If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Chapter 726 Title: I, the New Leader of Black Wind Stronghold

The gate of Black Wind Stronghold resembles the mouth of a giant beast ready to devour its prey.

The two doors were made from a single piece of black ironwood, studded with rivets the size of millstones. Over the years, the wood had turned black, and the rivets had developed red rust. Mottled bloodstains were splattered on the door panels, long since dried, their color a dark, aged sauce.

A dozen or so bandits stood guard at the entrance, each exuding a lazy yet fierce aura. They leaned against the wall and the door, their grips on their weapons loose, but their eyes, like those of wolves, constantly scanned the surrounding mountain path.

Zhou Yang rode on the white bone horse and stopped thirty paces away from the gate of the village.

A wind blew in from the mountain valley, carrying an indescribable, strange stench. There was the smell of blood, of decay, and of the sour odor of fermenting cheap brewing lees. It was as if a slaughterhouse, a mass grave, and a dilapidated tavern had been mixed together and left to bake in the sun for days.

Qin Shuang followed behind the horse, her delicate brows furrowed. She covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve, her face pale. This place was more filthy than any of the thieves' dens she had seen in the case files.

"Stay close." Zhou Yang's voice was calm. "Don't talk nonsense or look around. Just treat him like one of my... new catches."

Qin Shuang's lips twitched. Goods? She, a dignified centurion of the Imperial Guard, had become goods?

But she didn't argue. She knew this wasn't the time to dwell on such things. Zhou Yang, a street urchin, was better at dealing with this kind of person than she was.

Zhou Yang ignored her and spurred the horse's hooves. The white-boned horse's hooves tapped on the stone path, making a crisp "tap, tap" sound. The sound carried far on this quiet mountain road.

The bandits at the entrance immediately became alert, gripping their weapons in unison. The leader, a one-eyed man, stood blocking the way with his sword drawn.

"Who are you? Don't you know the rules of Black Wind Stronghold?"

Zhou Yang didn't dismount. He looked down at the one-eyed man with a habitual impatience in his eyes. He took out the token from his pocket and casually tossed it over.

The token was made of black iron and engraved with a ferocious wolf's head.

The one-eyed man caught the token, brought it close to his eyes to examine it, and his expression changed slightly. He quickly held the token in his hands, his attitude becoming much more respectful.

"Are you one of Iron Tiger's men? Wasn't the leader supposed to be out 'hunting'? Why are you the only one who came back?"

Zhou Yang snorted, his tone laced with mockery: "Hunting? Hunting my ass. That good-for-nothing Tie Hu is dead out there."

Upon hearing this, all the bandits around gasped in shock.

The one-eyed man stared wide-eyed at his remaining eye: "Dead? Iron Tiger Leader... dead? How is that possible! His kung fu..."

"No matter how good your kung fu is, you'll have to kneel down when you meet a tough opponent." Zhou Yang's tone was very arrogant, completely like someone who was used to walking around the mountain stronghold with impunity. "He messed with someone he shouldn't have. I was lucky, I ran fast, and I escaped with my life."

He paused, then gestured with his chin towards Qin Shuang behind him.

"These are the 'goods' that Tiehu didn't have time to send back. I brought them back to present to the village. By the way, I also brought back all of Tiehu's things."

The one-eyed man's gaze swept over Qin Shuang, a fleeting glint of greed in his eyes. This woman was far more beautiful than the village women they usually robbed of their mountain goods. He then stared intently at the white-boned horse Zhou Yang was riding.

This is the prized mount of Iron Tiger, the leader of the bandits.

It seems this man wasn't lying. Tie Hu is truly finished.

The one-eyed man dared not stop him any longer, and quickly stepped aside, handing the token back with a fawning smile.

"I see. Please come in. The deputy chieftain and the Black-Faced Demon leader are having a meeting in the Hall of Righteousness. Please go and inform them."

A meeting?

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat. It seemed the village was truly in chaos.

He took the token, put it back in his pocket, and without saying much, spurred his horse into the village gate.

Qin Shuang followed behind, suppressing her discomfort, and looked around the den of thieves.

The village was large, built against the mountainside, with crooked wooden buildings and stone houses everywhere. The ground was covered with mud and garbage, and a few stray dogs were digging in the garbage. When they saw a lot of people, they just lazily raised their eyelids.

The strange smell in the air grew stronger. Outside some of the wooden buildings, dried animal hides hung, along with some... things that looked like human parts.

Several disheveled women leaned against the window, their eyes blank, even showing a hint of curiosity, as they saw Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang. They bore bruises and their expressions were vacant.

Qin Shuang's heart sank. This was no place for a human being.

Zhou Yang, however, seemed oblivious to all of this. He walked straight towards the largest stone house in the very center of the stronghold. That was the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

At the entrance to the Hall of Righteous Gathering, two rows of bandits with swords stood. The atmosphere was much more tense than at the entrance to the stockade.

Before Zhou Yang could dismount, he heard a commotion coming from inside.

"Scarface Liu! Don't you dare push your luck! The old chieftain's body is barely cold, and you're already trying to usurp power?"

A gruff voice roared.

"Black-faced Fiend, you're talking nonsense!" another hoarse voice immediately retorted, "You and I both know how the old chieftain died! If I hadn't shown mercy, you'd be with him long ago! And now you dare to challenge me?"

"Have mercy? You're just too incompetent to kill me with one strike! Today I'm going to avenge the old chieftain, and incidentally, take his place!"

"Come on! Who's afraid of who!"

Zhou Yang reined in his horse at the door, a smile playing on his lips.

As expected. Dogs fighting.

He dismounted swiftly and cleanly. He tossed the reins to one of the bandits and strode inside.

The atmosphere in the Hall of Righteous Gathering was tense and ready to fight.

In the center of the hall stood a large chair made of tiger skin. That was the old chieftain's seat.

