Chapter 93

The next morning.

When Wu Fan went underwater in the Grand Canal again to search for the missing Ji Prefecture grain tax ship and confirmed it, he returned to the Yingyang Hundred-Household Office with an excited look on his face that he couldn't hide.

Copper coins!

Bags and bags of copper coins!

Thousands of jute bags full of copper coins!

He really found them!

Clenching his fists in secret, Wu Fan changed his clothes while trying hard to hide his excitement, making himself look more composed.

Suddenly—

"Bang bang bang..."

Panicked footsteps came from the front courtyard of the Hundred-Household Office.

The footsteps grew closer.

"Bang!"

The door was violently kicked open.

Wu Fan's eyebrows instantly furrowed, and he stared blankly at Lin Xinshan who had burst in, saying in a sarcastic tone, "Commander Lin! Were you chased by a dog? So flustered, what a mess!"

Lin Xinshan, not bothering to wipe the sweat from his forehead, swallowed hard and said in a hoarse voice, "Commander! Disaster... disaster... disaster..."

"Ha!"

Wu Fan laughed heartlessly and said, "Do you want to add that the Huo family's boxing techniques are flexible? Hmm?"

Slapping himself, Lin Xinshan wailed, "Oh! Commander... disaster!"

"What?"

Wu Fan's brows furrowed.

Lin Xinshan couldn't care less about the formalities. Seeing that there was water in Wu Fan's room, he gulped down a mouthful, but drank too quickly and started coughing violently, his face turning red.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

After a long while, Lin Xinshan finally caught his breath, his face showing urgency, and said, "Your family... your family, oh!" He slapped himself again and gritted his teeth, "They've been kidnapped!"

"What did you say?"

Wu Fan was stunned on the spot.

A few days ago, Wu Fan had used the pretext of establishing his authority to make the Wang family in the southern part of the city his victims, confiscating countless properties. To silence the public, Wu Fan decided to write a letter to the deputy commander of the Luoyang Thousand-Household Office, Zhao Xi, reporting the incident and entrusting the matter to the greedy man to ensure his safety.

At the same time, Wu Fan felt he had established himself in Yingyang and planned to live there long-term, so he wrote another letter, asking Tong Rui and the Tong family to come over. Yesterday, Lin Xinshan had mentioned this, saying that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching and it would be nice for the family to reunite. Who would have thought...

"Phew..."

Taking a long breath, Wu Fan snapped out of his daze, his face calm but with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Lin Xinshan swallowed and took out a letter from his chest, continuing, "Our messenger, who was escorting your family, was ambushed by bandits on the way. The bandits also gave him a letter to bring back!"

Wu Fan reached out to take the letter, tore open the wax seal, and read it while asking, "What about the messenger?"

Lin Xinshan's face darkened, "He was severely injured, barely making it back, and... he's gone."

After reading the letter, Wu Fan calmly put it in his chest and said, "Record him as a war casualty, and the compensation... in addition to the 100 taels of silver from our private funds, give more... deduct three months of my salary." He paused, picked up the box of the Fourteen-Posture Saber, and said, "I'll arrange the funeral when I return. I'll personally pay my respects. I'm leaving now, take care of things at the Hundred-Household Office."

"Commander! Commander..."

Seeing Wu Fan leave, Lin Xinshan sighed and stomped his foot.

Wu Fan took a fast horse and rode out of the city, heading straight for the Heavenly King Fort.

The person who wrote the letter, Wu Fan was sure, was definitely the demoness Lan Xiner. The letter contained only one sentence: "Meet at midnight tonight at Wild Wolf Gorge. Come alone, and your family's lives may be spared."

[Go alone?]

Wu Fan scoffed at the idea. He would never believe Lan Xiner's words. He would gather his men and kill her! Cut the grass at the root, eliminate the隐患!

Even if...

On the bumpy horseback, Wu Fan clenched his teeth tightly, the killing intent in his eyes growing stronger.

After a full hour of riding, even the warhorse was exhausted.

Wu Fan entered the narrow pass and headed straight for the Heavenly King Fort.

"Who dares to come here!"

Someone on the Heavenly King Fort shouted.

Wu Fan stopped, caught his breath, and said with a bow, "Wu Fan from Luoyang! I seek an audience with the Heavenly King! It's an urgent matter!"

Seeing that it was the uncle of their leader's new disciple, the bandits of the Heavenly King Fort did not dare to be negligent and quickly led Wu Fan in.

