Chapter 78: Cleaning Up Loose Ends

Before Zhao Jin could speak, Ji Xiang and Shi Manqiang had already started pulling the headscarves off the dead and wounded on the ground. Every one with a wrapped head had extremely short hair, with ordination scars dotted in the middle.

In this day and age everyone grew their hair long; only monks had hair this short, and the ordination scars proved their identity even more.

Of the six men, three were dead, two were unconscious, and one had a broken arm but was now starting to recover a little, gritting his teeth and cursing: "You little bastards, let your grandpa go right now, or your whole families will suffer — just you wait..."

"Are these six the only ones from Cloud Forest Monastery?" Zhao Jin asked. Ding Gongmeng hurriedly nodded.

The moment he finished asking, Zhao Jin abruptly stood up, grabbed the long spear at his side and thrust it out, piercing straight through the man's throat. The man's mouth gaped wide — he didn't even have time to react before he breathed his last.

This move by Zhao Jin startled even his companions; they couldn't understand why he would suddenly kill someone when the situation was already under control!

Those two women convulsed even more violently, and a foul stench of urine spread through the air — they had been scared into losing control of their bladders. Zhao Jin didn't stop; he pulled the spear out and thrust down again, finishing off the two unconscious wounded as well.

"Spare me!" Ding Gongmeng, the only one still able to speak, shrieked in terror. Zhao Jin's spear was already pointed at his nose, and the words were instantly scared back down his throat.

The others around him had all reacted by now too. Chen Sheng couldn't help raising his voice: "Zhao Jin, what are you doing?"

Zhao Jin just waved a hand at Chen Sheng, then called Sun Dalei inside. Now that everyone was in the room, Zhao Jin spoke: "All of you who drew blood and killed, leave your weapons here. Turn your clothes inside out, find some water and wipe the blood off your faces, then leave this place one by one. Remember to split up, and don't go back the same way you came!"

"Then what about you, Brother Zhao?" Wang Zhaojing blurted out.

Zhao Jin looked at them and answered solemnly: "I asked you all to come help rescue someone. Now six are dead, and the matter has blown up. If you get dragged into this, it'll be trouble in the end. All of you go — I'll shoulder the responsibility alone."

Everyone in the room was stunned for a moment, then visibly moved. They trained and sparred together every day, and after several years of companionship, they had indeed become friends who could help and support each other.

But the nature of today's matter was different. Today they had drawn blood and killed, and six people had died all at once — not to mention the involvement of a powerful local hegemon like Cloud Mountain Temple and a force like the Smelling Incense Sect. After the excitement of winning the fierce battle had passed, every one of them felt uneasy at heart, all wondering how to clean this up. Aside from Wang Zhaojing and Chen Sheng, who were somewhat composed, everyone else's expressions were unsettled, even a little panicked.

They didn't know how to explain this to their parents and elders, and even less how to face the yamen runners who would soon be coming. They all understood perfectly well that rushing here along the road, who knew how many people had seen them — there was simply no way to just walk away now.

Everyone was tense and fearful. They never expected that Zhao Jin would take all the responsibility onto himself so completely. After breathing a sigh of relief, they were immediately moved and shaken by Zhao Jin's sense of honor.

Seeing their solemn expressions, Zhao Jin's face broke into an easy smile again as he said: "Brothers, you all know what my father does. And this time we came to rescue someone — the consequences aren't as serious as you think. I'll handle it alone."

Hearing him say this, everyone smiled a little, then grew even more serious. They all knew Zhao Jin was making light of it — the responsibility for six human lives was not so easy to bear.

The confidence on Zhao Jin's face wasn't feigned, and he had no intention of flaunting any sense of honor. He felt that since his friends had come to help, and had helped kill enemies and get things done, he had no standing to keep dragging his friends into sharing the responsibility. This was simply drawing a clear line between obligation and gratitude.

And he truly was confident he could smooth this matter over. There was no need to put on a show of noble self-sacrifice and boundless brotherhood. Winning hearts and making close friends — this was not the time for that.

A silence fell over the scene. The few of them looked at each other, expressions varying. Wang Zhaojing tapped the ground with the sword in his hand, chuckled softly a few times, then said: "Since we call each other brothers, there's no reason to let Brother Zhao bear the responsibility alone. This little brother will stay too!"

Chen Sheng glanced at Wang Zhaojing, suddenly kicked the man at his feet aside, and thrust his blade heavily into the ground, saying gruffly: "We killed them together. If we stay, we stay together."

