The detoxification antidote had been taken.
Xiong Ba quickly recovered from the weak and feeble state of his body, and the toxins that had flowed into his system were mitigated. Struggling to rise from the bed, he laughed and said,
"Lao San, oh Lao San, I just knew that the treacherous Second Master poisoning me then going after you was a death sentence, and sure enough, now he's the one who's dead.
I originally thought you looked down on our little Black Wind Village.
But since you are now interested, with your stronger fists, you be the Great Master. I have not a single complaint. Don't worry, hahaha."
Jiang Dali smiled blandly and said, "I know you mean it."
If there had been any insincerity, if Xiong Ba had shown the slightest hostility, he would have received a warning immediately, seeing a red aura around the other man.
"Good, now you're the Great Master. I'll gather the fellows in a moment to announce this news. Anyway, your reputation in the Mountain Village is solid enough; everybody listens to you."
Xiong Ba was indeed quite magnanimous and capable of taking things in stride, but then he puzzled, "However, I'm really curious. Now that you've come back, you must have killed Qiu Xue Mei. With the merits you've achieved, you should be clear that you could move up to higher places.
Why then would you still choose to stay and become the Great Master of our small Black Wind Village?
Don't you know, Second Master wanted to kill you just to take your merits and move up himself?"
"Because I don't want to live off others' favors. Being the boss here in Black Wind Village, with so many underlings to command, isn't that nice? And the Martial World is so vast, me being only in the Inner Qi Realm, if I went out adventuring for a few years, I might not even return in one piece," Jiang Dali said with a light chuckle.
Stunned, Xiong Ba gave a bitter laugh and shook his head, "I don't even know what to say to you. But being cautious is good."
Just then, Jiang Dali received a notification: his mission to capture Qiu Xue Mei was completed, and he received 30 Cultivation Points, 30 Potential Points, and 30 reputation points in the martial world.
He didn't bother with these Cultivation Points and Potential Points yet; he turned and walked out of the house.
"First, deal with the traitors."
...
In the courtyard.
Two incredibly panicked mountain bandits and the wife of Xiong Ba were all controlled and tied up. A crowd of mountain bandits had already arrived to watch, completely surrounding the courtyard, no space left unfilled.
The smell of sweat, the stench of feet, the sour smell of spoiled wine, the stench of meat – vile odors constantly emanated from these bandits.
Jiang Dali and Xiong Ba walked out of the house with frowns, and immediately a few clever bandits brought over big chairs for them to sit on.
"Great Master, take a seat!"
"Third Master, take a seat!"
Jiang Dali was the first to sit down with a flop, drawing surprised looks from some of the bandits.
In the Mountain Village, status and identity were very clear.
Even though Jiang Dali had earned quite a reputation over the years, rivaling that of Xiong Ba, he was not yet the Great Master.
Xiong Ba hadn't even sat down yet and he was already taking a seat, which was against the rules.
But then, there stood Xiong Ba, looking around at everyone, and with a fist cupped in the other hand, he loudly announced, "My good brothers, our Black Wind Village has survived on tolls from those passing by and protection fees from the neighboring villages' elders and folks.
But we've been able to rule these mountains undisturbed for so many years because we're backed by those above us.
The rice bowl they offer is not easy to hold firmly, but Brother Da Li has been able to hold it steady.
Therefore, I, Xiong Ba, have decided today to abdicate in favor of the more capable. I voluntarily propose Brother Da Li as the new Great Master, while I step down to be the Second Master."
Wow—
As soon as Xiong Ba finished speaking, the group of mountain bandits erupted in chaos.
Some, even more stirred by emotion, started discussing, spitting out flying saliva.
The two captured traitors and the Second Lady also looked on in utter astonishment.
"Quiet down, all of you! What's all this ruckus about? Could it be that you think Brother Da Li doesn't deserve the position of Great Master?"
Xiong Ba huffed coldly, spitting out saliva like a nail onto the ground, creating a little pit.
The rowdy commotion in the scene immediately quieted down, and a series of shocked, questioning, and admiring gazes converged back and forth on Xiong Ba and Jiang Dali.
Xiong Ba's confidants and the Second Master's confidants, who had just thought of opposing, now seemed to understand something, especially when looking at Jiang Dali's broad figure, eyes closed as if waiting for someone to oppose, caused many to shrink their pupils and mute their lips, daring not to speak more.
Guan Gong never opens his eyes in vain—when he does, death follows.
