Chapter 99: Chapter 98 They are from Chen Family Stronghold (Please Subscribe)
Several people parted at the alley entrance. Yang Mu turned left and walked about ten meters before arriving at a residential building. The building wasn’t tall, only three or four stories, housing more than ten families. The sound insulation of the walls was poor, and various sounds could be heard upon approaching.
He frowned and walked to the rightmost stairs, which lacked handrails and looked quite rudimentary.
He ascended the stairs and finally reached the third floor, where he knocked on the door of the second apartment from the right.
"Coming, coming."
A woman’s voice immediately sounded from inside, followed by footsteps. A tall woman, looking slightly over twenty, opened the door with a flattering smile, "Honey, you’re back. The food is ready, just waiting for you."
"Hmm."
Yang Mu responded, glancing at the woman’s delicate face, feeling uninterested.
For someone like him, who had his own property in Song Family Castle, finding a beautiful woman of any type was no trouble.
"Xiaochun isn’t back yet?"
He walked into the room and asked, glancing around.
"Not yet," Chang Juan replied cautiously, "He should be back any moment."
"Hmm, then let’s wait for him."
After saying this, Yang Mu walked into the room alone, leaving the woman standing awkwardly.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from the corridor, and a young man appeared at the door.
He held his knees, looking out of breath.
"Xiaochun?"
Chang Juan was startled, "What’s going on? You..."
She was cut off roughly by Yang Xiaochun, "Where’s my brother? Is he back?"
"Yes, I just opened the door for him; he’s in the room."
Chang Juan replied hurriedly.
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaochun rushed into the room like a flash and closed the door with a bang.
Yang Mu, who was reading a martial arts manual, was startled. Upon seeing who it was, he smiled, "Xiaochun, how old are you? Why are you still so reckless?"
"Big brother, something big happened!"
Yang Xiaochun lowered his voice.
"Something big? What is it?"
Yang Mu asked, surprised.
Yang Xiaochun walked up to him, sat on a stool, and whispered, "The bandits outside the city were all killed! Completely wiped out, not a single one left!"
"What!"
Yang Mu exclaimed.
He knew the strength of those bandits. The leader had the same level as himself, Body Tempering Third Layer.
Counting the followers, there were about thirty people. Even when they went hunting by car, they worried about encountering them.
Luckily, those bandits targeted outsiders.
"Xiaochun, how did you know about this?"
He still couldn’t quite believe it.
Yang Xiaochun replied with a proud expression, "How do I know? I saw it myself! Those thirty bandits were wiped out by a Divine Shooter."
Yang Mu froze, eyes flashing with disbelief.
One person wiped out the entire bandit group?
Really?
"Brother, I know you don’t believe me, but I saw it myself, it’s absolutely true!"
Yang Xiaochun repeated, narrating his experience.
Yang Mu couldn’t help but gasp after listening.
Though his brother was known for being boisterous, he rarely lied. Moreover, his recount sounded structured and convincing, not fabricated.
However, according to Xiaochun’s description...
The bow the person used had a maximum range of five hundred meters; it was a two-hundred-pound draw weight bow.
Which means, most likely, it was also a Body Tempering Third Layer Martial Artist, or possibly Early Stage Muscle Refining. With such strength, how could he single-handedly take down the entire bandit group?
"Brother,"
Yang Xiaochun licked his lips, "I also saw that after killing the bandits, that person took most of their horses, about twenty or so."
"!"
Yang Mu’s eyes reddened with jealousy.
Riding wildebeest horses on the market could sell for three or four times the price of ordinary horses!
Calculating twenty horses, that was over a hundred thousand!
When he partnered for hunting, his monthly income was only four to five thousand, with luck, seven to eight, but during bad luck, encountering several Mid-level Fierce Beasts, it was almost lethal.
Hundred thousand equals his two-year income.
Thinking of this, he sighed, suddenly anxious, "What happened next, Xiaochun? Did you tell Captain Cheng? Those horses would slow them down."
Even if there’s a Divine Shooter, facing twenty or thirty guns, what could he do?
Yang Xiaochun replied bitterly, "Captain Cheng went to Anshan City. The vice-captain is here, but that guy thinks highly of himself; I won’t tell him."
"Oh, you!"
Yang Mu slapped his thigh, frustrated.
