The Cui Zhong Bottle!

It was said that inside that Cui Zhong Bottle was the last bit of wine starter left behind by the old stronghold master!

The finest wine in the world.

Once, in the jianghu, someone had offered a high price to buy it, but the old stronghold master refused to sell no matter what.

If the wine starter were sold, the Zhao family would have been set for several generations without worrying about food or clothing.

However, after the old stronghold master died, he left the Twin Tiger Dagger to Zhao Huai, while the Cui Zhong Bottle was left to Zhao Qing.

It was precisely because of this that Zhao Huai felt resentful. In a fit of anger, he transformed the wine-making family estate into a bandit den.

Because Zhao Qing had always followed Zhao Huai’s lead since childhood, he didn’t object and was willing to be the second-in-command of a bandit gang, branded with the title of “burning, killing, robbing, and plundering.”

When Zhao Huai heard Zhao Qing say he would give him the Cui Zhong Bottle at this moment, he was actually somewhat dumbfounded!

His pupils dilated and contracted.

Back and forth several times…

Zhao Qing continued, “If the bones inside really weren’t deliberately put there by you, then, since this wine was brewed by both of us together to commemorate Father, I have the right to know who did it. Don’t you want to know too? As long as you agree to let those people go, I’ll even give you the Cui Zhong Bottle that Father left me.”

This was the condition!

Clearly, Zhao Qing understood Zhao Huai’s weak spot very well.

That was the Cui Zhong Bottle left by the old stronghold master—that fellow had dreamed of obtaining it countless times.

But—

Zhao Huai had reservations.

He glanced around at the brothers surrounding him, steeled his heart, frowned, and said to Zhao Qing, “Thirty or forty of my brothers were killed by their people. If I just let them go like this, where would the dignity of Gaoshan Stronghold be? How would I account to my dead brothers?”

Clenching his fists, hesitating left and right!

On one hand, he couldn’t account to his brothers; on the other hand, that Cui Zhong Bottle—he dreamed of having it!

What should he do?

Zhao Qing said, “But have you thought about this—that man’s subordinates are all masters. Do you know their background? What if they’re people from the imperial court? If you kill those people, I’m afraid Gaoshan Stronghold will truly be finished.”

While reminding him, he was also persuading.

Da Chui, who was beside Zhao Huai, paced back and forth a few times, then quickly walked to his side and said, “Chief, you must not waver! Those people are definitely not court officials. There are no imperial court markings on their carriages or luggage. I think they’re just a group of ordinary people. Our thirty or forty brothers have been through life and death with us all these years—we can’t let them die just like that. This revenge must be avenged.”

“…”

“Chief, you must think clearly!” Da Chui said bitterly.

It was as if a black angel and a white angel were constantly clamoring in Zhao Huai’s ears.

His narrow eyes pressed tightly downward, then—

He swiftly reversed his hand and gripped Ji Yunshu’s delicate neck.

“Shu’er.”

Wei Yi shouted loudly and was forced to one side, grabbed by Da Chui.

Although Ji Yunshu was startled by the small sudden movement, she wasn’t afraid, because the gaze that fell upon her, though fierce, held no killing intent.

“Speak! Who exactly are you people?” Zhao Huai interrogated her.

Ji Yunshu was forced to look up at him. Because the wrist on her neck pressed too hard, her throat constricted, making it somewhat difficult to speak.

She could only muster a bit of strength to say, “You can… try killing me and see… if these people of yours can still live.”

Her face flushed red, her eyes cold and hard.

Watching her nearly suffocate at that moment, Zhao Huai’s grip lightened, and he flung her aside with one motion.

Ji Yunshu’s entire body fell forward to the ground, her palms scraped bloody.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Zhao Huai turned to Wei Yi and gripped Wei Yi’s neck in the same manner, though without using force.

“Since she won’t tell me, then you, this fool, had better honestly tell me, otherwise I’ll kill her.”

He pointed at Ji Yunshu.

Wei Yi’s eyes widened as he looked at Ji Yunshu on the ground with her brows tightly furrowed. Twisting his body, he quickly confessed honestly.

“My father is Wei, my mother is Liu, my family lives in Jinjiang. Shu’er’s surname is Ji. I don’t know what her father is called, I don’t know her mother either, but I heard my mother say that Shu’er’s mother died very early. Shu’er is really pitiful. We all grew up in Jinjiang. It was Brother Victim who brought us here. If you want to catch someone, catch him, don’t kill my Shu’er. Mother said I must take good care of Shu’er and not let Shu’er get hurt. A real man must keep his word. Besides, Shu’er is my fian—”

Before he could say the word “fiancée,” Zhao Huai interrupted him.

“Shut up!”

Annoying!

What a talker—his talking gave people a headache!

Zhao Huai pushed him away and glared fiercely at Ji Yunshu again. “I don’t care who you are or what your status is. In my eyes, you’re all just damned mortals.”

Ji Yunshu breathed lightly and sneered, “The conditions I’ve offered are undoubtedly the best path for you and your people. Why not accept them and avoid future trouble? If you kill us today, in the future people will come to kill you. Revenge begets revenge—you may vent your anger, but you’ll have to pay with your lives. Is it worth it?”

Her slightly pale face was utterly clean!

Zhao Huai was irritated by her words. After a moment, he raised his hand and waved forcefully, ordering, “Take them away, watch them carefully, don’t let anything happen to them.”

Four bandits acknowledged the order!

They dragged Ji Yunshu up from the ground and pulled Wei Yi out along with her.

Immediately after, Zhao Huai turned his fury toward Zhao Qing, saying, “Since you’ve come, sit here properly, consider it revisiting the place where you grew up. I’ll also consider carefully what you and that girl said.”

Zhao Qing remained silent!

He knew that today he wouldn’t be able to leave. The people he brought were probably already captured by Zhao Huai’s men outside.

Subsequently, Zhao Qing and the two people he brought were placed under surveillance by Zhao Huai’s men. Although they weren’t detained, countless pairs of eyes watched them closely.

By now, the sky had darkened.

Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi were locked back in the original place. Because it was nighttime, the damp, pungent moisture inside had intensified somewhat, hitting their nostrils with a cool sensation.

Moreover, there wasn’t a single oil lamp!

If not for the few rays of light penetrating through the broken window, it would be pitch black inside, impossible to see one’s hand in front of one’s face.

Wei Yi pulled several handfuls of relatively dry grass from the haystack nearby and spread it on the ground, helping Ji Yunshu sit down.

He said as he did so, “Shu’er, sit properly, don’t get sick.”

Ji Yunshu leaned on his shoulder for a long while before gradually feeling a bit better.

Suddenly—

Wei Yi grasped her hand, gently lifted it, and brought it to his mouth.

He began to blow on it.

While saying, “Shu’er, don’t be afraid. If it hurts, say so. Mother said that as long as you blow on it with your mouth, it will get better. Shu’er, does it still hurt? Let me blow on it some more for you.”

On both her palms, fine small cuts had been scraped open.

Watching Wei Yi be so attentive, a smile slowly spread across Ji Yunshu’s lips.

“Wei Yi, I’m fine.”