Gate of God

...

Fang Zhengzhi had always believed that he was knowledgeable about robbery. As the saying goes, professional people would do professional things. But, the conduct of these mountain bandits in front of him caused him to feel very pained.

A successful person had to be with the right people, in the right place and at the right time.

Usually, the right time referred to information, its practical usage could refer to intelligence, news etc. These bandits didn’t even show a slight bit of interest in him, and robbed him just like that. Naturally, they lost the right time.

As for the right place, that didn’t need any mentioning. Not digging a few traps was already the dumbest of moves. Once they met, all of their archers had revealed themselves, hence whatever strategic location they had had disappeared.

The only advantage was people, after all, they had more people...

Fang Zhengzhi was sure that these mountain bandits in front of him weren’t very experienced.

Then, the question came.

To directly disperse them, or... wipe them out?

Looking at the colour of the sky, it seemed to be already getting late. If he continued to journey at this time, he had to journey at least five miles to reach the Wan County, furthermore, he still had to find an inn afterwards. It was going to be rather troublesome...

"Brother mountain bandits, hello! Young master me had to rush when leaving the house, hence didn’t bring much money. I only have a hundred taels. Other than that, I have thirty broken silver pieces. If brother mountain bandits don’t mind, you can have them!" Fang Zhengzhi thought of something, and very generously fished out a hundred tael silver note and a bag of broken silver pieces from his pocket.

"Young master? Which family’s young master?" The bandit leader was at least rather vigilant. Those in his profession had one rule, that was to eliminate the roots completely. Hence, he quickly seized the "profound theory" within Fang Zhengzhi’s words.

"Ha ha... brother bandits are only conducting a robbery, why must you know young master me’s family background?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled faintly, with a mysterious look on his face.

This caused the bandit leader to confirm his thoughts. This youth in front of him had to be some important family’s young master, if he was robbed today, there would definitely be consequences next time.

When he thought of this, the bandit leader thought of killing.

"Looks like brother bandits feel that it is too little? No problem, five miles in front would be the Wan County, the boss of the money farm there and my father are acquainted. Hence, I will be able to borrow fifty thousand silver notes to give to brother bandits as ransom, what do you think?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled inside, but on the outside, a trace of fear appeared on his face.

"Fifty thousand silver notes?!"

The bandit leader was taken aback, getting fifty thousand taels just like that... this was a huge bargain! If they really could get that, they would definitely turn over a new leaf, and not live the bitter life of robbing anymore.

When the surrounding bandits similarly heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, their emotions began to stir up. The hand holding the sabre of a few whose hearts weren’t as strong began to tremble.

Fifty thousand silver taels!

How could they not be stirred up?

"Why must we believe you?" The bandit leader quickly changed his thought. The "fat lamb" had already reached his mouth, how could he give it up? But, even though he was excited, he could at least still rationalise.

"My words are naturally trustable, but if brother bandits don’t believe this, it’s indeed inevitable. Else, you can send two people to escort me, so everybody can relax!" Fang Zhengzhi quickly suggested an idea.

The leader bandit thought for a while, then seek the opinions of the surrounding bandits, and finally nodded.

"Alright, we will do as you said!"

The transaction was smoothly completed. All the archers naturally lay down their weapons. Then, two bandits wielding short blades also surrounded Fang Zhengzhi, one on the left and one on the right.

Fang Zhengzhi was actually rather cooperative. Leaping off from the Silver Scale Horse, then looking at the colour of the sky, he seemed rather regretful and blinked a few times at the bandit leader.

"Brother bandit, look, the sky is already dark. I have to travel so many miles of mountain roads, can I have something to eat as nourishment?"

"Now, we are the ones robbing you, but you want us to give you something to eat?" The bandit leader felt that no matter how he thought about it, this request seemed rather uncomfortable. He was the one robbing!

Since when did robbers give their victims food?

"Young master me is weak and sickly, without any food... how can I travel five miles of mountain paths? You definitely can’t let me ride my horse, right?" Fang Zhengzhi gazed at the mountain path ahead and seemed very grieved.

"This..." The bandit leader was somewhat hesitant.

He naturally couldn’t allow Fang Zhengzhi to ride his horse, if he ran away, who could catch him?"

"Brother, what are you scared of! This kid is so weak that he can almost be blown away by the wind. It wouldn’t be too late to bring him back to the mountain stronghold and have a good feast, then sending him to the Wan County tomorrow." A bandit with a small beard instantly came over.