Under the chair, on both sides, stood a group of bandits.

The man on the left, the leader, was a burly fellow with a long, menacing scar running diagonally from his forehead to the corner of his mouth. He carried a large, ghost-headed broadsword and glared angrily at the man opposite him. This must be the deputy chieftain, Scarface Liu.

The one on the right, leading the group, was a burly man with dark skin, like an iron tower. He wielded a pair of broadswords, the blades still stained with dark red blood. He was Black-Faced Demon.

Behind them, their respective henchmen drew their weapons, their eyes bloodshot, ready to attack at their leader's command.

As soon as Zhou Yang appeared, all eyes in the hall turned to him.

"Who are you?" Scarface Liu asked in a hoarse voice, squinting his eyes.

Zhou Yang didn't answer him. Instead, he walked straight to the center of the hall and, in front of everyone, took out the wolf head token from his pocket.

He didn't speak, but simply raised the token high.

The token glowed faintly in the torchlight.

Everyone recognized this. It was the token of Iron Tiger, the leader.

"Where's Tiehu? How come you have his token?" the black-faced demon asked in a deep voice.

Zhou Yang then slowly put down the token and looked around. He saw the murderous intent in Scarface Liu's and Black-Faced Demon's eyes, as well as the madness and greed of the bandits behind them.

He knew the time was right.

"Tiehu is dead." Zhou Yang said, his voice not loud, but clearly carrying throughout the hall. "He died at the hands of a woman."

He pointed to Qin Shuang at the door.

Everyone looked over. Qin Shuang stood at the doorway, dressed in a blue robe, her aloof demeanor clashing with the filthy hall. Yet, the embroidered spring knife in her hand gleamed with an undeniable chill.

Scarface Liu and Black-Faced Demon exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

Did a woman kill Tie Hu?

"Bullshit!" The dark-faced man was the first to disbelieve it. "How could a woman possibly kill Tie Hu! Did you kill Tie Hu to take his territory?"

Before he could finish speaking, his thugs swarmed around him, trapping Zhou Yang in the middle.

Zhou Yang didn't even blink.

He smiled.

"Black-faced Fiend, you think I'm back to steal territory?"

He turned to Scarface Liu.

"Scarface Liu, do you think that now that Blackface has taken down Iron Tiger, it's your turn next?"

One sentence made Scarface Liu's expression change instantly.

Zhou Yang continued, "I've come back to tell everyone something. I didn't kill Tie Hu. It was someone from Black Wind Stronghold who killed him."

He looked at Black-Faced Fiend: "Black-Faced Fiend, why do you think I brought this woman back? Because she's my talisman. I saw with my own eyes that after you and Tie Hu separated, you secretly met someone. That person gave you a bottle of medicine. And you put that medicine in Tie Hu's drink."

"You're talking nonsense!" the black-faced demon roared, brandishing his battle axe as he charged forward.

Zhou Yang ignored him and looked at Scarface Liu instead.

"Scarface Liu, do you think you're sitting here securely? I dare say that Blackface Sha, besides plotting against Tie Hu, has long prepared the same 'gift' for you. He plans to eliminate you all one by one so that he can be the chieftain by himself."

These words were like a red-hot iron rod plunged into a pot of boiling oil.

"boom!"

The entire gathering hall exploded.

Scarface Liu's eyes instantly turned fierce. He stared intently at Black-Faced Fiend as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Black-faced Demon! You son of a bitch! It really was you!"

The black-faced demon was also getting anxious; he knew that things were getting complicated today.

"Scarface Liu, don't listen to this kid's instigation! He's an outsider! He's trying to make us kill each other so he can reap the benefits!"

"Too late!" Scarface Liu roared, swinging his ghost-headed broadsword directly at Black-faced Fiend. "Today, it's either you or me! Brothers, charge! Chop them all down!"

"kill!"

Scarface Liu's men immediately pounced on him.

The dark-faced thug's eyes turned red, and he roared, "Damn it, let's fight! Kill this troublemaker brat first!"

Instead of attacking Scarface Liu, he took the lead and charged towards Zhou Yang with his men.

He realized that Zhou Yang was the root of the problem. If he killed Zhou Yang, there was still a chance to salvage the situation.

Seeing the black-faced demon charging towards him, Zhou Yang finally showed a hint of excitement.

Right now.

He didn't move.

When the black-faced demon's axe was only three feet away from him, the sharp wind was already making his clothes flutter.

Zhou Yang slowly raised his hand.

"Click."

A soft sound.

The Dragon Spine Sword has been drawn.

There was no earth-shattering sword cry. Only a faint, crisp sound, as if from the depths of the netherworld.

A pale white sword light, like a bolt of lightning, flashed and disappeared in the hall.

The black-faced demon's charge came to an abrupt halt.

His massive body froze in place. The ferocity and madness on his face hadn't faded, but a hint of bewilderment had crept in.

He looked down at his chest.

There was a small stab wound there. Blood was slowly seeping out from that hole.

He tried to say something, but only a "hoarse" sound came out of his throat.

Zhou Yang's figure had already appeared silently behind him. He held a sword in one hand, the tip pointing downwards, a drop of blood sliding down the blade and dripping onto the ground, blooming into a small red flower.

"It's too noisy," Zhou Yang said softly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the black-faced demon's towering body crashed to the ground.

The bandits who had rushed up behind him all stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with fear.

One sword.

With just one sword strike, he killed the Black-Faced Demon?

On the other side, Scarface Liu and Black-Faced Fiend's men were still locked in a fierce battle. But they soon noticed the commotion on this side as well. When they saw Black-Faced Fiend's corpse, everyone was stunned.

Scarface Liu was stunned. He looked at Zhou Yang, and fear appeared in his eyes for the first time.

Who is this man?

Zhou Yang didn't give him time to think. With a flick of his wrist, the Dragon Spine Sword drew a graceful arc in the air, its tip pointing directly at Scarface Liu.

