Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System-Chapter 34: Suppressing the Bandits

Guo Wei was puzzled.

He’d recently heard that the Government Office wanted to deal with Big Saber Hong. However, the message was only for Big Saber Hong himself, a warning to rein it in.

Now, they were actually going up the mountain to exterminate the bandits, apparently planning to wipe out Big Saber Hong and his entire gang.

He knew Wang Ren’s temperament. As long as Big Saber Hong didn’t threaten his political career, Wang Ren would turn a blind eye to whatever the man did near Cyan Cloud Mountain.

Now that Wang Chao had come to request his help exterminating the bandits, Guo Wei felt that something was off.

"Exterminating the bandits is a matter for the Government Office. It isn’t my place to interfere," he said.

"Master, Lord Wang is joining forces with the Qinghe County Yamen to deal with Big Saber Hong this time. The County Magistrate of Qinghe has already hired Tie Zhennan. Lord Wang said that if our Baiyang County doesn’t have your support, all the credit for exterminating the bandits will go to Qinghe County. We’d be letting Tie Zhennan walk away with all the glory."

Wang Chao said earnestly.

At the mention of Tie Zhennan’s name, Guo Wei’s expression turned grim. The story of how Tie Zhennan had poached Liu Quan and challenged him to a duel at the Daoist Examination had long since spread through both counties.

Of course Wang Chao and Wang Ren knew about it.

’They’re trying to use Tie Zhennan to force my hand.’

SLAM!

Guo Wei slammed his teacup down on the table.

Wang Chao jumped, pressing his forehead to the floor as he explained, "Master, this was all Lord Wang’s idea."

"I don’t want to get dragged into this mess."

Guo Wei said resolutely.

’I’m not about to risk my life on that mountain fighting Big Saber Hong just for a chance to one-up Tie Zhennan,’ he thought.

"Master, I understand."

Wang Chao sighed and bowed to Guo Wei again. As his disciple, he couldn’t force his master to help. He had only come to ask because he was under orders from Wang Ren.

He was already mentally prepared for this outcome.

"From what I know, Wang Ren has always been reluctant to start conflicts with bandits. Why would he team up with people from Qinghe County to exterminate them now?"

Guo Wei asked.

In his eyes, Wang Ren was a coward who clung to life and loved sucking up to the powerful. He was hardly a good official who served the people.

"Master, you may not have heard. A few days ago, a young master from the Government Mansion was traveling on Cyan Cloud Mountain and had a run-in with Big Saber Hong’s men. He’s still being held captive.

Lord Wang and Lord Li from Qinghe County both sent people to negotiate, but Big Saber Hong is outraged and refuses to release the young master."

Wang Chao explained.

"So that’s what this is about."

Guo Wei had a flash of insight. ’If rescuing him means forging a connection with the Government Mansion, a man like Wang Ren would definitely take that gamble. And Tie Zhennan must have known the reason too; that’s why he agreed to help Qinghe County deal with Big Saber Hong.’

But Guo Wei remained unmoved.

’I’m not going to risk my neck for some pampered heir. My own disciple, Yang Shaorong, is a Captain in the Governor’s Mansion. Even though a rift has grown between us, he’s still far more valuable than some Government Mansion Young Master.’

"Master, Senior Brother, please have some tea."

Chu Lingguang replaced Guo Wei’s and Wang Chao’s tea.

He had heard every word of their conversation. ’If I were Big Saber Hong,’ he thought, ’I’d definitely let the Government Mansion Young Master go. There’s no way I’d pick a fight with two County Yamens at once.’

However, Guo Wei’s eyes lit up when he saw him.

He said, "If Big Saber Hong were to release the young master, would you call off the attack?"

"Of course. Cyan Cloud Mountain is easy to defend and hard to attack; the men at the County Yamen have no desire to clash with Big Saber Hong. Besides, if we push him too far, he might just kill the Government Mansion Young Master first. If that happens, I’m afraid both Lord Wang and Lord Li will be in deep trouble."