Now, the former Great Master was so strongly supporting Jiang Dali's ascension, and with such determination not suggestive of reluctance, the amount of information that implied was extremely frightening when thought deeply.
Seeing there were no objections.
Xiong Ba finally nodded in satisfaction and dropped an even bigger bombshell, informing all the gathered mountain bandits that the Second Master had betrayed them, intending to kill Jiang Dali to take his merits, and that he had been killed by Jiang Dali.
The news hit like a bombshell, leaving the mountain bandits shocked and even more fearful.
Some were relieved that they had not stepped forward just before.
Whether the Second Master had truly betrayed them or had simply failed in this battle for power, the victor was now Jiang Dali.
Who would remember the losers, and who would dare to stand up for them?
Whoever grumbled or complained was courting death!
Only then did Jiang Dali open his eyes, his expression calm as he looked at the gathered underlings and spoke indifferently, "I'm taking the seat of the Great Master. Which of you brothers agrees, and which of you opposes?"
The atmosphere fell silent and motionless.
Everyone was as silent as cicadas in winter.
Until a couple of sharp ones immediately started clapping and cheering, and suddenly applause and cheers echoed throughout the mountaintop, with everyone endorsing and agreeing.
"Very good!"
Jiang Dali, having received the notification that he had succeeded in his ascent, displayed a satisfied smile. He pointed to the few men under control on the ground, "These backstabbers, they colluded with the former Second Master, plotting against me and Second Master Xiong."
Jiang Dali stood up, a daunting momentum naturally emanating from him as he walked over to the few men, "Will you spill it yourselves, or do you need me to enforce punishment?"
The two bandits and the Second Lady had never seen such a scene and, now that even the Life-stealing Scholar was dead, had completely lost their backbone and support. They sobbed and trembled, spilling out the reasons and details of their betrayal.
"You bitch! You trash dared to collude with the Life-stealing Scholar and harm me! You even killed the First Lady?"
Xiong Ba, in a rage, dashed over and with one kick sent the Second Lady flying into the wall of the courtyard.
The Second Lady screamed as she fell, spitting out blood, a few of her bones broken by the kick, and collapsed on the ground in disarray, crying, "Great Master, I, I didn't mean to, it was the Life-stealing Scholar who blackmailed me with something he had on me. I served you whole-heartedly over the years, please spare me..."
Xiong Ba, panting with rage, glared at the Second Lady, his hands violently trembling.
Jiang Dali was inwardly shaking his head.
This Xiong Ba, had he really been so bewitched these last couple of years that he hesitated at a time like this?
That Second Lady was still emitting a hostile red glow, a complete femme fatale.
With a flick of the hand.
Whoosh.
A dart flew straight out from his sleeve.
Hitting the Second Lady's forehead as she looked up in fear, the dart lodged into her skull, and then crimson blood began to seep from the edge of the blade.
"You!"
Xiong Ba was astonished.
Jiang Dali calmly said, "Some mistakes can't be rectified by bowing your head and apologizing. If I had died at the hands of the former Second Master, what fate would you have met in the hands of him and this woman? Do I need to spell it out for you?"
Xiong Ba was at a loss for words, suddenly looking somewhat despondent, feeling that he had truly aged, become senile—with none of the iron-blooded ruthlessness and cold-heartedness of his younger days.
"A true hero's blood must run cold."
Jiang Dali's eyes were deep as he looked at the two bandits who were now begging for mercy, and he waved his hand.
"Three cuts, six holes, commence the punishment."
"Yes, Great Master!"
Immediately, some quick-witted bandits stepped forward to carry out the task.
Heart-wrenching screams resounded within the courtyard, causing many of the bandits, who still harbored different thoughts, to feel goosebumps, putting those thoughts aside.
"Bring the wine! A bowl for everyone!"
Jiang Dali commanded with a grand gesture.
Jar after jar of wine was brought forth.
A bowl of invigorating wine poured for everyone.
Mingling with the blood-tinged air of the courtyard.
Over a hundred pairs of dark, shiny eyes held a look of reverence towards one man.
Jiang Dali lifted his bowl and spoke in a deep voice, "Among brothers, one should be willing to take a knife for another, not stab a brother in the back, and certainly not conspire with a woman to harm a brother. From now on, any more such offenders will be chopped up and fed to the dogs!"
Jiang Dali drank down the bowl in one gulp.
With a smack, he threw the bowl onto the table, shattering both bowl and tabletop with a burst from his robust palm.