Chen Yuan remained silent, turning his gaze towards Sun Yuan, the magistrate of Clear Water County, curious about his response.

If he wasn't satisfied...

Heh.

The task Chen Yuan had undertaken this time had no time limit... If things remained difficult, Chen Yuan might investigate the bandits on Da Gu Mountain.

If no one possessed destiny, then he would simply abandon the matter.

County Constable Zhang Hefeng repeatedly signaled Sun Yuan with his eyes, as if saying not to provoke Chen Yuan, for he was powerful and held a high position, making it unwise to offend him.

Moreover, the problem of Da Gu Mountain could not be solved.

Taking a deep breath, the iron-grey color on Sun Yuan's face quickly faded, replaced by a beaming smile.

"Envoy Chen, do not worry. Even if this matter is difficult, we will certainly handle it well."

In his words, he subtly treated Chen Yuan as a superior.

When he first met Chen Yuan, he did have some thoughts, hoping that by praising Chen Yuan's good reputation, he could get him to deal with Da Gu Mountain without the county government's effort,

Solving their troubles for them.

But from Chen Yuan's words earlier, he was not so easily fooled, prioritizing profit and demanding two thousand taels of silver right off the bat.

He couldn't embezzle that much silver in two years!

And two hundred constables as cannon fodder...

It had to be said that the losses were significant, but if they didn't meet Chen Yuan's conditions, he didn't know what the consequences would be. He had heard about the Sky Patrol Department's style.

They would often slap a crime on someone, confiscate their property, and exterminate their family. Su Dan Novel.

Although he held a seventh-rank official position, what if Chen Yuan acted impulsively?

Therefore, after weighing the options, and under Zhang Hefeng's encouraging gaze, he finally decided to yield.

He would simply have the wealthy families in the county pay the silver. The Sky Envoy's name was still intimidating. Anyone who refused would be reported under Chen Yuan's name.

"Very good. In that case, let's get started tomorrow."

Chen Yuan smiled, his face changing from cloudy to clear.

Sun Yuan and Zhang Hefeng exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

......

......

Da Gu Mountain,

Inside the mountain stronghold.

Dozens of bandits in slightly tattered clothes stood guard on the mountainside, their figures tall and alert. The stronghold was located on a spacious clearing halfway up the mountain, where nearly a hundred horses grazed, watched over by guards.

Meanwhile, the mountain was quite lively.

One burly man after another toasted and reveled, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

However, the black-faced man sitting at the head of the table was not as happy as one might expect. Looking at the noisy scene below, he felt a vague sense of unease.

He downed a bowl of wine, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Suddenly, a young man with delicate features approached him quickly. In a few breaths, he stood before the black-faced man and bowed, saying,

"Chief, something has happened!"

The black-faced man thought, "As expected," and calmly asked,

"What happened?"

"Some brothers returned from Clear Water County and said... the Sky Patrol Department has arrived!" The young man's face was very solemn.

"The Sky Patrol Department!"

The black-faced man clenched his fist and muttered in a low voice.

He had, of course, heard of the Sky Patrol Department's name. He was most wary of them because... he was indeed a deserter, as reported by the Clear Water County government.

His name was Yan Kai. He had been an ordinary captain in the million-strong army on the Liang-You border. Due to some incidents, he was tricked into deserting and fled all the way to the Nanling Prefecture in Qing Province.

He had annexed several bandit gangs and become a bandit leader.

He thought that since Clear Water County was relatively far from Nanling Prefecture City, he could survive by disguising himself. Unfortunately, he was still exposed. But thinking about it, it was normal.

During his previous confrontations with the people of Clear Water County, he had subconsciously used a cavalry charge, which would easily be noticed.

Clinging to a sliver of hope, he had remained stable recently, but he didn't expect that the people of Clear Water County would still report it!

"Who's coming?"

Yan Kai asked in a deep voice.

"It's still under investigation, but the leader is relatively young, so he probably hasn't been a Sky Envoy for long. Perhaps... the stronghold can handle it."

The young man replied.

"Don't be careless. Even if this person isn't our match, there are others behind him. If you beat the small one, the old one will come. The stronghold's strength isn't enough to resist the Sky Patrol Department's experts."

Yan Kai felt it was not advisable.

He had previously been part of the imperial court and knew that the court's strength was not so simple. Even if it was somewhat weakened, it was not something that a mere Ning Gang martial artist like him could challenge.

Therefore, he subconsciously thought of retreating.

If he couldn't survive in Qing Province, he would go to Xue Province!

He refused to believe that there wasn't a single path to survival in the world.

"So, what does the chief mean..."

"Notify the brothers to start preparing to pack up immediately. The Sky Patrol Department's people shouldn't delay. They'll come to attack either today or tomorrow."

"There's no hope of leaving today. Before the day after tomorrow, regardless of victory or defeat, we must leave."

Yan Kai stood up and instructed the people around him.

"Yes, your subordinate obeys!"

"Yan Chief, why panic? Isn't it just a small Chen Yuan? Kill him!"

