Chapter 235

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Chapter 235: Catching the Thief Before Catching the King

Great Qin Prefecture is a newly established city.

Previously, it was a city that suffered greatly from the Inhuman Disaster, with half of the city destroyed by thunder, causing many deaths and displacing numerous refugees.

The imperial court decided to rebuild this half-ruined city into a new prefecture, as King Qin’s domain.

Over the past few months, there has been a flurry of activity in Great Qin City. When Qiao Mu arrived on the outskirts of the city, he saw a bustling scene.

It was noon, and most of the buildings along the road were under construction.

The houses in this outskirts area were mostly wooden or thatched houses, but there were many pedestrians passing by, including hardworking craftsmen and laborers, making this new city quite lively.

"Mr. Li Gongde is giving out porridge…" Someone under a shade by the road was banging a copper gong, the sound traveling far along the street.

Soon, there were even more pedestrians on the street, rushing like a tide.

"There should be rules for giving out this porridge." The middle-aged official holding the copper gong said loudly:

"This porridge is only for the elderly, young, women, and children, not for lazy or idle men."

"Our Great Qin Prefecture doesn’t support idlers. If there are young and strong individuals, there are plenty of job opportunities within the city. Don’t cause trouble here; it will spoil Mr. Li Gongde’s goodwill."

Although there were many people in the crowd, quite a few officials overseeing the porridge distribution were watching the line. At first glance, the situation was surprisingly orderly; everyone was patiently waiting in line, and there were no able-bodied men trying to take advantage of the situation.

"So this is how Great Qin Prefecture is?" Qiao Mu was quite surprised.

After parting ways at Anxi Pass, the old man from the arsenal led a group of elderly and children from the lonely city to settle in the newly established Great Qin Prefecture.

Qiao Mu, Hai Siyuan, and others thought that since the Great Qin Prefecture was connected to the Great Dao Sect Immortal Gate, the people from the lonely city might face danger and persecution, similar to their past experiences in the Hundred-mile Desert.

However, when they arrived, they realized that their expectations were completely wrong.

The old man from the arsenal, with only half of his face remaining, shook his head and said. If it wasn’t for Elder Lao and Captain Hai…

"Oh yes, now we have to call him General Hai… If you hadn’t informed me about this, I wouldn’t have believed the connection between the Great Qin Prefecture and the Great Dao Sect."

Qiao Mu didn’t come to the Great Qin Prefecture alone.

Along with him from the Imperial Capital were Hu Han and his daughter, as well as Hai Siyuan and some other soldiers.

Knowing that the Great Qin Prefecture was a dangerous place, it wouldn’t be easy for Qiao Mu to take the elderly and children from the lonely city back. He couldn’t do it alone.

Hundreds, even thousands, of elderly, children, and women followed the old man from the arsenal to the Great Qin Prefecture. If Qiao Mu came alone, it would take him a long time to gather everyone.

"Elder Lao, is this news reliable?" The old man from the arsenal frowned and couldn’t help asking.

If someone else had said this, he definitely wouldn’t believe it.

Their life in Great Qin City over the past month was much better than the uncertain days in the solitary city in the desert. It was like night and day.

The solitary city in the desert was a Sect Secret Realm created by the Great Dao Sect, while Great Qin Prefecture, a bustling new city, also established by the Great Dao Sect, the gap between the two is too big…

The old man from the arsenal didn’t distrust Qiao Mu and Hai Siyuan, but he dared not believe them.

"The hustle and bustle of Great Qin Prefecture might just be superficial. After all, who knows if one drinks this soup, their soul might be sold to the Immortal Gate." Qiao Mu casually remarked.

"Who is Mr. Li Gongde, the one who gave porridge to the people, is he someone under the command of King Qin?"

"Li Gongde is a very wealthy man from Zhong Province," explained the old man of the arsenal.

"I heard that among the four rich merchants in the Imperial Capital now, he, Li Gongde, ranks second…"

"Li Gongde seemed to believe in doing good deeds. Even though he was very rich in Zhong Province, he often helped Great Yan Imperial Court with disaster relief in the name of accumulating merits."

"Originally, he was in the Imperial Capital, but he heard about the reconstruction of Great Qin Prefecture and came here specially for it."

Very rich?

It was a coincidence that among the four wealthy people in the Imperial Capital, Qiao Mu happened to know one named Wan Ronghua.

Although Wan Ronghua didn’t mention it, his family descendants were very generous. Part of the money Qiao Mu used to buy a house in the Imperial Capital was raised by this generous person.