"You're next."

His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable coldness.

With this movement, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire hall.

That wasn't an aura, nor was it murderous intent. It was a more primal, more fundamental fear. It was as if life itself was being plundered by the man before them.

All the bandits in the hall felt their bodies grow cold. A chill rose from the soles of their feet and instantly spread throughout their limbs. They looked at Zhou Yang as if he were a demon from hell.

Some people's legs buckled, and their weapons clattered to the ground.

Scarface Liu's face was completely devoid of color.

He was a desperate man, unafraid of death. But he feared this unknown, incomprehensible force.

The Zhou Yang in front of me is not human at all.

"Who...who exactly are you?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Zhou Yang walked towards him step by step, stepping over the pool of blood and leaving clear footprints.

"Me?" He smiled, a hint of amusement in his smile. "I'm here to collect debts."

He walked up to Scarface Liu and stopped. The two were less than five feet apart.

Scarface Liu's hand gripping the knife trembled. He wanted to resist, to swing the knife and strike, but he found that his body simply wouldn't obey him. Under that invisible pressure, he couldn't even lift a finger.

Zhou Yang raised his other hand and gently pinched the blade of Scarface Liu's ghost-head broadsword with two fingers.

Scarface Liu exerted all his strength, but he couldn't move the broadsword forward even an inch.

"Too weak," Zhou Yang commented.

He applied slight pressure with his fingers.

"Clang!"

The demon-head broadsword broke in two and fell to the ground.

Scarface Liu's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints.

At that moment, Zhou Yang also handed over his sword.

There was no sound either.

Equally swift and silent.

The sword tip stopped just an inch from Scarface Liu's throat. Just one more inch and it would be dead.

"From this moment forward," Zhou Yang's gaze swept over every trembling bandit in the hall, his voice clearly reaching their ears, "I, Zhou Yang, am the new leader of Black Wind Stronghold."

"If you have any opinions, you can stand up and speak up."

The hall was deathly silent.

No one dared to move. No one dared to speak. Not even a breath could be heard.

Qin Shuang stood at the door, quietly watching this scene.

She looked at the figure standing in the center of the hall, holding a long sword, like a king.

She felt like she was recognizing him less and less.

When did this "Money-Gathering Hermit," who came from the streets and whose mind was full of money, become the... ruthless and merciless demon who treats human life like dirt?

But for some reason, looking at his calm face, the string of "vigilance" in her heart did not tighten, but instead... loosened a little.

Perhaps, having such a person standing in front of you isn't such a bad thing.

At least, he will never be someone else's knife.

He only acts as the one who wields the knife.

Chapter 727 Qin Shuang's "Dowry"

Zhou Yang stepped on Tie Hu's broad chest.

The sensation underfoot was soft and yielding, lacking any of the elasticity of a living person.

The hall was eerily quiet.

Only the rustling of the wind outside the door, blowing through the tattered banners, seemed to be playing music for the newly appointed chieftain.

Dozens of eyes around him were fixed on Zhou Yang.

The emotions in his eyes were complex.

There was fear, there was jealousy, and even more so, there was resentment.

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold had roamed the swamp for years, adhering to the most primitive law of the jungle: whoever has the biggest fist is king.

Tiehu is dead, but that doesn't mean they'll recognize a delicate-skinned outsider as their chieftain.

"Cough cough."

Someone coughed dryly from the corner.

A burly man with a face full of scars and missing half an ear stepped forward, carrying a ghost-head knife. He was Tie Hu's second-in-command, named Er Mazi.

"Kid, you've got some skills."

Er Mazi brandished the knife in his hand; dark red bloodstains still stained the blade.

"But Black Wind Stronghold can't be secured just by killing people. What do you know about the waterways in this swamp, the brothers' food supplies, and the relationships with the surrounding strongholds?"

Behind him, several veteran bandits who appeared to be somewhat experienced also joined in the commotion.

"Exactly! Why should an outsider like you be in charge?"

"Killing Iron Tiger Leader is nothing special! If you're so capable, kill us all!"

"He doesn't deserve it!"

The noise buzzed like flies.

Zhou Yang didn't say anything.

He simply looked down at the corpse at his feet.

My mind raced, calculating the costs and benefits.

Kill them all?

If I don't burn through my lifespan, in my current state, although I could win, I would definitely get injured.

It would be easy to deduce some kind of large-scale destructive spell by burning through one's lifespan. But this body has only just been repaired, and this overdraft is too much of a loss.

Doing business requires considering costs. Murder is a last resort.

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Er Mazi.

That look in his eyes was like looking at a piece of merchandise waiting to be sold.

"You mean I'm not qualified?"

Zhou Yang's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Since we can't reach an agreement, let's keep fighting. Fight until they submit."

As he spoke, his fingers lightly rested on the hilt of the sword.

Er Mazi's pupils contracted, and his grip on the knife tightened instinctively.

Just then, a hand pressed down on the back of Zhou Yang's hand.

Slightly cool, with a slightly rough callus.

Qin Shuang stepped forward.

Although her Imperial Guard uniform was somewhat torn and stained with mud and blood, the murderous aura she exuded, emanating from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, was far purer than that of these bandits.

"Killing people is such a waste."

Qin Shuang spoke calmly, her gaze sweeping over the restless bandits in the hall.

"Besides, you just took their horses, and then you kill them. Who will make money for you in the future?"

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow.

This woman is understanding his logic more and more.

He loosened his grip on the sword, took a half step back, and adopted a "watch my sugar daddy put on a show" posture.

Qin Shuang ignored his little tricks.

She reached into her bosom.

Everyone instinctively tensed up.

What is this woman about to take? A hidden weapon? Poison?

With a slight rustling sound, Qin Shuang pulled a palm-sized brocade box from her bosom.

