Chapter 1285: First Volume, Chapter 1285: Zhao Yulong

First Volume, Chapter 1285: Zhao Yulong's Helplessness

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

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

Chen Bolin never dreamed that in the blink of an eye, he would end up just like Tie Huizi.

Overwhelmed by shock, he froze stiff in place.

Seeing this, Tie Huizi let out low growls, his mouth stuffed with CottonCloth, unable to speak a word.

But from his eyes and expression, it was clear Tie Huizi was mocking and ridiculing Chen Bolin.

You betrayed me, didn't you? Now it's your turn! Truly, the HeavenlyDao rewards retribution!

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

"Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"Your humble servant had no eyes to recognize your noble presence."

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

The other 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 so much as touch a single hair on her head."

"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 yet committed any crimes."

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 land 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 fall into 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!"

"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?"

As he spoke, 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 from Qin Feng, Ning Hu understood instantly and raised his blade, slashing straight down at Chen Bolin.

Blade raised, blade fell—head severed, blood spattered several paces.

At the sight of blood, the bandits instantly lost their souls; some collapsed on the ground wailing, 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 Tie Huizi'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 forbidden land for bandits and outlaws."

"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 stolen or murdered, they will all be massacred. Inform every County Magistrate: if a bandit gang appears in his jurisdiction and isn't eliminated within half a month, he 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 means he is 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 little, complain that he was too playful—but seeing his cold face, she swallowed the words on her tongue.

"Feng'er, those bandits are dead—why are you so furious?"

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 a camp deep within Qilian Mountain, that is still only the last resort."

"As long as there's a single chance left, I won't abandon the people of the Northern Border and hide away with my family."

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; within one incense stick time, he and the Tianji Camp Guards had killed every last one of the hundreds of bandits.

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

Without hesitation, Qin Feng replied: "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 ruler of the Northern Border—every rise and fall, every glory and shame of this land rests on his shoulders.

Greater power brings greater responsibility.

To ensure nothing went wrong, Qin Feng naturally had to cut through the tangle with a swift blade, governing in the most effective way.

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

"You're no longer the Main General of Beixi, but one of the Northern Border Generals — a thorn in the side of the court in the future."

Hearing these words, Ning Hu was stunned for a moment, then his gaze grew firm.

"I understand!"

"In the past, our responsibility lay only with Beixi County, and the Northern Border was, at most, just something we managed on behalf of others."

"Now, the entire Northern Border is completely under our control, so we must take responsibility for the entire Northern Border."

Exactly!

Although Qin Feng didn't say it out loud, the fact was that the Northern Border was now, in name and in reality, another… country.

As for whether it would ultimately break away from Shedynasty or inherit it — that depended not on Qin Feng, but on the Liang Emperor.

After dealing with the mountain bandits, Qin Feng hurried back to Beixi County without a moment's pause.

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