"What's going on?"
Chen Fang stared blankly at the four people who had stolen their carriage last time.
Su Fan briefly explained what had just happened.
"They're dead, and they deserved it. What about these four?"
Chen Fang asked Su Fan.
These four hadn't committed any murders or arson, just theft, which wasn't a capital offense. Chen Fang wanted Su Fan to decide.
"Why do you do this kind of work?"
Su Fan asked the four people with a cold gaze.
The leader immediately lowered his head.
"If we had a choice, we wouldn't do this. It's not only dangerous but also very likely to get us caught by the authorities."
He said in a low voice.
"All four of us grew up on the streets. We have no family, no relatives, and no skills. We learned some petty thieving skills in the marketplace and can only make a living this way."
The leader explained.
"What are all your names?"
Su Fan didn't care if they were telling the truth or not; he already had a plan for them.
"My name is Da Jun. These are Gou Dan, Xiao Hai, and Fu Gui."
Da Jun, as the leader, introduced them one by one to Su Fan.
Su Fan almost laughed out loud. Their names were truly easy to remember, each simpler than the last.
Was this the legendary "easy to raise" kind of name?
"I have a job for you. Are you willing to do it?"
Su Fan asked Da Jun, the leader.
"Huh?"
Da Jun was stunned. The other party wasn't killing them and even offered them a job? Could it be a trap?
Their ability to survive in the jianghu alone relied on Da Jun's vigilance. He never let them engage in anything too dangerous, which was why they were still alive.
"What kind of job?"
Da Jun asked cautiously, afraid of angering Su Fan.
"To be honest with you, I'm a commander sent from above to suppress bandits. Once I take office, I'll start a crackdown on all the bandits, big and small, around Beiling. I'm new here and don't have any trusted subordinates. If you're willing to follow me, you'll definitely enjoy a life of plenty."
Su Fan laid his cards on the table, revealing his identity to the four.
Da Jun became even more fearful. Bandit suppression? Wasn't that against people like them?
"Sir, what will we be doing if we follow you?"
Da Jun asked Su Fan, still uneasy.
Su Fan's face immediately showed displeasure.
"If you're not willing, then forget it. Chen Fang, kill them and report them as accomplices."
Su Fan turned to Chen Fang and said.
Chen Fang could tell that Su Fan was trying to scare the four of them and cooperatively drew his weapon.
"We're willing! We're willing! Whatever you want us to do, Sir, we'll do it!"
Da Jun and the others quickly agreed, glancing nervously at the gleaming blade in Chen Fang's hand.
"That's more like it."
Su Fan smiled slightly.
"Let's rest here for today. Go and carry these bodies to the backyard and cover them with grass to prevent flies."
Su Fan instructed the four.
It was too late today, and it was impossible to reach Beiling before dark. They could only rest here for the night and set off early tomorrow.
Da Jun and the other three could only reluctantly carry the bodies. They had never seen such a gruesome scene before, especially the body of San Niang, which was cut in half at the waist, with organs spilling out. They almost vomited.
Su Fan ignored them and went upstairs to find a room to rest.
"Did I forget something?"
Su Fan felt like he had overlooked something but couldn't recall it for a moment.
...
A few miles west of the Youjian Inn, the lookout frantically fled forward.
He had personally witnessed Su Fan kill his brothers and then slice San Niang in half with a single blow. He was so terrified that his liver and gall bladder were shattered, and he ran away immediately.
If he didn't run, he would have lost his life.
Now he was alone, with nowhere to go.
"I can only seek refuge with King Kaoshan."
He could only go to another stronghold for help. King Kaoshan was a relatively powerful bandit leader in the area, and he had some connection with San Niang, so he would definitely not abandon him.
He immediately galloped towards King Kaoshan's stronghold.
It took him half the night, but he finally reached King Kaoshan's stronghold on foot.
"Who goes there!"
The bandit on lookout duty in the stronghold stopped him.
"I'm from the Youjian Inn. San Niang is in trouble. I'm looking for King Kaoshan!"
He quickly identified himself.
"Wait!"
It seemed the lookout knew San Niang and also knew about the relationship between King Kaoshan and San Niang, so he immediately went to report.
Soon, the lookout returned and invited him in.
"What happened to San Niang?"
In the stronghold, King Kaoshan leaned on a tiger-skin armchair and asked the man below.
The man who escaped from the Youjian Inn looked up at King Kaoshan.
King Kaoshan was a burly middle-aged man with a not-too-long beard and a dark complexion, looking fierce and menacing.
"My King, San Niang is dead!"
"What!"
Upon hearing the news of San Niang's death, King Kaoshan was furious and stood up abruptly.
"Who did it?"
King Kaoshan asked him with a dark expression.
"An outsider, I think... some commander..."
He had only heard San Niang mention that Su Fan was some kind of commander, but he didn't know the specifics.
"Commander?"
King Kaoshan frowned.
"How many people were there?"
King Kaoshan thought that San Niang's inn had been exposed, and the bandit suppression team had found them.
"Only one..."
"What?!"
King Kaoshan was both surprised and disbelieving.
Could one person wipe out San Niang and his entire group?
Although San Niang didn't have many subordinates, they were all skilled, and San Niang herself was exceptionally strong. One person...
"Where is he now?"
Despite his doubts, King Kaoshan couldn't ignore this matter, given his relationship with San Niang.
"When I left, he was still at the inn. He probably won't leave tonight, so he should still be at the inn."
"Lead the way! I must meet this person!"
Without a word, King Kaoshan immediately led his men towards the inn.
King Kaoshan and his men galloped towards the Youjian Inn.
After several hours of travel, they finally reached the inn before dawn.
"Brothers! Surround the inn. Don't let a single fly escape!"
King Kaoshan gave the order, and his hundreds of subordinates immediately surrounded the inn tightly.
"Lackey of the imperial court! Come out!"
King Kaoshan shouted loudly into the inn.
The surroundings fell silent. A gentle breeze blew, and the flag of the Youjian Inn swayed slightly, but there was no response.
King Kaoshan frowned slightly.
"Open the door!"
King Kaoshan ordered his subordinates.
His subordinates immediately stepped forward and pushed open the inn's door. The inside was empty, and the surroundings were very quiet.