Braised Dragon with Soy Sauce

Chapter 182 Black Dragon Village Bandits

"Is Elder Ji your great-grandfather?" Mo Yuming asked.

"Impossible! Our great-grandfather has been missing for almost sixty years, and we've searched for over fifty years without finding him. You, my benefactor, are only now..."

“I did spend time with a senior named Ji Xianlin a few years ago. He said he was from Yijianxuan and was very skilled in music. So he must be your great-grandfather. We only parted ways last year. He should have gone back to the Ji family in Dan Kingdom to find you now! But how did you leave the Ji family and settle here?”

Mo Yuming said.

"It's a long story. Back then, our great-grandfather was the most promising young member of the Ji family to advance to the Heaven Rank. He was only in his forties when he had already reached the peak of the Earth Rank."

He was the most outstanding disciple of the Ji family's generation. The Ji family elders and the family head publicly decided that once the great ancestor advanced to the Heavenly Rank, the position of family head would be passed on to him. However, in that same year, the great ancestor broke through and disappeared while carrying out a family mission. The family spent enormous financial and material resources to find him, but they were unable to locate him.

Five years later, the Ji family announced the death of their great-grandfather. He was then removed from the family. However, our great-grandmother did not believe that the great-grandfather was dead, so she took my grandfather, father, and others and left the Ji family to search for him everywhere. When they finally found him here, they lost all trace of him.

Because the Ji family of Yijianxuan is one of the seven great families of Tianxuan Continent, with a large family and many factions, there are many people in the family who covet the position of family head. Therefore, less than a month after the ancestor disappeared.

My great-grandmother and grandfather were ostracized by the family factions. Life became increasingly difficult, and later some family factions even secretly framed us.

This is why my great-grandmother left the Ji family with my grandfather, father, and others. Our family wandered from place to place, searching for our great-grandfather. When we finally found this place, we had no more possessions to sustain ourselves, so we had no choice but to settle here. My grandfather worked tirelessly day and night to make a living, and slowly, he put down roots here.

My father was already an adult when he married a hunter's daughter in this place. After the marriage, my maternal grandmother's family was small, but my maternal grandfather's family had a traditional craft that could produce very good furs. So my father inherited my maternal grandmother's family's craft and started a fur business. After more than 50 years of operation, it has grown to its current scale.

However, my great-grandmother and grandfather suffered much bullying and humiliation during their early years of wandering, which took a toll on their physical and mental health. Their injuries were never fully healed, and as a result, they both passed away ten years ago.

Ji Jiaxian briefly recounted the history of their Ji family moving from their ancestral home to settle here to Mo Yuming.

"We've lived here for decades. Although things haven't always been smooth sailing, we've never experienced anything like this before. Our Ji family was almost wiped out! Although we weren't exterminated, most of our years of hard work have been wasted! Those damned bandits! They deserve to be torn to pieces!"

Ji Jiahe said.

"Your Ji family will soon prosper again, because your great-grandfather is about to return, and as far as I know, he is already a fourth-level Heavenly Realm expert!"

Mo Yuming said.

"Ah! The ancestor didn't die, and he's already at the fourth level of the Heavenly Rank? Wow, that's amazing!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Jiahe's youngest daughter, Ji Qingling, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"really?"

Ji Jiahe's eldest daughter, Ji Qingfeng, couldn't help but ask as well.

Although Ji Jiayun's two sons were more composed, they were also moved.

"My benefactor, did you truly ever spend time with our founding emperor? Did he ever mention my grandfather and great-grandmother? Since he was still alive, why did he abandon his wife?"

Having just experienced the grief of losing a loved one, Ji Jiaxian felt no joy whatsoever.

"Don't blame your great-grandfather. He had no choice. He always missed his family, but he was trapped in a secluded place and couldn't come out, so he couldn't find you. Last year, as soon as he was freed, he went back to Yijianxuan to look for you, but you..."

“We haven’t been in contact with our main family for decades. What if our ancestor can’t find us at the Ji family? Our benefactor said that our ancestor has been out of trouble for over a year. With his abilities, he should have returned to Yijianxuan long ago. Our ancestor will be very sad if he can’t find us at Yijianxuan. Uncle, Father, should we send someone to meet him?”

Ji Qingling said.

"We need to go to my maternal grandmother's house and call my father back to discuss this with him. After all, he's the only one who ever met the founding emperor, and he's the only grandson of the founding emperor. He's also the only one who knows the founding emperor!"

Ji Jiahe said.

"Furthermore, given this misfortune at home, we should notify the two elders to come back and take charge."

Ji Jiaxian said.

"Uncle, I'll go find Grandpa and Grandma right away."

Ji Qingfeng, Ji Jiayun's eldest son, said.

"Alright, go and don't tell Grandpa and Grandma about what happened at home yet. Just bring them back. We'll talk about everything when they get back."

Ji Jiahe gave his instructions.

"Patriarch, I would like to ask how many properties your Ji family owns in Zhongyuan City?" Mo Yuming asked.

"Our Ji family owns ten shops in Zhongyuan City. Although they are not very large, they can be considered above average. May I ask what needs my benefactor has?"

Ji Jiahe replied.

