Chapter 107: Abandoning the Escape

Page (1/3)

“Li Goudan, what are you doing here?”

In a corner, a man with messy, dirty hair and tattered clothes stood up from the ground. In the flickering candlelight of the room, he was revealed to be Su Liuyun.

Compared to the last time Li Pingyang saw him, Su Liuyun looked thinner, with several old scars on his arms—wounds he had received when he was first captured, resisting the mountain bandits.

Gradually adapting to the harsh environment, as long as he worked for them, they would give him a hard piece of bread, barely enough to fill his stomach.

His father was old and unable to help, so Su Liuyun took on extra work every day to earn food not only for himself but also for his father and younger brother, Su Liuwu.

“There are so many people outside. How did you get in? Why should we trust you? Following you—I’m afraid you have ill intentions!”

He harbored resentment toward Li Pingyang, unwilling to believe that Li would come with goodwill to free them. He suspected a trap.

After speaking, he added, “It’s quite safe here. Don’t waste your effort. We’re not going anywhere.”

Su Liuyun then looked at Su Liuwu, who trusted Li Pingyang but couldn’t betray his brother, so he reluctantly sided with him.

The others also chose to trust Su Liuyun.

“You believe me? If we don’t leave now, there won’t be another chance.”

Li Pingyang frowned deeply, anxiety gnawing at him.

Perhaps disturbed by their voices, a baby suddenly burst into loud crying. Among these people were not only the elderly but also heavily pregnant women.

An old man limped painfully due to a leg injury. Li Pingyang’s head ached as he pondered how to get all these people out safely.

At that moment, a young man stepped forward, deciding to stay behind. His wife had been captured by the bandits of Fourth Hall and had yet to return.

Others had also lost family members to the bandits’ blades, vowing to stay and seek revenge.

The disabled old man’s wife had been pushed down mercilessly by the Fourth Hall bandits. She hit her head on the steps and died instantly.

The bandits mocked the old woman, accusing her of playing dead until the pool of blood on the ground revealed the truth.

The old man confronted them, yet they showed no remorse. Instead, they arrogantly broke his leg.

Denying responsibility, they claimed he had fallen on his own, warning him not to slander them or they would kill him.

It was only when Su Baichuan passed by and gave all his money to the bandits that the matter was temporarily settled. The old man had even contemplated ending his life by banging his head against the wall but was dissuaded by Su Baichuan’s pleading.

Page (2/3)

After learning all this, Li Pingyang was filled with shame and rage, his eyes blazing with fury. He decided not to leave; he must make Fourth Hall pay for the lives lost.

Even if he saved these people, countless others like the old man in Cangzhou City—humble, powerless souls—would still suffer under oppression, their lives as fragile as grass.

He had to break the rules of this cruel game and change the environment to truly save them all.

Looking at the group’s helpless, angry, and sorrowful faces, Li Pingyang felt a deep ache in his heart.

The reality in Cangzhou City was far harsher than he had imagined.

Not only was there a shortage of food, but the bandits also acted with impunity—kidnapping women, slaughtering innocents—turning this place into their paradise and a living hell for everyone else.

Pushing open the door, Li Pingyang stepped outside.

He picked up the chain from the ground, locked the door securely, and returned the key to the bandit. Then, holding a wine jar, he drank deeply until it was empty.

He smashed the jar heavily on the ground, startling everyone awake.

“Who’s there?”

“What was that noise?”

“Who is it?”

All the bandits scrambled to their feet, looking around anxiously. One touched his feverish face, wondering how he had fallen asleep.

Suddenly remembering something, he reached for his waist and found the key was still there. If he had been negligent and let the captives escape, his head would be in serious danger!

Looking again,

Li Pingyang was drunk to the point of collapse, snoring like a dead pig, muttering in his sleep.

A guard approached, lifted him up, and sat him in a chair, resting him on the table.

“Strategist! Strategist, wake up!”

Standing beside him, the guard called several times. Li Pingyang’s eyelids flickered open groggily; he clung to the guard’s neck, urging him to keep pouring drinks.

With him in this state, there was no way he could return on his own. The guard told others to stand watch and personally escorted the strategist back to rest.

Supporting Li Pingyang, the guard staggered along. Halfway there, they encountered the four guards—Southeast, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast—who had been searching tirelessly for Li Pingyang all night.

Page (3/3)

Seeing Li Pingyang, they all sighed in relief—finally, they could report back. Chen Le said if they hadn’t found him, they wouldn’t have returned at all!

The guard was sent back, and Haili’an took Li Pingyang from him. Drunk and heavy, Li Pingyang collapsed onto Haili’an as soon as the guard released him.

“So heavy! How much did he drink?”

Just as he leaned against him, Li Pingyang suddenly jolted forward and vomited. Haili’an was unlucky—though he dodged quickly, some still splattered on him.

Haili’an looked disgusted, patting Li Pingyang’s back to help him empty his stomach. Then he and A’ning flanked Li Pingyang, one on each side, carrying him back.

The wind was strong that night. By the time they reached home, Li Pingyang had sobered up. Zhou Tianlong stepped forward and opened the door. Inside, Li Pingyang saw Lu Qianxue and Chen Le standing together, staring intently at him.

Chen Le had not told Lu Qianxue that Li Pingyang had set the fire. Their plan was kept secret from her as well. Chen Le only said it was an accident and that Li Pingyang had taken advantage of the fire to escape.

Now that he was caught again, to prevent another escape, Chen Le shouted at the four guards to tie up the strategist.

“Strategist, sorry for the inconvenience. Please bear with us!”

Haili’an pressed Li Pingyang against a wooden pillar inside the room. Then A’ning fetched some rope and tightly bound him around the pillar.

Fearing even this wouldn’t hold him, they tied his hands separately as well.

At that moment, Li Pingyang suddenly said he needed to use the bathroom.

Chen Le glared at him and told him to hold it! Li Pingyang insisted he couldn’t, and if they didn’t mind, he would go right there. Lu Qianxue glanced at him, worried he might actually do it, and told them to loosen his bonds.

After he relieved himself, Chen Le personally tied his hands again and ordered the four guards to watch him around the clock—never leaving his side.

Once the instructions were given, Lu Qianxue and Chen Le left.

Li Pingyang lay on the bed, with the four guards standing wide-eyed in a row beside him. Under such scrutiny, he couldn’t sleep at all.

Helpless, he turned over, facing away from them. Still, he could feel four pairs of eyes fixed unblinkingly on his back.

To prevent him from secretly cutting the ropes, Haili’an craned his neck, watching his every move, leaving Li Pingyang half in tears.