Chapter 15: Chaos Erupts

At such close proximity, even he couldn’t guarantee escaping unscathed. Despite their numbers within the hall, none could match Chen Luo’s combat prowess. An inner cultivation expert, once unleashed, could easily slaughter them all.

“I didn’t expect an inner cultivation expert to grace us with his presence. My apologies for not giving you a proper welcome, Mr. Cai.”

This was the reality shaped by martial arts restrictions.

Ordinary bandits had no access to true martial arts, much like how small gangs in his previous life couldn’t obtain firearms.

“Great Chief, please don’t be too courteous. Third Uncle and I are merely seeking a way to survive,” said Chen Luo, suppressing his aura.

He revealed his strength only to gain leverage in negotiations, not to engage in a deadly fight with these bandits. Even if he could eliminate them all, it wouldn’t bode well for Third Uncle following behind him. Moreover, there was no animosity between them; instead, he needed their help to escape.

“Seeking survival?”

If Leader Cai had any doubts before, they were now fully dispelled.

A crisis that forces an inner cultivation expert to flee is undoubtedly beyond the capabilities of someone like him to withstand. If they truly possessed such power, he and his brothers wouldn’t have been eking out a living in this remote wilderness.

“Could you elaborate further?”

Leader Cai’s expression shifted, losing its previous calm demeanor.

If Chen Luo were just an ordinary refugee, he wouldn’t have taken it seriously. However, now that his identity as an ‘inner cultivation expert’ was revealed, the situation carried entirely different implications. Whatever compelled such a skilled fighter to flee must be significant and potentially affecting even their bandit life within the mountains.

With a wave of Leader Cai’s hand, several nearby bandits promptly understood and stood up, vacating two seats for Chen Luo and his nephew.

“Qingya County is about to plunge into chaos, and it all began half a month ago,” Chen Luo started, improvising details on the spot despite not knowing the specifics.

The deaths of royal family members and eunuchs in Qingya County were true facts. With both royalty and palace eunuchs meeting their end in the same place, how could there not be turmoil?

Weaving these events together with nine parts truth and one part fabrication, Chen Luo spun a tale of a shocking conspiracy, causing cold sweat to break out among the listening bandits.

“So you’re saying someone in Qingya County had the audacity to murder a member of the royal family and kill a palace eunuch?”

“That reeks of treason!” The Fierce Tiger Stronghold bandits became visibly agitated.

Any involvement in treasonous activities meant serious trouble.

Considering the blockade outside, their earlier carefree mood vanished instantly. A sense of impending doom hung over them. Any involvement in treason would surely bring the military to suppress the unrest. Once those soldiers arrive, could these bandits possibly survive? They’d likely be slaughtered for someone else’s glory - such incidents were not uncommon throughout history.

Caught in the crossfire, indeed!

“Is this information reliable?” Leader Cai couldn’t help but ask.

“I witnessed it with my own eyes!” Chen Luo replied gravely.

Not only did he witness it, but he had personally beaten that eunuch to death, leaving his hand numb from wielding the brick.

Leader Cai abruptly stood up.

Regardless of the truth, he decided it was time to secure an escape route. The Fierce Tiger Stronghold had endured against imperial sieges thus far precisely due to his cautious nature.

“Little Sixth, take some brothers and prepare wooden barrels at the waterway near the side gate. Old Fourth and Old Fifth, have everyone pack up; we need to get ready to flee. Old Third, you and Old Seventh go to Qing Ya County and see if Landlord Li can provide any useful information.”

Landlord Li was an ally of the Fierce Tiger Stronghold in Qing Ya County, often helping them dispose of stolen goods.

Like a cunning rabbit with multiple burrows, these bandits also had backup plans. They couldn’t simply accept everything Chen Luo said without verification.

“Yes!”

With these orders given, the entire Fierce Tiger Stronghold sprang into action.

“Gentlemen, please accompany me to the inner room for further discussion,” Leader Cai courteously said to Chen Luo and his uncle.

As he spoke, he returned the thirty taels of silver received from Third Uncle earlier, along with an additional ten taels as a gesture.

“That’s not necessary…”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Third Uncle realized that instead of spending money on their plea, he ended up gaining ten taels without any expense.

“Take it,” Chen Luo interjected.

He understood that Leader Cai remained cautious due to two factors: Chen Luo’s demonstrated strength and the information they brought. After all, the lives of everyone in the stronghold were at stake, so being prudent was never wrong.

“Given Leader Cai’s sincerity, I cannot simply stand by. Here’s some insider information just for you.”

Chen Luo approached Leader Cai casually, as if sharing idle chatter.

The nature of this “insider information” and which “inside” it pertained to, only Chen Luo knew. Behind him, Third Uncle had fallen completely silent, amazed at how convincingly his nephew could spin tales, making fiction sound more real than truth itself.

“Please do share.”

Leader Cai’s demeanor became remarkably humble, as if transformed from his earlier appearance upon entering the stronghold.

“Time is running out,” Chen Luo said cryptically.

The specifics of what time and why it was running out were left to one’s imagination.

Upon hearing Chen Luo’s warning, Leader Cai visibly reacted, his expression shifting slightly. In his mind, there must be a valid reason for Chen Luo, an inner cultivation expert, not to deceive him without cause. Given Chen Luo’s strength and status, he undoubtedly had access to information unknown to others.

After guiding them to an inner room, Leader Cai asked several detailed questions. Chen Luo responded meticulously, even placing the imperial token on the table during their conversation. This gesture completely dispelled any lingering doubts in Leader Cai’s mind.

“Little Luo, isn’t this perhaps…”

Watching Leader Cai hastily depart, Third Uncle finally couldn’t resist speaking up.

“I’m saving him.”

Chen Luo understood what his third uncle was thinking, but at this critical juncture, there was no need to dwell on such details. Survival came first!

Time passed swiftly, half a day in the blink of an eye.

Clearly, something significant had occurred in Qingya County. Third Uncle and Seventh Brother, who had gone to gather intelligence, had vanished without a trace. It was uncertain whether they were trapped within the city or had encountered some other unforeseen event. This outcome further heightened the unease among the people in the stronghold.

“Smoke is rising from Qingya County! There’s also the sound of clashing weapons and many banners converging towards it.” The mountain bandit responsible for surveillance rushed in to report the situation to Leader Cai.

“Smoke?”

Leader Cai’s expression changed abruptly.

Seeing thick smoke visible even during daylight left no doubt - there must be a fire raging in the county.

Someone has set the town ablaze!

“Big Bro, what should we do now? Third Brother and Old Seven haven’t returned yet,” one of the remaining men anxiously asked.

Even Leader Cai did not anticipate such rapid developments. Their village’s distance from the city provided some breathing room; had they been closer, they might already have been caught up in the chaos.

“Old Fifth, take the women and children away first. We’ll stay behind to cover your retreat.” After weighing the options briefly, Leader Cai made his decision.

“Yes, sir.”

Old Fifth promptly rose and swiftly exited through the door.

“Third Uncle, you should go with them,” Chen Luo interjected at the right moment.

As long as Third Uncle escaped, handling the rest would be easier for him alone.

“Together, let’s leave now! What are we waiting for?” Third Uncle panicked immediately. His greatest concern was for his nephew Chen Luo, believing his life to be far more precious than his own.

“I’ll catch up shortly.”

Chen Luo wasn’t truly fearless or staying back to cover their retreat. He simply wanted to seize any opportunity to claim a couple more heads.