IDWBE -Chapter 377 Bounty

The only thing worth being thankful for was that Mingyue had merely sent him to the garden and hadn’t severely punished him.

As long as he didn’t leave Prince He’s protection, there would still be a day for him to rise again.

With that thought, he lifted his chin and chest and walked up to Sun Cheng, smiling as he said, “Being a gatekeeper isn’t a job just anyone can do. You’ll have to work hard from now on, Brother Sun.”

Unfortunately, Sun Cheng had an elder brother named Sun Chengde. Though Sun Chengde’s rank wasn’t high and his martial skills were only average, he had wide connections. Whether in government offices or the military, there was hardly anyone he didn’t know—and he maintained good relations with all of them.

He could even say a word or two in front of Prince He.

Unlike himself—wandering like a lone ghost—who had only managed to get the gatekeeper position by begging through Shanyin.

Otherwise, with his explosive temper, he would’ve beaten Sun Cheng so badly his own parents wouldn’t recognize him!

Bastard!

How dare he snatch my job!

Damn it!

Having a strong backer really is something!

Because he truly couldn’t afford to offend him.

“Brother, who actually wants to be a gatekeeper?” Sun Cheng sighed. “I’m a grown man, standing here guarding a gate every day—what kind of life is that?”

A few years ago, he had worked at Fangniao Island’s Maritime Trade Office. The winds were fierce and the sun scorching. In less than half a year, he’d been roasted dark as charcoal. Unable to endure the hardship, he begged his elder brother Sun Chongde to transfer him to the militia under Wang Xing as an assistant.

That job was sweet!

No wind, no rain, fewer rules. And since Wang Xing respected his elder brother, he looked after him well.

Most importantly—the monthly pay was generous.

Yet before he had even enjoyed two full years of that good post, his brother ordered him north to return to Ankang City.

After arriving in Ankang, he had stayed in his brother’s former territory—the Prince’s estate stables. Officially a groom, but really just feeding and walking horses. Aside from being boring, it wasn’t bad.

But he had never imagined he’d fall as low as becoming a gatekeeper.

After all, he was someone who used a pen.

“Hmph. You’re still young,” Jiang Qiu snorted, increasingly annoyed by Sun Cheng’s false modesty. “Sitting in my former spot is like smoke rising from your ancestral grave. Work a few days and you’ll see the benefits.”

“Benefits? Just collecting a few extra coins,” Sun Cheng scoffed. “You think I care?”

“Don’t let your brother hear that, or he’ll slap you hard,” Jiang Qiu snapped. “Your elder brother is so stingy he wouldn’t dare spend an extra copper. Where’d you get the courage to treat money like dirt?”

“None of your business!” Sun Cheng’s face darkened.

“Figures you’re no good.”

Though Jiang Qiu didn’t dare hit him, that didn’t stop him from hurling insults.

Seeing someone exit the estate from afar, he didn’t linger and turned away.

He wandered aimlessly along Prince He’s main street. Whether drinking wine or tea, everything tasted dull.

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

It was that old bastard Ma Jie who had cost him his job. If he didn’t squeeze some money out of him, it would be an insult to himself.

He headed straight toward the Ankang Prefecture Office.

On the way, several people greeted him, but he ignored them all. What was he supposed to say? Complain that he’d lost his job? He was sure he’d get ridicule, not sympathy.

At the prefectural gate, he saw a crowd gathered around a public notice board modeled after Baiyun City’s.

Wang Xiaoshuan stood nearby with arms crossed. “Brother Jiang, so free today?”

“Of course I’m free,” Jiang Qiu sighed. “And I’ll be even freer in the days to come.”

“Heard you’re buying a house?”

“Buying my ass. I’m broke as hell.”

He squeezed forward, squinting at the wanted posters on the wall.

“Come on, Brother Jiang,” Wang Xiaoshuan laughed. “Everyone knows you rake in money daily.”

The gatekeeper position was the envy of all.

After all, you could earn money just by standing there!

“Raking in money daily? That’s true,” Jiang Qiu’s eyes widened as he stared at the bounty list. He grinned. “I’m rich. I’m going to be rich!”

“Brother Jiang…” Wang Xiaoshuan didn’t quite believe it. Was he getting ahead of himself?

“What future does a gatekeeper have?” Jiang Qiu pointed at the notice. “The real fortune is here.”

“You mean the bounty?” Wang Xiaoshuan laughed. “The highest reward is five thousand taels for a notorious bandit. Who wouldn’t want that? But you have to be able to catch him.”

“That’s why I’m getting rich,” Jiang Qiu said coldly as he stepped out of the crowd. “I know all seven of the wanted criminals listed here.”

“You know them all?” Wang Xiaoshuan stared in disbelief.

“Hmph. Do you know what I did before going to Baiyun City?”

“I know you used to roam the martial world,” Wang Xiaoshuan said. (Which really meant robbing and looting—no secret in Sanhe.)

