Chapter Thirty-Five: Trouble Stirs at the Heart of the Lake

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“Young Master Xu, I can see that you are not enjoying your stay with the Feng family. Why not come up the mountain with me? On Red Maple Mountain, no one would ever dare treat you like this.”

The two of them boarded a pleasure boat by the lake, clearly one Red Lotus had arranged in advance.

“I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of doing so.”

However much he disliked life with the Feng family, it was still better than becoming a bandit. Once one went up the mountain, one truly had to sleep beneath the open sky, live off the land, and remain constantly on edge.

Although the bandits of Red Maple Mountain and Qixia Mountain appeared carefree on the surface, in truth they lived every day with their lives hanging by a thread.

At any moment, they had to worry that the imperial court might send troops to surround and suppress them.

Xu Feng was a properly recognized provincial graduate. He had even refused an invitation from the Heavenly Fragrance Tower. How could he possibly choose such a path?

“Could it be that you look down on bandits like us?” Red Lotus asked, sounding displeased as she probed him.

“That is not it. I simply do not care for this sort of life. By comparison, stability is preferable.”

As she gazed at his profile, Red Lotus wondered what was going through his mind. After descending the mountain, she had made inquiries about the Ghost-Faced Man’s deeds below the mountain.

Naturally, she knew that Xu Feng was no ordinary man. Even so, from the look of him, he still could not bear to part with the life offered by the Feng family.

“The imperial court is corrupt and incompetent, and turmoil is beginning to stir throughout the martial world. If Young Master Xu has other plans, you had best prepare early.”

“No matter what, the gates of Red Maple Mountain will always stand open to you. Whenever you wish to come, you will be welcome.”

Xu Feng had long since experienced the court’s corruption firsthand.

The Six Gates, an institution supposedly responsible for enforcing the law, had joined forces with a gang that trafficked in children. It seemed that the imperial court had already been eaten away by vermin to an appalling degree.

Yet an individual was ultimately far too insignificant before the tide of the world. Even if Xu Feng wished to do something, he would first need the ability to do it.

The two sat in the boat, chatting idly, completely unaware that they had already neared the center of the lake. Behind them, several small boats were slowly closing in.

By the time they noticed, the other boats had already surrounded the larger vessel.

“That woman is on board! Brothers, we must capture him and take him back today. Whoever boards first will receive a handsome reward from the chief!”

These men had come for Red Lotus. The moment they drew near, they began shouting, naturally startling the two people inside the cabin. Red Lotus turned pale with alarm and took the opportunity to hide herself in Xu Feng’s arms.

Xu Feng was instantly thrown into confusion, unsure where to put either of his hands.

“Young Master Xu, they have come for me. There is a bandit gang below the mountain that covets my beauty. I thought my movements would be well concealed this time, but I never imagined they would still discover me. I am sorry to have implicated you.”

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“It is nothing. With me here, I certainly will not let them take you away. You may rest assured.”

Just as he had done on the mountain, Xu Feng pulled Red Lotus behind him, completely failing to notice the sly glint that flashed across the corner of her mouth.

These men had clearly been arranged by her to put on this performance.

Otherwise, given her status and strength, what bandit below the mountain would be tired of living enough to set his sights on her?

To avoid arousing suspicion, before descending the mountain she had deliberately selected several capable subordinates whom Xu Feng had never seen before.

Bang!

Although he did not wish to reveal his identity, the situation had already reached this point, and Xu Feng could no longer afford to worry about it.

The first bandit to climb aboard was sent flying back into the water with a single kick.

“Young Master Xu, there is a sword I usually use for self-defense on the boat. Take it.”

Seeing that Xu Feng was empty-handed, Red Lotus thoughtfully handed him a sword.

Her subordinates found the scene deeply bewildering. None of them understood what their leader was doing. When the men on the small boats began attacking half-heartedly, Red Lotus could only signal them with her eyes.

At once, they all leaped onto the larger boat.

Xu Feng hurriedly shielded Red Lotus as they retreated. The passenger boat offered so little room that they soon reached the point where there was nowhere left to go. Their bodies were pressed tightly together.

The bandits neither knew whether to advance nor retreat. They exchanged awkward glances, leaving Red Lotus thoroughly exasperated. At last, she gave a loud cry.

“What are you waiting for? Do not force me! Even if I die, I will never leave with you!”

Her reminder finally brought the men back to their purpose: they were there to help their leader put on an act.

They charged forward with grim determination. Even during the fight, they had to be careful not to injure Red Lotus. More importantly, Red Lotus had expressly instructed them not to hurt Xu Feng either.

They had been bandits for many years, but never had they fought such a frustrating battle. Fortunately, Xu Feng sensed that these people harbored no murderous intent. He never drew his sword, using only the scabbard to knock them one by one off the boat.

Before long, the two of them were the only ones still standing aboard the vessel.

The bandits who had fallen into the lake had already departed along the waterways. Watching the ripples spread across the surface, Xu Feng felt puzzled.

“These bandits do not seem to have come to capture you. I sensed no killing intent from them. They must have another purpose.”

Red Lotus put on an expression of half-understanding and echoed him from beside him.

“It does seem that way. Do you think there might be some secret hidden here? They wanted to drive us away from the middle of the lake. I wondered how they could have discovered my movements when I was being so careful, but it seems they had been waiting here all along.”

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Guided by Red Lotus, Xu Feng gradually drew closer to the truth.

When something was abnormal, there was usually a reason behind it.

He had never intended to involve himself in the matter. He merely wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Red Lotus, however, was eager to investigate the matter to the very end.

Since he could not dissuade her, Xu Feng had no choice but to accompany her in this reckless endeavor.

“Look over there! Does it seem as though the reeds along the bank have been disturbed? Could the secret be hidden there? Let us go take a look!”

Red Lotus pointed excitedly toward the shore. Xu Feng reached out to stop her, refusing to act rashly.

“Wait here for a moment. I will see whether any bandits are lying in ambush over there. Stay on the boat and wait for me.”

“Be careful.”

Xu Feng used his lightness skill, skimming across the lake with his toes touching the water. Like a dragonfly, he crossed the surface in several graceful leaps and landed on the shore.

He lifted the reeds nearby and, sure enough, found a large number of footprints. There were also several huge chests, from which waves of blood stench emanated.

He opened one of them and found it filled with glittering gold. The other chests were packed with the severed heads of barbarians.

Anything involving the barbarians was unlikely to be insignificant.

Great Shun and the barbarians had been at war for years, regarding each other as mortal enemies. These heads were clearly not as simple as they appeared.

After a moment’s thought, he returned to the boat and told Red Lotus what he had found.

“Take me there and let me have a look. Your lightness skill is impressive. Carrying one person should not be a problem, should it?”

Red Lotus deliberately threw the oar into the water, hoping to make Xu Feng hold her. He failed to notice her intention, instead wrapping an arm around her waist and once again using his lightness skill to carry her back to shore.

After landing, Red Lotus still seemed reluctant to let the moment end.

Xu Feng coughed lightly in reminder, and only then did she reluctantly leave his embrace.

“They really are barbarian heads. Young Master Xu, you are remarkably fortunate. Even this sort of opportunity has managed to fall into your lap.”

“How so?”

Xu Feng looked slightly puzzled, unable to understand in what sense this could possibly be considered fortunate.