Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 1621: Venturing into the Jianghu

Dong Wenzhao panted as he asked, "Why are you two running so fast?"

Cao Hongqiu, supporting his knees, breathed heavily, "Yeah, why are you in such a hurry?"

Jiang Liangcheng felt a bit embarrassed, unable to say it was his competitiveness, wanting Tan Qihao to lose.

"I was just too excited and couldn’t control it."

"What’s there to be excited about? Besides, there’s no rush to get to Taiping Village."

Jiang Liangcheng felt slightly ashamed at the comment.

In the desolate mountains, there was no place to eat, and everyone had their own buns. They rested a bit at noon and continued at a normal pace in the afternoon.

Qi Hao really had no opinion. He’s fine with whatever.

"Liangcheng, how do you think we should enter Taiping Village?" Dong Wenzhao asked.

"Yeah, we can’t just say the four of us are going over to join Taiping Village, right?" Cao Hongqiu also said.

Jiang Liangcheng laughed, "What Hongqiu said can actually work. We’ll just say we’re going to join Taiping Village."

"But even if we say that, they probably won’t believe us."

That’s for sure — how could they easily trust a few strangers?

"Brother Tan, what’s your idea?"

"Isn’t sneaking in enough? Such a big mountain fortress can’t be without blind spots."

"Can we sneak in quietly?" Cao Hongqiu was unsure; his skills were average and felt it was too dangerous.

"I think it’s possible. We should try it first and hide," Jiang Liangcheng considered infiltration feasible.

"Liangcheng, let’s not end up with Master Zhai not even showing up."

"That wouldn’t happen; it was his proposal." Cao Hongqiu was uncertain.

"Don’t worry, Master Zhai is a well-known figure in the martial world, and he wouldn’t do such things lightly."

"We should be more cautious. Why don’t we wait for Master Zhai and his people to arrive before we go in?"

Both brothers were doubtful, and now he was uncertain too.

"Brother Tan, what do you think?"

"I have no objections. If we’re waiting, I can go in first to take a look."

Entering to take a look was dangerous, but they had roamed the martial world for two or three years, wary of others, fearing Qi Hao might be from Taiping Village.

"I’ll go in with Brother Tan to take a look." Jiang Liangcheng, skilled and bold, thought it better to go in together to be aware of any changes.

Moreover, even if Tan Qihao was from Taiping Village and captured him, reporting his family’s situation would ensure they wouldn’t dare kill him.

"You two must be careful."

After resting enough and discussing it, the four continued their journey.

At the earliest, they could only reach Taiping Village the day after tomorrow. But with their pace, walking didn’t seem like a big deal.

They still camped in the wild at night. Qi Hao sat down to cultivate while the other three lay down by the fire to sleep.

Two nights later, they reached the foot of Taiping Village. Here, they didn’t dare light a fire.

"Brother Tan, should we go in now or wait until tomorrow?"

"I have no objections." Truly, anything was fine.

"Let’s go in now; it’s easier at night."

The food they brought was already gone, so they could go in to see if there was anything to eat.

Having decided to go up now, the two went directly up the mountain.

Qi Hao still followed behind Jiang Liangcheng, which was perfectly fine.

At night, with poor visibility and unfamiliarity, it took them an hour to reach the outside of the fortress.

The two lay low on one side. "Brother Tan, why is Taiping Village so quiet?" Even at night, it shouldn’t be so quiet, not to mention the place was entirely dark inside.

Qi Hao already knew what was going on inside. "I think there aren’t many people here."

"I’m of the same thought."

"What’s going on? Could they have gone down to commit crimes?"

Qi Hao thought Jiang Liangcheng’s guess likely.

"Let’s go in now to see."

Both were quite fast, sneaking into Taiping Village, finding only a dozen people left inside.

Due to distrust, Jiang Liangcheng acted alongside Qi Hao.

After a turn around, they knew how many people remained. The two found a quiet spot to discuss.

"Should we capture them?"

Qi Hao thought it plausible, as they might gain useful information.

Both had competent skills. They first dealt with the night guards, stuffing their mouths and tying them securely before catching the remaining ten people.

After half an hour, twelve people were thrown outside.

Jiang Liangcheng began interrogating them — they were desperate criminals. Naturally, they wouldn’t give up information readily.

There were many ways to deal with them. An hour later, the two knew the truth.

Jiang Liangcheng guessed right — they had indeed gone to commit crimes, planning to rob the imperial envoy coming for inspection.

Jiang Liangcheng felt very tempted. "Brother Tan, should we go over and take a look?"

Although his family was considerably wealthy, they had never interacted with government officials. Such a connection could only prosper the family further.

Qi Hao had no objections. "What about these twelve people?"

"Have Hongqiu and the others come up to watch them. Master Zhai is expected to arrive the day after tomorrow.

They wouldn’t be in danger on the mountain. Actually, killing them would be best."

Qi Hao had no objections, but he would never stain his hands with mortal blood. No matter how deserving of death, he wouldn’t — it was his mother’s repeatedly warned teaching.

"Brother Jiang, I won’t participate; I don’t kill. You can decide whatever you like." It’s better to state this clearly.

Jiang Liangcheng paused for a moment. "Okay, I understand. Watch here, I’ll go down to call people."

Qi Hao had no objections. After Jiang Liangcheng left, he watched over the twelve, already aware they were vile criminals.

Though unwilling to kill them, dealing with them was a mere gesture.

When Jiang Liangcheng and the other three returned, they saw the twelve person were very feeble.

However, it didn’t affect anything; Jiang Liangcheng found some food and the two descended the mountain overnight.

"It would’ve been better if we’d ridden here on horseback, at least it wouldn’t be so tiring."

Jiang Liangcheng knew their ambush location; their timing was correct. They descended today afternoon, only a few hours later. And with their large group, it surely wasn’t faster than the two?

Furthermore, upon getting the news, the imperial envoy would arrive only the day after tomorrow.

He looked at the unwavering Qi Hao with envy — he was truly exhausted. He sat down to rest.

At dawn, they saw the thirty-some people ahead.

The two exchanged glances; they caught up, not bad. Just follow them.

The bandits weren’t foolish, familiar with the terrain; the leader quickly found a spot.

This really was a necessary path. Setting an ambush here would surely succeed.

"Set up and cook food. Everyone rest; they might pass here tonight."

Qi Hao observed the blood mist around this man — indicative of countless kills and evil deeds, surely one deserving of a violent end.