"The Wan family reportedly has a background in immortal ways and has connections with the prestigious Great Dao Sect," Qiao Mu pondered.

In this era dominated by the Nine Immortal Gates, even the Great Yan Imperial Court is somewhat influenced by the Immortal Gates, not to mention wealthy merchants.

Wealthy merchants like Wan Ronghua naturally recruit Spirit Refining martial artists as offerings to please the Immortal Gates.

Therefore, Qiao Mu speculated that Li Gongde, who came all the way from the Imperial Capital to Great Qin Prefecture, might also have ties to the Immortal Gates.

At that moment, the crowd started to get excited.

"Here comes Mr. Li Gongde…"

"Is Mr. Li personally coming over to distribute porridge?"

Qiao Mu followed the voice and saw a round-faced prosperous middle-aged man coming around the street corner, accompanied by several well-built bodyguards with bulging temples.

Li Gongde looked prosperous, with a friendly face and a faint smile on his lips, looking like a kind and gentle person, resembling a laughing Buddha.

With the arrival of Li Gongde, all eyes were on him. People of all ages in the queue were grateful, thanking him as he passed by.

Li Gongde was down-to-earth, stopping by the roadside to chat with the poor people waiting in line for porridge. After the conversation, a middle-aged councilor behind him quickly stepped forward to give some silver coins to the poor people Li Gongde had spoken to – who naturally felt grateful once again.

Li Gongde’s face beamed with joy. He was not only there to distribute porridge, but also to visit and comfort the craftsmen and laborers in the outskirts of the city.

This scene was reminiscent of the leaders Qiao Mu had seen in his past life inspecting work on the front line, except for one difference… Li Gongde always had a few middle-aged counselors by his side. After praising the laborers, Li Gongde would directly give them some silver coins.

A lively child who spreads wealth while walking.

The power of money is greater than mere praise.

Li Gongde gave away a lot of money on his journey, and the poor and laborers visibly brightened up with smiles, truly inspiring.

"Is he really here to earn merit?" Qiao Mu thought to himself.

After Li Gongde left, Qiao Mu and Hai Siyuan discussed how to discreetly evacuate the helpless in the city.

Their next target was King Qin and the powerful cultivators of the Great Dao Sect behind him.

If the women and children in the city were still there, they would have been more cautious.

"I wish I could crush King Qin to pieces…" Qiao Mu felt the urge, but held back.

King Qin’s Mansion was easy to find in the center of the city, and Qiao Mu understood the saying ‘catch the thief by catching the leader’.

But the "王" of this Great Qin Prefecture is not actually King Qin, but a cultivator behind King Qin.

It’s not about strength, but King Qin is essentially a Taoist soldier, even if he is powerful, he is ultimately inferior to a true cultivator.

So, the "王" that Qiao Mu needs to kill first is actually Dao Xu.

…………..

Half a day later.

Qiao Mu sat inside a wooden house, closing his eyes and resting.

Although it seemed like he was resting, strangely, his body was subtly moving, slightly undulating with each breath, and a warm mist was rising from the top of his head.

After a while, he opened his eyes.

"The injuries in the meridians from the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method are almost healed," Qiao Mu sighed in relief and clenched his fist.

Now that he was fully recovered, it meant he could continue using the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method.

Right at that moment, there was a knock on the door of the cottage, and in came two travelers wearing straw hats, who were none other than Hu Han and his daughter.

"Elder Lao, I have located the whereabouts of the ‘Iron Wolf’," said Hu Han as he took off his straw hat, his expression turning serious.

"He and his men are hiding in the mansion on the east side of the city recently purchased by Li Gongde."

With the help of the "Fragrant Insect" he had prepared beforehand, he was going to locate his former rival, Iron Wolf, effortlessly.

However, Dao Xu’s presence was unexpected to him, so he didn’t act rashly, but instead quickly contacted Qiao Mu as per their previous agreement.

"Is this matter really related to that Li Gongde?"

Qiao Mu had thoughts racing through his mind, but he simply nodded without showing any emotions on his face.

The timing was just right – his injuries had only just healed when he received news from Dao Xu, like being on the brink of despair and having someone offer a helping hand, very caring.

"Do you have any news about the Great Dao Sect’s Dao Xu? Is she with Iron Wolf?" Qiao Mu asked.

Hu Han looked troubled on his face.

"I’ve heard about the appearance of inhuman beings before, but I haven’t seen them with my own eyes in the past few days."

Qiao Mu nodded in understanding.

"Instead of waiting for the right moment, I’ll just go now." Qiao Mu decisively stood up.

