Chapter 25

Despite Yang Hong's meaningful proposal, Zhang Jian did not react much. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table, and looked at Yang Hong with a calm, unflinching gaze. Yang Hong, who had put on a relaxed smile and initiated the conversation, gradually became more serious as Zhang Jian remained silent.

He finally leaned back slightly, picked up his wine glass, and took a sip. After exhaling the warm alcohol, he said, "At least say something, whether you like it or not. I feel embarrassed just by bringing it up."

Zhang Jian looked at his embarrassed expression and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Hmm. It's a matter that involves both money and a good cause."

"Explain what it is, you fraud."

But Yang Hong was not easily swayed.

"I've already said it, haven't I? Because I need a reliable swordsman. I've only seen you draw your sword once in Dark Bone Village, and the rest of the time, I've only seen you fight with your fists. But that was enough. If I can't trust your skills, who can I trust? It's better to bring in one reliable expert than to gather a few more random people."

Zhang Jian looked at Yang Hong, who was explaining earnestly. What is this gambler up to this time?

"Explain it first."

"Ah, you'll do it?"

"I'll consider it if it sounds good."

Yang Hong smiled and refilled his glass. After downing the filled glass, he leaned forward again and said, "Alright. There's no point in delaying. This isn't something to discuss in a crowded place. Let's go to a room and talk quietly."

Zhang Jian decided to listen and followed Yang Hong, who stood up with the wine bottle. Yang Hong approached the innkeeper first.

"Is a private room available?"

The innkeeper silently handed him a key. Yang Hong, still wearing his relaxed smile, took it and led the way up the stairs. After climbing to the third floor and entering a private room, Yang Hong casually took off his hat and outer robe, threw them on the bed, and placed the wine bottle on the table in the center of the room.

He then sat down and said to Zhang Jian, "So, where shall I start?"

Zhang Jian smiled at his exaggerated actions, which seemed to be an attempt to maintain his composure. It was clear that he was somewhat nervous. If he was intentionally acting this way, he was no ordinary man.

Zhang Jian sat down opposite him.

"Everything."

"Everything? All of it? Then the story might take a while?"

"Do you expect me to do something without knowing the full context? Then forget it."

Yang Hong grinned.

"Hmm. Who said I wouldn't do it? I'll explain everything calmly."

Zhang Jian nodded, picked up the wine bottle, took a sip, and put it down. Yang Hong, seeing this, moistened his lips and began.

"First, the target is a supply cart. A cart full of gold and silver."

Zhang Jian's eyes immediately furrowed.

"Supply cart? The supply cart of the Merchant Guild?"

"Ah, wait before you get angry. I know that raiding supply carts is something that bandits do. But this is not a supply cart for the Merchant Guild. It's personal property being sent to Song Guang, a member of the Merchant Guild in Gan Mountain. Do you know Song Guang?"

Zhang Jian's furrowed brows did not relax. He urged Yang Hong to continue with his eyes.

"Hmm. Song Guang is one of the five guild leaders of the Merchant Guild in Gan Mountain. He's from the Jiangnan Song family, but that's not important. Anyway, Song Guang is a man of immense wealth. And most of that wealth is here. Remember what I said earlier? There are few villages in this area, mostly just pastures and one mine."

He paused, noticing the dark look in Zhang Jian's eyes, and continued.

"Almost all the pastures and the gold mine are his. Song Guang controls this region with money from Gan Mountain. He probably hasn't visited here in over ten years. It's absurd. The man who exploits this region has no real interest in it. Ah, the empire is the same, isn't it?"

Yang Hong picked up the wine bottle that Zhang Jian had put down, took a sip, and continued.

"The actual management of the pastures and the mine is handled by a man named Xue Weiliang, appointed by Song Guang. And this man is currently trying to monopolize all the pastures and rivers in the area by buying out all the other pastures. He does this without regard for means or methods. Dozens of commoners have lost their pastures and homes, and some have even burned to death in their houses."

"What about the Martial Arts Alliance?"

At Zhang Jian's question, Yang Hong made a sound like a deflating balloon and laughed.

"The branch leader of the Martial Arts Alliance? He was the first to be bought off by Xue Weiliang. And I already told you, didn't I? Song Guang is Xue Weiliang's backer. The Martial Arts Alliance can't touch him unless they're at a very high level. Even patrol members might be silenced."

"So you want to take on this man?"

Yang Hong was silent for a moment after Zhang Jian's question. But the relaxed smile on his face slowly changed to a dangerous one, filled with excitement and anger.

"What do you know? We'll be wearing masks, so no one will recognize us. And... the supply cart sent by Xue Weiliang delivers the income from the pastures and the gold from the mine to Song Guang in Gan Mountain every quarter. This gold is used to fund Song Guang's political battles in Gan Mountain. What do you think will happen if this funding is cut off?"

He showed his tightly clenched fists and said, "A merchant's battle ends when the funds dry up. Especially for a guild leader, the pinnacle of merchants. Song Guang, who will be caught off guard by other guild leaders, won't even think of looking for us. He might even lose his position. We just need to hide in the alley where the supply cart will pass, ambush it, and take the money."

His clenched fists slowly relaxed, as if holding something invisible.

"Do you understand what I mean by both money and a good cause? The men escorting the cart are all scoundrels. They bully, beat, and burn the pastures, paying only a fraction of their value and driving the owners away. They can be killed or have their limbs severed without a second thought. And the gold inside? According to what I know, hundreds of cattle were traded in this area this autumn alone. Even five of us might not be able to carry all the silver and will have to leave some behind."

