The stronghold that Liu Hao brought Su Xin to was the largest among the many bandits in Jiangnan. Its leaders were seven Divinity Stage martial artists, with more than a dozen Innate Stage martial artists and hundreds of Acquired Stage martial artists. It was close to the level of some of the weaker second-rate forces.
Among all the bandits in Jianghu, the strongest was the Taihang Mountain Stronghold in Jiangnan. The 36 Saber Halls dominated Jiangnan, and even the major sects in Jianghu dared not provoke them.
Therefore, the Taihang Mountain Stronghold was located on Mount Taihang. For hundreds of years, no one dared to go up there and help the weak.
As for the bandit strongholds in Jiangnan, they naturally had to keep a low profile.
The stronghold that Su Xin and the rest were going to did not even have a name. It was located in Mount Beiling, and people called it the Beiling Mountain Stronghold. The leader of the bandits was the Beiling Tiger, Zhang Xiao, who was also at the peak of Divinity Stage.
Under Liu Hao's lead, Su Xin and the others took a few turns in the Northern Mountain Range before they arrived at a valley. Zhang Xiao's stronghold was located in the valley.
When the bandits guarding the gate saw Su Xin and the rest, especially when they were wearing the official uniforms of the Six Fan School, they were shocked and immediately hit a big drum next to them.
The drums thundered, and within a quarter of an hour, the entire stronghold was assembled at an astonishing speed.
Su Xin nodded in satisfaction. It was indeed one of the largest bandit forces in Jiangnan. At least, the quality of the bandits under them was not bad.
The gate of the stronghold opened, and the leader was a ferocious-looking man in his forties. He carried a huge guandao on his back and looked extremely ferocious.
There were six Divinity Stage martial artists next to him, and they were the leaders of the Beiling Mountain Stronghold. All of them looked at Su Xin and the rest with a solemn expression.
Ever since Jin Wulin became the chief of detectives of Jiangnan, no one went to exterminate the bandits due to his deliberate indulgence. Therefore, Zhang Xiao and the rest of the bandits had been living quite comfortably all these years. They only needed to guard against the major sects in Jianghu.
Although they had heard that Su Xin had recently taken over as the chief of detectives of Jiangnan, they did not pay much attention to it.
Although these bandits were hidden in the deep mountains and dense forests, they had special spies outside to gather information. Therefore, they were very familiar with the current situation of Jiangnan Road's Six Fan School.
According to Zhang Xiao and the others, the first thing Su Xin needed to do was to eradicate the dissidents and completely control the Six Fan School of Jiangnan. Then, he would prepare to deal with the sects in the Jianghu.
No matter what, his bandit forces had to wait until the end. However, he had never imagined that Su Xin would directly come to their stronghold after eliminating the dissidents.
Zhang Xiao cupped his fists together cautiously and said, "Lord Su, we, the Beiling Mountain Gang, have been very obedient recently. You're busy with work, why do you have to make things difficult for us?
After all, our small mountain gang is full of scabies. You should be dealing with the sects in the Jianghu first. It's not a wise move to wipe us out. "
Zhang Xiao changed the topic and said in a cold tone, "The Beiling Mountain Gang is small in number and weak in power, but if Lord Su insists on wiping us out, we won't let ourselves be captured without putting up a fight.
Even if our entire mountain gang is wiped out today, we might be able to break a few of your teeth, Lord Su, and greatly damage the strength of Jiangnan Road's Six Fan School!
Lord Su, you'd better think about this deal carefully. After all, our lives are worthless. We'll fight to the death with anyone who wants our lives! "
The leaders behind Zhang Xiao and the bandits all had a fierce look in their eyes. Those who dared to set up a stronghold here were not easy to deal with.
Especially in Jiangnan Road, you might be wiped out by the disciples of the major sects at any time. If you don't even have the determination to fight to the death, you should quit this business as soon as possible.
Su Xin raised his eyebrows and said coldly, "Are you threatening me?"
Zhang Xiao said calmly, "Lord Su has fought with the altar leader of Nian Gang's Qiu Altar and an Essence Soul powerhouse. How would I have the guts to threaten you, sir? I'm just stating a fact. "
A smile suddenly appeared on Su Xin's face. "Don't be nervous, Leader Zhang. I'm not here to wipe you out. If I were here to wipe you out, I wouldn't have brought so few people with me."
Zhang Xiao looked at Su Xin in confusion. He had only brought Liu Hao and a few others with him. The rest of the Innate Stage constables were only a few dozen. It was impossible for such a force to wipe out his mountain gang.
However, Su Xin was the chief constable of Jiangnan Road, while he was a bandit who had set up a stronghold. Zhang Xiao did not believe that Su Xin was here to chat with him. Zhang Xiao cupped his fists and said cautiously, "Then why are you here, Lord Su?"
Su Xin said loudly to the people of Beiling Mountain Gang, "It's simple. I'm here to find a way out for everyone.
