Chapter 99: Horse Bandits

Hawei's smile on his face remained enthusiastic, as if nothing had just happened.

But inside, he was overcome by tumultuous waves:

This Jiang Xiaomu is indeed a formidable person!

I thought he was just someone with a few tricks, but I didn't expect this sister to be someone not to be messed with either.

He wielded the two daggers with such skill, his strikes fast and fierce; that young master must have been scared out of his wits.

It seems that in Wangjiang Cheng, I must be more cautious, every step a fortified camp.

Hawei's eyes shifted, and he immediately put on a fawning smile, quickly walking to Jiang Xiaoyu's side.

Rubbing his hands, he said in an exaggerated tone:

"Miss Xiao Yu truly is a heroine who rivals any man!"

"Such skill, such presence."

"He's simply more formidable than those jianghu heroines! Hawei truly admires him to the point of prostration!"

Jiang Xiaomu said lightly:

"Boss Hawei, you overpraise her; Xiao Yu merely knows a little self-defense."

His tone carried an undetectable pride.

"Not at all, Miss Xiao Yu is being too modest."

"Miss Xiao Yu's skill is not something an ordinary person can match."

Hawei still wore a full-faced smile.

Jiang Xiaoyu sheathed her daggers and ignored his flattery.

She walked straight back into the Treasure Pavilion and continued to admire the dazzling array of goods.

Jiang Xiaomu looked at Hawei's obsequious demeanor and inwardly sneered.

"This old fox, he indeed has depth."

Jiang Xiaoyu's gaze fell upon a string of crystal-clear purple crystal necklace; she picked it up, gently stroking it, unable to put it down.

"Brother, look at this necklace..."

Jiang Xiaoyu turned her head, looking expectantly at Jiang Xiaomu.

"If you like it, buy it."

Jiang Xiaomu said without hesitation, his eyes full of indulgence.

Seeing this, Hawei immediately stepped forward and said:

"This purple crystal necklace is our store's treasure, made of top-grade purple crystal."

"It was meticulously crafted by skilled artisans."

"Not only is it beautiful and elegant, but it also has the effect of warding off evil and misfortune..."

"Enough, enough, no more talk—how much?"

Jiang Xiaomu impatiently interrupted him.

"Since Sir Jiang likes it, let me give you an eighty percent discount, how about that?"

Hawei's eyes shifted, and he said:

"Fifty percent."

Jiang Xiaomu said coldly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Hawei's face changed, and he silently cursed Jiang Xiaomu as a tight-fisted iron rooster who wouldn't part with a single hair.

However, he dared not offend Jiang Xiaomu, so he could only apologize with a smile and say:

"Sir Jiang, you're joking; a fifty percent discount is too low—our small shop really can't bear it..."

"Then sixty percent—this is my bottom line."

Jiang Xiaomu said firmly.

Hawei gritted his teeth and ultimately agreed.

"If I don't agree, Jiang Xiaomu will surely turn and leave, and then I won't earn a single cent."

Jiang Xiaomu paid the money and placed the purple crystal necklace around Jiang Xiaoyu's neck.

"Does it look good?"

Jiang Xiaoyu touched the necklace on her neck and asked happily.

"It looks good; our Xiao Yu looks good in anything."

Jiang Xiaomu said indulgently.

Watching the warm interaction between the siblings, Hawei couldn't help but feel moved:

Although Jiang Xiaomu is ruthless, he is truly good to his own sister.

"Sir Jiang, do you need anything else?"

Hawei asked cautiously.

"No thanks, Boss Hawei; we'll stop here for today."

Jiang Xiaoyu stroked the purple crystal necklace at her neck, the corners of her mouth bearing a satisfied smile.

"All right, Sir Jiang, if you need anything in the future, just come find me; take your leave slowly!"

Hawei clasped his hands, understanding the principle that harmony brings wealth!

Jiang Xiaomu nodded, took Jiang Xiaoyu's hand, turned, and left the Treasure Pavilion.

The siblings walked slowly down the street, Jiang Xiaoyu occasionally pointing at roadside stalls and chattering with Jiang Xiaomu.

Upon returning home, they saw County Magistrate Li Wenqing sitting upright in the hall, brows furrowed, face full of anxiety.

"Sir Li, it's so late—what brings you here?"

Jiang Xiaomu greeted Li Wenqing to drink tea, and asked casually.

Li Wenqing took the teacup but didn't drink a sip, merely heaved a deep sigh and said:

"Mr. Jiang, to be frank, I've come this time to ask for your help!"

"Oh? Sir Li, just say what you need."

Jiang Xiaomu raised his eyebrows, secretly guessing Li Wenqing's purpose.

Li Wenqing hesitated, his face grim, and finally spoke:

"Recently, a band of bandits has appeared outside the city, specializing in robbing passing caravans."

"They not only take the goods, but they spare no one."

"Many merchants' goods have been completely looted, suffering heavy losses."

"The authorities have sent troops multiple times to encircle and suppress them, yet they've never found a trace of these people."

"As soon as the officials withdraw, these bandits come out again to commit crimes everywhere."

"Now Prefect Zhao has ordered me to solve the case within seven days."

"I really have no other choice, so I've come to ask Mr. Jiang for help."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaomu wanted to decline, but then the system's voice sounded in his mind:

【Ding! New task detected!】

【Bandits outside the city run rampant, committing rape, pillage, and looting passing caravans, killing and stealing goods.】

【The host leads people out of the city to suppress the bandits, but falls into a trap and is hacked to death by random blades in the melee.】

Jiang Xiaomu narrowed his eyes and thought:

"Things are getting more interesting; I'd like to see just what kind of gods these bandits are!"

"Sir Li, I'll take on this task."

He took a sip of tea, spoke slowly, and a sharper light appeared in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Li Wenqing was overjoyed, quickly rose and bowed, saying:

"Thank you, Mr. Jiang! I, the official, am deeply grateful!"

"However," Jiang Xiaomu changed the tone of his speech.

"I need some manpower and supplies."

Li Wenqing answered without hesitation:

"Mr. Jiang, just give your orders; tell me whatever you need!"

Jiang Xiaomu smirked inwardly; Li Wenqing really knows how to play along.

"Fine, then please have Sir Li prepare some capable constables."

"Also prepare some tracking tools, such as hunting dogs."

Jiang Xiaomu ordered.

"No problem! I'll arrange it right away!"

Li Wenqing said that and hurried off.

The next morning, Jiang Xiaomu went to the Xian Ya.

Li Wenqing had been waiting a while, and then Jiang Xiaomu was led into a relatively clean room.

"Mr. Jiang, you've arrived!"

"These are the case files on the bandits outside the city and the merchants' petitions."

Li Wenqing pointed to the piles of case files stacked like mountains on the desk, as if they were hills of gold and silver.

Jiang Xiaomu casually picked up a file and flipped through a few pages.

It recorded the bandits' heinous crimes: robbing caravans, killing and looting, committing every conceivable evil.

Yet these records read like a mundane ledger—dull and boring, containing no useful information.

He then picked up a few of the merchants' petitions; they were much the same—tearful lamentations and hatred toward the bandits.

"These are all nonsense."

Jiang Xiaomu tossed the file back onto the desk, his tone impatient.

"For years, these bandits have become deeply entrenched."