Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 49 Killing two birds with one stone

Tianying City had several sunny days in a row.

“Purple Gold Hammer, don’t lie. Are you sure there’s no trap here? If Zhu Wen is just pretending to surrender, then we’ll be falling into a trap.”

In the study of the chieftain of Tianxu Village, three people were sitting. Tian Jing turned the golden bead in his hand and expressed his concerns.

Zijinchui received a secret letter from Zhu Wen, instructing them to meet him at noon today in the pine forest outside Xuanwu Gate. He would surrender, bringing with him the valuable treasures he had seized from Yuyang. His condition was that Tianxu would protect the two brothers and avenge them by killing Zhou Zhao.

The appointed time is fast approaching, yet they are still hesitating.

"Impossible! Zhu Wu was raised by Zhu Wen, and now he's been crippled by some random little girl."

"That crazy old woman from that fight not only didn't kill her to avenge Zhu Wu, but she even made her the third leader. Anyone with guts wouldn't tolerate that! If it were me, I'd smash that enemy's head in, or I'd be a different person!"

Zijinchui had a face full of fat, and when he spoke, the fat on his stomach jiggled, and spittle flew everywhere.

He brandished the hammer in his hand and argued vehemently with the chieftain, Huang Sanbai.

"Brother, with Sun Youshan's internal strife, Tian Dou is severely weakened and is no match for us."

"Zhu Wen returned from Yuyang with a great treasure and surrendered. If we take him in, the position of Xuanwu Hall Master will be yours! What is there to fear from a mere Heavenly Maiden then? Zhu Wen and I are from the same school. If it weren't for Zhu Wu's lustful desire to follow Cheng Yuyuan, the brothers would have come to our Tianxu long ago."

As Zijinchui spoke, he felt a little uneasy.

He and Zhu Wen were indeed from the same school, and in fact, Zhu Wen was his senior brother in the school. In terms of skill, Zhu Wen was superior to him.

But he arrived early and became the third-in-command of Tianxu. When Zhu Wen arrived, he was unwilling to be subordinate to him, and he was also worried that Zhu Wu would be like a mouse in a rice jar if he entered Tiannu, so he compromised and entered Tiandou.

If Zhou Zhao hadn't deposed Zhu Wu this time, why would Zhu Wen have sent a letter to bow down to him?

Thinking of this, Zijin Hammer couldn't help but feel excited! This kind of excitement of trampling former prodigies underfoot was something that others would never understand.

"Besides, even if there's a trap involved, would we, Tianxu, be afraid of a half-crippled Tiandou?"

As Zijinchui spoke, he patted his chest and looked disdainfully at Tian Jing standing opposite him, "You coward, if you don't dare to go, then grandpa will take some men. When I return with a great treasure, don't be jealous!"

Na Huang Sanbai listened attentively and nodded. "It's worth the gamble. The two of you go together. Zhu Wen may not come back, but Zhongbao must."

He thought for a moment and then added, "According to the previous plan, you will disperse and leave the city, then reunite with the brothers outside the city. I will have people keep a close eye on Tian Dou's movements, and if any trickery is discovered, send a message immediately."

……

The midday sun was exceptionally bright, making one's arms ooze oil.

"Here he comes! Grandpa said Zhu Wen wouldn't be a liar! Those guys from Tian Dou thought he wouldn't be back until tomorrow, haha, they're dumbfounded now!"

Zijinchui saw the caravan approaching from outside the pine forest and excitedly picked up the hammer he had thrown on the large blue stone earlier. The caravan was so long that it seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see, and who knew how many treasures were on board!
"Ouch! It's burning me to death! What a jerk!"

The hammer had been baking in the sun for a long time and was scorching hot. Caught off guard, the Purple Gold Hammer was burned and let out a wail as it threw the hammer away. The hammer landed in the bushes with a muffled groan!

Purple-Gold Hammer's heart skipped a beat, and he shouted, "Who's hiding there!"

As he spoke, he charged forward. Before Tian Jing could stop him, he had already reached the bushes. "Damn it! They're from Tiannv Village!"

Just then, a sharp shout rang out from above, "Attack!"

As the Tianxu group reacted, they smelled a rich fragrance, and some pink powder drifted down from the tree canopy.

Tian Jing's expression changed, and he cried out, "Oh no! Hold your breath! It's the Heavenly Maiden's Nightingale Song!"

Yingge was the second-in-command of Tiannv Village, skilled in using medicine. This pink bewitching powder was her secret ingredient. It seemed the news had leaked; the people of Tiandou didn't know, but the people of Tiannv wanted a share! Tian Jing sensed something was wrong. Looking around, he saw many of his brothers had fallen asleep on the ground after being drugged. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a dart flying towards the treetops!