Wang Chao said with a grimace.

"If I had a way to convince Big Saber Hong to release the Government Mansion Young Master, what do you think would happen then?"

Guo Wei asked again.

"Master, if you could pull that off, Lord Wang and Lord Li would probably get on their knees and kowtow to you."

Wang Chao said with a grin.

Realizing he might have spoken out of turn, he quickly glanced around.

Guo Wei’s gaze fell on Chu Lingguang. He couldn’t care less about thanks from Lord Wang or Lord Li. What mattered was not letting the credit fall to Tie Zhennan.

"Master, you’re not planning on sending me to reason with Big Saber Hong, are you?"

Chu Lingguang asked, his face a mask of panic.

The look in Guo Wei’s eyes told him everything he needed to know.

"I’ll go with you,"

Guo Wei said with a smile.

"Do I have to go?"

Chu Lingguang asked.

’They’re bandits,’ he thought. ’You can’t reason with bandits. Besides, it’s been over a month, and I haven’t seen Big Saber Hong come down the mountain to thank me. He probably doesn’t think he owes me anything for fighting alongside him that day. Now he’s about to go to war with the Government Office, and I’m supposed to just show up? This feels wrong no matter how I look at it.’

"Trust me. I don’t do things I’m not confident about."

Guo Wei said, full of confidence.

"Oh."

Chu Lingguang knew he couldn’t refuse.

"Master, why insist on bringing Junior Brother with you?"

Wang Chao asked curiously.

"When are Lord Wang and Lord Li planning to move against Big Saber Hong?"

Guo Wei ignored the question and asked one of his own.

"Today at 3:15 PM."

Wang Chao replied.

"Go back and tell Lord Wang and Lord Li that if Big Saber Hong hasn’t released the hostage by 3:45 PM, they should proceed as planned."

Guo Wei checked the time and saw they didn’t have long.

"Lin Guang, let’s go!"

With that, he called to Chu Lingguang and ran for the stables.

A short while later, Chu Lingguang and Guo Wei were galloping toward Cyan Cloud Mountain, each on his own horse.

Wang Chao followed behind on his horse. Lord Wang’s and Lord Li’s men were already assembling at the foot of Cyan Cloud Mountain. Everything had happened so suddenly that he hadn’t had much time to go and request Guo Wei’s help.

Guo Wei led Chu Lingguang down a side path toward the rear of Cyan Cloud Mountain. He knew a trail that would get them to Big Saber Hong’s main camp quickly.

Wang Chao broke off from them halfway and headed for the foot of Cyan Cloud Mountain.

By the time he reached the rendezvous point, Wang Ren’s and Lord Li’s forces were nearly assembled. Tie Zhennan’s men were there as well.

Surprisingly, Liu Quan was also there.

Tie Zhennan wanted him to see what a true life-or-death battle looked like, but he had also assigned two disciples highly skilled in Martial Arts to protect Liu Quan.

Wang Chao returned alone.

Tie Zhennan couldn’t help but laugh. "Lord Wang, it seems Chief Wang failed to persuade his master."

"Since Master Guo couldn’t make it, we’ll have to trouble you in a moment, Master Tie."

Wang Ren said, cupping his fists.

He lost face when Guo Wei didn’t appear, and he had to suppress his fury.

"Chief Wang, you’ll lead the charge!"

Wang Ren commanded as soon as Wang Chao was within earshot.

’Since Guo Wei won’t come, if something happens to Wang Chao, Guo Wei can just suffer the consequences himself,’ he thought.

Wang Chao saw the fury on Wang Ren’s face from a distance. The order filled him with bitterness. He dismounted, bowed to Wang Ren and Lord Li, and said, "My Lords, please wait. My master has already taken a shortcut up the mountain to find Big Saber Hong. He says he’s confident he can make Big Saber Hong release the Government Mansion Young Master. If the hostage is not released by 3:45 PM, then we can proceed as planned."

"What?"

No one had expected that.