Chapter 17: Letting Ying Tuzi Go

Xie Sandao gave a feral smile, raised his knife and was about to chop down.

The blade's reflection shone on Ying Tuzi's face, but at that critical moment, a cold arrow came flying through the air.

With a clang, it struck squarely on the back of Xie Sandao's blade.

The violent shock made Xie Sandao's palm go numb, and his great knife slipped from his hand to the ground.

He clutched his aching hand and roared:

"Who?! Damn it, get out here, old man!"

Before his words faded, a figure flashed out from the shadows.

Only to see Jiang Xiaomu seize a plump figure with one hand, pressing a dagger to that person's neck.

That plump figure was none other than Xie Sandao's Second Boss, now terrified, his face ashen.

Jiang Xiaomu's voice was low:

"Xie Sandao, release Ying Tuzi and his brothers, order your troops to withdraw, or else..."

He applied slight pressure with the dagger in his hand, and a blood line instantly appeared on the Second Boss's neck.

Xie Sandao's face darkened, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

He never expected that, in this situation, someone would dare to jump out and ruin his plans.

He glanced at the captured Second Boss, then at the barely alive Ying Tuzi on the ground, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

"I didn't expect you brat to still be alive? Who sent you here!"

Xie Sandao asked through gritted teeth.

"You don't need to know that much!"

Jiang Xiaomu's voice was devoid of any ripple.

"If you don't release the hostages, your Second Boss will die."

Seeing this, Xie Sandao's men rushed forward, drawing their swords, the tension reaching its peak.

He glared fiercely at Jiang Xiaomu.

"Good! Good kid, you're ruthless!"Xie

Sandao ultimately chose compromise.

"Releasing the hostages is fine, but you must also release my Second Boss!"

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold laugh:

"Fine. But you'd better not play any tricks, or else..."

He applied pressure again with the dagger in his hand, and another blood line appeared on the Second Boss's neck.

Xie Sandao suppressed his anger, waved his hand, signaling his men to release the hostages.

The soldiers were unwilling, but could only comply.

Ying Tuzi and the remaining lackeys were helped to their feet, each covered in wounds, breathing weakly.

Seeing Xie Sandao release the hostages, Jiang Xiaomu then shoved the Second Boss out.

The Second Boss stumbled over to Xie Sandao's side, face grim, and said:

"Big Brother, this kid was too ruthless—he almost killed me!"

Xie Sandao kicked the Second Boss and cursed:

"Trash! Can't even handle a brat!"

The Second Boss clutched his stomach, daring not to make a sound.

Xie Sandao glared venomously at Jiang Xiaomu, then ordered a retreat.

Jiang Xiaomu watched Ying Tuzi's group disappear into the distance, then approached Xie Sandao.

"Big Boss, is your hand alright?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked with concern.

Xie Sandao glanced sideways at Jiang Xiaomu and said:

"You brat, are you going to follow up later?"

"Do the act fully."

Jiang Xiaomu said ingratiatingly.

"I'll follow after they've gone far."

"You brat have guts and wit—don't try any tricks on me, Xie Sandao; if I ever learn you're two-faced, I'll never let you off!"

Xie Sandao warned Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu watched Xie Sandao's party vanish from sight, calculating his next move.

He turned and walked toward the back of the stronghold, his steps light, showing no trace of the earlier tension.

After crossing the low slope, he took out the prepared dry rations from his hidden bundle.

A cold, hard bun and several strips of dried meat, he took big bites, mumbling indistinctly as he ate:

"I'm starving to death, acting with this old fox is damn exhausting. This bun is as hard as a stone—Xie Sandao that old brat surely feasts on delicacies every day, never thinking how green the face of his Second Boss turned when I had him hostage—serves him right!"

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Jiang Xiaomu brushed off the dust and followed the previously scouted path.

He left the stronghold silently.

He did not directly pursue Ying Tuzi, but instead made a big loop, deliberately wandering several circuits through the woods.

From time to time he climbed a tree to scout the surroundings, creating the illusion of shaking off pursuit.

To pull off the act fully, if Xie Sandao discovered he was colluding with Ying Tuzi, all his efforts would be wasted.

"This old fox is really crafty, I have to be on guard,"

Jiang Xiaomu, while pushing aside blocking branches, muttered under his breath.

However, I'm not a pushover.

After confirming he had shaken off any possible 'tail', Jiang Xiaomu quickened his pace.

He pursued in the direction Ying Tuzi and the others had gone.

He was agile, moving over the rugged mountain path as if on flat ground, like a nimble leopard.

Although Ying Tuzi and the others had a head start, they were all injured, so they naturally couldn't speed up.

Jiang Xiaomu caught up to them from a distance without much effort.

He carefully concealed his figure, using the dense thickets and jagged rocks as cover.

He consistently kept a safe distance from Ying Tuzi and the others.

Ying Tuzi endured the intense pain in his body, his steps heavy, each step feeling like treading on a blade's edge.

He occasionally looked back, his thick brows knotted into a frown, his expression solemn.

He kept feeling that something was off, though he couldn't put his finger on it; the sensation of being watched wouldn't go away.

It was like a thorn lodged in his heart, making him unable to sit or stand still.

"Could it be… that Xie Sandao really sent someone to tail us?"

He pondered this silently.

His brothers under him also kept watch over the surroundings, gripping their swords and knives tighter.

"Boss, did Xie Sandao really send someone to follow us?"

A hulking man with a ferocious knife scar on his left cheek sidled up to Ying Tuzi and asked in a low voice.

Ying Tuzi shook his head:

"Probably not; that old fox Xie Sandao is full of tricks. Even if he were to act, he wouldn't be so blatant. If he truly wanted to wipe us out, he wouldn't have let us go just now."

"Then… Boss, should we find a place to hide first?"

Another gaunt, monkey‑like man suggested, his voice trembling slightly from nervousness.

Ying Tuzi pondered for a moment, then ultimately rejected the suggestion:

"No, we must hurry to Heifengzhai and tell the Big Boss about Xie Sandao's plot; otherwise the consequences would be unthinkable! Even if we have to fight to the death, we brothers will get this message out!"

Thus, the group continued their arduous march.

Their silhouettes looked especially desolate against the dimming sky.

The sun gradually set, and the sky grew completely dark.

Ying Tuzi and the others finally reached a secluded valley, surrounded by cliffs on all sides with only a narrow entrance.

Easy to defend, hard to attack, it was an ideal hiding place.

"Let's rest here tonight, recuperate, and set out again at dawn!"

Ying Tuzi gave the order.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, found a sheltered spot, and began to treat their wounds and bandage themselves.

Some had even passed out from exhaustion.

【Ding……】

【The system grants you four Heaven's Mandate Points.】

【Plan progress successful】

【However, your behavior is somewhat suspicious; speed up and watch out for dissenters.】

【The plan's progress bears some blemishes; you must act decisively, take the lead, and never be soft‑hearted or quit halfway, or you'll end up pleasing no one.】

Just then, Jiang Xiaomu's figure flickered into view at the valley entrance.

He also received the system's prompt at the same time and quickly entered the state.

He put on a panting guise, hurried up to Ying Tuzi, and said:

"Boss, I finally shook off Xie Sandao's Second Boss—I'm exhausted! That fat guy runs surprisingly fast; he almost caught me!"