On the roof of the main hall...
Concealing his presence with the Turtle Breathing Technique, Su Hao peered through a crack in the roof tiles, observing the bandits below as they ate and drank with gusto.
"These bandits sure know how to enjoy themselves. No wonder so many are drawn to this life," Su Hao mused, taking a bite of a chicken leg he'd swiped from the kitchens earlier.
A while later...
A faint smile played on Su Hao's lips as he watched the bandits unknowingly consume the gu eggs. He then abandoned his concealed position, his figure gliding silently from the rooftop towards the entrance of the main hall.
Inside the hall...
Huang Cheng, alerted by the subtle sounds, shifted his gaze towards the entrance.
"Since you've come to Tiger Head Stronghold, friend, why not show yourself?" he called out.
The other bandits, their expressions hardening, followed his gaze, their bodies radiating a menacing aura.
Creak! The doors to the main hall swung open, revealing Su Hao, clad in black, standing calmly at the entrance.
"Chief Huang, your vigilance is commendable," Su Hao remarked, stepping into the hall.
"What brings you here so late at night, friend?" Huang Cheng inquired, his tone cautious. He couldn't discern Su Hao's cultivation level and was wary of provoking a hidden expert.
"I've come to ask for your assistance, Chief Huang," Su Hao stated, his voice cold.
"Speak freely, friend. If it's within my power, I, Huang Cheng, will gladly lend a hand," Huang Cheng boomed, his voice carrying beyond the hall.
Outside, the bandits, alerted by the commotion, began to converge towards the main hall.
"How disappointing, Chief Huang. You seem to lack sincerity," Su Hao said, a chilling smile spreading across his face.
"As a consequence for your lack of sincerity, I believe a taste of fear is in order." His gaze, cold and sharp, settled on the bare-chested bandit seated across from him.
The bandit, a shiver running down his spine, suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
"Argh!"
He clutched his head, screaming in agony.
"My head!"
He slammed his head repeatedly against the ground, blood splattering everywhere, but the pain wouldn't cease.
"What have you done to my brother?" Huang Cheng roared, his face contorted in horror. He hadn't seen Su Hao make a single move.
Outside, the bandits had gathered at the entrance. Some, fueled by anger, charged towards Su Hao, intending to subdue him. However, the ground beneath them suddenly erupted.
A monstrous insect, its body glistening with venom, emerged from the earth. It let out a deafening screech, spraying a stream of toxic saliva towards the approaching bandits. Their screams were cut short as the venom engulfed them, their bodies collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.
"Fall back!"
Terror gripped the bandits as they scrambled away from the grotesque creature, their minds consumed by primal fear.
"Chief Huang, your brother isn't the only one who's been given a taste of my methods. You and your esteemed colleagues have also been 'marked'. I've simply chosen not to activate them... yet. Now, shall we have a proper discussion?" Su Hao asked, his tone deceptively calm.
"Sir, we at Tiger Head Stronghold bear you no ill will!" Huang Cheng stammered, his eyes wide with fear. The other bandit leaders, their faces pale, shared his terror. They wanted to fight back, but the sight of the monstrous insect behind Su Hao sapped their courage.
"Tell your men to disperse," Su Hao commanded, glancing at the terrified bandits outside.
"You heard him! Leave! No one enters the main hall without my orders!" Huang Cheng barked, desperate to appease the mysterious figure before him.
The bandits, relieved to escape the creature's presence, quickly dispersed.
"Much better," Su Hao said, strolling casually into the hall. He took a seat at Huang Cheng's former position, his gaze falling upon the unconscious form of the bare-chested bandit.
"What is it that you require of us, sir?" Huang Cheng asked, his voice laced with respect. He knew when to yield.
"I've heard rumors of a gold mine within the Azure Cloud Mountain Range. Tell me, have you heard of such tales?" Su Hao inquired, his voice low.
"A gold mine?"
Huang Cheng frowned, racking his brain.
"I've heard whispers, rumors passed down from generations past, but nothing concrete," he replied, choosing his words carefully. He didn't dare lie.
"So, the rumors are true. There is indeed a gold mine hidden within these mountains," Su Hao murmured, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"That, Chief Huang, is why I'm here. I need your help in finding this gold mine. Of course, I realize that relying solely on Tiger Head Stronghold's resources might prove insufficient. Rest assured, I'll provide you with the necessary assistance."
As he spoke, a tiny insect materialized in his palm.
Huang Cheng felt a surge of terror, a primal fear emanating from the Three Corpse Gu residing within his mind.
"What's happening?" he gasped, glancing at his fellow bandit leaders. They, too, wore expressions of terror.
Su Hao remained silent as the Three Corpse Brain Gu crawled towards a nearby wine bowl, proceeding to regurgitate a bowlful of eggs.
"Find a way to introduce these eggs into the food or drink of the leaders of the other thirty-five bandit gangs. With their minds under my control, locating the gold mine will be a trivial matter," Su Hao explained, his tone calm and measured.
Huang Cheng and the others felt a chill run down their spines. This man in black intended to ensnare all the bandit gangs within the Azure Cloud Mountain Range, turning them into his pawns in his quest for the gold mine.
Meanwhile, at the Blood Shadow Cult's secret branch in the prefectural city...
"Congratulations, Branch Master, on reaching the late stage of the Heaven Realm!"
Inside the main hall of the secret branch, a middle-aged man with a pale, handsome face, dressed in a green robe, bowed respectfully to Duanmu Ming, who sat upon the central throne.
This man was Yao Kui, the protector of the Blood Shadow Cult's Northwest Branch and a ninth-level Earth Realm expert. He was Duanmu Ming's most trusted lieutenant.
Duanmu Ming, his imposing figure clad in fine silk robes, emanated an aura of power and authority. His face, however, remained grim despite Yao Kui's congratulations.
"There's little to celebrate, Yao Kui. Had the Imperial Censor's men arrived at the dungeon any sooner, I might not have achieved this breakthrough. But how did they learn of my presence and my cultivation within their prison?"
"I've interrogated our informant within the Imperial Censor's office, Branch Master. He claims that the information regarding your cultivation within the dungeon came from Su Wu. However, he couldn't uncover how Su Wu came to possess such knowledge," Yao Kui reported, shaking his head.
"It must be the Su family," Duanmu Chen, who stood behind Duanmu Ming, interjected, his eyes blazing with fury at the mention of their name.
The Su family had become a thorn in their side, responsible for the deaths of three of their own.
"The Su family..."
A cold light flickered in Duanmu Ming's eyes. He, too, suspected the Su family's involvement. Su Wu, as the vice commander of the Imperial Censor's office, wouldn't hesitate to exploit such an opportunity to strike at the Blood Shadow Cult, especially given their recent conflict.
But how did the Su family find out?
"What of the previous matter concerning the Su family? Has Lan Yue's death been avenged?" Duanmu Ming asked, his voice low.
"Forgive me, foster father. I failed. Third Brother and Fourth Brother... they perished at the hands of the Su family," Duanmu Chen confessed, dropping to his knees.
"Failed? Third Brother and Fourth Brother are dead?" Duanmu Ming's eyelid twitched involuntarily.
"They were eliminated by a single opponent... Su Hao?"
"He must have had powerful individuals protecting him, foster father. Allow me to deal with this Su Hao personally," Duanmu Chen pleaded, his fists clenched.
"Patience. Let me consolidate my cultivation first. We'll meet with Marquis Qixue and discuss how to proceed against the Su family," Duanmu Ming said, raising a hand to silence his foster son.