"Wait." Hu Wan, Hu Han’s daughter, suddenly spoke up at this moment.

"It is very dangerous for a martial artist to fight against inhuman beings. Although I have modest strength, I don’t want to see the Qiao family members in danger."

"Elder Lao, let me go with you."

Before she could finish speaking, Hu Han’s expression changed.

"This is a dangerous situation… Your martial arts skills are not high enough, what can you do if you go?"

"It’s precisely because it’s dangerous that I want to go." Hu Wan gritted her teeth, looking determined as if she had made up her mind.

Qiao Mu stood quietly by, watching the father and daughter argue while yawning.

He actually had some impression of Hu Han’s daughter…

"Kid, risking your life shouldn’t be done like this." Suddenly Qiao Mu interrupted.

Hu Wan was slightly taken aback.

Hu Han and his daughter had been saved by a member of the Qiao family in the past. They both admired the Qiao family, so when Qiao Mu spoke, they temporarily stopped arguing.

Qiao Mu continued, saying:

"Were you ashamed because you were scared by a stone thrown by Luohan in Imperial Capital before, feeling fearful in the face of life and death crisis?"

Hu Wan opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything back.

"What a clever child," Qiao Mu shook his head.

This girl is full of bravery and wants to prove herself, so she decided to follow him and challenge the dangerous Dao Xu.

"Why are you following me? Are you trying to do good deeds and help people, or are you trying to show off your bravery and act like a hero?"

"If it’s the first one, then you shouldn’t have come," Qiao Mu’s eyes showed a hint of reminiscence.

He may have looked old but not in spirit, yet in front of this girl, he remembered the past events in Yan City as if he was an old man.

He remembered how he fought to protect Old Huang by targeting a servant carrying a coffin instead of Guo Yan during a battle with Childe Guo.

"Saving someone is harder than hurting them."

"Instead of satisfying your own desires, it’s better to accompany your father and take care of more women and children outside the city for a few days."

Hu Wan’s lips twitched, as if she wanted to argue, but in the end she didn’t say anything.

Prove oneself? Fulfilling a hero dream?

Given Qiao family’s seniority and reputation in the martial world, she didn’t want to challenge Hu Han like she did.

Qiao Mu didn’t expect a few words to change the child’s mind. He wasn’t a sage who enlightens people or interested in being a life mentor.

Saying the words, whether she listens or not, he won’t let the young girl follow him.

Iron Wolf should have become a Taoist warrior, no longer someone Hu Han can handle.

The physical body of a martial artist can’t face the immortal Golden Steel Body directly. It seems only through Qiao Mu’s profound internal strength combined with the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method…

So not to mention Hu Wan, even her father, and the old soldiers like Hai Siyuan, can’t be of much help.

After getting the information about Iron Wolf and the mansion from Hu Han, Qiao Mu took Hu Han’s Fragrant Insect Bottle and left alone.

……………..

On a dark night with a strong wind, at midnight.

On the edge of the roof of Li Gongde’s house on the east side of the city.

A dark figure was running on the roof, moving swiftly like the wind, but with slightly heavy footsteps, breaking a tile as he stepped on it, creating a faint sound in the night.

With Qiao Mu’s perfected Shadow Step technique, which was as silent as walking on snow, if he wanted to hide his presence, not even a sound would be heard.

In fact, he did it on purpose, playing the role of a night fisherman.

Hu Han’s Fragrant Insect Bottle could help him track down the Iron Wolf, but what Qiao Mu really wanted to find was Dao Xu, who was behind the Iron Wolf.

So, he decided to act like a clumsy thief to lure out Dao Xu.

Before long, another agile figure silently leaped onto the roof in the dark night.

The person was not as big and strong as Copper Body Arhat, but he had a pair of long and deep eyes that seemed to glow like a wild beast in the dark. He was the Iron Wolf that Hu Han mentioned.

"Who’s this gentleman on the beam, trying to steal from me?" Iron Wolf smirked at Qiao Mu from a few steps away on the eaves, then suddenly became serious and saluted.

"Praying Mantis Fist, Iron Wolf."

Still using that move?

Qiao Mu casually saluted back.

"Long Life Fist, Qiao Shui."

Before the words had even finished, Iron Wolf’s eyes narrowed, and he swiftly lunged towards Qiao Mu as he responded.

There was a sharp ringing sound.

His wrists split open, revealing a long blade that popped out from the flesh, glinting coldly in the moonlight like a mantis blade, pointed straight at Qiao Mu’s throat.

"Cyberpunk martial artist still pretending to be a traditional martial artist?" Qiao Mu thought to himself.