Indeed, a year ago when Zhao Qing left this place, he had reached this consensus with Zhao Huai.

Except for that forest, in any place, either party was forbidden from killing people there, releasing secret arrows, or disposing of bodies.

If anyone violated any item in the agreement, they would have to pay the price of losing an arm.

Therefore, Zhao Qing’s visit today was clearly to claim Zhao Huai’s arm.

He drew from his waist the dagger he always carried with him and, without another word, tossed it into Zhao Huai’s hands.

“I don’t need to remind you, do I? This dagger—you gave it to me back then. It’s extremely sharp. Severing one of your arms would be no problem at all.”

Zhao Huai held the dagger, turning it in his hands to admire it.

On the exquisite handle were carved two lifelike tiger patterns, crouching from top to bottom.

One tiger’s claw held a spear, while the other tiger’s claw held a writing brush.

Symbolizing both the martial and the scholarly!

The blade was bamboo-leaf shaped. At the center where the blade connected to the handle was embedded a small round stone. Because it had been worn for so long, the stone had been polished until it gleamed black.

This pattern and shape were very unique.

Even in modern times, such a thing would be difficult to find.

However, Ji Yunshu had seen one once during an archaeological expedition—though she had only glimpsed it from afar before losing track of it.

Zhao Huai looked at the dagger and said, “Father left this behind when he died. He said that the eldest brother serves as father, so he left this dagger to me. Four years ago, you said you liked it, so I gave it to you. Today, you return this dagger to me, and you actually want my life.”

“Not your life—just your arm!”

Zhao Qing’s tone was cold and harsh.

Zhao Huai walked before him holding the dagger, raised his hand, and forcefully plunged the dagger into the wooden table beside them.

A heavy thud!

No one dared make a sound. These two leaders were both formidable forces to be reckoned with.

Zhao Huai restrained the fury rising within his heart. His fierce eyes glared as he said, “Zhao Qing, this is my territory, not a place you can come to whenever you please.”

“What? You mean you’re not going to sever your arm?”

“By what right do you claim it was my people who released secret arrows in that forest? Did you see it? Or did you capture someone? If neither, then shut your mouth. I might still treat you as a guest in my stronghold and properly entertain you.”

He turned aside with an arrogant expression!

Zhao Qing understood Zhao Huai. Before coming, he already knew Zhao Huai would never sever his arm.

He said, “Zhao Huai, a person must dare to act and take responsibility. If it were my men who released arrows in the forest, today I would come to see you with my severed arm.”

“But I’m not you.” Zhao Huai roared at him, his entire face contorting into visible ferocity. He raised both hands high to either side, mouth twisted, boasting yet vicious as he said, “Zhao Qing, take a good look around. Everyone here is my man. Now that you’ve come in today, getting out will be difficult.”

As soon as Zhao Huai finished speaking!

The surrounding bandits slapped their mouths, shouting “oh oh oh,” some even striking their knife handles on tables, pounding the tables…

A chaotic clamor arose.

It wasn’t until Zhao Huai clenched both fists that the surrounding “performance” ended.

Zhao Qing’s eyes didn’t shift even half an inch, staring straight at Zhao Huai who was showing off before him.

Only after the surrounding noise ceased did he speak. “Zhao Huai, you violated our consensus first. Don’t tell me you want to kill me as well?”

“As long as I’m willing, what’s wrong with killing you?”

“Then you can try!”

The two were locked in confrontation!

Their gazes clashed, neither yielding. Between them seemed to surge an invisible fire, growing ever more intense.

Just when everyone thought this fire was about to ignite—

Zhao Huai suddenly asked, “Speak. What exactly did you come here for today?”

Everyone had confused expressions.

Leader, have you lost your memory?

Didn’t the Second Leader just say? He came because you violated the consensus between both parties. He’s here to claim your arm.

Zhao Qing slightly raised his stubble-covered chin, his brows pressed tightly together.

He said, “Release those two people you captured.”

“What?”

“Those two people—I want them.” Zhao Qing said.

Zhao Huai laughed loudly several times, then immediately suppressed his laughter. His nostrils flared, his face full of murderous intent. “Your people? Those people killed thirty or forty men from my Gaoshan Stronghold. Every single life was a brother of my Gaoshan Stronghold. I want those people to pay with their lives.”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you just shoot them dead with random arrows in the forest?”

“Because I don’t just want their lives—I also want to extract wealth from them. If they’re dead, who will give me gold, silver, and jewels?”

Greedy to the point of grinding teeth!

Zhao Qing looked at him calmly.

Still the same words: “In any case, I’ve said it. Today I’m taking those two people away.”

Not leaving the slightest room for negotiation.

Zhao Huai stepped two paces closer and said, “Then we’ll see if you have that ability today.”

“Zhao Huai, since I dared to come in today, I’ve already made full preparations. I will definitely take those people away, and you must release them.”

These words were not merely spoken idly.

A small bandit rushed in urgently and whispered something in Zhao Huai’s ear.

Zhao Huai’s expression darkened. Glaring at Zhao Qing, fury rising, he grabbed a handful of clothing at Zhao Qing’s chest.

“You schemed against me?”

In the next moment, Zhao Qing pushed him away with one hand, straightening his already disheveled clothes with a light laugh.

“As long as you release them, I’ll have the people outside withdraw. Otherwise, I’ll use that tactic of yours—shoot fire arrows in and burn this place completely clean.”

“You dare!”

“What wouldn’t I dare?”

Zhao Huai raged, “Zhao Qing, this is the place Father left for us. If you dare have someone burn it, I’ll kill you.”

Who would have known—

The calm Zhao Qing suddenly became agitated, shouting back in rebuke, “This is the place Father left for you, not for me.”

“You…”

“All these years, whether you’ve been burning and looting or killing people, I’ve turned a blind eye. But when you kill people, why did you have to kill Jiu’er? This place is fundamentally a living hell—it’s your killing ground where you murdered Jiu’er.”

Roaring!

Zhao Huai fell silent.

The person called “Jiu’er” was a thorn between the two brothers that could never be removed!

It was also because of this Jiu’er that Zhao Huai and Zhao Qing had their falling out a year ago.

After a long while, Zhao Huai lowered his eyes and said one sentence.

“I didn’t kill Jiu’er.”

“I saw it with my own eyes. Are you still going to deny it? Zhao Huai, you killed her.”

“No!” Zhao Huai suddenly roared at him.

Zhao Qing didn’t want to argue with him either. He took a breath and said, “Fine. I don’t want to say so much to you. I’ve told you my purpose in coming. Those two people—I must take them away.”

“Why?”

“Because those two people are innocent. The ones who killed your men weren’t them.”