The box looks unremarkable; it's all black and has no patterns.

But the moment she took it out, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop a few degrees.

"What is this?" Er Mazi asked warily.

Qin Shuang ignored him and gently lifted the lid of the box with her slender fingers.

Click.

A crisp sound.

Then, an extremely dense burst of cold air suddenly exploded out.

It wasn't the cold of winter, but a chilling cold that could seep into your very bones.

Blue light shone from the box, illuminating Qin Shuang's cool profile.

It was a crystal-blue color.

It's only the size of a thumb, yet it resembles a concentrated block of deep-sea ice. Its surface shimmers with light, and its interior seems to contain some kind of flowing liquid.

"Mysterious Yin Ice Soul".

Qin Shuang's voice sounded somewhat ethereal in the dim blue light.

"This is a rare treasure from the far north of the lower realm, containing the purest Yin energy."

As soon as she finished speaking, the bandits who had been shouting in the corner of the hall suddenly felt a chill.

That kind of cold seeps out from the very bones.

Some people couldn't help but shudder, almost dropping their weapons.

Deeper still, in the shadows leading to the rear village, a suppressed gasp suddenly came from within.

"This...this is..."

His voice was hoarse, like two rough pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

The bandits were greatly alarmed.

They were all too familiar with that voice.

That was the village's ancestor, who never showed his face and was said to have an extremely eccentric temper.

A hunched figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

The man was dressed in tattered clothes, his gray cloth robe looking like it hadn't been washed in decades, covered in grease and black spots.

What's most striking is his face.

His face was as red as a red-hot iron, with a faint glow flowing beneath his skin, as if the blood flowing through his veins was not blood, but molten lava.

He walked very slowly, and with each step, the wooden floor beneath his feet groaned under the weight of the weight, even emitting a wisp of smoke.

But he was completely unaware.

His cloudy old eyes were fixed on the brocade box in Qin Shuang's hand, and he swallowed with a gurgling sound.

"Mysterious Yin...it really is Mysterious Yin..."

The old man trembled with excitement, his face turning even redder, as if he might spontaneously combust at any moment.

"Ancestor!"

Er Mazi was so frightened that his face turned pale, and the knife in his hand clattered to the ground.

This old monster has been living in seclusion in Black Wind Stronghold for fifty years. It is said that he cultivated a wicked fire-based technique, which led to him going mad and becoming possessed. He usually doesn't dare to leave his seclusion even for a moment. How come today...

The old man completely ignored him.

He stumbled and rushed towards Qin Shuang like a starving ghost seeing a meat bun.

The speed was astonishing, bringing with it a gust of hot, pungent wind.

"Give it to me! Give it to me!"

The old man stretched out his withered, claw-like hand, his eyes filled with greed.

Qin Shuang remained expressionless and gently tapped the lid of the box with her fingers.

Snapped.

The cold light disappeared, and the chilling aura vanished instantly.

The old man suddenly stopped, only three steps away from Qin Shuang.

He clutched his head in agony, his body radiating a bright red light, clearly indicating that the fire poison within him was backfiring.

"What...what are you doing!" the old man roared, his voice trembling with tears.

"This is a gift to mark our meeting."

Qin Shuang closed the brocade box, flipped her wrist, held the box in her palm, and calmly looked at the old man.

"But it's not for you."

She turned around and looked at Zhou Yang.

He handed over the brocade box.

"Here you go, as your... investment capital here."

Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment.

He looked at the box, then at Qin Shuang.

This woman actually used such a treasure as a bargaining chip?

In the upper realm, such pure treasures from the lower realm are life-saving elixirs and keys to breaking through bottlenecks for cultivators who practice fire-based or berserk techniques.

This is real, hard currency.

It's far more valuable than those spirit stones or gold.

"You don't regret it?" Zhou Yang took the box, his fingertips touching the surface of the brocade box, still feeling the lingering coolness.

"I just don't want to see you wasting your life here for a few small fry."

Qin Shuang turned her face away, looking at the gray sky outside the hall, her ears turning slightly red.

"And this is also... my dowry."

The last three words were spoken very softly, almost carried away by the wind.

Zhou Yang's hand trembled.

I almost lost my grip.

This woman, is she playing this high?

He took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, and turned to look at the old man who was jumping up and down in a panic.

"Did you hear that?"

Zhou Yang weighed the box in his hand and looked at the old man's distorted face.

"This thing is mine now."

The old man stared intently at the box, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

The fire poison churning within him grew increasingly intense, and the pain caused his entire body to convulse.

"Whatever you want... I'll give you anything you want!" the old man roared. "This village is yours! I'll give you everything! Give it to me now... I'm going crazy!"

Zhou Yang smiled.

now it's right.

This is called a transaction.

There's nothing in this world that a deal can't solve. If there is, then add more chips.

"The village originally belonged to me."

Zhou Yang spoke slowly and deliberately, and in front of everyone, he opened the brocade box a crack.

Wisps of blue mist drifted out.

The old man took a deep breath, and the pain on his face instantly subsided, making him feel as if he were floating on air.

"You can have it if you want it."

Zhou Yang closed the box and looked at the old man.

"From today onwards, Black Wind Stronghold will listen to me. And you will listen to me too."

"You must act whenever I need you."

"Even if it means killing the Heavenly King himself, you have to go."

The old man nodded without hesitation, shaking his head vigorously.

"Fine! Fine! As long as you give me this, I'll kill anyone! I'll be your dog! No, more obedient than a dog!"

For someone suffering from the torment of fire poison and on the verge of death, this piece of ice is their only lifeline.

Let alone killing someone, even eating shit would be enough to relieve his pain, he would do it without hesitation.

Zhou Yang nodded in satisfaction.

He tossed the box to the old man.

"then."

The old man hurriedly caught it, holding it in his arms as if it were an ancestral tablet, and refused to let go.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, eagerly absorbing the wisp of yin energy emanating from it.

