Chapter 1284: First Volume_Chapter 1284: Bandit Forbidden Zone

First Volume_Chapter 1284: Bandit Forbidden Zone

Among mountain bandits, there is no such thing as brotherhood; betraying each other has long become a family banquet.

If they truly had feelings and righteousness, how could they have taken to the hills and committed every heinous act?

Chen Bolin never imagined that in the blink of an eye, he would end up in the same fate as Iron Beard.

Too stunned, he froze completely in place.

Seeing this, Iron Beard let out low growls, his mouth stuffed with CottonCloth, unable to utter a word.

But from his eyes and expression, it was clear Iron Beard was mocking and ridiculing Chen Bolin.

You betrayed me, didn't you? Now it's your turn! Truly, the HeavenlyDao rewards and punishes in cycles!

Coming to his senses, Chen Bolin collapsed to his knees before Qin Feng, tears streaming down his face like a terrified child, screaming desperately.

"Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"Your humble servant had no eyes, failing to recognize Your Majesty's august presence."

"Please treat me like a fart and let me go."

The other mountain bandits on the scene also wailed uncontrollably.

"We didn't know this young lady was Your Majesty's sister; otherwise, we'd never have dared to touch a single hair on her."

"Please, Your Majesty, spare our lives since we didn't harm the lady."

"Since arriving in the Northern Border, we've only lingered near Yunlan Mountain and haven't had time to commit crimes yet."

Since the play was over, Qin Feng naturally had no more time to waste.

He exhaled deeply, gazing at the bandits kneeling before him, and sighed with solemn gravity.

"If today, the person trapped by you on Yunlan Mountain had not been my sister, but someone else, wouldn't they already be dead by your hands?"

"Not having committed a crime yet equals innocence? Nonsense!"

"I'd like to ask—who gave you the audacity to come onto my territory and rob and plunder?"

Feeling the surging killing intent radiating from Qin Feng, the bandits broke into cold sweat, their legs turning weak.

They silently cursed inside: What terrible luck—why did we end up in Qin Feng's hands?

At that moment, Qin Feng's voice came again.

"If you've taken to the hills as bandits, you must be prepared to have your heads displayed publicly!"

"How much effort have I poured into making the Northern Border prosperous today? And you dare come here to ruin my land, steal and seize the people's assets?"

Saying this, Qin Feng turned to glance at Shen Qingci; his voice softened, yet his killing intent grew even more terrifying.

"Whether intentional or not, anyone who dares lay a hand on my family has only one path: death."

With a single sharp glance, Ning Hu understood instantly—he raised his blade and slashed straight down at Chen Bolin.

The blade rose and fell; the head hit the ground, blood spraying several steps.

Seeing the blood, the bandits instantly lost their souls—some collapsed sobbing on the ground, others bai tou ru dao.

"Your Highness, spare us!"

"We won't dare again! Please, Your Highness, give us another chance!"

"Yes, give us a chance to reform!"

No matter how desperately the bandits begged, Qin Feng's expression remained utterly unmoved.

Ning Hu did the same, severing Iron Beard's head as well.

With the two bandit leaders' heads on the ground, Qin Feng turned and left with Shen Qingci, coldly saying: "A thousand-li dike collapses from ant holes; if these bandits and outlaws are ignored, their harm will be endless."

"From now on, the Northern Border will be a bandit forbidden zone."

"Any gang of bandits or outlaws that forms a group of more than ten people, occupying mountains as kings."

"Regardless of motive, regardless of whether they've murdered or stolen, they shall all be massacred. Inform every County Magistrate: if any bandit gang appears in your jurisdiction and isn't eliminated within half a month, you will be dismissed and investigated!"

This speech clearly conveyed two meanings.

First, Qin Feng tolerates zero bandits—capture and kill. His goal is to make the Northern Border the finest land in Heaven, where everyone can live in peace and prosperity.

Second, Qin Feng's phrase "dismissed and investigated" unmistakably meant he was now the undisputed ruler of the Northern Border.

From now on, the officials of the Northern Border will no longer obey the court—they will obey only Qin Feng.

As Qin Feng left with Shen Qingci, screams continued echoing through the mountains.

Shen Qingci had intended to scold Qin Feng a few words, complaining he was too playful—but seeing his icy face, she swallowed the words on her tongue.

"Feng'er, those bandits were killed—why such fury?"

In response to Shen Qingci's question, Qin Feng replied coldly: "We've already broken with the court. The Northern Border is the foundation of our Establishing a Foothold—we cannot afford even the slightest mistake."

"Though I've ordered men to build camps deep within Qilian Mountain, that is still the last resort."

"As long as there's a single chance left, I will not abandon the people of the Northern Border and flee with my family to hide."

Shen Qingci suddenly understood: Qin Feng didn't hate the bandits—he hated everyone who sought to ruin the Northern Border.

Ning Hu moved swiftly—in one incense stick time, he and the Tianji Camp Guards slaughtered all hundreds of bandits.

"Brother Qin, what should we do with the bandits' corpses?"

Qin Feng didn't hesitate: "Cut off every head and send them to Anyuan County. Tell the County Magistrate to display them publicly."

"I want every bandit and outlaw in Heaven to know: if you're not afraid of death, come to the Northern Border and test your luck."

Hearing this, Ning Hu was taken aback: "Brother Qin, why have you suddenly become so ruthless?"

This hit the nail on the head.

In the past, Qin Feng was merely a minister, serving the Liang Emperor.

Now, Qin Feng has officially become the Northern Border King—every rise and fall, glory and shame of this land rests on his shoulders.

Greater power brings greater responsibility.

To ensure no mistakes, Qin Feng naturally had to cut through the chaos with a swift blade and govern in the most effective way.

"Little Marquis, it's not that I've changed, but that all of us have changed."

"You are no longer the Main General of Beixi, but one of the Northern Border Generals — and now a thorn in the Liang Emperor's side, a splinter in his flesh."

Hearing this, Ning Hu first froze, then his gaze hardened.

"I understand!"

"In the past, our duty was only to Beixi County, and the Northern Border was merely under our temporary administration."

"Now, the entire Northern Border is firmly under our control, and we must take responsibility for the whole Northern Border."

That's right!

True enough! Although Qin Feng said nothing aloud, the fact was that the Northern Border had now become, in every real sense, another… nation.

Whether it would break away from Shedynasty or inherit Shedynasty did not lie with Qin Feng, but with the Liang Emperor.

After resolving the mountain bandits, Qin Feng raced back to Beixi County without pause.

Now, what he needed to consider was the future of the entire Northern Border!