Chapter 150: Thunder on Flat Ground

"The Leader who cooperates with the Zhang Family is actually crammed into the big dormitory— is he just too easygoing?" Chen Wuji was slightly surprised by this.

Qin Zhanhong explained, "It's not that he's easygoing; he's just too cautious. Even though they have such close dealings with the Zhang Family, he never stays alone— he always shares the big dormitory with his subordinates, and you can't tell any difference in clothing between him and them."

"Looks like a coward!" Chen Wuji said, pulling out a pre‑prepared rope and giving the deeply sleeping Leader a fancy binding.

Qin Zhanhong, with his hand freed, lit the oil lamp.

As the light rose, the few of them finally saw the interior of the room.

The floor held many parcels and several large crates.

"You're here for the account book; this brother and I will go next door, there are two rooms," Qin Zhanhong whispered, almost biting Chen Wuji's ear.

"Alright."

The blood scent in the room was pungent; even with several layers of cloth covering his face, Chen Wuji felt uneasy, tightened the cloth further, and first opened the crate on the floor.

It was all medicinal herbs, Bamboo Slips, and gold and silver.

Among them, the amount of gold and silver was the smallest, about a thousand taels.

The rest were mostly various Bamboo Slips.

Chen Wuji picked one up, and his gaze instantly sharpened.

These Bamboo Slips recorded local gazetteers and the customs of each region.

A surge of anger instantly rose from Chen Wuji's chest.

He muttered through clenched teeth, "Traitors must die!"

No Huaxia person who loves the country and nation could remain indifferent upon seeing these.

These gazetteers are not ordinary items.

They bear the foundation of a nation and its people.

The southwestern barbarians taking these back is certainly not out of curiosity or for sport.

They have the heart to destroy Da Yu!

The Zhang Family is colluding with the enemy!

If they truly are not of our kind, their hearts must differ.

Even if they have adopted Han surnames and hold high positions in court, their bones remain barbaric.

Chen Wuji set the Bamboo Slips aside and began sifting through the southwestern barbarians' parcels.

It was a chaotic mess; everything imaginable was there.

Yet he couldn't find the account book Qin Zhanhong wanted.

Having found nothing, Chen Wuji turned his gaze back to the Leader.

He searched the man from head to toe, still finding no account book.

"How could the thing Qin Zhanhong described so convincingly be missing?" Chen Wuji surveyed the room, feeling a slight doubt.

"The items should be there; now we just need to see where he hid them."

"But after Chen Wuji scraped the floor of the room three feet deep in search, he gave up."

"None!"

Just as Chen Wuji was getting frantic over the account book, Qin Zhanhong and Yang Tiejiang burst into the room, dragging two people in a hurry.

"Let's go, we've been discovered," Qin Zhanhong said urgently.

Chen Wuji calmly asked, "Did you alarm the shopkeeper's people?"

"Yes, it was probably that little brother who startled them; I just heard a lot of footsteps coming from downstairs. Hurry, if we don't leave now it'll be too late," Qin Zhanhong urged.

Chen Wuji immediately hoisted the southwestern barbarian Leader onto his shoulder and strode out of the room.

Just as they reached the corridor, the pitch‑black first‑floor hall suddenly flared with patches of firelight.

The entire Tavern lit up like broad daylight in an instant.

The Shopkeeper rolled two massive iron balls in his hands, standing in the middle with his arms crossed, looking up at the second floor.

Around him stood a dozen or so Han men in sturdy armor, each gripping a Puke Knife.

"Let me guess, you aren't again members of the Imperial City Department, are you?" the Shopkeeper asked proudly.

"I tell you, you seem to have a short memory—how many of you have died? I count that I've personally killed about five people; how dare you still come? Are you truly that fearless?!"

"Not bad for a dog raised by the Emperor—what big dog courage!"

Qin Zhanhong's complexion turned terribly sour for a moment; she whispered to Chen Wuji, "I'll hold them off, you two hurry away. By the way, Chen Wuji, I think I might like you a bit. I don't resent what you did to me on the mountain. If I die, remember me and don't forget to burn paper for me."

"Stop this nonsense; it's not yet a life‑and‑death parting, don't get sentimental," Chen Wuji shoved Qin Zhanhong behind him, furrowing his brows as he looked at the Shopkeeper below, "What the hell are you barking about?"

"State your origins and titles; I may, at my discretion, spare one of you from death! Limited to one person, first come first served—survive and even receive a silver reward!" the Shopkeeper shouted teasingly.

"I ask you, what the hell are you barking about? Are you so arrogant?" Chen Wuji produced a Shocking Heaven Thunder, calmly ignited a fire Folded Document, and tossed it down.

The Shopkeeper, seeing Chen Wuji's action, laughed rudely, "You're really dim‑witted; your throwing accuracy is a bit…"

Boom!

A deafening blast, and the smoke instantly shrouded the first‑floor hall.

"Hide! What are you two standing dumbfounded for?" Chen Wuji shouted, turning his head.

Qin Zhanhong and Yang Tiejiang were both stunned by the commotion.

Startled awake, they hurried into the room behind them.

Chen Wuji crouched, hidden behind the railing, raised his hand and tossed another Shocking Heaven Thunder.

"Shout! Why did you stop? Keep shouting; I love hearing your arrogant tone!"

Boom!

A deafening blast drowned out Chen Wuji's shout.

Guests on the third and fourth floors were startled, fled their rooms in panic like headless flies, rushing downstairs as if they hadn't seen the cataclysmic scene below.

"Get lost!" Chen Wuji shouted loudly, taking advantage of the moment before they rushed down, he threw another one, blocking their path.

After a tremendous thunderous roar, the noisy guests rushing downstairs shouted, turned their heads, and charged back up.

Some people even jumped straight out of the nearby window.

That's actually a good idea.

Seeing this, others followed suit one after another.

Chen Wuji saw this, breathed a sigh of relief, and continued setting off the explosives.

He had no qualms about killing bad people, but if a few ordinary corpses got mixed in, he couldn't feel happy about it, and his conscience would be strongly condemned.

Boom!

Boom!

One Shocking Heaven Thunder after another flew down.

The hall was empty of voices, but one could see the street outside bathed in moonlight as white as frost.

The tavern's main door collapsed, the surrounding planks were flung away; now only the pillars remain, stubbornly standing, though they sway violently.

"Come out, let's go!" Chen Wuji shouted toward those behind him, hoisted the still-sleeping leader, held a fire starter in one hand and two Shocking Heaven Thunders in the other, and headed downstairs.

Now probably no one would stop him.

But unexpectedly…

Indeed there was!