Chapter 50: Please Invite a Fiend Back

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Lei Qing ignored these bandits. As a Young Master, he naturally felt it was beneath him to converse with such lowly thugs, lest he lower his status. Instead, he was relaxed and at ease, chatting idly with Zuo Qianqian, who rode a chestnut horse beside him, making her giggle uncontrollably and tremble like a swaying flower branch.

At the same time, Lei Qing casually revealed the ring on his slender finger, gently activating it to form a faint spatial vortex. He leisurely retrieved an exquisite snuff bottle, took a sniff, and his face was filled with intoxication as his spirit revitalized slightly. He then casually tossed the snuff bottle back into the ring, as if nothing had happened.

A Spatial Ring? The archers at the sentinel post watched with their eyes wide open. Even the sentries, who prided themselves on their keen eyes, did not dare to blow the horn to wake up the entire Fierce Tiger Ridge. Instead, they swiftly climbed down the watchtower and ran inside to report to their boss, vividly recounting the scene to Zhao Guang, the Main Boss, who was still half-asleep.

Zhao Guang was also startled. Being well-versed in the ways of bandits, he knew very well that some prodigal heirs from wealthy families were not to be offended; such people were extremely difficult to serve. If one inadvertently offended them, they might not say anything on the surface but later snap their fingers and summon a large gang to cut you down.

He hastily ordered that subordinate to notify the other bosses and, dressing alone, walked towards the gate of the ridge. Of course, he was not a fool. Having been in the bandit trade for many years, he believed he had developed sharp eyes. He could tell at a glance who was who, what their status was, and who was pretending.

After listening to his subordinate’s report, he made up his mind. If the Young Master outside truly had a significant background, he would naturally do his best to entertain him; perhaps he could even find an opportunity for himself in the process. However, if that kid was a fake, hehe, then don’t blame him, the Backing Tiger, for being cruel and ruthless. He had heard that the kid had red lips, white teeth, and was well-groomed with oiled hair and powdered face, hehe…

Others thought that Zhao Guang, the Backing Tiger, was just a brute who only knew cruelty and had a liking for men; the fate of the young boys he captured was worse than that of women.

But only his closest people knew that beneath Zhao Guang’s rough exterior lay a cautious and delicate heart. Otherwise, he would not have had the ability to become one of the Three Great Outlaws, nor would he have survived for so long without falling. Even the Li Chamber of Commerce branch nearby had not sent anyone to crush him, which showed he had his own unique way of survival.

Leading a group of subordinates, they rushed out of the stronghold gate. Smiling, he approached and clasped his hands, saying, “I wonder which family’s Young Master has come to visit the mountains and enjoy the scenery, passing by my Fierce Tiger Ridge? I am Zhao Guang. Because I live here in the Fierce Tiger Ridge with some hard-working brothers to make a living, people call me the Backing Tiger. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar; it was a breach of etiquette.”

While speaking, he was also sizing up Lei Qing and his group. There was no need to mention the aura of the leader, Lei Qing, who exuded nobility everywhere, with an aloof and disdainful demeanor, much like a Young Master from a prestigious clan. That girl, young and innocent, was truly an exquisite type of loli.

As for the more than ten people behind them, they made the Backing Tiger’s eyebrows twitch. Each of them wore a full set of iron armor, with shiny helmets that covered their heads entirely, leaving only their cold eyes visible. Looking at their posture, they seemed to have served in the military; they were upright and straight, displaying a strict military discipline and a sense of immediate obedience.

This was largely due to Jiang Yu’s effort. Although he had never served in a regular army, Jiang Yu had strictly applied some of his experience from spending several years in a small mercenary group to his own brothers. Their strength might be lacking for now, but Jiang Yu valued military discipline highly. Lei Qing valued Jiang Yu, having the heart and energy to cultivate him, precisely because of this. The first time he saw this cavalry, he felt the discipline was good. Jiang Yu achieving this clearly showed he had put in a lot of hard work based on his prestige.

The group behind the Backing Tiger, although looking fierce with thick faces and aggressive auras, stood in a loose and casual manner. Their clothes were unkempt, and some even ran out bare-chested, revealing muscles, all displaying a rebellious temperament.