Who the hell would have thought that someone could hide in the canopy of a pine tree?

The nightingale wasn't afraid of getting its face pricked by pine needles!
But it was too late. The massive body of the Purple Gold Hammer swayed and crashed down with a thud. Its head hit the large blue stone, and blood immediately flowed from its head.

Seeing that the sleeping potion had taken effect, Yingge from Tiannv Village no longer needed to perch in the tree. She giggled, "Sisters, there's no need to hold back! We, Tiannv Village, are determined to have this throne of Xuanwu Hall Master!"

On the treetop not far away, Qianmian looked at Zhou Zhao, who was squatting to the side, crunching on pine nut candy, and said, "Is this the show you wanted me to watch? When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits! When the Heavenly Maiden and the Heavenly Void fight to the death, they will be as badly injured as you, and the competition will be back to square one."

"But Tian Dou only sent you alone. How are you going to take those treasures back? Kill Zhu Wen?"

Zhou Zhao stuffed the bag of pine nut candy into Qianmian's hands; it was too hot, and the candy was starting to melt.

"You're a spy, how can you be so impatient?" Zhou Zhao said, plucking a few leaves to wipe his hands.

She plopped down on the tree trunk, feeling even more carefree than when she was in Chang'an. Qianmian could only think of one phrase: "like a fish in water."

"Zhu Wen didn't write a letter, and Yuyang didn't have any treasure. It's all a lie. I had Cheng Ming forge the letter and give it to Tianxu's Purple Gold Hammer. Then I had Tian Dou's mole in Tianxu accidentally leak the news and pass it on to Tiannu about the treasure in the pine forest at noon today."

"Why doesn't the imperial court directly send troops to wipe out Tianying City? Because they're stuck in a corner, engaging in petty skirmishes, and dare not set their sights on the capitals of the three kingdoms. The twelve strongholds of Tianying are all swindlers and robbers; there are far more monks than porridge. What can they possibly compete in the Xuanwu Hall Grand Competition?"

“Sun Youshan, the third-in-command, was overjoyed after stealing just a few bolts of cloth! So, as soon as they hear about a valuable treasure, both Tianxu and Tiannu will definitely take the bait.”

Upright gentlemen don't gamble, but these wicked people love gambling the most.

The main point is that even if I don't have it, I can't let others have it. They will definitely get involved.

With a complex expression, Qianmian looked at Zhou Zhao and asked, "If it's not Zhu Wen, then who is it?"

His success in Tianying City today is entirely due to his superior martial prowess, which allowed him to sweep through armies and ascend to the position of head of Yaoguang Hall.

While her rivals were fighting tooth and nail for her position as the leader of the Xuanwu Hall, Zhou Zhao was enjoying a leisurely meal under the shade of a tree.

The convoy is real. Look at the dust flying around; it's quite a large group. The people from Tiandou Village didn't even leave the city, so where did that group come from?

Zhou Zhao remained silent, but made a shushing gesture to Qianmian. Qianmian's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized who it was.

Yingge had laid an ambush beforehand and used a sleeping potion, so the celestial maiden quickly gained the upper hand and knocked out a large number of people in Tianxu!
While dodging Tian Jing's darts, she shouted at the newcomer, "Zhu Wen, come to our Heavenly Maiden! Are you willing to go to Tianxu and be a lackey for that idiot Zijinchui? If you come to Heavenly Maiden, our chieftain will remember your merit. When he becomes the head of Xuanwu Hall, you will be the third-in-command of Heavenly Maiden."

"what do you think?"

After she finished speaking, she received no response. Yingge's expression changed, and she suddenly felt a chill down her spine, with the hairs on her back standing on end.

In an instant, the group of soldiers arrived, their large bows arrayed and aimed at everyone. They then changed formation, completely surrounding the people of the second stronghold. This was no Zhu Wen; it was clearly the imperial army.

Watching this dramatic and unpredictable show unfold, Qianmian couldn't help but give Zhou Zhao a thumbs up.

He knows it!

Those who stir up trouble in the capital will bring storms wherever they go in Tianying City.

"You've summoned people from the imperial court; be careful not to become the target of everyone in Tianying City."

Zhou Zhao clicked his tongue twice, completely unconcerned. "Wasn't it Zhu Wen who called them?"

She crippled Zhu Wu; Zhu Wen will come back for revenge sooner or later.

Rather than waiting to be chopped down by him, it's better to strike first.