Chapter 968: Rich Again

A mountain stronghold built from massive stones appeared in Wang Chen’s sight.

The location of this stone stronghold was incredibly clever, nestled between two towering peaks that pierced the clouds, with waterfalls cascading above and hidden valleys below. It was shrouded by dense forests, making it nearly impossible to detect.

The only path leading to the stronghold was concealed within thick grass, winding and treacherous, snaking deep into the perilous heights.

For anyone unfamiliar with the area and its terrain, finding this place in the vast expanse of the Ten Thousand Mountains would be akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

This was the lair of the Qianfeng Bandits!

Wang Chen had never set foot here before, but he had brought a guide with him.

“Y-Your Excellency,” the guide stammered, trembling, “Up ahead lies the Qianfeng Stronghold, y-you…”

Wang Chen knew exactly what the man was trying to say and smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I keep my word. If I say I won’t kill you, I won’t.”

In the earlier battle, Wang Chen had utterly crushed the main force of the Qianfeng Bandits, slaying two of their fifth-level martial sect masters in the process.

This guide was a lowly bandit he had deliberately spared.

The Qianfeng Bandits had terrorized the Ten Thousand Mountains for over a decade, frequently raiding merchants traveling along the Sky Road. They had amassed an unimaginable fortune.

Now that their forces had been decimated, Wang Chen naturally intended to claim the spoils of war.

Otherwise, wouldn’t all his efforts have been in vain?

The bandit guide felt as though he had been granted a reprieve and wept with gratitude. “Thank you, thank you, Your Excellency!”

In the next moment, intense pain erupted in his shoulders and thighs as the sound of bones cracking echoed simultaneously. He lost his balance and collapsed to the ground.

Wang Chen had struck without warning, shattering the guide’s shoulder and thigh bones.

“Ah!”

The bandit let out a blood-curdling scream. “Y-You lied! You didn’t keep your word!”

His cries were as mournful as a cuckoo’s lament, filled with such agony that death seemed preferable.

Wang Chen replied coolly, “I said I wouldn’t kill you. Am I killing you now?”

The bandit had already passed out.

Though his injuries were not fatal, lying incapacitated in the wilderness without aid would surely lead to his demise.

Yet, Wang Chen had not broken his promise.

He felt no remorse for his actions, for every one of these bandits deserved death—they were worthy of a thousand cuts!

Gripping the Soul-Snapping Spear, Wang Chen dashed toward the stone stronghold.

The stronghold was situated in an extremely perilous location, with checkpoints strategically placed along the mountain paths, guarded by bandits.

However, such defenses were only effective against ordinary martial artists. To someone of the sixth level like Wang Chen, they were nothing more than minor obstacles.

He charged straight through, and with a single sweep of his spear, the heads of three bandits were sent flying.

Without pausing, Wang Chen breached the checkpoint and continued up the steep mountain path until he reached the stronghold.

At that moment, he noticed thick smoke billowing from within the stronghold, accompanied by the sounds of shouting and clashing weapons. The gates stood wide open, completely undefended, allowing him to stride in unimpeded.

Inside the stronghold, numerous Stone Houses were constructed, with one particularly prominent large house situated in the center, backed against the mountains. Above its door hung a plaque inscribed with the words “Gathering Hall.”

In front of the door, a dozen bandits were engaged in a fierce brawl, thick smoke billowing from within the house, creating a scene of utter chaos.

Wang Chen paused briefly to consider the situation, surmising that the bandits who had fled earlier had returned to their lair, clashing with those who had remained behind. It was highly probable that they intended to seize the treasure and make their escape.

Without further hesitation, he charged forward, swiftly dispatching each bandit he encountered with a single thrust of his spear.

“The killing god is here!”

Some bandits, upon spotting Wang Chen, were overcome with panic, screaming as if the end of the world had arrived.

Others, unaware of the gravity of the situation, brandished various weapons and lunged at Wang Chen, though their fate was inevitable.

Wang Chen did not immediately storm into the Gathering Hall; instead, he circled the area, methodically eliminating all the resistors one by one.

The Qianfeng Stronghold was also home to many elderly, women, and children—relatives of the bandits. As long as they offered no resistance, Wang Chen simply drove them away, refraining from taking their lives.

He then made his way to the Gathering Hall, slaughtering everyone inside and out once more.

In one of the rooms, Wang Chen apprehended a middle-aged man dressed in scholarly robes.

Wang Chen chose not to kill this man on the spot, as he was an ordinary person, utterly lacking in fighting moves, and could be described as someone who couldn’t even tie up a chicken.

As he was captured, the man trembled and pleaded for mercy, which sparked Wang Chen’s curiosity.

“What is your name?”

Wang Chen tossed the man into the outer hall and spoke in a deep voice, “Answer my questions truthfully, and I may spare your life.”

The middle-aged man lay prostrate on the ground, too afraid to lift his head and look at Wang Chen. “M-my name is Liang Shicheng. I am from the state capital of Sanhe County. Five years ago, I was captured by the Qianfeng Bandits while traveling with a merchant caravan on the Sky Road…”

Originally, he hailed from a family of scholars in Dingzhou, but his journey to the imperial capital for further education had taken a tragic turn, leading him to the bandits’ lair.

The Qianfeng Bandits had spared his life because of his extensive knowledge and his skill in accounting.

The bandits had a need for such expertise, which allowed Liang Shicheng to survive.

Over the years, his diligence earned him the trust of the Qianfeng Bandits, and he now served as their scribe and manager of accounts.

Desperate to save his life, he confessed to Wang Chen, “My lord, I know where they’ve hidden their treasures. I can take you there immediately, but I beg you to spare both me and my family!”

Wang Chen raised an eyebrow. “Your family has been captured as well?”

Liang Shicheng forced a bitter smile.

He had originally traveled to the imperial capital alone, without any relatives or servants accompanying him.

After being forced into the bandits’ lair, the Qianfeng Bandits found him obedient and useful, so they provided him with a woman they had abducted as a wife. Two years ago, they even had a child together.

Despite his noble upbringing, Liang Shicheng had always been devoted to his studies and had never married before turning thirty.

Now, he had unexpectedly settled his lifelong affairs in the bandits’ den!

“Very well.”

To be honest, Wang Chen couldn’t help but feel that this man was rather unlucky, so he readily agreed to the request.

The treasures of the Qianfeng Bandits were stored in a treasure cave behind the Gathering Hall. This cave had been dug out by hand and was secured with a stone door weighing thousands of pounds, heavily guarded at all times.

The bandits who had fled earlier had attempted to open the stone door, leading to a violent clash with those who had stayed behind.

Now, all of them had been slain by Wang Chen, and the infighting among them had come to an end.

Although the stone door was locked with a special mechanism that could not be opened without the correct method,

to a sixth-level Wang Chen, such defenses were laughable.

He simply smashed through it with brute force and effortlessly entered the treasure cave.

Inside the cave, gold and silver treasures, along with other goods, were piled high. There were also numerous weapons and food supplies, all of which now belonged to Wang Chen as spoils of war. He stored everything of high value in his storage space.

Fortunately, his storage space had expanded as his strength grew, or he wouldn’t have been able to carry so much.

Truly, one cannot become wealthy without a windfall; this time, Wang Chen had struck it rich once again!