"One, two, three, four…
That’s right, there are indeed four of them. But didn’t Ye Shengxiao already head up the mountain?
Where did this fourth person come from?"
Lin Qingge muttered, then turned to ask the person beside him:
"Madam, do you recognize the fellow with bandages on his face?"
Before Leng Ningyue could reply, Lin Zimo interjected:
"Daddy, have you been spending too much time with Uncle Yan that your brain has gone silly?
Mo’er heard from Master Murong that you were the one who captured him!"
"I captured him?"
"Yes, besides teaching Mo'er his studies, Master Murong was confined to his room with that person every day. Occasionally, Master Murong's chilling laughter could be heard…"
Lin Zimo said, rubbing his arms.
Meanwhile, Lin Qingge finally remembered the man's identity after a moment of realization. "The extra one is Wu Suowei? But what exactly did Coroner Murong do to him that his entire face is bandaged?"
"Mo'er doesn't know this either, but Coroner Murong said he should be mostly recovered by the time we reach the capital."
While Lin Qingge and Lin Zimo were talking, the four people and one dog had swiftly tied up the mountain bandits like zongzi.
Although Xiao Hei’s paws couldn’t tie knots, it could snatch the bandits’ belts, contributing in its own way.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the group of mountain bandits had been completely subdued.
Confirming there was no danger, Lin Qingge, who was then released from the carriage by Leng Ningyue, walked up to the leader of the bandits and bared his teeth, "Brother, what should I call you?"
"Fan Liu."
Upon hearing this, the curve of Lin Qingge's lips widened even more brilliantly:
"Brother Fan, right?
As the saying goes, meeting is fate.
We brothers haven't had a place to stay on our journey. Since Brother Fan is so warm and hospitable, you'll surely invite us to your stronghold to stay for a few days, won't you?"
Fan Liu, who had been pecked by the hawk he tried to hunt all day, shivered down his spine from that smile. For some reason, he had a feeling that he was inviting a wolf into his own house.
"Everyone heard it, Brother Fan invited us to be guests at your stronghold.
However, as newcomers, we don't yet know the way to the stronghold. I wonder if any brother is willing to lead the way for us?"
The crowd, tied up like zongzi and lying haphazardly on the ground, gritted their teeth in pain and glanced at each other. No one spoke.
At this moment, Ye Shengxiao stepped forward:
"Big Brother, when I, uh, when I Little Brother, was on the mountain just now, I spotted their stronghold. It's on the mountainside behind this mountain.
Also, there's a small path not far from here specifically for carriages. We can take that path to ride carriages to the stronghold."
Lin Qingge heard this and immediately waved his hand:
"Then let's invite Brother Fan to lead us back to the stronghold."
Fan Liu, who had been struck by this series of events, hadn't even had time to speak before he was grabbed from behind and thrown onto a horse like cargo.
Even upon returning to the entrance of his own stronghold, Fan Liu, who had been tossed about mercilessly, was still somewhat dazed.
The sentries at the stronghold discovered the abnormality and, while on guard, loudly questioned:
"Who goes there?"
"Everyone, I am a close friend of your stronghold's Brother Fan Liu. I met Brother Fan down the mountain, and we hit it off immediately. Thus, Brother Fan specially invited us to be guests at the stronghold.
If you don't believe me, you can ask Brother Fan!"
As soon as Lin Qingge finished speaking, Fan Liu was roughly thrown to the ground.
With his backside feeling like it had been split into eight pieces from the impact, Fan Liu looked at the stronghold gate, which was so close yet seemed so far away. He weakly raised his hand and waved, shouting to the sentries above:
"Open the stronghold gate!"
"Boss!?"
Because of the darkness, the sentries only then realized that the lump that fell off the horse was their boss. Though puzzled, they obeyed and complied.
Soon, the originally heavily barred gate was slowly lowered.
But what greeted them were rows of arrows.
Looking down at the dagger that had been placed at his throat at some unknown time, and knowing he had picked a fight with a tough opponent, Fan Liu loudly berated:
"You blind fools, put away your weapons! Esteemed guests have arrived, why aren't you ordering food to be prepared?"
Seeing their boss being held hostage, those people dared not disobey.
Thus, Lin Qingge and his party entered the stronghold in such a brazen manner.
An Yi and An Er were responsible for guarding the carriage and luggage, An San to An Wu were responsible for observing the surrounding situation, and Little Grass and Niú, protected by Ling Han, directly occupied the kitchen to prepare dinner for everyone.
Lin Qingge and the others headed to the stronghold's main hall to await dinner.
Hua Jinrong glanced at Fan Liu, who was cowering in the corner like a quail, and said casually:
"Brother Lin, I just saw some people from the stronghold quietly leaving from the other side. If they are fleeing, that's fine, but if they are going to other mountains to report…"
"Then it's perfect to catch them all in one net. Who in this day and age would dislike having money delivered to their doorstep?"
The one speaking was Murong Bai. He nodded at Qin Han, who, understanding, placed a medicine chest on the table.
Opening the lid of the medicine chest, it revealed rows of neatly arranged small paper packets and small porcelain bottles.
"Inside are the Mind-Clearing Pills I refined to prevent drowsiness, Antidote Pills that can counteract most poisons in the jianghu, and Slowing Powder that can render people immobile for a short period, as well as the Five-Poison Powder that Brother Lin is very familiar with.
Each person should take a set and carry it with them, just in case."
Seeing Murong Bai's generosity, Lin Qingge not only didn't reach out to take them but asked suspiciously:
"Do you need money?"
"It's free for our own people; outsiders pay fifty taels each."
After hearing Murong Bai's words, Yan Tinghao was the first to extend his hand, "Mubai... Brother Murong and I went through hardships together during the plague. We are brothers who have faced death together, so we are definitely our own people!"
"Then, if we follow Brother Yan's logic, aren't Brother Murong and I childhood sweethearts who grew up together?"
Upon hearing this, Yongning tilted her head in confusion:
"Strange, did Young Master Hua also know Brother Bai since childhood? But why have I never seen you in the capital?"
"The capital is so large, no one can guarantee they'll meet everyone!
I grew up in the capital too!
And I haven't seen you guys either!"
Ye Shengxiao said, having already taken one of each item. He then carefully tucked these rare and precious treasures into his embrace.
The others successively took a set to carry with them, except for Lian Chengyi, who stood far away.
Seeing this, Murong Bai curved his lips, "Brother Lian, if you don't have enough money, you can write an IOU and take out a loan first."
Having developed severe psychological trauma from the word 'IOU', Lian Chengyi simply walked to the corner and stood with Fan Liu.
…
Feeling a shadow cast over his head, Fan Liu found his breathing becoming somewhat constricted.
However, this feeling didn't last long before the hall door was kicked open, along with the guards at the door, An San and An Si.
Following them, a woman with a long whip, dressed in fiery red, stormed in and shouted with her hands on her hips:
"Who dares to cause trouble on my Lu Sanniang's territory?
And shamelessly call themselves my sworn brother, Lu Sanniang's?
In my life, I, Lu Sanniang, have and only have one brother…
Huh—
Xiao Ming!
What are you doing here?"