CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: BLACK ROBS BLACK! KILLING IRON TIGER!

Although Luo Sheng felt somewhat regretful about Iron Tiger taking the treasure away, he didn’t really mind.

Black Wind Stronghold’s years of robbing and looting surely had accumulated quite a sum. Even though the bandits usually squandered lavishly, there must still be a considerable amount left.

Iron Tiger, despite surely taking away a lot of treasures earlier, how much could one person carry?

At most, just some lightweight gold and silver easily carried.

Therefore, there must be a lot of things left in Black Wind Stronghold now.

The few of them carefully guarded as they entered the stronghold.

They swept through inside and out, killed some bandits during the process, and eventually found quite a stash of treasures in a stone cave.

For example, food, herbs, preserved meat, and a big chest of money all filled with various gold and silver jewelry, as well as some broken silver, copper coins, and the like.

The value of all these together could be over a thousand taels of silver. Because they were quite heavy and in large quantities, Iron Tiger didn’t manage to take them, which now benefited Jade Cauldron Tower.

Hmm, saying it benefited Jade Cauldron Tower is not correct; it should be said it barely compensated part of Jade Cauldron Tower’s loss.

When they returned to the caravan, all the corpses had been dealt with.

The bandits’ bodies were thrown off the mountain; with lots of wild animals around in the mountains, soon there would only be some bones left.

As for Jade Cauldron Tower’s side of the corpses, they were personally cremated by Old Man Mo, ashes gathered in separate packages, ready to be taken back.

At this moment, everyone was exhausted, hungry, and injured, so they decided to rest on the spot and depart early the next morning.

While everyone else was resting and healing, Gu Yuan randomly found an excuse to step out.

After walking some distance and confirming no one was following him, he ran in a certain direction.

Because Ah Huang had sent a message that Iron Tiger was just ahead!

That’s right, Gu Yuan had set his sights on the leader of Black Wind Stronghold!

When Iron Tiger was escaping, Gu Yuan subtly signaled Ah Huang to secretly follow him.

Not long after, Gu Yuan crossed a small hill and arrived in a valley.

Within this valley, there was a small river beside which a crude wooden hut was built.

Gu Yuan could even see some blood stains on the ground outside the wooden hut.

It looked like there was someone here, and they were injured!

However, Gu Yuan didn’t approach the hut and instead looked at a large tree not far away, saying in a deep voice:

"Since Boss Iron Tiger has already noticed me, why not come out and talk?"

As he spoke, Gu Yuan calmly drew his long sword, the cold blade pointing slantingly to the ground.

"Oh? You actually discovered me!"

A moment later, a burly bald man with a tiger’s back emerged from behind the tree, carrying a Ghost Head Saber.

This person was none other than Iron Tiger. His saber’s tip rested on the ground, fingers rubbing the hilt, revealing white teeth with a grin:

"Kid, I must say, your courage is big indeed, daring to come alone!"

Though he said this, he was actually quite surprised.

At first, when he saw Gu Yuan, he was startled, thinking Luo Sheng and others had found him.

But looking around, seeing only Gu Yuan by himself, he was a bit surprised.

He didn’t expect his tracks would be exposed, which was evidently a problem for him!

Moreover, he couldn’t figure out why it was just this kid alone coming here.

But it doesn’t matter, as long as he kills this kid and leaves, this trouble will naturally resolve.

"My courage has always been considerable."

Though Gu Yuan had quite a sturdy build, in front of Iron Tiger’s imposing, iron-tower-like stature, he appeared somewhat underdeveloped, yet he remained calm and fearlessly lightly flicked his long sword, emitting a faint hum from the blade:

"Especially when you’re injured."

"Injured?"

Iron Tiger first hesitated, then looked at the bleeding holes on his shoulder made by Yang Han, sneering with a glance towards Gu Yuan as if looking at a fool:

"Kid, let me teach you something — even with some injuries, I’m not someone you can plot against!"

He laughed heartily, lifting his hefty Ghost Head Saber, its edge reflecting a deep cold gleam: "A mere kid who hasn’t even achieved Bone Refining is more arrogant than me, it seems you want to die, so I’ll fulfill your wish!"

To Iron Tiger, while Gu Yuan’s swordsmanship was indeed commendable, it was only that.

He was already at Great Success in Bone Refining, at Martial Master Peak, ready to proceed to the Viscera Refining Phase. Once achieved, he could inhale the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism, refining True Qi, to become an Innate Martial Master!

This was one reason for his prior dealings with Wei Chuan.

And now, Gu Yuan, merely a Martial Master who hasn’t yet refined bones, dared to come seeking trouble solo could only mean this kid was out of his mind, asking for death!

"Seeking death?"

Gu Yuan remained calm, looking at him with a hint of pity: "I certainly don’t overestimate myself nor think I can kill a Peak Martial Master, but you are definitely going to die."

Seeing Gu Yuan composed and not showing any irrationality, Iron Tiger’s smile froze, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

"This kid seems odd... No! Kill him!"

Iron Tiger’s gaze sharpened as he stepped forward.

Whoosh!

His bulk moved quickly like a bear, charging fiercely.

His Ghost Head Saber in hand sliced through the air, emitting an eerie "woo-woo" sound, slashing down in an arc.

Gu Yuan had previously fought the deputy head of the Black Wind Stronghold, whose sword skill was sharp and swift, with straightforward and crisp moves, undoubtedly a formidable killer move!

But in Gu Yuan’s eyes, while that guy’s sword skill was good, it paled compared to Iron Tiger’s.

Iron Tiger’s current slash came with thunder-like momentum, carrying the force of a thousand pounds, laced with an overwhelming and fierce "power"!

Under this slash, Gu Yuan even felt an oppressive force and a struggling discomfort in breathing.

If Gu Yuan had dealt with this slash using the swordsmanship he employed against the deputy head of the Black Wind Stronghold, there was only one outcome.

He would be chopped in half, person and sword!

Faced with this slash, Gu Yuan didn’t attempt to clash head-on; he merely retreated a few steps to dodge it.

Simultaneously, Iron Tiger’s face stiffened, feeling something wrap around his ankle, causing his movements to pause and his slash to miss.

Looking down, he found a finger-thick, grayish-white strange snake coiled around his ankle!

This snake had greater strength, but for Iron Tiger, it was still insignificant.

Iron Tiger controlled his leg muscles to swell and contract, freeing himself from the snake’s coil. Then he lifted his foot and gave a forceful flick, sending the snake flying, looking at Gu Yuan with a mocking smile:

"I wondered what gave you the courage, turns out you raised a snake! But a mere little snake is nothing, I..."