Chapter 13: with translation of chapter title

Yan Buji looked at him: "You want me dead, right?"

"How dare I, Grand Boss? Did you come back today for something important? Do you need me to call the other bosses over?" Third Boss said obsequiously.

Yan Buji looked around, nodded: "Let's talk in the rear hall."

"Yes."

Third Boss looked around, glared at the guys eating meat and drinking, and told them to hurry back to sleep.

Soon, Third Boss summoned the other three bosses.

The Three Mountains Bandits, counting Yan Buji, have only five bosses. Under them are just twenty or so people—not a large stronghold—but the advantage is that these bosses, including them, are all martial arts masters.

Yan Buji felt his strength could be said to be at the peak of a master, and breaking through the legendary heaven-human realm in martial arts wasn't impossible. But he wasn't that interested in martial arts, and it wasn't that easy to break through.

The remaining four bosses are half-step masters, at the same level as that surname Zhong—just one step away from breaking through to master.

Yan Buji practices martial arts only as a precaution, in case force is needed to solve a problem, not to rely on force to solve problems.

To be honest, although the Three Mountains Bandits are few in number yet occupy much territory, because their own strength is formidable and Yan Buji doesn't provoke the authorities, life here is still relatively comfortable.

Men like them, even if placed in those martial arts sects, would be of the level of master and grandmaster; due to their backgrounds they didn't choose the orthodox path but took refuge in Lin Shan Cheng.

But Yan Buji knows these people were all cultivated by him personally.

Otherwise they couldn't have today's realm and strength; as for whether they'll betray him—

That doesn't matter; anyway, after a few months when he leaves here, life and death will be left to heaven.

Although Yan Buji doesn't care whether these bosses live or die, on the surface he still needs to put on a grave demeanor.

Seated to Yan Buji's left and right were two bosses: one was Third Boss, the other Second Boss, wearing a monk's robe, a tight headband, and a string of human bone prayer beads around his neck.

Fourth Boss and Fifth Boss were not men but two women. Their looks were not handsome; at first glance they resembled busy farmwomen, with sallow complexions and plump figures, but their eyes were as sharp as a hawk's and possessed the vicious, wolf-like cruelty of choosing whom to devour.

These two are among the few subordinates Yan Buji can truly trust; although Third Boss looks tall and mighty, he is in fact a petty villain who follows Yan Buji only for money and women.

As for Second Boss, she is somewhat special; Yan Buji only knows she might be a disciple of a Buddhist faction from the Xun Dao region, but he doesn't know why a Buddhist sect that urges goodness would produce such a heterodox follower who enjoys eating people.

Second Boss closed her eyes, making a Buddhist secret seal with her hands, as if silently chanting a sutra.

Third Boss looked obsequiously at Yan Buji, but seeing Yan Buji remained silent, his eyes rolled, wondering what else to think.

Fourth Boss and Fifth Boss, because Yan Buji had once saved their lives, asked with a solemn expression:

"Grand Boss, did something major happen when you returned today?"

"I've sensed that many uninvited guests have come to Lin Shan Cheng; I don't know what will occur. Have you noticed anything unusual around here these past few days?" Yan Buji asked.

Third Boss wondered: "Unusual? No, we weren't just out raiding a convoy a couple days ago? And we didn't encounter any righteous jianghu folk either."

Fifth Boss thought a moment, then said: "Could it be because the Wu Family convoy is coming?"

"Oh? The Wu Family that doesn't pay tolls? Does Fifth Boss have any information from his local eyes?" Third Boss asked.

Fifth Boss nodded: "Yes, I heard the Wu Family relies on a wealthy household in Shui Cheng, with connections to the capital. They're escorting a batch of goods here, planning to borrow a route to the capital, and have even hired the Escort Head of Shui Tian Escort Agency to personally guard them."

Yan Buji frowned: "Shui Tian Escort Agency? Is that the agency that previously injured Second Boss?"

As soon as he said that, everyone present looked at Second Boss, who was eyes closed, silently chanting.

Second Boss lowered her hands, slightly opened her eyes, and said: "If I encounter Lin Qun again, this monk will surely kill him."

Third Boss gave a heh-heh laugh: "So it seems the Wu Family obviously doesn't put our Three Mountains heroes in their eyes! Not only do they not pay tolls, they dare to hire the Shui Tian Escort Agency's people for protection!"

Fourth Boss and Fifth Boss also nodded; if it were someone of great background, that would be one thing, but a mere escort agency and a Wu Family daring to do this obviously don't take them seriously.

Given Grand Boss's nature, he will certainly take action.

Yan Buji's eyes narrowed beneath his mask as he pondered for a moment.

"No matter what the Wu Family is bringing, since they've come to our turf, we can't let them walk away fat and happy!" Yan Buji laughed.

"Grand Boss, wise!"

"Then we'll go prepare now."

"Go."

"Yes!"

"Third Boss, stay a moment."

Third Boss hesitated: "All right."

After everyone left, Third Boss oddly looked at Yan Buji and asked: "Grand Boss, is there anything else you want me to arrange?"

"I give you a task: depart tonight to find out what the Wu Family is bringing over." Yan Buji said calmly.

Third Boss's face changed, he calculated: "Grand Boss, even if my legs are fast, judging by the distance, the Wu Family will arrive here in a few days anyway—why bother investigating first?"

Yan Buji coldly said: "Are you doubting me?"

"No way!" Third Boss exclaimed, immediately breaking into a sweat.

"Then go now."

"Yes!"

Third Boss dared not linger, immediately retreating from the rear hall.

Yan Buji sat in the chief seat, pondered a moment: "The Wu Family is merely the household of some high official in the capital; what good stuff could they dare to send so openly?"

"Who knows if it's easy to pass the King of Hell, but hard to deal with minor ghosts?"

That shows what they're sending is indeed important; there can't be any slip-up.

If, when the time comes, they're willing to pay a bit of money to report safety, Yan Buji won't resort to killing, since at this moment more trouble is worse than less, and money isn't important to him.

But if they refuse to pay money and even want to go straight to war, that shows they've made ample preparations and fear no one coming to rob them.

But what does this have to do with the Ling Family?

The Ling Family, after all, is somewhat part of the jianghu; even if they have connections at court, they couldn't possibly come over voluntarily to escort them.

If that were true, the Ling Family would also have to, per jianghu custom, pay respects to the mountain stronghold and notify them first.

But looking at Ling Yan and that surname Zhong's demeanor, it's obvious they don't want too many people to know of their arrival, which makes this interesting.

Could it be that the Ling family also came for that thing sent by the Wu family?

If that's the case, then this Wu family really cannot be provoked; we cannot afford to feud with these jianghu forces, it would bring a lot of trouble. Over these past few months I still need the Three Mountains Bandits to help me capture martial artists; without them....

Yan Buji thought for a moment, then rose and left.