Chapter Forty-Three: Black Wind Fortress

"Very good!"

"Also, do everything within the power of Weiyuan Escort Agency to gather news about the millennium spiritual herb. Once I obtain it, my cultivation will break through again!"

"Then the City Lord’s Mansion will no longer dare to trouble us!"

Qin Feng instructed Yan Chonghu, Shi Tie, Zhao Hu, and Liu Qing, and after they departed, he immersed himself in cultivation.

"I must strengthen my power as quickly as possible!"

Qin Feng swallowed a century-old medicinal herb, closed his eyes, and activated the Thunder Breathing Technique, rapidly absorbing its medicinal essence to fortify his inner energy and temper his muscles, bones, and skin.

When his bones gleamed with black light, his cultivation broke through to the Guardian Realm, at its initial stage. When the glow changed from black to yellow, it signified a breakthrough to mid-stage Master Realm. Finally, when the glow shifted from yellow to white, it marked his advancement from mid-stage Guardian to late-stage Guardian.

Qin Feng absorbed the medicinal power, focusing entirely on practicing the Thunder Breathing Technique, tempering his physique as his bones constantly emitted crisp sounds.

The medicinal essence quickly merged into his muscles, bones, and skin, rapidly enhancing his strength.

Qin Feng’s body possessed extraordinary restorative abilities; the immense energy of century-old herbs would barely inflict harm before healing completely within seconds.

Ordinary people could not consume century-old herbs consecutively, but Qin Feng was unconcerned, absorbing the essence of one after another.

While Qin Feng devoted himself to cultivation, Wang Fu, Wang Bao, and Liu Hu were not idle either; they used medicinal baths to temper their bodies.

By diluting the medicinal power of the century-old herbs for medicinal baths, martial artists could accelerate their own cultivation.

However, this method wasted much of the herb’s potency; ordinary martial artists could not afford such luxury.

The Black Tiger Gang was renamed Weiyuan Escort Agency, which began operating swiftly. Within half a month, its numbers swelled to two thousand, all young and robust men.

This was even after Qin Feng ordered Yan Chonghu and Shi Tie to restrict membership; otherwise, the numbers would have been even greater.

The reason so many young men joined the Weiyuan Escort Agency was its promise: joining would grant them access to advanced martial arts manuals, and those who made significant contributions could receive manuals to advance directly to Master Realm and guidance from Guardian Qin.

Of course, the rapid increase in numbers did not translate into greater wealth.

Originally a gang, now transformed into an escort agency, but the change in people's perception was not so quick.

Moreover, the most crucial issue was the lack of strong experts in the Black Tiger Gang, making it impossible to escort goods outside the city.

The roads connecting Xuanzhou City and several neighboring cities, including Tianyang City, were plagued by bandits and ruthless outlaws.

Most notorious of all was Black Wind Stronghold atop Little Green Mountain, fifty miles outside Xuanzhou City, home to over a thousand fierce bandits.

Even the leader of Black Wind Stronghold, Liu Qingchang, was himself a Guardian-level expert, renowned for his formidable strength.

...

"A Guardian-level expert reduced to a bandit—there must be quite a story behind it!"

"Chonghu, tell me about Liu Qingchang."

Qin Feng tapped the armrest, intrigued by Liu Qingchang, and spoke calmly.

"Master Qin, Liu Qingchang is a man of loyalty. Twenty years ago, in Hanzhou City, his close friend was persecuted, and his family was destroyed."

"Upon learning of it, Liu Qingchang, enraged, snuck into the enemy’s house at night and killed him, avenging his friend."

"Committing murder within the city, Liu Qingchang violated imperial law and was wanted by the City Lord’s Mansion."

"He barely escaped with his life, and after surviving, he cultivated to the Guardian Realm and established Black Wind Stronghold, gaining great fame."

Yan Chonghu relayed all the information he had gathered about Liu Qingchang to Qin Feng.

"Did Hanzhou City not send troops to eradicate Liu Qingchang?"

Qin Feng asked indifferently.

"Hanzhou City dispatched armies several times, but Black Wind Stronghold is situated in a remote area near the forests. Whenever the army arrived, the bandits would retreat deep into the woods."

Yan Chonghu replied in a grave tone.

"Weiyuan Escort Agency is my sole source of income, so I must open the routes through the surrounding cities!"

"Black Wind Stronghold blocks the way; it seems I must pay them a visit!"

"Best if I can bring them under my command, to deter other bandits from targeting Weiyuan Escort Agency!"

Qin Feng’s eyes shone, his mind racing. Soon, he had made up his mind.

"Prepare a swift horse for me tomorrow; I will go to Black Wind Stronghold myself!"

"And what about the weapons I asked you to find? Any news?"

Qin Feng asked in a deep voice.

"Master Qin, there are no weapons in the city to your specifications. Should I gather the blacksmiths to forge them directly?"

Yan Chonghu had visited over thirty smithies but found nothing suitable for Qin Feng.

"Go ahead."

Qin Feng nodded, responding calmly.

"Master Qin, I take my leave."

Yan Chonghu hurriedly withdrew.

...

"Continue cultivating!"

Qin Feng returned to his training room, took out another century-old herb, closed his eyes, and immersed himself in cultivation.

At dawn the next day, Qin Feng rode the swift horse sent by Yan Chonghu and headed for Black Wind Stronghold, fifty miles away.

On the way, Qin Feng encountered a bandit gang, but they were weak and he dispatched them easily.

Arriving at Little Green Mountain, Qin Feng surveyed his surroundings. In front of the mountain was a main road, but its other three sides were dense forests with towering ancient trees stretching as far as the eye could see.

From the summit, he could vaguely see the stronghold and figures moving about.

"Xuanzhou City, Weiyuan Escort Agency, Qin Feng has come to pay his respects!"

Qin Feng called out loudly, his voice infused with vigorous energy, echoing across Little Green Mountain.

The bandits lurking at the foot of the mountain were startled, their hearts pounding with fear as they sensed an overwhelming presence.

They looked at Qin Feng with trepidation, then hurriedly sent word up the mountain.

"Qin Feng?"

"Rumor has it he's only sixteen, yet has reached Guardian Realm and killed Ye Qinglong barehanded. His strength is extraordinary."

Liu Qingchang received the report from below and recalled the news his subordinates brought back from Xuanzhou City. His expression grew cautious.

"Gather the brothers; we’re going down the mountain!"

"I want to see why Qin Feng has come."

"A Guardian-level expert—surely it's not for the bounty on my head."

With apprehension in his heart, Liu Qingchang summoned two hundred men, all armed with bows, knives, and spears.

"Greetings, Guardian Qin!"

Liu Qingchang arrived at the base of the mountain, stopped two hundred meters from Qin Feng, clasped his hands, and greeted loudly.

"Guardian Liu, you’re too kind!"

"I’ve come to ask a favor."

Qin Feng sized up Liu Qingchang and the two hundred armed bandits behind him, his expression grave as he spoke directly.