System: I Can Open Martial Arts Chests-Chapter 97 - 81: A Copper Coin (2)
These people would guard against mountain bandits and road thugs but would not guard against ordinary residents in the small town.
At first, if Jianghu people passed through the town, the town residents would ask them for help, hoping these knights of the Jianghu could help them.
Some of these knights ignored them, but some confidently went straight to Yinfeng Stronghold.
But when they returned, some were just a skin, and some only a head.
Then on that day, many people in the town died again.
Gradually, they dared no longer...
Those who couldn’t stand this kind of life gradually sided with Yinfeng Stronghold, transforming from a local rogue to the mayor and the store manager of the tavern.
Those unwilling to harm others tried to warn all who approached here, resulting in being beaten to death without exception.
The people in the town became fewer... The remaining people became numb.
They tried, they escaped, they sought help.
In the end, they were still here, watching everything helplessly, unable to stop it.
"It’s simply... outrageous!!"
Qin Yuqi’s chest heaved, never imagining there could be such a tragedy under the heavens.
She gritted her teeth and said:
"Everyone, rest assured, this rampant and vicious Yinfeng Stronghold can’t be tolerated by the Righteous Path of the Jianghu.
"I am determined to eradicate Yinfeng Stronghold and give everyone justice!!"
She spoke passionately and righteously indignant, but these people did not look at them, instead, they stared at Chu Qing.
They had just seen that this young woman’s martial arts were passable, but she almost lost. This was only a Third Master... If the Second Master and First Master took action, how could she withstand them?
The final outcome would probably also be extremely tragic.
The only one to rely on was the young swordsman who finished off all these mountain bandits in silence.
Only if he agreed, would the people of this small town have a chance of liberation.
Chu Qing pressed his thin lips tightly, and after a long pause, he spoke slowly:
"I can take action to eradicate Yinfeng Stronghold, but... for me to kill, you must pay silver."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hopes that had just risen in everyone present were instantly dashed.
They had no money... only stolen goods.
These things could not be used.
Their own money had long been thoroughly plundered by Yinfeng Stronghold.
Qin Yuqi looked at Chu Qing with some anger, not understanding what he was doing?
"How... how much silver?"
The butcher stammered while looking at Chu Qing.
Chu Qing glanced at him:
"How much do you have?"
The butcher fumbled in his pocket for a moment, finally taking out a copper coin:
"I, I only have this."
When he said this, his voice was full of difficulty and despair.
The faces of the others were also filled with despair.
A copper coin... to eliminate Yinfeng Stronghold?
This was simply absurd.
They could already imagine Chu Qing’s rejection, and there was even the possibility of provoking Chu Qing’s anger.
"Enough."
Clearly and unmistakably, they heard the two words in their ears, amidst everyone’s incredulous gazes.
They could hardly believe these words came from Chu Qing.
The butcher also looked up suddenly at Chu Qing:
"You... You said... this... this is enough?
"But I, but I only have a copper coin..."
Chu Qing looked at the prompt appearing before him, and as he chose to accept it, he spoke lightly:
"You’ve already given me all the money from the entire town.
"This is enough.
"Keep this copper coin safe. After it’s done, I will come to collect my reward."
After speaking, he looked at the man standing with hands hanging limply, whose crotch was cold:
"Lead the way, to Yinfeng Stronghold."
The man shivered, wanting to refuse but dared not.
And while listening to those town dwellers telling their experiences, he regretted not killing all these people before, leading to today’s disaster.
"I’ll go too!!"
Seeing Chu Qing leaving with that man, Qin Yuqi quickly said:
"I haven’t heard of this Yinfeng Stronghold, but if they are so rampant, they must have many people. I’ll go with you, so we can look out for each other."
Gentle had already silently followed behind Chu Qing.
"Alright."
Chu Qing didn’t decline.
After all, given Qin Yuqi’s character, even if he declined, she would still follow.
So instead of that, it was better to act together from the start.
Besides, as for the people of Yinfeng Stronghold, he didn’t want to let any of them escape.
This group was so ruthless that leaving any one of them alive was like letting a demon roam the world.
Two helpers are better than fighting alone, at least they can fill in gaps.
As for this end of the town, the mayor was cunning, and even if he still had some tricks, he wouldn’t dare act rashly before Chu Qing returned.
Thus, Chu Qing wasn’t particularly worried about him.
The group, led by the man who’d wet himself, started heading towards Yinfeng Stronghold.
On the way, Qin Yuqi was still indignant:
"How outrageous, for such rotten characters to appear in Divine Blade Hall’s territory, yet they still have the face to hold a First Grade Conference of the World?
"Their own mess is a pile of crap, aren’t they afraid of being ridiculed by the heroic figures of the Jianghu?"
Gentle nodded upon hearing this:
"A small mountain stronghold, yet so ruthless, bringing a small town to such oppression.
"Their countless crimes are simply beyond reckoning."
Qin Yuqi looked at Gentle’s expressionless face, saying such righteously indignant words, feeling it was somewhat strange.
It was like intentionally agreeing with her, yet without truly thinking so.
She shook her head:
"Since the day Jiang Divine Saber’s rumored fate approached, Divine Blade Hall’s territory became more unruly day by day.
"The people are in deep trouble, the Martial World in chaos... Continuing this way, Divine Blade Hall will destroy itself even without those few fighting for the Hall Master’s position."
Gentle remained silent, seemingly pondering.
The atmosphere gradually became gloomy, with Chu Qing walking at the forefront, not uttering a word.
The group didn’t ride horses, occasionally using their Lightweight Technique, sometimes stopping to walk, and after walking and stopping for more than an hour, they arrived at Yinfeng Mountain.
The terrain here was treacherous, with only one path up the mountain.
On both sides of the road, many bandit scouts were stationed.
With the help of the man who had wet himself, Chu Qing’s group slowly eliminated the hidden scouts around.
Soon after, they saw the main gate of Yinfeng Stronghold.
By then, it was getting dark, and the clouds were very low.
Crows on the treetops cawed twice, with red eyes that seemed to be blood-stained.
They suddenly swooped down, pecked out an eyeball from a few corpses hanging at the mountain stronghold gate, and carried it away into the sky.
Chu Qing stared for a moment at the crow, then turned his gaze to the corpses hanging at the gate.
These corpses were all brutalized, some skinned, others tortured until bones were exposed.
Some had died long ago, already mummified, while others still bled, drop by drop, staining the ground.
The main gate of this small mountain stronghold looked like a ghostly realm!
Qin Yuqi was furious, and Gentle suddenly said to Chu Qing: 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
"The aura of that saber... it has been here, I can feel it, it’s within."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qing’s eyes flickered, then with a slight nod, he swiftly turned his saber, and with a swishing sound, the head of the cowardly bandit rolled off his shoulders.
Chu Qing grabbed the head with one hand, holding his saber in the other, and strode toward the mountain stronghold.
In front of the gate, two squads of bandits were guarding. Seeing Chu Qing and the others, they were taken aback:
"Who goes there?"
"Why wasn’t there an alert from the mountainside?"
Before they could finish speaking, fresh blood splattered as Chu Qing charged into the crowd.
With just a few slashes, these two squads, six men in total, became six corpses.
He then swung his single saber, a buzzing blade light flashing by.
A sharp crack echoed.
The wooden gate of the mountain stronghold was split into pieces with a single slash.
The logs fell, trapping several bandits who couldn’t dodge in time.
Amid the horrified glares, Chu Qing stepped into the mountain stronghold, scanning around and speaking calmly:
"Someone has paid for your lives, please... step forward to meet your death!"
