanted to vomit, yet Jiang Xiaomu punched him in the chest, forcing him to swallow it down!

The cadet forced to swallow the pill turned deathly pale, as if bereaved of his parents: "What did you just make me eat?"

"Leopard Fetus Tendons-transforming Pill, a miraculous poison hardest to neutralize in the world!"

"If you don't bring Ying Tuzi before me before sunset today, the poison in this pill will erupt; by then you will bleed from the seven orifices, your five viscera will burn, and you will end up dead without a whole corpse!"

When this cadet was just brought back by the bandits, he had already heard that Jiang Xiaomu had used his methods to cure the village chief's wife's headache, thereby earning his life.

Now facing Jiang Xiaomu's nonsense, the cadet had no suspicion, and immediately with a mournful face promised: "Before nightfall I will certainly bring Ying Tuzi to you, but you must also keep your promise and give me the antidote then!"

"I only need Ying Tuzi's life; this matter has nothing to do with others!"

Facing Jiang Xiaomu's promise, the cadet left the stronghold with a mournful face.

The Big Boss came up to him with a beaming smile, simultaneously patting his shoulder: "When you first came up the mountain, I thought you were just a novice, but I never expected your scheming to be so crafty—no wonder Hu Sandao selected you!"

Having said that, the Big Boss leaned close to Jiang Xiaomu: "What exactly is that thing you just fed him?"

"It's just a lump of rotten mud I dug from the sole of my shoe; I only meant to trick him a little, but I didn't expect him to actually believe it!"

Jiang Xiaomu spoke with a grin and a laugh, not speaking directly.

Actually, the pill he just gave the cadet was indeed a poison he had exchanged for in the system mall; as for how potent this poison's effects are, he has no idea at all.

He only knows that it is the cheapest poison on the shelf.

It seems as if the system had tailor-made it for him!

Moreover, this poison basically has no antidote; once taken, the cadet will surely die sooner or later.

Jiang Xiaomu's earlier words were merely meant to comfort the other party.

He intends to use the Big Boss's hand to eliminate Ying Tuzi, so he cannot allow any slip-up midway.

If this poison truly ruins his entire plan, wouldn't Jiang Xiaomu regret it to the point of despair?

The Big Boss knows Jiang Xiaomu is deliberately brushing him off, but being a smart man, he didn't press further, merely giving a slight nod!

"Let me speak frankly to you: actually, I also have some unresolved grudges with that Ying Tuzi. Initially, I and my brother gathered together in the mountains, and we built a large stronghold here on Mount Zhengyang."

"Later, Ying Tuzi allied with Xie Sandao to enter the mountains and suppress bandits; my brother was struck by a stray arrow, died untreated, and that was Ying Tuzi's doing!"

Upon mentioning his deceased brother, the Big Boss let out a long sigh, his heart seemingly filled with lament.

Jiang Xiaomu, hearing this, also echoed: "I never expected Ying Tuzi to be so utterly wicked, actually establishing such a formidable rival within Mount Zhengyang; in that case, the Big Boss and I ought to unite against a common enemy!"

The Big Boss raised his head to look at Jiang Xiaomu, and said: "Kid, don't try to cozy up to the bandits; in this chaotic age, even your parents' words can't be trusted, let alone ours!"

Having said that, he let out a long sigh: "If I could have met you earlier, I would certainly have brought you under my command, absolutely not allowing Xie Sandao to get the jump."

"Back then, if you had been in the stronghold, my brother wouldn't have suffered fatal injuries..."

The cadet released by the bandits stumbled along the way, finally managing to escape from the Hall of Righteous Gathering.

Jiang Xiaomu was detained again, and the familiar interface appeared before his eyes once more.

【The bandit Big Boss admires your courage and decides to fulfill your long-held wish.】

【You dispatched the guards to deceive Ying Tuzi into coming up the mountain, and succeeded.】

【Ying Tuzi engaged the bandit Big Boss in a bloody battle, and his troops were utterly annihilated.】

【You took the opportunity to flee Mount Zhengyang, becoming one of the two sole survivors of this bandit-suppression guard detachment.】

【Congratulations, Host, for resolving the crisis with your courage and bravery; the system awards you thirty Heaven's Mandate Points.】

Looking at the optimal solution the system had derived for him, Jiang Xiaomu couldn't help but secretly rejoice.

But at the same time, a hint of doubt arose in his heart: Is he truly one of the two sole survivors of the bandit-suppression guard? Then who is the other survivor?

Leaving the stronghold, the cadet risked his life and fled outward.

Gazing at the rising sun sinking westward on the horizon.

He was secretly anxious in his heart, even his forehead beaded with sweat.

Now he is racing against the grim reaper, fearing that if he returns too late, the poison will erupt and kill him.

Even before going up the mountain, Ying Tuzi had already prepared a hiding place.

Only Ying Tuzi and a few of his confidants know of this place.

This is their main base where they often hid during previous mountain bandit-suppression expeditions!

Don't be fooled by Ying Tuzi's enthusiastic agreement to Xie Sandao's bandit-suppression proposal; in fact he also knows that his enmity with the Big Boss is already irreconcilable.

If it weren't for today's rare ambush opportunity they seized, they wouldn't have suffered losses; instead they would have been pursued by the bandits of Mount Zhengyang to this point.

Now Ying Tuzi has only a mere twenty or thirty guards left at his side.

They intend to take advantage of the night to flee back to the military camp, regardless of how Xie Sandao may dispose of them, they must preserve their lives!

Just as the guards were gathered together warming themselves, the released cadet had already arrived at their hiding place.

To say that Ying Tuzi is indeed bold.

The hiding place he chose turned out to be not far from the lair of that bandit group on the mountain.

Obviously he meant to pull a "lights‑out" trick on that bandit crew!

The military guard on duty spotted someone running toward this place from afar.

The other party drew a bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed it at this military officer.

Before the other side could speak, he shot an arrow first.

Because the distance was too great, the arrow missed its mark and struck the ground right in front of the military officer.

Seeing this, the military officer quickly raised both hands to show he was unarmed and meant no harm.

Ying Tuzi, hiding in the cave, also heard the commotion outside.

He walked out of the cave with his injured bald head covered, and from afar he recognized the approaching person as his own trusted aide!

He was already angry from suffering a crushing defeat.

Now, seeing his subordinate almost shot dead, his anger flared even more.

He kicked the military guard in the body and shouted, "You blind idiot, didn't you see this is your own brother?"

The military guard, having been scolded for no reason, felt utterly wronged.

Moreover, that military officer who had been incited by Jiang Xiaomu, now staggered up to Ying Tuzi and said, "Big brother, I'm finally alive to see you!"

As soon as this military officer saw Ying Tuzi, he promptly knelt before him.

Seeing this, Ying Tuzi quickly helped him up, saying, "Brother, I've let you down!"