"How can we allow outsiders to enter the mountain stronghold?" The bandit leader’s tone changed.

"Brother, we are going to be rich tomorrow, what do we need the stronghold for?"

"Hmm... that’s true!" The bandit leader understood. The feeling of have fifty thousand silver taels, yet still remaining the mountain king of this tiny mountain was indeed too sullen.

As he thought, the bandit leader quickly felt at ease.

"Alright, bring him back to the mountain stronghold!"

"Thank you, brother bandit!" Fang Zhengzhi instantly expressed his gratitude. Such "broad-minded" people were exactly the ones he liked. The sky was darkening, and he still had to find an inn!

Furthermore, no matter how small a mosquito was, it still had meat. Even though the bandits were still rather inexperienced, they definitely had some housing.

Where was the house?

Naturally, it was in the stronghold.

You can’t expect a bandit to conduct a robbery, and at the same time bringing along all their money?

...

They entered the stronghold.

The stronghold wasn’t big, and built at the side of the mountain, surrounded by lush trees. From afar, it was indeed hard to notice.

The stronghold door was very new, and looked like it was chopped less than a year ago. This also confirmed Fang Zhengzhi’s guess. Once they entered the stronghold, they instantly reached the living room.

Then, Fang Zhengzhi made himself comfortable. With alcohol and meat, he dined on cloud nine.

"Young Master Fang eat and drink well!" As the bandit leader spoke, a cold glint faintly flashed in his eyes, and decided that once he got the fifty thousand taels of silver, he would instantly kill this Young Master Fang.

"Ha ha ha... good, give me one more bowl!" Fang Zhengzhi indeed didn’t bother being polite, and ordered the bandits to pour for him. At the same time, pulling over the entire table of meat in front of him.

After he more or less finished eating, the main topic had also come. Fang Zhengzhi was locked up.

Definitely, there wasn’t any jail or related things in the stronghold. He was locked in a room, which was decorated rather cleanly. There was a bed and a blanket, except there wasn’t a servant girl to serve him.

"Without a servant girl, how can one sleep?" Fang Zhengzhi expressed his young master temper.

The reply was a cold look.

"Young Master Fang, there isn’t a single female in this stronghold. If you really want a servant, how about I find you a male one to serve you?" The leader bandit said mercilessly.

Fang Zhengzhi was speechless.

Huh? This wasn’t the same as what was shown in the televisions!"

It was said that the bandits were strong and powerful, from time to time having the habit of breaking into houses for robbery and snatching servant girls. If that wasn’t possible, couldn’t you at least get a stronghold lady to play with?

Sigh... a bandit such as yourselves is simply embarrassing!

An entire night of silence.

The second day, after being served breakfast by the robbers, Fang Zhengzhi finally casually did a stretch, and with a reluctant expression, said one word to the bandit leader.

"Robbery!"

...

The wind was cooling as usual, and Fang Zhengzhi who was galloping wildly on the Silver Scale Horse was in a rather good mood.

This time, the reap was plentiful. After eating and drinking, the other party had even generously given a few hundred silver taels for his travel expenses.

Even though there wasn’t any heroic saving of stronghold ladies, or unintentionally saving a few lost princesses in the mountain stronghold, but the sleep at night was at least rather good.

But, unfortunately for the bandit leader, he would never have thought that he actually met someone from the same trade.

Furthermore...

It was a lone ranger in the same trade.

"My money, my money..." The bandit leader howled with sorrow as he gazed at the direction in which Fang Zhengzhi was disappearing into.

"Brother... as the saying goes, where there’s life, there’s hope! This person from the same trade is indeed very kind, he only took our money, and didn’t harm our lives." The bandit with the small beard came over again.

"Get lost!"

...

Five days later.

At the Southern gate of the River of Trust Capital, a youth wearing a blue robe, pulling along a Silver Scale Horse with a casual expression, looked up at the ancient city called "River of Trust".

Just as he was about to express how bustling this ancient city was, his gaze suddenly froze.

Because...

He saw a portrait drawing at the city gate.

It wasn’t because of how much this drawing seemed to be painted by renowned experts, nor how lifelike this drawing was. It was because there were three words written at the top of the portrait.

"Fang Zhengzhi!"

"Have I already become so famous? My portrait is even pasted on the city gate of the River of Trust Capital?" The youth was confused, then, it suddenly changed.

Wait a minute...

Don’t tell me this is a wanted order?!