“Out of respect, my brothers in the jianghu gave me the title ‘Knight of the Bustling Market.’ Invincible across seven provinces!” Jiang Qiu boasted. “That Poison Hand Hou Bolun—just a mere fifth rank. Back then he wasn’t even qualified to carry my shoes!”

Seventh rank!

Back then he had been seventh rank!

He ran rampant across Nanzhou, Yuezhou, and Jingzhou. In the underworld, fewer than five people could withstand a single slash of his blade.

He had been a gatekeeper so long he’d nearly forgotten his former glory.

The mistake was entering Sanhe.

Sanhe was full of experts. Now he was ninth rank, yet living cautiously and humbly.

“Ninth rank…” he muttered. “I’m ninth rank!”

For a moment, he wanted to slap himself.

How had he fallen so low? Losing a gatekeeper job and agonizing over it.

There weren’t many ninth ranks in the world as spineless as him.

As a ninth rank, where in the world could he not go?

He needed to reclaim his former glory!

“Brother Jiang, everyone knows you’re ninth rank. Becoming a Grandmaster is just a matter of time—”

“Grandmaster?” Jiang Qiu’s neck shrank at once.

He suddenly remembered why he had been hiding inside Prince He’s estate.

Like Shanyin, he was still on the assassination list of Jizhao Nunnery.

In their eyes, a ninth rank was nothing.

On second thought, staying at Prince He’s estate was safer.

“Right,” Wang Xiaoshuan said enviously. “With your talent, Grandmaster is within easy reach.”

“Easy?” Jiang Qiu snorted. “Look at Sanhe. There are plenty who’ve reached ninth rank. But besides the Blind Man and that bastard Ye Qiu, who’s become a Grandmaster? Grandmaster? Harder than climbing to heaven. Enough of that. Help me copy the names. We’ll catch these criminals and collect the rewards.”

“Brother Jiang, even if you know them, you still have to find them,” Wang Xiaoshuan said bitterly.

If they were easy to find, would it be Jiang Qiu’s turn? The top bounty was only fifth rank! Anyone could be sent to capture him.

“These rats are masters of hiding.”

“Hmph. Just because you can’t find them doesn’t mean I can’t.”

“Brother Jiang, please take me with you,” Wang Xiaoshuan said eagerly. “I’ll serve you loyally.”

“Useless bunch. No need to die over this,” Jiang Qiu waved him off. “Find two horses. We’re leaving the city.”

They rode out into the cold wind, traveling twenty li before stopping at an abandoned relay station.

“This place is basically deserted,” Wang Xiaoshuan said, shivering. “Prefect He mentioned reopening all relay stations, but no plan yet.”

“What do you know?” Jiang Qiu dismounted and banged on the rickety black gate.

It creaked open—revealing Fang Pi.

Fang Pi was from the Court Guard.

That was no secret in Prince He’s estate.

Without saying it outright, Wang Xiaoshuan understood: this ruined relay station was likely a Court Guard outpost.

But why did Jiang Qiu know about it?

“Why are you two here?” Fang Pi snapped. “If I weren’t here, you’d be shot full of arrows.”

Jiang Qiu waved his hand—A nearby tree fell instantly, its trunk sliced clean.

“Please, come in,” Fang Pi immediately changed to a flattering smile. He had almost forgotten—this old bastard was ninth rank!

Inside, cobwebs and dust filled the place. But beneath a hidden stone slab in the rockery lay a secret passage.

They descended into an underground chamber, lit by torches, with tables covered in half-eaten, still-warm food.

“It’s airtight down here. Not afraid of suffocating?” Wang Xiaoshuan remarked.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Fang Pi said smugly. “So what do you want?”

Jiang Qiu tossed him the copied wanted list. “Find these people.”

Fang Pi yawned. “These are on the Ankang Prefecture’s wanted list.”

“If I had time, I’d earn it myself.”

“You’re only third rank,” Jiang Qiu sneered. “To catch them, you’d need to mobilize the Court Guard. The more people, the more shares. Work with me—just the two of us split the money.”

Fang Pi rubbed his chin. “Not impossible. I’ll send word tomorrow.”

Just like that, they struck a deal.

On the way back, Wang Xiaoshuan finally voiced his worry. “That’s a Court Guard outpost. If word leaks and we’re investigated, we’re dead.”

Jiang Qiu glanced at him. “Do you think I’m stupid? If it were truly secret, would people like us know about it?”

“Then what is it?”

“Hmph. Qi Peng and the others already had porters, shop clerks, and matchmakers under them. Add the Court Guard—tens of thousands of mouths to feed. The Prince’s funds are limited. If they want to live comfortably, they have to make money. Restaurants, inns, brothels, trading firms—everything. Even underworld businesses. Recently they formed the Qinghe Gang to run canal shipping. Got chased by the Canal Gang and are hiding here to avoid attention.”

“What?” Wang Xiaoshuan couldn’t believe it. “How could the Canal Gang beat them?”

“You know nothing,” Jiang Qiu rolled his eyes. “It’s called feigning weakness. When the Canal Gang gets arrogant—that’ll be their end.”