A faint voice entered Yan Kai's ears.

"Who?"

Immediately vigilant, Yan Kai stood up and scanned his surroundings. He felt a slight tremor and shock in his heart. The person who spoke could approach him silently, and could also... kill him!

"Chief."

The young man beside him froze, not expecting Yan Kai to suddenly startle.

"Didn't you hear a sound?"

Yan Kai turned his gaze and looked at him.

"What sound?"

"Chief Yan, this old man has no malicious intent. I just want to make friends with you."

"If you want to make friends, why not show yourself?" Yan Kai grasped the large blade beside him and said in a very solemn voice.

"There are too many people here, so it's inconvenient to show myself. I'll go to the back mountain to wait. Chief Yan, if you're interested, feel free to come. Don't worry, if I had malicious intent, why would I reveal my identity?"

After saying that, Yan Kai said a few more words, but no one responded.

After a long silence, Yan Kai exhaled, instructed the people around him, and turned to go to the back mountain alone. He wanted to see who wanted to make friends with him.

Based on the means he had just revealed, it wouldn't take much effort to kill him.

Without another word, Yan Kai hurried to the back mountain. A white-robed old man stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. A cool breeze stirred his beard and hair, giving him an air of immortal grace.

If Old Demon Blood didn't reveal his identity, probably few people would guess that the infamous Old Demon Blood looked like this.

"You are..."

Yan Kai's gaze was fixed on Old Demon Blood.

Although neither side intended to fight, he instinctively felt a powerful aura. His strength was probably much stronger than his.

"This poor Daoist greets Chief Yan."

Old Demon Blood did not reveal his identity, but pretended to be a Daoist, but with that dignified appearance, Yan Kai didn't suspect anything.

"I've taken the liberty of disturbing you, hoping to save your life."

Old Demon Blood hinted.

"Hmm?"

Yan Kai frowned and didn't speak.

"Do you know who the Sky Envoy in Clear Water County is?"

Yan Kai: "Who?"

"The Hidden Dragon List... Chen Yuan..."

Old Demon Blood briefly recounted some of Chen Yuan's situation, and of course, exaggerated it appropriately.

"Chief Yan, do you think you can deal with someone like that?" Old Demon Blood laughed.

"I can't deal with him. If it's as you say, I'm no match for him." Yan Kai was self-aware.

"Therefore, this poor Daoist has come to help Chief Yan."

"What is your purpose?"

"To make Chen Yuan die!"

"To make Chen Yuan die?"

Yan Kai's eyes flickered, guessing if there was some grudge between the old man and Chen Yuan.

"That's right, this man has lost all conscience... I must eliminate him, but due to concerns about the imperial court, I have not acted. Now, finally, a good opportunity has arrived."

"Chen Yuan is ordered to kill you. There's no room for maneuver between the two of you. Why not make it even more decisive and cooperate with me to kill him?"

"You're treating me as a knife in your hand. Sky Envoys are officials of the imperial court, holding high positions and great power. The consequences of killing one are serious. You can't be unaware of that, can you?"

Previously, when the Clear Water County Constable attacked Da Gu Mountain, he had the opportunity to get rid of him, but after weighing the options, he gave up.

Killing the county constable would certainly lead to pursuit.

"Because I am also a knife in the hands of Tang Qian..." Old Demon Blood muttered to himself.

This was simply a nesting doll. Tang Qian didn't want to be involved himself. Although he wasn't afraid, he didn't want to be hunted down because of it, so he turned to Yan Kai.

"Chief Yan, do you think the consequences will be lighter if you don't kill him? If you don't kill him, he will kill you. But if you kill him, I can help you leave Qing Province and go to Xue Province..."

Old Demon Blood calmly persuaded him.

"What if I still refuse?"

"No, you won't refuse."

Old Demon Blood's body shook, and a bloody Gang Qi enveloped him. The powerful aura made Yan Kai, who was very close, feel uncomfortable.

"You agree, don't you?" Old Demon Blood chuckled.

"Okay, then let's kill Chen Yuan!"

Yan Kai knew he had no choice now.

But he wasn't the type to sit and wait for death. After talking with Old Demon Blood and gaining some understanding of his identity, he sent the people around him down the mountain to Clear Water County.

If you want to use him as a knife, you have to be qualified!

......

......

That night, Chen Yuan, who was staying in a high-class inn in Clear Water County, received a well-disguised letter. After checking it to make sure it didn't carry any danger, Chen Yuan slowly opened it.

It read:

"To Envoy Chen Yuan, Dear Brother Chen, I am Yan Kai, who became a bandit in Da Gu Mountain two months ago... I have no intention of being an enemy with Lord Chen and originally intended to retreat, but today..."

After reading it, Chen Yuan frowned slightly, wondering if the situation in the letter was true.

Someone wanted to kill him and knew in advance that he would go to Clear Water County to carry out a mission.

White hair, white beard, bloody Gang Qi...

Who could it be?

---

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