The face, which had been as red as a branding iron, gradually returned to a normal skin tone.

The hall was deathly silent.

Er Mazi and the bandits who had been shouting the loudest earlier were now all cowering, not daring to utter a sound.

Even our ancestors have knelt down, so what are they still trying to achieve?

This is strength.

It's not about brute force and violence, but about manipulating people's hearts and minds.

Zhou Yang dusted off his hands and walked back to the high platform in the center of the hall.

He plopped down on the chair covered with a tiger skin.

The chair still smelled of Tie Hu's blood, but he didn't care.

He crossed his legs and scanned the entire room with his eyes.

This time, no one dared to meet his gaze.

Everyone lowered their heads, fearing they might be targeted by this ruthless new chieftain who possessed a great treasure.

"Now, does anyone else have any objections?"

Zhou Yang asked lazily.

No one spoke.

Only the howling wind outside the window seemed to be answering for these unfortunate souls.

"very good."

Zhou Yang nodded and looked at Qin Shuang standing to the side.

This woman made a brilliant move.

Not only did it solve the immediate problem, it also helped him recruit a powerful henchman.

The value of this piece of ice is far greater than that of these poor bandits.

This guy's plan is even more cunning than his.

"I'll remember this debt."

Zhou Yang blinked at Qin Shuang and lowered his voice.

"However, isn't this dowry a bit too light?"

Qin Shuang snorted coldly, turned around, and faced away from him.

"Greedy and insatiable."

Although her tone was cold, Zhou Yang clearly saw a slight curve at the corner of her mouth.

That wasn't mockery.

It's more like a tacit understanding of... pleasant cooperation.

Zhou Yang leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

Black Wind Stronghold has been captured.

But this is only the beginning.

Commander Chen was still lurking outside, and the shadow of the Heavenly Principle Sect lingered.

He needs more money, more resources, and greater strength.

And this Black Wind Stronghold is his new starting point.

"Er Mazi".

Zhou Yang suddenly shouted.

The man with the missing ear shuddered and immediately stepped forward, kneeling down on the ground.

"Chief...Chief!"

"Don't call me that so affectionately."

Zhou Yang waved his hand and pointed to the corpse on the ground.

"Clean these things up and bury them. Don't let them bring bad luck."

"Also, find all the account books in the village. I need to know exactly how much wealth this village has."

"If even a single copper coin is missing..."

He squinted, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

Thump, thump, thump.

The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like it was hitting Er Mazi in the heart.

"I'll cut off the other side of your ear too."

Er Mazi was so frightened that he kowtowed repeatedly.

"Yes! Yes! I'll go right away! I'll go right away!"

Watching Er Mazi and his men frantically clean up the scene, Zhou Yang turned to look at the old man in the corner who was holding Bingpo and grinning foolishly.

A reclusive master, a group of reckless bandits, and a wealthy female patron.

This setup seems to be no worse than those prestigious sects.

"It's time for a change of fortune in Black Wind Stronghold."

Zhou Yang muttered to himself, took out a hard, dry piece of bread from his pocket, and took a bite.

It's really hard.

It would be nice if there was some meat in it.

We need to find a way to get those poor bandits to get him some good food.

After all, health is the foundation of everything, including making money.

Chapter 728 Title: Reorganizing the Mountain Stronghold, Sharpening the Sword

I chewed that hard, dry bread for ages, but I still couldn't swallow it.

Zhou Yang frowned and tossed the remaining half into a corner. A living person can't be suffocated by needing to urinate, much less choke on a broken pancake. His current identity was the leader of Black Wind Stronghold; the leader should eat meat and drink wine.

He walked out of the house.

The sunlight outside was blinding. The air was thick with the stench of blood and rotting corpses, but after a while, it didn't feel unbearable. The mountain stronghold was deathly silent; the bandits huddled in their dens, too afraid to venture out. Yesterday's massacre in the main hall had terrified them.

"Er Mazi," Zhou Yang called out.

Soon, the thin figure emerged from the nearby woodshed, his face still smeared with blood. "Boss, you were looking for me?"

"Go, summon everyone in the stronghold to the training ground. Not a single one can be missing." Zhou Yang's tone was calm. "Including that old man holding the ice block."

"Yes!" Er Mazi replied quickly, then turned and ran, as if afraid that Zhou Yang would change his mind.

The training ground was the largest flat area in Black Wind Stronghold, originally used for training new recruits, but now it was overgrown with weeds. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the remaining hundred or so people of Black Wind Stronghold had all gathered. They stood sparsely, whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

At the very front of the crowd stood two men. One was a burly man with a face full of scars; his left arm was severed at the elbow and held in place by a filthy cloth strip. His name was Wang Ba, nicknamed "One-Armed Wolf." The other was a gaunt middle-aged man with a sallow complexion and darting eyes; he was known as "Scorpion." These two were the former second and third leaders of Black Wind Stronghold, and also Tie Hu's two most loyal henchmen.

Yesterday, when Zhou Yang killed Tie Hu, the two of them didn't dare to move. But now, they're the only two left with any prestige in the village, and the fire in their hearts has started burning again.

Zhou Yang stood in the center of the martial arts arena, with only the old man holding the Ice Soul and grinning foolishly beside him. Qin Shuang didn't come out; she wasn't interested in these matters.

"Is everyone here?" Zhou Yang glanced around.

No one spoke, only a buzzing of discussion.

"Quiet," Zhou Yang said, uttering only two words.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads. The murmurs instantly ceased.

"From today onwards, I, Zhou Yang, am the leader of Black Wind Stronghold." He pointed to himself. "My word is the rule here. Understand?"

A sparse chorus of responses rang out from the crowd.

"I understand... I understand..."