"The deed's already done. I... I'll stay with you, Brother Zhao." Shi Manqiang stumbled over his words, but still chose to stay.

"Brother Zhao, I'm staying too!" Ji Xiang's voice was somewhat hoarse, but he spoke very decisively.

Liu Yong, for his part, spoke with crisp efficiency: "I'm staying! Brother Zhao, we can't delay too long — someone must have heard the commotion here."

Dong Bingfeng looked left and right, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "Since everyone's staying, I'll stay too."

His voice, however, was very low. After Dong Bingfeng finished speaking, only one person still hadn't declared his stance. Everyone turned to look. Sun Dalei, standing by the door, flushed and paled in turns. He scratched his head and said with a dry laugh: "It's getting late. My family will be waiting anxiously at home. I'll head back first. Zhao... Brother Zhao, everyone... my apologies!"

The moment Sun Dalei stammered, everyone knew he was flustered and nervous. Chen Sheng furrowed his brow but said nothing. Shi Manqiang, however, spat bitterly on the ground.

"M-maybe... maybe I should stay..." Sun Dalei immediately grew embarrassed.

"If your family's anxious, then go home. Don't feel like you've let anyone down or anything. The fact that you came already means you consider me a brother. Hurry on!" Zhao Jin said with utter sincerity.

Sun Dalei studied Zhao Jin's expression carefully. Over these past few years, he had unconsciously developed a kind of awe toward Zhao Jin, and besides, his friends' declarations just now had put enormous pressure on him. Sun Dalei was already starting to regret this.

But after observing closely, he found that Zhao Jin was completely sincere, with no hint of sarcasm or mockery. Rather than feeling relieved, Sun Dalei only regretted it even more.

Still, after hesitating a moment, Sun Dalei gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "My apologies. When my family gets anxious, I... I get really scared. I'll head back first."

Zhao Jin smiled and nodded. Off to the side, Chen Sheng muttered under his breath: "Your parents are both in Yutou Town — who's there to get anxious?" Sun Dalei's face reddened a little, but he pretended not to hear.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Zhao Jin spoke up: "Dalei, I need to explain what just happened to everyone. Listen before you go."

Sun Dalei had no choice but to stop. Zhao Jin looked over the group and spoke: "The reason I killed all the men from Cloud Forest Monastery was to save trouble when this goes before the yamen court. With both kidnappers and Cloud Forest Monastery monks involved, they'd inevitably pass the blame back and forth and tangle things up until nothing was clear. With only one side left, the case can be settled and the charges laid quickly."

Everyone suddenly understood. Zhao Jin gestured that Sun Dalei could leave. Sun Dalei gave a couple of dry laughs and hurried out of the room. Zhao Jin then turned to Dong Bingfeng, whose expression was still not good, and said: "Bingfeng, you're fast on horseback. Go now to my house and tell my father what happened here. Have him come quickly."

Dong Bingfeng nodded and hurried out the door. Once Dong Bingfeng had left, Zhao Jin let out a breath and then spoke: "Let's go drag the two men from the street inside."

"You go check on Xiaolan first — we'll handle this!" Before Zhao Jin could move, Chen Sheng spoke up.

Zhao Jin smiled, but then pressed his long spear against Ding Gongmeng's throat again and asked coldly: "What are you going to say when you go before the court? Let me hear it."

"... We underlings were coerced by the monks of Cloud Mountain Temple — no, those villainous bald donkeys — into luring good family girls. The girl cried for help, which brought you young masters to the rescue. Those bald donkeys tried to commit murder, and you young masters acted in self-defense..." A kidnapper who had studied was indeed different — under pressure, he actually fluently concocted a whole story.

A smile appeared on Zhao Jin's face. He raised his head and looked around, asking: "Is that how it happened?"

The three men and two women lying on the ground, though all tightly bound and gagged with rags so they couldn't speak, nodded frantically in agreement the moment they heard Zhao Jin's words.

The others in the room watched as Zhao Jin made arrangements step by step, and by now they felt things were quite properly handled. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Some went out to drag the two men from outside inside, while others went to boil water and prepare to clean up a bit.

They hadn't been afraid on the way here, nor had they been afraid after the fierce battle and killing. But none of them had any idea what to do next. They had originally thought they could just walk away. Only after seeing how Zhao Jin arranged things did they understand — who knew how many people had seen them on the way here, and with so many people killed, this would certainly have to go through the authorities.