"After listening to your words, I just feel that there is something strange about your encounter with the bandits this time! That's why I asked this question."

"how?"

The Ji brothers also felt it was too much of a coincidence.

“I think there are a few coincidences. First, you have been living here for more than 50 years and have never encountered bandits openly attacking your home.”

That's because the bandits in the neighborhood all know that your family is a family of Xuan Gong (a type of martial arts master). Secondly, according to you, the head of the family rarely leaves home to spend the night, and this time, the head of the family had only been gone for a day when the bandits came knocking on the door, and the people who came were all bandit leaders with high Xuan Gong cultivation.

Have you noticed that none of the twenty bandits are below the third level of the Earth Rank? Is that normal? This also shows that these bandits know your family's background.

Third, according to the third leader, you happened to be returning with a large quantity of mountain goods on this day. Bandits rob for money, and most of them won't kill easily if you can meet their demands. Unless they encounter resistance, or it's a deliberate act of murder to silence witnesses.

This time, they clearly weren't there for money. Murder to silence witnesses is almost always done by bandits who are paid and acting on orders.

"Our benefactor is absolutely right! We'll go and interrogate those bandits right now! Let's see who's behind this!"

Ji Jiahe immediately headed towards the place where the bandits were being held.

Mo Yuming had other matters to attend to, and although he knew this was a descendant of old man Ji Xianlin, he didn't want to stay. So he said:

“Patriarch, since you are descendants of Senior Ji, I will tell you the truth. I hope you are prepared in advance.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Jiaxian immediately realized that what Mo Yuming was talking about was no small matter, so he said to Mo Yuming with a serious expression:

"My benefactor, please speak. As long as it is within my power, I, Ji, will do it without hesitation!"

"It's not that I want the patriarch to do anything for me, but after a while, there will be a major change in Zhongyuan City. The shops and residents in the city will be affected. Those who are lucky may not be greatly affected, but it is estimated that the vast majority will be greatly affected. Some people or shops will disappear from Zhongyuan City as a result."

Informing the family head is simply a reminder, hoping he can be prepared. Regarding Senior Ji, if you haven't found him by then, I will help you contact him, but it might take a few years, as we made a five-year promise when we parted. However, I can't guarantee he will keep his promise by then.

Mo Yuming said.

"Something's going to happen in Zhongyuan City? What kind of thing? Is it related to some rumors that's been circulating these past few days? Could you tell me something, my benefactor?" Ji Jiaxian was certain that Mo Yuming wasn't exaggerating; he just couldn't imagine what could possibly happen. This was precisely why he had rushed to Zhongyuan City yesterday.

"As for what it is, I cannot go into details. I can only tell you that those so-called rumors you have heard may not necessarily be rumors. This is the reason I went here today. The matter cannot be delayed, so I must take my leave now!"

After Mo Yuming finished speaking, he got up to leave.

“My benefactor, please wait a moment. I will go and call my third brother to come with me. Our family has suffered such a tragedy, and we cannot afford any more trouble. I will send my third brother to Zhongyuan City to inform my second brother and my son to return and discuss the family's affairs. Moreover, we are very familiar with Zhongyuan City. If you need anything in the city, please come to us.”

"Ok."

Mo Yuming agreed, since he had never been to Zhongyuan City before and was still unfamiliar with it. Having a guide would make things much easier.

Before long, the Ji brothers arrived together, and servants were preparing their horses.

"As expected, these bandits were acting under orders, and they had been watching us for several days. Because they knew that our elder brother was at the eighth level of the Earth Realm, they dared not make a move."

Last night's attack was only made because I saw that my elder brother was out on business. Just as my benefactor predicted, this gang of bandits was instructed by a legion that had been stationed here three months ago. They specialize in attacking wealthy merchants in this area, kidnapping hostages for ransom, or even wiping out entire clans and robbing them.

In the past few months, more than a dozen wealthy businessmen have been robbed. Because we are a family specializing in Xuan Gong (a type of martial arts), we haven't dared to take action.

Where is this corps stationed?

Mo Yuming asked hurriedly.

"That legion is stationed in the bandits' stronghold, colluding with them to wreak havoc on the people. With these legions backing them up, the bandits are even more unscrupulous."

Ji Jiahe replied.

"Where is the bandits' hideout? How far is it from here?"

"Heilongzhai, which is twenty miles away, is located in a very remote and dangerous area."

“Alright, you guys go to Zhongyuan City first, I’ll go and investigate this bandit den,” Mo Yuming said.

“My benefactor, it is extremely dangerous there. Moreover, this gang of bandits has been operating there for many years and has spies and sentries everywhere. We are outnumbered and outmatched, so it is best not to go!”

Ji Jiahe advised. He was afraid that Mo Yuming was young and impetuous and might suffer a loss if he was not careful.

"It's alright, I'm just conducting a covert investigation from a distance, I won't take any risks."

“How about I accompany you, my benefactor? I often buy mountain products in this area, and I’m quite familiar with the terrain,” Ji Jiahe said.

“No need. Your family has encountered a major event and has many things to do. Just give me a bandit,” Mo Yuming said.

Seeing that Mo Yuming insisted on not going, Ji Jiaxian stopped talking and ordered someone to grab one of the captured bandits and give him to Mo Yuming.