Under the comparison of the two sides, the difference in quality was immediately apparent.

Zhao Guang, the Backing Tiger, looked to be in his thirties or forties. He was muscular and had a rough beard, but his eyes were sharp and revealed a ruthless edge, faintly exposing the aura of a strong person. Indeed, a Main Boss who could command two or three hundred unruly bandits with lax discipline must possess some overwhelming martial prowess to hold the ground.

Whether in the military or among bandits, there is a universal law: strength is supreme. Only with strong power can one receive respect. Having a good face or a loud mouth is useless.

According to intelligence reports, Zhao Guang, the Backing Tiger, was a strong person at the Entry-rank Bronze level. But now, judging by Lei Qing’s secret observation and inference, this person should have already reached the Mid-stage Bronze level. His aura was subtly restrained, which was not something an ordinary Entry-rank Bronze strong person could achieve.

Therefore, although Lei Qing’s face still showed an aloof and cold expression, he raised his alertness in his heart. This Backing Tiger, while appearing very rough on the surface and speaking cheerfully with a laugh, seemed to Lei Qing like a smiling tiger. He might easily pretend to be brothers to one’s face but stab them in the back.

“Is it Zhao Guang, the Backing Tiger?” Jiang Yu, who was fully encased in iron armor, had already dismounted and walked forward two steps, saying coldly, “It is none of your business to probe my Young Master’s identity. However, my Young Master said he had never seen bandits before. Since he is passing through here, he has come to take a look.”

These words immediately angered the bandits behind Zhao Guang, whose faces showed anger. As they were about to curse, Zhao Guang hastily turned back and stopped them with a fierce glare, preventing the vulgar language from bursting out. He then turned around and chuckled, “Since the Young Master is unwilling to reveal his identity and has such leisurely elegance, I, Zhao, shall naturally extend the hospitality of the host. The wind outside the ridge in this wasteland is strong. Why not stop by my humble residence for a while, allowing me to explain things in detail to the Young Master?” In his heart, he was secretly cursing. This guy, what does he think my Fierce Tiger Ridge and my brothers are? Never seen bandits, wants to visit? Do you think I am not familiar with your rich kid routines? You are clearly trying to step on us bandits to show off your Young Master status and please that exquisite little beauty beside you.

However, although he cursed in his heart, his mouth spoke sweetly. Through his sharp eyes, he had roughly figured it out. This well-groomed Young Master should indeed come from a noble family. An ordinary person could not cultivate such an aura. Although this kid seemed to be putting on airs and acting affected, it was obvious that the aura of a noble youth was very distinct. Moreover, he had a Spatial Ring on his hand. If he were a fraud, even if he wanted to put on airs, he could not produce a treasure like a Spatial Ring to prop up the scene.

Furthermore, by his judgment, the full-body iron armor worn by those guards was also valuable. Each set was likely worth no less than two hundred gold coins. Zhao Guang’s savings from many years in the bandit trade, even if exchanged for cash, would probably not be enough to buy these ten sets of armor.

From this, it could be inferred that this kid indeed had a significant background, and it was probably not small. This show of wealth could not be displayed by an ordinary noble youth. Take that Spatial Ring, for example. If one was not a noble youth of a certain high status, how could one possess a treasure of this level? Even Gold-rank strong people did not have one for every person.

Thinking of this, Zhao Guang’s heart began to itch. This kid’s background was indeed formidable. But the value of that Spatial Ring… Just thinking of it made him unable to restrain himself. Should he take a gamble? Or…

But the consequences of robbing someone of a Spatial Ring made the experienced and thorough Zhao Guang fear. Having Fierce Tiger Ridge wiped out was inevitable, and various tracking and chasing would certainly emerge endlessly.

Hesitating, Zhao Guang still respectfully invited Lei Qing and his group back. He thought secretly, “I will probe this kid’s background more carefully. I will make a decision once I know clearly.” The cunning Zhao Guang was dazzled by various appearances and blinded. He did not expect that this invitation was actually inviting a fiend back.

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