Chapter 12

Three days ago.

Yan Buji, upon returning home, had already sensed something was off; how could the esteemed Miss of the Ling family of Huanglong City possibly come all the way to Lin Shan Cheng?

The key was her gaze and the passive reaction of his Blood Essence Skill, which made Yan Buji feel a hint of danger.

"If I am not mistaken, they must have some urgent matter to come to Lin Shan Cheng; otherwise they would not be rushing along in the middle of the night," Yan Buji pondered.

Could it be that I was discovered by Ling Yan when I previously met them?

No, that's not right; if that were the case, the person surnamed Zhong would certainly not have that attitude.

"Since Lin Shan Cheng already shows signs of chaos, I don't know if it will threaten me, or perhaps there is a slight possibility it's because of my Blood Essence Skill," Yan Buji pondered.

Lin Shan Cheng has been prosperous since ancient times, with many big and small events occurring; Yan Buji's encounter is merely one of them.

But after all, for that person, I ought to investigate and pay close attention.

Thinking this, Yan Buji originally did not want to leave the city these few days, but it seems he needs to first go out nearby for a walk.

When afternoon came, Yan Xirou returned by carriage, and Yan Buji as usual asked about what had happened at the academy.

Over these days, seeing that Yan Xirou seemed to be getting along well with the academy's students, Yan Buji nodded.

At least for now, it's not yet the time to use this daughter.

"Father, I'll go back to my room to review my lessons; I won't eat dinner," Yan Xirou said with a smile.

"Hmm, later I'll have someone send you some chicken soup," Yan Buji chuckled.

Okay then.

Yan Buji looked at the maid and asked: "Rou Er, nothing has happened these days, right? She appears soft on the outside but firm inside; if something really happened, she wouldn't even tell me."

The maid froze a moment, then chuckled: "Sir, you're overthinking; with the miss's status nothing will happen. It's just... that Zhou Juren, I inquired a bit and it seems his reputation at Lingshan Academy isn't very good..."

The maid hesitated slightly, Yan Buji waved his hand: "Scholars, it's normal to have an interest in romantic affairs."

"Since you say so, sir, I understand."

"Hmm, just look after the miss; don't let her be bullied at the academy. If something happens, I'll personally go handle it."

"Yes, sir."

Yan Buji took a deep breath; he had spent half of the Yan family's fortune to exchange for this opportunity, and cannot just waste it.

"It seems Rou Er really used the rouge I bought for her; good, good," Yan Buji gave a quiet chuckle.

When night fell.

Yan Buji again changed into his night attire and went out, soon arriving outside the city.

In pitch darkness, the road couldn't be seen; Yan Buji also relied on his memory to observe the situation around several strongholds outside the city.

Didn't detect any suspicious situation, huh?

Could it not be because of the Blood Essence Skill?

Yan Buji recalled the daytime abnormality, feeling that the Ling family's Ling Yan coming could absolutely not be just to discuss business; the Ling family is already a major power in the mundane jianghu. To have the Ling family personally send someone here, even if it's the young Miss Ling Yan, should not be underestimated.

Yan Buji could look down on Ling Yan's modest abilities, but he could not possibly ignore the Ling family's jianghu power.

As he was thinking, Yan Buji stealthily approached his own stronghold.

This stronghold is in a village; Yan Buji has six such strongholds, mainly so that if one stronghold encounters trouble, the others won't be affected.

Inside the stronghold are hidden some things that Yan Buji has looted from massacred merchant caravans over the years and seized from various martial artists.

Some things are easy to dispose of, just burn them; but there are things Yan Buji is reluctant to burn, so he hides them in these villages.

The identity he uses is naturally that of the bandit chief who howls across the Three Mountains, known in Lin Shan Cheng as the 'Outer Demon'.

Since ancient times, collusion between merchants and bandits has not been rare, but someone like Yan Buji who is a merchant by day and a bandit chieftain by night is also uncommon.

To prepare the large sum of money needed over fifteen years, Yan Buji relied partly on his own business acumen, and partly on these gray incomes.

Besides the seized silver, those various jewels, weapons, and armor are also valuable goods; Yan Buji needs money, so he must have a channel to launder the loot.

Coincidentally, during this period he has stockpiled quite a lot of goods; besides giving them to his bandit underlings, Yan Buji estimated that the loot he seized amounts to about three thousand taels of silver in income.

However, the goods are too many, making it really hard to find a buyer with such a big appetite.

After inspecting the several strongholds near his home and finding nothing abnormal, he went to his main base on the mountain.

This is a huge cavern hidden deep in a large mountain outside Lin Shan Cheng; it looks like a mine pit, and when they first moved in they also discovered many tunnels, making it suitable as one of their main bases, and also convenient for escape.

Yan Buji has established three such main bases; the purpose is to have freedom to come and go, fearing being surrounded.

Mainly, Yan Buji doesn't want to cause too big a disturbance; originally, Sun You that old fellow was already annoyed with the mountain bandits outside the city, and several times he sent troops to encircle and suppress Yan Buji, but Yan Buji merely avoided battle.

If he really moved against the government and army, he wouldn't want to wear the label of rebel.

Arriving at the mountain waist cavern entrance, the few lookouts at the gate, upon seeing Yan Buji's attire, especially his signature blue-faced fanged evil ghost mask, their eyes lit up and they came forward, kneeling on one knee and said:

"Grand Boss, you're back?!"

"Hmm, who's on duty guarding Black Wind Cave today?" Yan Buji asked indifferently, scanning around and not seeing any of the other bosses, he expressed some dissatisfaction.

"It... it's the Third Boss." The lookout's heart jumped, and he stammered.

"Where is he?"

"This... the Third Boss... is drinking inside."

"Hehe."

As they spoke, Yan Buji stepped forward, walking into Black Wind Cave.

The few lookouts gazed at Yan Buji's tall back, shrank their necks, and said with some lingering fear:

"Now the Third Boss is done for; he'll get a harsh lesson from the Grand Boss again."

"The Third Boss is the most vengeful; he won't wait for the Grand Boss to leave before coming to cause us trouble, will he?"

"We're doomed!"

Although the lookouts also know that the Grand Boss is always elusive, basically unseen in the mountains.

But whoever dares to cause trouble in this Three Mountains region, whether insider or outsider, the final outcome can only be death.

No one dares to tug his tiger whiskers; even the other bosses on the mountain, when they see the Grand Boss, are like mice seeing a cat.

Before he even stepped into the inner hall, Yan Buji heard the sounds of revelry and loud laughter inside.

"Come, come, come, I'm in a good mood today, drink, drink, drink!!"

"Third Boss's generosity, hahaha!"

"Third Boss, when will you take us to raid again? Staying in this mountain all day is so boring!"

"Little?"

"Of course I want a woman!"

"Hahaha."

A bald hulking man sitting above, holding a scantily clad woman in his arms, pinching her arm, laughed: "Hahaha, don't be impatient; from now on I'll find one for each of you, everyone gets one!"

"Third Boss Gao Yi!"

"Swear to follow the Third Boss to death!"

"Oh? The Third Boss is so magnanimous, could you find one for me too?"

An ill‑timed cold laugh rang out; the Third Boss's slightly tipsy expression changed instantly, and he hurriedly stood and glanced at the cave entrance.

He swallowed hard, crawled and rolled over, and knelt before the other side:

"Gr... Grand Boss, you're back? I've truly missed you to death."