Zhang Jian tapped his fingers on the table and looked at Yang Hong. Yang Hong, having finished his explanation, closed his mouth and continued to look at Zhang Jian with a dangerous smile.

"I didn't know you were the type to consider a good cause."

"Zhang Jian. To do big things and make money, you need to maintain some principles. At least, you need a good cause to gain a reputation. If you just rob anyone, you're no different from bandits. But if you rob a wicked merchant, you gain a reputation."

Zhang Jian fell into thought. He first met Yang Hong in a village called Dark Bone, where he stayed for a while. The village had many pastures, and the herdsmen often fought each other. As the fights became more violent and more herdsmen were injured, the pasture owners hired fist fighters to settle disputes. Zhang Jian, looking for a way to make money, worked as a fighter and won all thirteen of his fights.

In the end, he was cheated out of his money by Yang Hong and some herdsmen and had to leave after killing a swordsman hired by the opposing pasture. Yang Hong, who seemed like a loafer who only gambled and drank, was a mysterious man who always had money. Zhang Jian suspected he made his money through gambling scams, as he had even put up a bounty with the Martial Arts Alliance. But now, it seemed he was more dangerous than a mere scammer.

After finishing his thoughts, Zhang Jian looked at Yang Hong and asked, "Where did you get this information?"

"Hehe. Zhang Jian, are you trying to dig into my sources? That's my lifeline. I can't reveal it even under threat of death."

Zhang Jian, considering whether to draw his sword, just smiled.

"It's a job that can make money and teach a lesson to a wicked merchant. It sounds promising. But there's a problem."

"Problem? What is it?"

Zhang Jian stopped tapping his fingers and said quietly, "Can I trust you?"

Yang Hong did not answer immediately. He sat with his arms crossed, erased the smile from his face, and said with a serious look, "Don't trust me."

He continued, noticing Zhang Jian's raised eyebrows, "Honestly, is there trust in such matters? I won't fully trust you or the other three I've gathered. I just want the money. The money from the gold mine and cattle trade. The money that keeps Song Guang in his position as a guild leader. Don't you need money?"

"More money is always better."

At Zhang Jian's answer, Yang Hong smiled again.

"You can do whatever you want with the money. You can spend a few months in Shen Shitian or Tianhou City, or help the commoners who lost their homes like a real bandit. Or you can use it for gambling. If you spend it all on gambling, you might understand the flow of the gambling world."

Zhang Jian looked at him for a moment and then smiled, "If we don't trust each other, there won't be any betrayal, right?"

"Hehe. Something like that. So, will you do it?"

Zhang Jian's smile deepened.

"Let's do it. It sounds fun."

Zhang Jian extended his hand, which had been tapping the table, to Yang Hong. Yang Hong, understanding the gesture, shook his hand. The two, each with their own intentions, shook hands.

* * *

The next day, the two left the village. Yang Hong led the way on horseback. The supply cart was to depart the next day, and the other three were already waiting on the route the cart would take.

According to Yang Hong, they would ride all day to reach the ambush site, spend the night, and start the operation when the supply cart passed by the next afternoon. After riding for a while and slowing down to let the horses rest, Zhang Jian said, "Tell me about the other three."

"Them? Oh, they're the Gong brothers and a friend named Jian Zhongchan."

Yang Hong continued as they rode slowly.

"The Gong brothers are Gong Ping and Gong Lang. They're skilled with swords. Gong Ping is the older brother, and Gong Lang is the younger. Jian Zhongchan is good with a bow, so I brought him in."

"Bow?"

"Yes. He has a composite bow made from the horns of a bison from the New Continent. When he shoots it from a distance, it's terrifying."

"A composite bow is usually expensive."

Yang Hong chuckled.

"Yes. He goes to great lengths to maintain it. His entire fortune is that bow. So don't touch it or try to shoot it."

The two rode steadily in a southwest direction, stopping a few times to rest. They arrived at their destination a little past noon.

The area was a flat plain with large, red rock formations jutting out. Yang Hong slowly approached one of the rock formations. A gruff voice came from above.

"Yang Hong? Who's with you?"

"Who else! Our last swordsman!"

At Yang Hong's answer, three heads popped up from the rock. Three men who had been lying down stood up. Two were large and intimidating, and one was clean-cut and expressionless. One of the large men shouted, "Damn it, Yang Hong! We were enough on our own!"

"Shut up, Gong Ping! I made the plan! If you're unhappy, you can leave!"

"What? Yang Hong! Are you serious?"

"I'm serious! This is my plan! If you're unhappy, you can leave!"

The large man, hearing Yang Hong's answer, muttered more curses and disappeared from the top of the rock. A moment later, he reappeared on the opposite side of the rock formation. He approached Zhang Jian and Yang Hong with a red face and a huff.

"You bastard! Lying on this scorching rock is hell! What? You want me to leave? Yang Hong! You're dead first!"

Yang Hong, who had been shouting without hesitation from below the rock, stiffened when he saw the large man approaching with heavy steps. He quickly turned to Zhang Jian and said, "Zhang, can you help me? He's really going to hit me!"

But Zhang Jian shrugged and replied playfully, "Why should I?"

Yang Hong's face began to pale at his answer.