"Where is the Heavenly King?"

Wu Fan asked.

A small bandit respectfully bowed and said, "In the Hall of Heroes, Second Master Shan and Master Zhai are also there."

Wu Fan nodded and headed straight there.

In the Hall of Heroes, Shan Xiongxin and Zhai Rang were playing chess... two bad players, but they were having fun, not forgetting to compliment each other.

Xiong Kehai, a rough man, didn't understand such things. He had his own fun... teaching Tong Wei martial arts, practicing with him, and feeling satisfied with the sweat pouring down his face.

"Tap tap... tap tap..."

Rapid footsteps came from a distance.

"Thud!"

Suddenly, someone stumbled at the door and rolled like a tumbleweed.

Shan Xiongxin and the others all turned their heads, surprised.

Wu Fan lay on his back on the ground, his chest and abdomen rising and falling, breathing heavily.

Zhai Rang threw down the chess pieces. He had interacted with Wu Fan a lot and knew his character. If it were a trivial matter, Wu Fan would never be so disheveled. So, he immediately went to help Wu Fan up, asking, "Brother! What's wrong? Is there something?"

Wu Fan pursed his lips, his eyes turning red, and he didn't speak, just wearing a look of委屈, which made everyone watching him very anxious.

"Brother! Brother! What's wrong?!" Xiong Kehai, an impatient man, said unhappily, "Why are you being so unforthcoming? Speak your mind! Oh! You're going to drive me crazy!"

"Ah..."

Sighing deeply, Wu Fan slightly tilted his head back, looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, overwhelmed with sorrow, "I am incompetent, and my family has suffered... I come here... to seek... the help of my three elder brothers! I am deeply grateful!"

With that, Wu Fan was about to kneel.

Zhai Rang quickly pulled Wu Fan up, saying, "Brother! Let's get to the point! What's wrong? Speak clearly!"

Wu Fan pursed his lips, smiled bitterly, and said, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and I intended to bring my wife, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew to reunite... but... but... I have provoked people I shouldn't have! The Maitreya Sect... has found me, demanding that I meet them alone..."

Pausing, Wu Fan shook his head and said with excitement, "If I could ensure my family's safety by going alone, I wouldn't be afraid to go! But... but... I uncovered the Maitreya Sect's list of members in Luoyang, causing their destruction. This time, I have ruined their plans... they hate me to the bone, clearly trying to lure me there to wipe me out and kill all my family!"

"Bang!"

"Rotten scoundrels! How dare they treat my brother like this!"

Xiong Kehai was instantly enraged, smashing the weapon rack beside him, his teeth grinding, looking like he wanted to devour someone.

"Is this true?" Shan Xiongxin's face was also filled with anger, roaring, "Maitreya Sect! Maitreya Sect! These shameless scoundrels! Despicable bastards! They dare to threaten my brother's family! They must be tired of living! Damn! Damn! Damn!"

Not involving one's family in disputes is one of the few unbreakable rules in the outlaw world. Whoever breaks it will be hunted by the outlaws of the seven prefectures until they are dead.

Zhai Rang's face also turned dark, and he said, "Brother, rest assured! You have suffered for saving us and thwarting their plans. How can we stand by and let you die? This matter, I, Zhai Rang, and the Wagang Fort, will take responsibility!"

Wu Fan was deeply moved, bowing repeatedly, unable to speak.

"Uncle... my father... my mother... my brother..."

Tong Wei, being young, was at a loss.

Wu Fan's face was full of regret, and he put his arm around Tong Wei's head, his eyes red, "Uncle... is incompetent!"

That heart-wrenching and self-blaming "Uncle... is incompetent" instantly filled Shan Xiongxin, Xiong Kehai, and Zhai Rang with guilt and self-reproach, feeling heavy in their hearts. They thought, if it weren't for Wu Fan's efforts in thwarting the Maitreya Sect's ambitions, how could the outlaws of the seven prefectures be safe? How could their reputations be more illustrious? They had gained much, but Wu Fan had suffered greatly!

After the guilt, anger arose.

...

PS1: Request for favorites, recommendations, likes, and small red packets, rolling on the ground to beg!

PS2: The protagonist's acting is about to explode, yes, this part should be quite satisfying, but the votes are not strong enough.

PS3: I'll say it in advance, due to the lack of heating and a cold, my condition is indeed not good. The backlog has been fluctuating around 20 chapters for two days. Feeling 50 updates... it's so far away! I'll do my best, write as much as I can...

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