Chapter 79: The "Collaboration" Between Officials and Bandits

Fang Xu wiped the thick blood from his face with evident distaste, the faint metallic scent lingering in the air. His gaze was calm as he looked at the trembling bandit beside the headless corpse. Crouching down with a smile, he watched the terrified man, who could never have imagined that this seemingly gentle, fair-skinned stranger would act so unpredictably, killing without warning or hesitation. Such brutality was unheard of.

Clearly, the bandit hadn’t expected Fang Xu to behead his leader without a word. Just moments ago, their chief had been laughing and dividing the spoils; the next, he was a corpse without a head. The abruptness of it all left everyone present stunned—Old Wu and the others were no exception. Though they knew their young master was not to be trifled with, they had not expected him to disregard convention so completely. Still, Old Wu and his men were slowly growing accustomed to his ways. In fact, they found Fang Xu’s temperament perfectly suited to their own tastes.

“Now, whatever I ask, you answer. Understand?” Fang Xu drove his still-bloody Embroidered Spring Blade into the ground between the bandit’s legs, just millimeters from the man’s most vulnerable spot. The bandit could not suppress a shiver of dread, while Old Wu and the others instinctively covered themselves, unnerved by Fang Xu’s precise and merciless gesture. What man could withstand such a shock? Even Gu Bei, standing behind Fang Xu, was drenched in cold sweat.

“I imagine you’re a smart man, aren’t you?” Fang Xu’s signature smile flickered at the corners of his mouth. The bandit dared not refuse, nodding frantically, terrified that the slightest hesitation might provoke Fang Xu’s wrath—something he could ill afford to endure.

“Let’s start with where you and your crew came from.” Fang Xu crouched, a wild grass stem—plucked from who knows where—dangling from his lips.

The bandit dared not withhold anything. Earlier, when darkness had suddenly engulfed them, they’d been taken off guard and bound like rice dumplings before they could react. Who would dare to resist now? To the bandits, Fang Xu and his men were a mystery, but the deadly aura they exuded was unmistakable. Clearly, these were not people to be trifled with. Fang Xu’s dazzling display of violence had left the bandits thoroughly unnerved.

As the bandit babbled his tale, Fang Xu gathered that these men were fugitives, which begged the question: how had they managed to collude with the local authorities? Under Fang Xu’s intimidation, the bandit confessed everything. Their unchecked reign was made possible by “cooperation” with the local officials: after robbing villagers and passing merchants, the stolen goods were split equally with the authorities.

Fang Xu frowned. It seemed that the clues Gu Bei had uncovered were accurate—no wonder the corrupt officials were thriving. “How do you know all this?” Fang Xu asked, curious. Such secrets were unlikely to be known by a mere underling.

“I am the second-in-command of this stronghold,” the bandit stammered, trembling. At this, Fang Xu understood. Of course—a deputy chief would know these things.

“So, you’re the second-in-command? My apologies for not recognizing your station,” Fang Xu said with a polite bow and a smile. The man, still tied to a post, shook his head vigorously, too frightened to accept Fang Xu’s courtesy, uncertain of what the next moment might bring.

“How’s the looting coming along?” Fang Xu ignored the deputy chief and turned to Old Wu and his men, who were busily hauling treasure from the bandit stronghold. At some point, they had nearly emptied the treasury. Gu Bei, meanwhile, stood to one side, recording every item collected.

“Almost done! Damn, these little bastards sure hoarded a lot!” Old Wu wiped sweat from his brow, surprised at their haul. Though the day’s heat had long since faded, Old Wu and his men felt nothing of the midnight chill. All were stripped to the waist, muscles bared, each scar a badge of honor. Seeing the gleam in Gu Bei’s eyes, Fang Xu knew they had made a worthy find, though the veins in his temples grew taut with suppressed anger.

“Looks like we’ll have to pay the local authorities a visit,” Fang Xu muttered, and the deputy chief dared not utter a word.

“Sir… might you spare my life?” the deputy chief asked in a trembling whisper. Fang Xu flashed a wicked smile, rose, and beckoned to Old Wu, who was wiping sweat from his brow nearby.

“Young Master, what are your orders?” Old Wu promptly set down his chest of treasure and hurried over.

“Have a few of the men wipe this place out,” Fang Xu said coldly, as though these people were beneath his notice.

“All of them?” Old Wu glanced at the hundreds behind Fang Xu, unable to conceal his shock.

“Every last one. Make it clean—you know what to do.” Fang Xu nodded coolly, and Old Wu felt a chill run down his spine.

“That’s quite a number, isn’t it?” Old Wu muttered, but Fang Xu’s hand came to rest slowly on his shoulder.

“Too many? I think there are too few. If you can’t manage it, I won’t force you,” Fang Xu replied icily in his ear, sending shudders through Old Wu.

Once, Fang Xu had reminded Old Wu and the others of that infamous lady in the palace who threw herself into the well. But after these last few days, all were in awe of Fang Xu’s iron will. Where once they called him “Young Master” out of duty, now the title was spoken with genuine respect.