At this moment, the one-armed wolf king Ba stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Chief Zhou, we have no objection to you killing Brother Tiehu; the victor is king. But Black Wind Stronghold's business has always had its old rules. You, an outsider, can't just change them, can you?"

Scorpion chimed in, "That's right, Boss. We brothers follow Brother Iron Tiger just to make a living. You have to show us the way."

Zhou Yang smiled.

His smile was gentle, but it sent chills down one's spine.

"Show me the way? Sure." He nodded, then suddenly his figure blurred and he disappeared.

The next moment, he appeared in front of Wang Ba.

Wang Ba's pupils contracted sharply; he saw only a hand reaching towards his neck. He tried to dodge, but his body seemed frozen, unable to move.

Click.

A crisp sound of bone cracking.

Under everyone's gaze, the one-armed wolf king Ba's enormous head drooped down at an eerie angle, and his body fell straight to the ground without even being able to let out a scream.

Blood gushed from his neck, staining the wild grass beneath his feet.

The entire room fell silent.

Scorpion's face instantly drained of color, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground. Just as he was about to beg for mercy, Zhou Yang was already in front of him.

"What...what do you want to do..." Scorpion's voice trembled.

"I'll show you the way." Zhou Yang gently placed his palm on the top of his head. "Go to the underworld and serve your Brother Iron Tiger well."

Before the words were even finished, an immense and unpredictable power surged into the scorpion's body.

The scorpion's body stiffened abruptly, its eyes bulging, and black blood gushing from its seven orifices. Its life force was being drained at an alarming rate. In less than three breaths, it became a dried-up corpse, falling straight down and shattering into pieces on the ground.

Zhou Yang withdrew his hand, his expression unchanged.

He could feel two streams of life force, not particularly abundant but still quite pure, merging into his body. Killing those two people had given him an extra twenty years of lifespan. Not bad, that was enough.

"Is there anyone else who has a problem with my rules?" He slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over every terrified face.

puff.

puff.

puff.

All the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold knelt down. They kowtowed to the ground, their bodies trembling like leaves. Now they understood that their new leader was not a bandit, but a devil. He could kill without even using a knife.

"Very good." Zhou Yang was very satisfied with the result.

He walked over to the two corpses, bent down, and picked up their heads as if they were two stones, then casually tossed them onto the high platform of the training ground.

"These two are negative examples." His voice echoed in the silent space. "Follow me, and you'll live a life of luxury. Oppose me, and this is what will happen."

He paused, then changed the subject.

"Of course, sticks alone aren't enough; you also need carrots."

He stretched out his hand, and a soft white light appeared in his palm. That was the lifespan he had plundered from Wang Ba and the scorpion.

"This Black Wind Stronghold used to be nothing but a bunch of scoundrels, living a life of mere scraps by the Blood Bone Swamp, robbing passing merchants and barely managing to fill their stomachs. If you follow Tie Hu, you'll only ever be bandits destined to be wiped out."

But now, things are different.

Zhou Yang's voice carried a captivating power.

"I can give you strength, I can give you cultivation techniques, I can let you live better than anyone else. What I have can heal your injuries and let you live ten years longer. Who wants it?"

The bandits kneeling on the ground suddenly raised their heads, their eyes gleaming with disbelief. What had they witnessed? Divine intervention? Resurrection?

"Me! Boss! I want it!" one of them shouted first. He had an old injury on his leg that ached terribly on rainy days.

"I want one too, Boss!"

"I want it! I want it!"

The crowd erupted in a frenzy. The will to survive overcame their fear. These people, who lived on the edge of a knife, were more afraid of death than anyone else, and more eager for power than anyone else.

Zhou Yang smiled.

He casually waved his hand, and faint streams of life force entered the bodies of the loudest bandits.

A warm current flowed through his body. The bandit with the old wound on his leg was surprised to find that the scar that had tormented him for years no longer hurt! He felt full of strength.

Others also felt the changes to varying degrees; some had their old injuries healed, and others were full of energy.

Although their lifespans are short, they are a blessing from God to them.

"See that?" Zhou Yang's voice rang out again. "This is my reward. Be obedient, and you'll have meat to eat, wine to drink, and your life to live."

"From today onward, Black Wind Stronghold's target will no longer be passing merchants. Our target is Beast City!"

"The City of Ten Thousand Beasts?" Everyone was stunned. That was the most chaotic and prosperous megacity within a thousand miles, teeming with countless powerful cultivators and ferocious demonic beasts. Wouldn't this rabble be throwing their lives away there?

"That's right, the City of Ten Thousand Beasts." Zhou Yang's tone was resolute. "But before we go, there's one more thing we need to do."

He walked up to the old man holding the Ice Soul and patted him on the shoulder. The old man grinned foolishly and looked up at him.

"And you guys too." Zhou Yang beckoned to Er Mazi and a few of the more clever-looking bandits. "Come with me."

The group followed Zhou Yang into the stone house where Tie Hu used to live, their hearts pounding with fear.

The room was dimly lit.

Zhou Yang closed the door and asked Er Mazi, "What kind of martial arts do you practice?"

Er Mazi quickly replied, "Reporting to the chief, it was Brother Tiehu who taught me the 'Black Wind Saber Technique,' which only has the first three levels."

"Trash," Zhou Yang commented.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on the system in his brain.

"Burning lifespan, elaborating on the 'Black Wind Blade Technique' to perfection, and matching it with three sets of killing moves suitable for Er Mazi's physique."

[Lifespan burns for ten years.]

[Deduction complete.]

In an instant, a complete and exquisite technique was imprinted in Zhou Yang's mind. He reached out and touched Er Mazi's brow.

"Remember, you only have one chance."

A massive torrent of information rushed into Er Mazi's mind. He screamed in pain, clutching his head and rolling on the ground. But soon, he stopped, his eyes becoming incredibly bright.

He stood up and unconsciously swung his right hand.

