Chapter 32

"Many thanks for saving my life!"

The water monkey led the boy over, and the boy was about to kneel and kowtow, but was pulled back by the water monkey.

Qin Sang looked around and motioned for Zheng Kun to pay attention. They led the group of children into the nearby forest.

Qin Sang sized up the boy, "What's your name? How old are you?"

"My name is Xiao Liuzi, I'm fifteen this year, I've had no father or mother since I was young, and I have no name or surname."

"Have you studied?"

"When I was begging, a scholar took me in to stay overnight at the school, and I listened to lessons for three years. After the scholar died, I was kicked out."

"Are you all from the north?"

"Yes, there's a drought in the north, so everyone is moving south. Their parents died on the way, and I've been taking care of them while begging."

"You're begging yourself, why are you willing to take on so many burdens?"

"When the scholar took me in, he said that saving a life brings a layer of good fortune, and in the next life, one can be reborn into a good family."

Qin Sang nodded and glanced outside the forest, saying, "Those people are gone, you should leave too, don't go north, to avoid running into them again."

"Please take us in!"

Xiao Liuzi fell to his knees, and the other children followed suit, kneeling on the ground and pleading in unison.

Qin Sang shook his head, "I can't even feed myself, why would I take you in?"

Xiao Liuzi remained on his knees, "We can do anything, my sister can wash clothes and cook, we can do physical labor. Just give us a meal, and we'll do whatever you say!"

Qin Sang laughed, "Would you kill if I asked you to?"

Xiao Liuzi hesitated for a moment, "I can kill! My brother and sister lost their parents and almost got cooked and eaten. If others can kill, I can too."

"How can you accumulate good fortune by killing?"

"Then I'll save more people, more than I kill, and I can still accumulate good fortune."

Qin Sang and the water monkey exchanged glances.

The water monkey pulled Qin Sang aside, "Chief, are you really going to take them in?"

Qin Sang pondered, "It's time to start building a team of assassins..."

Without waiting for the water monkey to understand, Qin Sang walked back and said to Xiao Liuzi, "If you want to follow me, you must first recognize a dead man as your father. His name is Wu Yaba, his grave is in Zhen Shui County. I'll take you there later. You'll be called Wu Chuanzong, and you must burn paper money for him every year and carry on the Wu family's lineage. Are you willing?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Liuzi was overjoyed, "I'll be called Wu Chuanzong, my father is Wu Yaba, I have a name now!"

The other children also jumped with joy.

Qin Sang nodded slightly. He didn't care about the old Wu's original name; he had promised to find a son for the old Wu, so he made him a Wu, and he wouldn't be breaking his word.

"Zhang Wenkui, take these children to find a place to settle, rest a bit, and then inform General Mu of my decision."

"Yes!"

As soon as Zhang Wenkui left, Zheng Kun ran in, "Chief, Liu Ji has left the city!"

The Liu family was a prominent local clan with land outside the county. After confirming their identities, Qin Sang and his two companions cleaned up and changed out of their refugee clothes, disguising themselves as Liu family servants to enter the city, which was almost dark.

Liu Ji had purchased a property and ran a business to avoid suspicion.

They quietly entered the back courtyard, confirmed no one was following, and Liu Ji closed the doors, reporting the situation in the city to Qin Sang.

"Reporting to Chief Qin, I have found out that there are three main figures in Hening County. The county magistrate is named Li Ji, only twenty-one years old, very capable, and has won the hearts of the people in less than two years. He is a close confidant of the Jiangzhou Prefect, and if everything goes well, he will be promoted to a prefecture in three years, with a bright future, making it difficult to recruit him. Since Hening County is a small and simple county, there is only one chief clerk, surnamed Ma, who is slick and worldly, and follows Li Ji's lead in everything, so he is not important. The third person is named Chu Dazhuang, who is not an official but now commands the county constables and militia. To break the city, we must take him down, and we must be cautious..."

Qin Sang was puzzled, "This Chu Dazhuang is not an official? How can he command others?"

Liu Ji explained, "There are two reasons. First, he has a beautiful sister who is Li Ji's concubine. Second, he is a disciple of Xuan Ji Temple, a student of the abbot of the temple's Arhat Hall, and has inherited all his skills, making him a formidable martial artist with the title of 'Mighty Monk' in the martial world. After his sister married Li Ji, the Mighty Monk changed his name and brought a few of his brothers to Hening County, not even respecting the inspector. With the city's military forces being withdrawn and the inspector leaving, no one can control him."

So it's him!

Qin Sang understood why Liu Ji looked so serious.

Since joining the Blood Robe Tower, Qin Sang had a thorough understanding of the martial world. Every famous martial artist in the martial world was registered with the Blood Robe Tower, and every person on the list was a top expert.

His 'master' Yang Zhen was considered a martial arts expert by ordinary people, but he did not have the qualifications to be on the list.

The Mighty Monk was different. He was not only on the list but was ranked at the top, with martial arts skills that were probably not much worse than Bai Jianglan's.

However, what was most feared was not the Mighty Monk's martial arts, but his sect, Xuan Ji Temple.

In the martial world of the Great Sui Dynasty, there were two places that were well-known: Yanlan Manor and Xuan Ji Temple, both considered the two great martial sanctuaries, with countless experts.

Yanlan Manor was located in Yanlan Mountain in the capital, and Xuan Ji Temple was in Jiangzhou.

It was said that both sects had innate experts, and their status was so high that even the government had to show them respect.

Qin Sang knew more about the inner workings. Xuan Ji Temple and Yanlan Manor were not just martial sects; many of the imperial guards in the false emperor's court came from these two sanctuaries.

There were many Xuan Ji Temple experts serving as bodyguards for the generals and commanders of Duling County.

The Mighty Monk, being a disciple of the Arhat Hall of Xuan Ji Temple, might not be easy to take down with just the Blood Robe Tower's people in Hening County.

Since the Eastern Yang Prince raised the banner of rebellion, the main reason for his smooth progress, capturing Yingnan Prefecture in less than a year, was that he was the emperor's brother, of the same royal blood, and not an external invasion. The city guards, seeing the tide turning, had no qualms about surrendering.

However, the Prefect of Jiangzhou was different. When the Eastern Yang Prince was the crown prince, he was a loyal dog of the current emperor and had made significant contributions in the struggle for the throne, making it impossible for him to surrender.

Since Li Ji was the Prefect's confidant, the idea of recruiting him was not worth discussing.

With force not an option and recruitment impossible, Qin Sang asked Liu Ji what his plan was.

"I have two plans. One is to kidnap the county magistrate Li Ji to force Chu Dazhuang to open the city gates. The other is to poison him. If we can poison Chu Dazhuang, we can succeed, but..."

Liu Ji glanced at Qin Sang, "Both plans require the right opportunity to ensure success. I learned today that Li Ji plans to host a banquet for the elders of Hening County the day after tomorrow to discuss the refugee unrest and local peace. At that time, I can lead people into the banquet and take advantage of the chaos..."