Chapter 32: Conquering Shanglu! (Please keep following)

“When did Luoshui County change its name to the Black Wind Gang? Are you planning a rebellion?” Shang Lu questioned with a cold sneer, not taking the three members of the Black Wind Gang seriously at all.

He raised his oil-paper umbrella slightly and adjusted his bamboo hat with his right hand so these men could clearly see his face.

At the same time, he announced his identity, “Luoshui County Office, Shang Lu. Which of you wants to spill my blood?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a bolt of lightning tore through the sky above, illuminating the pitch-black heavens.

The three members of the Black Wind Gang felt a jolt in their hearts, unsure whether it was the thunder that startled them or the weight of Shang Lu’s name.

But taking advantage of the lightning’s brief glare, they managed to glimpse his face.

That day in the training grounds, there were not only officials from the yamen but also many idlers spectating. Among these three, one had witnessed Shang Lu’s stunning performance and remembered his handsome face well.

Recognizing him now, he cried out in alarm, “It’s him, it’s really Constable Shang!”

Hearing that the man before them was Shang Lu, their leader hurried to introduce himself. “Constable Shang, I’m Feng San of the Black Wind Gang. This is just a misunderstanding. Our leader ordered us to go to Shuanggui Village to find you, but who would’ve thought we’d meet you here?”

Shang Lu thought to himself, so you really did come for me.

He was also a bit puzzled. These three were just common ruffians without much skill. Only the leader showed signs of martial training, but not much. If Zhao Hai had sent them to deal with him, he was being woefully underestimated. There must be another motive.

While Shang Lu pondered the Black Wind Gang’s intention, Feng San was sweating profusely. Wasn’t Shang Lu supposed to have returned to Shuanggui Village? Why was he here instead? Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be rushing to the county town.

What could have happened to make him travel in the rain like this? Could those fools sent to Shuanggui Village have provoked him before they arrived?

Feng San sensed trouble, cursing his companions inwardly while probing aloud, “Constable Shang, where are you heading in such heavy rain? Judging by your direction, you must’ve come from Shuanggui Village? We have some brothers there as well—have you seen them?”

As he asked, Feng San kept his eyes fixed on Shang Lu. But the gloomy weather and misty rain made it hard to read Shang Lu’s expression, no matter how wide he opened his eyes.

Shang Lu remained silent, forcing Feng San to press on awkwardly.

“Constable Shang, listen to me. If those men did anything to offend you, it was entirely their own doing and has nothing to do with the Black Wind Gang. Our leader only learned today that they went to your home village without permission and was furious. He immediately ordered us to apprehend them and have them punished according to our rules.”

Seeing Shang Lu still unmoved, Feng San anxiously produced something from his clothes.

“Our leader, upon hearing you passed the merit examination, was very pleased and specially instructed us to bring you a gift to celebrate.”

Unlike the Black Wind Gang, Shang Lu was unbothered by the dim conditions. He instantly recognized the object in Feng San’s hand—a loan note.

He could even see the fingerprints on it: the very document his foster parents, Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi, had signed as collateral for a high-interest loan from the Black Wind Gang, using their ancestral fields as security.

Zhao Hai was offering this loan note as a gesture of goodwill, signaling that the debt was forgiven.

If all Shang Lu had done was pass the examination, Zhao Hai might have reduced the interest, but he would never be so generous as to return the loan note itself. Clearly, he had heard of Shang Lu’s martial prowess reaching the peak of Bone-Cutting, and so made this move.

An ordinary constable was beneath Zhao Hai’s notice. But a young constable with such potential, already at the peak of Bone-Cutting, was well worth the investment.

Should Shang Lu one day break through to the Meridian-Penetrating stage, he might even fill vacancies in neighboring counties' offices, not just Luoshui. At that point, this investment could yield a hundredfold return for Zhao Hai.

The Black Wind Gang might even hope to break out of Luoshui County and claim more territory.

Even if Shang Lu never advanced beyond Bone-Cutting, Zhao Hai was confident that every coin spent on him would be repaid many times over.

For Shang Lu, drawn in by silver, would eventually be corrupted and serve him loyally.

There were already plenty of clerks in the county office who had been bought in this way.

Unfortunately for Zhao Hai, he had chosen the wrong target this time.

Though Shang Lu liked silver, he had his principles. He would never collude with a villain like Zhao Hai, who trafficked in vice, drugs, and even people.

Still, Shang Lu would accept the loan note—not as a favor, but to settle accounts after Zhao Hai was dealt with. He would burn some paper money for him in the afterlife to clear the debt.

A debt must be repaid; that is only right. Shang Lu would not renege, but the currency would be different.

When he accepted the loan note, the Black Wind Gang men all breathed a sigh of relief, unconsciously loosening their grip on the blades hidden under their straw cloaks.

Feng San took the opportunity to ask again about their companions in Shuanggui Village.

“Constable Shang, are you rushing to the county because our brothers in the village did something to offend you? If so, hand them to us—we’ll punish them severely and give you a proper explanation!”

“That won’t be necessary,” Shang Lu finally spoke after accepting the loan note.

“I’ve already taught them their lesson.”

“Then, Constable Shang, has your anger been appeased? May we go retrieve them?”

“Not yet.”

Shang Lu shook his head. “Tomorrow I’ll deliver their corpses to the county office. Once their crimes are judged, you can pay to reclaim the bodies.”

“Corpses… corpses?”

The three Black Wind Gang members were stunned.

At that moment, another flash of lightning split the sky, the thunder so loud it made them doubt their ears.

Before they could ask further, four galloping horses burst through the downpour behind them.

Shang Lu’s gaze sharpened—he instantly recognized the riders as the Four Vajra under Zhao Hai.

Zhao Hai’s subordinates included two Protectors and the Four Vajra, all men of the martial world he had recruited at great expense.

The Four Vajra were sworn brothers: the eldest two at the peak of Bone-Cutting, the younger two at the master level.

They had once served as fierce soldiers. A few years back, after losing a battle against Chongguo, they deserted, turning to banditry, murder, and robbery, and were eventually wanted by the authorities.

Later, Zhao Hai recruited them, gave them new identities, and they became his deadly enforcers, killing many for him.

Now, the Four Vajra spotted Shang Lu and the others by the lightning’s glare.

The eldest, Yuan Guilong, glared with leopard eyes and shouted like thunder, “Feng San, who are you blocking there?”

Feng San froze for a moment—weren’t they the ones being blocked? But he replied quickly, “It’s Shang Lu, Constable Shang!”

“Seize him!” Yuan Guilong roared, and, spurring their fine horses, he and his sworn brothers charged straight for Shang Lu.