Chapter Sixty-Three: Destroying the Bandit’s Lair

The next morning, Luo Changning went downstairs to help Su Meng prepare breakfast and saw that Xiang Yinglong and the brothers from the Luoyang Martial Arts School were already having their meal in the inn’s main hall.

“Send a serving of shredded chicken congee, a custard bun, a plate of flaky pastries, and a pot of Cangshan Snow Green tea to Room Number Two in the Heaven Wing. Here are five taels of silver; keep the rest as your tip.”

As the young master of the Su family, Luo Changning naturally lacked nothing in terms of money. In fact, the food he ordered would at most cost just one tael.

The waiter weighed the silver in his palm, his smile blooming wide as a sunflower. He replied eagerly, “Absolutely, sir! I’ll have the kitchen prepare it right away!”

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, he could use the extra silver to buy his wife a new piece of jewelry and make her happy.

After instructing the waiter to send the food to Su Meng’s room, Luo Changning raised his brows and walked towards the table where Xiang Yinglong and the others were seated.

“Yinglong, little lass, Brother Ma, good morning!”

After greeting them, he took a seat on an empty bench.

With Su Meng’s safe return, everyone’s worries had eased, and their appetites restored. Soon, the four of them had swept the breakfast clean from the table.

Luo Changning set down his chopsticks and exchanged a glance with Ma Qingyun, who sat opposite him. Ma Qingyun rinsed his mouth with tea before saying, “Let’s go.”

“Hey, where are you two heading off to?” Upon hearing this, Ma Xue’e’s almond-shaped eyes lit up with curiosity.

“Heh, Brother Ma and I have some business to attend to. Why don’t you go enjoy the town with Yinglong and the others? There are many places in Dingjia Town worth exploring. It would be a shame to waste the trip,” Luo Changning replied with a smile.

When she heard this, Ma Xue’e’s face fell, and she replied reluctantly, “Alright then.”

After soothing her, Luo Changning and Ma Qingyun left the inn side by side, but as they stepped out the door, a voice called from behind, “Wait a moment.”

Luo Changning sighed inwardly and halted his steps, turning around with resignation to see who had spoken. It was none other than Xiang Ao.

“Uncle Xiang, is there something you need?” Luo Changning inquired respectfully.

“You two are going after the bandits at Tianmen Mountain, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Though my aunt is now safe, I must settle accounts with those people,” Luo Changning replied, his eyes narrowing, his voice cold.

“In that case, why not bring me and the brothers from the martial school along? Otherwise, our trip to Dingjia Town would have been for nothing,” Xiang Ao said, putting on a stern face and feigning displeasure.

Luo Changning pressed his brow. “That was my oversight, Uncle. It’s just that my aunt has escaped danger, and I dare not trouble you and the others further...”

“How can you call that trouble, Changning? You’re being too distant!” Xiang Yinglong, who had just caught up, retorted.

Luo Changning pursed his lips. In truth, he had summoned Xiang Yinglong and the others to Dingjia Town as a precaution—just in case he needed backup. Now that his aunt was safe, he saw no reason to implicate others in his personal vendetta against those ruthless bandits.

He was long used to acting alone and was reluctant to have Xiang Yinglong and the others risk offending such vicious outlaws for the sake of his own grievances.

Seeing that Luo Changning was caught in a stubborn silence, while Ma Qingyun merely looked on as if uninvolved, Xiang Ao continued his persuasion.

“I’ve always disliked that nest of bandits on Tianmen Mountain and have long wanted to wipe them out. Unfortunately, I never found the right moment, and with their chief Lin Ruhai being a master of the innate realm, I stood no chance against him. So, I never acted. Now, with this matter at hand and Young Master Ma—a true innate-level expert—among us, there’s no reason to fear Lin Ruhai. Today is the perfect day to storm their lair and rid the people of this scourge.”

Standing beside his father, Xiang Yinglong nodded emphatically. “That’s right, Changning! We’ve been brothers for years—don’t treat me like an outsider. I’ve always thought of Aunt Su as my own kin. Now that these Tianmen Mountain bandits have dared to bully us, how could we, as men of spirit, swallow our anger? Only by wiping them out will we find peace.”

In the end, unable to resist the enthusiasm of Xiang Yinglong and his father, Luo Changning had no choice but to let them join.

Along with the dozens of disciples from the Luoyang Martial Arts School, their party became a formidable force. Though they were far fewer in number than the bandits, their quality more than made up for it—each disciple was worth ten common bandits.

Luo Changning glanced around but did not spot Mo Feng among the group. Upon asking Xiang Yinglong, he learned that Mo Feng had eaten something bad the night before and spent the entire night suffering from diarrhea, leaving him completely drained.

Hearing this, Luo Changning shook his head and couldn’t help but chuckle. He had never counted on Mo Feng’s help, but this response was simply too petty—even going so far as to fake illness with laxatives.

Chen Gouzi—or rather, he now went by Chen Lin, having changed his name and identity.

Chen Lin, both body and mind exhausted, was still sleeping soundly in the early hours. If he knew that Luo Changning and the others were setting out to avenge Su Meng, he would surely insist on coming along, even though he would be of little help.

As for Aunt Qing and Loyal Uncle, they would stay behind to protect Su Meng. After all, as a defenseless young woman alone in a strange inn, she might easily fall prey to those with ill intentions.

(Merry Christmas to all readers! Did any of you buy gifts for your loved ones today? As for the author, Thor, I am single, so there’s neither giving nor receiving of gifts! Wishing all of you the best in finding your perfect partner!)