Despite your disdain for Guan Dexi, letting them go was worse! Even if Guan Dexi looked down on you, providing the info would earn a few horses worth three-four thousand!
Yang Xiaochun’s lips curled up.
"???"
Yang Mu’s mouth opened wide, seemingly questioning how Xiaochun could still smile.
"Brother, what if I said I know their identities?"
Yang Xiaochun smiled proudly.
"What!"
Yang Mu was shocked, his excited voice trembling, "Xiaochun, are you serious? No joking?"
Yang Xiaochun answered exasperatedly, "Brother, do you think I’m unreliable?"
"No, of course not," Yang Mu urged, "For goodness’ sake, Xiaochun, don’t keep me guessing! Quick, who are they?"
Yang Xiaochun checked around before whispering, "They are from Chen Family Stronghold."
"Chen Family Stronghold!"
Yang Mu yelled.
He knew the place well, just ten miles east of Song Family Castle, minutes by off-road vehicle.
"Brother, keep it down!"
Yang Xiaochun warned, "Someone might hear."
"We’re talking at home, what’s there to fear?"
Yang Mu murmured, but then lowered his voice, studying Xiaochun’s eyes, "How did you know?"
"Hehe, it’s somewhat accidental."
Yang Xiaochun chuckled, "Two groups argued under the city wall. One group I recognized was from Zhao Family Castle, while the other had fewer people, faces covered. Zhao Family Castle group identified them by voice.
I didn’t pay much attention, but later, when they appeared in my telescope, I remembered. The ones taking the twenty or so horses were from Chen Family Stronghold."
"Nice job!"
Yang Mu praised, thumb up.
"Hehe."
Yang Xiaochun lifted his head proudly, "So even if they left, we know where they belong. When Captain returns, I’ll inform him and surely get rewarded with two horses?"
"If so, we could hunt on horseback, saving fuel. If needed, sell horses for four-five thousand, wouldn’t I join Gale Martial Arts Hall?"
He looked expectantly at Yang Mu.
"Don’t rush telling others."
Yang Mu waved dismissively, birthing a bold idea.
"Xiaochun, apart from you, does anyone else know this?"
"Impossible!"
Yang Xiaochun’s eyes widened, "Brother, do you think I’m foolish? People asked, but I deflected; I didn’t tell anyone but you!"
"Good."
Yang Mu nodded wickedly, eyes reflecting greed,
"Xiaochun, since you understand their whereabouts, why give up such benefits?"
Silence fell, just heavy breathing.
Yang Xiaochun swallowed hard, stammering, "Brother, you mean, we seize it ourselves?"
"What else?"
Yang Mu’s lips curled up,
"Informing others, we’d be lucky with two horses, but doing it ourselves, all gains are ours. Besides, they brought plenty of prey, Chen Family Stronghold must have more."
Yang Xiaochun’s breath grew heavier.
Right.
Why share, rather than keeping the haul?
Suddenly, a figure cleared his mind.
"Brother, just us, it’s too difficult."
He frowned, "That person’s too strong, arrows always hit. If we enter his range, surely death, plus, plus..."
"Plus what?"
"Plus, he saw me watching."
Yang Xiaochun shivered, back sweating.
Back then, he was terrified, almost involuntarily crouching, face pale.
"He saw you watching?"
Yang Mu frowned, surprised.
"Hmm."
Yang Xiaochun hesitated,
"Brother, maybe we should wait for Captain or inform the vice-captain tomorrow. Though the reward might be small, at least no big risk, right?"
"So timid."
Yang Mu grumbled,
"Being seen, so what? Could he foresee our timings? Besides, can arrows be faster than bullets?"
"Brother, you mean?"
Yang Xiaochun scratched his head.
"With him, just us isn’t secure. I’ll find others, also Body Tempering Third Layer, equipped with submachine guns, light machine guns. Once it’s dark, sneak in, kill on sight.
I don’t believe his archery can outmatch bullets."
Yang Mu sneered.
Using night cover, closing in, a mere two-three meters wall was nothing to Body Tempering Third Layer Martial Artists.
Yang Xiaochun was overjoyed.
"Brother, you mean ambush?"
"Ambush? No, surprise attack."
Yang Mu replied disdainfully, "This’s called surprise attack."
"Right, surprise attack."
Yang Xiaochun nodded eagerly like a pecking chick.