The Six Fan School of Jiangnan is in dire need of talents. As long as you can join us, you can all become members of the imperial court and have a good life. "
Su Xin's words immediately caused an uproar in the mountain gang. The Six Fan School was here to recruit bandits. Did they hear it wrong?
When the people heard about such a ridiculous thing, they were not tempted. Instead, they were on high alert. Who knew if Su Xin was trying to make them lower their guard and lure them out of the mountain gang so he could kill them in one fell swoop?
Su Xin smiled and shook his head. "Are you worried that I'm lying to you? I believe that your stronghold also has spies outside. The constables and constables of the Six Fan School of Jiangnan have not made any moves in the various states and prefectures of Jiangnan. Even if I wanted to exterminate you, what power do I have to exterminate you? With just a few dozen people here?
I've brought so many people here today because I sincerely want to recruit all of you to work for the imperial court. It's better than hiding in the deep mountains and forests and being on tenterhooks, isn't it? "
After hearing what Su Xin said, the people thought that it made sense. Su Xin was not a fool. There was no benefit to the Six Fan School of Jiangnan Road if he came to wipe them out now.
If that was the case, was what Su Xin said true? Could they really turn from bandits to officials?
As such, many of the people present were tempted.
It was very difficult for bandits like them to wash their names clean. Their reputation was only slightly better than those evil path disciples. Even if they wanted to wash their names clean, very few sects would accept them.
For example, the leader of the Lianyun Stronghold, 'Hidden Mist Dragon' Pang Fei Yun, who sought refuge with Di Yun Fei in the South Xiang Province. His strength was not bad, but if he wanted to join a local sect in the South Xiang Province, even a weak third-rate force would not allow him to stay.
In the end, he still had to rely on Di Yunfei's special arrival in Xiangnan Road to join Di Yunfei's side. He was looking forward to joining the Clangjian League to clear his name.
At this moment, Zhang Xiao saw that some of his subordinates were tempted. He immediately knew that things were not going well.
Zhang Xiao was not interested in Su Xin's recruitment.
In the Beiling Mountain Stronghold, he led hundreds of subordinates. His words were law and he lived a carefree and happy life. Why would he join the Six Doors and be Su Xin's lackey, becoming the imperial court's dog?
Some people were like that. They would rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a cow. That was what Zhang Xiao thought.
Seeing this, Zhang Xiao immediately said, "Lord Su, you're using me as cannon fodder.
Everyone in the Jiangnan Road knows that the Six Doors of Jiangnan Road is weak. There will definitely be a battle between you and the martial arts world of Jiangnan Road. If we join the Six Doors, we will definitely become enemies with all the martial arts sects in the Jiangnan Road. We won't do something like that. "
Zhang Xiao's subordinates immediately reacted. They were wondering why Su Xin, as a member of the Six Doors, would risk public condemnation to recruit bandits like them. It turned out that he had been waiting for them. He wanted to use them as cannon fodder to fight against the martial arts world of Jiangnan Road.
With that thought in mind, the bandits from the Beiling Mountain Stronghold looked at Su Xin and the others with hostility.
Su Xin sneered and said, "Do you think that you won't have to become enemies with the martial arts sects by not joining us?
Do you know what you are in the eyes of the martial arts sects? You're just a stepping stone for them to build up their reputation!
The Beiling Mountain Stronghold is indeed not weak. In fact, you're only slightly weaker than some of the second-rate forces.
However, if any of the first-rate sects in the Jiangnan Road were to attack you, you would definitely die. Why do you think you've survived for so long? That's because the martial arts sects purposely kept you alive so that you can be used as stepping stones for their disciples!
Whichever sect has a younger disciple who wants to leave the mountain to roam the martial arts world will come to your stronghold to fight for justice, kill a few bandits and accumulate some reputation. Then, they will become heroes of the martial arts world.
If there were no murderous bandits like you around, where would they go to serve justice? Think about it. Have you not had many people die in the hands of the major sects over the years? Even if you don't go against them, do you think they'll let you go?
All this time, they've been killing you to build up their reputation and fight for justice. If you dare to touch the direct disciples of the major sects, do you believe that your stronghold will become history the next day?
Instead of living in fear, fearing that one day your stronghold will be destroyed, why don't you join the Six Doors Organization?
Although the Six Doors Organization is called the imperial court's dogs, at least we live with dignity. Which sect's disciple dares to point at us and call us the imperial court's dogs? "
Su Xin's words caused many of the bandits present to sink into contemplation. Some of them were even incomparably angry because what Su Xin said was indeed the truth.
Throughout the years, many of them had died in the hands of the major sects' disciples.
Sometimes, they could have taken revenge by relying on their numbers, but the leader of the stronghold would ask them to calm down. That was because if they killed the direct disciples of the major sects, it would bring disaster to the entire stronghold!
This kind of thing was really suffocating to the extreme.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