A faint clang of a blade echoed in the air.

"This...this is the fourth level of the Black Wind Blade Technique! There are also three more moves: 'Chasing the Wind,' 'Severing the Flow,' and 'Splitting the Earth'!" Er Mazi was so excited that he was incoherent. He looked at Zhou Yang as if he were a god.

Zhou Yang ignored him and turned to the old man holding Bingpo.

"What's your name?"

The old man chuckled foolishly, "Ice...ice..."

"Alright, let's call him Lao Bing." Zhou Yang named him directly. He examined Lao Bing's meridians and found that there was an extremely cold but chaotic energy in his body. It should be that he had gone wrong in practicing some kind of strange ice-type technique, which led to his mental instability.

"Burning his lifespan by five years, we deduced a method to regulate the cold energy within his body."

[Lifespan is five years.]

[Deduction complete.]

Zhou Yang also imprinted the information, then placed one hand on the old man's dantian and the other on his back. The two different internal energies began to untangle his chaotic meridians according to the deduced path.

Old Bing's body trembled violently, his face turning red and white in turns. The chill emanating from the Ice Soul in his arms grew stronger and stronger, and the temperature in the entire room dropped sharply.

A moment later, Zhou Yang released his grip.

Old Bing stopped trembling, raised his head, and his eyes were no longer so cloudy. He looked down at his hands, then touched the Ice Soul in his arms, a confused expression on his face.

"Who...who am I?"

"Your name is Lao Bing. You'll be working for me from now on," Zhou Yang said succinctly.

Old Bing nodded, his gaze falling on Zhou Yang, a clear sense of awe appearing in his eyes.

Within a few days, Black Wind Village underwent a dramatic transformation.

Everyone witnessed the new leader's extraordinary abilities. The lifespan he was allotted to them made them devoted to him, while the promises he made for the future filled them with enthusiasm.

Every day, bandits could be seen practicing their martial arts in the training ground, sweating profusely. Er Mazi became the new leader, wielding his transformed "Black Wind Saber Technique" with imposing presence and commanding his men with remarkable skill.

The cohesion of these "shanzhai" (counterfeit) groups is stronger than ever before.

That day, Zhou Yang once again summoned everyone to the training ground.

He stood before the two withered heads, his voice echoing throughout the entire mountain village.

"Brothers, are we almost ready?"

"Ready!" came the thunderous response.

"Good." Zhou Yang pointed to the vast and dangerous swamp outside the mountain stronghold. "Our first piece of the pie is there. Bloodbone Swamp, within a hundred miles, has more than a dozen small hills like ours, as well as three dens that produce Bloodclotting Grass and Ironback Crocodiles."

"From this day forward, Black Wind Stronghold's sole objective is to annex them and monopolize all the resources here!"

"Let's plant our Black Wind Stronghold's banner all over this swamp!"

"We want everyone to know who the king is here!"

In the sunlight, he raised his hand and then swung it down suddenly.

"Set off!"

Chapter 729 Title: The "Entrance Tax" of the City of Beasts

The group walked through the swamp for three days.

The air was thick with the smell of rotting mud, mixed with the buzzing of various unknown insects. The path underfoot was sticky, and it took some effort to pull your foot out after each step.

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold, however, seemed to have come home.

They shed their tattered clothes and donned uniform leather armor. Though the material was mediocre, at least they looked like a unit now. Most carried their new weapons, their faces showing both wariness of the unfamiliar environment and barely suppressed excitement.

This was their first time venturing out of the mountain village to explore a wider world.

Zhou Yang rode on the back of the skeletal horse, leading the procession. The horse's frame was tall, and it barely sank into the mud, walking steadily. The chilling aura emanating from the gaps in the horse's bones repelled most of the surrounding mosquitoes.

Behind him, Qin Shuang rode a normal black horse, her brows slightly furrowed, covering her nose with a silk handkerchief embroidered with orchids. She was clearly not used to the environment, but her back was ramrod straight, and she didn't say a word.

In the corner, the old man named Bingpo chuckled foolishly, clutching his precious ice cube. He seemed oblivious to everything around him, as if holding the ice cube made even hell seem like heaven.

Er Mazi leaned close to Zhou Yang's horse and whispered, "Boss, we're at Ten Thousand Beasts City just ahead. The scouts report that this city is very strange, and the rules for entering are strict."

"Rules?" Zhou Yang asked casually. "There are no rules in the world that money can't settle. If there are, it just means you don't have enough money."

He said that, but he was quickly making plans in his mind.

With the inheritance left by Fang Tian after his death, plus what he plundered from Black Wind Stronghold, and the "dowry" given by Qin Shuang, he is now quite wealthy. But he wants to spend his money wisely; he won't bleed himself dry just by going into a city.

After walking for another half hour, a huge black outline appeared in the gray mist.

City of Beasts.

It was unlike any city Zhou Yang had ever seen. The entire city wall was not made of blue bricks or huge stones, but rather of the black skeleton of some kind of enormous beast. Each bone was larger than a millstone, and when pieced together, it exuded a savage and ferocious aura.

The city gate was even more outrageous; it was a single, massive rib, lying across the entrance to form a natural archway. It was covered with ferocious animal head totems, enough to send chills down one's spine.

Even before getting close, you could hear the roars of wild beasts coming from the city, like thousands of ferocious animals howling.

"This is the City of Ten Thousand Beasts..." Er Mazi swallowed hard, his face full of shock. "I heard that the city raises tens of thousands of ferocious beasts, specifically for fighting wars."

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes.

This city is like a giant beast crouching in a swamp. And he's here to pull out a few of that beast's teeth.

The procession stopped a hundred paces from the city gate.

A squad of city guards, clad in animal hide armor and wielding bone spears, swaggered over. Leading them was a burly man with a scar running from his brow to the corner of his mouth; his eyes swept over Zhou Yang's men like knives.

