Chapter 4: Deception and Intrigue

Chapter 4: Deception and Intrigue

What is a great hero?

Is a great hero someone who is kind and helps those in need?

No, a great hero must also be capable of slaying bandits. Otherwise, they are just a wealthy martial artist with a lot of money and skills.

To become a great hero in the Jiangnan region, Jiang Biehe needed some notable achievements in hunting down and killing evildoers.

The Heaven's Gate Five Tigers were such achievements.

When Jiang Biehe found the Heaven's Gate Five Tigers, he didn't immediately kill them, even though he could have.

But the kind of scum that a great hero can kill effortlessly, no matter how many evil deeds they have committed, are merely lucky buffoons and do not count as true achievements.

Not only must they not be killed effortlessly, but they must be pursued and hunted for months, and only when they are "exhausted" should they be killed. That is the correct way to gain fame and prestige.

To disregard one's own safety and seek justice for the world—what a truly noble hero.

The Heaven's Gate Five Tigers were not just five villains; their combined technique, the "Heavenly Net Formation", was well-known in the martial world.

Skyward Tiger slashed the heavens, Earth Tiger slashed the earth, Mountain Tiger slashed the front, Seawatch Tiger slashed the center, and Gatebreaker Tiger slashed the rear.

To ensure his safety, Jiang Biehe did not want to face the Heaven's Gate Five Tigers' combined technique. He had already secretly assassinated Gatebreaker Tiger.

Then, he drove the remaining four tigers toward the town, hoping to claim their heads in public and gain martial world renown.

But now, they were all dead!

Who did it?

Hearing a woman with some martial arts skills coming down from the second floor, Jiang Biehe scanned the room but found no one capable of dealing with the Heaven's Gate Four Tigers.

The combined technique of the Heaven's Gate Five Tigers could force even a First-Tier Martial Artist to retreat. Even without their combined technique, Skyward Tiger was a top-tier Second-Tier Martial Artist.

The people in front of him, though they showed some martial skills, were at best third-rate or even lower.

Clenching his fists, Jiang Biehe regretted making too much noise earlier. If he could close the door now and make some more noise, whoever killed the Heaven's Gate Four Tigers would be credited to him.

Finally, the innkeeper's wife descended the stairs and saw a handsome young man with a mustache, his face slightly pale.

Realizing that this hero might not be a genuine one, the innkeeper's wife immediately shed tears and explained.

"Great Hero Jiang, you have finally arrived. These four villains caused a great commotion earlier. Fortunately, a nameless hero passing by took care of them, but the hero left immediately after, leaving me, a weak woman who knows nothing of the martial world, to deal with the aftermath."

"Thankfully, a great hero like you has appeared. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do."

After saying this, the innkeeper's wife burst into tears, appearing genuinely frightened to outsiders.

But she was facing Jiang Biehe, whose acting skills were a hundred times better than hers. With just one glance, Jiang Biehe saw through her act.

Afraid?

An innkeeper who fears martial world skirmishes? They handle more dead bodies than the martial artists who kill them.

Do you know what it means to be a boatman, a carrier, an innkeeper, or a broker? Even if they are innocent, they should be killed.

Looking at the innkeeper's wife's seductive posture, the Four Seas Inn was far from a place of virtue, and the innkeeper's wife was no innocent woman.

So why was this innkeeper's wife putting on an act? The Heaven's Gate Five Tigers were notorious villains, and killing them would earn universal praise and have almost no consequences.

Otherwise, Jiang Biehe wouldn't have chosen them as his stepping stone to fame.

Although Jiang Biehe had only recently completed his training, his understanding of the martial world had been honed during his time with Jiang Feng.

However, he understood the innkeeper's wife's implication. The credit for killing these four villains was unclaimed, and he could take it if he wanted.

The stepping stone to fame was still there, and the young Jiang Biehe was somewhat satisfied. He smiled and said directly,

"There's no need to make it too complicated. The Heaven's Gate Five Tigers have committed countless atrocities, and we, the righteous, must eliminate evil thoroughly!"

As he spoke, a strand of True Qi shot from Jiang Biehe's fingertips and pierced the heart of Mountain Tiger, who immediately stopped breathing.

Seeing Mountain Tiger die, Jiang Biehe crossed his arms, looking dignified as he surveyed the crowd, then humbly clasped his hands and said,

"The credit for eliminating evil today, I do not deserve."

After his show of humility, the young Jiang Biehe appeared troubled.

"But the Heaven's Gate Five Tigers are notorious in the martial world. If they are dead and no one claims credit, it will be hard to convince others that a nameless hero killed them."

"Please, innkeeper's wife, tell me where the nameless hero went. I need to give an account to the martial world."

The innkeeper's wife had been on guard since Jiang Biehe killed the last tiger.

Hearing his initial humility followed by his concern, she realized he didn't want to claim the credit but was worried about the truth coming out. Taking such credit would ruin his career as a hero.

There would be plenty of opportunities to claim credit for killing villains, but falsely claiming credit would end his hero career.

After a moment's thought, the innkeeper's wife looked worried.

"This nameless hero seems to value righteousness above all. He probably doesn't care about fame and might be hard to find."

She sighed, her tone pleading.

"Please, Great Hero Jiang, take charge. Take the four villains' bodies back for proper handling. I just want to live a peaceful life and have no interest in the martial world, nor do I wish to understand it in the future."

The innkeeper's wife spoke like an innocent woman, but Jiang Biehe did not trust her completely.

However, he didn't expose her, knowing he could still claim the credit. He narrowed his eyes, considered the consequences, and nodded with a smile.

"That's the only way. I hope the nameless hero hears of the tigers' deaths and comes forward to reveal his name, to deter the evil scum in the martial world."

Before he finished speaking, a slightly hoarse, youthful voice from the second floor of the inn interrupted.

"Oh, if I gain a good reputation, I can stop bad people from doing bad things?"

Jiang Biehe was taken aback and looked up to see a young man in blue and black martial attire leaning on the second-floor railing, smiling at him.

Li Chaofeng had finally come forward to claim the credit.

It wasn't that he wanted to become famous quickly, but the "hero" downstairs was Jiang Biehe.

A renowned Jiangnan hero who could turn his fourteen-year-old son into a killer was unique in all martial novels. Even Yue Buqun had his defenders, but no one defended Jiang Biehe.

Because he was truly evil.

Any "hero" the innkeeper's wife offered credit to would find an excuse to accept it, even if they suspected her motives. If the innkeeper's wife ever spoke out, they would have a noble excuse ready.

Jiang Biehe's current excuse was good, but it wasn't enough for him.

He didn't like people going back on their word, as it would question his future hero's reputation.

More than worrying about the innkeeper's wife speaking out, he had likely already planned to silence her.

So even after the innkeeper's wife warned Li Chaofeng, he still put on his robe and came forward to claim the credit that belonged to him.

Hearing Li Chaofeng's words, Jiang Biehe was shocked, his eyes darting around as he recalled whether he had claimed the credit.

Composing himself, the young Jiang Biehe looked up at the youth, his face tense with anticipation.

"May I ask, young hero, did you really kill the Heaven's Gate Three Tigers?"

Li Chaofeng didn't answer directly. Instead, he extended his right forefinger, and an eight-inch dagger began spinning on it. Only then did he slowly respond,

"Does Great Hero Jiang want to compare the wounds on the bodies to see if they were made by this dagger?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end