"Halt! Who goes there?" Scarface's voice was rough and hoarse, carrying an air of condescending arrogance.

Er Mazi quickly stepped forward, forcing a smile: "Sir, we are from Black Wind Stronghold, here in Ten Thousand Beasts City to do some business."

"Black Wind Stronghold?" Scarface scoffed as if he'd heard a joke. "Never heard of it. A vermin crawling out of a ditch dares to come to Ten Thousand Beasts City?"

The city guards behind him also joined in the laughter, their eyes greedily scanning the equipment in the ranks, especially Qin Shuang's obviously expensive brocade robes and the sword at her waist.

Zhou Yang's white-boned horse made them stare in disbelief.

"Want to enter the city? Sure." The scarred man's smile vanished, and he extended a greasy hand. "Do you understand the rules? The city entrance tax is one hundred taels of gold per person. Or, produce your Beast City identity token."

One hundred taels of gold per person.

There were more than 400 people behind Zhou Yang, and this time it cost more than 40,000 taels of gold.

This isn't a tax, this is outright robbery.

Er Mazi's face turned pale: "Sir, this...this is too much! Where would we get so much gold?"

"Nothing?" Scarface's face darkened, his hand landing on the curved sword at his waist. "If you don't have anything, go back to your mountain ravines! Don't get in the way!"

He sized Qin Shuang up and down, his eyes turning lewd: "However, this young lady has such delicate skin, I can let her into the city. As long as she comes to my tent tonight and 'serves' me well for the night, I'll waive the city entrance tax."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding city guards laughed even more lewdly.

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold instantly erupted in chaos, glaring angrily and reaching for their weapons at their waists.

Qin Shuang's face instantly turned cold. A chilling killing intent emanated from her.

Just then, Zhou Yang made a move.

He didn't speak, but gently patted the skeletal horse's neck. As if receiving some command, the skeletal horse took a few slow steps forward.

Tap, tap, tap.

Every step felt like stepping on someone's heartbeat.

Zhou Yang sat on horseback, looking down at Scarface with a faint smile on his face.

"Brother, I just came from the village and don't know the rules," he said softly. "You said one hundred taels of gold per person, right?"

The scarred man felt a little uneasy under his gaze, but relying on his superior numbers, he still forced a smile and said, "What, you don't want to pay?"

Zhou Yang nodded, then shook his head.

"Giving money isn't out of the question," he said slowly, "but I'd like to ask, whose city is this? And who made these rules?"

"Nonsense! Of course it's the City Lord's city!" Scarface puffed out his chest. "Within the City of Ten Thousand Beasts, my word, Li Bao's word, is the rule!"

"Li Bao? What a nice name." Zhou Yang smiled.

With a flick of his wrist, a gold ingot appeared out of thin air in his hand. He tossed it in his hand, and the gold streaked with dazzling yellow light in the sunlight.

"Is this enough to buy your life?"

Li Bao was taken aback at first, then flew into a rage: "You're asking for death!"

He suddenly drew the curved sword from his waist and viciously slashed at Zhou Yang.

"How dare they cause trouble at the gates of Beast City! Brothers, cut them down!"

The surrounding city guards swarmed forward, brandishing their bone spears, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.

However, none of them saw it clearly.

The gold in Zhou Yang's hand disappeared without him noticing.

Instead, a cold glint appeared.

The light was so fast, it felt like an illusion.

Li Bao's curved blade was only halfway through its swing. His face still held a ferocious killing intent.

A thin line of blood, as thin as a hair, appeared on his neck.

All his movements froze in place.

"Click."

The scimitar in his hand fell to the ground and broke in two.

Li Bao's eyes widened in disbelief. He tried to say something, but only managed a series of gasping sounds. He clutched his neck, warm blood gushing from between his fingers.

Finally, his tall body collapsed with a thud.

The whole world seemed to have been muted at that moment.

All the city guards who rushed forward froze in place.

All the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold gaped in astonishment.

Qin Shuang's grip on the sword hilt tightened slightly. Looking at the figure sitting on the bone horse, seemingly having done nothing, a storm raged within her.

too fast.

It was so fast that she couldn't even see how Zhou Yang's sword was drawn.

Zhou Yang sheathed his sword. The blade was clean and spotless, without a trace of blood. It was as if he had simply swung it casually and taken a life.

He looked down at Li Bao's corpse on the ground, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

"One hundred taels of gold for a human life," he murmured to himself. "A bit expensive, but a good deal."

Then, he raised his head and glanced at the pale-faced city guards.

"His name is Li Bao, right?" Zhou Yang's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "He said that the rules he sets are the rules of Ten Thousand Beasts City."

"Now, he's dead."

He paused, his tone becoming even calmer and colder.

"Therefore, from now on, the rules I set will be the rules of the City of Ten Thousand Beasts."

"The first rule—"

He held up a finger and pointed to the massive skeletal city gate.

"My people can enter the city without paying taxes."

"If you have any objections, you can stand up and talk to me about the price, just like he did."

The wind howled past, stirring up the dust on the ground.

The remaining dozen or so city guards trembled like leaves. They looked at the corpses on the ground, then at the godlike man on horseback, and dared not utter a single word of dissent.

Zhou Yang ignored them.

He pulled on the reins, and the white bone horse strode forward, heading straight for the massive bone city gate.

"The boss is awesome!" Someone shouted first.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar echoed throughout the swamp.

"Our boss is awesome!"

"Well done!"

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold looked at Zhou Yang with eyes full of fanatical worship. They followed behind Zhou Yang, backs straight, and marched into the City of Ten Thousand Beasts in a grand procession.

Qin Shuang followed behind, watching Zhou Yang's back, remaining silent for a long time.

She suddenly realized that this behemoth called the City of Ten Thousand Beasts had finally encountered a true predator today.

And this predator had only just opened its blood-red maw.